In-line Insights

"In the last few years, some brave companies have even installed in-line extrusion lamination systems with flexo presses, but, again, this is really only viable for relatively long run lengths."

Tielkemeier contributes a few more situations where printers may hedge on the in-line decision, such as running an uncommonly expensive substrate, or high turnover of unskilled operators. In addition, he notes, if an in-line coating and laminating unit is already on a press, but printing is done on the line less than fifty percent of the time, an off-line coater/laminator might be the more cost-effective option.