Brief Analysis: Development Trends in Future Paper Packaging Printing Technology

More and more modern technologies are now being applied in the field of packaging and printing, simplifying many packaging and printing processes and making them more scientific and rational. An overview of today's paper packaging printing technologies reveals the following new development characteristics:

1. A shift from single-layer materials to multi-layer materials;
2. Coexistence of multiple printing methods such as offset, gravure, flexo and screen printing, among which flexographic printing will grow fastest;
3. A shift from sheet-fed to web-fed and from standalone machines to inline production, achieving complete-set equipment supply;
4. Comprehensive application of various related new technologies (such as computer-aided design, digital technology, laser processing technology and new materials) to continuously optimize the entire production system;
5. Increasingly constrained by ever more stringent environmental and hygiene standards.

At the same time, it can be seen that packaging post-press processing techniques have become more scientific and applicable, and packaging performance and effects have undergone significant changes. For example, wax coating and film lamination in packaging surface treatment have gradually been replaced by surface gluing (spray gluing), and anti-counterfeiting packaging production techniques have shifted from partial printing or fabrication to full-surface, large-area printing and anti-counterfeiting fabrication. At present, prepress and postpress in packaging printing use computer technology, new equipment completes the upgrading of production factors, and innovation in postpress processing technology has given rise to new industrial structures and the connotations and commercial behaviors of product mix adjustment within the packaging printing industry.

The 11 new technology products recently announced by the American Printing Technology Association will have a real impact on the packaging printing industry in the future: these 11 new technologies include: a PDF-based prepress production system; a halftone dot technology dedicated to flexo; a Polar cutting system using a CIP3 workflow; an offset rotary press; a process system that successfully uses laser technology to engrave gravure cylinders; professional digital photography technology; a new drying technology (formed inline in a single pass); a new technology for printing pressure-sensitive labels; a software package (prepress system); a scanning software system; and a printing system for the on-demand printing market.

Key technical issues in the development of the paper packaging industry must be properly addressed:

1. Research on key technologies and equipment for the recycling and reuse of paper packaging materials and containers;
2. Research on the systematization and intelligentization of paper packaging design;
3. Research and development of paper packaging containers;
4. Research and development of key manufacturing technologies and major equipment for paper packaging materials;
5. Research on the integration and application of paper packaging technologies;
6. Development and research of paper products packaging machinery;
7. Research on assurance testing technology and system integration;
8. Research on packaging technology for household appliances and transport packaging;
9. Research on key technologies and new equipment for packaging decorative printing;
10. Research on packaging technology for military goods.

In addition, the key development trends in paper products packaging are low-grammage, high-strength and lightweight paper packaging, achieving the goals of standardization, serialization, multiple varieties, multiple substrates and multiple uses. In the next 10 years, paper media printing will see tremendous development alongside broadband. CIP digital printing presses also drive traditional processes toward greater rationalization and labor savings.

— This article is reposted from China Packaging Network (pack.cn). Original link: http://news.pack.cn/show-362129.html