Agfa-Gevaert has successfully extended the scope of its new XM (cross modulated) Sublima screening technology into packaging applications, achieving both significant cost savings and notably higher quality offset and flexo printing with little change in pre-press and press handling.

Capable of achieving line-screen rulings of up to 340lpi in offset applications – although, nearer to 180lpi for flexo – Sublima has been thoroughly tested across a range of packaging applications using a variety of substrates, including poly bags, corrugated, and a number of cardboard and label stocks.

“Having heard the excellent results from newspaper and commercial printers around the world we were more than confident Sublima would perform equally well in packaging,” says Kris Vangeel, director of Agfa’s worldwide packaging business, “but we needed confirmation from customers using it on real-life projects. They were amazed by how easy it is to improve quality.”

Agfa has not been perceived as one of the major players in the packaging pre-press sector, ranked fourth behind Creo, Esko-Graphics and Artwork Systems. Vangeel reports rapidly growing interest amongst flexo printers for solutions that can improve upon quality without having to buy new presses or CTP systems.

Point of entry for the new Sublima solution is EUR15 000.