"""
Knowledge about flexographic printing systems for packaging production.
"""

title = "Flexographic Printing Systems"

content = """
Flexography is the workhorse of packaging printing, dominating corrugated
shipping boxes, labels, and flexible packaging due to its versatility, speed,
and cost efficiency for medium to long production runs.

**Process Characteristics:** Flexographic printing uses flexible photopolymer
or rubber plates mounted on cylinders. Anilox rollers meter precise ink volumes
to the plate. The plate contacts substrate directly, transferring the image.
Water-based, solvent-based, or UV inks accommodate diverse substrates.

**Central Impression vs. Inline:** Central impression (CI) presses arrange
print stations around a large central drum, providing exceptional register
accuracy for thin, flexible substrates like films and labels. Inline presses
arrange stations sequentially, allowing heavier substrates and easy access for
maintenance. Inline configurations dominate corrugated printing.

**Anilox Roller Fundamentals:** Anilox rollers are engraved with microscopic
cells that carry measured ink volumes, specified in billions of cubic
microns per square inch (BCM) or lines per inch (LPI). Higher LPI counts
(800-1200) deliver finer detail for process printing. Lower counts (200-400)
apply heavy solids and coatings. Proper anilox selection prevents plugging
and ensures color consistency.

**Plate Technology Evolution:** Traditional photopolymer plates deliver
excellent results for line work and spot colors. Digital photopolymer plates
use laser ablation to create flat-top dots that reduce dot gain, improving
process color reproduction. Sleeve technology enables rapid job changeover
and precise repeatability.

**Corrugated Applications:** Flexography prints directly on combined board
with quick-drying water-based inks. Post-print flexo handles RSCs, trays, and
displays up to 66 inches wide. Pre-print flexo applies graphics to linerboard
before corrugation, achieving superior quality for high-end retail packaging.
"""

version = "0.0.1"
