Laser Engraving For Spreads Containers

Edited by the Manufacturingtalk editorial team Nov 13, 2006

RPC Bebo Nederland, in conjunction with Graphic Studio Pro6, has introduced a new laser engraving system for the printing of containers for spreads, fats and edible oils.

RPC Bebo Nederland, in conjunction with Graphic Studio Pro6, has introduced a new laser engraving system for the printing of containers for spreads, fats and edible oils.

The RPC system is said to allow greater definition in the detail of dry-offset printed images.

The new technology - an extension of RPC Bebo Nederland's Supreme Quality Printing technology, launched in 2005 - has already been used with success to print a container for Portuguese brand Prado, manufactured by Rogerio Leal, said RPC.

Graphic Studio Pro6 provides plate production and the company has successfully worked with RPC Bebo Nederland for several years in developing new dry offset methods.

The latest collaboration combines the Supreme Quality Printing system with Pro6's 3-Dimensional Control printing plates.

In contrast to conventional means of plate production, it is claimed that 3-Dimensional Control uses an extremely precise laser to engrave the image.

The technology is said to solve a well-known technical problem associated with conventional plates, in which soft colours become prone to hard edges.

That effect was caused because the uniform image height of conventional plates made them sensitive to high dot gain, magnifying a one per cent dot to as much as 10 per cent.

In contrast, 3-Dimensional Control plates incorporate a difference in height between the dots, resulting in greater control over the colour percentage, claimed RPC.

By using the new technique, it is now possible to produce CMYK images using the dry offset method.

RPC Bebo Nederland believes that the photographic images produced equal, or even surpass, the quality offered by the more expensive in-mould labeling process.

"3-Dimensional Control and laser engraving represent a new dimension in dry-offset printing, and we are sure that yellow fats brands will recognise the benefits as soon as they see the quality of the results," commented Gerard Zwiers, sales manager at RPC Bebo Nederland.