Flexographic printing — or flexo printing — is an efficient production process for bulk printing. Print clear, vivid designs directly on uneven surfaces like corrugated boxes and cardboard mailers.
Flexographic printing involves making a relief polymer-print stereo from an artwork or custom design. As part of our commitment to sustainability, we use water-based biodegradable inks. Once we’ve added ink to the relief, we apply it to the chosen material using direct contact pressure. Each print stereo prints one individual colour, so flexographic printing is commonly used in small to medium-sized runs on a budget, usually with one or two spot colours. For more intricate and vivid artwork, lithographic printing is more suitable.
What makes it work?
This smart piece of design work from Jam N Vegan makes the most of flexo printing by using just one colour and one printing plate. Its simplicity means there’s no trapping or shadowing from overlapping colours. To showcase the design, we used one of our white shipping boxes, which allowed the vibrant colours and details to truly stand out.
What makes it work?
This is a brilliant example of flexographic printing for beverage packaging. Just one colour was used here on versatile Kraft material. We achieved the grey colour by screening (or halftoning), which involves printing dots spaced further apart to give the appearance of a lighter shade. This highlights O’Donnell’s rebellious 1920s heritage, with the greyer text showing an old newspaper article on Prohibition, the alcohol ban in 20th-century America.
What makes it work?
It’s hard to believe this is a flexographic print — and that it only uses two colours! This Black Farmer packaging uses halftoning on one of our shipping boxes to create a stunning photographic visual. As you can see, flexo printing with just two colours doesn’t have to limit your design possibilities. Well-thought-out and sustainable packaging can drive sales for your business and help you stand out from competitors.
Flexographic packaging helps you shout loud and clear about what your company does and why consumers should buy your product. If you’re a smaller business on a budget, flexo printing is ideal for small to medium printing runs without compromising print definition or quality.
Relay important information to your customers such as “this way up” or show couriers that your products are fragile and delicate. With low-set up costs and efficient run times, flexographic printing can revolutionise your packaging operation.
Flexographic printing is an excellent choice if your design is logo or text-based. You can go down the minimalist route by adding a product reference or a simple instruction, such as “fragile” or “handle with care”, or you can print the entire box with your chosen colours. You can enjoy detailed, high-definition graphics using up to five individual colours, which is beneficial for larger print runs.
Flexographic print can be applied to all kinds of cardboard boxes and paper bags.
Packaging Supplies is certified by the British Reputation Compliance Global Standards (BRCGS) to store food-grade and non-food-grade packaging. All the materials we use are safe, sanitary and sustainable. We can help you create your packaging artwork design and layout, providing PDF artwork proofs to make sure you’re happy before presenting the finished product. Our team is your team and we’re detail-oriented — we can even send ink swatches to ensure colour consistency in your packaging.
Interested in printed packaging? Give us a call on 01491 736238 or use the enquiry form
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Need some inspiration? Browse our sustainable packaging solutions or get a free design quote for custom printed packaging.
We offer a range of packaging printing services to suit any budget. We’ll help you choose the right printing process to create stunning packaging, no matter how intricate or minimal your artwork is. By choosing to work with us, you’re helping to protect the planet. Plus, you’ll benefit from our other services:
Let us help your business grow by designing the best possible packaging solution for your products. We can design, produce and deliver custom packaging that your customers will love.
We help you keep track of your stock at no additional cost. Save money and streamline your packaging operation by letting us keep an eye on your inventory — we’ll let you know when you need a restock.
We offer assistance in packaging, storing and shipping. Also referred to as fulfilment, third-party logistics (3PL) or co-packaging, we go above and beyond to help our customers build their businesses.
We pride ourselves on our flexible, end-to-end service that will give you the packaging you need. No matter what stage you’re at with your products or packaging, we’re here to help!
Printing your packaging boxes in the UK has never been easier. Let our packaging experts guide you through the process. Get in touch.
In the late 1970s, two friends and colleagues, Tim Allen and Stewart Middleton saw a gap in the market for a different type of packaging supplier. At the time, other businesses were selling custom made boxes and stocking packaging consumables, but Tim and Stewart wanted to offer more than that. They wanted to give their clients additional services, such as warehouse storage and the ability to have their packaging delivered as and when it was required. Packaging Supplies was established, and the rest is history.
