Asahi Photoproducts is demonstrating a variety of ways that the future of sustainable label and flexible packaging production is available today, including the value of implementing Expanded Color Gamut (ECG) printing and how the company can work with flexo operations to help them along their road to Solvent ZERO.

Printing with expanded gamut process colors allows for a broader color gamut and typically includes CMYK plus orange, green and violet. By adding these three additional base inks into the process, producers can achieve a much closer match to traditional formulated spot ink colors as well as eliminate the need to wash up the press between jobs. Minimizing or eliminating solvent use in the plate production process is a key step for many flexo operations in reducing their carbon footprint and offering a more sustainable flexo operation and a cleaner, more enjoyable working environment.

“We are pleased to support Labelexpo Europe 2023, the industry’s most important European show,” says Dieter Niederstadt, Asahi’s technical marketing manager. “In addition to featuring our Carbon Neutral AWPTM CleanPrint plates, we will also be focused on the value that ECG printing brings to flexo printing operations.

This includes higher quality and improved productivity, since press wash-ups between jobs are reduced or eliminated using this approach and it is easier to achieve almost all Pantone colors, greatly expanding the color gamut that can be produced with flexographic printing. Asahi experts will be on hand to answer visitor questions and recommend solutions to existing challenges they may be facing.”

In addition, ECG expert Kai Lankinen is conducting walking tours of five ECG booths, including the Asahi booth, on Tuesday and Wednesday during the show. Lankinen, founder of Dr. Lankinen Graphic Innovations, is a results-oriented international professional packaging printing consultant who is passionate about #Efficiency and #Sustainability through implementing #ExpandedGamut (#ECG) technology. Proven results include increasing productivity, better eco-efficiency, achieving cost savings and CO2 footprint reduction in packaging. Lankinen has 20+ years of experience in the industry working closely with brand owners and packaging printers.