Following extensive dialogue with narrow web label and packaging printers concerning their needs for exact color formulations and simplicity in color matching, Flint Group Narrow Web has launched VIVO Color Solutions.  This web-based system is a first-of-its-kind ink color formulation search engine and support service, designed to increase the converter’s color accuracy, press uptime and reduce substrate and ink waste.

This offering is a family of products and services that ensures color recipes are tailored to each customer’s unique selection of ink chemistry, variety of substrates, and selection of aniloxes.  VIVO Color Solutions is a step above existing color management options which are based upon one substrate and theoretically calculated formulations.  VIVO Color Solutions is the only one operational on the market today that provides this flexibility and accuracy designed-in so that the converter’s operation can focus on what they do best, printing beautiful graphics for the brand owner. 

“Today customers across 7 countries in Europe are using VIVO Color Solutions to generate ink color formulations, and their feedback has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Kelly Kolliopoulos, Global Marketing Director, Flint Group Narrow Web.  “Customers tell us they get accurate ink formulations for new colors right away, their press utilisation has increased, and their operators find the system easy to use.  These qualitative reviews are backed up with quantitative results.  On average, converters who use VIVO Color Solutions for spot color formulation save 2 hours of press down-time and 100-300 linear meters of substrate waste per color match.” 

According to Fint Group customer Arthur Nowaczyk, owner of Natalii Sp. z o.o, “We have increasing numbers of jobs where clients require stringent color tolerance. Our old system for color matching was inaccurate, and our press operators had to adjust color on press multiple times, which caused us press down time, and generated substrate and ink waste.  During our first week of using VIVO Color Solutions, we had to manage new designs for one of our largest customers. They were really impressed with how quickly and accurately we could meet their specified color target for these new complex jobs!  Overall, by adopting VIVO Color Solutions, our press utilization has increased 1-2 hours per job, and our substrate waste is reduced by 150 linear meters per run. It really improves our productivity and quality, and operators appreciate how user friendly the system is.”

“Formulations from VIVO are much better than from using the pantone guide, and this is an improvement in our productivity,” says Monika, a prepress staff member from Sigolabels, a Flint Group Narrow Web customer

What’s next in the VIVO Color Solutions development pipeline?
“I am very excited to lead the launch of this bespoke offering throughout EMEA,” comments Niklas Olsson, Business Development Manager-Services, Flint Group Narrow Web. “Today the combined offering includes the 24/7 formulations warehouse (VIVO Color Cloud) backed up by a team of color specialists who respond to unique color match requests.  But there are more innovations to come, including the opportunity to digitally print draw-downs or to certify color quality control on press.”

“Stay tuned for the planned releases of additional Flint Group Narrow Web VIVO Color Solutions modules as the company establishes the industry’s highest color management standard,” Olsson adds. For a limited time, Flint Group Narrow Web offers all customers a free of charge two months trial period of the VIVO Color Solutions, where the promise is to reduce the press downtime, rejects and re-runs, material waste, extra waste ink and thereby helping the converter to cut costs.