Uflex is offering reflective color communication technology that works in combination with specialized prepress software and special laser engraving hardware. This effect is attained by manufacturing a special rotogravure cylinder (may or may not be in place of a white cylinder) that uses normal transparent gold/ transparent silver inks or lacquer inks.

The customized software ensures that the dots are precisely distributed throughout the design so as to produce a homogeneous metallic effect, which the company says shimmers better than printing done by some of the costliest metallic inks on metallic substrates/laminates. Some of the benefits include reduction of laminate costs for the end user, reduced ink GSM, no additional capital expenditures, flexibility, and cost effectiveness.

“This technology is a real shot in the arm for the converters and helps them add value for their clients by enhancing the aesthetics of their packaging without using prohibitive metallic inks or metallic laminate for that matter,” says P.K. Agarwal, joint president of the Cylinders Business, Uflex Limited. “We are getting many inquiries for the special printing cylinder.”

“With the help of the special reflective color communication technology, we are adding immense value to the process of converting,” adds Ashok Chaturvedi, chairman and managing director, Uflex. “Such progressive value addition throughout the chain eventually results in an aesthetically unique and functionally superior packaging. The Packaging/Converting Business Vertical at Uflex has already tried and tested this technology, which makes us confident to offer this solution to converters outside Uflex. Being a fully integrated end-to-end flexible packaging materials and solution company, we–as a principle–always test our products internally and market them only upon being adequately satisfied with the performance.”