What is a CI flexo printing press?

CI Flexo Presses refer to Central Impression Flexo Presses. The following is a detailed introduction to them:

Definition and Basic Structure

• Definition: CI Flexo Presses are printing devices that use flexible printing plates and have a central impression cylinder as the core. During the printing process, all printing units are arranged around the central impression cylinder. The printing material runs around the central impression cylinder and comes into contact with the printing plates of each printing unit in turn to complete the printing.

• Structure: It mainly consists of a central impression cylinder, printing units, ink supply system, drying system, register control system, etc. The central impression cylinder is the core component of the equipment. It usually has a large diameter and a high - precision surface, providing stable support and pressure for printing. The printing unit contains a printing plate cylinder, an anilox roll, etc. The number of printing units can be configured according to printing requirements, usually 6 - 10.

Working Principle

• Ink Transfer: First, the ink is picked up by the anilox roll from the ink tank. The anilox roll has many tiny cells evenly distributed on its surface, which are used to quantitatively store and transfer the ink. The anilox roll transfers the ink to the printing plate cylinder. The flexible printing plate on the printing plate cylinder adsorbs an appropriate amount of ink through the height difference or ink affinity difference between the image and text parts and the non - image and text parts.

• Printing Process: The printing material moves at a constant speed around the central impression cylinder under the action of the traction device. When the printing plate cylinder with ink comes into contact with the printing material, under the pressure of the central impression cylinder, the ink on the printing plate is transferred to the printing material, thus completing the printing of the image and text. Multiple printing units work in turn to achieve multi - color printing.

• Drying Process: After printing, the printing material passes through the drying system, and the ink is quickly dried and cured by hot air, infrared rays, etc., to prevent the ink from smudging or contaminating each other during the subsequent transmission process.

Characteristics and Advantages

• High Printing Quality: The central impression structure ensures uniform printing pressure, which can guarantee the consistency of ink transfer, thus achieving high - precision overprinting and clear and full image and text printing effects. It is especially suitable for high - quality, multi - color printing of packaging products, etc.

• High Production Efficiency: It can be equipped with multiple printing units to complete multi - color printing at one time, reducing the printing process and material turnover time. The equipment runs at a relatively high speed, up to 500m/min or even higher.

• Strong Flexibility: It can adapt to different types and thicknesses of printing materials, such as paper, plastic film, aluminum foil, etc. And according to different printing needs, the printing plates and printing parameters can be quickly replaced and adjusted to achieve short - run and personalized printing.

• Good Environmental Performance: It usually uses water - based inks, UV inks and other environmentally friendly inks, reducing the volatilization of organic solvents and reducing environmental pollution.

Application Areas

• Packaging Printing: It is widely used in the packaging printing of food, beverage, cosmetics, pharmaceutical and other industries, such as the printing of plastic packaging bags, cartons, labels, etc.

• Paper Product Printing: It can be used to print all kinds of paper products, such as brochures, posters, greeting cards, etc., adding rich colors and patterns to paper products.

In short, CI Flexo Presses are based on the central impression cylinder and work through processes such as ink transfer, printing and drying. They have the advantages of high printing quality, high efficiency, strong flexibility and good environmental protection. They are widely used in the packaging and paper product printing fields.