Higher screen counts mean higher anilox counts, and that in turn translates to ink that had better perform like a magician on the substrate. The people in the plate industry are pushing 175 and 200 line screens. The anilox people are pushing the line count, so that 1,000 line is now common. Some even giggle about a 1,400 line anilox roll. Ink manufacturers have been busy in their laboratories tinkering with formulas for their water based products.
Strength is the operative word today.
Flexo inks now have higher strength for film printing, says Buystedt. They have been at higher strength for porous materials over the past five or six years, and now they re stronger for films, so you can run a 1,000 line anilox roll. The time to dry is reduced, and you use less ink. Strength means a greater amount of pigment in the product. When inks are stronger, you can put less ink onto the substrate, and you can turn down the dryers a bit because you don t use as much energy to dry the water.