• Login
    • Join
  • Subscribe Free
    • Magazine
    • eNewsletter
    Checkout
    • Magazine
    • News
    • Exclusives
    • Labels & Packaging
    • Markets
    • Technology
    • Equipment
    • Supplies
    • Buyers' Guide
    • Events
    • Jobs
    • More
  • Magazine
  • News
  • Exclusives
  • Labels & Packaging
  • Markets
  • Technology
  • Equipment
  • Supplies
  • Buyers' Guide
  • Events
  • Jobs
  • Current / Back Issues
    Features
    Editorial
    Columns
    Digital Edition
    eNewsletter Archive
    Our Team
    Subscribe Now
    Advertise Now
    Top Features
    Paper Substrates

    Wine Labels

    Static Control

    Narrow Web Profile: OMNI Systems

    Digital and Hybrid Printers and Presses
    Breaking News
    Converter News
    European Label News
    Industry News
    Industry People
    M&A News
    New Products
    Expert's Opinion
    Live From Shows
    Top News
    Xeikon launches two new digital label printing presses

    UFlex adds capacity in packaging films

    CEC expands into labels and packaging with Heidelberg

    ABG delivers Digicon Series 3 to UK printer

    Graham Packaging rewarded with top environmental rating
    Blog
    Video Bites
    Beauty & Personal Care Labels
    Beer Labels
    Beverage Labels
    Flexible Packaging
    Folding Carton
    Food Labels
    Glue-Applied
    In-Mold
    Industrial Labels
    Medical Labels
    Pharmaceutical Labels
    Pressure Sensitive
    Prime Labels
    Promotional Labels
    Security Labels
    Shrink
    Smart Labels
    Specialty Labels
    Spirits Labels
    Wine Labels

    Avery Dennison optimizes adhesives for pharmaceutical labeling

    S-OneLP adds to growing team

    INX International and VerifyMe sign supply agreement

    Poland's Alu-Lids purchases first MPS flexo press

    Crypto codes combat fake malaria drugs in Africa
    Africa
    Asia
    Australia
    China
    Europe
    India
    Latin America
    Middle East
    North America

    Avery Dennison optimizes adhesives for pharmaceutical labeling

    UFlex adds capacity in packaging films

    CEC expands into labels and packaging with Heidelberg

    ABG delivers Digicon Series 3 to UK printer

    C&A debuts bitter tasting coating line for labels and packaging
    Flexography
    Digital Printing
    Prepress
    Finishing
    Sustainability

    Xeikon launches two new digital label printing presses

    CEC expands into labels and packaging with Heidelberg

    ABG delivers Digicon Series 3 to UK printer

    Tecnocut unveils new diecutting unit

    DTM Print announces Mac compatibility
    Digital Printers & Presses
    Flexo Presses
    Label Converting Equipment
    Label Finishing Equipment
    Prepress Equipment

    Xeikon launches two new digital label printing presses

    Dantex set to install first PicoJet digital press in US

    Poland's Alu-Lids purchases first MPS flexo press

    Phoseon announces NIR LED lamps

    Hamillroad Software appoints Carl Brock senior application specialist
    Dies And Tooling
    Flexo Supplies
    Ink & Coatings
    Prepress Supplies
    Pressrooom Supplies
    Substrates

    Avery Dennison optimizes adhesives for pharmaceutical labeling

    C&A debuts bitter tasting coating line for labels and packaging

    INX International providing relief to Texas

    Eaglewood Technologies debuts new anilox cleaning system

    Grand Rapids Label offers custom diecutting services
    All Companies
    Categories
    Company Profiles
    Label Converters
    Trade Associations
    Add New Company
    International Buyers Guide Companies
    OMET Americas, Inc.

    UPM Raflatac

    KTI

    Martin Automatic Inc.

    Flexo Label Advantage Group LLC (FLAG)
    Industry Events
    Webinars
    Live from Show Events
    • Magazine
      • Current & Past Issues
      • Features
      • Editorial
      • Columns
      • Digital Edition
      • eNewsletter Archive
      • Subscribe Now
      • Advertise Now
    • Breaking News
    • Buyers' Guide
      • All Companies
      • Categories
      • Company Profiles
      • Label Converters
      • Trade Associations
      • Add Your Company
    • Labels & Packaging
      • Beauty & Personal Care Labels
      • Beer Labels
      • Beverage Labels
      • Flexible Packaging
      • Folding Carton
      • Food Labels
      • Glue-Applied
      • In-Mold
      • Industrial Labels
      • Medical Labels
      • Pharmaceuticals Labels
      • Pressure Sensitive
      • Prime Labels
      • Promotional Labels
      • Security Labels
      • Shrink
      • Smart Labels
      • Speciality Labels
      • Spirits Labels
      • Wine Tables
    • Markets
      • Africa
      • Asia
      • Australia
      • China
      • Europe
      • India
      • Latin America
      • Middle East
      • North America
    • Equipment
      • Digital Printers & Presses
      • Flexo Presses
      • Label Converting Equipment
      • Label Fishing Equipment
    • Supplies
      • Dies And Tooling
      • Flexo Supplies
      • Ink & Coatings
      • Prepress Supplies
      • Pressrooom Supplies
      • Substrates
    • Online Exclusives
    • Slideshows
    • Experts Opinions
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Infographics
    • Blog
    • Whitepapers
    • Events
      • Industry Events
      • Live from Show Events
      • Webinars
    • Jobs
    • Resources
      • Supplier Gallery
      • Literature Showcase
      • Homepage Showcase
    • About Us
      • About Us
      • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms of Use
    Online Exclusives

    Flexo-Graphics gets assist from Flexo Wash

    Flexo-Graphics realized a return on investment inside of 12 months for an anilox cleaner and parts washer from Flexo Wash.

    Flexo-Graphics gets assist from Flexo Wash
    02.19.20
    Flexo-Graphics was having a problem – and it was a good problem to have. Business was growing rapidly, but it realized its internal processes were not keeping up with production demands. As the business grew and expanded, the need to clean its aniloxes effectively grew and expanded as well.

    Flexo-Graphics' problem was that the anilox cleaning method “broke down too often and too fast.” Due to this unreliable cleaning system, Flexo-Graphics employees spent a few hours a day cleaning rolls by hand as well. Two employees were dedicated to the manual cleaning of not only the anilox rolls, but the trays and parts as well. They used a combination of solvents and other cleaners but were having a hard time getting everything truly clean.

    Tim McDonough of Flexo-Graphics says, “Our eyes were really opened when an ink vendor showed us how dirty our ‘clean’ aniloxes were,” despite all the time and effort the company had put into cleaning them.

    McDonough then turned to Flexo Wash. He began chatting with Mike and Patrick Potter prior to recent Labelexpo and TLMI Annual Meeting events. “They educated me about the Flexo Wash machine and what it could do.”

    After measuring its cleaning space, McDonough realized he had the space to accomodate a Flexo Wash unit.

    DIrty rolls and bad timing
    Flexo-Graphics conducted a demo of its dirty anilox rolls in the Flexo Wash anilox cleaner and found the results to be “remarkable” and that their rolls “were not nearly as clean” as they thought they were, according to John Witmer, operations manager.

    The company learned how just a slight change in the cleanliness of an anilox roll really affects the color. They also determined that “staying at color” was dependent on the cleanliness of the anilox roll. McDonough explains, “Much of our customer base was moving to tight color tolerances, and we felt the Flexo Wash solution would give us the cleanest rollers and best chance to regularly reproduce spot colors within the acceptable Delta.”

    Time was also a huge factor in their decision. Before, determining the time to clean the anilox rolls took some planning, because it would mean the press was down for an hour. Finding time when the cleaning would take place during the day, between jobs and all while trying to keep up with an increased production schedule, was critical. Also, Flexo-Graphics could only clean two anilox rolls at a time in its ultrasonic cleaner and it would take one hour.

    First purchase: Anilox Cleaner
    In 2017, Flexo-Graphics purchased its first anilox cleaner, a Handy 2x2. It could clean four rolls at a time with a much shorter turnaround time of 15-20 minutes maximum (sometimes only 10 minutes using the Quick Wash).

    In 2018, the company purchased a new press, which was a 17” press with 10 colors. This new press, with work that was much more in the “UV World,” taxed Flexo-Graphics' ability to keep everything clean. Flexo-Graphics went from a negligible use of UV Ink to using UV ink 50% of the time in just three short years. 

    The improvements in their system were evident. "We spent far less time at the sink, which resulted in more time running the press. In addition, clean rolls led to more repeatable color and tones, which is critical in a highly repetitive business. Our ability to easily hit color led to more press up time due to less time spent dialing in color or changing anilox rolls.”

    McDonough adds, “We also improved press run time by not having to clean an anilox roll that was already in the press. Prior to Flexo Wash, it was not uncommon for us to run up a job with a 'clean' anilox only to see that color was lacking and that we need to give the anilox another cycle to try to get it cleaner. Now a roller is either clean or it is not.  There no longer is almost clean."

    Here are some of Flexo-Graphics' results:
    • Flexo-Graphics prints 250 days a year.
    • The company used to spend 10 minutes prepping each roll and then one hour cleaning in the old system. After the cleaning, they would rinse the roll again.
    • Now Flexo-Graphics spends about five minutes to load and unload four rolls into the Flexo Wash unit. The cleaning process takes 15 to 20 minutes.
    • Upgrading to the Flexo Wash system took them from two rolls per hour cleaning capacity to a potential of 12 to 16 rolls an hour.
    • Cleaning supply cost was $1,720 a year. The first year with Flexo Wash system, the cost was $1,520, but they cleaned four times more anilox rolls.
    • Cleaner rolls have improved their print quality.
    Second purchase: Parts Washer
    “In 2019, we added our second UV converting line," McDonough says. "We had two helpers cleaning ink pans, blades, rollers per shift. Needless to say, this was becoming a bit time consuming and not a productive use of time in a tight labor market. I called several TLMI friends for references on parts washers, and the consensus was that the Flexo Wash parts washer did everything it was advertised to do.” 

    This expanded UV production also “tipped the scales in the way we cleaned our press parts.” For that reason, 18 months after Flexo-Graphics bought the Flexo Wash Anilox Cleaner, it purchased the Flexo Wash Parts Washer, a PK 200 WR. McDonough says, “Upon installation, we were able to free employees to perform more of the press helper role they were brought on to do rather than spending a shift cleaning pans. This led to more productivity on our servo presses and much faster cleaning of press parts.

    "The amount of labor and machine time we have saved allowed us to easily realize a return on investment inside of 12 months on both the anilox cleaner and the parts washer," he adds.
    Related Searches
    • print
    • productivity
    • first
    • graphics

    Related Online Exclusives

    • Ink and Coatings | North America | Pharmaceutical Labels
      Avery Dennison optimizes adhesives for pharmaceutical labeling

      Avery Dennison optimizes adhesives for pharmaceutical labeling

      The company’s wide range of products must perform in the most challenging environments.
      Greg Hrinya, Editor 02.26.21

    • Dies And Tooling | Finishing | North America
      Wilson Manufacturing drives die development to assist label converters

      Wilson Manufacturing drives die development to assist label converters

      The supplier has engineered new flexible dies and a “digital” adjustable anvil roll system to further promote printing efficiency.
      Greg Hrinya, Editor 02.22.21

    • Digital Printing | North America
      Domino details surge in variable data printing

      Domino details surge in variable data printing

      Label industry veteran Gary Peterson sits down with L&NW to discuss the changing needs of converters and the benefits of digital printing technology.
      Greg Hrinya, Editor 02.17.21


    • North America | Smart Labels
      Online shopping necessitates RFID technology

      Online shopping necessitates RFID technology

      RFID and NFC have grown from use in the supply chain to driving more value for brands, retailers and consumers alike.
      David Savastano, Editor, Printed Electronics Now 02.03.21

    • North America | Security Labels
      Avery Dennison ramps up security labeling efforts

      Avery Dennison ramps up security labeling efforts

      The global COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the need for anti-tampering and track-and-trace features in packaging.
      Greg Hrinya, Editor 01.27.21

    • North America
      Fathom Optics unleashes new technology targeting packaging industry

      Fathom Optics unleashes new technology targeting packaging industry

      The software produces impressive moving prints for applications such as prime labels, shrink sleeves, as well as product authentication.
      Greg Hrinya, Editor 01.12.21


    • North America | Substrates | Sustainability
      L&NW sits down with PPG

      L&NW sits down with PPG's Amy Mercante

      Mercante, who has spent nearly 30 years with PPG, discusses the newest label and packaging offerings, as well as her role with the company.
      Greg Hrinya, Editor 01.06.21

    • North America | Substrates
      ATL Corp, Nova Label benefit from FLAG network

      ATL Corp, Nova Label benefit from FLAG network

      When a supplier was unable to meet an order, ATL Corp turned to Nova Label for help sourcing a holographic piggyback paper.
      L&NW Staff 01.04.21

    • North America
      L&NW

      L&NW's most read features in 2020

      A deep dive into tabletop digital printers was our most popular feature of the year.
      Greg Hrinya, Editor 12.22.20


    • North America
      L&NW

      L&NW's top online exclusives of 2020

      An exclusive interview with Anantshree Chaturvedi, CEO of FlexFilms, garnered the most interest among readers in 2020.
      Greg Hrinya, Editor 12.22.20

    • North America | Pharmaceutical Labels
      Pharmaceutical labeling poised for strong future

      Pharmaceutical labeling poised for strong future

      Avery Dennison has addressed this ever-growing industry segment with several advanced portfolios.
      Greg Hrinya, Editor 12.21.20

    • L&NW’s top headlines of 2020

      L&NW’s top headlines of 2020

      Mergers and acquisitions, new product launches, and industry activity highlighted the tumultuous year.
      Greg Hrinya, Editor 12.17.20


    • Flexo Supplies | North America
      LLFlex relies on legacy technology from Flexo Wash

      LLFlex relies on legacy technology from Flexo Wash

      LLFlex, a manufacturer based in Louisville, KY, USA, uses the first FW 3000 Flexo Wash Anilox Cleaner to meet demand.
      L&NW Staff 12.10.20

    • SPGPrints brings printing expertise to COVID-19 biosensors

      SPGPrints brings printing expertise to COVID-19 biosensors

      The company's rotary screen printers are producing millions of COVID-19 rapid tests.
      David Savastano, Editor, Printed Electronics Now 12.04.20

    • North America | Wine Labels
      Vintage 99 enhances inspection capabilities with BST North America

      Vintage 99 enhances inspection capabilities with BST North America

      Vintage 99, which operates presses from Nilpeter, Mark Andy and HP, has installed TubeScan 100% inspection systems and PowerScope viewing systems.
      L&NW Staff 12.04.20


    Trending
    • Dantex Set To Install First PicoJet Digital Press In US
    • Xeikon Launches Two New Digital Label Printing Presses
    • Hot Stamping Foils Market To Reach $7.8 Billion By 2027
    • UFlex Adds Capacity In Packaging Films
    • Avery Dennison Optimizes Adhesives For Pharmaceutical Labeling
    Breaking News
    • FTA converts Forum & INFOFLEX to virtual events
    • Xeikon launches two new digital label printing presses
    • UFlex adds capacity in packaging films
    • CEC expands into labels and packaging with Heidelberg
    • ABG delivers Digicon Series 3 to UK printer
    View Breaking News >
    CURRENT ISSUE

    January/February 2021

    • Paper Substrates
    • Wine Labels
    • Static Control
    • Narrow Web Profile: OMNI Systems
    • View More >

    Cookies help us to provide you with an excellent service. By using our website, you declare yourself in agreement with our use of cookies.
    You can obtain detailed information about the use of cookies on our website by clicking on "More information”.

    • About Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms And Conditions
    • Contact Us

    follow us

    Subscribe
    Nutraceuticals World

    Latest Breaking News From Nutraceuticals World

    Preliminary Study Links Markers of Impaired Bone Health to Vegan Diet
    Refined Grains Linked to Heart Attack Risk, Early Death
    Kappa Bioscience Extends Research Partnership For COVID-19 Research
    Coatings World

    Latest Breaking News From Coatings World

    Nippon Paint Marine Wins Korea Export Award
    Universal Display Corporation, PPG Expand Global Production of UniversalPHOLED Materials
    PPG Introduces Premium Iso-free Primer Surfacer, Catalyst
    Medical Product Outsourcing

    Latest Breaking News From Medical Product Outsourcing

    January AI Raises $8.8 Million in New Funding
    FDA Clears Ava Fertility Tracking Wearable Device
    First Patient in Europe Treated With Diamondback 360 Coronary Orbital Atherectomy System
    Contract Pharma

    Latest Breaking News From Contract Pharma

    Spark Therapeutics Appoints CTO
    Cryoport Launches ESG Program
    U.S. Govt. Purchases 100k Doses of Lilly's COVID-19 Antibody Cocktail
    Beauty Packaging

    Latest Breaking News From Beauty Packaging

    The Top Beauty Products of 2021, According to HelloGiggles
    Estée Lauder Taps Ana de Armas as Global Brand Ambassador
    Sephora Announces Significant Expansion
    Happi

    Latest Breaking News From Happi

    What You're Reading on Happi.com
    Cosmetic Chemical Sales To Post CAGR 5.8% To 2025
    ACI Urges Senate to Approve Regan as EPA Administrator
    Ink World

    Latest Breaking News From Ink World

    Etiflex Enters New Markets with Nilpeter FA-22 Installation
    Hydrocarbon Solvents Market to Surpass $8.1 Billion by 2030
    Marshall & Bruce Adds Koenig & Bauer Rapida 106 41-Inch Seven-Color Press
    Label & Narrow Web

    Latest Breaking News From Label & Narrow Web

    FTA converts Forum & INFOFLEX to virtual events
    Xeikon launches two new digital label printing presses
    UFlex adds capacity in packaging films
    Nonwovens Industry

    Latest Breaking News From Nonwovens Industry

    Texas Medical Technology Partners with My Protect Kit
    Mexico City Single-Use Plastics Ban Leads to Tampon Shortage
    Believe Diapers Launch in U.S.
    Orthopedic Design & Technology

    Latest Breaking News From Orthopedic Design & Technology

    Fusion Robotics Receives FDA Clearance for Spinal Navigation and Robotics System
    Kaia Health Unveils Next-Gen Complete MSK Care Solutions
    First Implantation of CTL Amedica's Minimally Invasive Flex Tower
    Printed Electronics Now

    Latest Breaking News From Printed Electronics Now

    Comercial Kywi Improves Customer Service, Front-Store Operations with Zebra Mobile Solution
    Global Printed Circuit Board Market Projected to Reach $69.32 Billion by 2027
    Global Smart Glass Market to Register 6.8% CAGR Between 2021-28: Grand View Research

    Copyright © 2021 Rodman Media. All rights reserved. Use of this constitutes acceptance of our privacy policy The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Rodman Media.

    AD BLOCKER DETECTED

    Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors.
    Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker.


    FREE SUBSCRIPTION Already a subscriber? Login