Corrugated Box Printing Process: Pre-press Plate Making Technology And Application

Plate-making is divided into the following types: manual engraving, laser engraving, exposing flexographic plate, soft film exposing lithographic (PS plate), and die-cutting plate. The above plate-making technology is a technology often used in carton companies. Depending on the size of the company, the plate-making technology used is different. Most small carton factories use manual engraving technology, which is low in cost, but requires relatively high engraving personnel. Now, this kind of plate-making technology is relatively rare, but it is still relatively common in some small carton factories in the Midwest.

Laser-engraved flexo (rubber version): In order to reduce production costs, some carton manufacturers have adopted laser plate-making technology for the processing of some small batches of scattered orders. This plate-making technology is used by medium-sized or above carton manufacturers in the country. Chinese are more common. This kind of plate making method is more convenient. It requires a computer and a laser engraving machine. When making the plate, a plate making method designed by the computer is used.

The specific operation is: the engraving personnel cut the base plate according to the size of the design layout, place the base plate in the laser engraving machine as required, and position it as required, the computer outputs the engraving instructions, and the laser engraving machine performs engraving to complete After engraving, the laser engraving machine will prompt that if the engraving staff needs to continue engraving, they only need to replace the base plate according to the above procedure and operate. After the layout is engraved, the plate maker needs to clean up the layout, remove the unnecessary parts, and then the plate maker will review the completed layout against the sample, confirm that it is correct, and then send it to the production unit for use or make a hanging version. If you make a hanging plate, the plate maker needs to review the layout again with the sample after making the hanging plate, and then submit it to the production department for use after it is correct. Otherwise, it must not be put into production use.

Laser die-cutting plate: Under normal circumstances, a professional plate-making company will do it. The advantages of this plate making method are fast plate making speed, high accuracy, and relatively durable. The disadvantage is that the tool change speed is slow and the cost is high. Under normal circumstances, this type of version is made by the carton company according to the carton specifications to design the layout specification, and then transmit it to the professional plate making company through the network. The professional plate making company will make the layout according to the pattern, and then send it back to the carton company and design it. After being reviewed by the personnel, it will be used by the production department. There is also a way to make die-cut plates, which is to make them by hand, draw out drawings through a computer, and cut the plates by hand. Manually enlarge the drawing on the base plate, use professional equipment to punch and saw wire, manually install the knife wire and steel wire, and review and confirm it after completion, and then hand it over to the production department for use. However, this method of plate making is inefficient, not durable, and error-prone. Now, few companies use manual plate making.

Printing flexo (resin plate): design the layout through the computer, print out a clear sample and submit it to the carton purchasing enterprise for review and confirmation before proceeding with plate making. Use sulphuric acid paper or film to make the negative film, and cut the resin base plate according to the size and specifications required by the layout. Cover the negative film on the resin base plate and cover the surrounding with light-resistant materials to prevent overexposure and affect the normal use of the layout. . After everything is ready, put the base plate in a dedicated exposure machine for exposure. The exposure time is about 30 minutes. After completion, the plate is taken out and placed in a professional plate washer for cleaning. After cleaning, put it into the baking box for baking and shaping. Detack treatment is required after shaping. After all this is completed, the layout must be reviewed by professional designers, and after it is correct, it will be assembled or directly delivered to the production department for use.

Exposure lithography (PS version): Design and proofing by a professional design and plate-making company. This proofing is color separation proofing to facilitate carton printing companies to keep the ink color consistent with the proofing when printing, especially for multi-color printing and dot printing. Pay attention to the control of dots and color sequence. The plate maker should pay special attention to the control of the exposure time and the cleaning of the exposure equipment when making lithography. When the plate maker is performing the exposure process, the exposure machine must first be cleaned, the exposure surface is clean, the equipment is turned on and started, and a substrate that meets the requirements is placed in the middle of the exposure machine. Keep the positioning line according to the drawing rules and previous rules of the printing machine, and place the negative film (film) according to the position of the positioning line, and lay it flat on the plate. Close the exposure machine and start the vacuum machine, set the exposure time, start the exposure device, and carry out exposure according to the set exposure time (in general, the time is set between 20 seconds and 2 minutes, and the specific set time is determined by the plate making Personnel set according to the needs of the plate making). After completion, let the exposure device automatically cool down and then close it, turn on the exposure machine, take out the negative film and place it, take out the lithographic plate and place it in the developing machine for automatic development. After the development is completed, the layout is rinsed with clean water. The plate-making personnel will trim the layout to remove dirty spots and lines to facilitate printing and make the layout clean. After completion, it will be handed over to the production department for use.

The above is a summary of the Haiyi New Material based on some practical experience of individuals in carton manufacturers and with reference to the actual practices of large and medium-sized carton manufacturers in China. In the specific operation, it is still necessary to do it according to the actual situation of the enterprise and the specific conditions of the plate making equipment used, and do not blindly copy it. The current design and plate making technology can be said to be changing with each passing day. In particular, some professional design and plate making enterprises in China have done quite prominently in one aspect of design and plate making, and have become the leader in the design and plate making industry. However, as a carton manufacturer, the design and plate making must be done according to the actual needs of the company, and it must not be greedy for everything. Of course, in order to meet customer requirements faster and improve design efficiency for some large and super large carton manufacturers, it is possible to introduce professional proofing equipment. Under normal circumstances, it is still done by professional companies. This kind of cost is more suitable for enterprises development.
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