Digital imaging of flexographic plates has brought about many improvements when compared to conventional platemaking methods. Sleeve technology offers further refinements to the process. Advances in flexo sleeve technology are yielding opportunities in markets traditionally dominated by offset and gravure-markets such as folding cartons and shrink sleeves. Lightweight, durable, easy-to-handle flexo sleeves not only work well with less expensive substrates such as tissue, napkins, and paper towels, but also provide excellent lay-down of solid and metallic inks in packaging applications. Flexo sleeves are being used in two ways: as carrier foils for flat, imaged plates mounted on the surface or with the image directly engraved (in-the-round) on the sleeve surface. Each provides productivity enhancements for package printers.
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