The Status and Prospect of Label Printing Technology and Equipment

With the popularization of label (trademark) applications, label printing technology and equipment are receiving increasing attention. In the last year or two, label printing and label equipment manufacturing companies have become a force that absorbs all kinds of printing and post-press technology, gradually forming a relatively independent system to adapt to the diversified development of label applications.

New concept of label printing

At present, the label products are rich in content, mainly including: self-adhesive labels. That is, labels, tickets, etc. In the past, some people narrowly believed that label printing was merely self-adhesive labels such as self-adhesive labels. Such understanding would limit the direction of product development and the company's own development. The author believes that the new concept of label printing can be defined within the scope of narrow-web roll-to-roll printing, covering embossing, offset printing, gravure printing, screen printing, and flexographic printing. In fact, the advantage of label printing is not only the increase in the types of products, but more importantly, the automation of labeling can be achieved. Speed ​​up.

Technical status of label printing

China's label printing market has just formed a climate, and it is relatively weak in the aspects of label design, printing process, and printing equipment, and the development is unbalanced.

1. Printing company small and scattered

The status of small-scale, decentralized investment in label printing companies has led to the label market in terms of technology and price. There was a disorderly situation in the service. However, it is believed that with the gradual maturity of the market and the rise and expansion of large-scale and specialized enterprises, the overall level of the label printing industry will be greatly improved, including the integration of technology, equipment and manufacturers.

At present, domestic label printing companies can generally be divided into two categories: one is a large-scale label printing factory, which is very specialized, and is mainly based on circular press printing. Their customers are mainly large-scale production of daily-use chemicals, lubricants, and edible oils. Enterprises, long version products, quality requirements are also higher; the other is a small and medium-sized label printing factory, mainly in the traditional flat pressure printing method, customers are mainly distributed in the electronics industry, industrial manufacturing and other fields, output It is not big, but there are many types and specifications. This kind of company currently occupies a considerable proportion.

2. Prepress technology is weak

As in most Asian countries, letterpress equipment (trademark printers) is currently the main force for label printing, but domestic emphasis on letterpress prepress processing technology is not enough, and letterhead color dot printing is still a headache. The reason is actually the lack of understanding of letterpress printing. In foreign countries, Prepress's pre-press processing and output have professional software, but it is rarely introduced and applied in China. The prepress production of domestic label printing mainly depends on the offset printing method. It does not know that the dot enlargement of the embossing, the angle of the screen is completely different from that of offset printing, and how the original production method of offset printing can be used to faithfully restore the original and print a fine color label According to the author's observation, the exquisitely-printed proofs at the domestic exhibition site, many of which are professionally processed or produced abroad.

3. Geographical differences in technological levels

Professional label printing was first introduced into China from Tianjin, Shanghai and other places. At that time, it was mainly round-press embossing equipment. In the mid 1990s. In the later period, printing companies in Taiwan Province and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China successively invested in the PRD and Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and established a number of specialized label printing companies, bringing with them not only advanced equipment and technology experience, but also a large number of technologies. Talents have led the technological trend in the field of label printing. However, the label printing in the Mainland has only risen in the past two to three years. The level of technology is generally not high, and it is necessary to draw on advanced experience and technology.

4, the traditional concept of printing

In Europe and the United States, the use of flexographic printing in labels is very broad. They do not require a high level of detail or vividness, while in China, labels are designed to be beautifully designed. Because of its colorful appearance, it is difficult to accept flexographic printing, and it is still dominated by traditional printing methods such as embossing. In addition, the high speed of flexo printing is suitable for high-volume printing. At present, most of Chinese label printing is in small batches, and the flexographic printing mode is even less practical.

In addition, the market support for printing materials, inks, and plate making related to the label printing process needs to be further improved. Domestic label printing companies are not familiar with flexographic printing technologies and prepress plate making processes. Even if they buy a flexographic printing production line, the use and promotion will be affected because of the lack of plate-making knowledge and inadequate supply of consumables.

5. Lack of industry organization

With the increase in market demand for label products, the market competition in the label industry has also begun to intensify, but due to the lack of industry organizations in the label industry, such as the coordination of industry technical associations, resulting in poor information circulation in the industry, but also hindered the label printing. Technology and equipment development.

Label Printing Technology and Equipment Outlook

High speed, high quality is the development direction of label printing Rotary printing will become the main production method of label printing. In Europe and America.
In Japan and other countries and regions, flat and flat pressed label printing equipment has basically been eliminated. Moreover, with the localization of rotary label printing equipment, its price may be reduced to the level of imported flat-flattening label printers, which will promote the expansion of the rotary label printer market.
2. Flat, convex, soft, web combined presses are more ideal

Due to the diversified needs of the label products in aesthetics, anti-counterfeiting, and personalization, the advantages of comprehensive printing methods are the best choices for embodying the printing effects. Therefore, there will be more and more designs and applications of modular printers with flat, convex, flexible, and multi-functional nets. This is also the development direction of label equipment manufacturers.

3. Connection printing further expands

Wired post-press processing units include round knife die cutting. ; hole, indentation, hot stamping. Lamination, embossing, compounding, gluing, folding, singling, slitting, etc., and the post-press processing unit can be flexibly combined to provide a variety of high-speed, reel-type automatic post-press processing.

4. The new label-rich label market The development of RF labels and in-mold labeling technology will promote the rise of related markets such as materials and equipment.

In addition, there are many application areas can not be ignored, such as highway tickets, aircraft boarding passes, tickets, tickets are all label products, should arouse the printing company's attention.

5. Digital Printing Joins Label Printing

With the continuous maturation of digital printing technology and the gradual expansion of application fields, especially the emergence of post-press processing units that are compatible with digital printing systems, the development of digital label printers is just around the corner.

6. Special technology is complementary to label printing

Screen printing can show special effects, such as three-dimensional effect and matte effect, which has played a role in improving the grade of labels, but it is often not taken seriously.
Holographic positioning stamping. The emergence of high-tech such as cold stamping and laser die cutting has brought more ideas to printing houses and equipment manufacturers.