The printing industry is evolving rapidly thanks to new print hardware and software technologies. While some businesses have embraced the latest trends and moved to digital printing, others are reluctant to forsake flexographic printing because of the expenses associated with digital printing. Few people are aware of a printing technology that combines the benefits of both flexographic and digital printing. If you want to experience the combined benefits of both technologies, it’s high time you consider hybrid inkjet printing.
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Digital, Flexo, and Hybrid Printing
Digital printing allows you to minimize expenses for small print volumes, while flexo printing is more cost-effective when dealing with colossal print volumes or long processing cycles. Digital printing hardware is more expensive than flexo printing hardware. One advantage of digital presses over flexo presses is that the former are cheaper to operate because fewer human resources are required, and it delivers more print runs per shift.
Flexo printing is mainly used for packaging and labels, while digital printing applies to signage and posters. Hybrid printing combines the features of flexo and digital printing technology. Therefore, it can be used for a wide range of applications.
On the one hand, it incorporates the efficiency of flexo printing and, on the other, the creativity of digital printing. As a result, you get high-quality printouts at a low cost and flexible and faster processes.
The Benefits Of Hybrid Printing
The best way to appreciate hybrid printing is to review some of the benefits that show how it differs from the traditional label printing methods.
1. Advanced Features
Hybrid printing presses have features that facilitate the customization of print runs. These features include:
- Advanced user interfaces with touch screen capability: This allows you to manage your printouts by touching the appropriate icon on display.
- Remote operations: The print settings of hybrid presses can be programmed beforehand and activated automatically. This allows you to anticipate required orders and plan for them.
- Mono and four color options: Hybrid presses offer a wide selection of colors. Therefore, you can produce printouts to complement various designs.
- Hybrid printers allow users to choose web widths
- Inbuilt UV drying mechanisms
- In-line systems for conversion and finishing
- Uni-colored flexo head for pre-coating
- Printing and over varnish features
2. Increased Productivity
One of the main benefits of hybrid inkjet printing technology is increased productivity. Flexo printers are limited in productivity, while digital printers are more efficient for small workloads. Hybrid printers have an increased production speed. For example, the Kodak Prosper 7000 Turbo Press is a hybrid printer that processes big workloads at lightning speed.
Hybrid printing helps you deal with more work within a short time. Some of the automatic tasks these printers are capable of include: labeling, finishing, coating, packaging, and cutting. Consequently, you can save on staffing expenses for each print run.
With hybrid printing technology, you do not have to hire skilled labor to operate the machines. Provided a person has a background knowledge of conventional and digital presses, they can work with hybrid printers. Furthermore, these presses are also less time intensive.
Additionally, hybrid presses can attend to several tasks simultaneously. This enables you to serve a broader range of customers. As a result, you can handle many small print runs and reduce production expenses on large runs.
3. Robust Construction
Hybrid presses feature the strength and functionality of flexo-presses and can integrate various optional features and upgrades. These presses are cheap to operate and easy to maintain. You can also incorporate these digital machines with your IT infrastructure to smoothly transition between layout, design, and print.
4. Greater Flexibility
Hybrid presses offer businesses numerous possibilities. In the past, you were limited to packaging and labels. The digital wave introduced printing for posters and signage. Hybrid inkjet printing enables you to explore numerous applications. This means many industries can benefit from investing in hybrid printers.
Additionally, hybrid printers have colors beyond the CMYK range. You can add special inks to your production line for improved and unique labels. Furthermore, you can convert in-line, decorate, and finish products in a single pass.
5. Simplify Complex Jobs
Hybrid presses deal with ‘on the fly’’ changes between complex jobs. These machines are also capable of data imaging facilities. Printing with hybrid technology reduces operational and digital consumable expenses. As a result, you can save on costs because the presses fill areas with solid colors and the digital features produce composite images.
Summing It Up
Advances in printing technologies make it more cost-effective for businesses to produce printouts. Hybrid technology offers the best of two worlds: conventional and digital printers. Therefore, you do not only save on the costs of printing but also have high-quality printouts produced in the shortest time possible. This means you can create large printout volumes without missing out on the advanced digital printing features. Take your printing services to the next level by investing in hybrid inkjet printers.
