Flexo printing (short for flexographic printing) is a printing method commonly used on plastic films, packaging, and other flexible materials. It’s one of the most popular techniques for custom-printed packaging, including bags, wraps, labels, and cartons.
Here’s how it works:
-
Flexible plates – Flexo uses flexible relief plates, usually made of rubber or photopolymer, that have the design raised on the surface (similar to a stamp).
-
Fast, continuous printing – Ink is transferred from an ink well to the plate via a roller (called an anilox roller), and then onto the packaging film or material as it runs through the press.
-
Versatility – Flexo can print on a wide range of substrates including plastic films (LDPE, HDPE, MDPE, co-extruded), paper, foil, and cardboard.
-
Colour options – It supports up to 8 or more colours, allowing for anything from simple one-colour logos to detailed multi-colour designs.
-
Efficiency – Because it runs at high speeds and handles large rolls of material, flexo printing is highly efficient and cost-effective for medium to large production runs.
Why it’s important for packaging:
-
It allows manufacturers like MPS Packaging to print logos, branding, handling instructions, barcodes, or designs directly onto the plastic film during production.
-
It’s durable—prints don’t easily smudge or rub off.
-
It balances cost and quality, making it the industry standard for printed packaging.
One of the items we get made for ourselves is our printed tape, this is printed using the flexogrpahic printing method.
In short, flexo printing is the go-to printing method for plastic packaging, giving businesses the ability to brand their products professionally while keeping production efficient.
