Berkshire Labels invests in Esko Full HD Flexo

Packaging Solutions

Berkshire Labels has invested in next generation HD Flexo from Esko to improve flexographic print quality and increase throughput. It has also enhanced the company’s ability to expand into shrink sleeves, a relatively new market.

The latest investment in Esko solutions includes a CDI Spark 4835 flexo plate imaging system with Full HD Flexo and Studio Toolkit for Sleeves to enable Berkshire to provide 3D proofs to shrink sleeve customers as well as to fully pre-distort sleeve artwork in-house.

A long time Esko customer, Berkshire Labels also uses Automation Engine and DeskPack.

Managing director Paul Roscoe said, ‘Our objective was to fully upgrade our flexo technologies to bring them in line with the digital investments we have made over the last six years. Our goal, as always is to ensure perfect colour consistency across all our printed products, regardless of the technology used to produce them. Esko solutions are a critical element of our closed loop full colour management system that enables us to achieve those objectives.’

In addition to the Esko investments, Berkshire Labels has updated its proofing system, installed new GTT anilox rollers across all presses, is now using new ISO Puretone Inks, and has implemented X-Rite InkFormulation Software, Color iQC and eXact spectrophotometers.

Paul said, ‘Stepping up to provide full HD quality to all of our customers is something we have clearly been focused on. It is great that we can now provide this level of quality for our full range of products, be it labels, sleeves or film, with the same quality on both digital and flexo runs.’

He added, ‘Upgrading to full HD flexo has enabled us to ‘think digitally’ when outputting flexo plates. The higher optics and increased speeds have improved our productivity significantly. The full HD flexo screening has allowed us to improve our quality to the highest level of print for all customers, regardless of the product type we are providing. Especially in shrink sleeves, a relatively new market for us, we are achieving fantastic results and able to do everything in-house.’

Studio manager James Taylor added, ‘Due to the new full HD flexo CDI being able to hold very small dots (<1%), our output has increased dramatically, by as much as 80% in some cases! Adopting this new technology has delivered some great results for us and our customers.’