In many areas of business, innovation is key to remaining at the forefront of your company’s sector and quickly meeting customer demands. Printing is no exception, with hybrid printing proving to be one of the most exciting and impactful developments in recent years.
Hybrid printing seamlessly blends flexographic (flexo) and digital printing technologies to enhance print quality, efficiency, and versatility, making it an increasingly popular choice in many industries.
In this article, we’ll explain what hybrid printing is and how the combination of flexo and digital methodologies can deliver optimum results.
Combining flexo and digital: the best of both worlds
Hybrid printing refers to the integration of flexo and digital printing processes within a single press. Whereas flexographic printing, which is known for its high-speed production and cost-efficiency in long runs, uses flexible relief plates and can print on a variety of substrates, digital printing is renowned for its precision, fast turnaround times, and ability to handle variable data printing (VDP).
By merging these two approaches, hybrid printing systems harness the strengths of both technologies to deliver optimum results. Printers can switch between or simultaneously use flexo and digital methods, depending on the requirements of each job or project.
Why you should choose hybrid printing for your business
- Enhanced flexibility: Hybrid printing provides unrivalled flexibility, enabling printers to cater to a wider range of applications than is possible with other methods. In particular, it’s ideal for short to medium print runs, as well as jobs that require a high degree of customisation. Whether it is used to produce intricate labels, packaging, or promotional materials, hybrid printing offers the versatility that other printing technologies do not.
- Superior quality: By combining the robust, high-speed printing capabilities of flexo with the precision and quality of digital, hybrid printing delivers superior print results. The integration of the two technologies creates crisp, detailed images and vibrant colours to meet the highest standards of modern printing and strengthen customer satisfaction.
- Cost-efficiency: Hybrid printing reduces the need for multiple production runs and setups, slashing setup times and labour and material costs. The ability to switch between flexo and digital processes within a single run optimises resources and minimises waste, leading to significant cost savings.
- Speed: By seamlessly switching between flexo and digital processes in hybrid printing systems, business can enhance production speed and efficiency. Enhanced agility allows for quicker turnarounds, enabling businesses to meet tight deadlines, improve overall workflow, and strengthen their reputation for reliability.
- Versatile substrate handling: Hybrid presses are designed to handle a variety of substrates, from traditional paper and cardboard to synthetic materials and flexible packaging, making them suitable for different industries such as food and beverage manufacture, pharmaceuticals, and packaging.
- Finishing : Hybrid presses have in-line finishing options such a Die Cutting, Embossing, Cold Foil, Laminating & over varnishing , allowing a finished product to be delivered in a single pass operation. This reduces waste and the time from order to delivery.
How will hybrid printing evolve in the future?
As technology continues to advance, the capabilities of hybrid printing systems are expected to grow. Innovations in ink formulation, automation, and integration with other digital technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and augmented reality (AR), will drive developments in hybrid printing. Therefore, it’s the ideal time to adopt hybrid printing into your business’s processes, to ensure you’re perfectly positioned to take advantage of the benefits of the technology, not just now but in years to come.
Contact us for more information
If you have any questions about our hybrid printing presses or would like to request a free, no-obligation quotation, please get in touch with Focus Label today.
Image source: Canva
