FFP has developed a colour book for its brand and retail customers
Northampton-based FFP Packaging Solutions has published a fixed colour palette guide, enabling brands and retailers to select repeatable, achievable colours based on the Pantone library but produced using the CMYK process inkset.
In flexible packaging, it is not unusual for brands or retailers to use 30 to 50 spot colours across a portfolio of ranges. By using a fixed palette of printing inks (CMYK) to achieve the brand colours, significant efficiencies can be achieved by the converter, in the form of ink savings, less wash ups and quicker make ready.
In the format of a colour book, FFP’s guide was reverse printed on clear PET film and then laminated to white PET. The printed film was produced on one of FFP’s W&H Miraflex printing presses using Asahi plates with pinning technology for clean transfer.
‘Both retailers and brands understand that fixed colour palette printing is a win/win approach to removing waste from the value chain and improving cost performance for the final package,’ said Paul Hesketh, print development manager at FFP Packaging Solutions. ‘Our fixed colour palette guide also helps designers in making final colour choices that preserve brand integrity while taking advantage of cost and time savings critical to profitability in today’s highly competitive marketplace,’ he added.
‘We believe the guide will spur adoption even further, both in the UK and throughout Europe, making it easier for stakeholders to quickly determine when fixed colour palette printing is appropriate,’ commented Dieter Niederstadt, technical marketing manager for Asahi Photoproducts Europe. ‘Fixed colour palette printing’s time has come, and it is taking flexographic printing to the next level of efficiency and profitability.’
