Mars’ Milky Way hot chocolate design by Roberts Mart
A new flexographic, pre-press innovation is set to be revealed to the global print market during the upcoming drupa exhibition after leading a printer to win significant work with a global brand, as well as take top accolades at the recent EFIA Awards.
The innovation, named ‘Project Blue’, is the creation of UK pre-press firm, Reproflex 3, in partnership with anilox engraving specialists, Sandon Global.
Comprising a combination of processes creating unprecedented print results, Project Blue recently supported leading UK flexo printer, Roberts Mart, in achieving double gold during the EFIA Awards in March for their reproduction of Mars’ Milky Way hot chocolate design.
Roberts Mart were awarded gold in the categories ‘Use of Flexo for Brands’ and ‘Technical Innovation – Printer’, with the judges hailing the result as ‘…a flawless, fixed palette four colour job with amazing colour vibrancy.’
The awards come as a backdrop to the formal launch of Project Blue during drupa, and in a significant move, Reproflex 3 and Sandon Global have an agreement with Windmöller and Hölsher (W&H) to be the official drupa print partner throughout the event.
The global press manufacturer will run Project Blue from its Lengerich facility, offering visitors the opportunity to see the launch of Project Blue, as well as being present at drupa itself.
John Millington, managing director of Sandon Global, said, ‘The bespoke Anilox engraving we produce is critical to the performance of Project Blue, offering enhanced volume consistency. The extent of the quality of our product and its capability resulted in the company winning gold for the third consecutive year at the EFIA Awards in the category of ‘Supplier of the year’.
‘Working together in partnership with R3 has enabled us to combine our extensive and collective knowledge of the flexographic industry, culminating in this very exciting and challenging development.’
Trevor Lowes, joint managing director of Reproflex 3, added, ‘In my 34 years in the flexo industry, I have never come across results like this. We are absolutely delighted that Project Blue is set to be launched officially at drupa. We are also incredibly thankful to Sandon for developing Project Blue with us, as well as W&H for demonstrating Project Blue at the show, we can’t wait to reveal the results.’
