Ahmedabad-based Shilp Gravures has recently installed Esko’s
Full HD Flexo solution, a combination of inline UV2 technology on its CDI 4260
digital flexo imager and special screening. Esko Full HD Flexo allows
flexographic printing to compete with offset and gravure quality. “This was the
only technology that gave us the best flat top and round top dots in the same
flexographic plate, with results close to offset and gravure quality. We have
been waiting for years to achieve gravure quality with flexo plates as it is a
faster, more flexible and cost effective process. Finally Full HD Flexo gives
us this breakthrough so it’s now possible to move the highest quality work from
gravure to flexo which is what some of the leading brand owners want,” says Mr.
Gajanan Bhavsar, Shilp Marketing Director.
Shilp’s mastery and expansion in flexography parallels its
mastery of gravure by continuous investment in leading edge technology. The
Esko CDI 4260 installation with inline UV2 provides the Full HD Flexo solution
with its combination of special micro screening for smooth vignettes, sparkling
highlight detail, vibrant brand and spot colors and high solid densities.
For most of its 25-year history, Shilp Gravures has been
acknowledged as the leading Indian gravure cylinder trade house. In 2009, Shilp
acquired a leading flexo trade shop – an existing user of Esko prepress and
digital imaging for flexographic plates. As narrow and wide web flexography
grew in the country and even gravure printers added wide web central impression
cylinder (CI) flexo presses for flexible packaging, Shilp was there with the
best technology from its long-time partner. The company was amongst the
earliest to invest in Esko software products such as Flexo Tools and HD Flexo
imaging in 2012. By adopting innovations like Esko Full HD Flexo inline UV2 on
its CDI imager, and with its own comprehensive knowledge in flexible packaging,
Shilp has been able to move flexo quality to the next level for leading
packaging and label printers and converters.
Since 1997, when the first Esko system was installed at
Shilp, it has been an exercise of constant growth, expansion and new technology
and refinement for both the companies. As the flexible packaging industry grew
in India, the global quality standards required by the consumer product
companies had to be met and Shilp continued to exercise its leadership position
in the industry by adding the latest technology in prepress and electronic
engravers. In fact, the company became an exhibitor at drupa as a supplier and
exporter of engraved cylinders. This latest development of cutting edge
flexographic platemaking at Shilp is the natural outcome of a fruitful
relationship of 18 years with Esko.
