Ankit Graphics has invested in Esko’s CDI Crystal Quartz technology in the 4260 format, as the flexographic plate maker continues to upgrade its capabilities to meet changing market requirements. The Esko investment was announced at Loupe India 2026 in Greater Noida, at the Esko-DuPont stand.
The latest investment is aimed at helping the company deliver enhanced flexographic plate-making capabilities, particularly through advanced screening that can help printers achieve higher print quality and results closer to gravure. With flexography making inroads into flexible packaging, Ankit Graphics sees technology as a key differentiator in a competitive market.
Its investment in Esko’s Crystal Quartz technology builds on its broader approach of adopting new equipment and processes to strengthen its offering to printers.
Speaking at the event, Ankit Darji of Ankit Graphics said the company had been closely evaluating Esko’s Crystal Quartz technology for several months. He had travelled to Germany to understand the product, its evolution and the capabilities it could bring to the business.
“The technology addressed several challenges associated with conventional plate-making processes and offered promising opportunities for both Esko and Ankit Graphics to achieve new milestones in flexographic printing,” Darji said.
The decision to invest in the 4260 format was driven by its suitability for the company’s existing production setup and customer base. The mid-size format can accommodate a substantial proportion of wide-web work, allowing Ankit Graphics to extend its capabilities without moving away from the format it already serves.
The Crystal Quartz system provides an opportunity to respond to a recurring question from customers and competitors: what distinguishes one plate maker from another? Darji said the technology would give Ankit Graphics an additional advantage by helping printers achieve higher-quality results and bring flexographic print closer to gravure standards.
The decision to invest in the Esko technology comes soon after Ankit Graphics’ move to invest in a Kongsberg cutting table.
The company intends to continue investing in technology, with new acquisitions typically made every 18 months to two years. It is also monitoring developments in water-wash flexographic plates as a possible area for future investment. Ankit Graphics currently produces solvent-based plates.
Representatives of Esko and DuPont welcomed the investment, highlighting the combination of advanced technology and Ankit Graphics’ commitment to innovation.
For Ankit Graphics, the investments in Esko’s Crystal Quartz technology and the Kongsberg cutting table form part of a wider effort to build capabilities beyond conventional plate production. As converters and brand owners seek greater print consistency and quality across packaging applications, equipment and process improvements can help plate makers differentiate their services and support customers seeking alternatives to gravure.
The company’s next investment decisions are likely to be guided by emerging technologies and the requirements of its customers, with water-wash plates among the developments it is watching. Its approach reflects a longer-term strategy of using technology to strengthen its offering and support growth in the evolving flexographic printing market.
