Printing company Thüringer Papierwarenfabrik C. Schröter has become the first to implement the newly developed ProcessStandard Flexo (PSF) by Fogra. Developed in 2025, the standard and its associated certification aim to streamline production processes and enable reliable color communication between printers and clients.
‘We decided to pursue certification because we want to improve our workflows, enhance internal and external quality standards, and increase customer satisfaction,’ explains Torsten Dreke, managing director of Thüringer Papierwarenfabrik in Mühlhausen.
Here, the PSF comes into play. With its practical framework, flexographic printing companies benefit from precise specifications, measurable quality targets, and a structured testing process. The standard helps printers to achieve predictable results and meet customer expectations. ‘It saves costs, reduces our carbon footprint, and ensures customer satisfaction,” adds Stefan Rößler, head of Prepress.
Standardisation in flexographic printing
PSF defines the requirements for production printing and proofing. The fingerprint serves as a reference, supported by an evaluation scheme that assesses achievable colour space and tone value reproduction. Fogra developed the guideline in close collaboration with industry partners.
‘Our goal is to make flexographic print quality measurable and to simplify communication between clients, repro houses, and printers,’ says Jürgen Gemeinhardt, head of Printing Technology at Fogra.
Optional certification allows printing companies to demonstrate their production quality to potential customers. Conversely, clients can rely on PSF-certified providers to meet defined quality and delivery standards.
Growing interest in PSF and related services
The new standard has already garnered attention from other printing companies, and further certifications are in the works.
Additionally, Fogra has recently introduced certification for water-based flexo cleaners. Once approved, these cleaning agents can be used in Baldwin washing systems without affecting warranty conditions. The first manufacturers are already preparing their products for testing.
