The inaugural Flexo Summit Asia in November, 2025, has signaled a paradigm shift in the flexible packaging industry, moving away from isolated technology showcases toward a fully integrated, ecosystem-driven approach.
Jainam K Shah, managing director of Flexure Print N Pack, told Packaging South Asia that the collaboration’s core aspiration is to prove that flexography can be a predictable, scalable, and profitable production process when the entire value chain—from press and plates to ink and prepress—functions as a single, synchronized system.
“A major focus of this industry evolution is the adoption of extended color gamut (ECG) printing. Beyond simple color management, ECG is viewed as a strategic enabler that allows converters to significantly reduce ink inventories and to minimize press downtime. By utilizing a fixed ink palette, brands can achieve better color consistency across different substrates and geographies while simultaneously enhancing their sustainability metrics through reduced waste,” he adds.
A collaborative ecosystem
Shah explains that this strategic partnership represents every critical pillar of the flexo printing process. Each member brings a specialized strength to the table to ensure shared accountability for the final print outcome:
- Press Manufacturing: Echaar Equipments provides the backbone of production through CI and stack presses engineered for stability and quick changeovers.
- Plate Technology: Miraclon contributes advanced screening technologies for predictable dot reproduction and sustainability.
- Anilox Solutions: Acme Rolltech ensures precise ink transfer, a fundamental requirement for color control.
- Prepress Expertise: Pinmark Block bridges the gap between creative design and the pressroom by applying standardized workflows and color management based on press, anilox and ink characteristics, enabling predictable and repeatable flexographic printing.
- Production Validation: Flexure Print N Pack provides real-world validation, testing these technologies under daily manufacturing conditions.
On flexography being predictable, scalable, and profitable, Sandeep Sharma, director, Acme Rolltech, highlighted the importance of anilox to achieve ECG results. He asserts the need to standardize the anilox and consistent transfer of Ink and how the Acme Super Cell (ASC) provides exactly the same solution. Acme Super Cell (ASC), developed by Acme Rolltech, is unique as an advanced, Indian-manufactured engraving technology for ceramic anilox rolls and sleeves that prioritizes enhanced ink transfer efficiency and durability.
Sharma told Packaging South Asia that flexo is a printing combination where all parameters has to be in sync to provide the right results.“So stakeholders such as machine manufacturers, ink suppliers, prepress, plate, anilox and printers have to collaborate to achieve the desired results. Working alone as ‘solo’ will not help to achieve the desired results. Every member involved in the manufacturing chain has to open up and discuss new technology and shortcomings that can be addressed jointly.”
Its key unique features include:
Flat bottom design: Unlike conventional engravings, the Super Cell design ensures superior, consistent ink release, enhancing overall print quality.
Enhanced durability: The technology uses advanced engraving and coating, which extends the operational lifespan of the anilox roller.
Simplified maintenance: The cell structure is designed for easier cleaning compared to traditional engravings, reducing machine downtime.
High-volume transfer: It is engineered for consistent ink release, making it suitable for high-speed, high-definition printing in labels, flexible packaging, and, corrugated, and coating applications.
Precision and reliability: ASC ensures that printers can maintain consistent results, even when mixing old and new anilox configurations, improving consistency year-on-year.
The collaboration aims to modernize flexo by transitioning from operator-dependent tribal knowledge to a data-backed, process-driven manufacturing model. Shah says, “Key goals include moving from reactive problem solving to predictive print control and replacing long setup times with standardized job changeovers. By shifting from job-based optimization to system-driven repeatability, the partners hope to align flexo with modern packaging demands for speed and flexibility.”
Call to action for stakeholders
Shah, along with key stakeholders and partners, issued clear guidelines for the industry’s future.
For OEMs: The role of the flexo press manufacturer is fundamentally changing. In today’s market, presses are no longer judged by speed alone, but by their ability to deliver predictable, repeatable, and scalable print outcomes in an increasingly complex packaging environment. Modern converters do not need faster presses; they need smarter presses.
Press OEMs must design platforms that are process-centric by default—engineered for stability, standardization, and data integrity. Mechanical precision, vibration control, consistent impression, and stable web handling are not features; they are non-negotiable foundations. Without these, advanced plates, high-definition screening, and ECG workflows cannot perform to their true potential.
Automation must move decisively toward closed-loop, intelligence-driven control. Manual adjustments, operator dependency, and tribal knowledge are no longer acceptable in a manufacturing environment that demands repeatability across shifts, plants, and geographies.
Sustainability must be designed into the press architecture, not added later. Energy efficiency, waste reduction, ink optimization, and compatibility with future ink systems will determine long-term relevance as brand and regulatory pressures intensify.
For brand owners: For brand owners, flexographic printed packaging material is no longer just about aesthetics—it is about consistency, speed-to-market, sustainability, and supply chain reliability. Modern flexographic printing has evolved into a highly controlled, process-driven print technology capable of delivering repeatable color, fine graphics, and brand integrity across multiple SKUs and production locations.
By partnering with converters who invest in standardized workflows, color management, and extended gamut (ECG) printing, brand owners benefit from faster approvals, reduced lead times, lower inventory complexity, and improved color consistency across runs and regions. Designs optimized for process and fixed palette printing not only enhance print stability but also reduce waste and environmental impact.
For converters: Flexo process standardization, ECG, and superlative print quality outcomes are journeys, not overnight switches. Success depends as much on training, discipline, and collaboration as on investment in technology. The future lies in embracing standardization, investing in systems rather than shortcuts, and working closely with technology partners across the value chain. Ultimately, the goal is to make flexo more efficient, more profitable, and more aligned with modern packaging demands.
