BASIC INFORMATION - Printing Options
Tilsner Carton Company utilizes several printing techniques to meet the requirements of the job and your budget. Please use the menu to the left to read about our various techniques.
Flexo Printing
Flexography is the most common process used to print packaging. The corrugated is pulled through a series of stations, or print units. Each print unit is printing a single color. The various tones and shading are achieved by overlaying basic shades of ink.
This technology employs plates with raised images (relief) and only the raised images come in contact with the corrugated during printing.
Our flexo presses accommodate sheets up to 66”x170”, have high-end printing up to 360 line screen, and shorten production time by slotting, scoring, folding and gluing.
Our onsite ink kitchen saves time and ensures consistency.
Litho Offset Printing
As an alternative to printing directly on corrugated, the lithographic process offers crisper images and enhanced color flexibility by printing onto large or small labels that are then mounted onto corrugated.
The basic principle of offset printing is that oil and water do not mix. A litho printing plate has non-image areas which absorb water. The plate is kept moist throughout so that ink only adheres to image areas.
During every cycle of the press the ink image is first transferred to a rubber surfaced offset cylinder and from there to the paper.
The offset cylinder’s flexibility preserves the delicate plates and conforms to the surface of textured papers.
Tilsner Carton Company has several laminating machines that apply the litho labels to corrugated. We have the capability to do full or spot label mounting up to 60” x 78.” Our maximum sheet size is 65” x 100.”
Digital Printing
Digital printing is ideal for short run needs as well as prototyping and proofing.
Screen Printing
Screen printing is a process of forcing ink through a tight screen which is mounted on a frame. The screen carries a stencil which defines the image area and is made of porous material which allows for full ink coverage on corrugated board. The board is generally screen printed prior to its conversion into a box or display. This method is ideal for those who desire a higher resolution image than flexo-printing provides. Full color graphics are available using screen printing.
We work with sheet sizes of up to 60” x 120.” Utilizing up to 6 colors.
