Printing process
Barthel Group’s machinery includes about 75 cutting-edge machines with innovative testing systems. This enables us to implement the diverse wishes of our customers quickly, flexibly, and precisely.
You can choose from the following printing processes:
UV offset
UV flexo printing
Digital offset printing
Screen printing
The combination options of the various printing processes also result in a virtually unlimited variety of designs.
UV offset
The offset process is an indirect flat printing process. Offset printing does not print directly onto the substrate but requires an intermediate carrier. The print is first applied mirror-inverted to a rubber blanket and readable from there on the substrate. This means that the ink does not lie on the substrate but is absorbed more deeply. Offset printing is the printing process with the highest quality. Due to the fast UV drying, immediate print finishing is possible.
Advantages
- Precise transfer of ink from print form via blanket cylinder to final printing stock
- Very fine colour gradients, halftone dots down to 0%
- Sharp-edged font reproduction
- High colour brilliance
- Good abrasion resistance
- Print up to 8 colours
- Quick drying due to UV light
UV flexo printing
The flexographic printing process is a direct letterpress process. The ink is transferred directly to the substrate. The elements to be printed appear on the print form as elevations. The flexographic printing process is very versatile. It enables us to print on materials that other printing processes cannot process or where they suffer strict limitations. In addition, UV flexographic printing has a high production speed and is particularly efficient for long runs.
Flexographic printing works with two rolls rotating in opposite directions. The first roll (the print form cylinder) carries the print form. The second roll (the impression cylinder) guides the printing stock past the form cylinder. The anilox roll is used to ink the print form. Flexible printing plates are used as printing plates, which have given the printing process its name.
Advantages
- Precise transfer of ink from print form via blanket cylinder to final printing stock
- Very fine colour gradients, halftone dots down to 0%
- Sharp-edged font reproduction
- Print up to twelve colours
Advantages
- Photorealistic display in near-offset quality
- Brilliant print image
- Finest screen gradients
- Print up to twelve colours
Digital offset printing
In digital offset printing, the first step involves electrostatically charging an exposure cylinder. The areas that are to receive ink are discharged in a second step and the ink is applied. The ink is first transferred from the exposure cylinder to a printing blanket and only in a second step to the printing stock.
Advantages
- Suitable for small to medium-sized orders
- Consecutive numbering of prints
- High colour accuracy through detailed colour management
- Offset quality printing
Screen printing
Screen printing belongs to the stencil printing processes. Because here the paint is pressed through the screen (the stencil) with a squeegee. A wide range of variants can be achieved with the screen-printing process.
Advantages
- High ink transfer
- Tangible ink film thickness
- Brilliant, opaque colours
- Variable print format
- Wide range of substrates can be used
- Optimum fitting accuracy even with the finest details
- Also ideal for white underlay
- Plastic effects, e.g., symbols for blind users
Do you have any questions about the printing processes we use? We will gladly advise you.
