Flexographic Printing in Canada | Kwality Labels Inc

Why Choose Flexographic Printing?

Flexographic printing (or flexo printing) is the most efficient method for high-volume label production, ensuring vibrant colors, fast turnarounds, and cost savings.
Modern flexographic presses can print on a continuous roll of material at very high speeds. The result is a cost-effective production of labels and packaging without sacrificing quality or detail. Whether printing in thousands or millions, flexography ensures each label meets the brand’s standards for color and clarity.
Kwality Labels Inc is a Flexographic & Digital printing company in the Toronto GTA area that specializes in custom labels for food & beverage, beauty, nutraceuticals and many industrial applications.

Key Benefits of Flexographic Label Printing

High-Speed & Cost-Effective: Ideal for large production runs, reducing per-label costs.
Print Material Variety: Flexographic presses can print on a wide variety of substrates available in paper, cardboard, plastic film, foil, BOPP & more. These substrates can be porous or non-porous, top coated or uncoated, in various thicknesses & in a selection with or without adhesives.
Consistent, High-Quality Results: Perfect color accuracy with G7 Master Certification ensures matching brand colours print after print.
Overlay Finishes: Finishes with either varnish or lamination can change the look and offer durability & protection to the label.
Inline Multi Process: From printing to varnish/laminating to die-cutting into custom shapes is one seamless inline process.
Flexographic printing presses are ideal for custom commercial label projects.

Just call us and you can determine how flexographic printing is right for your project.

Materials & Substrates in Flexographic Printing

As mentioned earlier, flexo printing works with a wide array of materials, using web-fed rolls for efficient, high-speed printing. We print on:

Paper: ranging from High Gloss, Bright Gloss, Semi-Gloss, Matte, Thermal Transfer, Direct Thermal, Tags & more.
Plastic Films: range in various thickness & elasticity. Film labels are highly durable, flexible and ideal for labels that go on products that are exposed to moisture or harsh elements of the environment. Films are also used in manufacturing flexible packaging.
Metallic Foils: Metallic look of labels enhances the appeal of the product & these labels are in demand for premium, high-end products.
Specialty Substrates (like BOPP): BOPP material is a durable plastic film known for its strength. It has the capability to resist moisture and withstand harsh conditions. BOPP labels can be applied on a variety of products such as oils, chemicals, food & beverage, beauty care, medical packaging and other applications.

1. Prepress & Plate Making

Our workflow starts with managing the supplied art file to meet print specifications, thereafter a PDF proof is created for customer approval. Upon request, a color accurate Epson proof can also be generated. The approved art is then converted into flexo plates made of polymer material. The color configuration in the art will dictate the number of plates to create. Plates are pivotal in color accuracy as they carry the impression of each color & ensure precise color print reproduction as per approved artwork.

2. Color Management: CMYK, PMS & ECG Printing

The CMYK (4-Color Process) method uses cyan, magenta, yellow and black to create all colors. For brands that require exact color replication, the Pantone Matching System (PMS) is used to achieve precise color matching.

Furthermore, a fixed color pallet method called ECG (Extended Color Gamut) includes Orange, Green, and Violet (OGV) inks along with CMYK. By adding OGV to the pallet, this color set has a much broader and more vibrant color space than just the traditional CMYK. ECG is an excellent cost-effective method that replaces the need to mix inks in order to make additional spot colors.

3. Flexographic Printing Ink Choices

Choosing the right flexographic printing ink is crucial to produce superior print quality. Some inks can also be environment friendly. Our flexographic printing company predominantly uses water-based and LED UV-curable inks. Water-based inks are versatile and cost-effective, while LED UV inks offer rapid drying ability and save energy. This focus on sustainable ink options aligns with our commitment as a responsible flexographic label printing service provider.

4. High-Speed & Consistent Quality Label Printing for Mass Reproduction

Flexographic printing utilizes fast and efficient presses capable of handling mass production runs with ease. At our production facility, quality is not a compromise. How do we ensure quality with mass reproduction?

➣ Our FTA (Flexographic Technical Association) certifications are mandatory for operators in pre-press & printing. FTA lays out the minimum performance standards and best practices in the flexo print industry. This body is the leading technical society devoted to the flexographic printing & inline converting industry. We follow a mandate to achieve tight tolerances in our manufacturing process in line with the FTA principles.

➣ Furthermore, our entire thread of processes is interwoven with HACCP compliance procedures to ensure peace of mind when it comes to quality assurance & partnership with vendors.

➣ Our G7 Master Certification ensures color accuracy and consistency in print. G7 Master Certification standards manage accurate color reproduction across different print processes & substrates. Our application of G7 methodology ensures consistent & perfect color reproduction of any brand color print after print even for mass production.

5. Finishing with Overlays & Converting

Our inline process converts raw material printed & finished with varnish or lamination, into the customer’s required precise label shape & size.

Lamination and varnishes add protective layers that improve durability and elevate the visual appeal of the labels. These overlays come in finishes from gloss to matte that can enhance the look of the label.

Label shape and size are cut with precision through the application of the inline die-cutting process. Labels can be a standard shape or a custom design as required by the client.

6. Rewinding

In our inline process, once the labels are printed with an overlay of laminate or varnish & die-cut to shape, they get to the offline stage for rewinding. Rolls are rewound as per customer-provided configuration. This configuration is dictated by the dispensing equipment used for label application.
If hand-applied the wind direction information is not imperative. The finished roll configuration is a vital part of the project management stage of the label wherein the following are identified with the client:

➣ Run Direction of labels coming off the roll: Directions 1-8:

Flexographic Label Printing Customization Options:

Kwality Labels has the expertise and technology to print high quality custom labels from low to high volume. We offer the following:

Double-Sided and Multi-Layer (up to 4 sides) Printing: The double-sided printing process can utilize more real estate on the material by using the back of the material to print additional information. Multi-Layer printing capability of the Flexo press can furthermore add layers of material to the label. These layers have removable adhesive that allow for repeated peal and stick. The information printed on the leaves can be read by pealing the layers, exactly like turning pages in a book. More real estate requirements on a label are in demand for nutraceutical & pharmaceutical printing given the amount of essential information the label has to house. Some food labels are also printed multi-layered to hold recipes.
Cold Foiling: The flexible printing process can utilize foils to achieve colorful metallic effects with the method of cold foiling. The cold foiling process is done inline by dispensing a thin metallic film roll onto the adhesive image of a printed sheet using a pressure roller to lay the foil over the surface while the UV light cures the adhesive to anchor the metallic foil onto the print material resulting in a vibrant metallic high-end label appeal. Cold foiling is a cost-effective & fast process that can be applied to a variety of substrates.
Laminating & Varnishing: Enhance durability, protection, and look with overlays of laminate or varnish. This is an inline process that is imperative to the durability & protection of the label. The overlay of lamination or varnish will keep the inks from running by locking them under their layer and also offering protection from repeated handling, moisture and the environment. Spot varnishes or printable varnishes can allow the client to print any information such as their product’s lot & expiry date. With a laminate or varnish overlay choice, you can achieve a look from matte to high gloss labels.

Kwality Labels: Your Partner in Flexographic Printing Excellence

At Kwality Labels, we don’t just provide flexographic printing services; we partner to be your printer of choice to produce labels that elevate your brand. What sets us apart? Our commitment to excellence in every aspect of flexographic printing that flows from artwork to choosing the right materials and inks to precise die cutting, rewinding and customization. We are heavily invested in our processes and industry accredited methodologies and invite you to experience the difference.

Why Kwality Labels?

– 45+ Years of Experience in flexographic label printing.
– Certified Quality: FTA FIRST, G7 Master, IFS PACsecure HACCP.
– Commitment to excellence by investing in technology and streamlining processes to achieve zero defects.
– Fast Turnarounds & Competitive Pricing.
– Partnered with Flexo & Digital print industry experts.
– Serving Canada & the Global Market.

Flexographic Printing