China’s National Printing Standardization Technical Committee has initiated the drafting of a new national standard — Process Control and Quality Inspection Methods for Gravure Printing of Plastic Flexible Packaging. The standard fills a gap in formalized process control documentation for gravure flexible packaging production by defining both the quality parameters to monitor and the inspection methods to verify them.
Standard Structure
The draft framework covers five sections:
- Scope
- Normative references
- Terms and definitions
- Quality control requirements
- 4.1 Raw materials
- 4.2 Equipment
- 4.3 Tooling
- 4.4 Process
- 4.5 Operating procedures
- Inspection methods
Substrate Printability Parameters
The standard defines measurable substrate characteristics that affect print quality: wetting tension and uniformity, thermal shrinkage, tensile strength, coefficient of friction, thickness deviation, transparency, width deviation, elongation at break, and visual appearance. Applicable substrates include BOPP, PE, PET, CPP, BOPA, PVC, and OPS.
Process Parameters
Process controls specified in the draft cover: pressroom temperature and humidity, web tension, dryer temperature, exhaust airflow, doctor blade condition, spot-color ink tolerance range, and impression cylinder pressure.
Drafting Organizations
Six organizations were confirmed as drafting units: Beijing Institute of Graphic Communication, Shanghai Zijiang Color Printing & Packaging Co., the Gravure Printing Branch of the Printing Technology Association of China, Zhejiang Chengxin Packaging Materials Co., Hangzhou Dingzheng Printing & Packaging Co., and Shaanxi Beiren Printing Machinery Co. The first draft was targeted for completion by end of June 2014.
References
- Wikipedia: Flexible Packaging: Overview of flexible packaging structures, materials, and printing processes relevant to gravure process standardization.
- Wikipedia: Rotogravure: Gravure printing technology including process variables such as tension, drying, and impression pressure addressed by the standard.
- ISO 12647-4:2014 — Gravure Process Control: International standard for process control in gravure printing covering similar parameters to the Chinese national standard under development.
- Wikipedia: Standardization: Role of national and international standards bodies in defining process control and quality assurance frameworks for manufacturing industries.
- Flexible Packaging Association (FPA): Industry resource covering standards, quality management, and process control best practices for flexible packaging production.