BOBST has extended its oneECG (extended colour gamut) approach for gravure printing, enabling metallic tones such as gold, silver and bronze to be produced with a fixed set of process inks rather than dedicated metallic inks.
First introduced for gravure in 2019, oneECG standardises the ink set kept on press between jobs.
The method reduces complexity for converters by lowering the number of spot (Pantone) inks and cylinders needed, and by cutting ink waste through fewer wash-ups and colour changes.
BOBST general manager and head of product lines gravure, vacuum coating and laminating Davide Garavaglia stated: “The ECG process has gained considerable traction among European gravure printers over the past few years, because they recognise the crucial benefits this method brings to their business and the wider implications it has for the industry, and the environment.”
The system makes it possible to run multiple SKUs or shorter jobs in the same production run because metallic shades are matched digitally in prepress and printed with the process inks already on the press.
The solution allows for fewer press stops, quicker changeovers, reduced idle time and shorter drying cycles.
Eliminating the frequent cleaning of metallic inks reduces solvent use and associated volatile organic compound emissions, improving sustainability.
The reduced need for specialised metallic inks also lowers raw material consumption and decreases expired or surplus inks.
Fewer cylinders further lessen resource and energy use as well as waste associated with copper and chrome plating and engraving chemicals.
BOBST attributes the performance of oneECG to its register and quality control technologies and to automation and digitalisation across the workflow.
The company positions oneECG as a core element of its smartGRAVURE concept, a broader move towards a wholly digitalised gravure production process.
Garavaglia added: “Nearly six years since BOBST first unveiled oneECG for gravure, we continue to develop this technology because we know that it represents the future of packaging production.
“oneECG is a particularly attractive proposition in gravure, as this print technology is facing strong competition from flexo. Enhancing its potential – such as offering the ability to reproduce metallic colours with greater ease, less waste and cost effectively – is crucial.”
BOBST recently unveiled the FLEXJET module, intended to respond to evolving demands in the label market.
