Proper storage of flexographic plates plays a crucial role in achieving high-quality flexographic printing. Therefore, the following points should be paid attention to in the daily storage process: (1) keep it in a place without sunlight and ultraviolet lamps; (2) The ambient temperature is controlled at 5°C~35°C; (3) After printing, the ink on the surface of the plate should be cleaned as soon as possible and fully dried; (4) The plates should not be stacked (the printing plates should be separated by paper or cushioning materials between the printing plates); (5) The storage room is well ventilated; (6) Use a cleaning agent that does not swell the resin; (7) If you are not sure about the characteristics of the cleaning agent, you can consult the supplier of each plate.
Because the flexibility of flexographic plates is different from resin letterpress and offset plates, high printing pressure or hard wiping of the plate can cause damage to the plate. Therefore, during printing and post-printing cleaning of the plate, the plate should be avoided as much as possible.
We know that water-based inks and solvent-based inks will dry and solidify after being placed for a long time after printing, and once cured, the ink is difficult to dissolve, and wiping and cleaning hard will cause the plate to break. Therefore, after printing, the plate should be cleaned and fully dried before the ink cures, and then stored in a well-ventilated place. Avoid damaging the plate by using a strong solvent that expands the plate in order to remove the cured ink. Proper plate processing time and storage environment can extend the use time of the printing plate and reduce the cost of reprinting.
Flexographic printing uses "kiss touch" printing pressure, which can print high-quality prints like gravure and offset printing, while excessive printing pressure will darken the color of the printed matter, and the wear and tear of the plate will lead to re-making, resulting in unnecessary cost waste. All in all, a correct understanding of the characteristics of flexographic printing, the use of good quality management methods, and a good understanding of the storage environment conditions of the printing plate can prolong the use time of the plate, give full play to the advantages of flexographic printing, and print high-quality printed matter.