OUR PRINTING TECHNICS

Simply put, digital printing involves using large, advanced printers. Its main advantage in label production is speed and flexibility, especially for short runs. Unlike traditional printing methods—which require color mixing, cleaning ink trays, changing printing plates, and other time-consuming setup tasks—digital printing lets you switch between jobs quickly, often just by changing the material.

Another big benefit is the ability to print variable data. This means each label can be different—whether it’s unique serial numbers, custom text, or images. 

At Azimex, we use two types of digital printing technology: UV inkjet and digital offset. Both typically use the CMYK color model, commonly known as “four-color printing.”

Flexography—commonly known as flexo—is a high-speed printing method ideal for large-scale print runs. It’s considered a modern evolution of traditional letterpress printing and has seen significant advancements since the early 1990s. Today, flexo delivers print quality that rivals offset printing, which was long regarded as the gold standard for sharp and vibrant results.

At the heart of flexo printing is the anilox roller, a key component that plays a crucial role in ink transfer. Picture the surface of this roller like Swiss cheese—covered in tiny cells that hold ink. As the roller spins through an ink tray, these microscopic cells fill up with ink. A doctor blade then scrapes off the excess, leaving just the right amount in each cell. The ink is then transferred to a printing plate (called a cliché), which applies the image onto the substrate—usually paper, plastic, or cardboard.

Flexo is widely used for printing on materials such as plastic packaging, corrugated cardboard, and especially self-adhesive labels, like those produced by Azimex.

Also known as: Offset lithography
Used for: High-volume commercial printing like newspapers, magazines, brochures, packaging, etc.

How it works:

1. Plates are created – One for each color (CMYK: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black).
2. Ink is applied to the plate – But the image isn’t transferred directly to the paper.
3. The inked image goes to a rubber blanket – This is the “offset” part.
4. Then it’s pressed onto the paper – Paper never touches the plate directly.

Pros:

• Super sharp, clean images
• Great for high-volume jobs (cost-effective in bulk)
• Wide color range and consistent quality

Cons:

• High setup cost
• Not cost-effective for small batches

WHAT IS FOIL STAMPING?

• Looking to add a premium touch to your labels? Foil stamping might be just what you need. This technique involves applying a metallic or pigmented foil—commonly gold or silver, but available in a wide range of finishes—onto your label design. It’s a popular method for creating luxurious, eye-catching details. Holographic foils, for example, are often used for security features and copy protection.
• “Foil embossing” refers to the process of pressing a thin layer of foil onto the label surface using a die (called a cliché) and either heat (hot foil) or adhesive (cold foil). The foil itself is a delicate, leaf-thin coating attached to a clear carrier film. When applied, the coating adheres to the label in the desired pattern or design.
• This technique can be combined with traditional ink printing, but foil embossing stands out when you want a metallic shine or an elevated, tactile feel. It gives your labels a more distinctive, refined appearance.

The oldest manual printing technique was already used by the Chinese. The core element of flat-surface printing is the screen mesh, which is blocked in certain areas and left open in others. Ink is pressed through the open areas onto the substrate, which—depending on the quality of the ink—can be plastic, paper, metal, glass, etc. Thickness and flexibility of the material are not limiting factors. It is suitable for both small and medium print runs. Suitable for small and medium print runs when printing box designs.