Acme Graphics installs Kodak Flexcel NX system

In April 2020, the company opened a new flexo trade shop branch in Cape Town. With national lockdown restrictions enforced across South Africa, it was vital for to have operations up and running, having been recognized as an essential supplier to the industry. As a key part of its new operation, the company purchased a Flexcel NX system from Miraclon's channel partner Thunderbolt and, in close collaboration with Miraclon, the system was installed in time for production.

Having now been operational for a few months, the technology has proved to be transformative for Acme, enabling the company to launch its new cloud-based color management concept, Acme Digital Colour. 

Hauke Liefferink, managing director of Acme Graphics, said: ‘This is a completely new application that allows to utilize a flexo press in the same way you would digital – there are no restrictions on the printable color gamut. I believe this is a radical departure from the thinking behind extended color gamut or printing with a fixed ink set. The fidelity of the Flexcel NX technology is key here in delivering a flexo printed result that matches the digital press. We have not been able to achieve this with any other plates.’

Founded in 1997, Acme Graphics is one of the fastest growing flexo plate producers in South Africa. With manufacturing sites in three cities, the company supplies plates for producing packaging and label products for the food supplies, pharmaceutical and sanitation industries. 

‘We opened the Cape Town facility in April as part of our move towards becoming a national manufacturer and to enable brand owners and packaging converters to access our services countrywide. The addition of the Flexcel NX system has been invaluable for us and means we can now bring our new ideas to market and offer the biggest range of flexo plate choices in the South African market,’ added Liefferink. We can now process conventional digital plates and flat-top dot plates with or without surface engineering. And additionally, we can process Kodak Flexcel NX plates with ink-saving DigiCap technology. Since installing the Flexcel NX technology, customers are very happy with the quality of the plates and the feedback that we have received to date has been excellent.’