KYMC, partners host Taiwan’s first water-based flexo open house, marking milestone in sustainable printing

TAIWAN — Kuen Yuh Machinery Engineering (KYMC), in partnership with Asahi Photoproducts, Dainichiseika, and SINWA, successfully hosted Taiwan’s first Water-Based Flexographic Printing Technology Sharing Event on September 25, 2025.

The event brought together more than 89 participants from 46 printing companies, including leading converters and packaging manufacturers, underscoring Asia’s growing momentum toward green, intelligent, and ESG-aligned printing solutions.

The open house showcased how water-based flexographic printing can serve as a sustainable alternative to gravure, offering high-quality output with reduced environmental impact.

Attendees experienced live demonstrations, expert-led presentations, and collaborative discussions designed to accelerate the industry’s shift toward eco-friendly printing technologies.

KYMC presented its Smart CI Flexo Printing Press, emphasizing smart manufacturing, automation, and efficiency in modern flexo production.

Asahi Photoproducts highlighted its water-wash flexographic plates, a cornerstone of the company’s Solvent Zero strategy, which eliminates solvent use during plate processing.

Meanwhile, Dainichiseika introduced its latest eco-friendly, water-based inks for flexible packaging, and SINWA shared best practices in high-quality prepress workflows.

The event featured two live print runs: the first at 200m/min with 150 lpi resolution for pouch printing, and the second at 250m/min with 150 lpi resolution for high-speed printing.

Both jobs demonstrated exceptional print consistency and quality, drawing positive feedback from participants and reinforcing the potential of water-based flexo in real-world applications.

Ryunosuke Inoue, Sales and Marketing Representative at Asahi Photoproducts, outlined the company’s vision for sustainable innovation through its CrystalCleanConnect (CCC) automated plate processor.

Integrating Esko’s CDI Quartz imager and XPS exposure system, this workflow delivers fully automated, water-wash plate production, optimizing precision and efficiency while improving workplace safety.

Inoue also presented comparative cost and sustainability analyses between flexo and gravure printing, revealing that switching from gravure to UV ECG printing can reduce costs by 30–40%, and to water-based ECG by up to 50%, while dramatically lowering environmental impact.

“This event represents a milestone in the global flexographic industry’s journey to sustainability,” said Eric Pan, General Manager at KYMC.

“By partnering with Asahi, Dainichiseika, and SINWA, we are proving that water-based flexographic printing is not just viable, it delivers tangible advantages in quality, cost, and environmental responsibility.”

The success of the inaugural event signals a new era for the Asian packaging industry, as more printers seek ESG-compliant, solvent-free alternatives that combine innovation with environmental stewardship.

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