The Flexostar competition, a flagship event in flexography for 42 years, will be held on October 30 and 31, 2024 to reward the best productions printed in flexo. Organized by the ATF Flexo, it offers a unique platform for promoting French expertise in this printing technique, both technically and artistically.
In France, this printing process is at the heart of many sectors, including packaging. Events such as Flexostar raise the profile of this technique and encourage companies to continue innovating and perfecting their practices. Flexography, invented in the late 19th century and developed in the early 20th century, is a relief printing process using flexible plates mounted on rotating cylinders. Thanks to the use of fluid inks, this process enables high-speed printing on a variety of substrates, including paper, cardboard and plastic. What sets flexography apart is its ability to adapt to a multitude of materials, making it a popular choice in the packaging and labeling sectors.
The Flexostar competition, launched by ATF Flexo in 1982, highlights this flexibility by rewarding print work on a variety of substrates, from aluminum to complex films and corrugated board. This diversity reflects the versatility of flexography in modern industry.
The competition is divided into 15 categories, each focusing on a specific type of media. Entries are judged according to technical and artistic criteria, rewarding both technical mastery and creativity. Among the top categories for this 2024 edition are: Corrugated board (post-printing on coated and uncoated), Complex films printed with water-based or solvent-based inks, Adhesive labels on film or paper.
Each category illustrates the ability of printers to make the most of the possibilities offered by flexography, adapting to the specific requirements of each material.
The Innovation Prize, which has been awarded for several editions of the competition, is a special distinction awarded to work that stands out for its uniqueness. This award is aimed at projects incorporating technical advances, the use of new substrates or inks, or environmentally-friendly practices. By encouraging participants to push back the boundaries of flexography, this award helps to energize the sector.
The Flexostar competition is based on a rigorous scoring system, carried out by two separate juries: a technical jury and an artistic jury. The technical jury focuses on production aspects, such as print quality, precision and use of inks, while the artistic jury evaluates the creativity and aesthetics of the work.
As demand for durable, efficient printing solutions continues to grow, flexography is positioning itself as a suitable answer. The Flexostar 2024 competition, taking place on October 30 and 31, is an opportunity to discover new trends and advances in this sector. Through events like this one, flexography continues to reinvent itself, pushing the technical and aesthetic boundaries to meet the challenges of the future.
