Consumables
Successful First Water-Based Flexographic Printing Technology Open House Event in Taiwan
Wednesday 08. October 2025 - The gathering brought together leading industry partners and more than 89 participants from 46 printing companies. It highlighted how packaging and printing companies can embrace green, intelligent, and ESG-aligned flexographic printing as a sustainable alternative to gravure.
Hosted by KYMC with partners Asahi Photoproducts, Dainichiseika, and SINWA, the event showcased a complete water-based flexographic solution for sustainable packaging printing.
The First Water-Based Flexographic Printing Technology Sharing Event in Taiwan, hosted by Kuen Yuh Machinery Engineering Co., Ltd. (KYMC), took place on September 25, 2025.
Strong participation and live demonstrations
The event attracted a target audience of flexo and gravure printers who saw a comprehensive lineup of technologies from four industry leaders
KYMC showcased its Smart CI Flexo Printing press and insights into the future of smart production.
Asahi Kasei / Asahi Photoproducts introduced water-wash flexographic plates requiring only water, advancing the company’s Solvent ZERO strategy.
Dainichiseika presented eco-friendly water-based inks for flexible packaging films.
SINWA shared expertise in high-quality prepress solutions for flexographic plate making.
Live demonstrations and presentation highlighted the technology’s capability and quality:
The event featured live demonstrations that highlighted the capability and quality of the technology in real production conditions.
Job 1: Pouch printing at 200 m/min, 150 lpi
Job 2: High-speed printing at 250 m/min, 150 lpi
Both jobs delivered good results and received positive feedback from KYMC and attendees.
In addition to expert presentations, Ryunosuke Inoue, Asahi Photoproducts Sales & Marketing representive outlined Asahi’s vision for sustainable innovation. His talk covered three key areas:
Solvent ZERO Roadmap: Water-wash flexographic plates that require only water for cleaning, no detergents, reducing environmental impact and improving workplace safety.
Innovation: Asahi’s CrystalCleanConnect (CCC) automated plate processor together with Esko’s CDI Quartz imager and XPS exposure technology
This integrated workflow enables the production of Asahi’s AWP water-wash flexographic plates, designed for precision, durability, and efficiency. The combination ensures consistent plate quality, optimized for high-speed CI flexo presses and fully compatible with water-based inks.
Flexo vs. Gravure Comparative Analysis: Environmental, quality, and cost perspectives.The presentation also included cost simulation data from a Taiwan customer, which demonstrated the potential advantages of flexo over gravure:
30-40% cost reduction by switching from gravure to UV ECG
40-50% cost reduction by switching to water-based ECG
This event represents a landmark on the global flexographic industry’s journey to sustainability,” said Eric Pan, General Manager at KYMC. “By partnering with Asahi, Dainichiseika, and SINWA, we are demonstrating not only that water-based flexographic printing is a viable alternative to gravure, but also that it delivers measurable benefits in quality, cost, and environmental impact. Together, we are taking real steps toward Solvent ZERO and helping our customers build a future more in balance with the environment.”
A milestone for Taiwan’s flexo industry
The successful debut of this event demonstrates the strong momentum in Asia toward water-based flexographic printing. By combining expertise in presses, plates, inks, and prepress, the partners provided a complete solution that helps printers transition smoothly from gravure to flexo while meeting ESG requirements.