Plate tracking in corrugated board printing using RFID technology

Increased efficiency and error prevention through digitization

Corrugated cardboard printing is an indispensable part of the packaging industry. The quality of the printing plates used plays a key role, particularly in flexographic printing, where large runs of cardboard packaging are printed with precise and repeatable images. To ensure maximum efficiency and error prevention in this demanding environment, state-of-the-art technologies such as plate tracking using RFID are increasingly being used. SIGMA Chemnitz GmbH offers innovative solutions for this purpose that are specifically tailored to the requirements of the industry.

Challenges in the flexographic printing process

Flexographic printing relies on elastic printing plates, known as clichés, which transfer the print image onto the substrate. These clichés are usually made of rubber-like materials such as silicone and are costly to manufacture and use. In addition, large printing units can easily have several thousand clichés in circulation, which makes management and allocation in the production process considerably more difficult. Errors in assigning the clichés to the respective print jobs can cause costly misprints and significantly disrupt the production flow.

RFID tagging: Precise control and complete traceability

This is where cliché tracking using RFID technology comes into play. Marking each cliché with an RFID transponder enables unique identification. SIGMA Chemnitz GmbH supports companies in selecting the appropriate transponders and attaching them to the clichés in such a way that the printing process is not impaired.

One of the particular challenges in RFID tagging of printing plates lies in the material properties. Rubber-like silicone printing plates are sensitive to even the smallest irregularities, which is why the placement of transponders must be carefully planned to avoid misprints. When tagging objects, SIGMA Chemnitz GmbH draws on its many years of experience and offers flexible, industry-standard solutions that have already proven themselves in numerous proof-of-concept processes.

Advantages of plate tracking

RFID-based plate tracking not only prevents misprints, but also increases the efficiency of the entire production chain. The systems can now check at any time whether the correct plate is being used for the current printing process, which guarantees error-free printing of corrugated cardboard.

Another advantage is improved warehouse management. In large printing plants, where up to 100,000 printing plates are in circulation, RFID tracking makes it easy to assign plates to specific storage areas or locations. This reduces the burden on employees when searching for the right plates and prevents incorrect assignments or longer search times. In addition, the individual plate IDs can be integrated into transport containers such as plate bags or handling units (e.g., mesh or triangular crates), allowing incorrect storage to be immediately detected and corrected.

Flexibility and adaptation to industry requirements

SIGMA Chemnitz GmbH understands that every flexographic printing system has its own specific requirements. That is why the selection of RFID technology is carried out in close consultation with customers. Our solutions are flexible and adaptable to meet individual requirements. Pre-qualification and extensive testing in proof-of-concept processes ensure that the implementation of RFID technology runs smoothly and delivers the desired project success.

Take advantage of the opportunities offered by digitalization to take your printing processes to the next level!