Walle Corporation Providing an Eco-Friendly Alternative to Gravure

Walle Corporation, a leading label supplier to the beverage, food and household products industries, is leveraging EskoArtwork's HD Flexo high definition flexographic screening technology to provide a high-quality, affordable, and environmentally-friendly alternative to gravure.

Known for its ongoing commitment to innovation and efficiency, Walle has already achieved two significant firsts as an HD Flexo user: its Winchester, KY facility was the site of the first North American installation of HD Flexo, and the company, having demonstrated the highest level of expertise with the technology, is the first label printer to become an HD Flexo certified user.

"We have been a pioneer in flexographic printing for over 25 years," said Sean Keeney, Walle's president and CEO. "HD Flexo has advanced flexography, narrowing the quality gap with gravure. We are pleased to have been the first to invest in HD Flexo, and we are proud that we are now the first label printer to be officially recognized with HD Flexo certification in North America."

Founded in 1872, and owned for the past 30 years by the Keeney family, Walle Corporation is headquartered in Alpharetta, GA and employs over 250 associates in two operating facilities. Both the Flexographic Operating Division in Winchester and the Lithographic Division located in Harahan, LA have achieved HACCP Accreditation, an industry first.

Walle prints a full line of lithographic and flexographic label products, including cut and stack paper, cut and stack film, roll-fed, roll-fed shrink, in-mold, and shrink sleeve labels for a client base that includes smaller, emerging companies and national Fortune 500 corporations. The Winchester site uses high-speed wide-web and mid-web roll fed presses to print labels in up to 10 colors with 100% eco-friendly water-based inks. In 2003 Walle installed an EskoArtwork CDI Spark 4835 (35x48") flexo plate imager at the facility, followed more recently with a larger imager-the EskoArtwork CDI Spark 4260 (42x60")-outfitted with HD Flexo technology.

Walle benefitted from the impact of HD Flexo technology immediately, experiencing better highlight reproduction, especially for dots below 10 percent. "We saw a huge impact in drop shadows, so we don't have any challenges getting to fine zero and 1% dots," said Keeney. "Our customers are also realizing the benefits-winning awards for their package reproduction."