A paper packaging company near Birmingham supplies food bags, retail bags, and custom paper packaging for UK customers. Its regular work includes small and medium paper bags with multi-colour logos, text, and graphics. As these orders increased, the company looked for a new flexographic printing machine that could handle more five-colour work without adding another printing stage.
In June 2026, the production manager, James Wilson, contacted YG Machinery. The plant mainly uses 30–300 gsm paper. Its common bag formats include small food bags and retail bags with printing widths below 310 mm. Most jobs use water-based ink, while the operator changes the ink and printing setup between different artwork designs.
James explained the production issue clearly: “We were spending too much time changing between jobs.”
The plant usually assigns two operators to the printing line. They handle material preparation, ink changes, plate setup, and production checks. After reviewing the paper range, printing width, colour requirement, and site power condition, YG Machinery supplied the YG-320 5-Colour Flexo Printing Machine.
5-Colour Flexo Printing Machine Specifications
| Item | Data |
| Machine Model | YG 320 5 Colors Flexo Printing Machine |
| Maximum unwinding diameter | 600mm |
| Maximum rewinding diameter | 600mm |
| Printing length | 180.975 444.5mm |
| Maximum paper width | 320mm |
| Maximum printing width | 310mm |
| Registration accuracy | ±0.1mm |
| Gear specifications | 1/8CP，The tooth pitch is 3.175 |
| Power supply requirements | 380V 3PH 50HZ |
| Machine design speed | 0 80m/min |
| Printing plate thickness | 1.7mm |
| Paper mounting tape thickness | 0.38mm |
| Printing material | 30 300gsm paper |
| Frame | 20mm Thick wall panels |
| Automatic paper break detection protection shutdown | Yes |
| Automatic alarm deceleration shutdown when paper is low | Yes |
| Automatic shutdown after preset output is completed | Yes |
| Meter and piece counting functions can be realized | Yes |
| Multi point speed regulation can be realized | Yes |
| Transmission gear | The transmission gears of the whole machine are all made of high precision ground gears, made of 20CrMnTi with a hardness of 58 |
| Complete machine color | White |
Paper Bag Printing Requirements: 30–300 gsm and 320 mm Width
The customer’s production focuses on paper bags rather than wide-format packaging. A typical job uses a narrow paper web for a food or retail bag. Some designs use four process colours, while more detailed artwork requires five colours or an additional colour arrangement.
The plant also works with different paper weights. Lighter paper needs different handling from heavier kraft or coated paper. The operator adjusts the printing setup when the material changes instead of applying one fixed setting to every job.
Printing Width and Registration
The customer wanted to keep registration within ±0.1 mm. This requirement matters when a bag carries several colours around small text, logos, or fine graphic elements.
The maximum paper width of the machine is 320 mm, while the maximum printing width is 310 mm. This range matches the customer’s current narrow paper bag formats.
Reducing Extra Printing Stages
Another issue involved job changes. The plant previously handled some five-colour designs through separate production arrangements. That process increased plate changes and preparation work.
The new setup allows the team to move more of these jobs to one five-colour printing line. As a result, the fifth printing unit can be used when a design requires an additional colour without changing to another production arrangement.
Why a 5-Colour Flexo Press Suits Multi-Colour Paper Bags
The customer did not select the machine by design speed alone. Printing width, paper range, colour capacity, registration, and the existing bag formats all affected the decision.
For this plant, a 5-colour flexo printing machine for paper bags provides an additional printing unit compared with a four-colour setup. This gives the operator more options when a design uses several process colours or requires a separate colour.
The printing plate has a 1.7 mm thickness, and the paper mounting tape has a 0.38 mm thickness. The machine also uses 1/8 CP gears with a 3.175 mm tooth pitch. Its transmission gears use 20CrMnTi material and high-precision grinding, with a hardness of 58 HRC.
The customer does not use every available colour position for every order. Four-colour jobs still run as four-colour jobs. The fifth unit mainly gives the plant more flexibility when the artwork needs an additional colour.
Narrow Web Flexo Printing for Paper Bags
After installation, the plant started with standard food and retail bag orders. The operators then moved to more complex five-colour designs. The line normally runs with two operators, who manage paper loading, ink preparation, plate changes, and production checks.
The plant uses water-based ink for most current orders. Operators clean the relevant ink path when the job changes and prepare the next colour set before the following run. The actual setup time varies with the artwork and paper rather than following one fixed figure.
The machine also fits the customer’s narrow paper format. This makes it suitable as a narrow web flexo printing machine for the plant’s current bag work. However, not every job can run in one uninterrupted setup. New paper grades, major artwork changes, or special colour requirements can still require additional preparation.
The metre and piece counters give the operators a direct production reference. Paper-break and low-paper protection also reduce the need for constant manual checking during a run.
Paper Bag Production Feedback
After the initial production period, the customer compared similar multi-colour jobs with earlier production records. James reported that preparation and colour adjustment time fell by around 20%–25% on comparable jobs. The customer based this figure on its own records rather than a laboratory test from YG Machinery.
The main change came from the number of jobs that could move directly to the five-unit line. The plant no longer needed to arrange a separate printing stage for every design that required an additional colour.
James gave a short comment after using the machine: “The five-colour setup saves us time on the changeovers.”
The result does not mean every order now runs without adjustment. Operators still prepare plates, ink, and paper when the job changes. The difference is that more of the plant’s current multi-colour bag work can stay within one five-colour production setup.
Flexographic Printing Machine Support for UK Projects
YG Machinery operates its own production and assembly facilities. Different stages are handled in-house, including mechanical assembly, electrical wiring, and machine testing.
Before shipment, each machine goes through a final inspection. The team checks the main components and runs the machine to confirm normal operation. Packing follows after the inspection is completed.
Export orders also receive technical support during the preparation stage. Drawings, machine information, and operating documents can be prepared for the customer when required.
This production process supports different printing machine configurations. It also gives customers a direct way to discuss project-specific requirements with the technical team.
For a flexographic printing machine project, you can send a bag sample, artwork, or production plan during the enquiry stage. YG Machinery can review the information and provide a suitable machine proposal.
