Saica sweeps flexographic printing categories at the FIA Awards with eight medals

Flexographic excellence in the corrugated sector

Achieving high-definition print quality directly onto corrugated board remains one of the most demanding technical challenges in the packaging industry. On June 11, 2026, Saica Group demonstrated its mastery of this complex discipline by securing a remarkable eight awards in the Corrugated category at the Flexographic Industry Association (FIA) Awards, held at the historic Titanic Hotel in Liverpool.

In an era where digital printing commands much of the industry's innovation spotlight, advanced flexography continues to be the undisputed workhorse for volume and premium retail-ready packaging. The challenge lies in managing dot gain, overcoming the notorious 'washboarding' effect on fluted substrates, and maintaining precise color registration across thousands of sheets at high speeds.

A comprehensive sweep across technical categories

The judges at the FIA Awards recognized Saica's operational excellence across a variety of demanding post-print applications. The production teams walked away with three Gold Awards in some of the most competitive segments:

• Gold in Post Print: Coated Process
• Gold in Post Print: Uncoated Process
• Gold in Post Print: Folder Gluer

Securing gold in both coated and uncoated processes highlights a significant degree of versatility. Printing on coated board demands strict ink control to prevent smearing and ensure rapid curing, while uncoated kraft or testliner requires deep technical knowledge of substrate absorption to maintain vibrant graphics. Furthermore, the Gold in the Folder Gluer category emphasizes that the high-quality print is not compromised during the aggressive converting and folding processes.

The company also secured two Silver Awards (Post Print: Folder Gluer and Post Print: Uncoated Process) and three Bronze Awards (Post Print: Uncoated Line and Screen, Post Print: Folder Gluer, and Post Print: Uncoated Process), rounding out a dominant performance.

The strategic value of operator skill

For paper and packaging manufacturers, machinery investments only tell half the story. The results achieved by Saica in Liverpool underscore the critical role of highly skilled machine operators, pre-press technicians, and ink specialists. As FMCG brands demand increasingly sophisticated graphics to capture consumer attention on supermarket shelves, converters who can deliver litho-like quality through direct flexo post-print gain a massive competitive and cost advantage.

This achievement at the 2026 FIA Awards reflects Saica's ongoing commitment to technical training and operational rigor, proving that attention to detail on the factory floor directly translates into market leadership.

The mastery of post-print flexography demonstrates that traditional technologies, when combined with exceptional operator skill, still have a massive runway for premium packaging. Is the corrugated industry underestimating the full potential of advanced flexo amid the current hype surrounding digital printing? Follow The Paper for daily news, market signals and key updates from the global paper, corrugated and packaging industry. — Sigue toda la actualidad del sector en www.thepaper.ai