scale requirement for a long run length to break even, which is not consistent with the increasing demand for flexibility. A high-quality printed label can also be pasted on the combined board.These labels are usually referred to as “litho-labeling” because most are printed by offset lithography, although rotogravure, and increasingly, flexography are also used for labels. The additional operation of laminating or gluing the label to the corrugated substrate is economic only for short, high value runs. (Cartellieri 2008, Eldred 2007)

Since the 1990s the speed, print quality and the number of color reproduction capabilities of flexographic post-print process (after the board is combined) has improved significantly, and can print as many as eight colors. But flexo post-print has a high production cost because of the high cost pre-press operations and long set-up time. Also, it weakens the board because it crushes the corrugated flutes. Furthermore, register deviation, dot gain and the washboard effect are hard to prevent. (Massimo 2009)

The introduction of digital printing adds an attractive option for short POP (Point of Purchase) runs. New generation digital printers can produce “lithography like” print quality.Without the need for prepress steps like producing films and/or plates, the total upfront cost has

been reduced. As no plates are used in the process, set-up/changeover time and the start-up time can be reduced to minutes.