Ink notes
First Article
A practical press-floor note on first-off approval, so the job is signed against the spec before full production begins.
First-off approval is one of the most important control points in flexographic printing. If the sample is not checked against colour, copy, barcode, substrate and registration, the waste climbs quickly. First Article is our note on signing off the first printed sample properly before the run carries on.
First Article needs plain recording and a clear sign-off point. On South African packaging work, the first printed sample must be checked against the approved spec before the operator opens the run for volume.
First-off checks before run release
- Plant, press and shift recorded
- Approved first sample kept with date and time
- Plate code, ink reference and substrate listed
- Operator and approver names written clearly
Use this note with the matching job sheet and print specification. First Article approval is where copy, colour, registration and barcode quality are checked on the actual substrate, not guessed from the artwork file. That record helps the next repeat run start against known settings.
How First Article guides a packaging press week
First article approval is where the job is checked against the spec before full production carries on. This note explains what to review on the first-off print so the plant signs against the right detail before waste and rework increase.
Start with the exact pack material, press width and target appearance. A white BOPP label, kraft sack or laminated snack film will not approve the same way, and inland dust or coastal moisture can change how the sample presents on press. Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town plants also differ in light conditions at the machine, so the viewing point matters when colour is signed off.
Pull the first approved sample before ink keys are chased all over the unit. Mark it with job number, anilox combination, tape build and any impression adjustments made during setup. That sheet belongs at the press and in the file, so rework can be traced back to the approved condition.
Records kept after approval
The outcome should be one signed sample and one usable record of the running condition. Include the SKU, substrate description, plate set, ink references and any barcode verifier result that was checked at first-off. A short, accurate approval record prevents arguments once reels or packs reach conversion and dispatch.
Review First Article together with the relevant press setup note and any ink handling note before changing scope on the job. Before stock is released for full production, compare the sample to the job sheet, approved copy, colour references and barcode requirement one more time. Name your press and the job on it, and we will put together the consumables for the run.
- Approval matched to the running press
- Signed first sample filed before speed-up
- Barcode result noted with the sample
South African pressroom conditions at sign-off
First Article approval in South Africa often happens under production pressure, with dispatch times tied to customer slots and long transport legs. A Durban plant on film work may fight humidity, while a Gauteng site may be dealing with dust and static on dry days. Older presses at established industrial sites also need the approval sheet to capture manual settings that newer controls would store automatically.
Coastal moisture can shift drying and rub performance on the first sample. Inland conditions can affect web handling, dust pick-up and scanner reliability when barcodes are checked at press. Power interruptions also make timing important, because a sample taken after a restart must be compared carefully with the one originally signed.
Operated by Astros Marketing (Pty) Ltd from 2 Makro Place, Sunnyrock 1401.
Notes to capture on First Article
A practical press-floor note on first-off approval, so the job is signed against the spec before full production begins.
File the signed first-off sample with the job sheet, colour standard and barcode grade record while the run details are still fresh. That record helps when a buyer asks which substrate, anilox and ink reference were approved before volume production continued.