Eaglewood Technologies has partnered with Italy’s BFT Group to bring the revolutionary BFT Flexo automated inking and washing system to flexographic printers. This partnership is just the beginning of an incredibly transformative journey for the flexographic printing industry.

Next-Level Automation for Inking and Washing

Traditional inking setups place a heavy burden on operators who must attend to pumps while keeping an eye on viscosity and handling wash-ups manually. The BFT Flexo system automates these steps; it moves like clockwork through each phase: starting, running, and cleaning. Nothing is left to chance and errors are kept to a minimum.

The system uses a two-pump design that balances ink flow through the chamber. It also includes automatic wash cycles that can cut water use by as much as half compared to conventional methods. At the end of each job, ink is recovered instead of discarded, slashing material waste and maximizing the use of consumables. This is a smarter and more sustainable approach that will drive down operating costs.

Building on Eaglewood’s Track Record

Eaglewood has earned its reputation with cleaning systems like Sanilox and Sitexco, which help printers to extend the life of their anilox rolls and take print quality to another level. Adding BFT Flexo further strengthens that portfolio with a solution focused on ink management. It's a system that saves time on changeovers, limits waste, and brings more consistency to day-to-day operations for printers.

The Eaglewood team brings proven expertise in customer support and system integration. Converters therefore have a devoted partner capable of delivering and supporting this European technology.

The Strength of BFT Group Engineering

BFT Group, located in Italy, has centered its research and development on automating one of flexographic printing’s most overlooked areas: ink handling. Their engineering team created this system deliberately for digital precision and limited manual intervention.

Features include:

  • Automatic controls regulate viscosity, pH, and temperature for consistent print quality across long runs.
  • Predictive features that anticipate maintenance needs and help prolong system life.
  • Configurations for both new OEM presses and retrofits of existing machines.
  • Industry 4.0 readiness; systems can connect with MES platforms and AI-based production oversight.

Additional Systems

Alongside the BFT Flexo, Eaglewood will also introduce two other BFT innovations to printers:

  • Ink600 – Provides real-time tracking of ink use per printed piece. This gives printers a clear picture of actual consumption, makes cost control easier, and alerts operators before ink runs out to keep jobs moving without interruption.

  • MasterClean – Automates central drum cleaning while the press is running. By detecting the material width and targeting buildup, it reduces downtime, improves operator safety, and keeps print quality consistent across long runs.

These technologies extend the benefits of automation beyond inking and washing, helping printers cut waste, avoid delays, and run more efficiently.

What Does This Mean for Printers?

Flexographic printers will have access to a system that:

  • Standardizes and automates inking and wash-up with zero contamination.
  • Recovers and reuses ink for lower waste amounts and operating costs.
  • Cuts water and solvent usage by up to 50%.
  • Provides the most consistency across shifts and operators.
  • Rids of downtime with predictive maintenance and intelligent wash cycles.

Eaglewood Technologies is proud to offer this next-generation technology, and our team is prepared to work directly with printers to install and support it. The BFT Flexo system, along with the MasterClean and Ink600, grant printers access to an automated solution for cleaner, more efficient, and more dependable press performance.

Experience the next wave of flexographic innovation – schedule your demo now.