// Custom Printing · Rotogravure

Rotogravure Printed Coffee & Food Packaging, Australia

The workhorse of flexible packaging: every colour in your artwork is engraved into its own print drum, then run at speed — the highest print quality and the lowest unit cost of our three methods once you reach 10,000 units. Built to your exact spec and delivered via our Melbourne warehouse.

APCO Member
Since 2004
CO2 Neutral
Melbourne Warehouse
MOQ
10,000 units
Production
~5–7 weeks
Colours
Up to 10
Setup
Engraved print drums
Rotogravure printing press and engraved drums producing custom coffee packaging

// How Rotogravure Works

Engraved drums, engineered for volume

Rotogravure is the most established technique in flexible packaging. Your artwork is engraved into steel print drums — one per colour — and once those drums exist, the press runs fast, consistent and cheap per unit.

01

One engraved drum per colour

Every colour in your artwork is engraved into its own steel print drum — up to 10 colours per design. Print drums are a separate cost, itemised in your quote — never hidden in the bag price.

02

Built entirely to your spec

Rotogravure bags are made from scratch: format, material structure, size, features and finish are all built around your artwork.

03

Speed and quality at volume

Once the drums are made, the press runs fast — excellent, consistent print on film materials and the lowest unit cost of our three methods at 10,000+ units. Printing kraft-look bags? Ask us — we’ll recommend the best technique for the material.

04

Drums reusable for reprints

Drums are a long-term asset: reusable across reprints and guaranteed for 2 years — if a drum rusts or is damaged in that period, we replace it free. After 2 years drums are inspected and replaced only as needed; many are still printing perfectly after 4 years.

// Is Rotogravure Right For You?

An honest fit-check

Rotogravure rewards volume. If your numbers are there, nothing beats it — if they’re not yet, we’ll say so.

Choose rotogravure when…
✓You’re ordering 10,000 units or more
✓Unit cost matters most at your volume
✓Your brand runs on up to 10 consistent, repeatable colours
✓You’ll reorder the same artwork — drums are reusable across reprints and guaranteed for 2 years
✓You want the bag built to your exact spec
Consider another method when…

You’re under 10,000 units, or want several designs in one run.

Digital printing — from 2,000 units, unlimited colours, no plates →

You want a minimal single-colour mark on a kraft look, fast.

Hot foil stamping — from 1,000 units, ~3-week production →

// What You Can Print On

Pick your format

Rotogravure can be used on all sizes and formats of our packaging. Start with the format: stand up pouches · box bottom bags · side gusset bags · flat pouches · quad seal bags. We’ll confirm the right format, material and print combination for your run when you quote.

// From Quote To Delivery

Four steps, start to finish

01

Get a quote

Tell us your format, size, material and volumes. We quote with real numbers — MOQ, production time, unit cost and the itemised drum cost, up front.

02

Artwork on our cutter guides

Set your artwork on our cutter guides. Our in-house designer checks it and works with your designer daily on adjustments — we don’t design from scratch.

03

Digital proof approval

A digital proof is included with every order — nothing prints until you approve it. Printed proofs are available on demand at extra cost.

04

Production & delivery

Drums are engraved and your run prints at source — around 5–7 weeks after artwork approval — then ships by sea or air freight to our Melbourne warehouse, is quality-checked and delivered ready to fill.

// FAQ

Rotogravure printing, answered

Rotogravure starts at 10,000 units. Below that, digital printing starts at 2,000 units and hot stamp printing at 1,000 units.

Production takes around 5–7 weeks after artwork approval, covering drum engraving, printing and production of your bags. Shipping is separate and flexible: sea freight is the most cost-effective, and airfreight takes around 10 days when you need stock sooner.

Yes — shipping is quoted separately and stays flexible. Sea freight is the most cost-effective way to receive a rotogravure run, and airfreight takes around 10 days. You can also split a shipment: airfreight part of the run so you can start selling straight away, with the rest following by sea. Ask for current shipping options in your quote.

Up to 10 colours, each engraved onto its own print drum. Drums are a separate cost, itemised in your quote — not hidden in the bag price — and they’re a long-term asset: reusable across reprints and guaranteed for 2 years. If a drum rusts or is damaged in that period, we replace it free; after 2 years drums are inspected and replaced only as needed — we’ve had drums still printing perfectly after 4 years.

We don’t design from scratch — you supply artwork on our cutter guides, and our in-house designer checks it and works with your designer on adjustments. A digital proof is included with every order; printed proofs are available on demand at an extra cost.

Big volumes, small unit costs.

Get a quote with real numbers — MOQ, production time, unit cost and itemised drum cost — and a digital proof before anything prints.

Get a free quote Compare all printing methods