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With SPQ®, SÜDPACK is setting new standards for efficient, precise, and sustainable print processes in industrial flexo and gravure printing. The technology is based on a standardized, expanded 7C color space (CMYK + orange, green, and violet) and precise color management across a fully standardized process and production chain. This ensures outstanding color fidelity, high reproducibility, and maximum process stability across print runs, plants, and countries.
For brands, SPQ means brilliant print results, consistent corporate colors, shorter approval phases, faster time-to-market, and a measurable contribution to greater sustainability – even with frequent design changes and small batch sizes.
SPQ technology is based on a standardized 7C color space and fixed process parameters. This leads to the elimination of spot colors, fewer color changeovers, a reduction in solvent consumption, and less film waste. These factors play a major role in substantially reducing the carbon footprint of our printed films. A certified life cycle assessment shows that SPQ can deliver CO₂e savings of up to 18% compared with conventional flexo print. This allows SPQ to make a measurable contribution to more sustainable package printing.
Reduced consumption of ink and solvents
Lower expenditure of energy
Less production waste
By using a clearly defined 7C color palette and standardized, consistent color management across the entire process chain, SPQ makes the print process significantly more efficient.
The technology allows for fast design changes, high flexibility, and reliable implementation – even for designs with many variants and small batch sizes.
Thanks to high color consistency and color-accurate proofs, print adjustments and print approvals are largely eliminated. The result is shorter setup and approval times, decreased use of materials, and noticeable efficiency gains across the entire process chain.
Greater flexibility
Less film waste
Less effort required for print approvals
The high register accuracy of SPQ technology provides the basis for high-quality printing with strong color consistency, enabling brilliant, reproducible color rendering across all print processes.
Pantone and corporate identity colors are automatically simulated in the 7C color space with color-accurate results. This allows more than 85% of all Pantone colors to be reproduced precisely without the use of spot colors. Color-accurate proofs with exact Pantone simulation serve as a binding reference before production begins, ensuring stable color implementation and reproducible results – across print runs, plants, and countries.
High register accuracy
Maximum color consistency
Stable, reproducible color conversion
This efficiency has also been independently validated: SÜDPACK was included in the state of Baden-Württemberg’s “100 Companies for Resource Efficiency” initiative for its SPQ technology. The related case study showed potential savings of around 0.25 metric tons of CO₂e on a print run of 20,000 m².
*The analysis is based on a comparison of SPQ print processes and standard flexo print on 20 μm OPP and 12 μm PET, and takes into account both the German electricity mix and green electricity scenarios. The relevant process steps from raw material supply through to the finished printed film material were assessed (cradle-to-gate).
How well SPQ performs in industrial use is demonstrated by the joint project between SÜDPACK and GOLDSTEIG.
High-quality, consistent print quality does not start at the machine – it starts in prepress. That’s why our prepress team plays a central role in SPQ. The team supports brands, packaging teams, and agencies from the outset, ensuring that print data is optimally prepared, color-consistent, and ready for production without unnecessary revision loops.
With the use of SPQ in gravure printing, metallic colors can also be imaged. Thanks to the PUR-based ink system used, the printed films are suitable for pasteurization and sterilization. This means that they can also be used in temperature-sensitive applications such as the packaging of pet food, medical and pharmaceutical products, and cosmetics and drugstore products.
The use of reusable and durable gravure cylinders for high print run stability in lightweight construction also contributes to saving resources as well as high material efficiency.
SPQ is regarded as a genuine packaging revolution in flexographic printing and is based on a water-based printing plate system.
The combination of water-based cliché production and a defined color palette results in reduced ink and solvent consumption with optimum print quality. These factors enable the creation of a customized and sustainable packaging solution.
Expanding CMYK with orange, green, and violet not only expands the color space – it fundamentally changes the process logic. Instead of switching between different Pantone spot colors, SPQ works with a fixed, standardized color set. This reduces variability in color deviations, increases process stability, and enables reproducible results across machines, plants, and countries. At the same time, it lowers resource consumption through fewer color changes, reduced solvent and energy use, and less waste. SPQ is therefore primarily built around efficiency and stability. The expanded color space is simply the visible part of the system.
The industrial use of 7C print requires consistent standardization and control. This includes defined workflows, fixed color parameters, expert color management, modern measurement technology, and clear quality standards across all plants. This level of process discipline is essential to ensuring that SPQ works reliably, efficiently, and sustainably.
Yes. End-to-end color management allows Pantone and corporate identity colors to be simulated precisely in SPQ. Color-accurate proofs with an exact Pantone look serve as the reference for production. The result is high color fidelity, consistent results across all print runs and production sites, and stable brand presentation – even across product variants or relaunches.
Yes. SPQ is suitable for clear, minimalist layouts as well as complex, color-intensive designs where corporate identity colors are critical. The expanded color space enables brilliant results without spot colors, especially with bold accent colors and demanding designs.
This is exactly where SPQ comes into its own. The standardized color palette significantly reduces setup times and makes fast design and variant changes easier. This supports shorter production cycles, smaller batch sizes, and a high level of responsiveness – with consistent quality.
For brands, very little changes in terms of day-to-day operations. Print data continues to be supplied in the usual format, and SÜDPACK handles all processing steps. However, early involvement of SÜDPACK’s prepress experts is recommended for new layouts or relaunch projects. This enables optimal color simulations, reduces the number of revision rounds, and increases planning reliability. On-site print approval is generally no longer required.
In most cases, yes. Almost all existing standard print designs can be transferred to SPQ without restrictions. The standardized 7C workflow is especially beneficial for brands with a wide range of product variants, CI-critical colors, and different print-run sizes.
SPQ is not intended for use in highly specialized flexo print applications, such as surface printing, sterilization applications, or microwave applications that require special ink types (e.g., PU inks). In these cases, an individual assessment is recommended to determine the most suitable print and ink technology.
As a general rule, the earlier SPQ is considered during the development of a new print design, the easier it is to ensure optimal results.
SPQ is fundamentally designed as a standardized 7C system without spot colors. This reduction to a fixed color set is precisely what provides the basis for high process stability, efficiency, and reproducible results across all production sites. At the same time, it is a key lever for reducing resource consumption, emissions, and waste. For special design requirements, such as metallic effects, an adapted SPQ variant may be used in exceptional cases. The decision to use this variant and the specific implementation steps are assessed individually as part of the repro evaluation. These solutions are not part of the SPQ standard and intentionally deviate from the standardized process logic. Because they involve additional colors, greater complexity, and a lower degree of standardization, they generally require more resources and energy, making them less sustainable than the SPQ standard. The aim therefore remains to use SPQ consistently without spot colors, wherever this is technically feasible and strategically appropriate for the brand.
SPQ systematically reduces the use of inks, solvents, energy, and paper waste. The key factor is reduced process variability through fixed color sets and standardized workflows.
Certified life cycle assessments demonstrate CO₂e savings of up to 18% compared with the conventional flexo print method. This means SPQ makes a measurable contribution to more sustainable package printing across the entire value chain.
Switching to a new print process often requires internal change management. SÜDPACK supports customers with transparent process communication, explanatory materials, close coordination with agencies, color management workshops, and color-accurate proofs. This helps ensure a smooth transition without compromising brand impact, product safety, or CI-compliant color reproduction.
