Clear answers.
Better production.

Formsxpress combines design and prepress, offset and digital print, labels, wide-format output, packaging, cutting, coating, gluing, binding, kitting and hand assembly. The value is not any single machine; it is our ability to combine the right processes under one accountable production team.

Offset is generally best for longer runs and highly consistent commercial or packaging work. Digital suits shorter runs, quick changes and variable data. Wide format is used for larger items such as boards, displays, decals, banners and signage. We recommend the route after considering quantity, size, substrate, finish, deadline and budget.

Yes. Tell us how the finished item will be used, handled, stored and transported. We will recommend suitable paper, board, film or rigid material based on durability, printability, finish, sustainability, appearance and cost.

Yes. We can develop custom formats using structural design, prototyping, die-cutting, CNC routing and laser cutting. Custom work may require tooling, so include the intended quantity and whether the format will be repeated.

Often, depending on capacity and complexity. The most reliable way to protect a deadline is to send complete artwork, quantity, material, finishing and delivery details as early as possible. Rush charges may apply where production must be reprioritised.

Yes. Formsxpress provides sheetfed printing across offset lithography and digital production. Offset lithography is generally selected for longer runs, demanding colour consistency and packaging work; digital sheetfed production is useful for shorter runs, fast changes and variable data.

LED-UV is offset lithography with instant curing from energy-efficient LED lamps. Formsxpress was the first local adopter of LED-UV offset technology, giving customers faster turnaround, immediately dry sheets, crisp detail, strong colour, reduced marking and the ability to print effectively on a wider range of coated and non-absorbent stocks.

Because the ink cures immediately, jobs can move to finishing sooner. LED-UV also reduces heat and energy demand compared with conventional UV, avoids spray-powder contamination, supports sharper dots and cleaner handling, and performs especially well on premium uncoated, synthetic and specialty materials.

Yes. Digital production can personalise names, numbers, barcodes, QR codes, images and other controlled fields. Supply clean source data and explain the matching, sequencing and verification rules.

A print-ready PDF is preferred. For work that may need adjustment, supply the original packaged artwork with linked images and fonts. Common source formats include Adobe Illustrator, InDesign and Photoshop files. Your sales or prepress contact can confirm what is needed for your specific job.

Yes, when colour or imagery runs to the trimmed edge. As a general guide, include at least 3 mm bleed and crop marks outside the finished size. Packaging, large-format and specialist cutting jobs may need different allowances, so use the supplied template when one is provided.

For most close-viewed print, aim for 300 ppi at final size. Large-format work can use a lower effective resolution because it is viewed from farther away. Avoid enlarging small web images; send the highest-quality originals available.

Prepare print artwork in CMYK and define approved spot colours as Pantone references where necessary. RGB is designed for screens and can contain colours that cannot be reproduced in print. If your artwork is RGB, we will convert it, but visible colour shifts may occur.

Yes. We offer design, layout, prepress and production-artwork support. Let us know whether you need a technical correction, a redraw, a packaging adaptation or a complete design so the right scope can be quoted.

Keep the dieline on a clearly named spot-colour layer, set it to overprint and separate it from printed artwork. Do not scale a supplied dieline unless Formsxpress approves the change.

Use the packaging function in your design application, include linked high-resolution images and permitted fonts, then ZIP the folder. Add the enquiry, quote or job reference to the filename before using Send Files.

Screens emit RGB light, while print reflects light from CMYK or spot-colour inks. Screen brightness, calibration, paper whiteness, coating, ink coverage and ambient light all affect appearance. A screen preview is useful for content and layout, but it is not a physical colour standard.

Yes, within an agreed production tolerance. The result depends on the press, ink system, substrate and finish. For brand-critical work, provide the Pantone reference and, where possible, an approved physical sample. We can discuss drawdowns, wet proofs or press checks where appropriate.

Proofing is agreed according to the job. A PDF proof checks content, layout and positioning. A calibrated contract proof gives a better colour indication. A physical prototype or production proof may be recommended for structural packaging, unusual materials or critical finishes.

No responsible printer can promise zero variation across every run, material and process. We can work to an agreed tolerance and control the variables that affect repeatability. Tell us before quoting if colour is non-negotiable so the necessary testing, make-ready and sorting can be allowed for.

Ink sits closer to the surface of coated stock, usually producing sharper and more saturated colour. Uncoated stock absorbs more ink, so colour can appear softer or darker. The same artwork may therefore need different colour profiles or ink adjustments for each material.

Yes. We produce folding cartons, sleeves, corrugated formats, rigid boxes and presentation packaging. Options can include special papers, foils, varnishes, laminates, inserts and hand assembly.

Yes. Available finishing depends on the material, design, run length and desired effect. We can advise whether die-cutting, CNC or laser cutting is most appropriate and whether foiling, embossing, debossing or a printed effect offers the best result.

Yes, on suitable equipment and materials. White ink can support printing on dark or transparent substrates. Metallic effects can be created through foil, metallic stock or selected inks, while varnishes and coatings can add protection or contrast. A test is advisable for unusual combinations.

Yes. We produce books, manuals, reports, catalogues and similar work with suitable folding, stitching, binding and finishing options. Page count, spine width, paper choice, run length and intended lifespan determine the best construction.

Yes. Our hand-finishing team can collate, insert, label, bundle, shrink-wrap, assemble and pack to an agreed specification. Provide the pack quantity, labelling rules and delivery split when requesting a quote.

Yes. Quote requirements include the finished pad size, number of sheets per pad, quantity, print colours, paper colour and adhesive-edge orientation. Custom covers or presentation formats can also be discussed.

Yes. We can develop plain structural prototypes, digitally printed mock-ups and selected production samples to test construction, fit, presentation and packing before the full run.

Yes. Formsxpress can produce a complete resin-domed label from digital printing and cutting through to the clear resin application. We can also apply resin doming to suitable printed and cut labels supplied by a client.

The cured resin forms a raised, glossy three-dimensional lens that adds visual depth, a premium feel and protection from everyday handling, light scuffing and moisture. Common applications include product and equipment branding, badges, nameplates, electronics, appliances, promotional products and presentation packaging.

Do not weed client-supplied labels. The surrounding waste matrix must remain intact when the labels are delivered. Formsxpress will weed them immediately before the resin is applied. Labels should otherwise be clean, flat, accurately cut and supplied on a suitable release liner with consistent spacing. The face material, ink or coating, adhesive, liner and cut edge may require testing before production.

For a quote, provide the label size and shape, quantity, number of designs, intended application, required date and whether Formsxpress or the client supplies the labels.

Yes. Formsxpress uses UV-cured inks for screen printing on suitable flat materials, panels, overlays, boards, decals, labels and specialist components. Ultraviolet light rapidly cures the ink, supporting strong opacity, sharp solid colour and efficient movement into later production stages.

The process is material-specific. Adhesion, flexibility and durability depend on the exact substrate, its surface condition, the ink system and the curing conditions. Plastics and unusual materials may require cleaning, surface treatment or an adhesion test. Outdoor exposure, chemicals, heat, folding, forming, laminating or heavy abrasion must be disclosed so the correct construction can be tested rather than assumed.

Yes. We apply suitable gloss, matt and selected specialty films to packaging, covers, cards, labels, display graphics and other printed work. Laminating can improve presentation and add resistance to handling, light scuffing and moisture. The film must be compatible with the material, print process and any later folding, gluing, foiling or die-cutting.

Please include the product, finished size, quantity, material if known, number of printed colours, finishing, packing, delivery location and required date. Attach artwork, a photograph or a sample reference where possible. If the specification is incomplete, tell us the outcome and we will help define it.

Minimums vary by process. Digital work can suit small quantities, while offset, packaging and specialist finishing involve setup or tooling that becomes more economical over larger runs. We can compare routes and price breaks.

Pricing reflects material, setup, run length, machine time, ink coverage, tooling, finishing, handwork, packing and delivery. Small changes to size or quantity can materially change the most economical production route.

It depends on artwork readiness, material availability, proofing, tooling, process and finishing. A straightforward repeat job may move quickly; custom packaging or multi-stage work takes longer. Your confirmed production date begins after artwork approval and any required payment or material sign-off.

Often. We can recommend a digital mock-up, colour proof, plain structural prototype or production sample depending on what needs to be tested. A sample made on the final process may carry a setup charge.

Warehousing and scheduled call-off supply can be arranged for suitable programmes. The quotation should define stock ownership, storage period, release quantities, labelling, reporting and delivery points.

Yes. We deliver in Cape Town and can arrange distribution elsewhere in South Africa. International delivery can be discussed. Cost and timing depend on the size, weight, destination, service level and number of delivery points.

Yes, once your sales or production contact confirms that the order is complete and ready. Collection is from 5 Lily Road, Retreat, Cape Town during trading hours.

Keep the goods and packaging, take clear photographs and contact your Formsxpress representative as soon as possible. We will compare the issue against the approved proof, specification and delivery record, then agree the appropriate corrective action.

Use your assigned sales or account contact and confirm important changes in writing. Changes made after artwork approval or production has started may affect cost and timing.

Discuss confidentiality requirements before sending sensitive material. We can review NDA requirements and agree how files, proofs, waste and completed goods should be handled. Do not send regulated personal data without first agreeing a secure process.

Yes. Provide the delivery list, pack quantities, labelling rules, deadlines and any proof-of-delivery requirements when requesting the quote.

Formsxpress is ISO 22000:2018 certified for the manufacturing, die-cutting and printing of paper packaging for use in the food industry. Formsxpress is also approved for primary-contact paper food-packaging applications, subject to confirming the exact material, ink, coating, barrier, migration and conditions-of-use requirements for the job.

Formsxpress is not FSC chain-of-custody certified. For a printer or packaging converter, FSC chain of custody is primarily a documented traceability and verification system. Material carrying an FSC claim must be identified, controlled, recorded and independently audited as it moves through each stage of manufacture and distribution.

FSC chain of custody can provide useful traceability, but it is not a complete environmental assessment of a finished printed product. In the South African context, the Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa reports that locally produced paper is made from plantation-grown fibre, recovered paper or agricultural fibre rather than indigenous or natural forests. We therefore consider fibre source, recycled content, material efficiency, fitness for purpose, local availability and end-of-life options together instead of treating one certification mark as the whole sustainability answer.

We can source paper or board that is supplied to us with an FSC claim, subject to availability and supplier documentation. However, because the Formsxpress printing and converting stage is not FSC chain-of-custody certified, we cannot sell the finished printed product with an FSC claim, apply an FSC label or use FSC trademarks on the product.

FSC certification requires formal management systems, record keeping, third-party assessment, annual surveillance audits and controlled trademark approvals. For our operation, limited local audit availability, administration and ongoing compliance costs would ultimately have to be recovered through customer pricing. Formsxpress has chosen instead to offer transparent, job-specific sourcing information without representing it as FSC certification.

On request, we can prepare a Formsxpress material sourcing and environmental statement for an agreed job. Subject to information available from the paper or board supplier, it can record:

• The supplier and exact paper or board grade used
• The documented fibre source, recycled content or supplier certification where available
• The purchasing and job references used to trace the material internally
• Material-reduction or more easily recyclable alternatives considered during specification
• Relevant production-waste recovery and recycling information

This internal statement provides practical sourcing transparency, but it is not FSC certification and cannot replace FSC chain of custody where a customer’s procurement policy specifically requires a finished product carrying an FSC claim.

Extended Producer Responsibility is the South African legal framework that extends responsibility for identified products and packaging to their post-consumer stage. It is intended to support collection, recycling, recovery, reporting and other end-of-life activities.

Formsxpress is a packaging converter, but that description alone does not determine every party’s legal responsibility. For paper and packaging, the regulations may identify the manufacturer, converter, brand owner, importer or retailer as the producer, depending on the product and supply arrangement. The applicable notice also refers to producers placing more than 10 tonnes of identified products onto the market annually. A customer agreement or invoice cannot simply transfer a statutory obligation away from the party identified by law.

Formsxpress does not currently add a separate EPR charge to customer invoices. For affected work, we may ask for information such as the brand owner, intended market, material category, annual tonnage and the customer’s EPR registration or producer-responsibility-organisation details. This helps clarify responsibilities and reduce the risk of the same packaging being counted twice.

If EPR participation, administration or producer-responsibility-organisation fees create a direct cost for Formsxpress in future, any job-specific EPR compliance cost recovery will be disclosed clearly in the quotation before the customer approves the job. It will be described as a compliance cost recovery rather than a government tax, and it will not by itself change either party’s legal duties.

EPR status can depend on the complete commercial arrangement, so customers placing substantial quantities of packaging onto the South African market should obtain advice appropriate to their business and register where required.

Yes. Options may include recyclable paper-based structures, reduced material use, water-based coatings and formats designed for easier separation. The best choice depends on product protection, food-safety needs, transport and local recycling streams.

We focus on efficient layouts, process selection, material recovery and recycling of suitable offcuts. Our rooftop solar installation also supports a substantial part of the factory’s energy use. For a specific sustainability requirement, ask us to compare practical options rather than relying on a generic claim.

Yes. Formsxpress is approved for primary-contact paper food-packaging applications. Our ISO 22000:2018 certificate covers the manufacturing, die-cutting and printing of paper packaging for use in the food industry. The exact board, inks, coatings, barriers, migration requirements, food type and conditions of use must still be agreed for each job.

The certified scope is the manufacturing, die-cutting and printing of paper packaging for use in the food industry at 5 Lily Road, Retreat. The current certificate expires on 29 May 2028. Certification does not automatically make every material or construction suitable for every food-contact application.