Which Is Better For “Short Runs”? Gravure or Flexo?

When we discuss Gravure's competitiveness compared to Flexo, one topic always comes up: “short runs.”

Here’s one fact you and I can agree on:

The longer the job length, the more favorable gravure becomes. 

However, Flexo is competing at a high level regarding short runs. 

The question is, how do we define the term “short run”?

Are we talking about the total lifetime volume/length of the print, or are we talking about the job length in ONE go? 

Think about it this way, for example:

➡️ Do you only print a job ONCE for less than 30,000 meters?

➡️ Or do you print the job MANY times for less than 30,000 meters?

Makes a huge difference, right?

Because you might be able to print the job several times with a Gravure cylinder, but you might not be able to do that with a single Flexo plate.

We know that one of the weak spots of Flexo is mounting and unmounting the plate to the sleeve. 

So, that is an interesting question, and I haven't received a clear answer if we talk about the term “short run.”

What criteria do you use to define a "short run" in your printing projects, and why?