Labelexpo Americas 2022 / Plates & platemaking | 121PLATES AND PLATEMAKINGAutomation and water processing were key trends seen in the plates and platemaking sector. Andy Thomas-Emans reportsabelexpo Americas 2022 demonstrated how automation and water processing can drive effciencies and make sustainability gains in the printed label production process. LAsahi Photoproducts launched its AWP-CleanPrint line of water-washable fexographic plates, designed as a more sustainable alternative to traditional solvent-washable plates and to deliver improved quality on press with reduced cycle time. The water-wash plates have low surface energy resulting in fewer press stops for plate cleaning. Asahi also promoted a new water recycling unit for use with its larger plate processing systems. The fltering system recycles approximately 85 percent of the water used in plate processing, Advancements in plates and platemaking were on display at Labelexpo Americas 2022leaving the remaining waste as a slurry or sludge to be disposed of. A portion of the additive used in the water wash remains in “THE FILTERING SYSTEM RECYCLES the fltered water, reducing the amount of additive required for processing subsequent plates. Using this recycling unit results in APPROXIMATELY 85 PERCENT OF THE WATER USED a cleaner processor, extending the time between cleaning and IN PLATE PROCESSING, LEAVING THE REMAINING reducing maintenance costs.WASTE AS A SLURRY OR SLUDGE TO BE DISPOSED Fujiflm showcased its established Flenex water-wash plates and processors. The plates are 100 percent solvent-free and are claimed OF. A PORTION OF THE ADDITIVE USED IN THE to have a lower cost-in-use than thermal or solvent technology. WATER WASH REMAINS IN THE FILTERED WATER, Fujiflm’s ColorPath Sync cloud-based color management software REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF ADDITIVE REQUIRED was demonstrated, providing one location to manage color for multiple workfows, devices and media.FOR PROCESSING SUBSEQUENT PLATES”DuPont demonstrated its Cyrel Lightning plate family, optimized for UV-LED exposure units. Previously, exposure settings on LED and improved color strength.units often had to be adjusted for either higher quality or shorter Woodpecker surface screening works by controlling the ink more access time. accurately as it is transferred from the anilox to the plate and onto Cyrel Lightning plates were formulated from the ground up the substrate. The result is a smoother, higher opacity ink laydown, with UV-LED exposure characteristics in mind. Plate chemistry sharper line work, and cleaner screens, without the common is designed to produce UV profles tailored to achieve tunability printing defects often found in fexo printing, such as pin holing, between surface- and through-cures. This enables a balanced trail edge voids and halo effects, at full press speed.cure that can be tailored to the unique dynamics of a scanned Woodpecker surface microstructures are applied at the imaging LED exposure sequence. At the same time, it provides suffcient stage and will work with common open RIPs. through-cure using a fnely tuned UV absorption profle. Nevis is the latest addition to the Woodpecker portfolio, which Cyrel LSH is the frst of the new range of Lightning photopolymer also includes the Sharp, Nano and Replay options for ThermoFlexX plates and will be available in 045 and 067 gauges. It is solvent TFxX plate imagers.processable and comes with certifed exposure recipes in the XSYS also demonstrated its nylofex Xpress Thermal latest software of the Esko XPS Crystal units. Cyrel LSH is a hard Processing System, capable of producing press-ready plates in durometer plate with a smooth surface, suited for advanced surface less than one hour. screenings and optimized for a broad range of substrates across Automation in plate mounting was demonstrated by JM Heaford fexible packaging, tag and label and paper printing applications. with its AutoMounter, which eliminates operator judgment from The company also showcased its established Cyrel Fast thermal the mounting process. Options include pre-register compatibility, platemaking system, consisting of a thermal processor and a variety plate and tape cutters and a sleeve exchange unit. The company of photopolymer printing plates for fexible packaging and labels. also showed a semi-automatic FTS model plate mounter. The Esko, meanwhile, focused on demonstrating its CDI Crystal 4260 Heaford ELS model completed the trio of plate mounters on XPS in combination with the company’s new Flexo Engine module, the booth. demonstrating digitization of the fexo production process. AV Flexologic showcased its Automatic SAMM 2.0 800 Screening advancements also were demonstrated at the show. automatic mounting machine for the fexo narrow-web industry, XSYS showed a new version of its ThermoFlexX Woodpecker capable of mounting a fexo plate in less than one minute. surface microstructure technology. Woodpecker Nevis enables higher imaging speeds for fat top dot fexographic plates used Continue reading to learn more about developments from for standard white inks. This potentially allows fexible packaging material suppliersconverters to save on white ink costs while providing more contrast Oct - Dec 2022