Esko reports that Brazil-based
Clicheria DP Studio has recently upgraded its investment in digital flexo
imaging from HD Flexo to Esko Full HD Flexo, becoming the 100th installation,
worldwide. DP Studio is reporting exceptional package printing results – even
replacing gravure at times.
HD Flexo, with nearly 1.000
installations, brought to flexographic printing a quality level that could
previously only be achieved with offset or rotogravure printing processes. It
evolved to become the new standard in flexography. The impact on the label and
packaging industry of HD Flexo cannot be underestimated. Brand managers now
have the option of producing shorter runs of packaging and labels more
affordably, and in a more environmentally friendly manner, without any
compromise in quality, giving them more freedom in terms of production
technology.
Building on that, Full HD Flexo
has grown in popularity and is quickly becoming the flexo quality standard for
more applications and more substrates. “Esko Full HD Flexo, a 2014 Printing
Industries of America InterTech Technology Award recipient, is being quickly
adopted throughout the world,” notes Thomas Klein, Vice President Flexo
Business at Esko. "Launched just 18 months ago, a hundred customers
worldwide have already adopted the technology to achieve excellent – and at
times, award-winning – flexo print quality results. With Full HD Flexo we
broaden the range of substrates and applications upon which flexo printing can
truly compete against any other print process. This is continuing evidence of
Esko’s leadership in setting new flexo printing standards for quality and
consistency.”
A number of Full HD Flexo users
have received noteworthy awards over the past year, including gold EFIA Print
Awards, the Supreme Award at the FlexoTech International Awards, DFTA Awards
and a Best of Show at the FTA’s annual Excellence in Flexography Awards.
Replacing different print
processes with Full HD Flexo
Clicheria DP Studio was founded
in 1990 in Londrina-Paraná, Brazil. Its owner, Domingos P. Rocha, has always
sought the latest technologies. Operating for 23 years as a flexo printer, the
company has built a solid reputation for high quality work. It has become one
of the largest in the country with Esko’s platemaking system, working with the
best photopolymer plate brands in the world “We have strong partnerships and
technology. With this, Clicheria DP-Studio has become a well-known printer in
Brazil due to our experience in the most diverse areas of flexography,” says
Agnaldo Moraes, technical commercial manager at DP Studio.
While DP Studio was very happy
with Esko HD Flexo, they upgraded to Esko Full HD Flexo. Full HD Flexo combines
all the benefits of HD Flexo, offering print results similar to gravure. Full
HD Flexo technology combines high-resolution 4000ppi imaging and special
imaging software, along with a digitally controlled LED UV main exposure within
the Esko CDI flexo plate imager. With Full HD Flexo, flexo platemaking has
become a true “Computer to Plate” process: no lamination, no films, and no
extra steps with light tables. Plates are ready for processing after unloading.
No special consumables are needed, and it works with all popular digital flexo
plates and sleeves. Press changeovers are faster and downtimes are reduced.
“Full HD Flexo’s digital Inline UV exposure delivers quality and consistency,
with no surprises. Plate imaging is extremely consistent from side to side, and
human errors are reduced," says Moraes.
“We created several Full HD Flexo
samples and we were amazed with the quality of printing that we could offer the
flexo market, meeting the needs and the increasing demands of our customers.
Full HD Flexo plates can digitally control the tops of dots, with exceptional
'round top' highlight dots along with the solid ability and stability of
applying ink to flexo plates with 'flat top dots', all on the same plate,” adds
Moraes. “Full HD Flexo delivers superior quality highlights combined with
exceptional solid ink printing that you see in gravure. We are able to offer
our customers strong, vibrant colors in contrast with lighter shades with
smooth transitions to zero.”
On flexible materials, DP Studio
gets improved quality from solids and whites. With paperboard and corrugated
stocks, along with better coverage and increased highlight stability there is a
reduction of patterning caused by the flutes. With higher line screens, they
are able to migrate jobs from rotogravure printing, delivering excellent
details and exceptional, smooth gradients when they print with special colors.
“What does Full HD Flexo mean to
us? We always strive for superior quality and innovation. With Full HD Flexo we
are able to provide the packaging market a product that exceeds all
expectations from the moment of printing – minimizing makereadies and resulting
in fantastic products. Today, we can print high quality projects with flexo. We
are able to reproduce standard images at very high resolution – allowing us to
produce deep, crystal-clear images, brilliant colors, and unique sharpness. For
us, it’s been a true visual revolution. Surely, Full HD Flexo certification is
just a matter of time,” concludes Moraes. “With Full HD Technology, image
quality is very impressive. We can print photos and gradations with a quality
we have never seen before. It really is something close to the quality of
gravure. We can see why Full HD Flexo is being adopted quickly worldwide. The
technology is catching on quickly with our customers.”
With the experience of 24 years
in the flexographic business, DP Studio built with a solid ethical framework,
currently ranks among the largest trade shops in the country. Has strict
control over the equipment, in order to ensure reproducibility, recording and
printing. The technical team has excellent education and professional training,
to ensure peace of mind and satisfaction of customers and employees.
