The new smooth surfaced, hard
round top dot plate codenamed XAH expands Flint Group’s line developed for
flexible packaging and label markets offering reduced operating costs and
productivity increase.
The new flexographic plate is
formulated with an AIF technology that keeps plates cleaner on press and
results in faster print runs with fewer press stops. It offers all benefits of
the nyloflex Xpress Thermal System such as lower operating costs, higher
sustainability and producing plates in under one hour from imaging to
finishing.
‘Even though the market as a
whole is rapidly moving toward inherently flat top dot plates, many of our
customers are still using a substantial amount of standard digital plates with
round top dots. There are also companies that have invested in flat top systems
and prefer to use those systems along with surface screening to create a
customized plate surface for their specific applications,’ said P.J.
Fronczkiewicz, product manager at Flint Group Flexographic.
‘We also incorporate our AIF
technology into this plate to address the issue of plates filling in with ink
during printing. This frustrating
problem – which can lead to dirty print – can occur in flexible packaging
printing with solvent based inks as well as with some UV inks used in the tag
and label market. The advantage of AIF technology is that it provides
outstanding sub-surface ink repellence to keep the plate screens and reverses
clean during print runs, so printers have fewer press stops and can achieve
faster press speeds,’ he added.
The nyloflex XAH Digital is a
high durometer flexo plate that reproduces sharp details and is perfect for
applications with solvent-based inks and UV inks used in the flexible packaging
and tag and label markets. The new plate coupled with the Xpress Thermal Processing
System is said to provide a more sustainable solution for flexo plate makers
and supports the printing industry in meeting its sustainability goals.
