Fujifilm demonstrated its Flenex FW water‐wash plate system. Utilizing a Luscher XPose 330L platesetter and C‐Touch processor, Flenex FW plates were produced in under 40 minutes to a 200lpi line screen at 4,400dpi resolution, achieving a 1 percent flat top dot.

 

Flenex FW photopolymer plates contain a rubber‐based compound which minimizes the effect oxygen has on the dot shape and the complexity of the system to eliminate oxygen from the plate production process. The other advantages of a rubber‐based plate material include reduced plate swell and a mild washout with just water and dishwasher soap.

 

Asahi Photoproducts promoted its water‐wash plate system in a joint project with Hamillroad, whose Bellissima DMS screening printing on filmic label material showed the kind of impressive quality levels now achievable with water‐wash plate technology.

 

Asahi launched an updated wastewater recycling unit for its AWPTM water‐wash plate processing system. The unit’s proprietary filtering system uses hollow fiber membrane separation technology developed by parent company Asahi Kasei, which reduces waste water consumption by 75 percent and detergent usage by 40 percent. Asahi also announced that its AWP‐DEW CleanPrint flexographic plates have been certified Carbon Neutral by the Carbon Trust.

 

Another route to the elimination of solvents – and indeed all chemical processing – is direct laser exposure, and this technology was demonstrated by Swiss company Drop AG, founded by industry veteran Hans Lüscher. Drop DirectPoser is a direct exposure system for flexo plates based on EPDM materials, engraving plates directly with a fiber laser and without chemicals.