Lincolnshire pre-press house Waldo has installed the UK’s first ThermoFlexX 80-D. The digital flexo plate imager is now in full production at the supplier of specialist digital artwork and plate services.
Managing director and owner Phil Walmsley explained, ‘We have a lot of experience of operating CTP equipment for the flexo market, and when we decided to invest in additional output capacity, the ThermoFlexX models quickly stood out in offering the best package of quality, speed and price. For example, our existing CTP systems allow a maximum exposure of 4 square metres an hour, while the D-80, with its dual-head facility, has a top speed of 12 square metres an hour.
‘In addition, the ability to output at resolutions of 5080 dpi is very appealing. It’s still early days for us as the imager has only been in operation for a short while, but we’re about to start trials for two clients, using LUX ITP flexo plates from MacDermid and Flint’s FTF. We’ll also be using this trial to test the flat top dot and surface screening technologies.’
The open architecture offered by the imager means that the model at Waldo can be integrated with the company’s existing pre-press software and Esko FlexRIP. The new imager can also handle all of the flexo plates normally used at the Louth site.
Mr Walmsley added, ‘It’s a very operator friendly imager. The ThermoFlexX application specialist trained our plate room manager during the week of its installation and he is now teaching other operators how to use it. Whenever we’ve had a query the service team has been very quick in responding to our requests and that level of dedicated after-sales support is invaluable.’
Mr Walmsley became sole owner of Waldo in 2010 and has been overseeing some significant investment at the company during the last year. This has included extending production facilities, the installation of additional solvent recycling equipment and the creation of a new design studio, due for completion by the end of 2015.
‘We’ve taken on four more people over the last few months giving us a total of 37, although the plan is to increase this further during 2016. The corrugated and flexible packaging markets continue to be buoyant and we’re confident that the new imager will play a major role in helping us win extra work from existing clients as well as in gaining new clients. It’s a very exciting time for us.’
