As we go back a decade to 2004, we can see the technology, which is now taken for granted, make its entrance and what we had to say about it at the time.
FlexoTech: August 2004
The market for digital plate making
After the introduction of CtP at drupa 1990, much has happened to technology. However despite a slow start, it can be stated that digital plate making has been key to the development of flexo.
Whether used in combination with narrow or wide web, digital plate making is now a serious contender for most types of flexo plate printing production, either using flat plates or sleeves. Recent developments have given the market automatic loading and unloading of the plate as an integral part of the digital imager, while later processing continues with the washing, drying and post exposure or through the relatively new development of thermal processing as used with DuPont’s Fast or MacDermid’s Lava systems, with this method no washing is required.
The advantages of worth digital imaging always have been obvious. The quality obtained from laser engraving gives enhanced results when compared with conventionally produced plates. Different screening technologies can be incorporated in the same forme, the latest software available can now provide different dot formations not previously available.
