A new ThermoFlexx Catena-E 80 exposure unit from XSYS has allowed NDigitec to elevate its plate-making capabilities to new heights.
NDigitec can now supply customers with higher-quality digital flexo plates and enjoy faster processing times than before, while reducing plate waste and energy consumption.
Employing a total of 125 staff across two branches in Dubai, a facility in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), and an office in Yerevan (Armenia), NDigitec also offers digital printing solutions, e-commerce, creative media production, and fabrication of exhibition equipment.
Shahe Kavlakian, executive manager for prepress at NDigitec, said, ‘We were the first prepress company in the region to bring in LED exposure technology for making flexo plates with the Flint Group nyloflex NExT system back in 2016.
‘Now we are once again taking the lead as the first to install the XSYS ThermoFlexx Catena-E system; an investment we have made because we believe that this solution will best support us in responding to the many varied customer demands we are currently facing and to allow us to continue our global expansion.’
According to the company, the ThermoFlexX Catena-E 80 is an open system that can process plates in sizes up to 1270 x 2032mm (50 x 80”) and all thicknesses for any type of flexo printing. The unit can also be combined with a ThermoFlexx imager and Catena washer, dryer, and light finisher units for a full end-to-end plate production line.
Mr Kavlakian added, ‘The effect of the new Catena unit has been very noticeable. We are looking for standardisation, durability, efficiency, and stability in plate production; these aspects are key to maintaining productivity and quality. Particularly in flexible packaging, consistent solid ink density with perfect highlights is a challenge, but with the Catena system and our own micro surface screening, we can deliver results that are much better than with other LED solutions.
‘The Catena-E is definitely helping to improve the sustainability of our plate-making operation because we can combine different jobs on the same plate. By our latest estimations, plate waste has gone down from around 26% to 16%, and we know that with the latest LEDs in the machine, energy consumption will also be less. So, from an environmental point of view, as well as in terms of costs, this is a great improvement.’
