Asahi Photoproducts has partnered with Italian converter ACM Flexible Packaging to create a highly sustainable, solvent free, prepress operation with Asahi’s Carbon Neutral-certified AWP CleanPrint water-wash plates and Europe’s first AWPTM-Loop water recycling unit.
Based in Cremosano near Milan, Italy, ACM’s prepress operation aims to deliver high quality, cost-effective, short-run printing with faster turnaround times than the competition. Along with the plates, the company has acquired Asahi’s AWPTM-Loop water recycling unit that enables reuse of 80% of the water used in plate processing. ACM co-owner and CEO Antonio La Franceschina, said that Asahi products are sustainable, high quality and efficient, offering a more cost-effective solution for customers, especially those that need short run, fast turnaround work. ACM is the first company in Europe to install this solution.
The company also employs an Esko Crystal CDI exposure unit and XPS imaging system, with its plates processed with an Asahi AWPTM-4260 PLF plate processor.
Founded in 2005 by Massimo Raffaele and Mr Franceschina, ACM was an early adopter of UV-LED curing. Specialising in the food and pharma sectors, the company’s printing is 100 percent solvent-free and takes place on a fleet of Omet Varyflex flexo machines, all equipped with UV-LED curing, as well as an 8-colour Uteco water-based flexo press.
ACM’s prepress operation not only produces plates for ACM but also for other wide-web printing sites owned by its parent company, SIT Group.
Mr Franceschina believes building strong relationships with both suppliers, such as Asahi, and customers, is important, listening to needs and requirements and adjusting accordingly. As an example, he said, later this year the company will install the first 50 by 80 inches large platemaking machine in the world, differentiating the company to others, and offering its customers new services.
