Spanish prepress provider Flexocolor has installed two Miraclon Shine LED Lamp Kits, switching to 100% LED plate exposure – a move which has allowed the company to produce plates 15% quicker than with fluorescent lamps, said owner of Flexocolor, Vicente Belda.
He added that the Lamp Kits also offer more consistent results paired with lower power consumption, compared to fluorescent. This is most cost-effective route into LED exposure, because the company can retrofit the Lamp Kits into its existing exposure units, he added. Flexocolor has been able to get two LED units for less than the price of one new system, he said.
Because it utilises customers’ existing fluorescent exposure frames, the Shine LED Lamp Kit can be retrofitted in the field in a few hours, said Miraclon. The company claims that for a fraction of the cost of a new LED exposure unit, users benefit from consistent, predictable intensity over a much longer operating life (more than 5000 hours compared to 800 hours for fluorescent tubes), faster exposures, and enhanced sustainability performance.
After its initial investment in a Shine LED Lamp Kit earlier this year, Flexocolor signed for the second kit at drupa.
Mr Belda said, ‘Our customers’ reactions to our first Shine LED lamp kit were very positive. They commented on the excellent, even more consistent performance of the Flexcel NX plates on press, in particular the excellent ink transfer. So, they welcomed our decision to install a second unit, guaranteeing uniformity in our plate production; every customer can expect the same consistent, high-quality plate.’
