Free handling of CTP systems and new developments in media

The application of CTP simplifies the production process and workflow and improves the production efficiency. However, due to the higher cost of the CTP plate than the traditional PS plate, some printers postponed the adoption of CTP. In fact, the application cost of CTP is not only the cost of the CTP plate and equipment, but also includes the following aspects: the investment cost and maintenance cost of the plate processor, the floor area of ​​the processor, the cost of chemicals, the cost of inventory, and baking Edition costs, waste disposal related expenses and so on. Therefore, in order to reduce costs, save floor space, and reduce the labor and the cost of the corresponding chemicals, people are looking forward to using the CTP plate without development. The printer hopes to avoid handling CTP for more than 10 years. Now, the market finally has a variety of free-handling and free-run CTP devices available for users to choose.

The so-called free-handling version means that after the printing plate is imaged, it can be used for printing without development washing. Although some editions do not need to be developed using a developing machine, the printing plates are developed by a fountain solution after they are installed on the printing press. Therefore, strictly speaking, this version is not really a free-handling version. We often refer to some magazines and talk about “non-chemical development”. Some people call this kind of plate “process-free” version. In fact, no chemical development version means that it does not need to be developed with chemical liquids, but water is still needed. To flush, so, strictly speaking, this type of plate is not a true exemption-free version. However, whether it is a non-processed version or a non-chemically developed version, most of them have the following advantages: It is possible to reduce the cost of inventory, corresponding labor costs, waste disposal costs, and environmental protection without using chemicals. At the beginning, only the Presstek company provided an exemption-free version. In recent years, Agfa, Fujifilm, Kodak, and Citiplate have all released the exemption-free version. Although Fujifilm and Citiplate have introduced the violet laser-free processing version, the vast majority of exemption-free editions on the market are heat-sensitive editions, and the exemption-free editions generally have a resistance force of more than 100,000 impressions. At present, more and more printing companies with four printing presses have selected chemical-free CTP plates and equipment for the sake of saving floor space.

How many free CTP plates and equipment are available on the market for users to choose? Let us focus on the latest technological advances in this area.

Agfa

Agfa's: Azura's chemical-free version was commercialized in November 2004 and has been used by more than 300 prepress and printing companies worldwide. Initially, Azura was launched as a special edition of Agfa's CTP. Nowadays, Azura can be used not only on Agfa's CTP, but also on Screen's PlateRite, Kodak's Trendsetter and Lotem, and Rosen's Expose. It is used on thermal CTPs such as Topsetter and Suprasetter in Heidelberg. : Azura is an anodized aluminum base plate using ThermoFuse's patented technology that requires no chemical development and can be operated in a bright room.

At IPEX 2006, Agfa launched: Acento and Palladio four-port CTP systems. Users can upgrade from: Acento IIE to a more efficient: Acento IIS. The new drum balance system supports more small format printers: the Acento II series can image digital plates with a photo sensing range of 830 nm. The plate format is 12.75 inches x 14.56 inches - 25.98 inches x 32.67 inches, suitable for small and medium sized businesses. Used by printing companies and packaging and printing companies.

Fujifilm

Fujifilm's Brillia HD PRO-T process-free thermal plate was introduced at Print 05 and was available in April 2006. Fujifilm also developed a violet laser photopolymerization plate, which is non-ablative and does not require chemical development. It has the same quality as Fujifilm LP-NV, can be printed using UV ink, does not require baking, is resistant to high force, and can be operated under a yellow security light.

Fujifilm's new process-free version is based on the new high-definition (HD) plate emulsion technology and can be compatible with most 830nm thermal CTPs, for traditional screening of 200 lines/inch images or hybrid screening, FM plus Net 300 lines/inch image, 99% of the network can be reproduced. Brillia HD PRO-T is a non-ablative plate. The latent image contrast formed after imaging is obvious and easy to observe with the naked eye. When used on a printing press, the printability of the printing plate and the rate of rejects are close to those of the conventional PS and CTP plates. The multi-layered sand technology makes it the same with the existing Fujifilm media and has a good balance of water and ink.

The sensitivity of the Brillia HD PRO-T is 120mJ/cm2, and the platemaking speed is the same as the thermal plate of Fujifilm. With a capacity of 100,000 impressions, it can be operated in the bright room to meet the needs of most commercial printers. According to Fujifilm, the Brillia HD PRO-T version can be imaged using any CTP platesetter. However, if using Fujifilm's Dart and Javelin series of thermal CTP plates, the effect will be better.

Fujifilm's Dart series of four-plate series plates are available in both Dart E and Dart III, and feature drum speeds of up to 1000 rpm. The Dart III uses a 16-channel laser diode exposure head, which can output 10 sheets per hour at a resolution of 2400 dpi, and is mainly targeted at medium-sized printing companies. Dart E was launched on the Print 05 and can be used as a free version. The device costs $90,000.

Presstek

Presstek's Dimension CTP and Anthem thermal plates are not only easy to use but also of good quality and high productivity. Anthem anodized alumina base requires no chemical development, excellent ink balance tolerance, and good compatibility with offset press chemicals. The Anthem version requires only a water rinse after imaging. It does not require baking or gluing and can be operated in a bright room. Dimension Excel direct platemakers have eight open and four open formats, Dimension 225 and 425 are standard, and Dimension 250 and 450 are high efficiency. Dimension Excel's direct platemaking machine has a small footprint, and uses Presstek's chemical-free version of Anthem and an exemption-free version of Applause for superior quality.

Presstek's Freedom chemical-free version is designed for users who use small offset printers up to 52 cm in thickness, and can be plated on the Vector TX52.

Kodak

Kodak's non-developed Thermal Direct version looks much like the traditional PS version, and it is said to be compatible with all popular CTP platesetters and can use a variety of inks and fountain solutions. Thermal Direct has a thin, heat-sensitive coating that is 70% thinner than the violet-laser photopolymer coating, 38% thinner than the thermal CTP-version coating that needs to be developed, and can be dampened by the press. Solution dissolves. Under the conditions of the best printing presses, the printing plate has a print resistance of 100,000 impressions. For 200 lines/inch images, 1% to 98% of the dots can be clearly reproduced.

Kodak's Magnus 400 CTP can be Staccato screened, with up to 250 lines/inch screens and 21 sheets per hour. The Magnus 400 Quantum four platesetter uses Kodak's square dot imaging technology, which is fully automated and can produce 28 plates per hour.
Heidelberg

Heidelberg's Saphira Chemfree thermal print without chemical development was unveiled on Print 05, a negative-gravity, aluminum-based version of the negative chart, sold with Suprasetter in Heidelberg.

The Saphira Chemfree technology was developed based on the Saphira Thermoplate PL version of the Speedmaster 74DI. It uses a new resin emulsion microsphere coating technology. The coating is nonablation. The Suprasetter platemaking machine uses a 830nm thermal laser. With open format, there are different configurations such as single box (SCL) and fully automatic multi-box (MCL). The new built-in punching method ensures that the plate punching can reach high precision, not only for Heidelberg offset presses, but also for other brands of offset presses on the market.

Heidelberg claims that its CTP can guarantee excellent image quality and optimal production efficiency. The Intelligent Diode System (IDS) ensures that plate-making operations can be performed continuously. Even if a diode fails, it will not have a significant effect on plate-making.

Xante

Xante's Aspen metal plate is designed specifically for Xante's Impressia metal PlateSetter platesetter. It requires no chemical development, no flushing, and can be operated in a bright room. It is able to print up to 25,000 impressions of India and its format is 10 inches by 15 inches and 13.38 inches by 19.87 inches. Impressia Metal Plate CTP platesetter can be matched with octal printing presses. Xante's Z7 imaging technology allows users to automatically calibrate. Impressia's resolution is 2400dpi×2400dpi, 256 shades of gray can be obtained, and 60 plates per hour can be output.

ECRM

MAKO System 4 four-up plate making machine maximum plate format up to 24.2 inches by 29.3 inches, using a new generation of optical technology, high imaging accuracy, format can be in the 8.9 inches x 9.9 inches ? 26 inches x 37.8 inches of various types of printing presses Platemaking, with a resolution of 1200?3556 dpi, at a resolution of 2540 dpi, can output 20 Speedmaster 74 offset prints per hour. The fully automatic MAKO 4 matic comes with a new perforating device for almost all commonly used perforated structures.

In summary, the exemption-free version has many advantages, but foreign experience shows that the exemption-free version is not suitable for all printers, and it is not necessarily applicable to large-scale printing companies and large-scale enterprises. According to foreign data reports, most users who are currently free of processing version are the medium-sized printing companies that have purchased CTP for the first time and have four printing presses. Therefore, it is recommended that domestic users make a decision before making a decision to invest in the CTP system without checking.


Source: Ke Yin Network