Flexo Plate Needs Only Soap, Water

For six months, label converter Rako Etiketten, Germany, has been field-testing a water-washable and digitally imagable flexo plate from Asahi Photoproducts. The DEF is making its debut this month at drupa.

The individual features that this photopolymer printing plate offers are not new taken separately, but the combination of various characteristics means it can be digitally imaged, is suitable for all types of inks (solvent-based, UV-curing and water-based) and can be washed out with water.

The product reportedly met numerous challenges during trials, including balancing between being largely insusceptible to moisture in the ambient air during handling and storage, or at the hands of the operator, while at the same time being amenable to processing with water during wash-out

The black surface layer required for imaging with a laser imagesetter is also water-soluble. The residues of the mask layer are removed from the water bath after the wash-out process.

The plate also is undergoing beta-testing at two printer locations in Japan. www.asahi-photoproduct.com