Packaging
KODAK Packaging Prepress System Helps Revolutionise Plate Production at Systems Labelling
Friday 14. March 2008 - The production of flexographic plates at Systems Labelling in Deeside has been revolutionised following the commissioning of a KODAK THERMOFLEX Mid Platesetter, KODAK HYPERFLEX Resolution Enhancement Software and a KODAK PRINERGY Evo Powerpack Workflow Software.
The installation has been accompanied by new plate development facilities, which have eliminated the use of solvents within the prepress department.
“We were previously producing flexo plates conventionally and the implementation of the new platemaking line has resulted in huge benefits, particularly in terms of the definition and quality of images that can be consistently created between shifts,” said Repro Director Robin Barker. “The HYPERFLEX Resolution Enhancement Technology has allowed us to achieve excellent halftones and vignettes, with the result that customers are supplying us with much more complex designs.
“Indeed, the change in the complexity of designs has been quite noticeable, as clients have gained confidence in our ability to reproduce halftones and intricate gradations with first class results time after time. Kodaks screening technology enables us to create extremely small dots on the plate and hold that dot while printing the job on one of our six, eight-colour Mark Andy UV flexo presses.”
The company supplies flexo printed labels to a wide range of markets from dairy and food to household goods and cosmetics, and includes major high street names among its client list.
Recipient of the FPPA, FTA and GATF InterTech technology awards, the HYPERFLEX Resolution Enhancement Software solution makes flexographic platemaking and printing more predictable, reliable and consistent. HYPERFLEX Software allows small halftone dots to be formed and held on a photopolymer plate throughout the print process, increasing the resolution of the flexo plate and delivering high-quality flexo printing that exceeds brand owner expectations
Systems Labelling has also purchased KODAK MAXTONE Hybrid Screening. MAXTONE Screening is hybrid amplitude modulated screening technology that delivers enhanced detail, smooth vignettes and improved highlight reproduction by allowing a prepress operator to restrict the minimum dot size and control the number of highlight dots in a frequency modulated-like manner.
The company, which employs 75 staff, operates its pressroom 24 hours a day, but the significant improvement in efficiency in prepress facilities – throughput capacity has been quadrupled – means that the prepress department can operate a double day shift.
“The press operators have commented on the improved quality of the image on the plates that they are now receiving,” says Mr Barker. “This has enabled them to reduce makeready times and wastage, while producing a higher quality product. We now achieve longer run lengths from plates and if one gets damaged a remake can be carried out in a fraction of the time it used to take when plates were made conventionally.”
The heart of the new CTP system at the North Wales printer is a KODAK THERMOFLEX Mid Platesetter, which can expose plates up to 1,016 x 1,200 mm. Versions are available for narrow to wide formats, and this includes a new sleeve-imaging model. The platesetter is very straightforward to operate and can handle a range of media types, sizes and thicknesses, including CTP flexo and letterpress plates as well as film.
Systems Labelling has also installed KODAK PRINERGY EVO POWERPACK Software, which is a packaging-specific version of the popular PRINERGY EVO Workflow System. The system is ideal for tag and label, flexible packaging, offset folding carton, corrugated, and multi-wall bag printers/converters looking to add an economical PDF-based workflow system, and who dont require database-driven job management. The software streamlines processes with powerful, template-based workflow automation, and offers proven tools for PDF file processing such as advanced preflighting, normalising, color management, trapping, optimizing, rendering and screening.
Robin Barker adds: “There are significant pressures to push the boundaries in flexo quality, productivity and consistency, while at the same time reducing the impact on the environment. Our recent investment in leading edge KODAK platemaking facilities has enabled us to achieve all of these aims, and offer more added value services to our customers plus greater flexibility. This has already led to winning new business.”
KODAK Products are backed by KODAK Service and Support. KODAK Service and Support is made up of more than 3,000 professionals reaching more than 120 countries. It is a leading multi-vendor integrated services provider, delivering consulting, installation, maintenance and support services for the commercial printing, graphic communications, document imaging and data storage industries. KODAK Service and Support professionals are uniquely qualified to provide services that control costs, maximize productivity, and minimize business risk.