Pressroom

Agfa to Debut Advanced New Pressroom Supplies at Düsseldorf Trade Show

Friday 28. March 2008 - CtP Plate Cleaner and ANTURAfount AFS1 to be featured at Agfa Exhibit during drupa 2008.

Agfa Graphics announced today that it will introduce two new CtP plate care products designed to improve and protect plate performance. The two new solutions, Agfa CtP Plate Cleaner and Agfa ANTURAfount AFS1 fountain solution additive, will be presented at drupa, the industry-renowned trade show in Düsseldorf, Germany, 29 May-11 June.

CtP Plate Cleaner is a new cleaner that removes ink more efficiently than ever before. Developed by the same Agfa technicians who continue to work on refining CtP plate technologies, the ink solvency of this new cleaner has increased by 50% from previous products.
The plate cleaner also improves hydrophilic properties of the non-image areas of the plate, improves ink receptivity, provides better protection during short press stops, enables faster restarts and is more environmentally friendly due to its low VOC (volatile organic compounds).
ANTURAfount AFS1 is a newly-developed FOGRA-approved fountain solution additive used for alcohol-free or low alcohol (5% maximum) printing on sheet-fed offset presses. Compared to traditional alcohol-free chemistry, there is no chemical wear on the plates, which leads to run lengths as much as 18% longer than usual.

Developed to work with all Agfa plates, the new solution enables users to switch more easily to alcohol-free printing. It provides excellent plate protection, a powerful wetting capacity that enables excellent ink/water balance at reduced water settings, maintains a stable pH, allows faster and cleaner start-ups and avoids over-emulsification. Cleaner start-ups often result in reduced paper waste, and less over-emulsification results in high ink density and brighter colours.

“Printers will be pleased with the many benefits of these two new plate care products from Agfa. The CtP Plate Cleaner takes us further down the road of environmental responsibility with its low VOC, and the ANTURAfount solution is clearly a high mark in our strategy to improve health and safety in the workplace,” said Agfa’s Frank Van Damme, Product Manager, Pressroom Chemicals. “Every CtP plate has its own specific composition, sensitivity, resilience and maintenance needs. At Agfa, we develop plate care solutions while simultaneously working on new plate technologies. That is why our products are always maximised for the best and most environmentally responsible performance.”