Winter 2006                    return to newsletter contents page

FPPA Member News

Click on the buttons below to see the latest news from FPPA members.

MacDermid Printing Solutions

MacDermid Printing Solutions, located in Atlanta, GA has expanded their digital product portfolio by launching several new digital products. MacDermid's "Yes We Can" approach to customer solutions has resulted in 5 new digital plate products successfully delivered in 2005.

Digital NXT, the next generation in capped digital plate technology, is a medium hardness capped digital plate that is extremely tough, dry, and images 1% dots at 200 lines per inch.  The unique cap surface enables printers to transfer uniform ink thicknesses in solids, yet delivers very low gain in screens without having to break out copy.

Digital Must, a medium hardness uncapped digital plate, has a balanced print surface, able to print both bold solids and fine highlights.  Digital Must is one of the toughest products on the market, which is key for digital plates that hold extremely fine detail.  Digital Must has a new digital mask, with a quicker release and faster ablation than previous products.  It's a Must-Have for high quality printers.

Digital Rave, a hard uncapped digital plate is geared to those printers who need a rigid printing surface to help minimize "banding", gear chatter, and other print defects.  Digital Rave is ozone resistant, and has excellent drape.  Digital Rave gets rave reviews from wide web printers for uniform imaging and low press gain across the web.

Also in 2005, MacDermid Printing Solutions commercialized the LAVA thermal plate processing system, and two unique plates that can be processed thermally or in traditional solvent systems.

Digital MLT is a medium hardness uncapped plate designed to hold 1% dots in 200 line screen images, print very cleanly, and provide very low dot gain.  Launched to process on LAVA thermal plate processors, Digital MLT has proven to be an extremely tough plate.  And, for added flexibility, it can also be processed in solvent-type systems.

Digital Magma is the only capped digital plate for thermal processing systems.  1%, 200 line screen capable, Digital Magma's unique capped surface allows printers to take advantage of better ink transfer in solids with out sacrificing screens at all.  Like Digital MLT, Digital Magma can be processed either thermally or in solvent systems as well.

Bobst Group USA and Advanced Die Supplies Cut Ribbon on West Coast Demo & Training Center

The Bobst Group and Advanced Die Supplies hosted the grand opening of Bobst Group’s West Coast Demo and Training Center in 2005. Located at the Advanced Die Supplies’ Santa Fe Springs, CA facility, the Center houses a fully operational Bobst SPeria 106-E Diecutter, Bobst Amazon 105 Folder-Gluer in a dedicated area for operator and maintenance training and customer demonstrations.

Present at the gala ribbon cutting ceremony which marked the grand opening were representatives from Advanced Die Supplies and Bobst Group USA, State and Local government officials including Santa Fe Springs councilman Gustavo R. Velasco, as well as customers of Advanced and Bobst.

Chris Raney, Bobst Group Vice President, Folding Carton Products stated, “For the first time on the West Coast, the new Bobst SPeria 106-E Diecutter and Amazon 105 Folder-Gluer are available for demonstrations and training in a dedicated facility.”

“Bobst will now be able to offer the same high quality training sessions on the West Coast that we offer in our Roseland, NJ facility,” said Alex Gigon, Bobst Group Director of Customer Service and Support Operations. “The strategic location of the center will make it more convenient for our West Coast customers to take advantage of these very valuable sessions. Now they can attend sessions closer to home and save the time and expense of traveling across the country.”

Advanced Die Supplies President, Michael Barkin, said “We are very proud to have been selected by the Bobst Group as one of Bobst’s ‘Partners in Productivity’ in the area of diecutting and diemaking supplies.” In addition to the Santa Fe Springs, CA office, Advanced Die Supplies also has a warehouse and sales office in the Atlanta, GA area and regional representatives.

NEWS FROM KODAK

Hyperflex Resolution Enhancement Software

Thermoset Narrow Offset CTP

Kodak Releases Next Version of Award-Winning HYPERFLEX Resolution Enhancement Software

Kodak has announced the commercial release of its next generation version HYPERFLEX software, the resolution enhancement technology that allows packaging trade shops, printers and converters to produce smaller, more stable dots on flexographic plates and presswork. Recipient of three industry awards for technical innovation, this new version of HYPERFLEX software is designed to improve AM highlights, delivering improved detail and smoother vignettes on all flexo packaging work.

The initial release of HYPERFLEX software in late 2003 was developed to complement KODAK MAXTONE hybrid screening software. The new version introduces the capability to apply HYPERFLEX technology to normal AM screening in addition to hybrid screening achieved with MAXTONE software. The result is that customers can use the technology 100 percent of the time, across all jobs and across multiple applications including flexible bag, direct print corrugated, and high-end tag and label printing.

"To achieve the best possible print results, flexo platemakers and their customers are looking for better reproduction across the entire tonal range," said Steve Miller, Product Manager for packaging workflow solutions, Kodak’s Graphic Communications Group. "The greatest benefit of the new version of HYPERFLEX software is that it can now be used on every job, allowing prepress providers to hold smaller highlight dots on all flexo plates."

KODAK THERMOFLEX computer-to-plate devices are equipped with HYPERFLEX-Ready imaging to maximize the full potential of the technology. Flexographic trade shops, converters and label printers that have been beta testing the software and imaging plates on the THERMOFLEX devices are impressed with the results.

• "We went from a 6 percent dot to a 4 percent dot on the bump curve. We’re holding a finer dot more consistently on plate, and subsequently on press."
  —Anthony Masotti, prepress manager, New York Label

• "We’re achieving a smaller highlight dot—which helps us extend the tonal range—and more consistency on press. Also, the smaller dots don’t wear out as fast because they have more support."
  —Kevin Bourquin, technical prepress development manager, Cyber Graphics

HYPERFLEX software is one of a series of advanced screening technologies for use with the KODAK PRINERGY, PRINERGY POWERPACK and PRINERGY Evo workflow systems. Existing customers may upgrade free of charge to this new and improved version of the software. To optimize quality and efficiency, one day of start-up assistance must be purchased for a Kodak flexo specialist to implement the software, and provide on-site training and assistance.

Kodak Announces New THERMOFLEX Narrow Flexo-Offset CTP

Kodak has announced a new THERMOFLEX Narrow Flexo-Offset computer-to-plate (CTP) device. Based on the industry-proven THERMOFLEX CTP technology platform, this device provides users with the flexibility to image offset plates in addition to flexographic and letterpress plates and film—all on one device.

“We’re seeing more and more crossover between flexo and offset printing. Narrow web printers are investing in offset and/or combination presses to expand their service offering, whereas commercial printers are buying flexo presses to move into multi-substrate printing,” says Bob Dalton, product manager, Graphic Communications Group (GCG). “The greatest benefit of this new device is that businesses can use the same CTP for multiple printing technologies—flexo, letterpress, offset, and screen.”

The THERMOFLEX Narrow Flexo-Offset device is ideal for narrow web printers and trade shops seeking high-quality print results on a wide variety of substrates. Industry-leading technologies—HYPERFLEX resolution enhancement ready imaging for flexo and STACCATO FM screening software for offset—deliver high-impact, repeatable print results, while the reliable THERMOFLEX machine architecture facilitates plate-loading and unloading to minimize plate damage.

An exciting new feature is the availability of a multiple plate configuration. Operators can easily load any plate size up to the maximum 762 x 762 mm (30 x 30 in.) for flexo, and 762 x 744 mm (30 x 29 in.) for offset plates, and have the new option of imaging multiple plates simultaneously. The product’s small footprint, easy-to-use TIFF Front End software, and universal workflow connectivity make it an easy fit for any size of plant.

The THERMOFLEX Narrow Flexo-Offset imaging device is expected to be commercially available in early 2006.