Last generation plates and workflow

Apr 25, 2012

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Focus on the new technologies shaping the package printing industry. We met Jan Scharfenberg, Technical Manager, DuPont Packaging Graphics, Europe, Middle East and Africa to get news on new technologies that are helping to meet the challenges into the packaging printing industry.

What is driving technical innovation in the package printing industry today?
With the global demand for packaged goods expected to soar, how suppliers in the packaging industry adapt to grow with the market is critical, and technology advancement is essential to help suppliers address new needs in the market. In the package printing industry, technological innovation is taking place at an accelerated pace, and implementing the technologies which will increase productivity/speed-to-market, quality and sustainability are the keys to success.

What are the latest developments in plates?
Advances in the technology for equipment, plates and inks have changed the face of flexography over time. In response to significant and growing demands for higher solid ink density (SID), DuPont Packaging Graphics has developed a new digital plate formulated specifically for highest SID combined with excellent dot gain characteristics. True next-generation plates with re-engineered print surface technology, the DuPont™ Cyrel® solvent-process DSP and the Cyrel® FAST DFP are standard workflow digital plates designed for flexible packaging printers requiring high densities, good minimum dot size and low dot gain.

These plates are revolutionary-by re-engineering the print surface of the plates, we are able to achieve excellent SID and smoothness. The DSP and DFP plates are a true breakthrough in plating technology, achieving printing quality that is equivalent to DPR/DFH/DFQ through the patent pending technology of Cyrel® DigiFlow with Microcell, and other competing technologies. They are fully functional with all standard-LAMs-based platesetters.

DuPont will continue to offer Cyrel® DigiFlow, a modified workflow designed to achieve a 1:1 reproduction on digital Cyrel® plates that is not possible in a standard digital workflow, as an alternative solution for higher ink density, so customers have a choice in specifying which technology works best for their current needs. Cyrel® DigiFlow would be the preferred solution for customers in flexible packaging who require higher solid ink density and see value in hybrid or flat top dots. It produces outstanding results when used in conjunction with a CDI equipped with high-resolution optics, and enhances the flexo printer's competitive advantage versus offset and digital printing.