Flint Group offers new flexo plate system

Flint Group has introduced a new nyloflex Xpress Thermal Processing System for flexographic printing plates.
 
The processing system uses nyloflex thermal printing plates including the nyloflex XPH and nyloflex XPM digital printing plates, specially developed to print on paper at high line screens of 200+ lpi. Flint group says these plates can print the finest highlight dots up to 50 per cent smaller in size than the minimum printed dot of the market leading thermal plate. The nyloflex XFH offers printing solids on film substrates. The company says the thermal plates are suitable for use with virtually any ink system – solvent based, water based, or UV.
 
Flint Group says that intelligent configuration of the nyloflex Xpress thermal processor allows for fewer components, so there is less maintenance, less downtime and lower operating costs associated with its operation. The processor’s zoned heating system is built around an IR assembly, which provides precise monitoring of the heat distribution across the drum width and into the plate. Flint Group says the controlled heat imparts better dimensional stability to the plate backing, affording increased stability and consistency to plate processing. The regulation of the heat eliminates the need for a chiller.
 
Features include a fully integrated touch screen panel, Window CE, operator training videos, wi-fi enabled for remote diagnostics, a visual indicator and an audible alarm that sounds when plates are ready to eject.
 
Rich Emmerling, technical director of Flint Group Flexographic Products, says, “The key to this advancement in thermal plate processing is with the unique heating system which precisely monitors the heat at the surface of the plate.
 
“The tight control of the surface heat delivers outstanding dimensional stability of the plate’s backing without the assistance of a drum chiller. The resulting processed plate’s image quality provides a significant reduction in the size of the first printed dot as compared to current thermal plates on the market.”
 
“The heat regulation demonstrated by this technology raises the bar on thermal platemaking, and Flint Group is proud to now engage in this area of technology.”