CTP for Flexo Plates vs Film

[Erik Nikkanen]

I have some questions on CTP for flexo type plates and the future use of film.

How wide spread is the use of CTP for flexo type plates?

Does anyone have an idea how long film will still be available for exposing flexo type plates?

I have heard the comment that the use of film is quickly being replaced with digital imaging of all kinds. The comment was related to the need for obtaining a CTP system for flexo plates because of an imminent demise of film.

Any comments.

Thanks.

Erik

[Internal_R&D_Analyst]

Film is still pretty common for flexo. The medium or large shop will have a CTP device. The countries outside of the USA film is still highly used for flexo and litho according to the major film and plate manufacturers.

I don't see film going completely away and would expect it to be available for 5 year or longer.

[Uri Adler]

[

A true CtP for ANY analog plate is coming soon to the market.
Please contact me for further information at uri@digiflex.co.il

[ljgoldberg]

The biggest benefit to most users of digital flexo systems is an improvement in consistency and a reduction of variability in the process. Related improvements of plate image size, geometry and resulting register accuracy are beneficial side effects.

Traditional integral laser ablation mask systems from Dupont, Macdemid and others and new separate mask systems from Kodak and some newcomers all benefit from applying appropriate Process Control techniques to verify that proper curves have been applied in prepress, and not distorted by secondary operations in the plate room.

This has been widely accomplished for many years by systems such as the Betaflex system shown here:

Video Flexographic Plate Analysis System

and recently verified with some of the newest plates on the market from Kodak and others.

Film has its place when the quality meets the expectations of the customer. The high capital costs of very large CTP systems can sometimes me averted with "patch plate" systems when all-over print is not required. Highly automated systems are available to create, nest, cut and mount isolated plates on large carriers.

Traditional suppliers are moving out of the film business because of lower demand and profits. New suppliers are picking up the slack, sometimes without the extensive quality control abilities of their predecessors. Alternative technologies are also beginning to become more viable if the quality is understood at the outset.

Larry Goldberg
Beta Industries
800-272-7336
Beta Industries: Quality Control for Printers
larry@betascreen.com

[PantherMac]

Hi Erik,

I don't know if film going away should be the argument that makes one buy a CTP device?

That being said... in my previous life, I worked at a Litho packaging company that started up a flexo-plant. We looked at the alternatives (were CTP on the litho side for years), and ended up going w/ a Fiber Laser device from Barco (Artpro workflow worked well Litho and Flexo, so we kept that, and just added the output device). The FAST system from DuPont worked as advertised, and our service and sales people in the top-right corner of the US were very good (I wish Tony Civita could fix the gear I work on now!) Overall the installation was a great success. The plate performed well on press, and the systems/imager were as advertised (not that there's never a problem, but nothing that wasn't discussed up-front). Most importantly, when I called w/ trouble, we got support (from sales and service channels).

Over all we reduced our cost of having conventional (film) based plates produced at an outside vendor by bringing CTP in, and ended up w/ a per-inch price that included the equipment lease and service. Very happy w/ the deal.

- Mac