Aniken Graphics International, a joint venture between Hamillroad Software, a UK based prepress software solutions company, and Apex International, a global provider of anilox and metering products, have announced that Carl Ostermann Erben (COE), is now approved as a trade shop to supply plates made using Bellissima Digitally Modulated Screening DMS to the German label market.

Nick Harvey, managing director of Aniken Graphics International, says, “We met with a number of trade shops and have chosen our partners for Phase One based on their proven track records and commitment to providing their customers, brands, and printers with the very best flexo technologies.

“COE have demonstrated that they look proactively at new ways to advance themselves and their customers in the market through their investments in new technologies, Bellissima DMS being the latest example of this.”

COE provides a full service, including the manufacture of high-quality plates, sleeves, and screens. COE customers can expect to receive excellent solutions for the most demanding printing challenges, the company says. COE provides a one-stop offering, and its team of 60 experienced employees in their Bremen and Stuttgart sites guarantee a prompt, quality service.

Its national and international customers include label printing shops, packaging printers, brand owners, and pharmaceutical companies.

“COE is well known by its customers for being a provider of the latest technologies available in the market. We see Bellissima as a great tool and fitting to our customer’s needs. We are very excited to be part of Phase One. We have seen that Hamillroad consists of a team with vast knowledge and enthusiasm and this is more than encouraging to be part of something that new,” describes Michael Halfar, business development manager at COE.

“Phase One sales of Bellissima DMS involve the use of Apex GTT aniloxes, and MacDermid or DuPont plates as this proven technology solution works ‘out of the box’ and maximizes everyone’s success when used,” Harvey concludes.

Printers can go through the website to set up trials of the technology. Alternatively, they can contact their local Apex sales representatives or the trade shops for their specific regions.

Using Bellissima, high-quality prints equivalent to 350-450 lpi are produced with excellent image reproduction and no color shifts on misregistration. Utilizing fixed palette inks, the screening delivers smooth flat tints and moiré free prints. Vignettes fade smoothly to nothing, which is enabled by printed highlight dots as low as 1.0% and shadow dots up to 99.5%.

Working optimally at 4,000 dpi, the patented screening includes features such as 100% solid surface patterning options and solid object protection. Printing press issues including bounce, barring and slur are all reduced significantly and in some cases eliminated. Bellissima DMS also delivers on ink savings, which can be augmented by GCR based software, improves the efficiency of the press room, and utilizes existing printing press equipment.

Phase One sales of Bellissima DMS includes trade shops, converters and flexographic printers currently using Apex GTT anilox rolls and sleeves together with MacDermid Graphics Solutions’ LUX ITP 60 or DuPont’s EFX plates.