All Printing Resources (APR) has installed a Fujifilm Flenex FW water-wash plate system at McCracken Label in Chicago, IL, USA. Flenex FW is a water-washable flexo plate that provides high print quality and productivity.

McCracken Bag & Label has been a family-owned and operated company in Chicago, IL for three generations. And in that time, it has navigated through many challenging economic climates. Today, over 100 years later, McCracken Bag & Label Co. has the scale, technology and experience to compete in a rapidly changing printing landscape.  

According to Luke Vassiliades,vice president of administration and finance, McCracken Label, “Although we had been using water-washable plates since 1997, it was now time to make the switch to a new product. We turned to APR because we had a good history with the company as they had successfully installed and trained us on an Esko CDI in 2019.

“The Fuji water-wash plate is longer lasting and more durable than what we were previously using and it is much easier to handle for the platemaker,” he adds. “And clean-up is easier since it is not as ‘gummy.’ Our plate department operator is very happy with the unit and plates.  With this new system, we have saved time and increased plate throughput.”

McCracken is also committed to delivering exceptional value to its customers through the implementation of new technologies. Its corporate objectives include a clear understanding of the company’s responsibility to protect the ecology of our planet. The converter has introduced a new “Green Smart” program, which focuses on reducing negative environmental impacts caused by their business operations.

Cayleigh Anderson, APR’s director of business development, comments, “We are proud to support McCracken Label with this state-of-the-art water-water wash plate system from Fujifilm. We have a large variety of platemaking technologies available through APR, and pride ourselves in matching our customer requirements to the best possible plate system and then providing the training so that they are quickly up and running.”

The greatest benefits that McCracken has experienced with its Fujifilm water-wash plates is that they are easier to handle for the platemaker. The plates are more tolerant and less fragile. McCracken was also pleased that it didn’t have to greatly modify any processes. The company was able to shorten its platemaking time and remove an old extra exposure unit because Fujifilm has exposure built in to the processor. This allowed for more space in their plate room.  

“Installing a new plate system is not as daunting as you may think. APR helped make the process very simple and painless,” concludes Vassilades.