Asahi Photoproducts, a supplier of flexographic photopolymer plate development technology and subsidiary of the Asahi Kasei Corporation, has reported that the company is starting a new type of operator training courses by combining prepress workflow, platemaking and flexo printing, together with Gallus and Esko, all under one roof.

The first sessions are already planned as part of the well-known Esko MasterClass Series, the first one starting in March, to feature aspects of flexo workflow and screening technologies, followed by sustainable platemaking production, and then closing the loop by going on-press.

The sessions will be held in the Gallus Experience Center in St. Gallen, Switzerland, which was opened in June of 2023.

Topics to be covered include:

• Esko screening technologies, workflow, and plate imaging solutions.
• Training on Asahi water-wash platemaking, including calibration of exposure time, plate washout speed, finishing and drying time.
• Printing the plates on a Gallus press, including curve calibration and print performance checks.
• Consolidated view to demonstrate the ease-of-use of plate production from Asahi, Esko and Gallus to deliver sustainable solutions to printing converter.

“Since our company was founded more than 50 years ago, we have seen several developments in our industry, from ‘potato printing’ to a high-quality flexographic printing process challenging the maximum achievable print quality in our industry today,” says Dieter Niederstadt, Asahi’s technical marketing manager. “Another movement we recognized is the closing of the gap in the platemaking supply chain. Whereas previously many operations, such as file separation, platemaking, and printing, were separated, now with the rising integration of automation, it is easier to bring them together under one roof at the printing converter. This does, however, call for added-value training courses for the next operator generation to come.”

The Gallus Experience Center brings together various industry-leading partners such as Asahi, Gallus and Esko to collaborate and drive innovation in the industry. It provides the ideal environment for the platemaking training center, with full end-to-end solutions that support the wider integration of tasks during platemaking operations – with sustainability in mind at every stage. These sessions will provide attendees with hands-on experience with the presented solutions, as well as the ability to ask questions to industry experts and network with peers.

Dario Urbinati, CEO of Gallus Group, comments, “At Gallus, we pride ourselves on driving smart, connected printing – and a key part of this is driving collaboration, bringing the industry together to inspire innovation and transformation. The Gallus Experience Center stands as a testament to this vision, uniting some of the greatest minds across our industry, including our esteemed partners Asahi and Esko whose expertise enrich our collective journey forward. Together, we are thrilled to host these transformative MasterClass training days, symbolizing our dedication to advancing the industry through shared knowledge and forward-thinking solutions. Join us as we shape the future of printing, charting new horizons and unlocking endless possibilities.”