Asahi Photoproducts, a flexographic photopolymer plate developer, has reported that Shanghai Hengze Printing Company is in the process of installing a brand-new CrystalCleanConnect flexographic platemaking line.

This Chinese label manufacturer had already adopted Asahi AWP-DEF water-washable plates to boost quality and improve its competitive positioning. The addition of the CrystalCleanConnect line, and a switch to Asahi AWP-DEW water-washable plates that are optimized for use with CrystalCleanConnect, will take the company’s productivity, efficiency and sustainability to the next level, it says, positioning it even more favorably in the highly competitive Chinese market.

“Over the last two years, since we implemented the Asahi AWP CleanPrint water-washable plates, we have seen excellent quality improvement results,” says Li Xiaocheng, founder of Hengze. “When we learned about the added value CrystalCleanConnect could bring to our operation, we could hardly wait to get started. We are also very pleased to be an early adopter of this unique, highly productive and innovative solution.”

CrystalCleanConnect was developed as a result of a collaboration among Asahi Photoproducts, Esko and Kongsberg. It brings together key hardware and software technologies from all organizations to deliver an efficient and sustainable mount-ready water-washable flexo plate for the packaging industry. CrystalCleanConnect offers a number of prodct features, including:

• A fully automated and connected process that begins with the operator loading plate material and pressing a button to initiate the process. Plates are then imaged, developed and cut inline in a single integrated process, delivering mount-ready plates at the back end.
• Reduced total cost of ownership. By reducing steps from 12 to one, minimizing the need for operator intervention and automating the entire workflow, not only are labor costs reduced but there is less waste and reduced opportunity for error. Plates are also produced faster than with other methods, increasing throughput and decreasing time to market for flexo printed products.
• Excellence in print quality consistency is provided. Automation of a proven platemaking process delivers plates that are more consistent, ultimately making the pressroom more efficient and cost-effective.
• An environmental footprint that includes less waste, elimination of VOC-based washout chemicals associated with solvent-based platemaking, reduced energy use, and more.

CleanPrint plates from Asahi Photoproducts, such as its AWP-DEW plates optimized for use with CrystalCleanConnect, have been specifically engineered to transfer all remaining ink to the printed substrate. This is due to the plate’s lower surface energy. CleanPrint technology plates do not need to be cleaned as often as conventional digital solvent plates. Reduction of plate cleaning stops creates a significant productivity improvement as well as more consistent quality.