Asahi places platemaking system at Clemson’s Sonoco Institute

Asahi Photoproducts has placed its new AWP 230W water-washable plate processor, along with its AFP 912 exposure/drying/light finisher unit, at Clemson’s Sonoco Institute.

The equipment will aid the institute with its research in the printing and packaging industries. The AWP 230W processor is designed to process water-washable plates from Asahi. Using only a detergent and water mixture to process plates, Asahi’s AWP 230W design eliminates the need for solvents and the release of VOC’s during the flexographic platemaking process. The AWP platemaking process (back exposure, digital imaging, face exposure, wash-out, drying, and light finishing) takes less than an hour to complete. The wash solution in this VOC free process produces plates which are at gauge immediately after the processing. 

In addition, Asahi will provide its newest flexographic plate product, the water wash digital AWP DEF, for the process. Asahi’s AWP DEF plate is suitable for all types of inks (solvent-based, UV-curing and water-based), exhibiting ‘excellent printing performance, ink transfer and plate durability’, according to the company. This water wash digital plate will allow the Sonoco Institute to print in excess of 175 lpi, 1-98 percent dots. The plates will be provided in thicknesses of 0.045” and 0.067” at a hardness of 77 and 70 Shore A respectively. 

Asahi Photoproducts recently opened its Atlanta Technology Center near Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson airport. The fully-equipped platemaking facility will provide customer demonstrations, in-house technical training and research as well as customer support. Currently, three Clemson Graphic Communications alumni work from this facility, including David Chinnis (1985), Michael Amosu (2006), and Catherine Whitaker (2007). 

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