Anderson and Vreeland premiers AVxpose and Orbital XP

Anderson and Vreeland has premiered two revamped platemaking systems at Loupe Americas 2026 in Chicago alongside the Xsys Lava Thermal Processor, educating attendees on advances in UV LED exposure technology and its impact on flexographic photopolymer plates and platemaking workflows.

The AVxpose UV LED exposure unit features high-intensity UV LED technology designed to deliver flat top dots through oxygen-inhibiting exposure at a precise wavelength, without requiring additional platemaking consumables or processes such as lamination. The unit includes dual post-exposure and detac combo drawer, an airflow cooling system, LED touchscreen controls and PLC interface, with an optional vacuum bed. The LED technology requires no warm-up time and maintains a stable temperature profile throughout operation.

The company has also revamped its all-in-one Orbital XP water wash processor with LED technology, with both the AVxpose and the updated Orbital XP making their Loupe Americas premiere. The Xsys Lava Thermal Processor, new to the XSYS and Anderson and Vreeland portfolio, will also be on show.

Anderson and Vreeland noted that the industry shift toward high-intensity UV LED exposure systems operating above 50 mW/cm² has accelerated over the past three to five years, with high-intensity systems increasingly preferred for high-end screen work over lower-intensity options designed as fluorescent bulb replacements. New polymers are also being developed specifically for UV LED curing, resulting in materials marketed as UV LED optimized.

'The ongoing shift towards high-intensity UV LED exposure technology marks a significant advancement in achieving flat top dots through effective oxygen inhibition without the need for additional platemaking consumables or processes,' said Ryan Vest, R&D director at Anderson and Vreeland. 'This allows for more efficient initiation and superior results.'

'UV LED exposure doesn't just improve the platemaking process, it redefines what's possible,' added Shelly Swanke, director of equipment and digital solutions at Anderson and Vreeland. 'Tighter microstructure reproduction, richer ink laydown, and gradients that hold from proof to press. With an incredibly long service life and a stable temperature profile, UV LED technology doesn't just raise the bar for print quality. It raises the bar for how a plateroom operates.'