EskoArtwork unveils new inline UV exposure unit

EskoArtwork has released Inline UV2, a new inline UV exposure unit for Cyrel Digital Imagers. It offers flexo printers the flexibility to select the type of print dot – either round-top or flat-top – according to the specific job requirement.

The use of round or flat-top dots during the flexo plate making process is a ‘hot topic’ in the flexible packaging market, says the company. Round-top dots offer vignettes down to zero with the finest minimum dots, while flat-top dots offer best-in-class solids, due to their high solid ink density. Recently, there has been a resurgence in demand for flat-top dots to improve solid ink densities when printing on flexible or corrugated materials. With Inline UV2, flexo printers can produce flexo plates which create either round or flat-top dots in print. With a click of a switch they select the dot shape according to the job requirements – from plate-to-plate or sleeve-to-sleeve. There is no need for different plates or different plate-making capabilities and equipment.

‘HD Flexorevolutionized the flexible packaging industry by delivering near-offset quality across all flexo print applications,’ said Juergen Andresen, EskoArtwork vice president, flexo business. ‘With print runs getting shorter and the quality gap closing, printers and brand ownersare increasingly looking towards flexo technology as an alternative to gravure.Gravure, however, has always been able to lay down more ink for saturated colors – until now that is. With Inline UV2, flexo printing can now produce digital flexo plates with either flat-top or round-top dots– producing both vignettes and solids equal to that of gravure. This enables flexo printers to offer their clients the choice in the way the work is produced. It is very much “horses for courses”. But the flexibility enables end-users to opt for a flexo solution when they previously might have chosen gravure.’

Digital flexo involves imaging a mask or LAMS (Laser Ablation Mask System) on a plate. It is then UV-exposed, creating a round-top dot structure that offers vignettes down to zero with finest minimum dots in print. The industry standard reduces dot gain and produces smooth imagery with an expanded tonal range. With the Inline UV2, digital flexo can now generate a flat-top dot structure in a digital workflow ensuring the solids are best in class, due to its very high solid ink density. According to the company, this was previously only possible in an analog workflow where a film layer over the plate had to be used to eliminate the oxygen during UV curing.

Inline UV exposure replaces analogue UV bank exposure with digitally controlled UV laser diodes. It can be fully integrated into the digital workflow, assuring reproducibility. The simplicity of the single step workflow avoids errors by manual handling and eliminates extra workflow steps. Inline UV exposure is available for sleeve workflows, setting a route for the future.  The Inline UV2 unit can also be implemented into existing LAMS workflows.

Other advantages are said to include a true digital dot with higher precision, no time lost or risks for errors and no need for extra equipment, film or consumables.

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