Flint Group introduces thermal plate processing technology

Already available in US, the nyloflex Xpress Thermal Processing System will be offered globally in the second half of 2017. The system incorporates the speed of thermal plate making with plate and print quality and offers a smart design with an enhanced user interface. The distinctive characteristics of the processor provide control and allow for more consistent and stable plate production.

Friedrich von Rechteren, vice president sales EMEA and global marketing of Flint Group Flexographic Products, said: ‘We believe our new, integrated solution, is in a class of its own. We achieved this result by looking at the thermal process holistically. By combining the best in equipment design, plate development and engineered fabric, Flint Group is offering a system which leads to reduced costs, improved quality and improved sustainability.’

Configuration of the nyloflex Xpress Thermal Processor allows for fewer components, so there is less maintenance, less downtime and lower operating costs associated with its operation. The processor’s zoned heating system is built around an IR assembly, which provides precise monitoring of the heat distribution across the drum width and into the plate. The controlled heat imparts better dimensional stability to the plate backing, affording increased stability and consistency to plate processing. The accurate regulation of the heat eliminates the need for a chiller.

At the heart of the processing system lies the nyloflex Thermal Printing Plates specifically formulated to perform exceptionally well in the nyloflex Xpress Thermal Processor. Specially developed to print on paper at high line screens of 200+ lpi, nyloflex Thermal Plates are capable of printing the finest highlight dots up to 50 percent smaller in size than the minimum printed dot of the market leading thermal plate. The nyloflex XFH Digital flat top plate, soon-to-be-released, will be the perfect choice for printing brilliant solids on film substrates. The thermal plates are suitable for use with virtually any ink system – solvent based, water based, or UV.

The nyloflex Developer Rolls are designed to be highly efficient and environmentally friendly. A unique fiber shape provides optimal surface area to retain molten polymer, resulting in a material that is 30 percent less dense, requires 33 percent less material to manufacture and produces 33 percent less waste after use in plate processing than standard developer rolls. Nyloflex Developer Rolls are offered in three widths to maximize the efficiency of use with various plate sizes. The special fabric design and variable width options result in a material that is noticeably lighter and easier for operators to handle.