Asahi Photoproducts gears up for Labelexpo Europe 2025

Asahi Photoproducts has confirmed that it will showcase its latest AWP Ecosystem for the label market at Labelexpo Europe 2025. The company will present its products at the Gallus partner booths 3E23 and 3E29. The AWP Ecosystem is a water-based flexographic plate processing technology that aligns with Asahi’s 'Solvent Zero' strategy. 

At the exhibition, Asahi will outline its future direction by demonstrating the concept of the recently installed new AWP system, which uses only water and no detergents in its plate processing. 

The company plans to demonstrate its AWP water plate, a water-washable photopolymer plate that requires only water for processing, thereby eliminating the need for VOC solvents or detergents. It offers high-resolution print quality and contributes significantly to reduced press downtime, consistent performance, and simplified handling.

It will also present its AWP-2530AA Plate Processor. It is a compact, all-in-one processor engineered for small-format plate sizes. It features a user-friendly interface, refined brush design for easy washout, and optimized fine-screening capabilities to ensure consistent color reproduction in short-run environments.

Asahi's AWP-Loop Petite will also be on display at the booth. It is a closed-loop water recycling unit that utilizes Asahi Kasei’s Microza membrane filtration technology to recover and reuse up to 90 percent of the process water. This significantly reduces wastewater and operating costs, enabling a more sustainable and efficient platemaking workflow.

By integrating these components, the AWP Ecosystem sets a new benchmark for solvent-free, small-format flexo platemaking, delivering both sustainability and enhanced productivity.

The first AWP system, which uses just water without detergents in the washout process, is currently installed at The Oldham Group in the US. The technology is expected to be commercialized soon. In addition to the AWP Ecosystem, Asahi will also provide insights into upcoming flexographic innovations.

Asahi will be showcasing printing samples using a new FlatTop plate, which is currently being developed to work in conjunction with the latest screening and laser imaging technologies, aiming to meet the demands of high-end label and flexible packaging printers. The new plate is designed for high solid ink densities and fine, crisp, detailed printed characters. Print samples could be previewed at Labelexpo.

Asahi plans to expand the modular AWP-Loop system to support larger formats in the future. With growing interest in fully water-washable, additive-free plate processing, the company continues to expand its portfolio of sustainable systems aimed at helping printers improve quality and reduce environmental impact.