DuPont develops Cyrel XD digital plate system

DuPont Packaging Graphics has launched a Cyrel XD hybrid digital plate system that allows flexographic platemakers to produce a hybrid digital dot using their existing digital workflows. The resulting hybrid digital dot has a flat top and broad supports similar to those produced in an analog workflow.

‘The Cyrel XD system will allow digital platemakers to use their existing computer to plate (CTP) and plate making systems to produce the hybrid digital dot on an “as-needed” basis. A low-cost modification to the UV main exposure unit will allow the flexographer to turn the Cyrel XD system “on” when they wish to produce a hybrid digital dot or “off” when they wish to produce a traditional digital dot,’ said Ray Bodwell, marketing manager for DuPont Packaging Graphics.

‘The commercialization of digital Cyrel in the mid-90s introduced the digital dot and ushered in an era of improved consistency, productivity and quality in flexography,’ he continued. ‘However, we recently found an exception in the corrugated segment, where a more traditional flat-topped dot with a broad base helped to minimize the appearance of fluting. In 2008 we introduced DigiCorr as the solution. While testing has reportedly shown that the conventional digital dot profile still produces the best image carrier for most flexo applications, in those cases when a customer needs the digital hybrid shape, Cyrel XD systems will allow them to do that.’

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