The Oldham Group installs first Asahi Tap Water System in US

The Oldham Group has become the first in the US to install Asahi Photoproducts’ AWP Tap Water System.  

This installation marks a significant milestone in Asahi’s ongoing ‘Road to Solvent Zero’ initiative, offering the flexographic industry a sustainable platemaking technology with no solvents, no detergents, and minimal environmental impact. 

The AWP Tap Water System is set to be available starting July 1, 2025.  

The new AWP Tap Water System installed at The Oldham Group is designed to offer a sustainable technology for small-format platemaking needs. It comprises three integrated innovations: 

•    AWP Tap Water Plate: A water-washable plate requiring only tap water for processing, eliminating VOC solvents and detergents. It delivers high print quality and measurable improvements in Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), suitable for flexible packaging and label applications in small format. 

•    AWP-2530AA Plate Processor: A compact, all-in-one plate processor developed to meet the highest environmental and print standards for smaller plate sizes. With a user-friendly interface, it enhances fine screening performance and precise color reproduction, offering smooth integration into small production environments. 

•    AWP-LOOP Petite: A closed-loop water recycling unit. Using Asahi Kasei’s Microza filtration technology to reduce wastewater and operational costs, complementing the tap water plate technology and enabling an eco-friendly platemaking process. 

Together, these products supports printers that are seeking to eliminate solvents while maintaining high print performance. 

‘We believe Asahi’s goal to solvent “Zero” and its commitment to sustainability has finally led to the release of a water washable plate using only tap water,’ said Jerry Collins, vice president at The Oldham Group. ‘This is a major accomplishment that the flexo industry has been waiting for — it delivers excellent press performance and a sustainable reduction of the printer’s carbon footprint. A tap water solution that eliminates the need for detergents and potassium carbonate reduces a printer’s environmental impact. This is a big win for the printer and the environment. It is now the perfect time for printers that are using other platemaking alternatives to make the switch to a tap water platemaking solution.’ 

The installation of the AWP Tap Water System represents an initiative dedicated to eliminating VOC-based washout processes and improving production environments across the flexographic industry. 

Asahi remains committed to working closely with its distributor network to bring these innovations to market. 

Asahi Photoproducts works closely with Wikoff Color Corporation and The Oldham Group, both highly valued and active distributors in the United States, supporting the broader adoption of sustainable flexographic products.