Asahi Photoproducts signs distribution agreement with Spanish firm Innova

Asahi Photoproducts has added Spanish firm Innova to its global family of distributors.

Asahi Photoproducts signs distribution agreement with Spanish firm Innova

Innova will now be offering a turnkey package for flexographic printers in Spain interested in streamlining pre-press and platemaking, which includes an Esko platemaking system and Asahi’s AWP water washable flexographic plates with clean transfer technology.

Clean transfer technology plates from Asahi Photoproducts have been specifically engineered to transfer all remaining ink to the printed substrate. This is due to the plate’s lower surface energy. These plates do not need to be cleaned as often as conventional digital solvent plates. This in turn creates ‘significant’ productivity improvement, according to Asahi. In addition, flexo press operators are said to be able to bring their presses up to color much more quickly, reducing both make-ready time and waste while providing additional productivity and cost-savings benefits.

Oriol Rosés, managing director at Innova, commented: ‘We began working with Asahi Photoproducts and Esko in mid-2018 to develop a solution that addresses the challenges facing the flexographic printing industry. Working with industry-leading suppliers like Asahi is a key element of our strategy and strengthens our leadership position as a technical solutions provider for the Spanish flexo market.

‘We were attracted to Asahi as a top-quality trusted supplier that is as committed to innovation as we are. Together, we developed a plug-and-play solution that avoids complexity and ensures a meaningful investment with a good ROI for our flexo printing and converting customers.’

In addition to pre-press and platemaking technology, Innova offers aniloxes, doctor blade chambers and more for a full end-to-end and highly productive flexo printing experience.

‘We also offer our own products, such as In-Mount double-sided adhesive tapes, Innovabak compressible backing material for corrugated post-print, and maintenance solutions that include anilox cleaning, audits and consultancy,’ added Rosés. ‘Everything we do is focused on the flexo industry and helping our customers be more productive and profitable.’

The Asahi Photoproducts offering to repro houses in Spain remains available from Beca Grafic in the north of Spain, while Innova is focused on serving flexo printing and converting operations directly.