Flint Group unveils new exposure technology

Flint Group Flexographic Products recently presented the print results achieved with its new nyloflex‘Next’ exposure technology at its symposium in Stuttgart, Germany.

nyloflex Next high output UV technology generates unique element shapes with precisely reproduced surfaces, commonly known as flat top dots, providing all the benefits linked to this structure: increased tonal range along with an optimized surface texture to improve ink lay down and solid ink density. 

All the processes currently being used to produce a plate with a flat top profile are designed to prevent oxygen exchange between ambient air and photopolymerizable layer during the exposure step, either by blocking it at the plate surface with barrier films or by displacing the oxygen with inert gases. 

The company says that the main advantage of the new nyloflexNext exposure technology is that it does not involve the use of inert gases with all its risks and does not require additional consumables. Furthermore, there are no processing steps added to the standard digital plate workflow, such as film or negative film lamination. The nyloflexNext process can easily be integrated in the existing workflow of digital plates. The only change required with the process, says Flint, is the addition of an advanced high energy UV light source, which accelerates the polymerization in the image areas so much that the competitive termination reaction with oxygen becomes insignificant. In combination with a standard UV tube, exposure a virtual 1-1 reproduction from the LAMS image onto the plate is accomplished. Recent printing tests with nyloflex Next exposed plates reportedly indicate further advantages on press like improvements in impression latitude and reduction to gear streaks. 

The new Flint Group UV technology is planned to be commercially available in 2011. 

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