Toray launches eco-friendly AQ Contrast Enhancer

The AQ Contrast Enhancer is an eco-friendly post treatment for waterless offset printing plates that enhances the contrast after CTP-exposed waterless plates. It is specifically designed for the use with punch-bending and sorting equipment that need plates with an excellent contrast.

‘Waterless offset printing is the most environmentally sustainable method of offset printing, and now it is even more sustainable,’ said Noboru Kawanaka, technical manager of Toray Textiles Central Europe. ‘Historically, when contrast enhancement is required, chemicals have to be used, which is not only hard on the environment but also costly due to the difficulty associated with managing and disposing of them. 

‘Now with AQ Contrast Enhancer, no special handling or treatments are required since the product is 90 percent water and contains a small amount of a special liquid that is also used in the cosmetics industry. This further improves the value of waterless offset printing as more companies seek to reduce their environmental footprints.’

Even after treatment of waterless offset plates AQ Contrast Enhancer can be drained to public sewers with no special handling required. While it is specifically designed for use with Toray Imprima J series waterless offset plates, it can also be used with the full line of Toray plates when contrast enhancement is necessary.