Asahi launches Quartz-certified plate

Asahi Photoproducts has launched its AWP-CLFQ water-wash plate, officially certified for Esko Quartz imaging, becoming the first solventless plate to achieve this certification and combining pixel-level precision with CleanPrint productivity for gravure-type quality in flexographic printing.

The new plate marks a milestone in high-end flexography, explicitly designed for Esko Quartz screening while remaining compatible with Esko Crystal MCWSI workflows. Its certification confirms AWP-CLFQ's ability to hold Esko's finest pixel structures on the plate, which merge into a single stable printed dot on press, delivering sharp highlights, smooth transitions to zero and dense solids within the familiar AWP water-wash platemaking process.

'AWP-CLFQ gives converters a decisive reason to switch from gravure to flexo,' commented Aki Kato, senior general manager of photoproducts division. 'By combining the precision of Esko Quartz with the productivity of Asahi's CleanPrint, we deliver a level of quality and process consistency previously exclusive to gravure, now with a sustainable solventless workflow.'

The plate was unveiled and certified during AWP Days 2025 in Japan, a technology event showcasing Asahi's Solvent ZERO roadmap. Print samples were also previewed at Allstein's Automation Open House earlier this month, where the plate impressed with high-density whites, strong solids and outstanding fades to zero on complex substrates.

Asahi Photoproducts has initiated a controlled commercial roll-out of AWP-CLFQ for quality-driven converters worldwide, supported by Esko and local Asahi distribution partners. Broader availability will follow as production capacity scales.

The AWP-CLFQ plate is specifically engineered for flexible packaging and film substrates, where gravure printing has long been dominant. With its Quartz-driven pixel-precise dot formation and clean ink transfer, the new plate delivers exceptional print density and tonal range even on demanding films.

Available in 1.14 mm thickness with 1.7 mm under development, the plate supports Asahi's broader Solvent ZERO strategy of replacing solvent-based platemaking with sustainable, high-performance water-wash alternatives. The plate demonstrates outstanding performance with the latest polyurethane solvent and water-based ink developments in the industry, leaving no ink residues thanks to Asahi's CleanPrint surface energy technology.