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News Release from: EskoArtwork | Subject: Platesetters
Edited by the Printingtalk Editorial
Team on 15 March 2004
Esko Graphics Reinforces Its
Platesetting Position
Esko-Graphics has announced a number of enhancements to its Cyrel Digital Imager (CDI) platesetters.
Esko-Graphics has announced a number of enhancements to its Cyrel Digital Imager (CDI) platesetters Added features include improved optics that make the CDI the fastest flexo plate imager in the industry, said Esko
This article was originally published on Printingtalk on 17 May 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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New Packaging Sleeve Tool For Digital Flexo Imager
Esko-Graphics has claimed that it has developed a new concept for mid-web sleeves in connection with its Cyrel Digital Imager (CDI) Compact platesetters.
Platedriver Range Extended By Esko Graphics
Esko-Graphics has introduced a broadened portfolio of Platedriver platesetters.
There is also semi-automatic plate loading, and updated Grapholas flexo software to increase the CDI's productivity and ease of use.
Completing the solution for the flexo printer, innovations in pre-production workflow software will also be on display at Drupa 2004.
The CDI family of platesetters is said to be the world's first digital imagers for flexo plates, is now installed and operating in more than 400 plants worldwide.
Further reading
Esko Platesetter, Optics And Flexo Kit At Drupa
At Drupa 2004, Esko-Graphics will announce a number of enhancements to its Cyrel Digital Imager (CDI) platesetters.
Flexo plate imaging helps converters compete
According to Eskoartwork, the company together with DuPont, has been driving the development of digital flexo for more than 10 years, setting standards in flexo quality and productivity.
Asset management comes to labels printroom
An updated Backstage that features a new 'products' tool that brings basic asset management to the print production room, will be on show by Eskoartwork during Labelexpo Americas.
The company also claimed that about 90% of all digital flexo plates globally are imaged on an Esko-Graphics CDI flexo platesetter.
In 2003, Esko-Graphics delivered 40% more CDI units than in 2002.
Because the demand for flexo-related packaging is growing due to a significant increase in quality, reliability and consistency, Esko-Graphics has doubled the productivity of its CDI Advance with the introduction of Optics 80.
It is an enhanced version of the CDI's optical technology, now capable of imaging eight square meters of plate per hour.
Optics 80 is also said to offer seamless and variable resolution imaging.
By imaging a full format 50"x80" plate in 19 minutes, the CDI now matches the fastest plate processing equipment available in the industry.
Esko-Graphics' Superskip, a function within the CDI's Grapholas control software, increases imaging productivity by skipping areas on the plate that do not contain any information to be imaged.
It is particularly helpful in the production of sleeves.
The company has also announced its CDI Advance semi-automatic plate loading system.
Announced at Graph Expo 2003, the new CDI Advance semi-automatic is delivered with a semi automatic-plate-loader (Semi-APL): a trolley that contains 16 cassettes, each capable of holding similar or different-sized plates up to 50" x 80".
Once plates are loaded into the cassettes, the trolley is rolled into place and docked onto a lift located behind the platesetter.
Information provided by the CDI job queue selects the desired cassette holding the next plate to be imaged, and the lift automatically moves the cassette and plate to the Easyclamp drum.
From there, the operator can easily slide the plate into place onto the drum.
Imaged plates can either be released for immediate processing, or the trolley can be filled with imaged plates and removed for subsequent UV exposure.
All CDI platesetters are delivered with Grapholas front-end software package.
Its graphical interface and screen viewer provide a number of productivity tools.
Grapholas Merger is used to optimise plate usage, provides sleeve support, and assures seamless imaging.
Grapholas Exposer is an operator tool to control the CDI.
For example, it can change the order of jobs in the machine queue.
Grapholas Screenview is a QA-tool used to check dot shapes and overprints, measure screen angles and rulings, determine ink coverage of separations, and provide a monitor soft proof.
New for Grapholas is the Platepatcher option, a powerful tool to minimize overall plate consumption in corrugated printing.
Platepatcher automatically divides large format layouts into a number of smallest-size plate patches, adding crossmarks and reference codes for reassembly later.
It takes these partial bitmap images and merges them, under full visual control, onto the smallest possible contiguous area on a plate.
Some limited extra space is added around the patches, so the resulting digital plate (or film) can be cut into pieces more easily.
During this process, it compiles positioning information, and generates positioning marks on the plate.
It also creates CAD control files to drive camera-supported mounting systems, such as a DuPont Macroflex post-mounting device, a 1:1 plotter, or even a Kongsberg sample making table.
Platepatcher not only economizes plate use.
In combination with a Kongsberg table it also prevents the loss of plate material due to cutting errors by the operator, said Esko.
Another software introduction by Esko-Graphics is Flexoperfection.
It provides a complete bitmap editor for final changes to TIFF-IT and LEN files before they are imaged on a CDI platesetter.
Operators can zoom in on a plate bitmap image before it is sent to the platesetter and, as a final quality check, assure that it traps well or that distortions are correct, or determine if there are areas of concern in the highlights or shadow.
Bitmapped separations can even be assembled on screen - in colour - to ensure they will print well together.
If not, a full set of editing tools are provided to correct the bitmap before it is sent to the platesetter.
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