CTP, Workflows For Print and Packaging On Show

Esko-Graphics will feature new Computer-To-Plate and workflows for commercial printers as well as workflows and a digital flexo imager for packaging during Graph Expo in Chicago (USA) October 10-13.

Esko-Graphics will feature new Computer-To-Plate and workflows for commercial printers as well as workflows and a digital flexo imager for packaging during Graph Expo in Chicago (USA) October 10-13.

On its stand - 4017 - Esko-Graphics will demonstrate its new Scope workflows for commercial printing along with three new platesetters in their North American trade show debuts.

They include Espresso four-up Computer-To-UV-Plate (CTUP), the Platedriver Compact four-up violet, and the DPX 4 four-up polyester platesetters.

The company will also demonstrate pre-press systems for packaging - Scope workflow for packaging applications and a CDI Spark XT flexo imager.

A number of partner stands in the hall will also show Esko products.

"Esko-Graphics will continue to provide commercial print systems in the areas where we see the most growth - concentrating on Scope workflow software, and on smaller format CTP devices.

Graph Expo will also reveal a refocus on our distribution network, where there will be Esko-Graphics devices at reseller booths," commented Simon James, Esko-Graphics North America executive vice president and general manager.

"Besides our new commercial printing approach, packaging remains our major flagship today.

We have earned an industry reference position with unique value-adding packaging solutions.

To that end we will show packaging workflow and flexo digital imaging systems that are leaders in their respective segments," he added.

Esko said that Graph Expo will be the venue for the first major U S demonstration of Scope configured for commercial printing.

It is claimed to manage multi-site, distributed design and production workflows.

Scope links traditional pre-press functions with sales, pressroom, finishing and logistics departments: JDF links provide functions like job scheduling, remote viewing and approval and plate room feedback.

Project coordination, digital asset management and distributed proofing and approval enable partners to collaborate globally in real time claimed Esko.

Espresso is a Computer-To-UV-Plate (CTUP) system, exposing most conventional UV-plates.

Printers using a film-based workflow can easily and safely migrate to CTUP with a limited investment, facilitating a parallel CTF and CTUP operation it is said.

Printers can continue to use the same plates they are already familiar with on press.

Espresso is a two-up and four-up platesetter, imaging plates 25" x 29.3" to 12.8" x 19.1".

At a claimed 2,400 dots per inch (dpi) resolution - sufficient for screen rulings up to 200 lines per inch (lpi) - the Espresso is said to be able to image up to 13 four-up UV plates per hour in normal light conditions.

With high-sensitivity UV plates, it is possible to image up to 20 four-up plates per hour.

The four-up Platedriver Compact CTP system, aimed at smaller printers looking for entry into CTP at a very affordable price tag has an internal drum design to assure the highest possible geometric and registration accuracy and dot quality, said Esko.

Its 40mW violet laser is equally suited to expose silver and photopolymer plates.

Violet CTP technology offers numerous advantages, including lower total cost-of-ownership, longer laser life cycle and convenient yellow safelight handling for plate loading.

The system integrates with an existing pre-press workflow or can be implemented with Esko-Graphics' dedicated workflows.

The four-up polyester DPX 4 platesetter is an extension of the DPX series.

Its internal drum features faster throughput, claimed to reduce make-ready time on the press.

Producing imaged, processed, punched, dried and cut-to-size press-ready plates as large as 26.77" x 29.90", the DPX 4 is able to expose plates at any resolution between 1,200dpi and 3,000dpi said the company.

Esko-Graphics will draw attention to packaging applications, demonstrating its Scope for Packaging and the Cyrel Digital Imager (CDI) Spark XT.

Scope is said to cover a wide range of functions, from job and product specification, through graphic and structural design and expert pre-production operations, to platemaking for printing and tool making for converting.

The Spark XT is a member of the award winning CDI flexo platesetter family, imaging digital photopolymer plates up to 482" x 35" - the most popular flexo plate format.

The CDI Spark XT is available in three versions with claimed imaging speeds from 16 square feet to 43 square feet per hour and supports resolutions of 2,000dpi-4,000dpi, freely selectable from job to job.

CDI Spark XT has a built-in plate loading and unloading table and Easyclamp to apply and hold down plates up to.250 thousandths thickness on the drum.

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