Flexo Repro's Productivity Boost With Platesetter

Promopack in Heanor, Derbyshire (UK) has obtained productivity gains and cost savings since installing a CDI Spark 4260 platesetter with Optics 80 from Esko.

Promopack in Heanor, Derbyshire (UK) has obtained productivity gains and cost savings since installing a CDI Spark 4260 platesetter with Optics 80 from Esko.

The flexo-repro house specialises in plates for the packaging industry and invested in the platesetter to support the production of 15,000 square metre of photopolymer plates per year.

Esko said that its CDI digital technology has proven to be an effective system for increasing productivity whilst delivering a fast, cost-effective means to turn-around flexo plates.

Mike Baxter, managing director of Promopack, said: "We will be ordering a second machine in the very near future.

Our goal is to achieve full digital production." According to Esko, Promopack has depended on Esko equipment to grow its business over the past 20 years and was one of the first UK firms to install a Backstage server to digitise its workflow and design studio.

Promopack is often an alpha test house for new Esko technologiey and the decision to invest in the CDI Spark 4260 platesetter with Optics 80 was made in full confidence.

Baxter explained: "On the press, digital flexo plates from a CDI achieve much better registration and dot reproduction.

Esko's CDI platesetters are the best you can buy and we knew that plates produced on the 4260 would be of a very high standard.

We chose this model for its impressive speed and consistency.

We see platemaking as a manufacturing process and with Optics 80 the device quickly and consistently images perfect plates up to eight square metres per hour.

The amazing reduction in waste has surprised us and has achieved significant savings in production costs." For Marie Gilbert, Promopack's production manager, Esko's systems ensure consistent quality and superior results: "Our repro staff have had long careers in the industry working for printers and understand packaging pre-press, so they know what can and cannot happen when plates are put on the press.

Esko's packaging software is the best in the industry and with the CDI 4260 we are able to produce the highest quality digital flexo plates in the marketplace." Promopack handles approximately 1,200 different jobs per month and invested in the latest Scope workflow modules to achieve its goal of 100 per cent digitisation.

The digital artwork studio handles files that often require special attention to achieve perfect colour rendition and dot control.

Promopack prides itself on working with retailers and brand owners right up to the point of monitoring how the plates perform on the press.

Mike Baxter added: "What matters to us is whether our customers are happy or not.

We see our job as providing plates that match the proof perfectly.

Our customers may use a variety of printers, so we make sure that our plates will match different presses.

We take a hands-on approach and work closely with the printers and our customers to achieve a perfect product every time." The investment in the CDI Spark 4260 platesetter with Optics 80 reflects a carefully planned decision to move forward in to CTP and digital platemaking.

Baxter further explained: "We have carefully watched the advancements in Esko's software tools for the packaging industry and adopting Esko's CTP solution was a natural progression.

With the right training, the right people and Esko equipment, our business can't go wrong.

Our experience with the platesetter has been very encouraging - there is virtually no waste and plates are perfect every time.

We are ready to build on this investment and order another Esko CDI system with the goal to double our digital output, streamline our production and support our business model.

Promopack is 100 per cent committed to Esko because for us, there is no other supplier in their league.".

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