Agfa Graphics brings next generation thermal plate system to Drupa 2016

Rob van den Braak/01/06/2016/DRUPA INT, Production/Technology

At drupa, Agfa Graphics underlines its commitment to sustainable innovation that focuses on ecology, economy, and extra convenience, coined ECO³ aiming at the development of cleaner and cost-effective solutions that are easier to operate and maintain, both for chemistry-free and for conventional plate systems.

Energy Elite Eco
Thanks to its innovative dual-layer coating technology, Energy Elite Eco is a remarkably robust printing plate that eliminates the need for any pre- or post-baking. Its technology also features high sensitivity for future-proof compatibility with all high-speed thermal platesetters. The plate offers a run length of up to 600,000 prints (or up to 150,000 copies using UV ink) for a variety of applications and print conditions. Even in harsh environments, it affords photorealistic imaging quality, supporting up to 340lpi Sublima and FM10 screening technologies. Energy Elite Eco provides printers with consistent results at 1-99% dot resolution, without dot loss.

“The Energy Elite Eco technology enables a wide press latitude in both sheet-fed, heatset and UV Packaging printing, ensuring excellent lithographic performance, fast restarts, low dampening levels, fast roll-up, and a stable ink-water balance,” explains Eddy De Dobbeleer, Marketing Manager, Thermal Plate Systems. “But what’s more, this new printing plate fits into Agfa Graphics’ ECO³ framework. ECO³ stands for more ecology, more economy and extra convenience in operating both chemistry-free and conventional plate systems. In standard processors, Energy Elite Eco effects a 25% decrease in waste production. In addition, the plate allows for a longer bath life, much easier processor maintenance and longer run length on press.”

Arkana
The new Agfa Graphics Arkana smart processor features a small developer tank, drastically lowering the replenishment rates and considerably reducing the use of chemicals. In addition by deploying Agfa Graphics’ patented gum cascade system, Arkana no longer requires water for plate rinsing. Instead, the cascaded gum has a dual function, cleaning the plate and protecting the plate with a finishing layer.

“All in all, the new processing technology eliminates the total amount of rinse water and produces up to 50% less collectable waste compared to other systems on the market”, De Dobbeleer said. “But that’s not all there is to Arkana. The long bath life drastically reduces maintenance frequency and the clean chemistry used in the system reduces maintenance time. The system can process up to 80 B1 plates per hour, thus offering the perfect solution for high-production, heavy-duty environments. Arkana saves printers both time and money by making operations more ecological and convenient.”

The optimal combination
The Energy Elite Eco plate is compatible with all standard processing equipment, yet performs optimally in combination with the advanced Arkana smart processor.

“When printers combine Energy Elite Eco with the Arkana processing technology they get maximum results in terms of ECO³,” De Dobbeleer concludes.

At the Agfa booth (hall 8) at Drupa 2016 the new thermal plate solution Arkana with Energy Elite Eco is on display from today.

Rob van den Braak

Printer’s devil (1964), phototypesetter, offsetprinter, teacher of graphic techniques, salesmanager, productmanager, trade journalist, founder of BlokBoek e-zine (2011). But above all husband, father, friend and lover of life in southern Spain (since 2010).