Flexographic Printing Plates

Imageworx makes the FINEST flexo printing plates in the world

And the quality that Imageworx achieves is truly stunning. We produce plates capable of holding micro text as small as 1/3 -point, and images and holds dots all the way down to 0.2% at 170-line screens.

Our preferred photopolymer suppliers are Kodak, MacDermid, and DuPont. We believe these companies produce the finest materials in plate technology.

Our upgraded Kodak Imager offers higher resolution than any competitor can offer.

The Kodak Trendsetter used by Imageworx is a highly specialized and factory upgraded imager. With the assistance of our technical partners, including Kodak, Imageworx purchased advanced optics and software for our Kodak Trendsetter imager to increase and enhance the output capabilities of our machine from 2400 x 2400 PPI to 9600 x 4800 PPI.

To our knowledge this is one of only 2 machines in the world with this capability, and the other is at Kodak.

Imageworx utilizes 2 Esko Spark 4260 CDIs with upgraded optics

Imageworx has two Esko CDI imagers that provide the digital imaging exposure for many of our flexo plates. Equipped with 4000 DPI, 80 optics, and several screening options including pixel plus, Imageworx provides the latest technology available to produce the highest quality, DuPont, McDermid, solvent and water wash plates available.

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We only use High Definition Exposure Units at Imageworx

Imageworx utilizes two DuPont Cyrel branded 42” x 60” UV exposure units. These machines feature integrator controlled exposures, timing, and chilled exposure beds. Back exposure capabilities complete the functionality of this equipment. When combined with other Imageworx technology and hardware, these machines provide a consistent quality exposure that achieves a full tonal range from .2% to 99% at 170 line screen on our flexographic plates.

These results are the pinnacle achievement in flexo platemaking technology today.

Solvent Processor for Flexographic Plates

Imageworx has two, top of the line, 52” x 80” solvent processors manufactured by Vianord. Both machines are extremely similar in design and function and were selected because of their ability to meet our exacting requirements. Both offer separate chambers for carbon mask removal, plate washout and drying.

Processing settings and controls are continuously monitored to optimize the quality and consistency of the plate washout process.

CNC Plotter Tables ensure every plate is cut precisely

If you have ever mounted a flexographic printing plate you know there is nothing more important than a perfectly square cut on the plate and a minimum thickness for a seam. At Imageworx, we know what is important to press operators and have invested significantly to accommodate their needs.

When our customers receive plates cut in this manner they are ready to mount. There is no need for press operators to do final cuts before mounting and no chance for expensive and time sensitive operator errors resulting in ruined plates or missed deadlines. Because of the extreme accuracy of the Kongsberg cutting, less gap will exist between the plates limiting the chance of plate lift and lost time due to remounting or gluing.

Imageworx recycles over 90% of our manufacturing waste in-house.

Imageworx manages our waste streams in the most environmentally conscious ways possible. For solvent washout plates, we recycle with an IST RotoPlus 200 distillation system that returns 96% of our solvent back into our production stream. The remaining 4% waste is collected and responsibly disposed of through Safety Clean.

Water-Wash waste is recycled with our Encon DE-400 Evaporator system. Under heat, the water is evaporated out and into a different container leaving behind the concentrated waste material. This benign material is collected in drums, and disposed of responsibly through Safety Clean.

Flexographic Printing Plates

Imageworx produces the most advanced flexographic plates available. Our plates are manufactured with the latest imaging, exposure, wash-out, and drying technologies available. Utilizing: (2) Esko CDI digital plate exposure system with Pixel Plus and HD Flexo to process superior quality Cyrel and MacDermid flexographic plates up to 42″ x 60.” A Kodak Trendsetter is used for Kodak NX Digital, Kodak NX DigiCap, and Kodak NX Advanced plates up to 42″ x 60.”

Our preferred photopolymer suppliers are Kodak, MacDermid, and DuPont. We believe these companies produce the finest materials in plate technology. Based on this assessment, we have invested significant resources to properly manufacture these plates. All OEM requirements are met or exceeded to ensure optimum quality. When combined with our industry leading prepress, plates made by Imageworx will enable printers to achieve consistently superior results from their flexo printing equipment.

Flexo plates made by Imageworx are exposed using one of (2) high definition exposure units, and solvent washed with one of (2) in-line 50″ x 80″ dual tank incremental plate processors. Plates are then precision cut on one of (2) Kongsberg X20 cutting tables to the exact size and shape required for mounting. No additional cutting is necessary before plate mounting. Stagger, and optimized cuts for random repeat are available. This additional precision finishing operation performed by Imageworx saves the printer plate mounting time, and eliminates the possibility of cutting errors. Redundancy is built into all of our plate processing systems to reduce the possibility of production errors or delays.

All of our processing solvents are recycled in-house, with waste elements disposed of responsibly. We have invested considerable time and resources designing and implementing an environmentally safe & friendly, closed-loop distillation system for petro-solvents. By maintaining this process in house, we can ensure consistent quality and availability, while extending the economic and social benefits back to you, our customer.

Dry Offset & Rotary Letterpress Plates

Imageworx produces steel-back and polymer back plates for Dry Offset and the Rotary Letterpress printing processes. All plates are manufactured to the highest standards on our new AGI 30” X 40” water wash processor. Steel-back and polymer plates are available in a variety of thicknesses to suit most presses.