DuPont Packaging Graphics Features New Flexo Plate Technologies at drupa

Revolutionary Plate Surface Design Enables Superior Solid Ink Density

DuPont Packaging Graphics (DuPont) is highlighting a range of new flexographic printing plates to enable higher quality output at high speed in hall 8b/C24 at the upcoming drupa 2012 trade fair, to be held May 3 – 16 in Düsseldorf, Germany.
“DuPont Packaging Graphics has embarked on an all-out effort to develop next-generation digital DuPont™ Cyrel® plates for both solvent and Cyrel® FAST workflows that have resulted in revolutionary improvements to the plate material and the method of plate creation,” said Tracy Lunt, global technology manager, DuPont Packaging Graphics.  “These innovations will significantly and positively impact the quality of printed packaging for our customers.”
In response to significant and growing demands for higher solid ink density (SID), DuPont has developed a new digital plate formulated specifically for highest SID combined with excellent dot gain characteristics. True next-generation plates with re-engineered print surface technology, the DuPont™ Cyrel® solvent-process DSP and the DuPont™ Cyrel® FAST DFP are standard workflow digital plates designed for flexible packaging printers requiring high densities, good minimum dot size and low dot gain.  These new plates are designed to achieve higher solid ink density while maintaining high resolution, low dot gain and excellent run length.  Since these plates work in a standard digital workflow, they do not require expensive investments in digital prepress and digital technology. They are fully functional with all standard-LAMs-based platesetters.
This technology is such a game changer for the industry that the thermal-process Cyrel® FAST DFP and the solvent-process Cyrel® DSP plates will be the DuPont primary solution for improved solid ink density for flexible packaging.  They are nearly universal digital plates for these markets, and true combination plates capable of high-quality reproduction of solids, halftones and text on the same plate, providing medium-high density for high resolution. Additionally, the design is robust enough for long runs with clean printing and good wear.
Another highlighted plate will be the DuPont™ Cyrel® DFR, a next-generation high durometer digital Cyrel® FAST plate for package printers requiring a plate capable of holding the highest screen rulings, fine detail and the widest tonal range.  A long-running, clean-printing plate suitable for most ink types and substrates, DFR provides improved processing at all gauges, improved limpness for easier plate mounting, and cleaner printing for greater press productivity and longer plate life. DFR is well suited to both a standard digital workflow and DigiFlow.  DuPont anticipates Cyrel® DFR will become the workhorse of its high durometer digital Cyrel® FAST portfolio.
DuPont will also be featuring a series of Cyrel® dedicated photopolymer varnishing plates. Varnishing plates are applied in sheet-fed offset presses that are equipped with special flexo varnishing stations as well as in offline coaters.  These plates are ideal for the offset printer who wants to apply varnish and effect inks precisely structured, ensuring high resolution and reliability. DuPont™ Cyrel® varnishing plates are available for all relevant processing systems, and unlike traditional rubber blankets, they provide very high resolution capabilities combined with very fast and reliable processing.