Investing in Stylish Design Folding Paper Boxes How can CTP technology be the most cost-effective

Investing in Stylish Design Folding Paper Boxes How can CTP technology be the most cost-effective

When people plan to invest in computer Direct platemaking (CTP), the first focus is on workflow systems and platemaking machines. To be precise, it is to see which kind of plate making system (platform, internal drum, or external drum) can meet the requirements of the enterprise, and what plate materials are matched with the system. In this paper, the matching of CTP platemaking machine and plate material, plate sensitivity, plate material type and so on are analyzed, hoping to have some reference value for the investment decision of enterprises.

Plate-making machine and plate material matching

It is true that some plate imaging is linked to the structure of the platemaker. Therefore, when making investment plans, the printing plate should be taken into account first.

From infrared to ultraviolet

The first CTP systems were based on the internal drum and table-top structure of the film exposure machine. Because the CTP light source (argon ion and Nd:YAG solid state laser) is very expensive, its service life is limited, making the use of infrared diode drum technology becomes the ideal choice, which has the advantages of outstanding plate quality and low cost of quality control. Since Drupa 2000. Ultraviolet diodes crowded into the market, giving internal drum and desktop systems a new lease of life. Coupled with the improvement of plate emulsion and the simplification of photopolymerization plate development, its development trend is clear. The main criteria for UV laser investment: the investment cost of the internal drum system is at least 20% lower than that of the external drum system, and it is comparable in terms of output efficiency and quality.

Back to infrared

It's possible! Because no printing company will oppose no developer, no chemicals, no development defects, no discharge costs and no cleaning and operating costs of plate making. The ideal goal can be approached with treatment-free or chemical-free plates, but only if the supply capacity and stable plate coating quality are guaranteed. Of course, the price must be moderate.

For the time being. The American plate manufacturer Presstek is active in the free plate market. Since Drupa 2004, Agfa has also developed Azura chemical-free plates, and KPG's thermal Direct process-free plates, Fujifilm and Toray process-free plates are being tested. Polyester-based processing free plates are also expected to be available in the near future.

Most plate factories are based on polymer technology, only Presstek's multilayer plate uses an ablative method. The company's Anthem edition needed to be cleaned to remove the powder from the edition. Treatment-free and chemical-free plates are mostly less sensitive than thermal plates. So imaging can only be done with infrared diodes. Presstek uses its own infrared diode Prfire-Excel in both its CTP system and its partner's DI presses.

(The thermal ablation technology used in Presstek's Anthem plate)

Usually, the free plate can be directly onto the press after being made by the CTP system, but the Agfa plate needs to be coated with protective adhesive. For this purpose a gluing section is attached to the Acento CTP system. According to Agfa, gluing prevents mechanical damage to the plate.

The future belongs to free treatment

According to expert analysis, by 2006, the processing free plate imaging may be done by 150mW(the current maximum of 100mW) of the higher output power of the UV diode. For imaging thermal plates and today's process-free plates, the required infrared diode power is up to 1000mW. Fujifilm seeks to achieve the same photosensitivity (about 150mJ/cm2) as the thermal plate under test in order to achieve comparable production volumes. However, the sensitivity of most process-free printing plates is about 300mJ/cm2, so doubling the energy or extending the imaging time is required, but this reduces the production efficiency.

In addition, in the internal drum system, due to the greater distance between the UV diode and the plate, coupled with the additional deflection prism, the power loss is less. In contrast, in the external drum system, many infrared diodes are directly arranged on the plate, and the power loss is greater.

If the processing free printing plate can be imaged with ultraviolet diodes, that is very reasonable. But from today's point of view, this approach will take time. Therefore, the current investment plan is not considered.

Be on a budget

Plate manufacturers generally do not want to talk about plate prices, they are determined by negotiating with individual customers. With 100 as the base price of traditional printing plates, it is estimated that the price of CTP printing plates is 180 or higher, and the price of silver halide, photopolymer and thermal versions is between the two. According to plate manufacturers, the price of free and chemical treatment plates will reach 300 or more. It remains to be seen whether these estimates are anywhere near the true level. But it is certain that the more enterprises with the number of plates, the more unfavorable the use of free printing plates. So in what version of the range is appropriate? According to data provided by Presstek, companies using 7,000 to 8,000 square meters of plates per year (equivalent to 150,000 to 180,000 B2 size plates) are more cost-effective with non-processed and chemical-processed plates.

In addition, in many conversations with the printing plant, it was learned that medium-sized printing plants use B2 size printing presses, and the annual volume of plates is about 12,000. The cost of plates for external drum systems is still high, which also means that processing free and chemical-free plates for B1 and VLF oversize are still too expensive.