In less than an hour, Kodak's new all-in-one plate making solution, Flexcel NX Ultra, produces ready-to-print plates in a solvent-free, VOC-free, water-based process. The US company announces this solution as the first of its kind designed for high throughput in a low-maintenance environment.
A demonstration of the Ultra-NX technology had Kodak at drupa two years ago. The product is particularly suitable for applications in the paper or cardboard, labelling and flexible packaging sectors.
According to the company, the new development is based on the Kodak Ultra Clean Technology. This solves the previous problem of „inconsistency“ with water-washable flexo plates. The complete solution consists of the Flexcel NX system for imaging, the new processing system and the equally new Flexcel NX Ultra plate in thicknesses of 1.14 and 1.70 millimetres. The imaging, washout, drying and finishing functions are combined in one system.
High level of quality and great flexibility
The new technology is already being used by a number of Kodak customers. „The solution offers the same level of quality, but takes much less time to produce a plate. We can make changes, get new plates to press quickly and ensure that customer deadlines are met. We are very happy with the results of NX Ultra,“ the company quotes Matt Gauthier from G3 Enterprises, a Californian manufacturer of Wine labels.
„The operators of our flexo presses really appreciate the Kodak plates. They can see the difference in the halftone dots and how everything just looks so much cleaner,“ praises Rob Anderson, Head of Production and Planning at the IGT print shop in Florida.
