Xsys And Nilpeter Collaboration Confirms No Compromise In Print Quality When Using Latest Thermal Plate Technology

Following the completion of a comprehensive new print trial, Xsys has revealed the results of detailed tests comparing flexo printing with thermal plates and those processed with solvents. Working together with press manufacturer Nilpeter, the company set out to find a more sustainable solution that would not compromise print quality.

The sample job was printed, in turn, with the solvent nyloflex  FTS plate and the thermal nyloflex XVH plate from Xsys. The thermal plate was processed with a nyloflex  Xpress Thermal Processor, which offers considerable sustainability benefits compared to standard solvent processing systems in use.

“Our main aim with this print trial is to confirm that there is no compromise in print quality when switching from Xsys solvent plates to thermal,” said Friedrich von Rechteren, Global Commercial VP at Xsys. “In fact, what we found is that besides producing excellent print quality and improving flexo’s green credentials, the versatile nyloflex XVH thermal plate – like the solvent nyloflex  FTS – also reduces complexity, inventory and waste to provide a higher Overall Equipment Efficiency (OEE).”

The thermal nyloflex XVH Digital plate brings similar benefits to the table as the solvent nyloflex  FTS Digital. Both are inherent flat top dot plates with a smooth surface that has a very fine grain making them able to hold customized surface screening patterns, such as Woodpecker. They also both feature good wettability and anti-ink fill-in (AIF) technology, which keep plates clean for longer print runs to allow increased press uptime.

The thermal nyloflex  XVH, however, offers additional benefits, most notably in sustainability by not requiring solvents for processing and thereby avoiding VOC emissions in the print room and further into the atmosphere. Productivity is also significantly increased as the nyloflex Xpress Thermal Processor delivers print-ready nyloflex thermal plates in less than one hour, which translates to 88% lower energy consumption. It also eliminates the long drying times experienced with solvent systems, which often cause a bottleneck in production and delay press restart when damaged plates have to be replaced. The print trials were conducted at the Nilpeter Technology Center in Denmark, where the sample jobs were produced on a flagship FA-17 Line narrow web flexo press running at 200 m/min. The same design was printed on three different substrates: a 38-micron White BOPP, a self-adhesive white PE and a 45- micron PET shrink material with a solvent nyloflex  FTS 114 Digital plate and a thermal nyloflex  XVH 114 Digital plate, using UV flexo inks from Flint Group Narrow Web. Jesper Jørgensen, Global Sales Manager at Nilpeter, said, “When we compared the results from the two different plates, there was no difference in quality or registration – it was just spot on. With most new jobs, there are always some start-up difficulties getting the plates, the inks and the material to mix and match together, but we found it surprisingly easy. It was a walk in the park.”

Friedrich von Rechteren concluded, “We can now fully recommend the nyloflex  XVH plate as an alternative solution to current market challenges, because it delivers print quality that equals solvent plates, offers reduced Total Cost of Ownership, and is more environmentally friendly.”

For more details: www.xsysglobal.com