Finally the flexo world choosed the Computer-To-Plate premaking technology
as an inherent part of high quality printing. Last achievements in laser industry
are now applied in laser recording systems of imaging on digital (or masked)
photopolymers thus improving the Computer-To-Plate technology.
Realizing the modern trends of developing the equipment for digital flexo
the LaserGraver and LaserSleeves provide the highest possible
yet stable printing quality available on a given press and substrate. LaserGraver
systems are based on Fiber laser proven in digital flexo images.
Improved LaserGraver 4000 series has some important features: higher recording
speed and degree of process automation, wide range of formats from 650x450
to 1010x1800 mm. All these features enable the customer to make a right choice
of equipment from the point of view requirements of his production line. The
modular design LaserGraver 4000 enables tailoring the system to the needs
of particular user. For example, DualBeam version of LaserGraver have two
laser beam optical system that doubles recording speed in respect to base
models. Following the modern trends of improving the digital flexo technology
there is a LaserSleeves system for seamless image recording onto the digital
sleeves. This kind of laser system has convenient mechanical design to handle
the air-cylinders for the sleeves of up to 1800 mm in length and repeat size
up to 1010 mm (LaserGraver 1800). As an option the vacuum cylinder for conventional
digital could be installed on the LaserSleeves machine as well.
LaserGraver is equipped with a powerful FlexWorks raster processor.
FlexWorks runs under Windows NT/2000 and intended to process PostScript
files from various design software (like FreeHand, Illustrator, QuarkXPress,
CorelDraw, ArtPro/Nexus) as well as high resolution TIFF-digital films other
raster processors like Harlequin, PCC RIP, Brisque, FlexRIP. It doesn't matter
which platform was used to prepare a source image, either Macintosh or PC.
The mechanism of PostScript rasterization has a lot of special functions intended
just for flexo: special dot shape, compensation, of distortion, rasterization
of seamless images, calibration of photopolymer processing procedure, library
of characterization curves for printing units, hybrid rasterization.
According to last tends for pre-press procedure FlexWorks has special
function to work with rasterized images. It performs imposition, screen proofing
and checking of the design (trapping, raster dot size, width of line artwork
elements) on digital films. FlexWorks gives the user a full control
over all key parameters of flexo pre-press to reach maximum printing quality.
Due to the scalable Client / Server architecture and support of all widely
used image formats the FlexWorks could meet the requirements of any
user, from a small design-bureau to a large packing plant.
Laser: Fiber diode-pumped laser (Faser)
Image recording technology: Thermal, on thermosensitive materials (digital photopolymers or other)
Compatibility with other RIPs: Artworks (Nexus), Brisque, FlexRIP, Harlequin
The data for recording speed and productivity are given for digital photopolymers, both for single beam and DualBeam versions of systems. The image recording specifications of photopolymers could be different for materials from various manufacturers, plate type, etc.
There are provided also DualBeam versions doubling the recording speed.
The range of recordable Computer-to-Plate media includes: