The Time and Money Saving Guide for the Flexographic Printer FlexoGuide is a free service of All Printing Resources, Inc. (APR). It is intended to keep our customers informed of new solution-oriented products, technical tips, saving opportunities, and APR services. Previous issues of FlexoGuide are available here.   Tech Tip 1 - Basic Procedures for Ensuring Photopolymer Plate Quality Tech Tip 2 - General Graphic Tolerances for Flexo - Guidelines from FIRST APR Announces New Dates for FTA/NCSS Certified Training and Exams - Level 1 (Beginner) and Level 4 (Expert) GreytagMacbeth's vipPAQ Inline color density measuring system providing "real-time" inline densitometric color measuring, optimized for production control in flexography NEW nyloflex® Gold A Digital... the First 'Digital' Coating Plate to Market Visit us at the FTA INFO*FLEX 2006 Exhibition HTD Dryer Technology from Mekrom 3M EH-Series Tapes  Tech Tip 1 Basic Procedures for Ensuring Photopolymer Plate Quality Verifying quality of a new photopolymer plate is obviously an essential step of any successful printed conversion process. Advancements in plate reading devices now allow a QC check of a photopolymer plate to include mapping software of topology, plate shoulder width and angle to determine proper exposure and support characteristics... Tech Tip 2 General Graphic Tolerances for Flexo This form containing guidelines from FIRST can be an excellent reference tool for many prepress departments. Whether you are a prepress supplier working with new converters or a converter trying to understand your process or perhaps expand your print capabilities the following tolerances from the Flexographic Trade Association's FIRST text can give you some insight...  APR Announces New Dates for FTA / NCSS Certified Training and Exams - Level 1 (Beginner) and Level 4 (Expert) 
The FTA has created and implemented a multi-level procedure by which operational personnel receive recognition via an examination of defined skills for escalating levels of knowledge. The program provides a guide for company training, plus enables the ability to promote flexibility and portability of highly skilled personnel across flexographic printing functions. This system includes four progressive skill levels, which are designed to help the press operator learn and develop a high level of knowledge as they continue to move forward in the printing industry. The Skill Standards testing at each level is designed to help improve quality, technical expertise, hands-on skills, industry language, and to assess the needs of the pressman for additional areas of training. In June, APR will offer two of the four certification levels, The Basic Flexographer (Level 1) and The Expert Flexo Press Operator (Level 4). Basic Flexographer (Level I) - June 13-14 The "Basic Flexographer" classification (Level I) has been developed to provide recognition of those who have rudimentary knowledge of the industry or are entry level personnel. The procedure is open to all functions within the flexo industry. APR offers a two day program that outlines the skills and subjects which a Basic Flexographer should understand followed by the FTA Level 1 certification test. NCSS Expert Flexo Press Operator Certification - Training & Exam (Level 4) - June 15-16 Show your commitment to achieving the highest skill standards recognized in our industry by becoming certified as a "Press Operator Expert" as established by the FTA and National Council for Skill Standards (normal pre-requisite is five years industry experience with two years in a leadership position). APR will be hosting a pre-exam training program and proctoring the exam on June 15 and 16. Certified instructors will provide a 1-1/2 day review of the content prior to the presenting of the exam. APR also offers special training classes, either at our training facility or at customer locations on FTA certification levels from beginner to expert flexo operators as well as other customized training options. For more information on the program, please click on the link below. http://www.teamflexo.com/training/ncsscert.asp  GreytagMacbeth's vipPAQ Inline color density measuring system providing "real-time" inline densitometric color measuring, optimized for production control and quality assurance in flexography and gravure printing, providing a higher-performance alternative to camera-based systems for inline inspection of prints. 
vipPAQ reduces set-up time for print runs and ensures press operators can recognize and correct errors far earlier in the printing process. It performs quality checking in the actual print situation at the control console for true real-time job control with no need to slow down the press. Deviations in substrate, viscosity, speed, pressure temperature and ink impurities are automatically displayed during the print run, so immediate corrective action can be taken. Jobs run at higher speeds with higher overall quality and productivity...a definite competitive edge. The vipPAQ's modular configurations match most production environments and can be installed by APR service technicians or your own staff.
For more information on this product, please call us at 1-800-445-4017, or e-mail us at info@teamflexo.com. NEW nyloflex® Gold A Digital...the First "Digital" Coating Plate to Market 
The digital revolution continues with nyloflex® Gold A digital, the first "digital" coating plate to be offered for print finishing. Officially launched in February 2006, this new technology is the very latest plate in the nyloflex® product range. The new plate has been developed to meet the demand for a digital workflow. Although digital plate processing is well established in flexo, it has a much longer history in litho, where it's common practice. Now platemakers can offer a completely digital solution without film and its potential processing faults and costs. The plate offers all the same features as the conventional Gold A, such as an aluminum base which provides dimensional stability for optimal register accuracy; as well as high resistance properties particularly suited for use with UV inks and varnishes. Now the digital version offers the potential for even higher resolutions, finer details and thus improved printing performance in print finishing applications. The digital plate processing technique also allows a wider exposure latitude, steeper shoulder profile and hence more open reverses. These benefits result in minimal plate cleaning, long production runs and maximized press efficiency. Despite its aluminum base the processing parameters of the plate are very similar to other nyloflex® digital plates. For more information on this product, please call us at 1-800-445-4017, or e-mail us at info@teamflexo.com. Visit us at the FTA INFO*FLEX 2006 Exhibition
For more information, please call 1-800-445-4017, or e-mail us at info@teamflexo.com.  HTD Dryer Technology from Mekrom allows you to dry plates in less than 20 minutes while showing improved plate quality in many cases 
The revolutionary HTD technology allows you to dry a flexo plate in 15 to 30 minutes (depending on the polymer type used). Now you can make your flexo plates in less than one hour without having to go to expensive thermal processes. The HTD dryer not only significantly reduces your drying times, but also can provide better plate flexibility or "drape" resulting in improved cylinder wrap resulting in less plate lift possibilities. Comparing to normal drying, another specific feature is that the plates also have been seen to hold more consistent thickness tolerances. 
There are no special requirements for the installation of a HTD unit, only the power supply and air exhaust connections (blower included with the HTD), and no changes needed in the other equipment of your plate making system. The HTD can be installed either on high legs delivered in the package, or simply placed on other devices or a work table. APR is an authorized reseller of Mekrom products. For more information on this product, please call us at 1-800-445-4017, or e-mail us at info@teamflexo.com. 3M EH-Series Tape combines the air release of 3M E-Series Tapes with adhesive that resists edge lifting on small diameter cylinders providing production enhancements for printers plus the print quality customers expect 
Goes on easy, with reduced air entrapment
Stays on with reduced edge-lifting Exclusive adhesive maintains tight contact between tape and plate to dramatically reduce edge lifting Saves prep, downtime, and labor of sealing plate edges
For more information on this product, please call us at 1-800-445-4017, or e-mail us at info@teamflexo.com. For more information, literature, pricing, or any other assistance, please call us at 1-800-445-4017 or e-mail us at info@teamflexo.com. Privacy Policy We want to let you know that to protect your privacy, we will never release your e-mail address to a third party. In all cases, every message we send will be clearly identified as coming to you from All Printing Resources, Inc.. And with every message, you will be given an opportunity to opt out from receiving future messages. Even if you have previously submitted e-mail preferences, you may use the link below to check or add to your profile. This will allow us in the future to better select specials, tech tips, featured products, and training updates products and services targeted to your more specific business needs. Thank you for being a FlexoGuide subscriber and for aiding us in the process of making this a continually improving time and money saving guide for the Flexographic printing industry. © 2006, All Printing Resources, Inc.  |
