APR Teams Up with MacDermid & Esko for Label Project

Rich solids. Smooth vignettes. Intricate details.

Design elements like these continue to challenge the Flexo industry to improve. Many of today’s flexo printers continue to rise to those challenges with innovations and processes that advance their Flexo print capabilities. In an effort to showcase the advancements in flat top plates, high-end screening, and UV-LED concurrent face and back exposure, MacDermid, ESKO and APR partnered to craft a label with just such design details.

The Team: Brian Cook (MacDermid), Nate Plavnick (Esko), CJ Marriner, Catherine Haynes, Dan Muthig & Patrick Gerrity (APR).
Brian, Catherine and Nate compare proofs and check the art.
Catherine tweaking the artwork file in Adobe Illustrator.
Nate imaging the first plate on the Esko CDI Spark 4835 Full HD Plate Imager.
Catherine and Nate Exposing both sides of the plate on the Esko XPS Crystal 4835 exposure unit.
Brian loads the plate into the MacDermid LAVA Thermal Processor 4260.
MacDermid LUX ITP 60 plate being thermally processed.
CJ checking the finished plates.
Dan mounting the plates.
CJ lowering a plate cylinder into the press.
CJ aligning a cylinder.
Checking the contrast and setting the impression for the black plate.
Brian and Nick checking the impression for the black ink.
Fine-tuning the registration.
Dan and Nick checking the first pull off of the press.
First press sheet matches the digital proof amazingly well!
Dan adjusting the die cut and the trim for the final production run.
We were all very pleased with the final product.
One roll for MacDermid, one for Esko, and one for APR.
The final label on some test bottles.

Utilizing state-of-the-art equipment and software at APR’s Technical Innovation Center, we teamed up to print a series of high-end labels to present and distribute at Labelexpo 2018. These 7-color process labels were printed utilizing award winning MacDermid LUX ITP flat-top dot technology, Esko HD Flexo screening and the new Esko XPS Crystal Exposure System to achieve outstanding color clarity, smooth vignettes and ultra-fine detail. These labels were printed on the Bobst M1 press and die cut with magnetic dies from Kocher+Beck.

Label Run Specifications
Press:	Bobst M1
Substrate:	BOPP Label
Ink:	Flint UV
Anilox:	Apex GTT
Plate:	MacDermid ITP 60, Esko 4835 CDI Imager, Esko XPS Crystal 4835 Exposure Unit, LAVA Thermal Processor 4260
Tape:	Lohmann DuploFLEX 4.2 EB
Die:	Kocher+Beck
Screening:	200 lpi, Esko HD Flexo Screening
Expanded Gamut Color:	Esko Equinox
Pressroom Color Control:	SpotOn! Flexo

Demo Label Team Members

Nathan Plavnick - FIQ Specialist, Esko
Brian Cook - Application Development Manager, MacDermid Graphics Solutions
Catherine Haynes - Technical Solutions Group, APR
Dan Muthig - Technical Solutions Group, APR
Charles "CJ" Marriner - Technical Solutions Group, APR
Patrick Gerrity - Director of Marketing Communications, APR

Special Thanks to: Richard Black - VP of Business Development, APR, and Joel Engleberth - Software Support, Esko.

We invite you to see the labels and equipment displayed at the following Labelexpo 2018 booths:

MacDermid Graphic Solutions - Booth 528
Esko - Booth 5202
Bobst - Booth 5403
KOCHER+BECK - Booth 529

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