CDI Quartz
Market-Leading Flexo Print Quality
Produce the most accurate and best quality plates, reduce ink usage to deliver the absolute best quality final print.
A Whole New Standard for Flexo Quality
The CDI Quartz features a groundbreaking dual optics system that merges the enhanced optics of the CDI Crystal with the most recent Quartz Optics technology. This results in a significant advancement in flexo plate imaging speed and print quality.
The CDI Quartz Range
Produce the perfect plate for applications requiring high print output and stability on press.
CDI Quartz 5080
For flexo plates of up to 50” x 80” (1270 x 2032 mm) or smaller. Typically serves large flexible packaging converters and tradeshops.
CDI Quartz 4260
For flexo plates of up to 42” x 60” (1067 x 1524 mm) or smaller. Typically serves flexible packaging converters.
CDI Quartz 4835
For flexo plates of up to 48” x 35” (1200 x 900 mm) or smaller. Typically serves label converters and flexible packaging converters.
How It Works
Quartz optical technology enables users to image higher frequency surface structures at 2000lpi (Q-Cells) with an imaging resolution of 4000ppi. Imaging at 4000ppi is nearly double the current industry standard, and microcells engraved in the solid ink areas at a 2000lpi resolution is proven to significantly boost ink transfer.
A Dual Optics System that Supports Both Legacy and Forward-Looking Flexo Platemaking
Enhanced CDI Crystal Optics delivers up to 2 plates/h extra at 4.000ppi in Pixel+ imaging mode.
Quartz Optics offers 2,000 lpi surface patterns (Q-Cells) to deliver the highest contrast, finest highlights, smoothest solids, and strongest ink density.
Compatible With Water-based Inks
The Esko Quartz ecosystem is compatible with water-based inks, delivering an increased density of up to 0.7 compared to non-surface structured solids. This compatibility allows for the use of lower volume aniloxes, leading to up to 20% ink savings and offering significant sustainability benefits.
Similar density performance can be achieved with UV and Solvent based ink.
Flexography Print Quality that Surpasses Gravure
In flexible packaging, gravure is still widely considered as delivering the best in print quality. CDI Quartz gives printers a way to match – or even outperform – that print quality in flexography.
Benefits of CDI Quartz
Unsurpassed Quality
Smoother ink coverage, better contrast and deeper shadows
Smoother Solids
No pinholes or negative artefacts.
Improved Tonal Range in Print
Higher ink density enables the usage of lower volume anilox rollers, and thus brilliant solids in combination with fine highlights and fades to zero.
Solid Ink Density
Increased density of up to 0.7 compared to non-surface structured solids.
Eliminate Dot-Bridging
Negative small elements stay open longer and dot-bridging in screens is eliminated, keeping fades and pictures cleaner.
Sustainability Gains
Reduced ink usage and compatibility with water-based inks make sustainability goals achievable.