Miraclon said the Shine LED Lamp Kit provides fluorescent users with a simple, low-cost route from "inconsistent fluorescent exposure" to the advantages of LED technology.
By utilising customers’ existing fluorescent exposure frames, for “a fraction of the cost of a new LED exposure unit”, users are said to benefit from consistent, predictable intensity over a much longer operating life – up to 5,000 hours compared to 800 hours for fluorescent tubes, faster exposures, and enhanced sustainability performance.
The kit is designed to be retrofitted on-site in a few hours by a qualified electrician and in Skegness-based Print Quest’s case, the installation took around five hours and went very smoothly, with “minimal disruption to production” according to David Jarvis, managing director and founder of Print Quest.
“I knew within 24 hours after [the first] installation that I would be upgrading my other two exposure units with Shine LED Lamp Kits too,” said Jarvis.
“On average we’ve reduced exposure times by 33%, which is remarkable. Because the LED lamps don’t degrade, exposures are consistent across the entire bed, eliminating plate remakes, and our plate specialists aren’t spending time monitoring and recalibrating lamps.
“In addition, because the Shine LED lamps operate at room temperature, we don’t have to wait for the lamps to warm up and cool down. This can take up to 30 minutes, so the productivity benefits are considerable as well.
“We also anticipate significant savings on our energy bills, so it enhances our sustainability proposition.”
In 2008 Print Quest was the first commercial installation of the Flexcel NX system, and later became one of the first European trade users to complete the Miraclon Certification Program for Flexcel NX plates.
The company, which serves clients with artwork and plates, has also developed its own patented plate screening technology — Utopia — which relies on the reproduction and ink transfer capabilities of Flexcel NX technology to allow printers to match any colour standard while improving on-press efficiency by reducing waste and set-up time.
