The manufacturer claims the product is “the most durable chem-free plate available on the market” and said it boosts efficiency, both in plate throughput as well as in run length, with optimal press performance, zero water and up to 75% less waste compared to similar products.

The plate supports up to 240lpi with Sublima screening and incorporates Agfa’s new ThermoLink technology, which is said to contribute to the product’s chemical and mechanical robustness. The plate can facilitate run lengths as long as 350,000 copies, or up to 30,000 when using UV inks.

It has been designed for use with Agfa’s new dedicated Adamas clean-out units, the Adamas 85 COU and Adamas 125 COU, which can be cleaned with a pH neutral clean-out solution and zero water due to their eco-driven design.

“When we designed Adamas, we kept every need of the most advanced commercial printers in mind. The result shows innovation on all fronts – increased durability, enhanced performance and responses to the biggest market trends, such as low-power curing UV inks,” said Agfa Graphics product manager for thermal plates Iris Bogunovic.

“Adamas represents a step further in photopolymer technology. With this technology we have tried to go further in terms of robustness and it does not require any pre-heat. If you wanted to improve resistance and robustness in the case of commercial thermal plates, you would need to bake them.”

She added: “Adamas is a testament to our Eco3 sustainable innovation drivers, which bring ecology, economy and extra convenience to our customers.”

Adamas can be used for applications ranging from commercial sheetfed and coldset to heatset printing. Plate sizes range from 289 to 1,500mm in length and from 400 to 2,100mm in width. Both the plate and dedicated clean-out units are commercially available with immediate effect.