The nyloprint WF-S (Water-washable Film based - Soft) plate replaces the nyloprint WF-M printing plate type and is available with immediate effect. The product has a softer plate surface for more flexible applications compared with its predecessor.
The softer relief layer is said to provide improved ink transfer, resulting in optimal ink lay-down, especially on rough surfaces.
The manufacturer said the plate is suitable for high quality demands in coating and printing with UV and oil-based inks and for special applications such as blister pack printing but also for rotary letterpress, coating units and imprinting units.
Flint Group Flexographic Products product manager Markus Muehlfeit said: "When printing or varnishing solids or linework, label printers require a soft plate type with good ink transfer properties.
"A homogeneous ink laydown on barcodes is especially a challenge. On rough substrates the soft nyloprint WF-S plate shows ink transfer advantages, whereas the hard plate types most often have their limits in this regard."
Reproduction with the plate is completed within 25-35 minutes and it is said to offer a wide exposure latitude combined with high intermediate depths and strong durability for long print runs.
The plate is available in thicknesses of 0.7, 0.8 and 0.95mm while a digital version of the film-based plate is also available on request.
Flint Group Flexographic Products is a division of Flint Group, which develops, manufactures and markets consumables including conventional and energy-curable inks and coatings for most offset, flexographic and gravure applications as well as pressroom chemicals, platemaking equipment and flexographic sleeve systems.
Earlier this month Flint Group agreed to acquire the majority shareholder of Xeikon, XBC BV, and use the press and consumables manufacturer as the basis of a new digital division.
Flint Group said the new division will broaden its conventional and digital printing offering, giving it “a unique proposition of equipment, consumables and services across global markets”.
The Luxembourg-headquartered company employs around 6,800 people and reported sales of €2.1bn (£1.5bn) in 2014.
