In a recent announcement for the European marketplace, Fujifilm announced a change in strategy, and took a positive stand to ensure clarity on plate terminology for printers. In this their new approach is to drop the use of the term “chemistry-free” for certain printing plates, and instead use the term “low-chemistry.” Fujifilm has introduced a new “lo chem” logo to go with this changed definition.

In the CtP world there has been a significant move in the last few years to reduce the amount of chemistry used in the processing of plates, and two terms have become well used, if perhaps not well understood. These terms are process-free and chemistry-free. Fujifilm offer plates using both these technologies. In Europe these are the Brillia HD Pro-T process free thermal plate (Ecomax T is North America), and the Brillia HD Pro-V and Brillia Pro-VN chemistry free violet plates (Ecomax V in North America).

Process free plates such as the Fujifilm Brillia HD Pro-T and the Kodak Thermal Direct develop on the printing press by reacting with fountain chemistry and ink at the start of the print run, and the exposed plate coating is removed mainly on the first press sheets. Chemistry free plates are either ones where the coating is ablated and washed off with a water wash, or where a supplied gum or photo-chemical aqueous solution is used to rinse and finish the plate after imaging. Fujifilm is now stating that plates where a manufacturer supplied solution rather than water is used, then those plates are not chemistry-free but low-chemical. The definition chemistry is very loose and can be used to cover a variety of solutions. Fujifilm believe that if the solution that is used to finish the processing of the plate has what is known as an MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) supplied with it, then this solution has to be chemistry. These sheets define the chemical and environmental aspects of the solution. Also if the solution cannot be disposed of in the normal drainage then it is chemistry. A further factor that has to be taken into consideration is the Ph factor of the post processing solution. A Ph value of 7 is neutral and traditional plate chemistries are alkaline solutions with Ph value around 12. The Ph value of Brillia HD Pro-V is under 10, and this is a factor of around 100 less than traditional plate chemistries. This is why Fujifilm claim this is low-chemistry.