Ludlow, MA -- CSW, Inc. has announced the purchase and installation of EskoArtwork’s CDI Spark 5080 flexo platesetter as part of a corporate initiative to complete a fully digital workflow for flexo web and corrugated prepress. Once imaged and processed, the ganged flexo plate is automatically cut into the individual plates again by using an Esko Kongsberg cutting table. This equipment, along with the integration of automation modules on the front end of the workflow, will reduce turn time without sacrificing consistency and quality in manufacturing. The move to digital plate making also allows CSW to discontinue the use of heavy metals in chemical film processing, reinforcing the company’s sustainability goals.
 
According to Marek Skrzynski, Director of Graphics R&D, “Due to the wide diversity of our customer mix, we were unable to find an "out of the box" solution. It took a lot of internal R&D and partnerships with several vendors to be able to finally pull the trigger on this.” The company spent over six months in R&D to determine whether these laser-ablated plates will maintain the quality of CSW’s analog plates, which use hi-definition screening technology. Based on months of rigorous testing, CSW can confirm that these plates carry a unique, durable flat-tipped dot structure with deeply-etched, strong shoulders, delivering maximum tonal range and superior durability in all plate gauges.