Fully automated plate processing line from Flint Group enables top quality and precision 

In April 1959, the tradeshop Seikodo Company Ltd. was officially founded in Chuo City, a region in the East of Tokyo. However, the Japanese company has been producing stamps long before that time. In those days, stamps were engraved in laborious handwork by skilful specialists. Only after investing in a laser engraving system, the production could switch to rubber printing plates. Cast-molding for rubber material was implemented in 1970, and in 1980 they started with processing liquid-polymer and solid plates. In October 1984, Seikodo installed the first flexo CTP system in Japan, and in February 1985, the era of digital flexo prepress began for the company. 

Since then the company has grown constantly. Over time, production sites were founded, and in the year 2006, the headquarters were moved to the Chuo-ku district in Tokyo. There, and at the three additional sites in Chiba, Maebashi, and Oyama, about 100 employees serve clients not only in Japan, but also in China, Korea and Taiwan. More than 80% of the customers are in the corrugated business, many of them in the preprint area. An additional 15% are supplied with ITR technology or plates which are already mounted on sleeves, and the remaining percentage of printing plates is sold to customers in the solid segment, particularly for printing beverage packaging, labels, etc.

Seikodo has every intention to offer their customers top quality and precision at all times. This ambition is also mirrored by the company name: SEI implies preciseness, KO stands for constancy and DO means production company. As a consequence, it is extremely important for the enterprise to always be technically up-to-date. This is the reason why they decided at the end of 2013, to acquire a nyloflex^® Automated Plate Processor (APP) of the latest generation. 

With the nyloflex^® APP, Flint Group has developed a fully automated processing line with premium equipment, as well as outstanding productivity and consistency, including a washer, dryer and light finisher. The efficient automation and advanced level of standardisation leads to a considerably improved plate and printing quality. Waste and failure rates can be minimised, effecting significant cost savings. The high performance processing line has a capacity of up to 110 printing plates/295 m² per day. Across all tested plates, the nyloflex^® APP shows a significant reduction of the processing time of more than 35% compared with stand alone devices. The productivity can be increased by 25%, thus reducing labour costs.

In terms of standardisation, automation is a big step forward, which enables trade shops and printers to minimise process tolerances. At the same time, mistakes can be reduced with the result of a lower complaint rate and reduced costs. The user friendly handling enables an easy control of all operations.

“Especially because of its efficiency and high level of standardisation, we decided for the nyloflex^® APP“, states Kenji Shimazaki, President and CEO of Seikodo. “Flint Group offers printing plates of excellent quality and is on an outstanding technological level. That’s why we want to further intensify the good cooperation between our businesses“.