Tokyo, Japan & Brussels, Belgium – Asahi Photoproducts, a pioneer in flexographic photopolymer plate development, and Correct-Touch Graphic Arts, the exclusive distributor of Asahi flexo plates in the United States, today reported a self-promotional piece produced by Dixie Graphics and Prolamina using Asahi flexo plates with Pinning Technology for Clean Transfer was awarded first place for that category in the 2017 Excellence in Flexography Awards. The entry, an HD flexo water promo bag, is the latest in a number of awards Asahi flexo plates have garnered in global competitions during 2017.

FTA judges stated the water promo bag had “great ink laydown, very sharp text and excellent tonal range. Overall, a great job.”

“This particular piece would have been nearly impossible to produce at the same level of quality with any other flexo plates,” stated Dieter Niederstadt, Technical Marketing Manager for Asahi Photoproducts Europe. “Credit also goes to Dixie Graphics for production of exceptional quality plates, and to Prolamina for its excellent flexographic craftsmanship.”

“This award is another great example of the level of quality that can be achieved using Asahi flexo plates with Pinning Technology for Clean Transfer,” said Scott Keran, President of Correct-Touch Graphic Arts. “We are proud to be the exclusive U.S. distributor of such an amazing line of products. This particular submission featured heavy ink coverage, brilliant colours, complex graphics and highly legible small type, an excellent piece to demonstrate the capabilities of Asahi plates. Our thanks go to Dixie Graphics and Prolamina for their excellent work in producing this award-winning piece.”

Pinning Technology for Clean Transfer: The Details

A feature of many of Asahi’s flexographic printing plates, Pinning Technology for Clean Transfer enables a clean ink transfer and prevents ink accumulating on the plate surfaces and shoulders in screen areas. This leads to fewer cleaning intervals and reduced press downtime, as well as significant quality improvements. Precise plate register achieved with Asahi plates ensures very high quality process printing with a fixed colour palette, minimizing the need to use and manage spot colour inks.

Pinning Technology for Clean Transfer allows a kiss-touch printing pressure setting. It makes use of low plate surface tension, made possible by a specially engineered Asahi polymer chemistry, to inhibit liquid flow. The ink forms a globule, with a large contact angle and high pinning point. This results in a cleaner and more homogeneous ink transfer from plate to substrate, helping flexographic printers meet the ever-increasing quality demands of their customers.