09.25.18
Asahi Photoproducts said it signed Wikoff Color Corporation as a U.S. distributor.
“With plate making moving closer and closer to the printing press, it is a significant benefit to us and to the end customer to have their trusted ink and coatings supplier also provide their flexo plates,” said Aki Kato, managing director at Asahi Photoproducts.
Wikoff Color will have access to the full range of flexographic plates from Asahi Photoproducts, including the AWP water-washable plates with Clean Transfer Technology.
“As a company, our focus is on sustained, profitable growth rather than short-term results,” said Joe Kubasiak, market manager for flexible packaging at Wikoff Color. “In entering into this relationship, we are making the investments necessary for its success by setting up a technical center and hiring the necessary staff in order to train our customers on how to get the best possible quality from Asahi photopolymer plates.”
A feature of many of Asahi’s flexographic printing plates, Clean Transfer Technology, enables a clean ink transfer and prevents ink from 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 color palette, minimizing the need to use and manage spot color inks.
Clean Transfer Technology 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.
“With plate making moving closer and closer to the printing press, it is a significant benefit to us and to the end customer to have their trusted ink and coatings supplier also provide their flexo plates,” said Aki Kato, managing director at Asahi Photoproducts.
Wikoff Color will have access to the full range of flexographic plates from Asahi Photoproducts, including the AWP water-washable plates with Clean Transfer Technology.
“As a company, our focus is on sustained, profitable growth rather than short-term results,” said Joe Kubasiak, market manager for flexible packaging at Wikoff Color. “In entering into this relationship, we are making the investments necessary for its success by setting up a technical center and hiring the necessary staff in order to train our customers on how to get the best possible quality from Asahi photopolymer plates.”
A feature of many of Asahi’s flexographic printing plates, Clean Transfer Technology, enables a clean ink transfer and prevents ink from 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 color palette, minimizing the need to use and manage spot color inks.
Clean Transfer Technology 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.