DuPont Packaging Graphics has announced that it recently achieved the registration milestone of 125 patent families consisting of more than 600 patents and applications worldwide. These patents, which represent the technological innovations of the Packaging Graphics business, cover a wide range of products, equipment and processes that enable customers worldwide to improve the productivity of their operations and quality of their products and services.
“Since the introduction of DuPont™ Cyrel® photopolymer printing plates in 1974, we have been working with our customers to develop innovative technologies to advance flexography,” said Lisa DiGate, global business director, DuPont Packaging Graphics. “These patents represent our investment in flexography, the package printing industries and in the innovations that our customers value.”
Flexo is a dynamic industry and it is no accident that today flexo is the process of choice for high quality, high impact consumer packaging around the world. Hard work and a willingness to invest on the part of flexo tradeshops and printers, and innovations by suppliers in pre-press technology and plates, anilox rolls, inks and press technology have helped fuel flexography’s growth.
“DuPont innovation has played a key role in the major technology, productivity and sustainability advances in flexography. Like the other technology leaders in the flexographic industry, we continue to make investments in order to find creative ways to serve customers and satisfy the innovation demands of the consumer packaged goods companies (CPG). And of course, this has proven to be a great fit for a science company like DuPont,” stated Kevin Leary, global technology director, DuPont Packaging Graphics. “The market values our innovative technology and ideas, and is constantly looking for the next big breakthrough.”
Some of the highlights in the evolution of Cyrel® and Flexography are:
- Cyrel®, the first photopolymer printing plate (1974).
- Automated and in-line platemaking systems (1980s).
- Capped plate technology for improved print quality (1987).
- Aqueous processible printing plates (1990s)
- The development and introduction of a fully digital photopolymer workflow for flexo including Digital Cyrel® printing plates and the Cyrel® Digital Imager (1995). (This technology – and the subsequent enhancements that were developed in partnership with EskoArtwork – is widely recognized as a primary reason that flexography was able to become the preferred package printing process)
- Cyrel® FAST, the first solvent-free, dry, thermal plate processing system (2000). With late access times of under an hour and the elimination of all solvents and liquids from the platemaking process, Cyrel® FAST introduced flexography to the idea of “just-in-time”.
- Cyrel® round digital sleeve system (2002) providing best-in-class registration for improved print quality, reduced make-ready times, rapid change-over, production of seamless tone and line work in perfect register, visibly higher quality, and printing speed.
“These inventions form the basis of our offerings to the marketplace and have received numerous awards from the industry. They have helped flexographers keep up with CPG and retailer demands for eye-catching graphics, speed to shelf, and cost productivity,” DiGate said.
“It’s becoming more of a challenge for all participants in the market to continue to deliver the innovation necessary for growth in an environment of such rapidly rising costs,” DiGate continued. “Rising crude oil prices affect not just raw material costs; they seriously impact the energy costs of manufacturing, warehousing and distribution. However, Packaging Graphics is a core business for DuPont and we are committed to develop the new products and systems to sustain growth in flexography and package printing.”
DuPont Packaging Graphics is the world’s leading supplier of flexographic printing systems in digital and conventional formats, including Cyrel® brand photopolymer plates, Cyrel® FAST processing equipment, sleeves, mounting and finishing products.
About DuPont
DuPont (http://www.dupont.com) is a science company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture, nutrition, electronics, communications, safety and protection, home and construction, transportation and apparel.
About Packaging Graphics
DuPont Packaging Graphics is a leading supplier of Cyrel® flexographic printing plates to the packaging industry in analog and digital formats, and currently offers a most widely known dry flexo platemaking system for use in an all-digital workflow, Cyrel® FAST.
DuPont Packaging Graphics operates R& D and manufacturing facilities in North America and Europe. Customer Technology Centers are located in Europe, Asia, North and South America to provide excellent technical support to the Packaging Graphics industry with DuPont™ Cyrel® solutions.
For additional information on DuPont and DuPont Packaging Graphics products and services, please call +49 (0)6102 18 4400, email pier-luigi.sassanelli@dupont.com or visit the web sites at http://www.packaging-graphics.dupont.com
