Two of the leading companies reconfirm their active commitment to Advancing Flexography with joint solutions presentations at drupa 2008

At drupa 2008 visitors will have the opportunity to see brand new top class digital flexo platemaking solutions developed by two major packaging graphics companies: DuPont Packaging Graphics, one of the worldwide leaders in innovative flexographic plates and platemaking systems and known for its DuPont™ Cyrel® brand and EskoArtwork, one of the world leaders in packaging pre-production solutions and one of the market leaders in digital finishing systems for packaging, signs and displays.

The two companies, whose booths will be face to face at drupa 2008 (DuPont Packaging Graphics: Hall 8b, booth B23; EskoArtwork: Hall 8b, booth A23) once again join forces to reinforce their long-term cooperation in the development of innovative flexo solutions.

High Volume Flexible Packaging Solution
EskoArtwork will present a number of new solutions specifically designed to serve the flexo market, like the Cyrel® Digital Imager (CDI) Advance Cantilever. This unit has been specially developed to image large format sleeves and optionally conventional sheet plates. The new solution fulfills the latest needs of the flexible packaging market, trade shops and large volume converters for precision flexo printing and visual excellence of packaging. To significantly reduce processing time, DuPont will present, for the first time at drupa 2008, the Cyrel® FAST round solution for the processing of Cyrel® FAST round sleeves. This system will fit seamlessly and continuously onto the Advance Cantilever for production of high volume flexible packaging, delivering high quality print results associated with gravure. Today, Cyrel® round is a complete digital sleeve production solution, consisting of a family of ‘ready-to-image’ Cyrel® printing sleeves, supported by complementary DuPont equipment for UV Exposure, processing, drying and finishing. The new Cyrel® FAST round system uses thermal technology and includes a key innovation called ‘thermal continuous development’, a “smart” processing technique for developing sleeves.

DuPont and EskoArtwork believe that the new Cyrel® Digital Imager (CDI) Advance Cantilever coupled with the new Cyrel® FAST round system and the next generation of FAST round sleeves will deliver high class registration, improved print quality and reduced make-ready times. This solution will also provide several other advantages that will offer excellent performance for quality flexo applications and those requiring continuous design repeats or complex nested mounting, smoother operation and faster press running speeds without compromising quality. The modern servo-driven flexo printing presses equipped with new sleeves job-change technology, gearless and controlled printing pressures are ideal to print with Cyrel® round and Cyrel® FAST round on almost any type of substrates including critical materials with varying thickness like tissues. Compared to a printing plate, a sleeve is always imaged and processed in the same position, thanks to highly accurate registration. In contrast, a printing plate must undergo a series of individual assembly steps. From a printing standpoint, customers utilizing thermal printing forms (Cyrel® FAST plates) have experienced longer plate life, faster running speeds and quicker color pick-up. Most of these positive elements can be attributed to the uniformity in plate height that is inherent in solvent-less processing.

Automated Multipurpose Digital Workflow
At drupa 2008, EskoArtwork will also launch Cyrel® Digital Imager (CDI) Spark 4260 Auto: the new fully-automated digital imager for plate loading, imaging and unloading. The CDI Spark 4260 Auto turns into a real plate-making factory with a significant increase in productivity for flexible packaging trade shops as well as high volume converters. The additional automation tools considerably reduce previously required handling steps and significantly remove potential sources of error. The new CDI Spark 4260 Auto will be demonstrated in a configuration of fully-automated plate loading, imaging, and unloading in combination with the integrated Inline UV Main Exposure and Back Exposure unit. Together with the DuPont™ Cyrel® FAST TD 4260, the CDI Spark 4260 will be shown at drupa as the Automated Multipurpose Flexo workflow. Whereas the automation assures maximum throughput the special flexo dedicated technology of the CDIs ensures high quality and consistency in plate making. Cyrel® FAST is a Flexographic platemaking system to allow a flexo plate to be produced without water or washout solvents. The system includes special Cyrel® FAST plates for dry processing as well as two unique dry thermal developers. This rapid access platemaking system reduces plate processing time to less than an hour, cutting platemaking time by up to 75% when compared to the time required by most of the conventional solvent-based systems. This environmentally smart process offers great timesaving by skipping the washing-out step and the subsequent required drying. When used as part of a semi-automated digital pre-press workflow, the excellent print quality and the agility of the Cyrel® FAST system allow flexo printers to compete with offset and gravure users more effectively. A fully-digital workflow takes the guesswork out of pre-press and flexo platemaking, making flexo printing more reliable and consistent and allowing it to compete more effectively with other printing technologies. 

DuPont Packaging Graphics and EskoArtwork have been partnering successfully for 15 years, with more than 1.000 EskoArtwork – Cyrel® Digital Imagers installed worldwide as a proof of this fruitful technical cooperation.

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 (http://www.packaging-graphics.dupont.com) 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 more information, visit http://www.cyrel.com or contact:
DuPont Packaging Graphics
Dian E. O’Leary
MarketingCommunications Manager
Tel. 302-999-5483
dian.e.oleary@usa.dupont.com

About EskoArtwork
EskoArtwork is a global supplier and integrator of innovative solutions for packaging, commercial printing and professional publishing. Its products and services help customers raise productivity, reduce time-to-market, lower costs and expand business.

EskoArtwork is the worldwide market leader with pre-production and collaboration software for packaging buyers, designers and manufacturers. Esko CDI flexo computer-to-plate imagers and Esko Kongsberg short-run converting tables complete the portfolio for the packaging, label, signage and display industries.

The company also provides a range of workflow solutions for the commercial printing and publishing market, as well as the Enfocus suite of PDF tools for graphic designers and print production professionals.

EskoArtwork employs around 1,000 people worldwide. Its global sales and support organization covers Europe, the Americas, Asia/Pacific and Japan, and is completed by a network of distribution partners in more than 40 countries.

EskoArtwork is headquartered in Gent, Belgium, and has R&D and manufacturing facilities in 6 European countries and the United States. Total revenues in 2006 amounted to EUR 173.5 million, with an EBITDA of EUR 30.4 million.

For more information, visit http://www.esko.com or contact:
EskoArtwork
Corporate and EMEALA
Jef Stoffels
Director of Corporate Marketing
Tel: +32 9 216 90 32
jef.stoffels@esko.com