Pin Point Block installs Esko platemaking system

The sister company of Pin Mark Block, a flexographic trade shop, Pin Point Block has installed the Esko CDI Crystal 5080 XPS and Print Control Wizard software to deliver automation, enhanced quality, simplicity and reliability to the plate room.  

 

The company is the first in South Asia to have a CDI Crystal 5080 XPS with Optics 100 V2, a further optical development exclusive to the Esko platform.  

 

Rutul Zaveri, a partner in the platemaking business, said having enjoyed a long-standing relationship with Esko for more than sixteen years, the decision to continue its digital transformation journey with the new Crystal platemaking technology had been a simple one.  

 

‘We always aim to supply excellent quality processed digital flexo plates to our customers, which helps them to achieve superior flexo print results. When we were looking to replace our existing lamps plate imager, we knew we wanted to invest in the most innovative and reliable solution. The Esko CDI Crystal 5080 XPS met all our requirements and expectations,’ Zaveri said.  

 

Renowned for its in-depth knowledge of prepress and printing of all types, Pin Point Block has earned a reputation for maximizing the visual appeal of its flexo-printed artwork on any given press. 

 

‘We are always keen to implement new technologies and were the first to invest in an automatic flexo platemaking module within Esko Automation Engine, which integrates our imager and state of the art Kongsberg cutting table to ensure quality and accuracy at a significantly faster pace than the manual way of cutting flexo plates,’ Zaveri explained.  

 

‘This newest addition perfectly complements our state-of the art Esko prepress software, which not only includes the latest generation Automation Engine but also ArtPro+ and Imaging Engine. Indeed, the Imaging Engine is also unique in that it has two processing channels, which enables us to RIP two jobs at the same time, improving our throughput and helping to ensure all deliveries are on-time.’  

 

Murad Kalal, Esko regional sales manager, said: ‘With the Crystal technology from Esko, the platemaking process - in terms of imaging and exposure - is now much less complex and has significantly fewer steps. The integration of our Print Control Wizard software and hardware technology means that the Pin Point Block team are now completely in control of the quality and performance of their plates and subsequent print consistency.’ 

 

The CDI Crystal XPS can be operated with single touch operation using an intuitive screen interface and allows for unattended operation. The Esko XPS Crystal technology combines UV main and back exposure, using LEDs that emit consistent UV light as opposed to traditional exposure frames, which use lightbulbs with fluctuating output. 

 

The combination of the CDI Crystal flexo imager with the XPS Crystal exposing unit offers a consolidated flexo platemaking workflow for Pin Point Block.  

 

‘The integration and automation of the digital imaging and LED UV exposure processes improves consistency and overall ease of use for the prepress operators. The CDI Crystal XPS not only frees up valuable time but also reduces maintenance of the flexo equipment,’ Kalal added.  

 

Pin Point Block team is using the Esko Print Control Wizard to automate its workflow. Designed to improve the flexo platemaking process and flexographic print quality via crystal screens, Print Control Wizard brings a simplified, standardized approach to take process parameters such as ink, printing press, substrate, and anilox into consideration for screen and curve creation. The software guides the user in a wizard-style experience and outputs a set of crystal screens and curves used for plate exposing on a CDI Crystal XPS.