Asahi partners with Gallus and Esko for operator training

Asahi Photoproducts has partnered with Gallus and Esko to start a new type of courses by combining pre-press workflow, platemaking and flexo printing operator training under one roof.

The first sessions are already planned as part of the Esko MasterClass Series. The first one in March will feature aspects of flexo workflow and screening technologies, followed by sustainable platemaking production, and then closing the loop by going on-press.

The sessions will be held in the Gallus Experience Center in St. Gallen, Switzerland, in May, June, September and December.

Topics to be covered include Esko screening technologies, workflow and plate imaging, training on Asahi water-wash platemaking, including calibration of exposure time, plate washout speed, finishing and drying time, as well as printing the plates on a Gallus press, including curve calibration and print performance checks, finished with a consolidated view to demonstrate the ease-of-use of plate production from Asahi, Esko and Gallus to deliver sustainable options to printing converter.

‘Since our company was founded more than 50 years ago, we have seen several developments in our industry, from ‘potato printing’ to a high-quality flexographic printing process challenging the maximum achievable print quality in our industry today,’ said Dieter Niederstadt, Asahi’s technical marketing manager.

‘Another movement we recognized is the closing of the gap in the platemaking supply chain. Whereas previously, many operations, such as file separation, platemaking, and printing, were separated, now, with the rising integration of automation, it is easier to bring them together under one roof at the printing converter. This does, however, call for added-value training courses for the next operator generation to come,’ added Niederstadt.

The Gallus Experience Center, opened in June 2023, brings together various industry-leading partners such as Asahi, Gallus and Esko to collaborate and drive innovation in the industry.

It provides the environment for the plate-making training center, with full end-to-end technologies that support the broader integration of tasks during plate-making operations – with sustainability in mind at every stage.

These sessions will provide attendees with hands-on experience, as well as the ability to ask questions to industry experts and network with peers.

Dario Urbinati, CEO of Gallus Group, commented: ‘At Gallus, we pride ourselves on driving smart, connected printing – and a key part of this is driving collaboration, bringing the industry together to inspire innovation and transformation. The Gallus Experience Center stands as a testament to this vision, uniting some of the greatest minds across our industry, including our esteemed partners Asahi and Esko, whose expertise enriches our collective journey forward.

‘Together, we are thrilled to host these transformative MasterClass training days, symbolizing our dedication to advancing the industry through shared knowledge and forward-thinking solutions. Join us as we shape the future of printing, charting new horizons and unlocking endless possibilities.’

‘Esko has been the pioneer of making flexo pre-press and flexo platemaking user-friendly and largely automated while building best-in-class plate quality and consistency into our hardware and software solutions, like the CDI Crystal XPS series,’ said Thomas Klein, chief technology officer at Esko. ‘The MasterClass training sessions at the Gallus Experience Center now allow attendees to have a holistic view of the entire process, from the incoming artwork via flexo platemaking to the final print, providing invaluable insights into how automation is enabling greater ease-of-use than ever before.’