Clicheria DP Studio installs Xsys ThermoFlexX Catena-E 80

Brazilian flexo platemaking company Clicheria DP Studio has installed Xsys ThermoFlexX Catena-E 80 to align with its customers’ demands.

This investment complements the company's current use of Xsys plates, specifically nyloflex NEF, a high-durometer plate optimized for LED exposure technology like Catena-E. It offers flat-top dot creation, improved ink lay-down and solid ink density.

Based in Londrina, in the northern region of Paraná, Brazil, the pre-press operations cover the whole country, as well as Bolivia and Paraguay.

‘The new ThermoFlexX Catena-E 80 has already surprised the whole team due to its robustness and performance, which exceeded initial expectations,’ said Agnaldo Moraes, technical commercial manager at DP Studio. The first jobs we put through the machine quickly demonstrated the improvements that can be achieved with Catena exposure, particularly in the highlight areas. Furthermore, we’re also saving time and energy.’

With 70 employees, DP Studio supplies customized plates as per customers’ requirements. The large design team works closely with customers and cooperates with the machine operators to ensure quality printing. The new Catena unit allows DP Studio to expand these capabilities while contributing to sustainability.

The ThermoFlexX Catena-E 80 provides LED exposure for imaging the finest surface microstructures, such as Woodpecker Nano. It processes plates up to 1,270 x 2,032mm (50 x 80in) and utilizes LEDs for the back exposure, ensuring consistent and even floors across the entire plate.

As per Xsys, not only does LED technology produce consistent and precise flat-top dot plates, but it also reduces the carbon footprint of the platemaking process. LEDs require no warmup, meaning less energy is consumed, and it lasts longer than conventional lamps, thereby minimizing toxic waste. The LEDs in the Catena system have been thoroughly tested to 10,000 operating hours and beyond.

Built as an open system, the Catena-E 80 has easily slotted into DP Studio’s current workflow. It features an intuitive graphic user interface (GUI), running the latest Windows OS, with a full HD touch-screen, making operation fast and simple.

‘We chose the Catena-E 80 LED exposure unit because of the many benefits it brings, including guaranteed stable quality, optimized speed, ease of operation, and lower environmental impact. This means we can better meet the many demands of our customers,’ stated Marcos Balestra, industrial manager at DP Studio.

Another important aspect is the modular design of the exposure frame. It has been created for seamless integration with other Catena modules, enabling a path to complete automation in platemaking. ‘Naturally, we always have an eye on the future, so the option to expand into a fully automated platemaking line also appealed when we were researching the market,’ said Domingos Rocha, director of DP Studio.

He concluded by stating that the choice to create this new partnership with Xsys was not made entirely based on the quality of the Catena products. He highlighted the commercial and technical services offered by the company, including the expertise of its technicians and extensive remote support service capabilities.