BASF claims breakthrough in digital letterpress plates

BASF is claiming a breakthrough in the commercial production of letterpress plates which can be digitally imaged.

This development allows the direct transfer of data direct to the printing plate without the intermediate step via a film negative. The plates incorporate a black mask layer into which the information is transferred by means of a laser beam - exactly as with current digital flexo plates. Indeed, the nyloprint D plates - available on polyester and steel bases - can be imaged using existing flexo imaging lasers. BASF says there are ‘clear quality advantages’ in the digital letterpress printing plates, as well as a reduction in total processing time.

nyloprint D is available in versions for label printing, and for tube, cup and can printing.