Ankit Graphics installs India's first Screen flexo CtP

The company first met the Screen team at Labelexpo Europe 2013 and then visited their demo center in Singapore before finalizing the purchase.

Ankit Darji, Ankit Graphics director, believes that this new equipment will help the company create a niche in the market. ‘With this new machine, we can now offer plates imaged at 4,800dpi resolution with special flexo dots which no one else in the Indian market can offer at present. It processes image plates of varying thickness such as 0.95mm, 1.14mm, 1.70mm, 2.84mm and 4.7mm. It also helps us image process-less dry film.’

The PlateRite FX1524 streamlines processing for a range of flexo printing applications including labels, flexible packages, cartons and corrugated cardboard packages. The PlateRite FX1524 features a 64-channel laser imaging head and newly developed screening technology. It offers a maximum plate output of 43.75 sq ft per hour.

Ankit Graphics also evaluated other options before finalizing this equipment. Darji said: ‘The Screen Platerite FX1524 has distinct features which enabled the user to use any plates at a best resolution. The other best part about this machine is that we can reproduce the same data present in the artwork onto the plates without doing any sorts of modification. We have been able to reproduce dots of one percent at screen 175lpi at 4,800dpi using flexo dots using linear curve. Our clients have praised our new digital products quoting about the smooth tonal range and printing their artwork without worrying about the breakage of screens in highlights and shadow regions.’

Ankit Graphics is also the first company in India to install Packz graphics editor, a multi-page editor for pre-production of labels and packaging. Malhotra Graphics is the Indian distributor of Packz.

Darji said: ‘This new software is promising. My aim for buying any software was to do trapping, step and repeat and colour correction. Packz is capable of handling all my requirements. Their onsite and offsite support is fantastic.’

Ankit Graphics was founded in 1987 by Bakul M. Darji and has been in the flexo platemaking business since 1982. Bakul Darji is gold medalist in the course of printing technology from R.C. Technical institute in Ahmedabad. His son, Ankit Darji, joined the company in 2008 after completing a degree in polymer engineering from Napier University, Scotland.

Having opted for two firsts in India, Ankit Graphics has the appetite to take risk and innovate, with Darji saying: ‘As for CtP, we know it’s not easy for any company to deliver what the present market demands for. We chose this equipment to cater to the current demand and enhance the product standards in the market. For Packz, we knew that the team that developed this software contained all highly ranked individual from today's market. Also, their approach towards educating clients for related items was highly appreciated.’

Ankit Graphics plans to add Cyrel in-the-round sleeve flexo platemaking technology in the next five years. ‘Currently we are targeting narrow and wide web flexo printers across the country. Our aim is to capture all segments in the market where plates made in our machine can be used,’ Darji concluded.