ThermoFlexX anticipates surge in European uptake

Mission Labels has purchased the ThermoFlexX 30 as part of a 100,000 GBP investment in its pre-press facilities that has resulted in the West Sussex flexographic printer moving from traditional film setting to state-of-the-art CtP production.

In addition to the ThermoFlexX 30, the recent expansion includes front-end systems, AV Flexologic exposure equipment and a new pre-press department containing an art and design studio.

Mission Labels technical director Dave Humphrey said: ‘We had reached the stage where we needed to make the leap from film setting to the latest digital platemaking technology. Making the right decision was vital so we carried out a great deal of research into the latest developments.

‘The flexo imager manufacturer that constantly came out ahead of everyone else in terms of providing the best package of productivity, quality, service and price was ThermoFlexX.

‘Even though there were no ThermoFlexX imagers in the UK we felt confident from our dealings with the company that we would be given excellent training and after-sales support. Our faith was well founded. ThermoFlexX delivered the imager during December along with a RIP and the necessary software and by Christmas we were in full production. It was pretty seamless.’

‘The results have been astounding,’ Humphrey added. ‘Not only has the quality of the image on the plate taken a huge jump forward, we are able to turn work around much more quickly, while make-ready and start-up waste on the presses has also been reduced significantly.

‘From receipt of a PDF file we can get the job on the press in less than an hour, often despatching the completed order within a couple of hours of receiving the digital file.’

Christophe Lievens, director of sales and marketing for basysPrint and ThermoFlexX, both part of the Xeikon Prepress division of the digital press specialist, said: ‘The extensive research and development work that we have carried out over the last couple of years, along with the enormous expansion of our ability to provide local support to customers on an international scale, has resulted in a huge rise in interest in the ThermoFlexX imager range.

‘Interest has been strong throughout Europe and we expect to be announcing more orders and installations in the coming months.’