ThermoFlexX details developments

At a press event at its manufacturing headquarters in Belgium, entitled ThermoFlexX Revelation, sales and marketing director Christophe Lievens spoke of the enhancements the company has made since parent Xeikon acquired FlexoLaser and the ThermoFlex brand from Kodak, such as the launch of the ThermoFlexX 80 at Labelexpo Europe 2013.

This product is to be further developed later this year with the launch of a new dual-head imaging feature alongside redesigned versions of its 60 model. Read more about these developments at ThermoFlexX, and others, here.

As well as enhancing its own products, ThermoFlexX has formed partnerships and working relationships with the likes of Swiss cutting specialist Zund, AV Flexologic and Hybrid Software in order to develop an ecosystem for the flexo pre-press process. ThermoFlexX said these developments represent an important strategic move that provides customers with a host of new ways of improving efficiency in the pre-press department.

Lievens said: ‘This gives us the ability to handle with great effectiveness every element of flexo pre-press, from design, screening and ripping using Hybrid Software’s groundbreaking Packz and Cloudflow suites, exposure on a ThermoFlexX imager, cutting on Zund equipment and mounting via an AV Flexologic system.’

Both Hybrid Software and Zund were present at the Revelation event, demonstrating their technologies, such as Zund’s S3 M-800 and Hybrid Software’s new PatchPlanner module for the corrugated market.

To extend the availability of its products, which are already used worldwide by those producing flexible packaging, folding cartons, corrugated packaging and labels, ThermoFlexX has added resellers in India, America and Portugal, with plans to add more across Europe, Asia and Latin America.

During the summer the company will create a technology center, offering customers the opportunity to bring their own flexo plates and have them exposed and processed in the factory. ThermoFlexX experts will be on hand to examine results and provide advice on finished plates, which can be taken away by the customer to print test on their own presses.

Lievens said: ‘The flexo industry has made great strides over the last few years in terms of quality and market share, with several commercial litho printers installing flexo presses. In 2012 some people questioned the wisdom of Xeikon International, best known for producing digital presses, moving into the flexo industry with an imager product.

‘However, the industry has proved to be largely resistant to the recession, which was one of the reasons for the move, and with Xeikon already a major player in key areas such as packaging and labels ThermoFlexX was immediately in an ideal position to serve these markets. We anticipate that the synergies between the two will become greater while our customers will increasingly be the same companies.’

Lievens added: ‘It’s an extremely exciting time to be involved in the flexo industry, which is moving away from traditional analogue processes at an ever greater pace. Experts estimate that globally nearly 50 per cent of flexo plates will be produced digitally during 2014 and many predict a four percent annual growth over the coming years.’

Read more about the developments at ThermoFlexX in the next issue of Packprint World