Toray expands waterless plate line

Toray Graphics has unveiled its new Imprima line of waterless offset printing plates at Labelexpo Europe 2017, along with new branding, and a line of chemistry and processors.

The company is also in the process of building a new research and development center in the Czech Republic, scheduled to open in 2018. The new R&D center will build on the work being done in Japan by Toray’s parent company, supporting its strategy to be a full-service partner to waterless offset printing operations.

New at the show, and now commercially available, are Toray’s Imprima LA and Imprima LB plates, optimized for increased durability and high-resolution imaging in the label and narrow web market. Toray also has its full line of waterless offset plates on display.

Imprima LA plates are optimized for increased durability while Imprima LB plates deliver ‘exceptionally consistent and high quality prints’, said the company. Both plates can be an aid in brand protection and counterfeit prevention due to their resolution and reproduction characteristics.

Toray is also showing its line of automatic plate processors with low maintenance design, claimed to use up to 80 percent less chemicals that other plate processors. ‘This approach is in line with our sustainability initiatives,’ Mitsunori Hayashi, general manager sales department, Graphics Division, commented. ‘These plate processors feature a water wash and do not require chemicals such as high alkaline developers, acidic finishers and replenishing solutions. More environmentally sustainable pre- and post-treatment chemistry is also now provided directly from Toray, for a complete waterless platemaking solution. And with our new R&D Center opening next year in the Czech Republic, our customers can be assured that we will continue to bring more innovation to the waterless offset process.’