This week we have taken delivery of another imaging device, the Xeikon ThermoFlexX 48. Xeikon International, has a long lasting reputation of manufacturing high quality Computer to Plate equipment. Their ThermoFlexX imagers provide high-resolution plate exposure combined with flexibility and productivity (the fact the device matches our new corporate colours is just an added bonus).

With a maximum plate size of 900 x 1200mm the ThermoFlexX 48 is ideally suited for the label and flexible packaging markets. We have upgraded the optics to 5080dpi which means that all of our digital imagers are now capable of producing HD plates.

Esko Press Release:- Supreme platemaking consistency offered by Esko Full HD Flexo technology is helping UK operations develop sector leading services, improve production and win new business and industry plaudits.

“UK operations are under increasing pressure to provide an all-round, high quality, cost effective, range of services that touch on numerous production sectors,” explains Paul Bates, Esko Regional Business Manager. “But crucial to that is job flexibility, particularly with run lengths. This is where Esko’s Full HD Flexo becomes a critical tool in any solutions portfolio. The ability to provide what specifiers are demanding to ever tighter budgets enables our customers to be highly responsive to ever-changing market requirements.”

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Phoenix have now installed a new email and file server helping to centralise all our data and give a uniform approach to email. All our email addresses now end with our domain of “@phoenixprintingplates.co.uk” but any emails sent to our old email accounts will still be received.

September has seen our steady expansion programme continue with the addition of a second CDi Spark taking our total imaging devices to three. This latest machine, the CDi Spark 5080 enables us to offer Full HD Flexo plates which offer superior quality over standard HD by giving even greater solid densities and better transitions to zero. To discover more about Full HD Flexo and to request a test plate to try yourself, please visit our Flexo Plates page.

We have now taken delivery of a new Flint washout and exposure unit, doubling our production capacity. The new washout is up to 45% faster due to additional brushes which shorten the processing time significantly, thus improving productivity. The large exposure unit is equipped with a glass exposure bed for back and main exposure without turn of the plate and also features a toplift design which offers optimal accessibility from all sides.

Adding to our existing wide format proofing devices we have now installed an Epson WT7900. This device allows us to produce high quality proofs onto clear film with a White ink. This allows us to produce excellent proofs for flexible packaging. The WT7900 is driven by GMG colour management software ensuring accurate calibration and profiling.

We are thrilled to announce that we applied the repro and supplied the plates to help Mercury Packaging win the FlexoTech 2011 award for flexible packaging (process).

Our expert retouching and high quality plate production lead to the following comments by the judges. “The winner shows process work of the highest quality, reflected particularly in the quality of the fleshtone, and the very strong black on such a lightweight substrate – the small point text characters were clearly legible even when reversed out. A clear winner!”

As part of our continuing expansion, Phoenix are proud to announce the arrival of our second digital imaging device, the CDi Classic which will offer superior quality HD plates imaged at 4000dpi up to 50” x 80” (1270 mm x 2032 mm).

HD Flexo revolutionises digital flexo by combining high-resolution optics with finely tuned screening technology to create high-definition results with sharper details, higher contrasts, an expanded gamut and extended tonal range.

To allow for future growth within the business we are currently in the process of extending our building giving us double the space in our plate manufacturing department. This will give us room to further expand our business with the addition of a new digital imager.