The recent successes of Belgian manufacturer ThermoFlexX have continued with the installation of the first ThermoFlexX 80-S imager into Europe. The ThermoFlex 80-S, which is the largest and most recent in the imager range, has been installed at AtoutFlex, a leading service bureau in north-east France that specialises in digital flexo platemaking.

“The services we provide range from scanning and film output to the production of offset and flexo plates as well as making screens,” says AtoutFlex owner Eric Thouvenin. “In all of these areas we aim to utilise leading edge technology and when we decided to upgrade our digital flexo platemaking facilities ThermoFlexX was an obvious supplier to contact.

“What we wanted from any new imager were higher levels of quality, speed and ease of use. However, we were also seeking an innovative manufacturer that had a visionary approach to the flexo industry and which could provide us with a close-working partnership for many years to come. ThermoFlexX met all of these requirements.”

The ThermoFlexX 80-S at AtoutFlex has the ability to expose plates up to 1,270 x 2,032 mm at speeds of 6 sq metres an hour (2,540 dpi). ThermoFlexX has developed a version with a double exposure head that enables output speeds of 12 sq metres an hour, which makes this the fastest flexo imager in the world. The imagers incorporate a state-of-the-art imaging concept that consists of three independent modules - the motor, laser and optics. This flexible design allows easy replacement of any modules, simplifying service and hardware upgrades while providing the possibility for remote optical fine-tuning.

ThermoFlexX imagers can be fitted with up to five different output resolutions and AtoutFlex has the ability on its model to output at 5,080 dpi. This is the highest resolution available on a flexo imager and allows the company to handle extremely fine, detailed work. “ThermoFlexX has lived up to all our expectations. The imager’s ease of operation meant that integrating it into our existing Esko pre-press environment was straightforward and within two weeks of its delivery at our factory in Velaine en Haye the imager was in full production.

“ThermoFlexX has packed its imagers with several groundbreaking features such as the vacuum slider,” says Eric Thouvenin. “On the ThermoFlexX 80-S this facility automatically cuts off vacuum to areas of the drum not mounted. The mobile Flextray unit has proved to be extremely useful, as this allows us to transport and feed plates into the guiding system on the imager with the minimum of effort and risk of plate damage.

“The versatility of the ThermoFlexX 80-S means that we have been able to continue to use Dupont, Flint and Asahi plates, although we intend to test other plates in the coming months. The 5,080 dpi resolution allows us to achieve excellent quality reproduction and we’re looking forward to trialling the new surface screening software developed by ThermoFlexX, which promises to raise the quality level of flat dot technology even higher. We anticipate that this investment will enable us to provide printers throughout France with an unrivalled flexo plate service.”

AtoutFlex operates an in-house filtering and waste recuperation facility in its flexo plate department. During operation waste is separated from the water used and compacted into blocks of black carbon. This results in the total water consumption for all flexo plate production of no more than 600 litres a year.

Christophe Lievens is director sales and marketing for basysPrint and ThermoFlexX. “During the last few months we’ve installed our first imager in the UK and the first ThermoFlexX 80 model in Europe,” he says. “I think you could say it’s a significant time for us! We shall be announcing further major new orders over the coming weeks, while the growing number of key reference sites provides even more opportunities to demonstrate how ThermoFlexX imagers are in a league of their own.”