Xsys introduces Catena-E 48 flexo unit

Xsys has announced a new exposure unit, the ThermoFlexX Catena-E 48, for LED exposure of flexographic printing plates. This is aimed at narrow and medium web printers in the label, folding carton, and flexible packaging markets.

It follows on from the large Catena-E 80 model that was first introduced in 2020. It will take plates up to 900 x 1200mm and 6.35mm thick. It’s designed to work with the TFxX 48-S plate imager from XSYS, which offers an output of 6m2/hr. Exposure takes less than 15 minutes and the unit can be fitted with an automatic plate loading door as an option. It supports detailed surface microstructures, such as ThermoFlexX Woodpecker Nano.

The Catena-E design uses high-intensity precision LED’s for the main exposure process to reproduce very fine relief elements and deliver high print quality. The system eliminates oxygen effects, which allows for flat-top dot exposure with standard plates. It can also be used for processing plates with inherent flat-top dot technology, such as the Nyloflex FTV Digital, which is optimised for LED exposure and is aimed specifically at the high-end flexible packaging segment.

The LED modules, which have been tested for over 20.000 operating hours, are water-cooled to manage their temperature. The LED only illuminates to cover the area of the plate in use. The Catena-E 48 includes remote support capabilities for calibration, troubleshooting, and preventative maintenance.

The first customer in Canada was Tempo Flexible Packaging, which installed it to replace an older bank exposure unit. Craig Labossier, Print Technical Services Manager at Tempo, commented: “With the Catena-E 48, we can hold much smaller minimum dots, and they stay clean throughout the print run, so we can print for longer, which improves productivity and reduces waste. Our customers are also noticing the much cleaner print they’re getting.” He added: “With higher productivity, better quality and increased sustainability, we have truly taken our flexo production to the next level.”

The Catena-E exposure units are already available in Europe, Asia and Canada, and Xsys has just announced that it will start selling this technology in the US market as well.

You can find further details from xsys-global.com.

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Nessan Cleary

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