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WATER-WASH FLEXO PLATE

THE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY WAY TO PROCESS FLEXO PLATES

TOYOBO, the pioneer of Printight, a WATER-WASH letterpress plate, has commercialized the world's first water washable flexo plate, Cosmolight.

TOYOBO's superior photopolymer technology produces a water-washable plate which is also durable to water-based ink, as well as solvent based and UV-inks.

This revolutionary plate eliminates the need to use toxic, environmentally damaging washout solvents, and allows processing by "Water", one of our most abundant natural resources.

Now, TOYOBO is introducing the new generation of Cosmolight NS to the flexo printing industry. NS brings a new quality to the label and tag market as well as flexible packaging, with benefits for your customer and benefits for you. Discover a fresh advantage with Cosmolight, the leading water-washable, environmentally friendly flexo plate.

Cosmolight.pdf (98.23 K)
CosmolightNS.pdf (533.66 K)
CosmolightNSType.pdf (342.85 K)

Printight® Properties

Spectral Sensitivity: 300 ~ 400nm
Resolving Capability: 150 lines/inch
Minimum dot image: .20mm in diameter (.008")
Minimum line image: .04mm in width (.0016")

Printight® Sectional Structure

Printight® Plate-Making Process
	Contact with negative film Remove cover film and place negative film on undeveloped plate Use negative having optical density of no less than 3.0.
	Exposure Expose plate, through negative film, to UV light having 360 nm wave lengths. Determine the correct exposure time using a 21 steps grey scale. Follow the "Toyobo Printight® Product Information" below in each case.
	Wash-out Remove negative film. Wash-out exposed plate with water. Use the special wash-out machine suitable for Toyobo Printight® Wash-out time is different due to thickness of plate. Follow the "Toyobo Printight® Product Information" below in each case. Rinse the washed out plate with fresh water.
	Drying Dry the plate in hot-air dryer after taking-off the surface water with sponge roll. Drying time is different due to type of plate. Follow the "Toyobo Printight® Product Information" below in each case.
	Post exposure Expose the developed plate after drying again to UV light in order to get stability. Post exposure time should be the same or longer than main exposure time.

Toboyo Printight® Product Information

Storage:

1. Unprocessed Plate - Store in a dark room with a temperature below 25°C (77°F) and a humidity below 65%.
2. Processed Plate - Store in a sealed polyethylene bag or in a dark room with a humidity of 50-70%.

Exposure:
To determine the correct exposure time, use a 21 steps grey scale. The step to show solid for each type of TOYOBO PRINTIGHT is indicated in the following table:

Type	Hardness (Shore D)	Dainippon Screen	Stouffer	Kodak
K	65°	13-14	14-15	12-13
H, K G	67°	13-14	14-15	12-13
R, E G	55°	14-15	15-16	13-14
S G	40°	14-15	15-16	13-14
U G	27°	14-15	15-16	13-14

Notes:

1. Fine lines or fine dots may need longer exposure times.
2. A shorter exposure time gives deeper reverses and sharper halftones.
3. Add one step when using 1.52 mm or thicker plate. e.g. for KM152 using Dainippon screen the step is 14-15.

Wash-Out:

1. Water temperature: 15-25°C (59-77°F)
2. Suggested Wash-Out Times:

Thickness of plate	Brush	Spray (Spray pressure 3-5 kg/cm2)
43 - 73 (0.017" - 0.029")	1.0 2.0 mins.	1.5 - 3.0 mins
73 - 120 (0.029" - 0.047")	1.5 3.0 mins.	2.5 - 5.0 mins
120 - 175 (0.047" - 0.069")	2.5 4.5 mins.	4.0 - 6.0 mins

TOYOBO PRINTIGHT has excellent water solubility and excessive wash-out can reduce image quality.

3. Dehydration - It is strongly recommended to dehydrate a processed plate by using a sponge roller immediately after wash-out.

Drying

K, KG, EG, RG, HG	Types below	1.52mm : 5 - 10 mins. at 50 - 60°C (122 - 140°F)
	Gauges above	1.52mm : 10 - 15 mins. at 50 - 60°C (122 - 140°F)
SG, UG	Types below	1.20mm : 10 - 15 mins. at 60 - 70°C (140 - 158°F)
	Gauges above	.20mm : 20 - 25 mins. at 60 - 70°C (140 - 158°F)

Post Exposure

Post Exposure time should be the same as or larger than the main
exposure time.