Esko has revealed its latest innovation, the CDI Crystal XPS ‘Quartz Edition’, at drupa, setting new standards in flexographic print quality and offering a genuine alternative to gravure printing.
“This is the pinnacle of flexo platemaking,” said Pascal Thomas, Director of Flexo Business at Esko. “With this new innovation, we are giving printers a way to match gravure print quality in flexography, raising the bar on quality to the highest level.”
The CDI Crystal XPS ‘Quartz Edition’ combines upgraded optics with optimized Crystal Screening software, enabling users to image higher frequency surface structures at 2000lpi (Q-Cells) with an imaging resolution of 4000ppi. Pascal explained, “Imaging at 4000ppi is nearly double the current industry standard, and microcells engraved in the solid ink areas at a 2000lpi resolution significantly boost ink transfer.”
Targeted at label and packaging converters, the new innovation delivers Esko Pixel+ Q-cell screens at 2000lpi resolution, resulting in smoother ink coverage, better contrast, and deeper shadows. It is compatible with solvent and water-based inks, offering sustainability benefits.
Jan De Roeck, Director of Marketing, Industry Relations & Strategy at Esko, highlighted the screening technology’s evolution from the Esko Print Control Wizard software. “With the CDI Crystal XPS ‘Quartz Edition’, we are adding VQ (variable highlight Q-cells) and SQ (stochastic Q-cells) for unrivalled screening accuracy,” he said.
Jan emphasized, “The Quartz cells form in a flexo plate when exposed with the UV LED technology of the XPS Crystal, providing highly consistent and repeatable plate quality.”
The Esko CDI Crystal XPS ‘Quartz Edition’ is compatible with all existing Esko software and will be available from late 2024. Visit Esko’s booth #A12, Hall 8B at drupa to see it in action or visit www.esko.com/en/events/drupa for more information.