Evaluation, Optimization, Control: The Complete Plate Making Package
EVALUATION, OPTIMIZATION, CONTROL: THE COMPLETE PLATE MAKING PACKAGE
EVALUATION, OPTIMIZATION, CONTROL: THE COMPLETE PLATE MAKING PACKAGE
The “complete package” can’t be complete without a systematic approach to producing flexographic printing plates, especially when transitioning legacy files.
Plate making technology is constantly changing, but maintaining the process—from the files, to the plate room, to the press—generally stays the same.
It’s important to keep a close eye on new technology, but even more important to keep process control in mind, because without it, calibration, quality control and overall plate making best practices can interfere with quality flexographic printing.
CHAT WITH THE CHAIR
Watch Paul Lancelle, Virtual Fall Conference 2020 program chair, discuss this session with FTA’s Director of Education Joe Tuccitto.
PRESENTATIONS & SPEAKERS

Calibration and Optimization in Plate Making
Catherine Haynes, All Printing Resources Inc (APR)
Consistency and quality are of the upmost importance in the plateroom. We can achieve those goals with calibration, which improves the consistency of the plate making process, and optimization, which can drive the quality of finished plates and in effect, print quality. Learn which parts of the plate making process fit into calibration and optimization, and their importance to the process as a whole.

Process Control and Quality Control
Haley Hendry, TC Transcontinental Packaging
Is chaos disrupting your processes? Control the chaos; don’t let the chaos control you. Poor plate quality can lead to unnecessary downtime, waste and frustration. To keep up with ever-evolving plate technologies without sacrificing print production schedules, it is crucial to develop a systematic, process-oriented approach to regulate plate outcome and ensure top-quality results, both the first time and every time. Delving into each step of the plate making process, Haley will identify the “what” to check, as well as the “why” and “how” of performing these analyses in an effort to control each part of the process and eliminate the chaos.

Problem Solving in the Flexographic Plate Room
Allie Ayers, DuPont Image Solutions
Often, issues occur in the plateroom that later relate to issues in the pressroom. This can cause down time or over-correction on press, resulting in a loss of money and time. Identifying and understanding some of the common problems can help eliminate issues before the plates even go to press. Allie will define six common plate-related problems, give insight into what causes each and provide corrective actions to fix them.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes, Turn and Face the Strange
Kevin Bourquin, Cyber Graphics
Nothing in flexography has changed faster than the technology used to increase print quality. From screening to enhance solid ink laydown and highlight transitions, to plates designed to print cleaner and run longer, managing how these technologies are implemented into a manufacturing workflow can be challenging. Kevin will provide various strategies to consider when embracing technologies at the most opportune time to enhance the product delivered to customers, all while reducing the risk of mistakes stemming from having too many process condition sets to manage.
SESSION CHAIRS

Malcolm Keif
California Polytechnic State University

Jason Cagle
MacDermid Graphics Solutions
VIRTUOLOGY
Talk to the speakers and chairs, before and after this session’s presentations, in Virtual Fall Conference 2020’s Slack workspace.
Direct Messages
Haley Hendry
Allie Ayers
Malcolm Keif
Jason Cagle
Channel
#session-1