Sponsored Content
The Liquid AVantage
For nearly 20 years, Anderson & Vreeland, Inc. (“A&V”) has invested in developing, applying, and marketing liquid photopolymers for flexographic printing. During that time, digital platemaking, thermal processing, and water-wash sheet photopolymers have continued to advance. Despite strong competition from these technologies, liquid platemaking remains viable and continues to evolve while retaining its environmental and economic advantages. Alongside the digital revolution, the growing demand for sustainability has renewed attention to liquid photopolymer’s unique capabilities.
In-position platemaking highlights these economic and environmental benefits. Ideally suited to liquid photopolymers, it is most often used for thick-plate corrugated applications. Instead of producing and mounting individual copy pieces, the process images an entire color in register. During exposure, only the image areas cure, creating islands of copy on a thin, lightweight polyester backing sheet. This method can reclaim up to 70 percent of the original cast polymer, reducing waste and supporting more environmentally responsible production. The lighter plates also lower shipping costs and require less storage space.
The AVantage Platform is based on the core components of focused support and service, pledge to liquid photopolymer technology longevity, and commitment to innovation in all aspects of liquid photopolymer technology. These components are intertwined into a series of innovative technologies that are supported and guided by a dedicated service, support, and research team – leveraging years of liquid photopolymer experience into a unified technology and service framework. This framework brings together product chemistry, platemaking equipment, a quality production environment, sales and support personnel, and a commitment to continuous improvement and innovation.
Liquid Photopolymers
The heart of the AVantage process is the photopolymer technology itself. Liquid photopolymer technology has grown from use in newspaper and master resins to serve multiple print markets. AVantage products cover the corrugated, multi-wall bag, and stamp industries in addition to more unique elements such as sand-casting and even multi-layer plate capabilities. The full AVantage product line is outlined below.
Corrugated: AVCorr
The top of the line product in the AVantage line is AVCorr NTR, which has proven to be a workhorse for liquid platemaking in the corrugated market, especially when used at 6.35-7 mm (.250-.280”) thickness in combination with in-position platemaking techniques. Its robust composition provides outstanding UV stability, an extremely wide exposure latitude, low tack and clean printing.
For those seeking an alternative platemaking approach, AVCorr LDR is available in 32 Shore A and does not require UVC treatment due to the use of the AVEnhance washout additive. This material is widely suited for multiple board types and plate thicknesses, with excellent UV stability and the exposure latitude to cover the most demanding combination of process and line work.
Capping Technology: AVCap
Capping technology allows for the use of a second layer of photopolymer on top of a soft or hard base photopolymer. In corrugated printing, capping not only increases the tonal range of the finished plate, it also reduces fluting to an extent that rivals or surpasses that of the leading “flat top dot” technologies in the industry. A&V offers a cap product, AV HD Cap, that offers highly tunable print performance benefits for multiwall and corrugated alike.
Multiwall Bag: AVBag
A high durometer, thin plate photopolymer is offered by A&V to serve the multiwall bag /paper sack printing segment. AVBag is a high resolution, 60 durometer resin capable of 150 ls imaging, highly competitive against the premium analog sheet plates on the market today.
Sand Casting and Molding: AVSand and AVMaster
A&V also offers formulations to service several unique markets, such as bronze / sandcasting, architectural molding or signage production
Both AVSand and AVMaster are durable, polyester-backed plates that provides excellent imaging characteristics and exceptional results due to its wide imaging latitude. When resistance to swelling is essential, you can count on AVSand to deliver.
Stamp Photopolymer: AVStamp
Rounding out the major segments of the AVantage product line is our stamp photopolymer, AVStamp. Where clarity and colorfastness are required, such as hobby and craft applications, AVStamp performs. AV Stamp produces an extremely colorfast stamp and is also renowned for its high strength.
Washout Components
AVantage also offers a complete set of washout chemistry to process any liquid polymer resin on the market. This chemistry is fully optimized for all AVantage products and provides crisp, clean images in combination with improved bath life and cleanliness. A three-component system is used; AV Ultrawash, AVE Developer, and AVE Defoamer. Since washout quality and effectiveness are directly linked with incoming water quality at each customer location, AVantage Technical Service specialists and chemists work directly with each customer to maximize system performance.
To complete the plate processing optimization, AVE Salt is added to the post exposure bath to ensure thorough polymerization during this critical exposure step. AVE Salt enables better surface cure during the underwater post exposure step, which greatly enhances the results of the final light finishing step, where required.
Additionally, AVEnhance is available as a washout additive to aid in reducing plate tack without the use of the final UVC finishing step, most particularly with the AVCorr LDR product.
Ancillary Materials
AVantage also offers a complete set of platemaking consumables used in the creation of your printing plate.
AVCov coverfilms are used during the platemaking process as a barrier between the liquid resin and film negative. These films are available in matte finishing, offering a matte surface that can alter the surface roughness of the finished printing plate as well as a clear finish, which offers greater imaging resolution in more demanding applications.
AVSub, a coated polyester substrate backing, is used as the support layer for AVantage printing plates. Specifically designed for use with AVantage resins, AVSub offers a combination of high photopolymer adhesion and anti-halation properties to maximize detail-holding in the printing plate. AVSub comes in roll or sheet form and maintains a high flatness integrity that is necessary for optimal finished plate flatness and consistency.
Equipment
With liquid photopolymer, you are the plate manufacturer, so accurate, dependable platemaking equipment is critical to plate quality. Full production systems, complete with exposure unit, reclaim system, washout system, post exposure, and light finisher, are available in sizes ranging from 30″ x 40″ all the way up to 52″ x 80″.
Service & Support
AVantage specialists and chemists are what makes AVantage shine. Through specialized liquid photopolymer development, sales, and in-house technical support, Anderson & Vreeland helps customers optimize their platemaking processes, system performance, and print quality—not simply purchase products.
Continuous Innovation
Customer-driven innovation powers AVantage. Our understanding of the full technology chain—from chemistry and imaging to plate properties and print performance—guides continuous improvements in resins, UV technology, supply-chain resilience, and consumables. These advances help customers produce plates efficiently and deliver consistent, high-quality printing.
Purpose-built for liquid photopolymer technology, AVantage combines specialized expertise, technical depth, practical printing experience, and continuous innovation to meet today’s flexographic needs and anticipate tomorrow’s demands. AVantage is committed to liquid photopolymer technology and its customers.