Agfa Chemical Free Plates

[jimas67]

Is there any printers or pre-press peeps out there using the AGFA chemical free plates? We are wanting to switch to them but not sure if they are worth it, or if they are even on the market yet! Any help?

[DCurry]

I've been using them for 2 years and love them. No issues whatsoever, though in my experience the gummer unit is a little tougher to clean than they lead you to believe.

[Hopkins Printing]

Dan, are you using Azura?

[DCurry]

Yes, Azura TS.

[c.mason]

I worked at a shop that opted to adopt the Agfa Azura plate shortly after it was released. We switched from the Agfa Violet plate and chemical development to the Agfa Azura and a G&J Clean-out unit in mid 2008. Right after the changeover we had trouble matching previously printed pieces. I chalk it up to previous chemistry issues and possibly a change in the dot gain and the plate curve.

The maintenance time saved and the money saved on chemistry easily outweighed the increased cost of the plate material. The Agfa Azura plates were rated for 100000 impressions but we would routinely get between 150000 - 200000 out of them. The Agfa Azura plate required more heat to develop so the drum speed of the imagesetter was slower.

The Agfa Azura TS plate, their latest, requires less heat than the earlier version so the drum speed is back up again. My shop is currently using the Agfa Azura TS plates and has been since 07/2011. We are very pleased with the Agfa Azura TS plates.

One other thing to consider; Agfa is by far the largest player in printing plates. At the time we were considering a change from Kodak Elektra XD to Agfa Azura TS, Kodak was citing an aluminum shortage to justify their supply problems. The largest player in the printing plate market is far less likely to be effected by market forces from any direction.

[c.mason]

I worked at a shop that opted to adopt the Agfa Azura plate shortly after it was released. We switched from the Agfa Violet plate and chemical development to the Agfa Azura and a G&J Clean-out unit in mid 2008. Right after the changeover we had trouble matching previously printed pieces. I chalk it up to previous chemistry issues and possibly a change in the dot gain and the plate curve.

The maintenance time saved and the money saved on chemistry easily outweighed the increased cost of the plate material. The Agfa Azura plates were rated for 100000 impressions but we would routinely get between 150000 - 200000 out of them. The Agfa Azura plate required more heat to develop so the drum speed of the imagesetter was slower.

The Agfa Azura TS plate, their latest, requires less heat than the earlier version so the drum speed is back up again. My shop is currently using the Agfa Azura TS plates and has been since 07/2011. We are very pleased with the Agfa Azura TS plates.

One other thing to consider; Agfa is by far the largest player in printing plates. At the time we were considering a change from Kodak Elektra XD to Agfa Azura TS, Kodak was citing an aluminum shortage to justify their supply problems. The largest player in the printing plate market is far less likely to be effected by market forces from any direction.

[c.mason]

I worked at a shop that opted to adopt the Agfa Azura plate shortly after it was released. We switched from the Agfa Violet plate and chemical development to the Agfa Azura and a G&J Clean-out unit in mid 2008. Right after the changeover we had trouble matching previously printed pieces. I chalk it up to previous chemistry issues and possibly a change in the dot gain and the plate curve.

The maintenance time saved and the money saved on chemistry easily outweighed the increased cost of the plate material. The Agfa Azura plates were rated for 100000 impressions but we would routinely get between 150000 - 200000 out of them. The Agfa Azura plate required more heat to develop so the drum speed of the imagesetter was slower.

The Agfa Azura TS plate, their latest, requires less heat than the earlier version so the drum speed is back up again. My shop is currently using the Agfa Azura TS plates and has been since 07/2011. We are very pleased with the Agfa Azura TS plates.

One other thing to consider; Agfa is by far the largest player in printing plates. At the time we were considering a change from Kodak Elektra XD to Agfa Azura TS, Kodak was citing an aluminum shortage to justify their supply problems. The largest player in the printing plate market is far less likely to be effected by market forces from any direction.

[c.mason]

Sorry for the duplicity. I got error messages when replying...

[Hopkins Printing]

Dan, what lifts the non-imaged area of the plate? Water?

[c.mason]

Cleaning Gum - Agfa Azura TS Cleaning Gum...

...in a Glunz & Jensen C85 Cleanout unit.
The Azura TS emulsion is actually water soluble (if you have a plate sitting out waiting to be imaged it is best to keep it covered with the slip sheet. If you were to cough or sneeze on an unexposed plate, your spit from your cough or sneeze will create a void). If you intend to run the plate right away, you could just use water to clean it off. You need the gum to keep the plate from oxidizing while waiting to go to press.