Delta Tracking with Presstek Aurora Plates

[TechnaPrint]

We switched to the Aurora plate back in December and have had a re-occurring issue with Delta Tracking (rows of tiny dots that show up on the press sheet). We don't know if this issue is from the plate or the press, but we never had the problem with the Agfa plates. The Delta Tracking transfers to the plate and damages it (the dots won't wash off). If we make a new plate (usually this happens to only one color at a time) and wash up the unit where the Delta Tracking is taking place, the issue is resolved for several thousand more press sheets. The issue happens most often on uncoated or dull papers. The heavier the coverage, the faster the dots show up. Sometimes 5,000 sheets, and sometimes 1,000 sheets.

Has anyone else seen this? Or have any ideas?

We have tried several different alcohol and water combos, but no luck.

 

[marktonk]

If the printing conditions on press are the same and have not changed, then the difference is the two plates. If press conditions changed and so did the plate, then it could be both. If the later is the case, can you get a set of the Agfa plates and run them? This will help isolate the problem.

Regards,

Mark

 

[SteveAgfa]

Mark:

TechnaPrint was running LAP-V before, and has since switched to Thermal.

I'm sure the Agfa agent close to him would be happy to provide a set of
Azura TS chem-free sample plates which would run on his/her new system.

It's like in that movie... All ya got to do is whistle.


<snip>
Steve. You don't have to say anything, and you don't have to do anything. Not a thing. Oh, maybe just whistle. You know how to whistle, don't you, Steve?
<snip>

Regards,

 

[John@advantage]

We have the same problem here, we are using the anthem pro and have tried running the aurora. Presstek came in and said they do not have a plate that will run with delta's. still working on get us a plate that will work it has been almost 2 years. My suggestion to you is go back to what you were using.

 

[TechnaPrint]

Other plate testing

Other plate testing

We did try running the new Agfa plates, and they ran fine. We are trying to give PressTek a chance to resolve this before we have to pail and get new plates and a new wash off unit (PressTek is suppling the unit now). We are going to be testing the new PressTek Aurora plates, let's hope they run better.

 

[TechnaPrint]

Was your solution to change back to the Anthem or did you go to another manufacturer? Where are you located? I would like to have our PressTek Rep talk to yours and compare notes. We feel like a Guinea Pig sometimes. Thanks

 

[John@advantage]

We went back to anthem and just do re makes. we also feel like test subjects we will be testing yet another beta plate for them, but if that does not work they have a plate called aeon but you have to go back to a processor.


We are located in Asheville NC
Advantage Printing Inc.
828.252.7667

 

[PhilM]

Question

Question

Just curious.. What press are you running? Did you ever figure this out?

 

[TechnaPrint]

PressTek told us that it was our Dampening System on our Komori Press. After nearly a year of struggling with it. We finally made the switch to the Agfa Azura TS plate. Everything runs great, but we are back on a chemistry/Gum rinse on the plates.

 

[PhilM]

Have you had any long runs since? is the problem gone or just not long enough runs to see?

 

[TechnaPrint]

So far we have done jobs up to 50,000 on uncoated paper and we have not seen anything yet. We were getting up to 10,000 on uncoated with the PressTek plates.

 

[svr.joe]

Hai Guyes

Any body no about slp plate pls inform