Kodak EXD (Electra XD) Plates w/o postbake

[Alex71]

I'm seriously considering switching from Thermal Gold with Postbake to the EXD plates without postbake. Supposedly they are good for a half million impressions in that config, as long as you don't do UV (we don't).

I'm hoping someone here has some experience running these in a similar config. Most of our runs are under 100K impressions, but some get up to the 3-700K range. I don't mind making an extra set of plates on a run that long, as they don't come up that often.

Another thing that might complicate matters is we run Staccato 20 almost exclusively. From my experience with FM screening and Kodak's sword plates a few years ago, there's reason to be apprehensive.

Thanks in advance for your comments.

Edit: crossposted from CTP forum intentionally. If that's not allowed, mods please delete the thread.

 

[KevinC@EFI]

Hi Alex - obviously I'm biased and you should get opinions of our customers, but I hope this helps. (I manage the global marketing and product management teams for Kodak plates)

The key thing for us to check with you would be your press chemistry. Some of the harsher alcohol subs can eat away at single-layer non-baked plates, but it's easy to check with a drop test by our plate engineers. If that's ok, then Electra XD should have no problems with your press runlengths, and certainly no issue with 20 micron FM. It is rated for 10 micron, and has wider latitude there than any other plate we have tested.

If in doubt, ask your sales person to make sample plates and put a real job on press.

Let me know if you need help in any way.

Kevin