Processor for Azura plates

[dkkurth]

We need to find out if we can use our existing plate processor which is a Autolith TP-150 to develop the Azura plates. Or do we have to get the special processor that is made for the Azura plates? We have had 2 different vendors telling us yes our old one would work (with a different set of rollers) and another that said no it wouldn't work. And yet another vendor said yes our old one would work without any changes except the Azura chemicals.
Any feedback is appreciated.

 

[SteveAgfa]

Diane:

I'll touch base with the interim Agfa rep covering IA.

As I recall, you purchased a used platesetter, and I'd
like to confirm the power rating of that head. Also,
I believe that 150cm processor size no longer needs
to support larger plates for that off-site location.

Please fell free to contact me in the interim.

 

[dkkurth]

Hi Steve
We have already tested out some of the Azura plates and have adjusted our 40 Watt head on our VLF. We just need to know about the processor.

Thanks

 

[maxon]

Call the guys in Heights for advice, IRC they had some demonstration running at drupa with Azura. We use Heights Inca for violet plates, I don't know anything about Glunz or other vendors but Incas are very well built.

 

[SteveAgfa]

Diane:

I got the official word from one of our technical pressroom specialists in your region.

No, the TP150, even with scrub rollers, would not work. Our Azura Clean-Out-Unit COU95
would be the recommended device. (New TP150 scrub rollers would have been expensive anyway).

Regards.

 

[Lukas Engqvist]

Prosesor?

Prosesor?

You can just hose the plates down.
The only thing the Azura "procesor" does is gum the plates for easier handling.
Just a word of advice don't turn the TP150 off. It has intervalls of keeping the rollers wet or you will find that you get hardened gum that sticks to your plates. (the rollers fo for a spin every five minutes, I'm sure it takes hardly any power at all)

 

[SteveAgfa]

Hi Lukas -

In addition to leaving a layer of "gum",
the Azura clean-out-unit uses brush
rollers to scrub-out the unexposed
emulsion from the nooks-and-crannies
of the grained aluminum substrate.

Standard rollers in a processor like
the TP150 won't be aggressive enough.

 

[Lukas Engqvist]

Thanks for correcting me… You are probably more affected than me by me being too off the cuff.
The Agfa techies did a wonderfull job of finding the rigt level of aggresivity.