US label converter Impression Label has transitioned to Miraclon’s latest Flexcel Prime plates after almost two decades using the Flexcel technology.
The Prime plates are the latest generation of Flexcel, incorporating new properties that help them stay cleaner for longer and make plate handling and processing more efficient.
The transition between the old and new technology has proved straightforward in day-to-day production, according to Marco De La Vega, chief financial officer at Denver, Colorado-based Impression. “What stood out immediately with Flexcel Prime was how little we had to change,” he said. “We initially ran the plates blind, and our operators didn’t even realise they were using a different plate – they simply told us that the press was running well.”
Closer inspection showed that the plates stayed cleaner, fine screen dots remained consistent, and the operation was not stopping as often to clean. The Prime plates were easier to handle and clean in the plate room.
He continued: “Those little wins add up. You might only save seconds or minutes at a time, but over the course of a year it makes a real difference to how efficiently you operate. Just as importantly, Flexcel Prime gives us confidence to pursue more difficult jobs because we know the plate won’t be the limiting factor.”
Christian De La Vega, chief operating officer at Impression Label, added that continuity is important to the company’s production philosophy: “We’ve always looked for ways to improve quality and efficiency while reducing our carbon footprint wherever we can. Flexcel NX technology has been part of that approach for many years, helping us to reduce paper waste in production and at start up, and Flexcel Prime allows us to build on that established performance while we continue to look for incremental improvements across our operation.”
