Flexo plate manufacturer Asahi Photoproducts has launched its new AWP-CLFQ water-wash flexographic plate, marking what the company calls a milestone in sustainable, high-quality printing.
The plate has become the first solventless plate certified for Esko Quartz imaging technology, with certification taking place at Asahi’s AWP Days 2025 event in Japan in October.
AWP-CLFQ Plate print samples produced during AWP Days
AWP-CLFQ is designed to deliver gravure-level image quality while maintaining the productivity and environmental advantages of Asahi’s CleanPrint water-wash process. Compatible with Esko Quartz screening and Crystal MCWSI workflows, the plate has been certified to reproduce Esko’s finest pixel structures with precision, producing stable printed dots that result in sharp highlights, smooth tonal transitions, and dense solids.
Engineered primarily for flexible packaging, the plate supports the latest solvent and water-based ink systems, including polyurethane-resin formulations, while maintaining clean ink transfer and reducing press stops, Asahi said. Available initially in 1.14mm thickness, with a 1.7mm version under development, the plate forms part of Asahi’s strategy to replace solvent-based platemaking with sustainable water-wash alternatives under its Solvent Zero initiative.
Demonstrations of the plate were also held earlier in October at Allstein’s Automation Open House, where it was shown producing high-density whites, strong solids, and clean fades on complex film substrates.
Aki Kato, senior general manager of Asahi’s Photoproducts Division, commented: “AWP-CLFQ gives converters a decisive reason to switch from gravure to flexo. By combining the precision of Esko Quartz with the productivity of Asahi’s CleanPrint, we deliver a level of quality and process consistency previously exclusive to gravure, now with a sustainable solventless workflow.”
Asahi has begun a controlled commercial rollout of the new plate in cooperation with Esko and its global distribution partners. Broader availability is expected as production capacity expands.
