News

Promopack Digital Studios has eliminated solvents from its flexo platemaking process to reduce its carbon footprint.

The Heanor-based supplier of artwork, repro and printing plates for flexo printing of packaging has installed a DuPont Fast processing system that processes photopolymer plates using a thermal transfer process instead of solvents.

The firm said it was the first UK photopolymer plate supplier to eliminate the use of solvents in manufacturing.

The photopolymer plates are said to deliver the same performance as solvent-processed plates, but have the benefit of reducing emissions and energy consumption.

Promopack managing director Mike Baxter said: "We make more than 50,000 photopolymer printing plates each year and using the Fast system means we'll eliminate 200 tonnes of solvent and our solvent emissions will fall to zero. We'll also see a 75% reduction in energy consumption.

"Basically installing the Fast system has been cost-neutral for the business and our customers are paying the same price for a photopolymer plate that performs identically on-press, but which has huge advantages in terms of reducing our carbon footprint."

The firm installed its first DuPont Fast machine in October and ran it side-by-side with its solvent-based system for three months. The last of the solvent processors was taken out in January.

Promopack's customers include supermarkets such as Tesco and Morrisons and brand owners such as Tate & Lyle.