The author's company once had such a problem and repeated it many times before it was resolved.
Plate making technology
Platemaking is divided into the following types: hand-engraved, laser-engraved, sun-cured, soft-finish tanning (PS version), and die-cutting. The above plate making technology is a technique often used in cartons. According to the size of the company, the plate-making technology used is different. Most of the small carton factories use hand-engraving process technology. This technology is low in cost, but the requirement for engraved personnel is relatively high. Now, this type of plate making technology is also relatively small, but it is still relatively common in some small carton factories in the Midwest.
Laser-engraved flexo (rubber plate): In order to reduce production costs, some cartons manufacturing enterprises mostly use laser plate-making technology to produce layouts for small batches of scattered orders. This plate-making technology is used by medium-sized carton manufacturers across the country. Both are more common. This plate-making method is more convenient. It requires a computer and a laser engraving machine. In the process of plate-making, a plate-making method adopted by a computer-designed layout will be used.
The specific operation is: the engraved staff will cut the base plate according to the size of the design layout, place the base plate in the laser engraving machine as required, and perform positioning according to requirements. The computer outputs the engraving instruction, and the laser engraving machine carries out the engraving. After engraving, the laser engraving machine prompts, engraver personnel need to continue engraving, you can simply follow the above procedure to replace the base plate and operate. After the layout is engraved, the plate-making staff needs to clean up the layout and remove the unneeded parts. Then the plate-making staff will check the finished layout against the sample and confirm it is correct before submitting it to the production unit for use or making the hanging plate. If making hang-up version, the plate-making personnel will need to check the layout again after the hang-up is done, and then send it to the production department after use. Otherwise, it must not be put into production use.
Laser cutting: In general, it is done by a professional plate making company. The advantage of this plate making method is that plate making speed is high, accuracy is high, and it is relatively durable. The disadvantage is slow tool change and high cost. Under normal circumstances, this version is made by the carton companies in accordance with the specifications of the carton specifications publishing surface, through the network to the professional plate-making company, professional plate-making company according to the pattern for layout production, do a good job and then sent back to the carton business and designed After the personnel review, it will be used by the production department. There is also a way to make a die-cut version that is hand-made, draws drawings from the computer, and cuts the pages manually. Manually enlarge the drawing on the base plate, use professional equipment for punching, sawing the wire, hand-knife line and steel wire, after the completion of the review and confirmation, can be used after the production department to use. However, this plate making method is inefficient, not durable, and error-prone. Nowadays, few companies use manual plate making.
Shaifa flexo (resin plate): A computer designed layout is used to print the sample, and the proof is confirmed after the sample is delivered to the carton purchasing company. The paper is made of sulfuric acid paper or film film, and the resin base plate is cut according to the size requirements of the layout, the film is covered on the resin base plate, and the surrounding is covered with a light-resistant material to prevent overexposure and affect the normal use of the layout. . After everything is ready, the base plate is placed in a dedicated plate printer for exposure. The exposure time is about 30 minutes. After completion, the plate is removed and put into a professional plate washer for cleaning. After the cleaning is completed, it is placed in a baking box for baking and setting. Detachment treatment is required after setting. After all this is done, the professional designers will have to review the layout, make a mistake and then make a copy or send it directly to the production department for use.
Tanplate (PS plate): Designed and proofed by a professional design platemaking company. This proofing is color separation and proofing, so as to facilitate carton printing enterprises to keep consistent with the proofing ink color during printing, especially multi-color printing, dot printing, and attention should be paid to the control of dot and color sequence. Plate makers should pay particular attention to exposure time and cleaning of the exposure equipment when doing lithography. When the plate-making staff performs the tanning process, the plate-making machine must first be cleaned, the exposure surface should be kept clean, the device must be opened and started, and a base plate that meets the requirements must be placed in the middle of the plate-making machine. According to the printing machine's pull gauge and the former rules, leave a good positioning line, place the film (film) according to the position of the positioning line, and lay it flat on the lithographic plate.
Close the printing machine and start the vacuum machine, set the exposure time, start the exposure device, and perform the exposure according to the set exposure time (usually the time is set between 20 seconds and 2 minutes, the length of the specific setting time is made by the plate making The staff is set according to the needs of the printing plate). After completion, the exposing device is automatically cooled and then closed, the printing machine is opened, the film is taken out, and the lithographic plate is placed in the developing machine for automatic development. After the development is completed, the layout is rinsed with clean water. The plate-making staff trims the layout, removes dirt, dirty lines, etc., to facilitate printing, make the layout clean, and transfer it to the production department for use after completion.
The above is a combination of the author's actual experience in individual carton manufacturing enterprises, and a summary of the actual practice of domestic large and medium-sized carton manufacturers. In terms of specific operations, we must do it according to the actual situation of the company and the specific conditions of the plate making equipment used. The current design and plate making technology can be said to be changing with each passing day. In particular, some professional design and plate making enterprises in the country have done quite prominently in one aspect of design and plate making, and have become leaders in the design and plate making industry. However, as a carton manufacturing company, it must be based on the actual needs of its own company in designing the plate, and it must not be greedy and demanding. Of course, some large and ultra-large carton manufacturers are able to meet the requirements of customers more quickly, improve the efficiency of design, and introduce professional proofing equipment. Normally, it is still a professional company. This kind of cost expenditure is more suitable for enterprises. development of.
