Getting to Solvent ZERO:
A SUSTAINABLE IMPROVEMENT for Your Business

The majority of platemakers today still use solvent wash platemaking technologies, which often can generate unwanted odor in the ambient working environment. In this day and age, many people believe that the manufacturer should be environmentally sustainable and create balanced solutions for a better working environment. At Asahi Photoproducts, we have been working for more than a half century to bring more sustainable products and platemaking to the industry. At the same time, these solutions also improve productivity and profitability.

Customers who have transitioned away from solvent-wash platemaking to Asahi’s AWPTM water-wash CleanPrint technology immediately found that this change contributed to a cleaner environment and a comfortable workplace for employees. They were also able to produce plates faster, and found that their presses were more efficient with fewer press stops for plate cleaning.

Asahi Photoproducts has made it its mission

 to accompany its customers on their journey to 

Solvent ZERO and to meet each customer where they are. 

 

Step by step.

Roadmap towards
the future

Getting to Solvent ZERO can also be accomplished over time, with each step adding additional benefits to the plate production process. STEP one is today´s starting point industry standard, STEP 2 and 3 describe the roadmap towards our Solvent ZERO future.

AFP™

Standard washout solvent type of plate

Excellent printing quality with
CleanPrint offering strong sustainability
benefits, allowing for higher press efficiency
and reduced waste

AFP™-R

Approx. 25 % reduction in solvent usage
and over 50% shorten platemaking time

Can use existing solvent installed base
processor in the market

Doesn’t need investment and can start
right now by just changing the plate type

AWP™

You can entirely stop using hydrocarbon-based washout solvents for
platemaking

Plates can be produced using a variety of processor such as
CrystalCleanConnect, a unique automated platemaking solution

Less swelling and excellent printing quality

AWP™ platemaking machines are the center of our future R&D activities such
as:

  • 1. Dishwashing detergent process
  • 2. Tap water process
  • 3. Fully automated platemaking now available with CrystalCleanConnect
  • 4. AWP-LOOP™ wastewater recycling of
    “almost closed loop” water usage

Carbon Neutral Certification

WATER-WASHABLE FLEXOGRAPHIC PLATES

Applicable for AWP™-CleanFlat
in Europe, Japan, US and China

Asahi Photoproducts’ water-washable AWP™-CleanFlat CleanPrint flexographic plate has been certified Carbon Neutral by the Carbon Trust in compliance with PAS 2060

By working with a respected organization such as the Carbon Trust, claims of Carbon Neutral status can be validated and credible as we move toward a Net ZERO world. Once certified, companies must demonstrate a commitment to reducing their carbon impact year by year and thus actively drive CO2 reduction towards zero. This is exactly what Asahi Photoproducts is doing, and by extension, helping its customers make progress towards Carbon Neutral as well.

To learn more about Asahi’s Carbon Neutral journey and to determine how our experiences might also benefit your organization, be sure to download our informative white paper: Carbon Neutral: A road towards Solvent ZERO.

Higher Efficiency

WITH OEE

In the flexo industry, we can achieve performance improvement and increases in finished product throughput using a concept called OEE to measure efficiency and look for ways to improve it.

Did you know that by simply implementing Asahi CleanPrint plates you can improve your printing press OEE by giving you up to 1/3 more production capacity with your existing machine park?

For Higher Efficiency
Think Cleaner Flexo,
Think CleanPrint!

The advantages of working with AWP™

Once you have implemented Asahi’s AWP™ water-washable plates,
you will immediately see many advantages, including:

Better Sustainability

NO use of solvent for platemaking
Certified Carbon Neutral (PAS 2060)

Excellent Printing Quality

Excellent solid and highlight quality can be achieved with less printing pressure

Excellent fine text and minimum dot

High Efficiency

Better & easier registration and setup

High press efficiency due to reduction of press cleaning intervalls

Products

WATER-WASH PRODUCT LINE

AWP ™

Our water-wash flexographic printing plate family offers AWP™-DEW CleanPrint water-washable plates ideal for the highest quality flexographic applications, including flexible packaging and labels. We also offer AWP™-CleanFlat water-washable FlatTop plates that improve the ink laydown on wide web flexible packaging and beverage carton printing.

AWP-LOOP ™

We have introduced an innovative water recycling system for AWP™ plate processing equipment. It features the proprietary microza® filtering technology developed by Asahi Kasei that reduces wastewater by 70%, and detergent usage by 50%!


CrystalCleanConnect

The breakthrough automated flexo platemaking solution created by Asahi Photoproducts and Esko’s collaboration brings together key hardware and software technologies from both organizations to deliver a highly efficient and sustainable mount-ready flexo plate for the packaging industry.

Download Brouchure

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ASAHI is handling your personal information in accordance with our Privacy Policy. We will use your personal information only to administer your account and provide the products and services you have requested, and from time to time, to contact you about our products and services, as well as other content that may be of interest to you. If you agree to the purpose of using personal information and our Privacy Policy, please tick the box above.

Download White Paper

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Privacy Policy Link

ASAHI is handling your personal information in accordance with our Privacy Policy. We will use your personal information only to administer your account and provide the products and services you have requested, and from time to time, to contact you about our products and services, as well as other content that may be of interest to you. If you agree to the purpose of using personal information and our Privacy Policy, please tick the box above.

Download Leaflet OEE

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Privacy Policy Link

ASAHI is handling your personal information in accordance with our Privacy Policy. We will use your personal information only to administer your account and provide the products and services you have requested, and from time to time, to contact you about our products and services, as well as other content that may be of interest to you. If you agree to the purpose of using personal information and our Privacy Policy, please tick the box above.