Avatar V-ZH
Chem-free violet printing plate which requires zero heat for plate production. It combines outstanding lithographic quality with excellent durability and eco-friendliness.
Avatar V-ZH is Agfa’s latest addition to the range of photopolymer offset plates for the newspaper industry. Avatar V-ZH requires zero heat for plate production. Based on the successful experience of our customers with the chem-free photopolymer plate N95-VCF, this newly developed plate technology supports the demand of newspaper printers to streamline production processes further and to reduce machine maintenance and servicing.
In addition, the reduction of waste and start-up time during the make-ready process, as well as stability and linearity throughout the entire print run, and additional energy savings, will empower the daily production. Avatar V-ZH is sensitized for visible lasers emitting at 405 nm, and is designed for chemistry-free operation without any preheat process.
Agfa offers fully integrated newspaper prepress solutions that come complete with CtP, clean-out unit (COU), printing plates and Arkitex workflow software.
Benefits
- The absence of a preheat unit reduces investment cost, saves energy and gains you floor space. It also means your air conditioning will no longer need to run full blast.
- Linear behavior on the press throughout the print run
- High robustness on the press (run length, dot gain, press roll-up…)
- Flexibility: UV-capable for semi-commercial and special applications
- Very high image contrast after clean-out and gumming, allowing an easy visual inspection to avoid mix-ups on press
- Fully daylight resistant once cleaned out
- High scratch resistance
- Suited for high-quality Arkitex Sublima screening
ECO³
Agfa is committed to sustainable innovation focused on ecology, economy, and extra convenience – or ECO³. We develop integrated solutions – consisting of hardware, consumables, software and services – that streamline your prepress and printing operations and make them cleaner, more cost-effective and easier to operate and maintain. All while guaranteeing superior and consistent print quality.
The result? More value for your entire business!
Features
Imaging & Processing Principle
This preheat-free chemistry-free plate works with all violet CtP units currently in use at newspaper print sites across the world. During exposure, the violet-laser diode starts the polymerization of the image area. Subsequently, the plate is gummed with a dedicated plate gum, which removes the soft, unexposed non-image areas in an easy and clean way. Finally, the plate is cured by a LED bar close to the drying section.
Durable Substrate
Avatar V-ZH plates provide a solid foundation for consistent press performance. Advanced electrochemical graining and anodizing yield the reliability and robustness needed on a newspaper press and the durability required for long press runs.
High Performance on Press
With its high contrast, a quick visual check will quickly reveal possible errors (e.g. imposition). Avatar V-ZH combines fast, accurate and wide-latitude plate exposure with predictable, consistent, linear performance on press throughout the print run.
Easy Maintenance and Less Waste
Chemistry-free solutions come with the benefit of a reduced environmental impact. No hazardous processing chemicals are used. The gum is pH-neutral and there is a substantial water saving. Violet chemistry-free offers major advantages in maintenance time.
Avatar V-ZH chemistry-free printing plates form a very attractive solution combined with the high-volume plate production system Advantage N and the high-speed clean-out unit Attiro ZH. The latter features a groundbreaking cascade technology and is characterized by minimal gum consumption for maximal clean-out effect. Its extensive bath life results in lower maintenance, while cleaning is easy and fast. Existing Agfa clean-out units can easily be upgraded to the preheat-free version.
Technical Specs
Plate specifications |
|
| Plate type | Negative-working, high-speed, preheat-free, chemistry-free violet-laser offset plate |
| Coating | Photopolymer |
| Surface | Electrochemically grained and anodized |
| Spectral sensitivity | 405 nm violet-laser diode |
| Platesetter compatibility | Most violet platesetters |
| Image contrast | Very good. Can be measured with all normal plate readers. |
| Plate sizes | All newspaper sizes, single and broadsheets |
| Resolution (depending on platesetter) | ABS: 2-97 % at 130 lpi Sublima: 0.5-99.5% at 180 lpi |
| Gauges | 0.20 mm, 0.30 mm |
| Run length (depending on press conditions) | Up to 300,000 Up to 100,000 for UV inks |
Processing |
|
| Clean-out unit | Attiro ZH or Attiro VHS, VCF85 N and VXCF85 N clean-out units with ZH upgrade option |
| Clean-out gum | Violet CF GUM NP or Attiro GUM (for Attiro only) |
| Replenishment | Not required |
| Bath life | Cleaning of Gum Section 1 required after 4,000 m2Â (6.5 l) Full cleaning required after 8,000 m2Â (17.6 l) |
| Processor and clean-out unit | Compatible with most polymer processors and clean-out units |
| Clean-out speed | 0.8-3.0 m/min depending on clean-out unit |
Environment |
|
| Room lighting | Yellow |
| Working conditions | Operating temperature 21-25 °C Relative humidity 40-60 % |
| Storage conditions | Temperature: < 30°C (86°F) Relative humidity: 40 – 60 % |
Related products
| Plate correction pen (for unbaked plates) | Polymer deletion pen |
| Plate cleaner | Standard: ANTURA CtP Plate Cleaner
Cleaning gum: ANTURA CleanGum |
| Fountain solutions | Sheetfed: Not applicable
Heatset: Not applicable Coldset: ANTURA fount CS2-(s), ANTURA fount CS2-(s)-spray Rehardener: RC611 Rehardener for reverse osmosis water: ANTURA water conditioner |
| Roller and blanket washes | Xtrawash Plus 40 & 60 |