Azura TE

Best-in-class direct-on-press chemistry-free thermal plate for sheet-fed commercial applications. Environmentally-friendly operations, quality and ease-of-use all in one.
Azura TE

Based on Agfa’s’ proven and reliable ThermoFuseTM technology, Azura TE takes printing plate developments yet one step further with imaging off-press, and cleaning on-press. If you are looking for a way to dramatically reduce time to press, are concerned for the environment and want to deliver consistent results, then this best-in-class direct-on-press plate is the right solution for you. All you need to do is image, mount and print.

Key benefits

  • Environmentally-friendly operations… at the lowest cost
  • Outstanding image contrast on plate for easy visual inspection
  • Excellent daylight handling and latent image stability
  • Crisp image quality
  • Fast make-ready
  • Mainstream print production

Features

Benefitting the environment as well as your profits

With Azura TE, there is no need for a processor or clean-out unit, and thus also no need for chemistry, gum or water. That also means no waste, and no maintenance. From the platesetter, the printing plates go directly onto the printing cylinder, where sellable prints are obtained after a few sheets only. The CtP device can even be installed in an office environment.

Simplicity is key

Proven ThermoFuseTM technology

Since its launch in 2004, Agfa Graphics’ ThermoFuseTM technology has proved itself as the leading technology in sustainable platemaking. Azura TE is based on the same ThermoFuseTM technology as its predecessors, working with a single-layer water-based coating, containing ink-accepting latex pearls, small enough to deliver razor-sharp highlight reproduction.

Working principle

Upon laser exposure, the coating absorbs energy from the 830nm imaging head. The latex pearls fuse to form the hydrophobic image part. They bond strongly to the grained and anodized aluminum base. What were once individual particles now becomes a solid ink-accepting image. Thanks to the thermally switchable infrared dye used in the Azura TE coating, an excellent image contrast is achieved during imaging.
The Azura TE coating is optimized for direct-on-press capability, so that after imaging, the plates can be directly mounted on press.
As part of the press start-up sequence, the non-imaged areas are washed away by the action of ink and fount solution on the press to be carried away with the first few sheets through the press. Sellable prints are obtained after only a few copies.

Brochures

Technical Specs

Plate characteristics
Plate type Negative-working, chemistry free ThermoFuseTM offset plate
Substrate High-quality grained and anodized aluminum
Spectral sensitivity 830 nm (thermal laser diode)
Practical sensitivity 160 mJ/cm² (depending on imaging device)
Platesetter compatiblity Compatible with 830nm external drum platesetters
Image contrast Excellent, can be measured with all available densitometers and plate readers
Plate sizes Available in 2-up, 4-up and 8-up
Resolution (depending on platesetter)
  • Sublima: 1-99 % at 240 lpi at 2400 dpi
  • FM 20 µm (Crystal Raster) at 2400 dpi

(depending on imaging device and screening algorithm)
Gauges 0.15 mm, 0.20 mm, 0.24 mm, 0.30 mm (0.006”, 0.008”, 0.010”, 0.012”)
Run length Up to 75,000 copies dependent on press conditions, up to 8,000 with UV inks

(depending on printing conditions)
Environment
Room lighting Up to 24 hours in full daylight
Room conditions (T, RH) 18-24 °C (64-75 °F), < 70% RH
Storage conditions Ambient temperatures below 50°C / 50°C not to be exceeded for >24 hours
Shelf life 18 months