MacDermid Graphics Solutions has introduced LUX ITP MELO, a super-soft photopolymer sheet plate designed for low to medium-post print corrugated board.   

 

With a 25 Shore A hardness, LUX ITP MELO reduces board crush, improves ink transfer and holds the finest detail for challenging corrugated substrates. It is an out-of-the-box, flat-top solution. This photopolymer plate can be processed in conventional solvent and is available in thicknesses of 2.84 – 6.35 mm (0.112– 0.250 in). 

 

LUX ITP MELO utilizes an optimized dot profile that reduces fluting without the use of additional platemaking techniques or exposure systems. Minimal board crush and low fluting are critical to maintaining box stability and protecting the integrity of the product in a corrugated box. 

 

“The trend to downgauge corrugated boards and use lower quality paper grades to save on raw materials, without compromising box strength continues; nevertheless, printers and brand owners demand and expect high quality printing regardless of the board quality,” says Alicia Gibson, strategic marketing and portfolio manager. “The development of LUX ITP MELO addresses that market need.”

 

Feedback from contact originators and their customers on LUX ITP MELO trials and beta testing provided valuable insights. 

 

“One of the key factors Contact Originators brought to the table was a closeness to the printers,” says Ryan Vest, director of innovation, MacDermid. “The speed to application was phenomenal and allowed us to gather the much needed information — actual print performance — that is typically near impossible to obtain in other applications or with other test sites.”