Kodak Flexcel NX

Describe your company?
Pin Mark Blocks is a 55 year-old tradeshop in Ahmedabad offering pre-press services to packagers and label printers who cater to segments like FMCG, wide-web flexo, carry bags and other flexible packaging jobs. It’s bouquet of technologies include Dupont’s solvent-based and thermal (Cyrelfast) processor. It was among the first tradeshop in India to install a Kodak Thermoflex platesetter in 2005 and recently the Flexcel NX. By investing in the latest in technology, it aims to provide its customers all the advantages that these technologies have on offer.

What does the machine do?
Flexcel NX is a flat-top dot technology platesetter, which produces high quality flexographic plates. It’s 10,000dpi gives razor sharp images and better ink transfer to the substrate.

Why did you choose this particular machine?
Whenever a new technology is introduced in the pre-press flexographic segment, we study its pros and cons and invest in that technology to provide solutions to flexo market, enabling it to compete against gravure, offset and digital printing technology.

Did you look at any other similar machine?
We saw and evaluated all the options available and opted for Kodak Flexcel NX.

Why did you make the purchase?
Kodak Flexcel NX was a totally new concept that we could bring to the Indian flexo market for delivering high quality pre-press solution.

 What features do you particularly like?
The digicap NX screening, is a software-based feature. It creates a micro surface texturisation pattern on the surface of the dot on the plate. This enables best transfer of ink to the surface of the substrate.

Is there anything you wish it had that it doesn’t?
It has adequate features that a trade shop would require in flexo platemaking business. 

How fast is it?
It can expose eight to ten plates per hour, which is much faster than any other digital platemaking technology.

What’s the quality like?
Razor sharp. Given the limitation of the substrate used for flexo printing, the vibrancy and image quality is comparable to that of gravure and offset.

How reliable is it?
It’s a one-on-one technology. It’s hassle-free. 

How easy is it to use?
It’s easy to use. And we have understood the technology.

Has it won you any new work?
Yes, by enhancing the quality of flexo, we are adding offset and gravure jobs to the flexo portfolio.

How much time or money has it saved?
Due to its size, we can save time and increase capacity.

Would you say that it offers value for money?
Yes. It has increase quality and productivity. It saves time on the press, so the customer gets the benefit.

Were there any difficulties experienced during the installation or after?
No. It was a smooth affair.

 What about the pre- and after-sales service?
The service from Kodak has been excellent.

Who do you think the machine is right for?
All flexo converters.

Under what circumstances would you invest in another?
As a tradeshop we already have one. But in future, if there is a better technology, which would benefit our business and our customers we would be open to take a look at it.