DIGITAL PLATES -- Shortcutting the Process

A level of work has continued in pursuing a couple of approaches to processless plates, Goodin reports. One is a switchable polymer product (requiring no post-exposure step) and the other is an on-press wash-off technology, he says. Both are designed to be imaged by thermal IR lasers.

"With the switchable polymer, we are in the early days of product development," Goodin says. "The on-press processable is closer (to commercialization), but we have issues that still need to be resolved. Both materials are designed for short run lengths; under 50,000 impressions is the target."