Autumn Press, founded over 33 years ago, is a green business in Berkeley, California specializing in commercial printing and printing for political campaigns. Dedicated to providing high-quality printing at competitive prices, Autumn Press also works hard to be the kind of business communities can be proud of by pioneering environmentally-safer practices, developing new print technologies, and creating innovative ways to serve customers better.
Since its founding, Autumn Press in Berkeley, California, has been dedicated to providing high-quality printing at competitive prices. The Autumn Press team works hard to be the kind of business that communities can be proud of by pioneering environmentally-safer practices, adopting appropriate new printing technologies and creating innovative ways to serve customers better.
So when the team learned about a chemistry-free printing system that could deliver superior image contrast and improved quality control, they had to see it for themselves.
Trying Something New
In late 2013, Agfa Graphics released the most technologically-advanced version of its award-winning, chemistry-free printing plate, the Azura TU. Based on the company’s patented ThermoFuse™ technology, Azura TU offers sheet-fed commercial printers faster throughput and longer run lengths along with unmatched image contrast and excellent daylight stability.
As a Certified Bay Area Green Business, Autumn Press was open to a solution that would streamline their process and provide environmental benefits. During the plate trial, the prepress team immediately realized they could easily QC the Azura TU plate prior to roll up on press. Errors and omissions were corrected since the plate’s image contrast offers easy visual inspection.
“Being able to see and use the exposed image on the plate for press setups has sped up make-readies,” said Gordon Empey, prepress manager, Autumn Press.
“Azura TU plates have given us the ability to visually inspect the plates before submitting them to the pressroom. Each plate has high contrast to allow for densitometer usage as well as use on our CPC plate reader system to set our press fountains.”
With Azura TU, the plate reader easily detects the visible image for greater color control. Azura TU reduces production waste (less ink, paper and plates) which saves time and money and has less impact on the environment.
How it Works
Azura TU works with a clean-out unit (COU) and a pH-neutral gum to clean and protect the plate. After the exposure process, the plate is gummed during which the unexposed image area is cleanly and completely removed. There is no need for developer or replenisher, eliminating processing variables affecting image consistency. There is no water required other than for processor maintenance, further reducing waste.
“Gumming the plates has also solved our scheduling issues,” explains Gordon Empey. “We can now let the plates sit for an extended amount of time knowing they are daylight safe. No more worrying about latent image limitations and ruined plates.”
Azura TU offers convenient daylight handling, on press stability, faster make readies and outstanding quality for high volume printing environments which cannot be achieved with thermal direct technology.
“Not having to reinvent the wheel with pressroom chemistry made changing to Azura TU easy. The TU plates provided a seamless transition from the other thermal plates we were using,” Gordon Empey said. “No changes to pressroom chemistry were necessary. With Azura TU we have found an economical, reliable and stable plate that gives us peace of mind. Overall, we’ve achieved greater efficiencies which allow us to be more competitive when pricing jobs to our customers.”
The Berkeley community is proud of Autumn Press for a variety of reasons including their open mindedness and willingness to try new sustainable practices. By adopting the Azura TU plate, Autumn Press can reduce water, waste and disposal costs while gaining peace of mind with a system that delivers consistent, repeatable results.
Azura TU plates provided a seamless transition from the other thermal plates used. This allowed Autumn Press to achieve greater efficiencies and be more competitive.
