Brady Corp. Reports Reduction in Processing Time Since Adding Fujifilm's Clarity Water Washable Plates

HANOVER PARK, IL—August 5, 2014—Fujifilm North America, Graphic Systems Division introduces Clarity, the latest technology expressly developed for flexo printers. Clarity Water Washable Flexo Plates provide the highest flexo print quality at the fastest production times, while significantly lowering cost-in-use compared to thermal, solvent or other water-wash technology.

Brady Corp, a Milwaukee-based identification solutions manufacturer transitioned to Clarity water washable flexo plates in 2013 after running extensive plate trials.

“We are always looking for ways to improve our productivity and efficiency in order to best serve our customers, and after representatives from Fujifilm visited us and installed the new Clarity plates, we received a lot of positive feedback from our press operators who were impressed with the quality, fast production time, durability and ease of clean-up,” said Theresa Narveson, manufacturing engineer, Brady Corp.

Clarity, which is compatible with Brady’s current CTP imaging equipment, reduces platemaking processing time to less than 40 minutes, 300 percent faster than leading solvent systems and 1.5 times faster than current thermal and water technologies. Faster platemaking means more time on press and a dramatic increase in output per shift, while freeing printers to redeploy labor costs to more value-added activities.

Clarity’s innovative water wash chemistry does far more than simply eliminate the need for solvents and wicking cloths—it delivers longer runs while producing a consistent 200 lpi at 4,400 dpi, 1 percent process dot structure for print quality never before seen with flexo plates.

“With Clarity, we are able to reduce our processing time and use the plates longer than our previous plates,” added Narveson. “Our print quality is improved and our productivity is up. It’s a winning combination that enables us to better serve our customers."

About Fujifilm
Fujifilm North America, a marketing subsidiary of Fujifilm Holdings America, consists of four operating divisions and one subsidiary company. The Imaging Division provides consumer and commercial photographic products and services, including: photographic paper; digital printing equipment, along with service and support; personalized photo products; film; and one-time-use cameras; and also markets motion picture archival film and on-set color management solutions to the motion picture, broadcast and production industries. The Electronic Imaging Division markets consumer digital cameras, and the Graphic Systems Division supplies products and services to the graphic printing industry. The Optical Devices Division provides optical lenses for the broadcast, cinematography, closed circuit television, videography and industrial markets, and also markets binoculars. Fujifilm Canada sells and markets a range of Fujifilm products and services in Canada.

Fujifilm Holdings, Tokyo, brings continuous innovation and leading-edge products to a broad spectrum of industries, including: healthcare, with medical systems, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics; graphic systems; highly functional materials, such as flat panel display materials; optical devices, such as broadcast and cinema lenses; digital imaging; and document products. These are based on a vast portfolio of chemical, mechanical, optical, electronic, software and production technologies. In the year ended March 31, 2014, the company had global revenues of $23.7 billion, at an exchange rate of 103 yen to the dollar. Fujifilm is committed to environmental stewardship and good corporate citizenship.

Source: Fujifilm.