Esko has announced a new addition to its family of CDI flexo plate imagers with the introduction of the CDI Spark 2420. The CDI Spark 2420 is designed for narrow web label converters and combines a different image size with greater plate material flexibility. The new CDI Spark 2420 was designed to capture business opportunities in the growing tag and label market.

"According to FINAT, global label demand across all print technologies is expected to continuously grow in the coming years, while world label demand growth for 2012/13 is approximately 6-7%. To help small to medium printing operations capitalize on these growth opportunities, we introduce this new size CDI. It's the perfect complement to our existing range," says Jan Buchweitz, Esko senior product manager, digital flexo. "The CDI Spark 2420 fits neatly into our portfolio that includes the CDI Sparks 1712, 2120 and 2530. It provides a more cost-effective solution that better fits plates for those customers that would previously have considered the larger CDI 2530 as the most suitable option. It demonstrates Esko's commitment to listen to our customers and to provide solutions that best meet their needs."

According to the company, the tag and label market is increasingly demanding high quality flexo and a wider diversity of printing applications. To address this, the CDI Spark 2420 is designed to image plate sizes up to 609 mm x 508 mm (24" by 20") and also handle a wider range of plate materials. These include digital flexo plates, chemistry free film, digital foil-based letterpress plates, digital metal-based letterpress plates and digital silk screens. Operation is aided by EasyClamp, which securely holds flexo plates of any thickness on the vacuum drum.

Understanding its customers' need to continually expand capabilities and market reach, Esko provides an imaging resolution upgrade path on the CDI Spark 2420. Customers can choose the standard 2000ppi to 2540ppi or upgrade to High Res 2540ppi to 4000ppi or HD Flexo 4000ppi in combination with high definition screening. In addition, the CDI Spark 2420 comes with the choice of Optics 7.5, Optics 10 or Optics 15. As performance speed is determined by the optics, customers have the flexibility to choose the optics to match their current workflow and business growth.

"With the enhanced CDI Spark range, tag and label printers can find an upgradeable system that matches their investment levels and that delivers the quality and performance they need today," concludes Buchweitz. "Small to medium companies can develop at their own pace, confident that they can meet the future expectations of all customers - large or small."