Abstract: Photopolymerizable, preferably digitally imageable photopolymerizable, flexographic printing elements having a PET support sheet of low thermal shrinkage, methods of preparing such flexographic printing elements and their use for making flexographic printing plates by imagewise exposure to light, washing out with organic solvents and drying, wherein said drying is carried out at temperatures of more than 60° C.

Abstract: A method for producing flexographic printing plates. The method has the following steps: (a) producing a mask by imaging the digitally imagable layer, (b) exposing the photopolymerizable, relief-forming layer through the mask with actinic light, and photopolymerizing the image regions of the layer, and (c) developing the photopolymerized layer by washing out the unphotopolymerized regions of the relief-forming layer with an organic solvent, or by thermal development, wherein step (b) contains at least two exposure cycles with actinic light with an intensity of 100 to 5000 mW/cm2 from a plurality of UV-LEDs, the energy input into the photopolymerizable, relief-forming layer per exposure cycle being 0.1 to 5 J/cm2.

Abstract: A device for producing flexographic printing plates starting from digitally imagable flexographic printing elements, with which at least the method steps of reverse exposure, main exposure, development using washout media, drying, and aftertreatment can be carried out in automated form, the device comprising at least two different transport devices with which the flexographic printing elements or plates, respectively, are transported through the device. A method for producing flexographic printing plates using said device.

Abstract: A laser-engravable pad printing plate comprising at least (a) a metal support, (b) an adhesion layer, (c) a laser-engravable recording layer having a layer thickness of 20 ?m to 200 ?m, (d) a cover film, characterized in that the laser-engravable recording layer (c) comprises (c1) 40 to 95 wt % of a polyvinyl alcohol, (c2) 5 to 50 wt % of an IR absorber, (c3) 0 to 30 wt % of an inorganic filler, (c4) 0 to 20 wt % of a crosslinker, and (c5) 0 to 10 wt % of further additives.

Abstract: A device for automated implementation of preliminary reverse exposure, main exposure, and development of digitally imagable flexographic printing elements, and a method for producing flexographic printing plates starting from digitally imaged flexographic printing elements, using said apparatus.

Abstract: Photopolymerizable flexographic printing elements which contain cyclohexanepolycarboxylic esters as plasticizers and also their use for producing flexographic printing forms for printing with UV inks, in particular for UV narrow web printing.

Abstract: Described is a method for producing flexographic printing plates, using as starting material a photopolymerizable flexographic printing plate which contains a dimensionally stable support, a photopolymerizable, relief-forming layer, and a digitally imagable layer. A mask is produced by imaging the digitally imagable layer. The printing plate is exposed with actinic light through the mask. The image regions of the layer are photopolymerized. A plurality of UV-LEDs are arranged on at least one UV-LED strip which is moved relative to the surface of the flexographic printing plate for exposure. The photopolymerized layer is developed by washing out and drying or by thermal development. An ultrasonic sensor determines the thickness of the flexographic printing plate for exposure. The exposure is controlled as to number of exposure steps, exposure intensity, energy input per exposure step, duration of individual exposure steps, and/or overall duration of exposure.

Abstract: Digitally imagable flexographic printing elements for producing flexographic printing plates, which comprise an organically soluble relief-forming layer, a water-soluble barrier layer for oxygen, and a water-soluble laser-ablatable mask layer. A method for producing flexographic printing plates using such flexographic printing elements, which comprises a two-stage washout procedure using aqueous and organic washout media.

Abstract: Process of manufacturing flexagraphic printing firms using digital flexographic printing elements as starting material by imaging, main exposure in the presence of oxygen, development and finishing. The process comprises an additional embossing step in which the surface of the developed printing form is texturized thereby improving the print quality of the printing form.

Abstract: Digital imageable flexographic printing elements for producing flexographic printing plates, which are developable using hydrocarbon-comprising washout media and which, between the photopolymerizable layer and the digital imageable layer, have a polar, ultrathin, oxygen-blocking barrier layer. Methods for producing flexographic printing plates using such digital imageable flexographic printing elements, by imaging, exposing, washing out, drying, and post-treating, the washout being formed by means of hydrocarbon-comprising washout media.

Abstract: Laminate comprising a) a photopolymerizable relief-forming layer, at least containing an elastomeric binder, ethylenically unsaturated monomers and a photoinitiator and optionally further additives, b) an optionally photopolymerizable elastomeric substrate layer, at least containing an elastomeric binder, optionally ethylenically unsaturated monomers and a photoinitiator and optionally further additives, the relief-forming layer a) having a hardness of 30 to 70° Shore A and the elastomeric substrate layer b) having a hardness of 75° Shore A to 70° Shore D in each case in the photopolymerized state, and the layer b) having a hardness of at least 5° Shore A greater than the layer a).

Abstract: Photopolymerizable flexographic printing elements which contain cyclohexanepolycarboxylic esters as plasticizers and also their use for producing flexographic printing forms for printing with UV inks, in particular for UV narrow web printing.

Abstract: A method for producing flexographic printing plates, using a photopolymerizable flexographic printing element having, arranged one atop another, a dimensionally stable support, a photopolymerizable, relief-forming layer, an elastomeric binder, an ethylenically unsaturated compound, and a photoinitiator, and optionally a rough, UV-transparent layer, a particulate substance, and digitally imagable layer. The method includes: (a) producing a mask by imaging the digitally imagable layer, (b) exposing the photopolymerizable, relief-forming layer through the mask with actinic light, and photopolymerizing the image regions of the layer, and (c) developing the photpolymerized layer by washing out the unphotopolymerized regions of the relief-forming layer with an organic solvent, or by thermal development.

Abstract: Device for producing flexographic printing sleeves starting from photopolymerizable sleeves comprising at least a clean-out unit, a drying unit, and a post-exposure unit, wherein the flexographic printing sleeves are transported within the apparatus by means of a transport device, wherein the sleeves are mounted dually translationally in the longitudinal direction in the transport device, and a method for the production of flexographic printing sleeves using said device.

Abstract: The invention relates to photopolymerizable flexographic printing elements which contain ethylenically unsaturated, alicyclic monomers and hard flexographic printing plates, in particular cylindrical continuous seamless flexographic printing plates, which can be produced therefrom.

Abstract: Printing inks for offset and/or letterpress printing which comprise NIR absorbers, and solubility of the NIR absorber in the printing ink is at least 0.1% by weight. NIR absorbers consisting of cyanine cation with an anion which has long-chain alkyl or aralkyl groups. Use of such printing inks for printing processes in which the curing of the printing ink is promoted by using IR lasers. NIR absorbers comprising a cyanine cation with an anion which has long-chain alkyl or aralkyl groups.

Abstract: Processes comprising providing a layer composite comprising a layer of photopolymerizable material and a removable substrate film disposed on one side of the layer of photopolymerizable material, wherein the photopolymerizable material comprises an elastomeric binder, an ethylenically unsaturated monomer and a photoinitiator; and (a) miter-cutting two edges of the layer composite to be joined, to form two miter-cut ends; (b) providing a hollow cylinder on a rotatably mounted support cylinder, wherein the hollow cylinder has an outer surface and is in a temporarily locked position relative to the support cylinder; (c) applying an adhesion-promoting layer to the outer surface of the hollow cylinder; (d) applying the layer composite to the hollow cylinder bearing the adhesive-promoting layer, wherein the layer composite is disposed on the hollow cylinder such that the removable substrate film faces away from the hollow cylinder and the two miter-cut ends lie substantially one on top of the other, but not overlap

Abstract: The use of polymers which comprise amino groups modified with acid groups for the preparation of fountain solutions for offset printing. A process for printing by means of the offset technique, in which a fountain solution which comprises polymer which comprises amino groups modified with acid groups is used.

Abstract: Photopolymerizable flexographic printing elements which contain cyclohexanepolycarboxylic esters as plasticizers and also their use for producing flexographic printing forms for printing with UV inks, in particular for UV narrow web printing.

Abstract: Laminate comprising a) a photopolymerizable relief-forming layer, at least containing an elastomeric binder, ethylenically unsaturated monomers and a photoinitiator and optionally further additives, b) an optionally photopolymerizable elastomeric substrate layer, at least containing an elastomeric binder, optionally ethylenically unsaturated monomers and a photoinitiator and optionally further additives, the relief-forming layer a) having a hardness of 30 to 70° Shore A and the elastomeric substrate layer b) having a hardness of 75° Shore A to 70° Shore D in each case in the photopolymerized state, and the layer b) having a hardness of at least 5° Shore A greater than the layer a).