Simple plate cleaning to maximize plate life
Best practice plate cleaning – following a simple checklist – is essential for high performing, long-lasting plates.
Dried ink or ink residue on fine reverse lines and halftone areas can be difficult to remove, requiring excessive scrubbing or aggressive cleaning chemicals that can damage the plate. It’s important to remember these post-print plate characteristics:
- Solvent ink starts to dry once the press is stopped, due to evaporation of the solvent alcohol components.
- Water-based ink residue left on the plate surface, after prolonged dry time, can be even harder to clean.
- Dirty plates are more susceptible to surface cracking during storage.
That’s why plates should be cleaned as soon as possible after a press run – using either automatic or manual cleaning methods. It’s also the reason plates should only be stored when they are clean and dry, giving you the best results on subsequent runs.
Our simple checklist for FLEXCEL NX Plate cleaning:
- Prior to mounting, check the back and front of the plate for contamination. Clean with isopropyl alcohol and/or use a lint roller to collect any particulates.
- Manually clean a stationary mounted plate with a soft horsehair bristle brush. Do not attempt to clean the plate while the press is running.
- Clean the plate immediately after use – before the ink can dry on the surface – with one of the recommended cleaning agents or solvent blends. See our recommended cleaning agents and solvent blends below.
- When manually cleaning the plate, use gentle pressure and either a soft horsehair bristle brush or soft sponge. DO NOT use rags or shop towels.
- After the plate is cleaned, it should be rinsed thoroughly to prevent residual cleaning agent or ink from drying on the plate.
- Gently blot the plate with a lint-free towel to remove any residual cleaning agent or solvent.
- Dry the plate completely before storage and/or stacking plates.
Plate storage tip
Protect the print surface of your plates by interleaving the foam sheets that came in the plate box when stacking your plates after cleaning and drying.
Cleaning during long print runs
During a long print run you might need to clean the plate during press production time. In this situation, first stop the press, then gently clean the plate using a soft horsehair bristle brush and approved cleaning agent.
For guidance on recommended cleaning agents and solvents, download the guide.
Catherine says:
“Applying best practices for plate cleaning is essential for the re-use of plates to maintain print performance on press. It is best to clean as soon as possible after the run is done and only store dry, cleaned plates to ensure the best possible results the next time on press.”