CTP

Q: What is the primary purpose of this process? A: This is where our aluminum plates for the litho presses are etched with the final design.

Q: How does the artwork reach the plate etching stage? A: The artwork is sent from production control, and then our apprentices begin the process of etching the plates.

Q: How do the plates move through the machine? A: Plates are transported from the autoloader and are automatically sent to the image drum via a bridge.

Q: How is the artwork etched onto the plate? A: The plate is clamped to the image drum, where a laser etches the artwork onto it. After etching, the plate moves to the developing section where the image is developed.

Q: What happens to the plate after development? A: The plate is washed and cleaned to remove any debris. It then goes through the 'GUM' section, where a protective film is applied to prevent scratches and damage, and is then dried by rollers.

Q: What happens after the plates are dried? A: The plates are sent down rollers to be scanned. This scan counts the developed plates and registers them onto OTIS, allowing the operator to print relevant documents.

Q: Why are the plates bent at the bottom? A: The plates are bent at the bottom to ensure they sit securely in the color cylinder on the litho press without the risk of falling into the machine.

Q: How was this bending done before the current machines? A: Previously, someone had to physically bend these plates, which was time-consuming and less effective than the current automated process.

Q: How many plates are needed for a job? A: A single-sided job requires 4 plates, while a double-sided job requires 8 plates.