AFP™-BFTK summary
- Hard FlatTop photopolymer plate designed for excellent solid ink homogeneity, especially when combined with microcell screening technologies.
- Easy to implement with no need to change existing workflow or equipment.
- Delivers smooth tonal transitions with strong highlight dot reproduction and solid coverage.
- Enables job migration from other printing methods to flexo, enhancing operational flexibility.
- Compatible with solvent-, water-, and most UV-based ink systems.
- Increases productivity and boosts OEE by significantly reducing press stops for plate cleaning.
| AFP™-BFTK Plate Specifications | ||
| Name | AFP™-BFTK | |
| Plate thickness | 1.14 mm | 1.70 mm |
| Shore A* Hardness (Teclock) | 77 | 69 |
| Applications | Film, Coated paper and Label | |
| Ink recommendation | Water-based, Solvent-based and UV-based Inks | |
| Plate colour | green | |
Consistency for the long run
AFP™-BFTK are premium solvent-wash FlatTop plates designed to deliver exceptional consistency on press. They offer outstanding ink laydown on a wide range of substrates—including flexible packaging films, paper, and labels—thanks to solid screening capabilities and excellent highlight dot reproduction. With CleanPrint technology, these plates maintain consistent print quality throughout the run, eliminating the need for plate cleaning. They are fully compatible with solvent, water-based, and UV ink systems.
FlatTop out of the box
AFP™-BFTK plates come with built-in FlatTop dot technology—right out of the box. No special workflow, additional processing steps, or dedicated equipment is required. They are fully compatible with standard exposure systems, including UV bank light tubes, UV LED, and FULL HD setups.
Homogeneous solid area coverage
With a perfect balance between highlights and solid areas, AFP™-BFTK plates deliver highly uniform and consistent ink laydown. Combined with solid screening patterns, they ensure smooth and advanced solid area coverage—making them a truly unique plate solution.
Superior OEE, superior quality
Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) is a key metric in achieving profitable flexographic printing. Thanks to CleanPrint technology, AFP™-BFTK plates deliver up to 33% improvement in OEE compared to conventional plates—enhancing availability, performance, and quality across the board.
Consistency for the long run
The AFP™-BFTK plate ensures consistent print quality from start to finish. Its flat surface structure enables excellent contact with a wide range of substrates—from smooth films to rough paper—using only light printing pressure. This even surface also helps reduce common issues like print mottling caused by substrate irregularities. With its durability and repeatability, AFP™-BFTK is the ideal plate choice for long-run and repeat print jobs.
CleanPrint for more sustainable flexographic printing
AFP™-BFTK flexographic plates feature Asahi’s innovative CleanPrint technology, developed to transfer nearly all remaining ink directly to the substrate. This minimizes press stops for plate cleaning and ensures consistently high print quality throughout the entire run. The result? Less waste, improved sustainability, and significantly higher Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) on press.