JPI confirms performance of ultrafast-laser-based "miracle plate" printing technology

Birkenhead, England--J P Imaging (JPI), developer of "Miracle-Plate" technology that uses ultrafast pulsed lasers to switch the hydrophilicity of an uncoated metal printing surface to use it as a rewriteable printing plate, has successfully verified the print performance of the technology at Leeds City College, Print Academy (Leeds, England). In addition, JPI has filed two additional patent applications for the use of ultrafast lasers in computer-to-plate (CTP) printing applications.

JPI chose the prestigious and well respected Leeds City College, Print Academy to independently verify the press capability of the miracle plate technology. John Procter, business manager at Leeds City College, said, "JPI have visited us several times with 'miracle' printing plates that they exposed with lasers at Liverpool University. The technology does indeed work and it works well. We were pleased to be the first people in the world to be able to independently verify the press performance, recent results have been very impressive. Last week alone we had seven different miracle plate tests in our press room and all of them worked perfectly." Procter continued, "Although the plates do not have a coating they still behave on press in the normal way. We print them on a standard Heidelberg with normal inks and font. The plates do have a slight color change where the laser has imaged them. It may sound like unusual plate technology but it definitely works well."

Rod Potts of JPI said, “We have been busy with two recent filings for new patent applications in addition to our other patent filings--this has taken a lot of our time. Whilst we have further testing to do at Leeds City College, Print Academy we are also progressing discussions with a number of companies who have the financial and operational scale to commercialise the Miracle Plate technology on a global basis. We are grateful to everyone that has been in touch with us and helped since we went public with this last year."

The new Great Britain (GB) patent filings that JPI refers to are GB 1004544.1. and GB 1004537.5. The first patent application focuses on "substrate surfaces"; the second one on platesetter technology using ultrafast lasers.

--Posted by Gail Overton; [email protected]; www.laserfocusworld.com.