DNQ chemistry for UV CtCP offset printing plates

Where DNQ sits in plate manufacture

UV CtCP (computer-to-conventional-plate) systems image a negative-working photosensitive coating on anodised aluminium using a UV laser plate setter, typically at 360–375 nm. The diazonaphthoquinone active — either as a sodium salt converted in-house or as a ready one-pack ester — forms the photoactive component of the coating lacquer.

Plate manufacturers source DNQ actives as raw materials for their own coating lines, or use a ready-to-coat system such as Orion Next to skip in-house formulation entirely.

Orion grades for plate coating lines

Orion supplies DNQ chemistry at three integration points in the plate-coating value chain:

• Orion Freedom 2-1-4 — sodium salt (CAS 64173-96-2) for DNQ coating solution synthesis
• Freedom Plus 1413 — ready DNQ-cresol ester (CAS 3770-97-6) as the main photoactive resin
• Orion Next CtCP — complete developer-free coating, coat-and-image ready

Developer-free plates for modern pressrooms

Conventional CtCP plates require alkaline developer chemistry — purchased, mixed, maintained, and discharged daily. Orion Next eliminates that step entirely: plates develop in plain tap water after UV exposure, reducing pressroom chemical handling and effluent load.

See our technology page for the full four-step coating, curing, exposure and water-development process.

Supply from India

Orion manufactures all grades at our works in Banawadi, Karad, Maharashtra with 98% minimum assay and full batch documentation. We supply trade buyers in India and export markets with COA, MSDS/TDS and technical support for coating qualification.