— Orion Next · Developer-free CtCP

Developer-free UV CtCP plate coating — Orion Next

Plates that develop in water, not chemistry.

Orion Next is a multi-polymer, ready-to-use coating for negative-working UV CtCP plates. Coat it on anodised aluminium, self-cure, image on a UV laser plate setter, and develop in plain tap water — no alkaline developer anywhere in the loop. The coating uses DNQ-cresol ester chemistry as its photoactive base.

Spectral sensitivity 360–375 nm
Exposure energy 80–90 mJ/cm²
Dry coat weight 1.7–1.8 g/m²
Developer Plain tap water
— The process

Four steps, under yellow safe light.

01

Coat

Apply the ready-to-use solution to electrically grained, anodised and post-treated aluminium by reverse-roll, slot-die or flow coating, then dry with hot air to tack-free.

1.7–1.8 g/m²
02

Self-cure

Store the coated substrate in a cool, dark place at 27–31 °C. Allow a minimum of 24 hours; thicker coatings need longer to cure.

min 24 hours
03

Expose

Image on a UV CtCP laser plate setter in negative mode. Standard industry exposing devices apply.

80–90 mJ/cm²
04

Develop

Run through a positive-CtCP plate processor with the developer tank filled with plain water at 23–27 °C, then gum up and dry before press.

dip 20–25 s

Handle under yellow safe light only. Do not expose undeveloped or unexposed Orion Next plates to daylight or white light before the unexposed coating is fully removed — otherwise non-image areas cure and the plate prints background.

— Why it matters

A small contribution to a cleaner pressroom.

The printing industry can cut the chemicals it puts into presses and drains. By removing alkaline developer entirely, Orion Next plates make that contribution — without changing how printers expose and run their work.

01
No alkaline developer
Removes purchase, mixing and daily strength maintenance of developer chemistry.
02
Safer handling
Avoids worker injury from handling corrosive alkaline plate developer.
03
Cleaner drains
No discharge of spent alkaline developer into city sewerage systems.
04
Lower cost
Press owners save on the recurring purchase cost of developer.

Results depend on your line

Coating weight per square metre
Aluminium substrate condition and post-anodic treatment (PAT)
Drying temperature and dwell time through the oven tunnel

Evaluating Orion Next?

Request a sample of Orion Next CtCP coating with the full method-of-use document, or talk through your substrate and plate-setter parameters with us.

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