polymer plates in the uk

John

Yes, there are a number of UK sources for photopolymer plates as well as magnetic bases. We have some of them listed in the resources section of PPLetterpress

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PPLetterpress

but, they are getting a bit old and haven’t been updated so I’d suggest a Google search. Search for “polymer” and you will not get what you need. The correct term is photopolymer and best searched as “photopolymer plates”. And it would not be a back plate it would be a flatbase. Combine photopolymer and base or photopolymer and “magnetic base.” Add UK and that should get you the available sources.

Gerald
http://BielerPress.blogspot.com

Thank you gerald - it looks like I’ll have to trawl through google for information, it’s seems like the US is way ahead of the UK regarding letterpress and polymer.
Whilst I’m on the subject, is there a standard thickness for polymer plates and similarly a standard thickness for the magnetic bases; for example are the boxcar bases and the Bunting bases the same height?

thanks again
John

Hehe gerald - I think I need to read “Printing Digital Type on the Flatbed Cylinder Press” don’t you - I guess you’re the guy to buy it off - can I order it on your website?

John

I did check and both Bruder Neumeister and Koch + Beck (German manufacturers, I think) make a magnetic base and have distributors in the UK. I don’t know the configuration of their bases though. Another manufacturer is T. D. Wright but I think they might not have an outlet in the UK. Neither does Bunting as far as I know (but they do ship to the UK).

Bunting grinds to your specifications. Type height minus the thickness of your specified plate. The Patmag is made to accept a plate at .060 but thinner plates are often used with underlay. The Boxcar base is made in two thicknesses, one to accept a plate at .037-.038 and another for .059-.060 inch plates (?).

Yes, PDT is available direct. It is also distributed by Boxcar Press and Arundel Books (Amazon).

Gerald
http://BielerPress.blogspot.com

Thanks again for your assistance Gerald - unless i’m very much mistaken it seems over here photopolymer plates are categorised under flexography rather than letterpress - I think I have found some suppliers….

John

John

A short while back I came across some industry documents regarding the campaign to use photopolymer for letterpress. This was, interestingly enough, an attempt to save it against the wholesale transition to offset printing. It was termed dry offset at the time (and it is sometimes still called that). Photopolymer has been around for quite some long time (near half a century). That failed but photopolymer found its use in flexography.

It is only relatively recently that water washout sheet photopolymer of a high quality has been available. The spectrum of use for letterpress is quite narrow. I really don’t have a good idea of activity in the UK but look for plates that range in thickness from about .037 to .060 and have fairly high hardness ratings (D60 to D85). And look for quality brands as they are money well spent.

Gerald
http://BielerPress.blogspot.com

Thanks!

From England

John,

I regularly get my ‘nylons’ from a Mr Sparrow in Portsmouth. I mount them with double sided adhesive onto wood and underpack to it dead to type high .018” (I have a guage for that.)
He’s remarkably cheap and very patient with poor and unsuitable artwork. You need to have
some understanding about artwork, uneven blackness and fuzzy edges dont help, and dont correct with any old white paint, theres a thing called process white. If you must write instructions on the face of your artworks, then use pale blue ‘Derwent’ brand pencil referenec 735 (its wont reproduce in the block.) Mr Sparrow needs to know its for letterpress, so as to reverse the image to suit ( he makes blocks for other purposes, not reversed) He can NOT
change the proportions “make it narrower”, but can enlarge or reduce. Best by far to give him
artwork a little oversize and let him reduce a little, say 5 to 10 percent., It sharpens edges.
contact me for more detail of him, and two other outfits.

Wow, this reminds me of the old pre-digital days. Mr Sparrow is processing from camera negs?

Gerald

Harrildplaten - thanks for taking the trouble to post, to be honest I’m looking for a digital solution - I left the world of pmt’s and process white years ago - i would need someone who could handle a disc, but again thanks for your input.

Updated. Mr Sparrow does sound rather intriguingly dickensian though - if i have no joy I’ll try him out!