Miraclon has received the coveted FTA Technical Innovation Award for its Kodak Flexcel NX Ultra Solution, reflecting a fresh and novel approach to aqueous flexo plate making technology.

Joe Tuccitto, director of education at FTA said: ‘Recipients of the FTA Technical Innovation Award are chosen by a panel of industry experts representing all areas of the flexo industry to have the potential to positively change the future of flexography. Once again, this year, the overall judging process was extremely competitive with a variety of distinctive products and innovative technologies that utilize the flexographic process or have been designed specifically to enhance flexographic printing.’

In 2009, shortly after its commercial introduction, the FTA recognized the Kodak Flexcel NX System with a Technical Innovation Award. And, as predicted by the judging panel, this technology has helped to change the capabilities of the modern flexo process over the last decade. This second FTA Innovation Award is confirmation of Miraclon’s commitment to ongoing value-driven innovation for Flexcel customers.

‘It is a great honor to receive this FTA Technical Innovation Award. The Flexcel NX Ultra Solution provides packaging printers with another method for producing high-performing Flexcel NX plates,’ said Dr Zaki Ali, chief technology officer at Miraclon. ‘An aqueous plate making system with patented Kodak Ultra Clean Technology, the Flexcel NX Ultra Solution allows for the preparation of a press-ready plate in under one hour while removing the hurdles and challenges that have plagued aqueous platemaking solutions for the last 25 years.’

Dr Ali and his R&D team, based in Oakdale, Minnesota, have been permanent fixtures of the team behind Kodak Flexcel innovation right from the early development stage. The team was recently awarded its fourth US patent associated with the Flexcel NX Ultra Solution.