Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag

Harald Latzel

Gerald Erik Hauptmann

Martin Gutfleisch

Bernd Vosseler

Uwe Tessmann

Matthias Schlörholz

Gerhard Daniel Peiter

Mathias Schlörholz

Ralf Niggemann

Michaela Hoffmann

A printing form includes a bonding layer, an intermediate layer and a top layer. The top layer includes silicon nitride.

Printing form

A method for treating a re-imageable printing form includes surface modifying a surface of the printing form acting as a printing area in a nanoscopic range by chemically functionalizing the surface through covering with molecules, in particular amphiphilic molecules or polymers. The printing form is subjected to a primary process of imaging by laser radiation, and subjected to a primary process of application of at least one lithographic fluid, for example dampening solution, printing ink and/or varnish. The molecules are fixed in image regions by the primary process of imaging. The molecules are removed in non-image regions substantially by at least one primary process different than the application of printing ink, in particular by imaging, application of dampening solution or chemical developing. An apparatus for treating a re-imageable printing form, a machine for processing printing material and a method for treating a surface contacting printing material, are also provided.

Method and apparatus for treating a re-imageable printing form, machine for processing printing material and method for treating a surface making contact with printing material

In a method for imaging a lithographic printing form, subareas of a surface of the lithographic printing form which are covered by amphiphilic molecules, are exposed to electromagnetic radiation. Following the exposure and before printing from the lithographic printing form, the subareas are treated with at least one complex-forming substance, so that a lithographic printing area structured into hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions is obtained.

Method for imaging a lithographic printing form

Presented is a reusable printing form including a printing area that has a metal oxide surface, in particular a native oxidized titanium surface, which is treated with at least one amphiphilic organic compound whose polar region has an acidic character. In an advantageous embodiment, n-heptadecanyl hydroxamic acid {CH3-(CH2)16-C(O)&#x2014;NH&#x2014;OH} and/or n-octadecanyl phosphonic acid {CH3-(CH2)17-P(O)&#x2014;(OH)2} is used. Also described is a method for imaging a reusable printing form. The reusable printing form can be used for offset printing.

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Heidelberg, Germany

Harald Latzel