Aniken Graphics International, a joint venture between Hamillroad Software, a UK based prepress software solutions company, and Apex International, a global leader of anilox and metering products, has announced that Athena Graphics is an approved trade shop of Bellissima Digitally Modulated Screening (DMS) for Belgium and France.

Nick Harvey, Managing Director of Aniken Graphics, commented: “Athena Graphics demonstrated that they are investing in advancing flexo technologies to ensure that they and their customers are kept ahead of the competition, Bellissima DMS being the latest example of this trend. We are partnering with like-minded suppliers to ensure the controlled roll-out of the Bellissima technology solution into the market.”

With offices based in Belgium, France, and the Netherlands, Athena Graphics offers ‘best-in-class’ prepress solutions for printers, retailers, and brand owners. They have a broad customer base that includes brand owners in many diverse sectors ranging from the food industry to pharmaceuticals.

Athena Graphics guarantees high-quality prepress services for their client’s packaging requirements and handles more than 35,000 orders a year for over 100 brands. The company has developed a platform for tailor-made solutions which simplifies the packaging chain, streamlines workflows, and brings a structure to workflow visibility which eradicates bottlenecks.

“Phase One sales of Bellissima DMS involve the use of Apex GTT aniloxes, and MacDermid or DuPont plates, as this proven technology solution works ‘out of the box’ and maximizes everyone’s success when used,” Harvey concludes. Printers wishing to test the technology can enquire via the dedicated www.bellissimadms.com website. Alternatively, they can contact their local Apex sales representatives or the trade shops for their specific regions.

Using Bellissima, high-quality prints equivalent to 350-450 lpi are produced with unrivaled image reproduction and no color shifts on misregistration. Utilizing fixed palette inks the screening delivers smooth flat tints and moiré free prints. Vignettes fade smoothly to nothing enabled by printed highlight dots as low as 1.0% and shadow dots up to 99.5%.

Working optimally at 4,000 dpi the patented screening incorporates features including 100% solid surface patterning options and solid object protection. Printing press issues including bounce, barring and slur are all reduced significantly and in some cases eliminated. Bellissima DMS also delivers on ink savings, which can be augmented by GCR based software, improves the efficiency of the press room, and utilizes existing printing press equipment.

Phase One sales of Bellissima DMS includes trade shops, converters and flexographic printers currently using Apex GTT anilox rolls and sleeves together with MacDermid Graphics Solutions’ LUX® ITP™ 60 or DuPont’s EFX plates.