Industry application
Photoengraving Plate for Commercial Printing and Publishing
Banner and wall-calendar work is where SGZ plate started. Zinc, magnesium and copper photoengraving plate, the developer that clears the exposed resist, the additive that etches the metal and the bath that holds it all come from the same factory.
Industry pain points
What Goes Wrong in This Industry
Plate that arrives with bubbles under the resist
Pinholes appear in the print and the plate is scrap before it reaches the press. SGZ coats the front face in the factory and inspects it for bubbles and scratches.
Acid attacking the back of the plate mid-cycle
The plate distorts and the run is lost. SGZ offers anti-acid painting or a pasted red film on the reverse of its zinc plate, and green anti-acid painting on magnesium.
Etch depth that moves from batch to batch
Bath temperature is usually the cause. A BS powderless machine holds temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C and time from 0 to 60 minutes.
Additive that was never tested against the plate
SGZ names the additives its own plate runs with: Velv-Etch or the SGZ house oil for zinc, X-Flex or Rev-Flex for magnesium.
Recommended products
What SGZ Supplies Into This Work
Photoengraving Zinc Plate
Coated Zinc Plate for Engraving and Etching
Photoengraving zinc plate pre-coated with blue photoresist, 0.8-3.0 mm, with painted or filmed back.
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Photoengraving Magnesium Plate
Coated Magnesium Plate for Engraving and Etching
Blue hydro-coated photoengraving magnesium plate, 1.0-10 mm, green anti-acid back, faster etching than zinc.
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Copper Plate for Etching
Polished Copper Plate for Photoengraving and Etching
Mirror-surfaced photoengraving copper plate in 1.0, 1.4, 1.5 and 2.0 mm, to 2000x600 mm, etches in FeCl3.
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Developer
KY161 Positive Plate Developer
Alkalescent positive PS plate developer, powder 500 g/bag or 5 L liquid, suited to SGZ etching zinc plate.
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Etching Additive Oil
Velv-Etch Zinc Etching Additive Oil
Fuji Velv-Etch model E002 zinc etching additive, 20 kg per drum.
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Etching Machine
Powderless Etching Machine BS Brand
BS powderless etching machine in ten bath sizes from 20 L to 200 L, for zinc, copper and magnesium plate.
View product →Typical scenarios
Where the Plate Ends Up
Banner plate
Long repeat runs where the relief has to stay even across a 1000 x 500 mm sheet.
Wall-calendar plate
Seasonal work with a fixed deadline, where plate has to be in stock.
General printing relief
Printing, stamping, embossing and coining, which SGZ lists as the applications for both its zinc and magnesium plate.
Fine-line work
Where zinc will not hold the detail, the mirror-surfaced copper plate is etched in ferric chloride instead.
Delivery capability
What SGZ Can Actually Supply
- PlateZinc coated and polished, magnesium coated and polished, copper mirror-surfaced, brass for engraving.
- ChemistryKY161 developer in powder or liquid, four etching additive grades.
- EquipmentTen BS powderless etching machine sizes, 20 to 200 litres.
- PackingInner carton with wood pallet or wood case for long-distance transportation.
Plate, chemistry, machines and packing all come from the same supplier, which is what keeps the etch result repeatable across a programme.
Related Sample Work
Sample work
Etched Metal Name Cards and VIP Cards
A metal card carries fine text at small size. The etch has to clear the background evenly without undercutting the characters,...
Read more →
Sample work
Etched Commemorative Medals
Medal relief has to read at arm's length and still hold detail up close. The shoulder has to stay square through the etch, and...
Read more →Answers
Commercial Printing and Publishing Questions
Which plate should a printing house start with?
Coated zinc plate if you want to expose it as delivered, coated magnesium if bath time is your bottleneck, copper if the line detail is finer than zinc will hold.
Can I buy the plate, the developer and the additive from one supplier?
Yes. SGZ supplies coated plate, KY161 developer, zinc and magnesium additives and the BS powderless etching machine.
What plate sizes are stocked for printing work?
Zinc at 1000 x 500 mm and 1000 x 510 mm; magnesium at 500 x 1000 mm, 610 x 457 mm and 610 x 914 mm. Other sizes are made to request.
Is there a video of the full etching process?
Yes. SGZ publishes complete etching videos for both its zinc and its magnesium plate.
Guides for This Industry
Product Guide
What Is a Photoengraving Zinc Plate
A photoengraving zinc plate is rolled zinc carrying a light-sensitive coating, exposed and developed so acid cuts relief into the...
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Comparison Guide
Coated or Uncoated Photoengraving Plate
Coated plate arrives ready to expose but is limited in thickness and size. Uncoated plate is bare metal, goes thicker and larger,...
Read more →Process Guide
Powderless Etching Explained
How a powderless etching machine works: bath capacity from 20 to 200 litres, rotation to 450 r/min, temperature 15-30 C, time to...
Read more →Supplying Commercial Printing and Publishing
Describe the job and SGZ will say which plate, which additive and which machine size fit it.