Coated Magnesium Plate for Engraving and Etching

Name: Coated Magnesium Plate for Engraving and Etching
Brand: SGZ

Overview

What This Product Is

SGZ Coated Magnesium Plate is a photoengraving magnesium plate supplied with a blue photoresist front and a green anti-acid painted back. It is lighter than zinc and etches faster, which is why high-volume etching houses move to magnesium for banner, wall-calendar, printing, stamping, embossing and coining plate.

Faster than zinc

Magnesium removes metal faster than zinc, so the plate clears the bath sooner.

Lighter to handle

The same sheet size in magnesium is lighter than in zinc.

Blue hydro coating

Photoresist front applied at the factory, free of bubbles and scratches.

Green anti-acid back

A painted reverse face that holds up through the etch.

Watch the SGZ video →

Who it is for

Buyers Who Specify It

High-volume etching houses

Shops where bath time per plate decides daily output.

Hot-foil and embossing die makers

Dies where the relief has to be cut quickly and cleanly.

Letterpress and flexographic plate makers

Plate that has to be light enough to mount and handle by hand.

Printers running long calendar and banner jobs

Repeat work where plate cost per job matters.

Problems it solves

What Goes Wrong Without It

Zinc plate holds the bath for longer and slows the whole line. Magnesium etches faster at the same additive concentration.
Large zinc plate is heavy to lift onto the machine. Magnesium plate of the same size weighs less.
A painted back that lifts during etching lets acid behind the plate. The green anti-acid painting on this grade is applied in the factory.
Coating resist in house adds a step and a scrap risk. This plate arrives coated, with no bubbles and no scratches.

Technical data

Specifications

Every figure below is taken from the SGZ specification for the Coated Magnesium Plate for Engraving and Etching. Where SGZ does not publish a value, none is invented.

Specifications for Coated Magnesium Plate for Engraving and Etching
Product type	Coated photoengraving magnesium plate
Length x width	500 x 1000 mm, 610 x 457 mm, 610 x 914 mm, or as requested
Thickness	1.0 - 10 mm
Front side	Blue photoresist (hydro) coating
Back side	Green anti-acid painting
Matched additive	X-Flex (E004) or Rev-Flex (E003)
Relative etch speed	Faster than zinc plate
Packing	Inner carton with outer wood pallet or wood case

Technical Features

Front side: blue photoresist coating, no bubbles or scratches
Back side: green anti-acid painting
Stock sizes 500 x 1000 mm, 610 x 457 mm and 610 x 914 mm
Thickness 1.0 mm to 10 mm
Runs with X-Flex, Rev-Flex or other magnesium etching additives

Materials

High purity magnesium, coated on the front with blue photoresist and painted on the back with a green anti-acid layer.

How it is made

Manufacturing Process

Rolling
Magnesium is rolled to an ordered thickness between 1.0 and 10 mm.
Surface preparation
The front face is cleaned and levelled.
Hydro coating
Blue photoresist is applied and inspected for bubbles and scratches.
Anti-acid painting
The reverse face is painted green.
Cutting and inspection
Plates are cut to 500 x 1000 mm, 610 x 457 mm, 610 x 914 mm or the ordered size.
Packing
Cartoned and loaded onto wood pallets or into wood cases.

Quality Control

Blue coating inspected for bubbles and scratches
Green anti-acid layer checked for full coverage
Thickness checked across the sheet
Etch behaviour demonstrated in the SGZ magnesium etching workshop, opened in 2016

Customisation Options

Sizes other than the three stock sizes on request
Thickness anywhere between 1.0 and 10 mm
Supplied together with X-Flex or Rev-Flex additive
New design box packing available

Certification

SGZ does not publish third-party certification for this item, so none is claimed here. Ask [email protected] if your market requires specific documentation.

Comparison

How It Compares With the Alternatives

Coated Zinc Plate for Engraving and Etching

Zinc is the traditional plate for stamping and coining and runs to 3.0 mm coated. Magnesium etches faster, weighs less and runs to 10 mm coated.

Highly Polished Magnesium Plate for Engraving and Etching

The polished grade is uncoated and runs to much larger formats. Take the coated grade if you want to expose the plate as delivered.

Use Guide

Keep the plate in its packing until you expose it; the blue coating is light sensitive.
Expose through your film or CTP positive.
Develop to your resist supplier's data.
Etch in a powderless machine with X-Flex or Rev-Flex magnesium additive.
Rinse and dry before mounting. The green back needs no removal.