Method of making a lithographic printing plate

1. A method of making a lithographic printing plate comprising the steps of:

a) providing a lithographic printing plate precursor including a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, a coating on the support including a photopolymerizable layer and, optionally, an intermediate layer between the photopolymerizable layer and the support, wherein the photopolymerizable layer includes a polymerizable compound, a polymerization initiator, and a binder;

b) image-wise exposing the coating by a laser in a plate setter;

c) heating the precursor in a pre-heating unit; and

d) treating the precursor in a gumming station, including at least a first gumming unit, by applying a gum solution to the coating of the precursor, thereby removing the non-exposed areas of the photopolymerizable layer from the support; wherein

the steps (c) and (d) are carried out off-press in the pre-heating unit and the first gumming unit; and

the pre-heating unit and the first gumming unit are coupled to each other by a mechanical plate conveying device or are integrated in a single apparatus.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the gumming station further includes at least a second gumming unit; the precursor is treated firstly in the first gumming unit and subsequently in the second gumming unit; the steps (c) and (d) are carried out off-press consecutively in the pre-heating unit, the first gumming unit, and the second gumming unit; and

the pre-heating unit, the first gumming unit, and the second gumming unit are coupled to each other in this order by a mechanical plate conveying device or are integrated in a single apparatus.

3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the gumming station further includes at least a second gumming unit and a third gumming unit; the precursor is treated firstly in the first gumming, subsequently in the second gumming unit, and then in the third gumming unit; the steps (c) and (d) are carried out off-press consecutively in the pre-heating unit, the first gumming unit, the second gumming unit; and the third gumming unit; and the pre-heating unit, the first gumming unit, the second gumming unit, and the third gumming unit are coupled to each other in this order by a mechanical plate conveying device or are integrated in a single apparatus.

4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the method includes, after step (d), an additional step (e) of drying the plate in a drying unit; the steps (c), (d), and (e) are carried out off-press consecutively in the pre-heating unit, the at least first gumming unit, and the drying unit; the pre-heating unit, the at least first gumming unit, and the drying unit are coupled to each other in this order by a mechanical plate conveying device or are integrated in a single apparatus.

5. A method according to claim 4 , wherein the method includes, after step (e), an additional step (f) of heating the plate in a baking unit; the steps (c), (d), (e), and (f) are carried out off-press consecutively in the pre-heating unit, the at least first gumming unit, the drying unit, and the baking unit; the pre-heating unit, the at least first gumming unit, the drying unit, and the baking unit are coupled to each other in this order by a mechanical plate conveying device or are integrated in a single apparatus.

6. A method according to claim 5 , wherein the step (e) and the step (f) are one single step (ef) of heating the plate in a drying-baking unit, thereby drying and baking the plate; the steps (c), (d), and (ef) are carried out off-press consecutively in the pre-heating unit, the at least first gumming unit, and the drying-baking unit; and the pre-heating unit, the at least first gumming unit, and the drying-baking unit are coupled to each other in this order by a mechanical plate conveying device or are integrated in a single apparatus.

7. A method according to claim 4 , wherein the coating further includes a top layer on the photopolymerizable layer; the method further includes, after step (c) and before step (d), an additional step (w) of washing the plate in a pre-washing station including at least one pre-washing unit applying water or an aqueous solution to the precursor, thereby removing at least a portion of the top layer; and the pre-heating unit, the at least first gumming unit, the drying unit, and pre-washing unit are coupled to each other by the mechanical plate conveying device or are integrated in the single apparatus.

8. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the coating does not contain a top layer which acts as an oxygen barrier layer on the photopolymerizable layer.

9. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the photopolymerizable layer further includes polymer particles.

10. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the plate setter is further coupled to the pre-heating unit by a mechanical plate conveying device or integrated in a single apparatus whereby the precursor is shielded from ambient light.

11. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the gum solution has a pH-value ranging between 3 and 9.

12. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the laser emits violet light.

13. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the laser emits infrared light.