CTP Plates Change

Printers don't change plates at the drop of a hat, yet they're always looking for a performance edge and lower costs. Convincing a company to switch its computer-to-plate system is never easy, but the latest plates—some to debut at drupa, May 29-June 11—offer greater compatibility with fountain solution, blanket wash and other pressroom chemicals. Ongoing consolidation has led to fewer CTP suppliers and plate emulsions. Yet, an impressive array of announcements emerged at Graph Expo, heating up the thermal competition and shining a new light on violet emulsions. Even the familiar polyester plate has been transformed.

Many plates are now based on polymer emulsions tuned for either thermal or violet sensitivity, and allowing shops to retain existing processor lines. Field-replaceable lasers may become the newest trend, permitting printing companies to switch from thermal to violet or even UV imaging without replacing their platesetters.

Agfa's new :Energy Elite positive-working plate is part of a growing trend towards the elimination of preheat ovens from thermal processing lines. This no-preheat plate features a highly efficient coating that offers high-resolution imaging (340 lpi) with a low rate of chemical consumption and runs lengths up to 500,000 impressions. Sensitivity at 830 nanometers (nm) means the plates can be imaged on the majority of thermal platesetters currently in use, not just those from Agfa.

Additionally, Agfa—the originator of violet products—recently introduced the :N92v violet photopolymer plate. An upgrade to the :N91V that enjoyed broad acceptance in the newspaper industry, this new plate features the longer run length and improved on-press performance desired by commercial print users.

In the pipeline for a drupa mid-2008 release is Agfa's new chemistry-free violet plate. Rated at up to 125,000 impressions, it's based on a violet-sensitive adaptation of the coalescence technology used in Agfa's Thermofuse latex emulsions and will require a “clean out gum” processor. According to Mike Davis, CTP marketing manager, the company will first market this new plate to small- and medium-run newspapers, followed by an introduction to the commercial printing marketplace. This product, like the rest of Agfa's violet plate portfolio, is compatible with the new :Avalon LF XT+ platesetter.

Fujifilm has updated its violet plate portfolio, which includes the LP-NNV (for newspaper production) and the LP-NV2, introduced last year. Featuring a durable emulsion for run lengths up to 200,000 impressions unbaked or one million baked, the latter is a high-speed plate that can be safely handled under yellow lights.

Fuji will also be showing a new chemistry-free violet plate at drupa, the Brillia HD PRO-V. Like the recently introduced thermal Brillia HD PRO-T, this negative-working plate features a multi-grain surface and is expected to provide run lengths up to 100,000 impressions. “On-press development” means that the non-image area is dissolved by the press fountain solution then removed with the first few printed sheets.

Kodak also has a non-process offering for on-press development: the negative-working Thermal Direct Plate. Employing an ultra-thin polymer resin coating, any 830 nm thermal platesetter can image these for run lengths up to 100,000 impressions.

As the originator of both processless and chemical-free CTP, Presstek's products have helped spark interest in both workflows. Like Freedom chemistry-free 1064 nm thermal plates, the recently introduced Anthem Pro is intended for imaging with Presstek's line of platesetters. Printing companies that already possess an 830nm thermal platesetter can opt for the Aurora plate, which brings chemistry-free benefits to the majority of thermal platesetters.

Mitsubishi Paper Mills, the world's leading manufacturer of silver halide emulsion polyester and paper plates, launched its new Thermal DigiPlate line of chemistry-free flexible offset printing plates at Graph Expo. Used in conjunction with its low-cost, 1200-dpi thermal platesetter, up to 60 plates per hour can be imaged (18.1×20.8´´ maximum size).

Also at Graph Expo, Heidelberg introduced two new positive-working, no-preheat 830nm thermal plates. The Saphira Thermoplate PA is described as a “high-production workhorse” plate rated for 200,000 impressions unbaked but up to 400,000 baked. In contrast, the just-launched premium Saphira Thermoplate PN offers slightly better resolution, longer run lengths (500,000 unbaked, one million baked) and a “level” grained plate surface.

At Graph Expo Xanté showed a 16.5×25´´ format of its no-process Aspen metal plate, imaged two-up with toner—xerographically—on the firm's new GTO Impressia platesetter. Xanté claims a breakthrough in size, simplicity and pricing—the platesetter is said to price out at less than half the cost of other metal CTP.

Impressia GTO is scheduled to ship before year's end. It includes an Adobe Postscript 3 RIP and generates up to 2400 dpi (150 lpi) output directly from any computer. Total imaging time for the chemistry free process is 72 seconds per grained aluminum plate. Xanté also debuted its Harmony Violet Metal Plates and chemistry at Graph Expo. Rated for up to 250,000 impressions, Harmony may also be baked for run lengths exceeding 500,000. The high-speed emulsion resolves dots from 3-97% at 200 lpi and may be used in conjunction with the company's two-up and four-up Violet Metal platesetters or most other violet CTP devices.

Anocoil, a well-known name in the newspaper industry, aims to translate that popularity into commercial print success. For CTP shops, it has introduced the N-100 thermal, negative-working plate and the 830 T-Plate featuring a positive-working, thermal emulsion. Both employ high-resolution 830nm sensitive coatings rated for more than 150,000 impressions; the N-100 requires a pre-heat oven.

Users of the 830 T-Plate can also benefit from Anocoil's innovative new Turbulator 1 positive thermal processing system. A self-cleaning plate processor with no filters that requires only minimal maintenance, the turbulent development system promotes long developer life without antiox replenishers—made possible by a patented emulsion formulation that also eliminates redeposit problems.

Most North American printers are probably not familiar with Brazil's IBF Corp., yet this quiet powerhouse is the world's largest film converter and the fourth-largest plate manufacturer. The IBF Million Plate is a positive-working, 830nm thermal plate with an electrochemically (EC) grained surface. Rated at 150,000 impressions without baking, it can also be baked for run lengths of one million or more. For violet (410 nm) CTP systems, IBF offers the Million 3V, a photopolymer EC-grained plate that provides up to 250,000 impressions and is ideal for the new generation of 30-milliwatt violet diode platesetters.

Owners of computer-to-conventional-plate (CTcP) devices, such as the basysPrint UV-Setter from Punch Graphix, are the intended audience for IBF's CTcP Offset Plate, a high-speed UV-sensitive plate featuring Ultra Grain EC surface treatment. Providing 1-98% dot reproduction at 200 lpi, it's rated for runs of 250,000 or more.

Ctp Optotec is a new provider of UV, thermal and violet CTP imaging devices that may help the IBF CTcP plate gain wider acceptance. A privately owned German firm offering prepress solutions, CTP and workflow, Ctp Optotec has selected industry veteran Dwight Zilinskas as its North America sales/marketing director. “The team behind Ctp Optotec is not concerned with taking market share away from the existing vendors in this field,” he notes. “We're focused on making computer-to-plate accessible for the 200,000 printing companies around the world who have not yet adopted this technology.”

Its ONE Ctp imaging device is complemented by ONE Workflow for prepress processing. Now available in the U.S. with thermal or violet exposure, the firm's lineup features the ONE 540 (two-up), ONE 750 (four-up) and ONE 1100 (eight-up). ONE is an external drum device with the unique capability to easily switch from one laser type to another while in the field (including thermal, violet and ultraviolet). The UV system (capable of imaging conventional analog plates) will be available in time for drupa.

ONLINE: www.agfa.com fugifilmgs.com graphics.kodak.com presstek.com mitsubishi-paper.com/en screenusa.com us heidelberg.com anocoil.com ibfcorp.com/graphix ctpoptotec.com xante.com ecrm.com