Pre-Press - Computer-to-plate

Sustainability starts at the corporate level. Several vendors are taking steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, use alternative energy sources, recycle and more.

Chemistry-free computer-to-plate continues to make inroads into in-plants. In the January issue of IPG, we profile two recent CTP installations, at Bucknell University, in Lewisburg, Pa., and at Minnesota State University-Mankato.

Bucknell recently installed a Presstek Vector TX52, obviating the need to dispose of hazardous chemicals, notes Lisa Hoover, associate director. Not only that, she adds: “We’ve seen a definite increase in quality.”

GRAND RAPIDS, MI—Sept 3, 2008—Konica Minolta Graphic Imaging has long been a leading supplier to the graphics arts industry. However the traditional silver-halide Graphic Arts film market is shrinking astonishingly fast due to the surge of worldwide digitization. Graphic Arts film consumption in the U.S. had declined by 85 % from its peak and will continue to decline by double digits in the future. Considering the decline of film consumption, the high cost of silver and the future growth of CTP, Konica Minolta Graphic Imaging has made the decision to phase out the manufacturing of silver based Graphic Arts film and concentrate

The green movement isn’t just good for the environment; it can help your in-plant justify the equipment it needs. At the San Diego County Office of Education, the 18-employee in-plant had been getting by for quite some time with its aging imagesetter, vacuum frame and plate processor. But the chemicals involved in making plates were proving to be a nuisance, especially in an eco-minded state like California. So to wipe out the need for those chemicals and dodge the necessity of replacing that old equipment, the in-plant installed a Presstek TX-52 computer-to-plate system running chemistry-free Freedom plates. Not only has the shop saved

OAKDALE, MN—August 11, 2008—NELA is pleased to announce the signing of an agreement with Punch Graphix to assume first-tier service & support responsibilities for all existing Strobbe benders worldwide. In Mid-2007 Strobbe bender users were notified that Strobbe (Punch Graphix) would no longer support or honor service or maintenance contracts on the installed Strobbe plate bending equipment in the US and that any future service would be facilitated through their service office in Belgium. With this new agreement, NELA will now provide service, parts and ongoing support for existing Strobbe benders installed worldwide starting immediately. “We look forward to supporting the existing

DIGITAL PRINTING technology had its strongest showing yet at Drupa 2008, the world’s largest graphic arts trade show. The two-week event, which took place in Düsseldorf, Germany, last month, lived up to its billing as “The Ink-jet Drupa,” with “green printing” being the only challenger as a show theme, since virtually every exhibitor touched on it. About 391,000 visitors prowled the 19 halls of Drupa this year, (see sidebar about in-plants that attended), checking out the 1,971 exhibitors from 52 countries. Most of the attention, though, centered on the new digital printing devices, particularly those in the ink-jet category—though with prices ranging from $1

ROCHESTER, N.Y., MAY 2—More than 300 members of the Graphic Users Association (GUA) of Kodak Solutions gathered last week at the Wynn Las Vegas to learn about the latest techniques, products and best practices for advancing their graphic communications business. The GUA’s annual North American Conference, sponsored by Kodak’s Graphic Communications Group, included 50 presentations and roundtable discussions. Subject matter experts from Kodak and the GUA exchanged information with attendees on a wide range of topics, such as workflow, color relationship management, growing a digital print business, the impact of offset class inkjet, sustainability, transitioning from a printer to marketing services provider, trends in

ONE OF THE smartest things an in-plant can do to reduce production time and environmental impact is to go computer-to-plate (CTP), eliminating the entire film imaging and developing stage and all of the toxic waste issues involved. The quality, speed and efficiency improvements of CTP make it an excellent business decision for almost any shop. Many have already done just that, and are now ready for the next step up: low-process/chemistry-free or no-process plates. Going green has been a big story in the print business for the past decade, and chemistry-free plates are the next wave. “Non-process plate technology will improve to meet

VALHALLA, NY—April 28, 2008—Fujifilm Graphic Systems U.S.A., Inc. announced today that Masahiro Ota is the company’s new president and chief executive officer. Ota replaces Hiro Tada, who has taken a new position as president and chief executive officer with Fujifilm’s Medical Imaging Division. “Fujifilm is well-positioned to face this challenging market, thanks not only to our ability to produce quality, reliable plates and prepress equipment, but also our ability to integrate new technologies - such as digital printing and wide format imaging - into our customers’ operations,” said Ota. “I’m looking forward to the taking on the challenges of this new position and working

Heidelberg Suprasetter 145, Suprasetter 162 and Suprasetter 190: Heidelberg is adding large-format models to its Suprasetter range to coincide with Drupa 2008. The new systems are used in conjunction with the Speedmaster XL 145 and XL 162, and the Suprasetter 190 can also supply plates for other presses, up to a sheet width of 74.8˝. The platesetters are available with throughput speeds of up to 35 plates per hour (pph), with a resolution of either 2,540 or 2,400 dots per inch (dpi) as required. The six cassettes of the plate loading unit enable up to 600 plates in as many as six different formats