CTP - Computer to Plate
Agfa Graphics Shows and Demonstrates New Products at Graph Expo 2008
Wednesday 29. October 2008 - New chem-free plate, CtP system, workflow software and UV inkjet printer among technologies available for demos
Agfa Graphics announced today that several new products are making their debut in North America at Graph Expo, which runs October 26th through October 29th at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois.
Among the new products and services is the :Azura TS thermal CtP plate, an upgrade of the original, market-leading, chemistry-free :Azura plate. :Azura TS offers up to 50% higher throughput and even sharper contrast for visual inspections.
Agfas CtP experts will be on hand showing Agfas broad CtP plate technologies, such as the PIA/GATF Intertech Award-winning :Energy Elite plate, and several other new thermal, violet and chemistry-free plates. Graph Expo attendees can also see the new :Avalon N8-50E platesetter, part of the :Avalon family of platesetters.
For those interested in wide-format inkjet printing, Agfas :Anapurna XLS for indoor and outdoor signs and displays is making its debut in North America. Specially designed to handle heavy workloads, the :Anapurna XLS UV printer is set apart from its competition by its extremely high image quality. The XLS deploys brand new, Agfa-developed technology including the Universal Print Head with resolutions up to 1440 dpi, a closed loop inking system, automated media handling and maintenance systems to ensure unrivaled quality of output with minimal operator intervention. It prints on rigid and flexible roll media in widths up to 100″ offering the ultimate in media flexibility. The XLS provides the best value proposition with the highest quality at the lowest total cost of ownership.
“Graph Expo attendees will find that Agfa has continued in its long tradition of developing the most advanced products and services to the graphic arts industry,” said Susan Wittner, marketing director, Agfa Graphics, North America. “Agfa has developed environmentally-friendly plate technologies, advanced wide format inkjet printing solutions, automated workflow systems, and other technologies that create efficiencies and profitability without sacrificing output quality.”
Other products Agfa is showing at the booth include:
:Anapurna Mv – a 63-inch six-color hybrid printer that also prints spot or overall UV varnish to further improve printed materials’ cosmetic appearance and add customer appeal. The :Anapurna Mv uses state-of-the-art 14 picoliter printheads and Agfa-made UV-curable :Anapurna ink to bring photo quality UV technology to the wide format market at an affordable investment cost.
:Anapurna M4F – a robust, entry-level four-color industrial inkjet flatbed printer designed for printing high quality POP, displays, posters, exhibition panels, stage graphics, ad panels and more. With a print resolution of 720×1440 dpi, the M4F prints on a large variety of media up to 63 inches wide. The optional roll-to-roll unit offers additional versatility. The Mv and M4F together with the :Anapurna M, provide a full range of features designed to deliver high quality indoor and outdoor signs and displays.
:M-Press – digital imaging and inkjet technology coupled with Thieme’s design and manufacturing expertise in screen printing equipment has resulted in a world class high-speed inkjet press. Its modular design combines the best of digital printing with the best of screen printing.
:Dotrix display – The :Dotrix showroom will feature folding cartons, point-of-purchase displays, back-lits, industrial labeling, security, variable data, flexible packaging as well as on-demand newspaper and trans-promotional printing.
:Apogee Suite – integrates and automates the print communication process from end-to-end, starting with content creation all the way through to print and post-press. :Apogee Suite contains four key products — :Apogee Publish, :Apogee Portal 5.0, :Apogee Prepress 5.0 and :Apogee Color — for improved workflow efficiency, productivity and higher output quality.
:Apogee Media – flexible content management and editorial workflow platform designed to assist with the workflow of high-volume, print-based or web-based media projects.
:InkSave – an integrated and automated option to :Apogee Prepress that intelligently applies a high degree of Grey Component Replacement (GCR) to reduce the amount of ink used while maintaining a high quality color output. In addition to using up to 30% less ink, :InkSave provides greater grey balance control on press, faster drying times and better tolerance to mis-registration on press.
:Arkitex OptiInk – fully automated solution that processes PDF files and optimizes ink utilization in newspaper printing, offering the potential for significant ink savings while maintaining full quality print.
:Arkitex IntelliTune – image processing software for newspapers, reduces image processing time, improves quality and speeds time to press by eliminating time-consuming image correction.
:SYNAPS – polyester-based, synthetic paper for use on offset printing presses, specially designed to provide high-quality printability and quick turnaround with fast drying times.
Agfa Presentations
Tom Saggiomo, Agfa Graphics president and CEO, is giving the keynote presentation on Sunday, October 26, from 9:00-10:00 a.m. at the GASC/PIA/GATF Teachers Conference. Additionally, Agfas Steve Musselman, senior manager, Corporate Accounts and CtP expert — and an NAPL Critical Trends mainstay since the mid 90s — is one of the panelists participating in the NAPLs Critical Trends breakfast discussion during Graph Expo. The event is being held Monday, October 27, from 7:30-10:00 am at Chicagos McCormick Place.