CTP - Computer to Plate
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Adds Three KODAK GENERATION NEWS CTP Systems to Maximize Throughput and Save Production Time
Thursday 08. January 2009 - Thermal quality and stability seen as positives for KODAK CTP Solution
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, a Cox Enterprises newspaper, purchased three KODAK GENERATION NEWS Platesetters with the X-Speed option to enhance productivity and increase quality in its print operations. The newspaper uses KODAK THERMALNEWS GOLD Digital Plates with its new GENERERATION NEWS Platesetters.
“We liked a lot of things about the KODAK GENERATION NEWS equipment. We had a large selection committee involved in the process, including people from production, IT, maintenance and prepress. We had good feedback from a number of sources about KODAK CTP devices,” said Richard Hawes, Senior Director/Production at the newspaper company, which serves a total audience of 2.2 million consumers each week. “We like the quality and the stability that KODAK Thermal CTP Devices offer.”
In addition to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the plant is a regional printing site for The New York Times and produces a number of community publications. Hawes said the large plate storage capacity and automation capabilities of the GENERATION NEWS System were attractive to the selection committee.
The GENERATION NEWS System offers a new level of productivity and automation in thermal digital platesetting to help newspaper printers better manage deadline pressures. The plattesetter is available in three speeds, capable of imaging up to 300 plates per hour. The KODAK GENERATION NEWS Platesetter has multiple plate cassettes, enabling fast plate loading and unloading of multiple plate sizes. Newspaper printers can load up to 1,600 broadsheet plates or 800 panorama plates, running continuously with no operator intervention. Integrated plate size selection, slip sheet removal, transport to the imaging engine, centering, and registration are all automated to eliminate errors.
“The KODAK GENERATION NEWS Platesetter improves productivity without sacrificing the quality and stability of thermal imaging systems. Depending on plate size and the unit purchased, the system can image up to 300 plates per hour and up to 200 lpi screen ruling,” said Jack Knadjian, Vice President, Worldwide Newspaper Segment and Solutions Marketing, Kodaks Graphic Communications Group. “The GENERATION NEWS Platesetter provides shortened makeready times and consistency during print runs, saving time and money.”
The GENERATION NEWS Platesetter uses proven KODAK SQUARESPOT Imaging Technology, eliminating process variation found in visible light and UV systems. The stability of the system means higher quality and more consistent production, reducing the need for remakes. In addition, the high speed of the system allows customers to achieve the same productivity with fewer plate lines, reducing their equipment investment and space requirements.
KODAK THERMALNEWS GOLD Digital Plates meet the rigorous demands of newspaper printing while delivering outstanding resolution for premium newspaper printing and commercial quality printing. THERMALNEWS GOLD Plates offer run lengths of more than 200,000 impressions without postbaking. Rapid imaging and processing, faster makeready and plate reliability give newspapers extra editorial time, and the clean working, low pH, low consumption developer can help reduce processing costs.
“The KODAK GENERATION NEWS System gives newspapers the flexibility to efficiently handle a variety of different publications and semi-commercial print jobs,” said Nathanael Eijbersen, Product Manager, Newspaper Output Devices, Kodaks Graphic Communications Group. “It is designed for high volume pressrooms looking to produce the type of quality output that attracts more commercial business.”