CTP - Computer to Plate

Presstek to Showcase Chemistry-Free CTP and Environmentally-friendly DI Press Solutions at Gulf Print 2009

Tuesday 31. March 2009 - Leader in true chemistry-free CTP delivers innovation and environmental benefits

Presstek, Inc., a leading manufacturer and marketer of digital offset printing, announces that it will be showing its industry-leading chemistry-free platemaking and DI digital offset press solutions at Gulf Print 2009. The highly productive and versatile 8-page platemaking CTP solution, the Presstek Dimension Pro 800, and the highly automated Presstek 34DI digital offset press will be featured on stand E595.

Raymond Hillhouse, Sales and Operations Director for Presstek Europe, commented: “We’re looking forward to exhibiting at Gulf Print 09, as the Middle East is one of the fastest growing markets in the world for printing. It’s the ideal platform to feature our cost-efficient and environmentally friendly DI press and CTP solutions, which dramatically reduce or eliminate chemistry and water usage in their operations. We will demonstrate how these solutions enable a streamlined workflow that results in shorter printing cycles and lowers overall production costs, with no compromise in quality.”

Presstek’s True Chemistry-free Dimension Pro 800 CTP Metal Platemaking Solution
At Gulf Print, Presstek will demonstrate how its chemistry-free metal-based CTP solutions open up additional business opportunities, enabling compliance with environmental regulations and requirements, while delivering a more profitable and competitive business model. Over the past 20 years, Presstek has taken the lead in delivering CTP solutions with a minimal environmental footprint. “Presstek is a pioneer in the delivery of chemistry-free CTP solutions, and we have long been able to demonstrate how faster, more cost-effective prepress, enabled by chemistry-free systems, can make it easier for print service providers to improve turnaround times and profitability,” stated Ray Hillhouse.

Presstek’s chemistry-free CTP systems deliver significant benefits:
Improve consistency due to less steps in the workflow and the elimination of chemical processing
Increase cost savings through the elimination of platemaking chemistry costs, including the acquisition, storage, management, reporting and disposal of chemistry
Confidence in job cost estimating with a more predictable cost per plate and less need to remake plates due to imbalances in chemistry

Presstek Dimension Pro 800 Platesetter
On display at Gulf Print, Presstek’s 8-page Dimension Pro 800, is an excellent entry-level to mid-range eight-page CTP solution. It delivers performance, ease-of-use and a low cost of operation, which provides companies the opportunity to become more capable, profitable and competitive. In combination with Presstek’s chemistry-free CTP plates, the Dimension Pro 800 offers multiple advantages over other platemaking systems. The amount of time, labor and materials required for platemaking are significantly reduced, while accuracy, consistency and pressroom performance improve. Dimension Pro images plates up to 45 x 33 inches, at speeds of up to 11 plates per hour with Presstek’s Anthem Pro plate, and up to 15 plates per hour with Presstek’s Aurora Pro plate.

Presstek Chemistry-free Aurora Pro Plates
The Aurora Pro provides a true chemistry-free plate that can be imaged on a range of thermal platesetters, including Presstek’s new Compass Series and Dimension Pro 800 platesetters, and several models distributed by Screen and Kodak (Creo). Aurora Pro’s fast, efficient imaging allows qualified thermal CTP systems to run at maximum throughput. Aurora Pro is a daylight-safe plate that requires only a simple water wash after imaging. No chemistry, no baking and no gumming are required. Aurora Pro outputs resolution of 1% to 99% dots at 200 lpi (80 l/cm) and stochastic (FM) screening is easily handled. Once imaged and washed the plate displays a high contrast image that can be examined and measured—providing significant cost savings by making error correction possible before going on press.

Aurora Pro’s grained anodized aluminum surface provides excellent ink/water balance properties for superior pressroom performance, including fast roll-up performance for reduced makeready time and reduced waste. The plate is rated for run lengths of 25,000 impressions and is suitable for a wide range of short run commercial printing applications. In addition, Aurora Pro plates have a strong resistance to UV inks and solvents, resulting in the ability to use a single plate for both conventional and UV printing.

Presstek 34DI Digital Offset Press
Presstek’s 34DI press, a highly automated sheetfed, four-color digital offset press, offers one of the most profitable solutions for quick turnaround, short-run high quality color printing. The 34DI press does not require a separate prepress system since the chemistry-free plates are imaged directly on the press. The Presstek 34DI offers one of the lowest costs per sheet at run lengths of 500 to 20,000, which offers a key advantage since 80 percent of the color printing market is 5,000 impressions or less, according to Dr. Joe Webb, director of WhatTheyThink.com’s Economics and Research Center. In addition, more jobs can be delivered in less time with the DI’s ability to go from digital file to sellable color within 10 minutes while delivering up to 300 lpi and stochastic screening – without incurring additional time or expense.

Producing up to 7,000 sheets per hour with a maximum sheet size of 340 x 460 mm, the 34DI press is the most efficient means of producing fast turnaround short-run, high quality color on a wide range of substrates from 0.06 to 0.5 mm thick. All plates are simultaneously imaged on-press, in precise register, and the press comes up to color quickly; in as few as 20 sheets. This is especially important when using expensive printing stocks. The DI’s waterless printing ensures fast drying and reduced water consumption, and its chemistry-free platemaking combined with reduced paper waste also ensures cost effective production and an optimum environmental footprint.

http://www.presstek.com
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