Agfa unveiled two new CtP systems for newspaper printers at Ifra 2005

IFRA 2005 > AGFA 

Agfa Expands Violet CtP Range With New Platesetters at More Affordable Cost.
:Advantage Xm and Xs Bring Digital Platemaking to Medium-sized Newspaper Printers.

Agfa unveiled two new CtP systems for newspaper printers at Ifra. The :Advantage Xm and :Advantage Xs bring the benefits of computer-to-plate operations within the reach of newspapers with limited investment capabilities or medium throughput requirements. The new CtP systems are also suitable as backup systems or for printers with hybrid portfolios including semi-commercial work such as supplements and catalogues.

:Advantage Xm (for Manual) and Xs (for Semi-Automatic) are loaded manually. Each offers a throughput of 85 plates per hour and multiple resolutions from 1000 to 2540 dpi. Thanks to their 3-point FleX registration system, they can image any plate format up to 1040 x 690 mm (41 x 25 in.) panorama. :Advantage Xm/Xs work with :Lithostar silver based or :N91v photopolymer plates. The Xs offers online processing using Agfa's LP68/85 or VPP 68/85 processors.

Both models are managed by :Arkitex Newsdrive software to optimise engine speed and reliability. Agfa has also created a full range of specific :Arkitex workflow packages for page pairing, tracking, imposition and RIPping to match the needs of :Advantage Xm/Xs users. 

"As we are unveiling the units at Ifra, we have already taken orders for eight systems to be installed before the end of the year," said Emma Isichei, director of Agfa's newspaper business. "Our customers are telling us that there is a clear need for these more affordable computer-to-plate systems today. With more newspaper installations worldwide than any other vendor, we are now bringing the low cost of ownership and the print quality of violet imaging to printing sites with modest throughput requirements."

This post has been updated