Agfa Graphics Demonstrates Chemistry-free Violet-laser Polymer Digital Plate.

Previews Technology at Ipex to Support Further Growth of Violet CtP in Commercial and Newspaper Printing.

• Press release
• Birmingham, UK (Ipex, Hall 6 booth C10)
• April 04, 2006 17:45

The Agfa Graphics stand at Ipex offers showgoers a technology preview of a working chemistry-free plate for Violet-laser CtP. Agfa Graphics’ violet chemistry-free plate will use ‘photopolymerisation’ as the digital imaging principle. After the violet laser forms the printing image, no chemical process affects or alters it in any way. Prior to a cleanout step, the plate is preheated to stabilise and harden the printing image so that non-image areas can be removed safely using preservative gum.

The speed of the plate material being previewed is the same as a regular polymer plate (50µJ/cm2) for full throughput in all current violet-laser CtP units, which means existing and new violet CtP users will be able to upgrade current installations to chemistry-free plates.

The new plate offers good visual contrast, and is very robust for problem-free pressroom handling. On press, it features high chemical resistance even under difficult printing circumstances.

Plate imaging is 100% digital. No chemical or processing parameters affect the printing image such as it has been written by the violet laser. Agfa Graphics expects the new plate to offer the same high stability as its thermal chemistry-free plate :Azura, which is already in use with well over 600 printers.

"The success of :Azura has taught us that many printing companies are eager to adopt chemistry-free CtP if in addition to low waste generation, the plate has the robustness, stability and contrast that press minders require," said Agfa Graphics vice-president of Global Sales and Communications, Marc Op de Beeck. "We do not want any printers to make wrong assumptions about our future CtP direction, however. The benefits of chemistry-free digital plates will soon be available for violet CtP. Small and medium sized commercial printers and newspapers choosing a CtP system today must know that there is no reason to give up the low cost of ownership, the reliability and the speed of violet CtP.

There is no need to wait for higher power lasers: the technology we are demonstrating today proves the feasibility of violet chemistry-free plates with all current violet platesetters. If our tests and developments continue successfully, we are hoping to have many happy customers using this new technology by the end of next year."

About Thermal and Violet CtP.

Agfa Graphics has supported both visible-light and thermal laser technology from the very beginning of the computer-to-plate revolution. The company believes that a printer's choice of laser source should be guided by cost of ownership, the throughput and the quality requirements of his application. Agfa Graphics was the first to bring violet lasers to digital platemaking in 2000 and the first to make chemistry-free digital plates a commercial success in 2004.

While Agfa Graphics is launching :Energy next-generation thermal plates at Ipex, the company continues to research and develop a broad portfolio of technologies that help printers Stay Ahead.

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