Chicago, IL (Graph Expo) – October 15, 2006 (Booth #4218) – Agfa Graphics announced today that its chemistry-free :Azura plate, with ThermoFuse™ technology, is now being used by more than one-thousand customers worldwide, illustrating ThermoFuse’s dominance as one of the most popular Computer-to-Plate (CtP) processing technologies available for the graphic arts and printing industries in recent years.

ThermoFuse physically bonds images to the plate without any chemical processing. The result is highly stable and predictable thermal imaging that effectively eliminates variables and compromises on press.

“Users worldwide are discovering through :Azura just how significant and beneficial our ThermoFuse technology is. Not only does it eliminate chemistry from the platemaking process, but it also requires far fewer remakes due to its wide exposure latitude which, in turn, saves time and money,” said Susan Wittner, marketing director, North America. “With :Azura surpassing more than one-thousand customer installations, Agfa is showing not only its dedication to quality products and technologies, but also the capacity to market it successfully around the globe in support of all our customers.”

:Azura is a thermal, negative working plate specially designed for low- to medium-volume commercial printing. With ThermoFuse technology simplifying platemaking and removing all processing variables, :Azura provides reliable and stress-free CtP imaging.

“Agfa’s :Azura has helped increase our production at an astounding rate of about 40 percent, and that has changed the way we do business, in a very positive way,” said on Ron Wood, general manager of Christian Press (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada). “In addition, being chemistry-free, it has much less of an impact on the environment, and that’s something that is very important to us.”

ThermoFuse is also available in Agfa’s low-chemistry thermal :Amigo plate and the process-free aluminum direct-to-press :Thermolite plate. The patented ThermoFuse technology uses millions of individual, heat-sensitive thermoplastic pearls that are melted and fused together to form a firm bond to the substrate in its exposed areas.

About Agfa
The Agfa-Gevaert Group is one of the world’s leading imaging and information technology companies. Agfa develops, manufactures and markets analog and digital systems for the printing industry (Agfa Graphics), the healthcare sector (Agfa HealthCare) and specific industrial applications (Agfa Materials).
Agfa's headquarters are in Mortsel, Belgium. The company is present in 40 countries and has agents in another 100 countries throughout the world. The Agfa-Gevaert Group achieved a turnover of 3,308 million euro in 2005.

About Agfa Graphics
Agfa Graphics offers integrated prepress solutions to the printing industry. These solutions comprise consumables, hardware, software and services for production workflow, project and color management. Computer-to-film, computer-to-plate and digital proofing systems have earned Agfa Graphics a worldwide leadership position in the commercial and package printing and the newspaper publishing markets.

Agfa Graphics is rapidly expanding its offerings in the growing digital inkjet market. Its experience in both imaging and emulsion technology has provided the expertise required for making an assortment of high-quality UV and solvent-based inks. Joint development and manufacturing partnerships with industry leaders expand its technological reach and allow the company to develop comprehensive digital solutions for printing posters, banners, signage, displays, labels and packaging materials.

Product and company information can be found on Agfa’s home page on the World Wide Web at: www.agfa.com.