Firing On All Cylinders

"By eliminating costly and variable steps, the direct-to-press approach offers the most efficient and cost effective workflow," he says.

In most cases, the entire digital imaging kit for a press—lasers, digital controls and cleaning systems—costs less than a comparable CTP device, he says. The resulting cost structure for short-run production, combined with the marketing potential of quick-turnaround service, results in higher margins, he says.