Taking The Direct Route

On the Speedmaster DI 74, operators must hang the plates, though they are automatically loaded and tightened. This takes about a minute for each. All four plates are then imaged in less than four minutes. Total makeready time is about eight minutes.

The 74 has imaging devices on each printing unit. A single laser scans across the plates. Using Creo Squarespot thermal imaging technology, plates are simultaneously imaged in up to six printing units at 2,400 dpi. By comparison, The Quickmaster uses a common impression cylinder with four printing units around it. Each unit has a bank of 16 lasers. Laser beams remove silicone on the waterless plates to expose polyester areas, which accept ink. At Drupa, the new CP2000 operating system will move to the 74.