The San Diego County Office of Education recently added a Presstek TX-52 computer-to-plate system running chemistry-free Freedom plates.

The green movement isn’t just good for the environment; it can help your in-plant justify the equipment it needs.

At the San Diego County Office of Education, the 18-employee in-plant had been getting by for quite some time with its aging imagesetter, vacuum frame and plate processor. But the chemicals involved in making plates were proving to be a nuisance, especially in an eco-minded state like California.

So to wipe out the need for those chemicals and dodge the necessity of replacing that old equipment, the in-plant installed a Presstek TX-52 computer-to-plate system running chemistry-free Freedom plates.

Not only has the shop saved the cost of adding a silver recovery system—plus the cost of film, chemicals and other supplies—it has drastically cut down on the time it takes to make a plate.

“When you go to a chemistry-free, water-based system, it’s very easy,” lauds David Liss, Graphic Communications manager. “You’re just running direct from our layout and design department right to the unit.”

This elimination of steps has also boosted the quality of plates—no more worries of dust contamination or weak seals on the vacuum frame.

“The screens are much crisper,” Liss notes.

The in-plant got its feet wet in CTP with a Xanté platemaker. But for the longer-run brochures, lunch menus and professional development flyers it prints on its two Heidelberg QM46 plus presses, the shop needed a larger CTP device. Liss called some local printers that use the Presstek TX52 and got good reports. So the in-plant took bids and the platesetter was delivered over the summer.

“It went in with relative ease,” Liss reports. “It integrated instantly with what we currently had.”

Next, the in-plant plans to upgrade its digital printers and add online ordering.