Pre-Press - Computer-to-plate

It seems like just a couple years ago that imagesetters were all the rage. But these days it’s getting increasingly difficult to keep one running due to the shrinking availability of film. Just ask Mike Sternfeld, manager of the Print Shop at California State University-Long Beach. When Kodak stopped making film for his in-plant’s ECRM Mako 3650, he had to turn to a distributor in New York. It started to get very expensive. So recently, after a two-year search, the eight-employee in-plant did away with film altogether and installed a new Presstek Vector TX52 thermal computer-to-plate device running Freedom chemistry-free plates. Included in

Heidelberg Suprasetter 145, Suprasetter 162 and Suprasetter 190: Heidelberg is adding large-format models to its Suprasetter range to coincide with Drupa 2008. The new systems are used in conjunction with the Speedmaster XL 145 and XL 162, and the Suprasetter 190 can also supply plates for other presses, up to a sheet width of 74.8˝. The platesetters are available with throughput speeds of up to 35 plates per hour (pph), with a resolution of either 2,540 or 2,400 dots per inch (dpi) as required. The six cassettes of the plate loading unit enable up to 600 plates in as many as six different formats

HUDSON, NH—February 11, 2008—Presstek, Inc. (Nasdaq: PRST), a leading manufacturer and marketer of digital offset business solutions, today announced the filing of a Complaint with the International Trade Commission (ITC) against Israeli printing plate manufacturer VIM Technologies, Ltd. and its manufacturing partner Hanita Coatings RCA, Ltd. for infringement of Presstek’s patent and trademark rights. Presstek also sued three U.S. based distributors of VIM products: Guaranteed Service & Supplies, Inc., Ohio Graphco Inc., and Recognition Systems Inc., as well as one Canadian based distributor, AteCe Canada. Presstek is seeking, among other things, an Order from the ITC forbidding the importation and sale of

After years of relying on local service bureaus and printers to provide film, Palm Beach County’s Graphics Division has moved into the computer-to-plate (CTP) arena. The Greenacres, Fla.-based in-plant recently added a Presstek Dimension 425 platesetter with an EFI Fiery RIP and the EFI OneFlow PDF workflow. The thermal platesetter is chemistry free; its processor uses water to rinse the metal plates. Manager John D.L. Johnson says his shop loves the faster turnaround time that CTP has brought, as well as the control it gives his in-plant over jobs. The shop worked out a 48-month lease on the equipment. “We were spending about $30,000

Getting money for new equipment is not easy for any in-plant, but community college in-plants in California have a particularly difficult time, thanks to the state’s continuing budget problems. “There is very little capital budget money,” remarks Rich Finner, associate professor, Graphics Technology at the Riverside Community College. “In education, it is particularly difficult to stay abreast with technology.” So when Finner’s in-plant wanted to upgrade to computer-to-plate (CTP) technology, the seven-employee District Printing & Graphics Center had to get creative. First, the Graphics Technology department applied for a $35,000 Vocational and Technical Education Act (VTEA) grant. VTEA funds are distributed by the state

HUDSON, NH—January 31, 2008—Presstek, Inc., a manufacturer and marketer of digital offset printing business solutions, has announced the formation of three strategic business units designed to increase organizational focus on key business areas. Each strategic business unit is led by a Group Product Director. New strategic business units include: • Digital Printing Business Unit, which includes digital presses, consumables and workflow • CTP Business Unit, responsible for digital platemaking systems, consumables and workflow • Traditional Business Unit, consists of polyester CTP platemaking and pressroom supplies “As Presstek’s new management team looks at the addressability of our solutions to the worldwide print market,

MORTSEL, BELGIUM—January 29, 2008—Agfa Graphics announced today that it plans to stop the development and production of computer-to-plate equipment in Wilmington, DE. “This decision is part of our strategy to substantially improve our operational efficiency and competitive position in the highly competitive market of prepress equipment” says Stefaan Vanhooren, President of Agfa Graphics. Agfa Graphics will continue to distribute total solutions to its customers (including a new range of printing plates, equipment, software and service) and has therefore extended its OEM relationship with one of the main manufacturers of commercial Computer-to-Plate equipment. The new wider range of innovative platesetters, replacing Agfa’s high-end

Featuring Presstek’s 52DI for Greater Productivity and Profitability HUDSON, NH—January 22, 2008— Presstek, Inc., the leading manufacturer and marketer of digital offset printing business solutions, today announced that it will be featuring its industry leading direct imaging (DI®) digital offset press and chemistry-free CTP solutions at The Graphics of the Americas trade show in Miami, FL from February 28th to March 1st. At booth #1090, Presstek will showcase its 52DI® digital offset press and a range of CTP solutions specifically designed for printers seeking a faster way to profitably print short-run color work. At the show, the following digital offset printing solutions will

Mark Levin, former president of Sun Chemical’s North American commercial group, has been named president of Presstek’s Americas region. He will report to Jeff Jacobson, Presstek president and CEO. Levin will be responsible for establishing and managing the overall sales, service and customer relationship strategy for the company’s Americas region. Levin has nearly 30 years of experience in the printing industry. Prior to working at Sun, he spent 24 years with Heidelberg.

Xitron, a developer of Raster Image Processors, RIP management software and workflow solutions, is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Started in 1977 by Tom Hamilton, Xitron’s first products were interfaces that provided a direct link between proprietary editorial systems and high-speed phototypesetters, such as the Linotype 202, in newspapers. These interfaces were housed in a blue metal box and the name “Blue Box” became synonymous with the device. Although this technology is considered rudimentary by today’s standards, in the late ’70s it was revolutionary, resulting in the first “open system” concepts that would eventually unlock the doors to desktop publishing. “From the company’s inception through the