New Solutions in CTP Article

Australasian Printer Magazine

There are plenty of options for printers looking at CTP with Grafika Links offering some innovative solutions

Presstek and Kimoto are two of the lesser known brands in CTP, however they are gaining a growing following as alternatives to better known brands, due to their innovative approach, and the service support of supplier Grafika Links.

Grafika Links has been distributing the Kimosetter range since 1993, when it was used to replace the old analogue Itek platemakers. Michael Malone, managing director of Grafika Links says, "Kimosetter is for smaller print companies to get into CTP without the threatening price than some other systems have."

In those 17 years the quality of output has risen significantly, with the new Kimosetter 525 inkjet solution targeted at printers running everything from a Heidelberg Speedmaster 52 down. Malone says, "Printers we have using the 525 are achieving superb results. The Kimosetter 525 has been designed from the ground up as an inkjet setter, and easily achieves 160lpi, and it can use FM screening. It is not a conversion of an existing lightweight inkjet printing device, and because of this Kimoto has manufactured a heavy duty CTP that is solidly built, so in the future you do not  have registration and fit issues, basically it is built to last a long time."

Malone says the Kimosetter 525 can do both polyester and metal plates and is capable of runs of  more than 30,000 prints. The local distributor adds that it represents product design from more than 50 years experience producing and supplying products to the printing industry including the very successful Kimosetter 340 and 410 models.

According to manufacturer Kimoto, the Kimosetter 525 provides more capabilities while still maintaining an environmentally friendly, no chemical and no waste approach. Backed up by Kimoto's ISO14000 certification, Kimoto is ensuring that plate making is as green as it can be.

The Kimosetter 525 will provide the choice of loading polyester plates in bulk or metal plates one at a time. Long runs or high quality halftone work are not an issue for Kimosetter users. Four-color work in conventional halftone at up to 155 lpi is now a simple operation for Kimosetter users.

Hobart-based printer Whatsinaname Tasmania placed the world's first order for a Kimosetter 525 CTP unit and has since become the first Australian company to install the unit.

The printer, which previously used a Kimosetter 410 CTP unit was drawn to the 525 as it is the latest in computer to plate technology, and is completely chemical free, eliminating the need for any chemicals in the platemaking process, yet is still capable of producing high quality colour printing.

Robert Winterbottom, proprietor of Whatsinaname Tasmania says, "This type of printing technology is an important environmental initiative that is consistent with maintaining Tasmania's clean, green image."

Whatsinaname Tasmania also reports that it is currently undergoing accreditation for Sustainable Green Print and the installation of the $45,000 Kimosetter 525, which is certified to ISO14001, is further commitment to it environmental philosophy.

Winterbottom continues, "For an industry that is often thought of as having a significant environmental footprint, this just demonstrates the printing industry's commitment to lessening the environmental impact of our printing processes."

Grafika Links also supplies Presstek, which Malone says 'invented chemistry free CTP'. Malone says Presstek stands alone among CTP developers because it not only manufactures the CTP unit and the plate, but also the laser. The thermal Presstek CTP plates use red laser diodes, and use an ablative exposure method, which Malone says leads to consistency.

According to Malone printers choose Presstek CTP not only because as thermal devices they are daylight operating, and they are chemical free, but because the plates are almost white and the exposed image is dense black, so it is easy to visually proof the plate. The plates also do not require gumming as well, which Malone says, "further goes towards been a totally green system."

Presstek's CTP portfolio consists of the Compass, Dimension, Vector for chemical free metal plate production, and also the DPM range of polyester platemakers. The Compass Series is highly automated, open platform, 4-up and 8-up platesetters that support up to 250lpi with production speeds ranging from 15 to 38 plates per hour. Compass platesetters image Presstek Aurora Pro chemistry-free plates and other third-party low energy thermal plates.

Dimension Pro 800 is a semi-automatic 8-up entry-level to mid-range CTP system, imaging 11 to 15 plates per hour at up to 2400dpi at 200lpi on Presstek's chemistry-free thermal metal Anthem Pro and Aurora Pro plates, and other third-party low energy thermal plates. The Dimension Excel Series can be configured as a standard (Dimension425) or high production (Dimension450) platemaker. The Dimension 450 is equipped with an automatic plate loader and outputs plates to an automated water wash system. Dimension systems are optimised for chemistry-free Anthem Pro plates. The Vector FL52 is an easy-to-use small format (52cm and under) chemistry-free platemaking solution that is designed to bring high quality affordable metal platemaking to small commercial, quick and in-plant printers.

Presstek's digital plate products for CTP applications include Anthem Pro, Aurora Pro, Freedom Pro and PearlDry. Plates are available in 2, 4, and 8-page formats. Anthem, Aurora and Freedom are chemistry free thermal plates, while Pearldry is chemistry free waterless.

Click Here for Whatsinaname Kimosetter 525 Press Release