Aurora Pro is a high sensitivity, non-ablative plate that has been certified for Screen and Kodak platesetters and will work with other thermal machines.

After imaging, the plate just needs a water wash before printing and can be used on runs of up to 25,000 impressions.

The company claimed that, as the pioneer of processless CTP, it is fighting back against the emergence of rival suppliers with the new plate.

"Previously our plate has been tied to our own hardware," Presstek Europe sales and operations director Ray Hillhouse said.

"Aurora Pro gives us a base of users looking for a processless plate to use in their existing thermal imagers. We went for Screen and Kodak certification first because they have the largest installed base, but ultimately we want to qualify Aurora Pro in every CTP device."

Presstek has also launched the Compass range of platesetters to expose the Aurora Pro.

The range consists of the B1 8022 and 8030, which produce 22 and 30 plates per hour respectively and the B2 4015 and 4038, which produce 15 and 38 plates per hour.

The Compass range is made for Presstek by an undisclosed third-party supplier.