Almost all the big newspapers are visiting Drupa. We have to look at the efficiency of our marketing spend and we are talking to Ifra about the best solution for Ifra and Agfa, said Kurt Smits, director of Agfas newspaper business unit.

Agfa, which has at least 50% of the newspaper CTP market, expects 75% of its newspaper CTP installations this year to be violet.

It offers the lowest cost of ownership with the quality and speed required. The majority of newspapers need automation and high speed, therefore visible light is the right solution, said Smits.

It has installed 15 Advantage violet CTP systems since Ifra last October, and has a further 30 on order.

At Drupa it will show the Advantage CL and CLS, with multiple cassettes to hold up to three plate sizes online. Speed is 160pph and 220pph respectively, and Agfa will target the machines at newspaper and commercial web printers.

Smits said Agfa would also be extending its Expert Services consultancy offering to newspaper clients. We have a deep understanding of newspapers and will make that expertise available to clients, he added.

Story by Jo Francis