We must address every action, every activity of getting a job to press and then delivered, whatever the run length, he said. Developing all the necessary tools is not a small step for Agfa, but it will be a giant step for our customers.

One of Agfas key objectives is to grow its new industrial printing division, where its recent purchase of Dotrix will provide a springboard into high-speed ink-jet technology. Dotrix gives us a flying start in ink-jet, which is a better solution for graphic arts than just toner, stated Jan Van Daele, vice president of imaging solutions at the company.

Its new or upgraded products for Drupa include a chemistry-free plate, the Azura, based on Agfas existing Thermolite plate technology used for DI presses.

Processless will be a major topic at Drupa, said CTP director Theo De Keersmaecker. As we have seen in the past we have to differentiate between working products and technology demonstrations. Azura is real and it works and it will be available at Drupa.

Agfa is targeting Azura at lower-volume customers where the workload varies from day to day. The plate cannot be baked, but is suitable for run lengths of up to 100,000. After exposure, the non-image areas are removed in a plate gumming unit. It is chemistry-free, not processless, but the technology offers a truly processless possibility in the future, De Keersmaecker added.

Also new at Drupa will be 30mW violet diode versions of the Galileo and Palladio platesetters. These will be able to expose Agfas N91v photopolymer plate. Agfa is expanding its use from newspapers into the commercial market.

New software for soft and remote proofing will also be at Drupa, and Agfa is also opening up its software and media for use with non-Agfa kit for the first time.

Story by Jo Francis