Heidelberg will supply a workflow to Colchester, which already uses Heidelberg platesetters, while Creo will install CTP at the groups other UK web offset plants.

A mixture of Trendsetter VLFs and Lotem 800 Quantums will be installed over the next six months, along with Prinergy workflow management, digital proofing systems and Synapse InSite internet portal software.

Polestar chief executive Barry Hibbert said the focus of the 6m investment (PrintWeek, 16 November 2001) had been on achieving efficient, reliable production, system resilience and delivering the advantages of filmless production.

Polestar said it chose Creo because its technology best fitted the groups strategy of using imaging hubs, at Watford and Leeds/Bradford, as centres of digital excellence.

The Watford and Leeds/Bradford sites will receive, impose and proof digital files before they are sent for output at the groups Watford, Petty, Chantry, Watmoughs, Connect, Corporate Print, Chromoworks and Anglia sites.

Creos Prinergy workflow was ideally suited to our type of work, said Polestar Imaging managing director Peter Pretlove. Polestar said there was little inter-trading between group plants and Colchester so the need for compatibility was less important.

Polestars East Kilbride, Bradford and Hungarian operations already use Trendsetters. The group has also started using Creos Staccato software for stochastic screening.

Creo UK sales director Mark Nixon said the deal had been one of the most prestigious and chased CTP contracts in recent years.

Story by Gordon Carson