The firm has also pledged to introduce the new Adobe PDF Engine into its workflow products, although a workable implementation based on the PDF Print Engine will not be seen until the end of this year. It added that its current workflow technology already delivers many of the benefits of the new RIP.

The PlateRite FX870 (pictured), which can also image digital letterpress plates, is the first of a family of flexo platesetters. "It ties in with the VLF PlateRites for the packaging market," said Screen Europe marketing manager Tim Taylor.

The thermal platesetter can produce digital flexo plates up to 870x735mm and can be applied to the printing of labels and flexible packaging, as well as corrugated, carton and security printing.

Using DuPont Cyrel and Asahikasei flexo plates, the machine can produce images at 2,400 or 2,540dpi resolutions with screen rulings up to 200lpi.

It is compatible with Screen's packaging software PackStudio SE, which is based on Artwork Systems' ArtPro, soon to be integrated into Screen's Trueflow workflow.

Screen claims it now has the widest range of 2-36pp platesetters for the broadest range of applications.