Pride of place on the stand is its computer-to-conventional platesetter (CTCP), the Dicon.

I think we have the most exciting launch at Ipex, said outgoing president and chief executive William Schulin-Zeuthen.

Esko-Graphics has coined the term Diconomics to describe the cost benefits of CTCP. It claims that average conventional plates cost 40% less than CTP plates, resulting in a considerable saving, especially for high-volume users.

It estimates that for a plate consumption of 10,000m2 per year the savings are 22,000, increasing to 106,000 per year for 50,000m2.

Although no pricing has yet been given Schulin-Zeuthen said that a user of 25,000m2 per year would recoup the cost of a Dicon over three years, which based on an annual saving of 56,000 suggests a price of around 170,000.

Esko-Graphics is initially targeting the newspaper market with the Dicon, given the machine's current maximum resolution of 1,270dpi, its high speed and the savings accrued for high-volume plate users by sticking with conventional plates.

Kim GravenNielson replaces Schulin-Zeuthen as president and chief executive on 1 May. He comes from outside the print industry but has had experience of publishing having spent the previous 13 years at Thomson.