Bristol-based repro house Black Cat Imaging has installed the first platesetter in the UK to use the Cymbolic Sciences T-Wave technology from Gretag's Professional Imaging division.


Black Cat will use the B1 format PlateJet Emerald 8 to move into CTP in its trade platemaking business. It will also use Kodak's Thermal Printing Plate 830. In addition, the firm has bought a Centurfax CCDot digital dotmeter.


The Emerald was acquired from Avon Graphics, a Bristol-based pre-press reseller, which has been appointed by Gretag to sell Cymbolic Sciences platesetters in the South West.


"Most of the benefits in CTP are for the printer, and our customers have been delighted with the plates from the PlateJet," said Black Cat managing director Paul Goff. "They say that they are cleaner, the fit is exact - which saves them time on makeready - and they run-up quickly with less waste."


He added: "We needed daylight operating, so thermal was our likely target, and, because we are a trade house, we needed to handle a variety of plate sizes.


"Our customers range from those using 52cm presses through to B1 machines," said Goff. "The PlateJet can handle them all, as well as 0.15mm and 0.3mm thickness plates."


Bousfield Heatons is also set to sell Cymbolic Sciences platesetters. It will become the national dealer. Gretag is also appointing further regional dealers in addition to Avon.


Story by Barney Cox