DotLine, set up by an ex-Krause management team, has launched three versions of its 405nm violet platesetter, the C55. These are the entry-level 22pph (at maximum resolution and plate size) v1, the 35pph v2 and the 52pph v3, which is being targeted at the newspaper market.

All models handle two- and four-up plates and have variable resolutions from 800dpi to 2,540dpi. Maximum imaging area is 635x870mm. The 60mW laser unit can expose violet-sensitive silver or photopolymer plates.

Prices for a C55v1 with no options start at around 33,000 (Euros 50,000), rising to 66,000 for a fully automatic v2.

"They are very low priced machines, and on the other hand they come with a lot of options including automatic loading and unloading and so on," said managing director Tobias Kaufhold.

According to Kaufhold the platesetter's "unique selling point" was its combination of an internal drum bed and the use of a polygon-scanner to give "perfect" exposing even with high resolution and above-average productivity.

The firm was launched last year by Kaufhold, ex-joint managing director of Krause; Michael Rosemann, previously Krause's head of optical development; and Wilhelm Niemeier, the firm's electronic component and control software specialist.

"Virtually the whole development department of Krause is here now at Dotline," said Kaufhold.

The firm is currently working on a 8-up version of C55, which it hopes to launch later this year, its also developing a plate magazine cassette system.

According to Kaufhold the firm has three German installations to date. It is now in the process of developing a tie-up a deal with a UK distributor, but at the moment it is selling directly into the UK.

www.dot-line.de

Story by Andy Scott