The system, which will be fully operational in August, will be driven by Apogee Series Three, the latest version of Agfas PDF-based workflow.

Garnett Dickinson, number 110 in the PrintWeek Top 500, currently produces 2,800 plates a month, which it believes will rise to 5,500 after the installation, making it 98% CTP.

But divisional director Geoff Gramlick does not rate doubling of capacity as the crucial factor: "Well now be able to get to market in half the time. The Xcalibur will enable us to make larger-format G16 plates, which in the past we have not been able to do, as well as it acting as a back-up to our Galileo."

The firms Galileo platesetter was purchased last March in a bid to increase its CTP capacity.

However, this latest investment will not mean the end of its relationship with Barnsley repro house Jennings DAR, which will continue to produce 30% of its plates.

Story by Rachel Barnes