At 25,000 for a complete package, including RIP and PC platform, the Cobra (pictured) is cheaper than comparable metal machines and costs little more than polyester platesetters.

Based on an internal drum design, the totally manual machine offers 2,540dpi resolution with a 10 micron-sized spot from a violet laser diode, offering the same imaging quality of larger machines.

HighWater claims the internal drum design that it uses delivers a higher-quality result than the flatbed designs used by most rivals.
Built using the experience gained from developing the Python, its B2 internal drum machine, the Cobra was designed from the off to be as affordable as possible, reflecting the needs of the 2pp market.

"Two-up is the most under-served sector of the CTP market," said High-Water international sales manager Charlie Seccombe. "It's about building a machine for a cost that the market can afford."

The firm, which started development at the beginning of the year, held off until now because it didn't believe technology delivered the quality needed at an affordable cost.

"Until now we couldn't have built a machine that crossed the quality bar at that cost," said Seccombe.

The Cobra gets its worldwide launch at Print 05 in Chicago, where HighWater has taken its own stand for the first time. The machine is also being OEM'd by US firm Printware, which sells it as the PlateStream Violet.

UK printers will probably get to see the machine, which goes into beta testing at the end of the month, at Digital Print World.

Story by Barney Cox