HighWater has launched a system for outputting metal B1 plates for 30,000.


Its CtP Plotter is a kit to turn old drum scanner expose units from Crosfield, Hell and Screen into platesetters.


"As an entry-level and affordable solution its ideal," said HighWater vice president of sales Peter Flynn.


It will be an ideal new revenue stream for repro houses looking for new opportunities to extend the life of their current kit, according to Flynn. He believes there are at least 50 potential customers in the UK, but the real opportunity is overseas.


"Theres a massive market in the Far East where a lot of scanners have gone," he said. He also believes the US will be a huge market, with two dealers alone having 700 potential customers.


The system is based on a modification to the exposure drum to allow pin-registered plates to be clamped in place and HighWaters Torrent RIP to prepare files.


It uses the Agfa Lithostar LAP-O plate, which is suitable for the 480nm green lasers used by the plotters. The system can still be used to expose film.


Productivity is four B1 plates per hour. "Potential users are doing 100,000-plus runs they dont need a huge volume of plates per hour," said Flynn.


Tewkesbury-based repro house Digital Imaging is acting as a beta site and has been outputting plates since Christmas.


"The Plotter will keep me going in B1 plates and is a back-up for our B2 Platinum," said managing director Colin Stevenson.


Story by Barney Cox