"Without doubt it’s the cheapest way of getting into CTP," said IGS managing director Graham Daking. "Everyone’s got a platesetter, they just don’t realise they’ve got one."
Agfa Avantras, Heidelberg Herkules and Scitex Dolevs can be converted. Further machines will be added according to demand.
The conversion involves fitting a modified supply cassette to load and unload the plates. It takes half a day to carry out the conversion and the imagesetter retains the ability to expose film, and if fitted with an online processor to process it as well.
"Nothing gets done to the machine that can’t be reversed, there’s no moving parts so there’s very little to go wrong," said Daking.
Existing workflows can be used to drive the machine via a HighWater-developed interface that positions the image correctly on the plate.
Red-sensitive Silver plates from Agfa and Mitsubishi can be used and it is a condition of IGS dealers that they can supply plates.
Speed is respectable: IGS quotes 15 B2 plates an hour for the Herkules.
So far it has completed two installations in the UK – Diamond Roache in London and Gresham Image Foundry in Peterborough. Both were modified Herkules. It also has another two installations in progress and is aiming to install 50 in the UK in the next six months.
IGS was also behind the CtP Plotter, which converted the output side of old scanners to produce metal plates.
Contact: Independent Graphic Services 01273 732187.
Story by Barney Cox
