The machine was exhibited for the first time at newspaper conference event Ifra Expo in Vienna earlier this month (12-15 October).

Depending on the choice of equipment, the system fully or partially automates the delivery of plates from the pre-press to the press.

In the first step, the exposed plates are seized from the delivery of the punching and bending machine by KBA PlateSorter, an intelligent robot gripper. They are then identified via a barcode.

The transport vehicle, KBA PlateTrain, can hold up to five magazines, one of which is reserved for the used plates to be removed from the tower. Each of the other magazines holds four new single plates or two new double-spread plates, plus slots for used plates.

According to KBA, the misallocation of plates "which commonly occurs in practice" is virtually eliminated.

The company claims PlateTrans works best alongside its waterless Cortina machine, when frequent plate changes are required.

According to UK managing director Christian Knapp, the system, which can be retro-fitted, is the latest in KBA's innovative approach.

He said: "Each company has a certain ethos and at KBA we have always been about innovation. We are always looking to launch something new."