KBA newspaper presses set for waterless plate

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06 June 2002

Affordable waterless plates are on the horizon for KBAs Cortina newspaper press, according to group marketing director Klaus Schmidt.

A breakthrough seems possible. A plate that costs 15% to 18% more per square metre than standard plates seems achievable, and that should prove sufficiently competitive, said Schmidt as he addressed the Future Trends in Web Offset conference in Stockholm, which was hosted by Sun Chemical and SCA.

KBA has developed the completely waterless system with partners Sun Chemical and Kodak Polychrome Graphics, while Goss and Flint Ink have worked on an emulsion system containing water and solution (PrintWeek, 2 February 2001).

Steve Lilley, Sun Chemicals product director for coldset inks, said KPG had signalled that a plate slightly more expensive than CTP was around the corner.

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