The deal for the fully automatic thermal VLF machines was clinched after a NJP team saw the same kit in action at a French firm.

"For the demo we visited a site in Paris where the set-up was exactly the automated vision we were aiming to achieve, two robot-fed Lschers supporting KBA presses," said commercial director David Medler (pictured right).

The platesetters will churn out 500 plates a day, from 650x550mm to 1,030x1,485mm, when the new factory goes live. They replace two Creo devices.

NJP currently uses Creo's Prinergy, but is talking to a number of firms about a new workflow.

This latest spend follows last week's announcement that the firm had rubberstamped the deal to take a second KBA 64pp Compacta 818.

"We needed to buy new CTP hardware to complement our press investment program," said Medler.

Story by Darryl Danielli