Parliamentary gains Galileo

The Parliamentary Press in London has replaced its two Creo platesetters with two Agfa Galileo VxTs supported by Apogee workflow and Sherpa colour proofers.

The firm, part of The Stationery Office, produces the Hansard official parliamentary report, which has to be delivered no later than 7.30am. It opted for the violet Galileos instead of thermal because of their speed, economy and quality.

The firm has also installed a new six-colour Heidelberg Speedmaster 102 to print the 130pp Hansard report. The Galileos VxTs are imaging Agfa's violet-based LithoStar Ultra-V plates. The firm must produce a plate every two minutes to achieve consistent production. The Parliamentary Press occasionally receives data as late as 5am, leaving it only two hours to produce Hansard.

Production director Terry Bailey said the new technology had delivered a fast, responsive production system. The firm's turnover has increased by 30% in the last three years, he added.

Story by Gordon Carson