Purup-Eskofot is launching its DotMate 6500 and 7500 polyester platesetters in the UK this month and has appointed Flame as a new distributor to handle the products.


Kings Langley-based Flame bought the goodwill and most of the assets of small-format offset supply and service firm AMI Technology from receiver KPMG at the end of last year. It has dropped the AMI Platestream to sell the DotMate.
It suits Flames customer base of one- to two-colour small-format offset printers, said sales director Graham Tucker. Weve got a niche market and clients are crying out for polyester CTP.


Two versions are available: the DotMate 7500, a
B2 machine which will cost around 55,000 including RipMate workflow; and the B3 DotMate 6500, which will cost around 45,000 with workflow.
Tucker expects the firm to sell two to three units per month, and sees the main competition as coming from Apex Digital Graphics, which is the exclusive UK agency for Purup-Eskofots smaller-format DPX and Genesis platesetters.


Purup-Eskofot doesnt see the two lines as competing and believes the Dot-Mates will appeal to printers with larger-format presses than the DPX and Genesis.
Apex has done a wonderful job with the DPX and Genesis and I wouldnt want to jeopardise that, said Purup-Eskofot UK managing director Dave Smith. From our point of view Flame wouldnt encroach on Apex.


The DotMates will also be available from other Purup-Eskofot dealers, which include RES, SOS and Bousfield.
Purup-Eskofot claims that it has had a lot of interest in the DotMate including some from customers using its larger-format metal platesetters who want a polyester system for their B3 presses.


Story by Barney Cox