The B1 external drum violet version of Agfa's thermal Avalon platesetter, unveiled last September, can produce up to 30 plates per hour.

The Newcastle-based printer is currently investing to double its size and increase its business in the B2B, commercial and packaging markets.

"The release of the new Avalon was perfect timing for us," said Potts managing director Shaun Currie.

Potts placed an order with Agfa distributor Inkland after a visit to Agfa's headquarters in Belgium when the platesetter was announced last month.

The order comes just less than a month after the printer invested 1.3m in its first MAN Roland B1 press. The firm has been granted permission to build a 15,000m2 purpose-built facility at the end of the year.

Potts Printers is already using the Agfa Apogee X workflow.

"We have been in negotiations with Inkland for a number of months now with the view to adding a B1 platesetter to our existing Agfa workflow and B2 output," Currie said.

Inkland managing director Steve Wilson said: "It fills a gap in our Agfa portfolio and is the perfect solution for Potts' plans."