Screen revealed a faster version of its PlateRite thermal platesetter at TPG in Paris this week, the PlateRite 8600, which produces 20 B1 plates per hour.


The new model also adds support for smaller plates down to GTO-size.


Screens European president Brian Forsdike said the "all plate sizes faster" approach would be suitable for markets like the UK, Germany and Holland.


"Its designed for printers that have requirements for high capacity," he said.


"The shorter the runs the more demand there is for plate productivity. Most printers have more than one size of press and in some instances the printer would like to have all of his production from CTP where everything is networked."


The PlateRite 8600 will cost approximately 200,000 (US$280,000). Shipments are expected to start in September. There will be no beta testing because Screen is "confident in the design of the machine" and it has been tested thoroughly in Japan, said Forsdike.


The product has a single-cassette autoloader option and a multi-cassette option.


The technology will be available to Heidelberg for use in its Topsetter range, which is based on the PlateRite.


"Under our agreement we have access to any Screen developments, we will take the faster version and have it available at the same time to customers as Screen," said Heidelberg divisional manager, marketing Sascha Fischer.


Forsdike said UK sales of output devices were now split at around 65% platesetters and 35% imagesetters, the exact opposite of a year ago. "There has been a steady uptake of CTP. There wasnt the surge that we had expected, but we are seeing that now," he said. "People are seeing more of the upsides than the downsides. We have got through the problems of plate production and shortages."


Forsdike said Screen was using TPG as a vehicle to promote the 8600 to the European market.


Story by Gordon Carson in Paris