Heidelberg will launch a range of violet diode platesetters later this year.


The as yet unnamed machines will be based on the companys Primesetter imagesetters, which were launched last year.


"We see huge potential among small- and medium-sized commercial printers," said Heidelberg UK marketing manager Sascha Fischer. "The average printer with a couple of presses has yet to go CTP, but we believe they are about to. The biggest market for Heidelberg UK is these smaller sheetfed printers."


Pricing has yet to be finalised, but they are expected to be about halfway between the equivalent Primesetter imagesetter and Topsetter platesetter.


The lower price of around 60,000 for a B2 machine and 110,000 for a B1 will allow smaller printers to invest, according to Fischer.


"Printers in the UK who have CTP tend to be the larger firms who demand the quality and capacity of thermal," Fischer said. "Smaller firms have been waiting because of the cost."


There will be three machines covering B3, B2 and B1 formats. Initially they will be manual, but autoloading will be available later. The B3 machine will be a restricted version of the B2 machine.


Although no decision has as yet been taken, Heidelberg is likely to keep the HighWater Platinum 2218 as a niche product for B3 customers.


Heidelberg will bundle Agfas Lithostar plate with the machines as an option, as it does currently with the Platinum.


Story by Barney Cox