"It was certainly a very successful Drupa in terms of the V-6," said FujiFilm marketing manager Graham Leeson.

The Peterborough manufactured unit is aimed at the entry-level B2 violet market.

"Let's be honest, it's the B2 market where most CTP installs are going right now, particularly in the UK," added Leeson. There are 12 more UK deals in the pipeline.

The V-6 uses single beam violet optics to produce up to 20 plates per hour at 2,540dpi. "We've deliberately engineered it from the ground up to be specific to the B2 market," said Leeson. "We like to think we've got the balance right in terms of performance and cost."

Signing up for the UK's first machine,  AR Adams & Sons seems to think so. "The speed of output and ease of use is perfect for us," said commercial director James Adams.

As part of the deal Fuji will also be supplying its Rampage Open Workflow and violet Brillia LP-NV plate and chemistry.

The V-6 will be installed at the end of July, but prior to that the workflow will be installed and interfaced with the company's existing Herkules Pro imagesetter. Adams hopes this will offer a seamless changeover to CTP when the V-6 arrives.

This is the Dover-based printers first foray into CTP, after initially looking at it two years ago. "We were waiting for the technology to mature," said Adams. "It's all much more affordable now."

The fourth-generation family business, established in 1888, is expecting to put 500 plates a month through its V-6.

It's an upbeat period for Fujifilm Graphic Systems, which also celebrates the tenth anniversary of its formation as a separate division of Fuji this week.

Story by Darryl Danielli