The device works with the ABF semi-automatic feeder launched at SGIA in September to create a ¾ automation line-up.

The feeder moves up to four boards to the Jeti Tauro, launched along with the Jeti Mira at Fespa in 2015,  for printing in a measured manner, allowing an operator to go fetch more and the stacker automates the other end of the process.

Reinhilde Alaert, marketing product manager sign and display high-end, said that the 1.22x2.4m Tauro could print much faster than a person can stack the printed boards and so the automation allowed more productivity.

“When you have all elements together, the productivity is really high. With the stacker, it is about 80 boards an hour; if you don’t have the addition, it’s four less."

The stacker can be configured with up to 12 suction cups to pick up and stack up to four boards at a time and can stack to a height of up to 60cm before it needs to be unloaded.

Agfa Graphics is also launching an upgraded Acorta 3120 HD cutting plotter, targeted at very thick or dense materials at the show, held in Dusseldorf, Germany, from May 31 to June 10.

The new Acorta can hold up to four cutting bits at a time, so that businesses can choose their most-used four and save time and effort on changing them when they want to switch between cutting styles.

Philip van der Auwera marketing sign and display said the range of materials people were using now was widening, which leads to more need for different cutting bits.

“People are using bigger, thicker and harder material, mainly flexi. It’s very popular and it’s very nice as well,” he said.

For Drupa, Agfa Graphics is also adding the Avalon N8-90CtP to its thermal CtP range and the new Energy Elite Eco printing plate.

The company said that with a run length of up to 600,000 the latter has a best-in-class run length for no-bake positive thermal plates and is both mechanically and chemically compatible with industry needs in sheetfed and heatset applications. The plate has low chemistry consumption, low waste and users will benefit from a "drastic reduction of water use", Agfa said.

Also new on the booth will be the pallet loader for the high-end, automated Advantage newspaper CtP systems, and the Advantage N EssentialsCtP series.