The manufacturer will stop making its Azura Vi plate at the end of this year.

“The plate is violet technology and one of the older generation we are discontinuing, I am sure we are the last of the ‘big three’ manufacturers to phase this plate out,” explained Eddie Williams, Agfa head of sales for commercial print in Europe. 

Azura Vi would typically be used in old ECRM CTP systems and Agfa’s own Paladios CTP device. 

However, these are no longer sold, and Williams said they were becoming difficult to service due to the availability of parts.

“We are currently working with our customers and offering a replacement plate N95-VCF, this is used primarily in the newspaper sector so we will continue to produce without question,” he added. 

Most of the customers using the Azura Vi plate are small print shops with low volumes.

“The last production will be December 22 but with an 18-month shelf life we are not expecting any drama on this,” Williams noted. 

The N95-VCF chemistry-free violet photopolymer plate is sensitised for visible lasers emitting at 405nm. Agfa said it worked with “most” violet platesetters.

Agfa’s Offset Solutions division is in the process of being sold to an outside investor, with the deal expected to complete in Q1 next year.