Commercially available with immediate effect, the PlateRite 8600NII series platesetters are equipped with high-output fibre laser diode exposure heads, which Screen said enable productivity of up to 32 plates per hour as well as energy savings and “superior cost performance”.

The mid-range models will complement the manufacturer’s flagship PlateRite 8900HDN models, which can image up to 70 plates per hour.

The fibre laser diode exposure heads work with Screen’s proprietary clamp technologies and auto-balance mechanism, which the manufacturer said enables stable, high-speed exposure with top quality.

The new series includes three models: the Z model is equipped with 96 channel exposure heads, which support output of up to 32 plates per hour, while the S and E models have 64 and 32 channel heads respectively, for outputs of 24 and 14 plates per hour.

All three systems are capable of handling plate sizes ranging from as large as 1,160x940mm to, when fitted with the small size option, as small as 304x370mm.

Additionally, Screen said all of the models feature major functionality improvements such as a power-saving mode that reduces energy consumption during idling, which is said to produce energy savings of around 60% during operation and 73% during standby.

“Our high-speed models have a GLV [grating light valve imaging technology] that’s got one main high-powered diode where the laser beam is being divided in a number of channels, whereas these mid-range models have laser diodes that have a channel each, so you can add channels and upgrade,” said Screen EMEA wide-format systems product manager Martijn van den Broek.

Users can monitor the new models remotely via Screen’s Trust Network Service, an online maintenance support package which ensures CTP systems remain in optimal condition at all times.