In excess of 150 machines were installed in the UK, a large percentage of which are still in use today. “The quality of imaging is very high on these machines,” says Wood. “This, coupled with excellent reliability produced a CTP unit which enjoyed a long production life.“
Green to violet
The Galileo and the faster Galileo S used a green laser and were able to image Agfa LAP-O plates. Violet lasers were introduced in 2000 (and as result a ‘V’ was added to the naming convention) in both 4-up and 8-up configurations and imaged Agfa LAP-V plates. The thermal machines have a 1064nm laser that images P971 thermal plates.
“The green laser machines were replaced by the violet lasers as it reduced the cost of the unit, but also addressed the same market,“ explains Wood. “The various speed machines were matched by the requirements of the user, and provided a means of obtaining entry into the CTP market at a price to suit the production required.”
The thermal machines are used by customers that require baked plates for long run lengths and when using UV inks. Although an offline model was made available, most have been sold with online processors. The Platemanager plate loader, which is capable of holding up to 200 plates in four separate bins, came with all Galileos. The machine has a maximum resolution of 2,400dpi and the productivity is fastest on the VXT model, which can image 25 plates per hour.
Tested features
Agfa used many features from its Avantra 44 imagesetters when building its CTP range, including imaging head transport system Intellitrack for higher quality. The Galileo is built as an internal drum platesetter and the plates used are loaded, either by hand or by the Platemanager, then placed in the drum and lined up using electronic sensors. The plate is then vacuumed to the drum and imaged by a laser deflected from a rapid spinning mirror.
Although Agfa will sell refurbished machines, they are rare and your best bet for a secondhand model is to use specialist Agfa CTP dealers. Pre-Press Direction managing director Mike Spellacy says Agfa machines are trusted machines on the secondhand market. “If there is a good RIP and online processor, then they will sell very well indeed,” he says.
“Everything on the machine is usually made by Agfa, so you only need one service support contract.” There are more than 30 Galileo trained engineers across the UK.
Outright purchases of the machines are rare – they are often sold as part of a consumables deal – but Pre-Press Direction sells them outright. A post-2000 model (installed) costs around £25,000. Gallileos are no longer manufactured.
For secondhand purchases, Spellacy advises to check the lasers. The machines record how many hours the laser has been exposed and, considering that is the most expensive component to replace, it is wise to make sure it has not had excessive use.
SPECIFICATIONS
Speed
• Galileo VE 12pph
• Galileo VS 16pph
• Galileo VXT 25pph
Min plate size
• 450x368mm
Max plate size
• 1130x820mm
Price
• Post-2000 from £25,000
What to look for
• Laser exposure
• Service history
Agfa Galileo
The Galileo was Agfa's first platesetter, launched at Ipex in 1998, but it was already a second generation product. Agfa systems specialist John Wood explains that the firm was biding its time to ensure that customers received a "reliable, production-ready CTP engine". The machine replaced the Avantra Imagesetter and, as a result, Agfa customers were able to switch smoothly from film to CTP. The first Galileos used visible light, with thermal and violet light versions following a few years later.
