Stepping Up to the Plate

When Bramkamp Printing of Cincinnati switched to computer-to-plate (CTP), co-owner Larry Kuhlman searched for a fully automated and reliable machine. Introduced at Print '01 in January, the Agfa Palladio looked as if it would meet his print shop's needs.

"As a small- to medium-sized printer, we chose the Palladio because it offers advanced automation that was not available with other platesetters," says Kuhlman. "With its step-saving features, we are able to handle more projects than before without sacrificing quality."

Since its release six months ago, Agfa has shipped 150 units of its newest addition to its CTP family, helping small- to medium-sized printers move to CTP. The Palladio is a 4-up flatbed platesetter that offers an advanced, automated, integrated CTP solution, which facilitates the transfer to CTP. In addition, Palladio gives the smaller printer the efficiencies and cost-of-ownership advantages of violet-imaging technology.

"The violet laser imaging technology in the Palladio will save us a lot of money and material in the long run," says Susan Goldsmith, president of Marcus Printing in Holyoke, MA. "The Palladio can produce a constant stream of ready-to-use plates that minimizes our downtime and keeps the presses running continuously."

The platesetter is a fully automated system that requires minimal attention from its operators. It automatically loads and handles plates, keeps 50 plates online through a special media kit eliminating manual loading and automatically removes slip sheets. The Palladio's flatbed design and horizontal storing of plates makes the system reliable, and its precision-engineered transport system allows for accurate imaging.

The Palladio's automation is what sets the platesetter apart from other CTP solutions in the industry, says Frances Cicogna, senior marketing manager for CTP systems for Agfa. "It's what the small-to mid-size printer needs to reduce costs and improve the bottom line."

-Warren Chiara