ACROSS the nation

KENTUCKY

NEWPORT—Multi-Craft Litho has made a move from film to computer-to-plate, retiring its Screen DT-R3100 eight-page imagesetter in favor of a Screen PlateRite 8000 thermal CTP eight-page platesetter. The family owned company has been in business since 1955.

MASSACHUSETTS

CHICOPEE—The Pond-Ekberg Co., a commercial printer and finisher, has installed a new six-color, 41˝ KBA Rapida 105 sheetfed press with in-line aqueous coating. The press was installed in January and is equipped with semi-automatic plate changers, CIP3/4 digital interface, automatic blanket and roller washers, and the KBA closed-loop spectrophotometry system. Jonathan Kratovil, company president, says Pond-Ekberg decided to go ahead with the purchase despite the economic slowdown in 2001, and expects the purchase will give the company an advantage over its competition when the economy makes a turnaround.