CTP--The Digital DRUPA

Warming Up to Thermal
Since the market probe installation at Quad/Graphics' Hartford, WI, plant in 1994 and the beta installations at R.R. Donnelley & Sons' Magazine Division, in Mattoon, IL, and the Rand McNally Book Services Division in Versailles, KY, in September 1995, the worldwide installed base for thermal CTP has grown to an estimated 2,000 platesetters. While both thermal and visible light CTP continue to grow, most experts forecast that thermal will overtake visible light sales either this year or in 2001. Some industry factions believe the crossover has already happened.