DIGITAL PLATE TECHNOLOGY -- Platemaking Loses a Step

The future of this product potentially could be impacted by A.B.Dick's recent Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, if Presstek is unsuccessful in its bid to acquire the assets of the company.

Agfa Azura is a new chemistry-free, non-ablative thermal plate based on the company's Thermolite technology. Imaging is accomplished via a physical, rather than chemical, process in which thermoplastic particles melt together and adhere to an aluminum substrate. A "clean out" or gumming step is required in non-image areas only.