DIGITAL PLATE TECHNOLOGY -- Platemaking Loses a Step

No time frame has been publicly announced for the technology's commercialization, but the vendor has said the final product should handle up to 50,000 impressions.

Konica Minolta has introduced a processless system for on- and off-line imaging applications. The off-line version uses a flexible, thermal plate material (TF-200) supplied in rolls for imaging by the SR-830 platesetter. A thermal sensitive, hydrophobic layer is exposed in a non-ablative process, with unexposed areas then removed on-press by the action of fountain solution and ink. The finished plate is said to be capable of 1-99 percent dot reproduction and supports stochastic screening. The platesetter outputs plate sizes from 12.8x15.6˝ up to 26x32.7˝.