DIGITAL PLATES — LESS IS MORE

Market demand has had the greatest influence on the manufacture of digital plates, O’Rourke states. An anticipated increase in demand, he believes, will prompt manufacturers to bolster allocations of their research and development resources.

Presstek seems to be acting upon market demand, given its rollout of Anthem Pro at the IPEX exhibition earlier this year. With its Pro graining, which is said to provide improved inking and wetting latitude and enhanced performance, Anthem stakes a claim at being a true chemistry-free thermal plate, requiring no developing chemistry and just a simple post- imaging rinse. The used rinse water is drain-friendly.