IPEX 2002 -- Accent on the Positive

The product introductions in the computer-to-plate arena represented a mixed bag of technologies. Heidelberg added the Topsetter P 74 model to its thermal platesetter line, but also introduced an automated version of the Prosetter 102 violet line. Agfa, one of the biggest proponents of violet imaging, rolled out the Xcalibur 45 external-drum, eight-up thermal platesetter featuring Grating Light Valve (GLV) technology. Screen also plans to use GLV technology, but in the PlateRite Ultima thermal platesetter with twin exposure heads capable of imaging 16- or 32-page plates. Fujifilm, meanwhile, introduced four- and eight-up, violet-imaging versions of its Saber Luxel internal-drum platesetter family.