COLOR COPIERS & DIGITAL PRESSES -- Coloring Between The Lines
In the meantime, KPG continues with its efforts to sell the DirectPress 5034 DI press, which it says offers a different workflow and service support package from the standard Ryobi configuration.
The Ryobi 3404DI digital color press, distributed by xpedx in the United States, is a four-color machine with a maximum paper size of 13.39x18.11˝. The direct imaging press is configured with two imaging systems, incorporating FirePower multi-beam lasers developed by Presstek, that expose rolled PEARLdry Plus waterless plate material on each cylinder. A compact design is achieved by using a satellite V-shaped, five-cylinder configuration.
Even though it technically isn't an on-press imaging solution, the Reusable Plate System (RSP) from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries merits inclusion here because of the potential of the technology. The prototype, scheduled to be shown at Drupa, will use an off-line operation to erase, prepare and write plate sleeves—in three minutes—using a polymer coating that is sprayed on. The imaged material is said to offer on-press performance equivalent to "conventional" CTP plates and supports runs of 100,000 impressions.
Mitsubishi currently is only exploring web offset printing applications, but stay tuned for further developments in this and other digital printing technologies.
Also, Presstek Inc. has announced a new laser imaging platform. ProFire Excel, the next generation of thermal imaging, is designed to bring improved productivity, higher quality and reduced cost to thermal CTP and DI applications. The ProFire Excel design broadens the range of applications that can be produced on a DI press. ProFire Excel-enabled DI presses are designed to produce up to a 300 line screen with no incremental cost, offering increased flexibility and improved margin opportunities.
