Esko-Graphics is launching its new DPX 4 polyester platesetter in Australia, where it will be marketed exclusively by Currie & Co. Following successful releases in Japan, the USA, Germany and the UK, Esko-Graphics is now rolling it out around the world, with the Melbourne showroom of Curries one of the first locations to receive one. Australian printers will also be able to see it at PacPrint on the Currie stand.
The DPX builds on the success of Esko Graphics original DPX platesetter, which is a two-up solution using polyester plates, and is sold in this country as the DPX by Currie, and as the Polysetter by Heidelberg. Heidleberg has no plans to market the DPX 4 in Australia.
Currie NSW state manager Steve Dunwell says, “Polyester platesetting offers a cost effective and reliable solution for platemaking, the success of the two-up DPX proves that. Now A2 printers will have the opportunity to benefit from DPX technology.”
Esko Graphics says the DPX 4 faced tough scrutiny in the market when it released in 2004, but has proven to be a winner. To date, more than 100 machines have already been shipped, and it claims the future demand looks promising. It believes the market is responding positively to polyester as a reliable solution that drives business growth and offers important advantages.
The DPX 4 is a 4-up, fully daylight operated automatic CTP, producing imaged, processed, punched, dried and cut-to-size press ready plates as large as 680x750mm. Other interesting feature include a small footprint of about 1370x1060mm, and a built-in twin-bath processor – a temperature controlled activator tank and a stabiliser tank. A 30-liter waste container collects excess chemistry.
The DPX 4 can output 38 745x605mm plates per hour at 1200 dpi (27 plates per hour at 2540 dpi), it exposes at any resolution between 1200 and 3000 dpi.
Esko Graphics says that because the DPX provides fully automatic platemaking without manual labor, there is no waste of time or material when changing media rolls. The DPX four load system features two media compartments (one optional) where the material - 61 meters per roll on a 6” core - is easily loaded. The use of two compartments also allows the use of different sized plates for feeding various presses. A new auto-centering system ensures precise centering of new media on the shaft every time a new roll is loaded. During operation the medium is automatically loaded and positioned in the drum and held in place by a vacuum system during exposure.
