In order to streamline productivity Agfa has introduced the new :PlateManager for its 8-up :Xcalibur 45 thermal platesetter. The automated plate loading device can maintain 250 (12 mil) plates in four cassettes online without sacrificing throughput, Agfa claims, so that it can run unattended. The :PlateManager features a manual plate override function.

"The addition of the :PlateManager for the :Xcalibur 45 makes an already poductive system ever more attractive and functional", said Theo De Keersmaecker, worlwide marketing director CtP-Solutions at Agfa. "Current :Xcalibur 45 users can easily add the :PlateManager to either a Manual or Job Level Automation system."

Agfa introduced the new double-wide CtP-Platesetter :Polaris XD-J for newspaper printers in Japan. The first showing of the device – available wither with a violet or FD-YAG-laser, attracted lots of interest especially within the Japanese market as there is a substantial requirement for the use of the long-plate press format which the Polaris XD-J serves. It can output 110 1W2L-format plates per hour as well as 2W2L-format plates and the input cassettes allow the housing of over 2,000 plates of different types online.