newspapers  Agfa Gevaert  CTP 
Thailand’s Daily News is to convert its newspaper operations to a full computer-to-plate workflow using Agfa technology. As such, the Daily News will be the first newspaper in Thailand to adopt a CTP workflow. The Daily News is published by media company, Si-Phya Publishing Co Ltd, which is owned by the Hetrakul family. The newspaper was founded in 1964 and has since grown its circulation from 40,000 to more than 700,000. The paper has four daily editions; five when winning lottery numbers are published twice a month and the circulation peaks at 800,000. The Daily News is one of the most popular newspapers in Thailand thanks to a liberal, democratic style.

The new installation will include two Agfa :Polaris XDV platesetters, :Sublima technology for high-quality screening with no extra effort on press, and :N91v violet photopolymer digital plates. :Arkitex software (Producer, Newsdrive) will automate the workflow and :Arkitex AutoInk will integrate with EAE’s Print PP to facilitate ink settings and printing.

The Daily News currently uses three imagesetters from Agfa in a film-based workflow with ProImage Newsway production software. The new Agfa computer-to-plate system will cut cost and time by eliminating the film step while improving production speed and print quality.

:Polaris XDV is a special version of Agfa’s leading CtP systems range designed to meet the high production speed requirements of newspapers in Asia with large-format presses. :Sublima cross-modulation screening technology will enhance print quality dramatically to ensure high-quality colour for editorial and advertising.

:N91v violet photopolymer digital plates meet the quality, speed and run length requirements of the Daily News while offering reliable handling even in challenging circumstances. The Daily News uses 300 plates per day or an annual volume of more than 100,000 sq.m.

"When the time came to make an investment in prepress operations, we wanted first and foremost to work with a reliable partner with an established reputation in the newspaper market," says Prasong Hetrakul, executive director of Si-Phya Publishing.

"It did not take us long to see that Agfa was high on our shortlist. The quality, speed and dependability of their violet systems have made them a market leader. They also offer the best service and support network in our region. But :Sublima screening was the icing on the cake. We will be printing at quality levels that no one in Thailand has seen from a newspaper press,” says Hetrakul.

"We are proud to be working with Si-Phya Publishing Co Ltd to make newspaper CTP a reality in Thailand," says Kurt Smits, director of Agfa’s newspaper business worldwide. "We congratulate them on a wise investment decision which will strengthen their leading market position and look forward to working with them closely."

"The partnership with the Daily News of Thailand is a further example of our market leadership for newspaper CTP," says Agfa’s Graphic Systems general manager for the Greater China and ASEAN region, Andrew Wong. "We have the most extensive resources and the widest experience in our region, and we are committed to providing the highest level of quality service to the Daily News."