In the area of computer to plate, the past few weeks have seen some interesting developments. These are mainly in the area of newspaper CtP where Agfa has increased its dominant position in the market. It has announced two major orders for large and influential newspaper groups. In the UK, News International has announced it is purchasing a large number of Agfa violet visible light Polaris CtP units for its new printing facility outside of London, that will replace its Wapping operation. Previously it had Western Litho (now Agfa) Diamondsetters in use. A major part of this new order is a major commitment to Agfa’s violet photopolymer newspaper plate. The other major commitment for Agfa came from the New York Times. This organization also committed to a large number of Agfa violet Polaris CtP systems. Today it appears that Polaris has become the product of choice in CtP for large newspapers, and that violet visible light technology is winning the battle against thermal imaging, particularly in the larger newspapers.

This brings me to the second point in this article. That is BasysPrint the supplier of CtCP units (computer to conventional plates) has decided to pull out of the newspaper business. Basys was one of only two suppliers of such systems, the other being alfaQuest. Basys has sold quite a number of its newspaper systems, including many in the USA. Why then do I see this as something worth mentioning at the same time as I mention the success of Agfa. The reason is they are linked. The Agfa Polaris unit is manufactured for Agfa by Punch in Belgium. Punch also owns BasysPrint. Punch has just signed a new contract with Agfa to extend its manufacturing of Agfa products, and will now manufacture the Agfa Advantage newspaper CtP system. The Advantage, which was acquired with Autologic, had previously been manufactured by Agfa in the USA. The interesting factor is that I am told by a very good source, that Agfa pressured Punch to stop the Basys newspaper system if they were to take on manufacturing of the Advantage. Is Agfa concerned about what may come from BasysPrint in the future to challenge its position in newspaper CtP?

What I wonder then is the future of Basys’s commercial CtCP systems? I don’t think there is a problem here, however I understand that Basys has major redevelopment plans for these units to reduce their costs, enhance their performance, and make them a very competitive solution. Knowing how successful Punch is in whatever it does, I will watch this interest and wait to see what may come from this innovative company.