VANCOUVER, BC, CANADA -- January 10, 2003 -- Creo announced it is now imaging chemical-free plates on the Trendsetter(r) 800 Quantum and Lotem(tm) 400 Quantum platesetters. The chemical-free option -- which eliminates the need for a plate processor, pre-bake oven, or storage of toxic processing chemicals -- benefits printers with small to medium-length print runs and physical space restrictions. They save on the capital cost of a plate processor, and the ongoing costs associated with chemicals, cleaning materials and technical resources essential to maintaining this type of equipment. Creo Quote... "We are pleased to offer this cost effective and more environmentally friendly option," says Joe Luckett, marketing manager for output devices in Creo Americas. "Creo has a tradition of being an open-system provider, and delivering leading-edge technology. Printers with small to medium-length print runs will especially profit from the many benefits of imaging chemical-free plates." Availability... The option of imaging chemical-free plates is available on the 4- and 8-page models of the Trendsetter and Trendsetter Quantum thermal platesetters. (The Quantum models use Creo SQUAREspot(r) thermal imaging heads to interchangeably expose film and plates for conventional and waterless printing. The chemical-free plate-imaging feature is added to the base functionality of imaging traditional anodized aluminum printing plates from multiple vendors. The chemical-free option is also available as an upgrade to existing qualified systems. Creo expects to offer this option for Lotem platesetters early this year. Creo has qualified the Presstek, Inc. Anthem chemistry-free thermal plate for use with the Trendsetter 800 and Trendsetter 400/800 Quantum CTP devices. Creo 4-page and 8-page Trendsetter Quantum systems can be bundled with the Presstek Anthem plate in the United States, Europe and Canada.