DÜSSELDORF, GERMANY, June 5 - Kodak has announced the first UK customer for its new GENERATION NEWS System – Kodak's new thermal computer to plate (CTP) solution. Norwich based media company Archant, the UK's largest independently-owned regional media business, placed the order for two Z Speed variants on Kodak's booth at drupa - the world's largest printing exhibition. The investment also comprises the powerful open standards workflow management system, KODAK NEWSMANAGER and KODAK PRINERGY EVO Software, a powerful PDF workflow management tool for high performance newspaper prepress, which enables a flexible, automated workflow from edition plan to plate production.

Archant, which already uses KODAK NEWSETTER Systems and KODAK THERMALNEWS GOLD Digital Plates, made the investment in the advanced GENERATION NEWS Systems in order to increase capacity and maximize throughput of its newly expanded facility.

Archant Print's Managing Director Nick Schiller says, "Recent expansion of our print operation required increased capacity and redundancy, so we took the decision to strengthen our existing technology with Kodak's new GENERATION NEWS Systems."

The GENERATION NEWS Platesetter has multiple plate cassettes, enabling fast plate loading and unloading of multiple plate sizes. The system can load up to 1600 broadsheet plates or 800 panorama plates while running continuously with no operator intervention. Integrated plate size selection, slip sheet removal, and three point registration are all automated to eliminate errors.

"Archant was the first company in the UK to install Kodak's NEWSETTER System and we are pleased to once again be the first to purchase Kodak's next generation of thermal platesetter", continues Schiller. "We have always been extremely impressed with thermal technology and this latest investment in Kodak's breakthrough GENERATION NEWS System is set to further strengthen our capabilities as each platesetter will enable us to image 268 broadsheet plates per hour at 391mm width and at 1270 dpi.

 "As a high-performance newspaper printer, it is also vital that our entire workflow is managed efficiently. The impressive attributes of  KODAK NEWSMANAGER Software will afford us further new productivity enhancing benefits by automating and managing the production of plates, thereby delivering greater versatility and freeing up resources", he adds.

The GENERATION NEWS Platesetter also features  Kodak's  unique SQUARESPOT Thermal Imaging Technology, which has been adopted from the commercial environment and provides consistent dot accuracy and tonal stability. This enables Archant to achieve up to 200 lpi and implement KODAK STACCATO Screening Technology.

This is set to deliver further benefits to Archant's print operations by enabling higher screen rules; sharper linework; excellent reverse type and legibility. The Thermal technology minimizes early dot wear on the plate and eliminates variation found in visible light and UV systems.

"Now that 'semi-commercial' printing has become an unstoppable trend in future newspaper press investments, this type of solution will become invaluable", says Jack Knadjian, Vice President Publishing Market Segment, Kodak's Graphic Communications Group. "The GENERATION NEWS System will provide our customers with the quality and stability they require, without having to sacrifice the productivity and plate automation that are demanded for newspaper deadlines. As such, it offers a 'no compromise solution' that combines the best attributes of both visible light and thermal systems."

The KODAK GENERATION NEWS Systems will be installed at Archant's Norwich printing facility, which together with its Ipswich site, prints the majority of the group's newspaper titles and offers a contract print service. As a whole, the Archant Group employs 2600 people throughout England and has an annual turnover of £194 million.