Mortsel, Belgium September 12, 2006 -- Agfa Graphics today introduced a new addition to its :Avalon family of computer-to-plate (CtP) systems. :Avalon SF completes Agfa's CtP assortment and is positioned between :Acento II and :Palladio II, and 8-up/B1 systems such as the :Avalon LF. :Avalon SF Thermal uses Agfa's own HD Imaging Head technology to bring the reliability and high image quality of 8-up and very large format (VLF) digital platemaking to printers with smaller press formats. Its maximum plate size is 980 x 690 mm or 38.6 x 27.2 in., suiting sheetfed presses such as the Man Roland 500 and the Komori Lithrone 32 as well as web presses such as the Komori System 35S. Higher Throughput. The new system will also appeal to B2 (4-up) printers who need higher throughput than the current :Acento II model. :Avalon SF delivers up to 21 plates per hour with :Azura chemistry-free plates, 23 plates per hour with :Amigo development-free plates and 25 plates per hour using 'conventional' thermal digital plates. Models and Resolutions. The standard version supports screen rulings up to 240 lpi :Sublima XM screening, while the :Avalon SF Elite model is capable of 340 lpi with :Sublima and 21 micron :CristalRaster FM screening. Semi-automatic as well as single-cassette and four-cassette fully automatic versions are available. Companies considering moving to larger printing formats can protect their CtP investment with :Avalon SF thanks to its field upgradeability to a full B1 format. :Avalon SF Thermal is available immediately.