HUDSON, N.H., Sept. 18 -- Presstek, Inc., a leading provider of direct digital imaging technology, today announces commercial availability of its new process-free printing plate, Applause. The newest in Presstek's chemistry-free family of plate products, Applause is a wet offset plate engineered to provide run lengths of up to 100,000 impressions. Applause is designed to go from platesetter to press with no intermediate treatment or processing -- users simply image the plate, hang it on press and print. At Graph Expo 2003, Presstek will be accepting orders for Applause with new Dimension platesetters. The plate will initially be available in North America, and later in Europe and Japan. It is expected to be available for third party, non-proprietary, thermal platesetters upon completion of ongoing qualification testing. Presstek President and Chief Executive Officer Edward J. Marino says, "The marketplace can now realize the full potential of computer-to-plate technology with the Applause plate. With Applause, we are delivering a groundbreaking solution that answers the market's quest for an affordable, efficient and environmentally friendly printing plate. With Applause you image and print - the benefits of process-free are immediately apparent as this diagram clearly demonstrates." Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer George Ryan of the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation says, "Process-free is the natural progression of CTP plate technology. It is only fitting that Presstek, a leader in chemistry-free plates, is leading the way into process-free technology. We have worked with the Applause plate at our GATF facility, and as a result are happy to support Presstek in bringing this critical and timely technology to the marketplace." Gene D. Scott of Pony X Press Printing Services, Reynoldsburg, Ohio said, "We've run Presstek's chemistry-free Anthem plate successfully on our Creo Trendsetter for the past two years, and we were very pleased to have had the opportunity to evaluate the new Applause plate early on. Not only does the process-free nature of the plate streamline our plate prep operation, we're also getting very good on-press performance with Applause. I don't see how you can justify using a chemistry-intensive platemaking process when process-free technology is available." At Graph Expo 2003, live printing demonstrations with Applause will be the highlight of Presstek's stand (#4052). Graph Expo 2003 will be taking place in Chicago from September 28th through October 1st. Applause was shown in a technology demonstration at Graph Expo 2002, and won a 'Must See'Em' show award.