Acquisition Of Agfa Phoenix Imagesetters Increases Quality, Decreases Costs. Mortsel, Belgium – 13 February 2002 – Agfa announced that Sing Tao, Canada’s largest Chinese daily newspaper, recently purchased four Agfa Phoenix 2250 Imagesetters for its newspaper printing operations in Vancouver and Toronto. Sing Tao Canada Media Group is part of the Business Ventures Division of Torstar Media Group. "This was a good decision for us," says Andrew Go, Chairman of the Board of Sing Tao and President, Business Ventures, Torstar Media Group. "We increased our quality and decreased our costs thereby realizing an immediate return on our investment." The new technology is faster and eliminates the film stripping process so productivity is improved and time and labour costs are reduced. "We started by assuming that computer-to-plate would be most appropriate for our needs. However, the analysis that the Agfa reps provided to us indicated that at this point in our company’s development, computer-to-film was the most cost effective solution," explains Go. The quality of Sing Tao’s newspapers and weekly magazines have been enhanced because there is consistency throughout production. The improved registration, sharper images and deeper colours give the publications a more attractive look. "We expect to realize our return on investment within one year," states Go. "The improved quality as well as the time and cost savings established by the Phoenix 2250 Imagesetters will provide short term payback and long term gain." About Agfa Phoenix Agfa Phoenix is Agfa’s latest and most advanced family of mid-size, high-productivity drum imagesetters. Phoenix is an exceptionally flexible system that matches the specific workflow and pressroom requirements of today’s printers. For commercial printers, newspapers, service bureaus and in-plant operations, Agfa Phoenix is the right choice for fast thoughput and fail-safe reliability -- all in an extremely easy-to-use solution. The system outputs plate-ready films and press-ready SetPrint Plus polyester plates. In both cases, Phoenix ensures that final films match press format, punch requirements and contact frame.