ECRM will exhibit the NEWS CTP and the NEWSmatic at IfraExpo 2004, on stand 0653 in Hall 1. Both products follow the company’s passion to make CTP more widely available, delivering the quality, reliability and flexibility of CTP, for the price of an imagesetter. ECRM NEWSmatic Launched at IfraExpo 2003 in Leipzig, the NEWSmatic is a fully automated newspaper CTP system, targeted at local and regional newspapers, requiring peak-time production of up to 80 broadsheet plates per hour. New for IfraExpo 2004, the NEWSmatic will feature the recently added slip-sheet removal system. This uniquely designed feature uses patented ECRM technology, to further increase the simplicity of the unit. The paper sheets separating the plates within the cassette are quickly and easily removed. Derek Sizer, ECRM Vice President EMEA, comments, “The technology that we use is unique. As a company we pride ourselves on providing simple, low cost solutions to complicated technical requirements. The slip sheet removal system underlines this commitment.” Available for less than €85,000, the NEWSmatic appeals to both newspapers and contract printers. The NEWSmatic achieves its low price though a simple design, combining a straight-through plate path with ECRM’s, proven Violet imaging technology. Exposure is by a long-life violet diode at any one of eight resolutions up to 2540 dpi. To provide flexibility to match its target market, the NEWSmatic has an output format which covers all popular web widths and press cut-offs, from 290 mm x 385 mm, up to a maximum double-broadsheet format of 635 mm x 927 mm. The optical configuration also includes anamorphic resolution sets as well as image scaling from 85% to 110%. ECRM NEWS CTP The ECRM NEWS CTP system has similar features to the NEWSmatic but is semi-automatic and sells for less than €65,000. Being manually fed, the NEWS CTP also provides a very fast change between imaging formats, from a single tabloid page to a double broadsheet. This can be an important asset for busy contract printers using more than one press for a variety of newspaper and heatset work. Derek continues, “The ECRM NEWS series has been designed to complement the production from single-width presses, such as the Goss Community, whether they are used for newspapers or semi-commercial work. This market needs CTP solutions that are flexible, robust and cost effective. The advantage is not just in the price. Both products are easy to install, operate and maintain, keeping investment and ongoing running costs to a minimum.” Since their launch, both the NEWS CTP and NEWSmatic have proved very successful, with a number of major announcements expected in Europe. ECRM is set to continue its philosophy of making newspaper CTP more affordable and flexible with the forthcoming launch of the NEWS Extra CTP system. The NEWS Extra will offer plate formats of up to 814 mm x 1143 mm, bringing all of the advantages of MAKO Imaging technology to newspaper printers operating wide web formats and longer cut-offs.