Chicago, Ill – GRAPH EXPO (Booth #4024) – October 10, 2004 – Agfa customers Strine Printing, the largest commercial and packaging printer in the north eastern United States, and Edwards Brothers, one of the largest book manufacturers in the U.S., have both reported excellent results from Agfa's :Xcalibur VLF XXT, the world's fastest VLF (very large format) CtP system. Strine Printing, which specializes in a wide range of commercial, folding carton and digital printing applications, recently installed the :Xcalibur VLF XXT at its York, Pennsylvania facility. The plant is already realizing the benefits of the :Xcalibur's average output of 20 plates per hour using plates from 40" to 72". "We had been looking to strengthen our packaging and publishing presence in the commercial market, so we needed a system that was fast and flexible. The :Xcalibur VLF XXT gives us the capability to make high quality plates that fit our new press at extremely fast rates," said Michael Marconi, Strine Printing's executive vice president of sales and marketing. Marconi also said the :Grand Sherpa Universal 64 inkjet system that Strine purchased with the platesetter is a great complement to the workflow, providing extremely high quality proofs and prints. " We're proud to be able to offer this superior set-up to our customers," he added. Edwards Brothers, a book manufacturer based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, which already had an :Xcalibur VLF XT, recently upgraded the system to the faster XXT version earlier this year. Since then, John Aceves, prepress superintendent at Edwards Brothers, has noticed an increase in the plate production, extending throughout the workflow. "The :Xcalibur XXT gave us a 60% increase in plate speed, with faster loading and unloading time, overall improved stability and consistent quality," Aceves said. "Our prepress system now gives us the power we need to keep up with the consistent demand of the book manufacturing business." Aceves was pleased with the VLF XXT's seamless integration with his :Apogee Series3 workflow. Edwards Brothers has three :Xcalibur VLFs in the company's Ann Arbor, Michigan and Lillington, North Carolina, facilities. "The :Xcalibur VLF XXT is specifically designed for companies such as Strine and Edwards Brothers that require high-volume VLF plate production," said Agfa's David Furman, senior marketing manager, CtP Systems, North America. "Because it is the fastest VLF platesetter available, the :Xcalibur VLF XXT is ideal for high volume users looking to upgrade older and slower VLF units, or for first time CtP buyers as well."