Mortsel, Belgium underline_spacer June 14, 2006 -- The Dogan Group of Istanbul, Turkey, has decided to step up the digitisation of prepress production for its leading newspaper Hurriyet, using computer-to-plate solutions and software from Agfa Graphics. Agfa Graphics has taken an order for 8 additional :Polaris XTV violet computer-to-plate systems with software, digital offset plates and processing, and punch and bending equipment. Hurriyet chose to partner with Agfa Graphics and its national distributor Reproset when it first embarked on its conversion to CtP (computer-to-plate) back in 2000. The company has had 7 :Polaris systems in operation in Istanbul and two more in Frankfurt, Germany, where Europe's most widely read Turkish-language newspaper is printed for circulation across 24 countries. These will be upgraded on site to state-of-the art violet laser imaging to increase the lifetime of the imaging system and further boost print quality. The new systems will be installed at four Hurriyet print sites across Turkey (Izmir, Ankara, Adana and Antalya). The new order will make Hurriyet the most important newspaper CtP installation in the region, with a total of 17 :Polaris CtP systems in place, and digital offset plate consumption in excess of 800,000 sq.m. per year. "We have been working with Agfa Graphics for seven years, and we have been happy with the quality of printing plates and Agfa's innovative technology, as well as with the support and service through national distributor, Reproset," said Hamil Alniacik, general manager of DPC/Dogan's print sites. "We have reviewed technology offerings from other vendors and benchmarked them against Agfa's violet solutions. Agfa Graphics came out winning: we are confident that we are making a good choice."