ST. PAUL, MN, September 7, 2006 -- Printware, LLC, a privately held provider of computer-to-plate pre-press equipment, supplies and services, today announced that its PlateStream Violet metal CTP system announced at last year's Print '05 show has now proven itself an ideal fit for forms printers. Grand Traverse Continuous, established in 1980, specializes in continuous and laser forms sold through distributors. Grand Traverse uses four (4) pack-to-pack presses and two (2) web presses that produce a combination of multi-part and single-part sheet and continuous forms. After extensive investigation into the various metal CTP systems available in the marketplace, Walt Gallagher, President of Grand Traverse chose the Platestream Violet from Printware. He says, "Most of the other metal CTP solutions on the market are designed for large-format commercial printing applications and that did not meet my needs." Grand Traverse became one of the first Platestream Violet installations in the U.S. Further commenting, Gallagher said he was amazed at the improved quality he saw with plates from the Platestream Violet. "With our previous direct-to-negative system, there were inherent problems in burning plates that we just took for granted. The light source would change almost every time you turned the equipment on, and as a result, the dot size would change from job to job. As a result, we had to adjust our screening to compensate. With the new Printware system, we are able to achieve a consistent dot size every time. Although this means readjusting our screening for more density, the improved quality was well worth the little effort that involved." Gallagher also noted, "We've achieved additional benefits from the technology switch beyond improved quality. Right off the bat, I saved $12,000 in annual film costs by using the Platestream Violet. Add to that an estimated $15,000 savings for the half-time person that was previously dedicated to burning plates with the old system, and it begins to add up." Gallagher also reports that the Platestream Violet system makes more efficient use of chemistry than previous systems he has used. And remaking plates is much easier than in the past. "With the Platestream Violet system," says Gallagher, "a bar code is printed on each plate. If a plate needs to be remade for any reason, you simply scan in the bar code with the supplied bar code scanner. The system then immediately brings up the form and the plate is regenerated." All of this, he says, adds up to a much more efficient process as well as sharper form images than he was able to achieve in the past. After a week of training, the system was up and running. According to Gallagher, it is extremely easy to use and does not require a dedicated operator as past systems did. And working with Printware has been a delight. "Printware has been very responsive. The personal interaction we have had with them and their follow-through has more than met our expectations," he says.