Wake Forest, N.C. - Southern Lithoplate, Inc. announced that seven publishers and newspaper printing companies converted from conventional negative imaging to thermal computer-to-plate (CtP) production with Southern Lithoplate digital newspaper solutions.

The Daily News in Bowling Green, Ky., purchased the Screen PlateRite News 2000S+ thermal CtP recorder, Presteligence NewsXtreme Lite newspaper workflow system with optional Ink-Miser module and VIPER 830 thermal plates.

"We looked at violet CtP systems and different thermal machines and decided that Southern Lithoplate has a good running thermal plate in the VIPER and the Screen PlateRite News 2000S+ has the best track record for reliable plate output," said Larry Simpson, production manager of the seven-day newspaper. "Because we were buying just one platesetter, we wanted a device that was as reliable as possible. We also liked the fact that, if we ever needed to, we could output film on the imagesetter and expose the film directly to the VIPER plate."

The PAGE Co-op member replaced 12-year-old imagesetting equipment to produce high-quality thermal plates. The Daily News' nine-unit Goss Urbanite web press turns out 18,400 daily copies and 26,000 Sunday copies, along with two shoppers and various tabloids.

"The first thing we noticed was the VIPER plate requires less water and ink than an analog plate," Simpson said. "Anytime you can use less water and ink, you save on ink costs. The dot retention is impressive, too. The VIPER holds one-percent to two-percent dots with ease. It's also a tough plate. We could run 200,000 or more impressions if we wanted to without post-baking."

At the Anniston Star, the Anniston, Ala.-based PAGE Co-op member chose the PlateRite News 2000S+, NewsXtreme Lite and VIPER plates.

Flashes Publishers in Allegan, Mich., installed two PlateRite News 2000S+ devices, Polkadots NEWSflo newspaper workflow software and VIPER plates. Flashes prints four shopping guides with a combined circulation of more than 75,600 copies, in addition to specialty publications and advertising circulars.

The Tullahoma News, a PAGE Co-op member in Tullahoma, Tenn., purchased the PlateRite News 2000S+, Screen Trueflow workflow system and VIPER plates. The Tullahoma News is part of Lakeway Publishers, Inc.

The Florence Morning News, a division of Media General, Inc. in Florence, S.C., implemented the PlateRite News 2000S+ and VIPER plates. Published seven days a week, the Morning News has a circulation of approximately 31,200 copies.

The Dothan Eagle, a Media General paper in Dothan, Ala., added the PlateRite News 2000S+ and VIPER plates.

The News-Topic, a property of Paxton Media Group in Lenoir, N.C., opted for the PlateRite News 2000S+ and VIPER plates.

In addition to these publishers and newspaper printers, Southern Lithoplate reported that MCW Printing in Louisville, Ky., expanded its prepress department to include a second PlateRite News 2000S+. MCW Printing specializes in four-color magazine printing, binding, mailing and delivery.