Ridgefield Park, NJ – October 29, 2003 – Agfa announced that newspapers in Massachusetts (USA) and Finland are among the first to take advantage of the new violet laser computer-to-plate system from Agfa. Finnish newspaper Pyhäjokiseudun Kirjapaino was the first in Europe to purchase an :Advantage DL3850 CtP system, which made its European debut at IFRA 2003. The newspaper’s managing director Asko Talvi completed the agreement with Agfa on the first day of the show. According to Talvi, the :Advantage DL3850 was the perfect solution to his need for a high-quality, high productivity system that could support his heat-set operation as well as regular newspaper run. “What we especially appreciate about this system is the simplicity of its design and its sturdiness. It can handle large plates yet it is compact,” said Talvi. “We also believe that violet-laser imaging is the clear choice for newspaper production.” The company also uses a :Polaris 100LS with Agfa’s :N91 plate. “We also see Agfa as a long-term strategic partner. The company is both practical and forward-thinking at the same time,” added Talvi. Eagle-Tribune Publishing Company (ETPC), headquartered in North Andover, Massachusetts, was the first worldwide user of the :Advantage DL3850. ETPC’s 10 newspapers (four dailies and six weeklies) cover 52 communities in two states and have a combined circulation of more than 212,000. ”The economics really work when you invest in an :Advantage. We did a full ROI and cost of ownership model, and the :Advantage was way ahead of any of their competitors,” said Dennis Turmel, ETPC’s Vice President / Operations. About the :Advantage DL3850. The :Advantage DL3850 offers extreme reliability and flexibility and at the same time, thanks to fewer moving parts, the :Advantage DL is also one of the least complex devices on the market. The system was shown for the first time at NEXPO in Las Vegas. The :Advantage DL3850 also can be configured for multiple plate sizes without requiring customization. The system can use different plates on a day-to-day basis. It also meets future needs, when newspaper publishers may be faced with web reductions or new press line installations. The :Advantage DL3850 small footprint is designed to take up less floor space keeping newspaper prepress operations as compact and efficient as possible. It also offers dual-side operation, ergonomically designed for operator comfort. Violet imaging has gained in popularity all over the world, thanks to its low cost of operation. Violet laser imaging also allows the user to load and handle plates in a convenient bright yellow safe-light environment, similar to conventional processing conditions. :Advantage DL3850 utilizes the advanced high-quality “cross modulation” or XM screening solution, :Sublima, which combines the benefits of both AM and FM screening. :Sublima provides high-resolution AM reproduction in the mid-tones, and in the highlights and shadows, :Sublima switches to a special Agfa-patented method of FM screening. With :Sublima the printer can print the complete 1-99% tonal range.