New high-production engine hits speeds of 350 plates per hour, helping publishers extend editorial and advertising deadlines without sacrificing quality.

Agfa Graphics today introduced a new high-speed platesetter for the high-volume newspaper market. The Advantage N-TR HS (Trolley Load, High-Speed) runs at speeds up to 350 plates per hour. Thanks to the increased speed, the Advantage N-TR HS can extend newspaper publishers’ editorial and advertising deadlines, giving them the ability to deliver the latest news and last-minute offers to their daily readers.

The increased speed will also help newspaper publishers replace multiple, slower CtP engines with fewer faster ones. This results in savings on new CtP investments as well as other costs such as processing equipment or punch and bending machines. In addition, less processing equipment drastically reduces the labor cost for cleaning and refill. Finally, fewer CtP engines also mean less required floor space.

“Agfa Graphics again shows its commitment to the newspaper industry by offering state-of-the-art CtP technology that meets the requirements of the premium level newspaper market segment," said Emiel Sweevers, Global marketing manager for newspaper engines, Agfa Graphics. "Like all segments in the newspaper industry, the high-volume segment is also looking for improved production efficiency, cost savings and automation."

Sweevers continues: "With Agfa Graphics, newspaper publishers have a partner with expertise in hardware, complete workflow solutions and consumables, covering the entire pre-press production area. We continue to develop solutions that enable our customers to face the current market challenges.”

The Advantage N-TR HS features a trolley to transport plates from a safelight environment to the CtP imager. This gives customers who cannot switch to yellow safelight in the room where the CtP device is installed, the flexibility to more easily and efficiently load the plates in a separate yellow safelight environment.