Düsseldorf, Germany – Drupa – 5 May 2004 – Agfa today unveiled the latest in the :Sherpa family of inkjet digital proofers, the :Grand SherpaMatic. The two-sided :Grand SherpaMatic is 127 cm wide (50 inches), and has eight ink cartridges for up to eight colours. The system will be seen for the first time at Drupa, Hall 06/D27 and available in October 2004. The :Grand SherpaMatic system features an Agfa-patented tumbling system with +/- 1 mm registration accuracy. It can be configured for high speed, double-sided, imposition proofing with a 2 x 4 (CCMMYYKK) colour configuration. It can also produce high-quality colour concept proofs with a 1 X 7 (CcMmYKk) colour configuration. It provides multiple resolutions and print speeds for added versatility. “We are excited to offer this high quality and versatile wide-format proofing device to commercial printers,” said Willy Van Dromme, worldwide director of marketing for proofing solutions. “The :Grand SherpaMatic is four times faster than the popular :SherpaMatic, which sold more than 500 units. It can output a two-sided, 8-up proof in about four minutes.” The :Grand SherpaMatic will be demonstrated at Drupa in conjunction with Agfa’s :ApogeeX workflow system, which lets users view and adjust digital films as single pages or full imposed flats, and manage their output to proofers, platesetters, and other devices. It can also be integrated in non-Agfa workflows using filters for third-party file formats.