Newnorth Installs UK's First PlateRite Platesetter

The UK’s first Screen B1 PlateRite 8900HD platesetter has been installed by Newnorth Print Ltd in Kempston, Bedford. The new 8-page PlateRite was designed to deliver high production performance alongside considerable energy saving features. As a result power consumption per plate during operation has been cut by around 9% and standby power consumption has been cut by 85%. The low-energy rating of the PlateRite was a major element in its selection by Newnorth and its compatibility with Agfa :Azura TS plates and the Agfa Azura VOC-free, waterless plate processor.

“We evaluated the power consumption of several leading CTP brands and Screen’s latest model came out the best by far,” says Mike Seamarks, Director, Newnorth Print. The system will image plates for the company’s offset presses, including a 10-colour Heidelberg SM 102 offset press.

The new Screen PlateRite is the latest step in Newnorth’s significant programme of investment in technology and processes to minimize its environmental impact in every aspect of the company’s operation. The company has used training, behavioural change and good housekeeping practices to consistently reduce energy, waste, water, and VOC use over several years. The company operates a certified ISO 14001: 2004 environmental management system, maintains FSC and PEFC accreditations and advises customers on the best formats, materials and processes to achieve their own environmental targets.

Newnorth’s Screen PlateRite HD 8900 S images 43 plates an hour and features the ability to combine high-precision halftone dots with a 4,000 dpi output to produce photo-quality results. In addition, a 3D lenticular output mode supports crisp 3D printing for specialist, value-added printing applications. This model handles a variety of plate sizes from 304 x 305 mm to 1,165 x 950 mm and, when required, can be upgraded to the top-end, ultra-high throughput PlateRite HD 8900Z which images over 65 plates an hour (1,030 x 800 mm plate sizes at a resolution of 2,400 dpi).

“Like Newnorth, Screen puts environmental issues at the top of its agenda and endeavours to significantly reduce the environmental impact of its products,” says Bui Burke, Screen UK Sales Manager. “When designing the new PlateRite 8900 HD range we not only improved energy efficiency but also resource efficiency, recyclability, and safety. Productivity and environmental integrity is important to print companies and their customers today and that’s uppermost in our minds when developing next generation technology such as this.”