CTP - Computer to Plate
Israels largest newspaper – Yedioth Achronot – orders third KODAK TRENDSETTER NEWS 200 Thermal Platesetter
Wednesday 23. July 2008 - The investment in KODAK Thermal CTP played vital role in recent appointment as a member of the International Newspaper Color Quality Club.
The creation of a purpose built 15,000 metre printing plant in the north of Israel five years ago provided the opportunity for the countrys largest newspaper, Yedioth Achronot, to evaluate the latest print related technologies. Quality was a key issue from the start and the decision to install Kodaks thermal CTP technology in 2004 has been so successful that the newspaper just ordered its third KODAK TRENDSETTER NEWS 200 Thermal Platesetter. The KODAK Technology also played an important role in the newspapers recent appointment as a member of the prestigious International Newspaper Color Quality Club.
“One of the greatest endorsements for Kodaks CTP system has got to be the important part it has played in enabling Yedioth Achronots northern printing plant to become a member of the International Newspaper Color Quality Club 2008-2010,” says Assaf Avrahami, who was CEO of the northern printing house during its creation and now heads the subsidiary responsible for IT within the group. “The award is organized and judged by IFRA, NAA and PANPA and can be held by only 50 newspapers around the world at any one time so were delighted to have become one of them.”
It was a major move to thermal CTP, away from the visible light CTP technology utilised at the newspapers Tel Aviv premises, but Kodaks thermal CTP technology made it easier to achieve consistent quality, colour and stability throughout the production process, from prepress to press.
“By 2004, new CTP technologies had been brought to the market and these opened up new opportunities to improve quality, which was a top priority. With a brand new factory, we had the freedom to test the latest CTP systems and we trialed the KODAK Equipment extensively for a year. The results were consistent colour and high quality throughout the production process, along with excellent stability in the prepress department and on the press. It led to a major improvement in productivity.
“The KODAK System proved itself to be extremely reliable, stable and cost effective and in 2006 we installed our second TRENDSETTER NEWS 200 Thermal Platesetter. By this time we were using KODAK THERMALNEWS Plates. We also implemented KODAK STACCATO Screening, and this has been used very successfully on our semi commercial work, where it has allowed us to produce vibrant colours with great effect.”
Yedioth Achronot is also benefiting from the unique KODAK SQUARESPOT Imaging Technology, which has been adopted from the commercial environment and provides consistent dot accuracy and tonal stability for repeatable AM screens. This results in higher screen rules (Yedioth Achronot operates with 180/200 lpi), sharper linework, excellent reverse type and legibility and minimizes early dot wear on the plate. The KODAK TRENDSETTER NEWS 200 Thermal Platesetter is available with an integrated autoloader, while the addition of a KODAK Automatic Pallet Loader provides automatic removal of interleaves and higher plate capacity.
“The TRENDSETTER NEWS 200 Thermal Platesetter has proved to be very straightforward to operate and all basic maintenance is easily carried out by our own staff,” says Assaf Avrahami. “It is also extremely robust and reliable. However, we know that we have the support of Kodak experts if we need their help.”
Yedioth Achronot operates its pressroom and prepress department around the clock. Its own newspaper, Yedioth Achronot, is the largest and most popular daily in Israel. The tabloid paper has more than 50 percent of the newspaper market in Israel. Work at the northern plant ranges from weekly and monthly magazines to a free daily newspaper given out at train stations, and a recently launched daily examining the economic market. Covers for semi commercial jobs are printed outside and the companys saddle stitching and inserting facilities allow these to be integrated with work printed on its six-tower KBA COMMANDER press.
“Each year we print around 75,000 tons of newsprint between our production sites and this level of output obviously requires a substantial volume of plates, which we estimate will be around 120,000 square metres during 2008. When the third TRENDSETTER NEWS 200 Thermal Platesetter is commissioned shortly after Drupa, our plate production for the northern plant will be entirely thermal, handled on KODAK Platesetters. At this stage we will eliminate the last of our film output.
“Weve seen major benefits from this move to Kodaks thermal plate technology, including savings in manpower, time and costs in the prepress department, as well as major improvements to print quality and colour consistency,” Assaf Avrahami. “Platemaking can be carried out quickly and efficiently and if a plate is subsequently damaged it can easily be remade with accuracy. The implementation of the KODAK TRENDSETTER NEWS 200 Thermal Platesetters has introduced stability throughout production – one of the most important criteria for any offset printer today.”
Jack Knadjian is Vice President, Newspaper Market Segment at Kodaks Graphic Communications Group. “We are proud to be associated with the success of Yedioth Achronots northern site and its great achievement in becoming a member of the International Newspaper Color Quality Club,” says Mr Knadjian. “To be successful at these awards a newspaper has to produce excellent print quality day after day. This requires stability in the platemaking process, something our SQUARESPOT Technology helps to achieve.”
KODAK Products are backed by KODAK Service and Support. KODAK Service and Support is made up of more than 3,000 professionals reaching more than 120 countries. It is a leading multi vendor integrated services provider, delivering consulting, installation, maintenance and support services for the commercial printing, graphic communications, document imaging and data storage industries. KODAK Service and Support professionals are uniquely qualified to provide services that control costs, maximize productivity, and minimize business risk.