Some years ago I got information about a british company selling a device to automatically regenerate (to some extent) used CTP developer, which it blended with fresh one, resulting in savings to the end user.
Now it seems to have disappeared, I found it's website only on the webarchive:
Aspire Imaging UK Computer to Plate Applications CTP Printing
Did such technology ever work, are there other similar systems out there?
best regards,
Roberto Michelena
Infinitek
Lima, Peru
Such systems are really just a super-fine filtration system, eliminating more of the particulate in the developer so that it can be used longer. If they'll help your particular situation depends on
why your developer is being exhausted.
They'll work if (and only if):
1) you're currently changing your developer due to it being dirty
2) you're replenishing to overcome dirt/sludge buidup that collects in the dev tank.
3) you're replenishing more than is needed to combat oxidation
If the problem you're having is simply chemically-exhausted developer, there is little benefit to better filtration.
Today's developers are much cleaner than they were even a couple years ago. I'm not sure what plate/developer/processor you are using however, and that makes a big difference.
Regarding oxidation - if your developer is sensitive to oxygen (as most/all positive-typedevelopers are), you can only increase the life of the developer so far by filtering before you run into oxidation-caused replenishment limits. Plates like Sword Excel don't have this limit because it uses a negative-type low-pH developer.
Kodak does not officially endorse 3rd-party units because we would rather address the problem at the source with better chemical/processing solutions (or eliminate processing altogether!). However, we do offer a Kodak unit for some plate types like Thermal Gold (which some people used with Sword Excel too).
In the long term, such solutions shouldn't be necessary. In the short term, it varies by plate and chemical type.
Kevin.
