What the role does processor plays on prepress workflow?

[Chris Chang]

Hi All

I am a newly member of this forum and would like to get some information from here (U.S. region) as the prepress environment seems different to Asia region.
Here I rarely see guys discuss topics of processor but only focus on CTP machine and plates.

As titles, willing to collect information about processor influences in your place for the entire prepress workflow.
@ What are the mostly troubles you occurred during plate developing which come from processor itself?
@ How many plates / square meters after, you need to replace new developer?
@ How many plates been wasted due to processor issue in certain production? (Ex. Every 500 pcs plates production)
@ CTP / Plate / Chemical / processor…., which factors annoying you mostlyyou’re your production?

Best Regards to All.

 

[VladCanada]

IMHO anyone of 3 main players (AGFA, Fuji, Kodak) on the market of prepress equipment would be glad to pay some money for such a kind of information.

 

[leicalsf]

..........

 

[leicalsf]

all of these three major players' Asian branch (AGFA, Fuji, Kodak) have already found information related to these questions, plus the solution to problems revealed by these info; but they are very very conservative about releasing these info. My guess is, because the solution they've found can truly reduce the cost of chemicals and their (Chemical) processing fee, which would be an obstacle for their future push on Chem-free plates, because this solution is going to bring down the cost of using CTP Thermal plates greatly for its users, and they will find no point of switching to Cham-free, at least not until chem-free become stable and economically efficient.
The solution I mentioned about is a crazy processor made by a Taiwanese company, if I remember it right, it is capable of developing over 12,000 sq. m plates consecutively without changing developer, only replenishing, reduce chemical use for over 35% (or 47% I am not sure), zero scrap plate during the process, dot deviation within 0.5% and other crazy numbers.
All three major players' Asian branch know about this baby, but doesn't seems to care so much, so it can not yet be found in American/European markets, what a shame...