Looking for advise on the best ctp platemaker to use for low print production 5-10 plates a week. The press we have is a Quickmaster2(QM2). We have a Agfa Accuset but find we don't make enough plates to justify the expense of the chemicals and the waste on the leader end of the film. Some of the low run paltemaker I am aware of are the Kimosetter and the HP 5000 laser... some insight to help me resolve this dilemma is much appreciated
You don't say where in the world you are, US or Europe...
"JamieZ" suggested looking at the Glunz & Jensen system.
The Glunz & Jensen solution for a QM-46 is the PlateWriter 2000, I suspect though that this system would be difficult to justify given your plate volume.
The Glunz & Jensen PlateWriter2000, is the third generation inkjet CTP system from Glunz & Jensen. It uses heavily modified inkjet printer running at either 2880 x 2880 dpi or 1440 x 1440 dpi and jets a diazo based specialist ink on to a metal plate. Then using the integrated finishing unit below, it cures the image onto the plate for circa 50,000 impressions... it is a chemistry free system, as you only use the ink and then heat to fix the ink to the plate.
The plates are loaded with an optical registration system and it is very accurate, relpeatable and smooth throughout the tonal ranges providing nice flat tints and well contoured gradients.
The Metal plates will set you back between $2.50 - $2.68 per plate, and the only other cost is the ink, which will depend upon coverage, but for an average letterhead or business card will be around an additional 25-35c and for full coverage flyers come up to nearer 75c +. That's it, no other costs.... and no chemicals, or disposal costs... plus no labour costs, as you only load the plate and click print.. no laying up of film or anything...
It comes with everything you need including the Harlequin RIP and hardware platform..
Pricing ... the Glunz & Jensen PalteWriter 2000 unit should set you back $25,000 (circa) with some kind of delivery charge.. and maybe an installation charge, depending on where you go...
At only 5 - 10 plates a week, I think this makes the unit difficult to make a return on your investment, really it is aimed at users making 100 - 1000 plates per month.. having said that, there are users in your bracket specially small print shops and in-plants who seek chemistry free and hate cleaning processors, ect that desitre a "no maintenance solution" that seek them out.
Having said that there are some "part funded" finance deals provided by G&J to enable users to finance over 3 years, the deal I saw last week, was 10 months interest free OR $800 deposit and Nothing to pay for 3 months, then 33 months of payments at a much more palatable $200 per week ....
The Glunz & Jensen PlateWriter2000 will provide much better quality than a HP laser printer and polyester plates. (typically the older Mono laser based solutions strugle with greytones, and nothing above 120lpi, also banding in gradient tints.) Note the HP5000 laser printer based solution is limited to 305mm width so you will get ink build up on your 340mm wide QM46 cylinder, which is no issue when loading the plates but the autoeject does not work, as the ink sticks the plates on..
To solve this, and again as "JaimeZ" said, consider the Xante PlateMaker5, this is a much more accomplished laser printer engine, capable of the full 340mm width, and capable of resolving better greyscales, at a push you can get 133 - 150 lpi with better control over halftone reproduction and even a control called X-Act which allows users to calibrate the impact of the heat in the laser printer causing the polyester to stretch.. In comparison to the HP the Xante has less banding. But, test close register work before going down this route, the feeding mechanism has a tendancy to be less accurate than more expensive solutions, and the polyester has a habbit of feeding slightly out of square and inconsistently, an effect which is compunded by the heat applied - so whilst it is acehiveable, anything with tight register needs patience and maybe a few extra plates....
The benefit of either of these laser printer based printers, is like the InkJet based CTP solution from Glunz & Jensen... they are chemistry free. However, the real advantage is the cost... these laser based solutions as they ae based on older phased out laser engines can be aquired quite cheaply... $2,000 - $7,000 ? But the HP one has been out of production for a while so whilst that is the cheaper end - I suspect locating one may be tough.. the Xante is still available...
In terms of your old Agfa Accuset,any of these solutions will certainly remove the chemistry , and all the hassle of the maintenance... But both Laser printer & Polyester plate solutions are likely to be steps backwards in quality.
On the other hand, the Glunz & Jensen system will almost certainly improves the quality there too..
But, wrt to the Glunz & Jensen system... the "items that you need to consider..."
.. The Glunz & Jensen system uses a specialist diffused screening method called DEEDs (Dynamically Even Error Diffused Screening), this is a stochastic type of screen, and will look different to some legacy work you may have already printed using conventional screens.. the colour will be the same, and detail may even be better... but the screening does look different.... many people like it, but some don't...so I would advise, if you consider this unit ask the dealer or Glunz and Jensen for print samples and if you like what you see then get them to image one of your already printed jobs...
Other units to consider, may be second hand? But if your volume is so low, you probably need to avoid chemistry based systems, as the chemistry will go off before you have imaged enough plates.
I have seem the Kimosetter solution too, this uses a more robust polyester base, BUT - the image is applied by a Thermal printhead, against a wax type of print ribbon. Any large flat areas like pannels on invoices and halftones, will show the stepping in terms of the width of this ribbon (approx 3/4 inch). So, unless you stick to line work only - like coach or bus timetables, I doubt this will live up to your expectations.
If your budget does not enable the G&J solution, it would seem to me, that the suggestion made by "VladCanada" might be worth chewing over..
Good luck in your quest.
