Mortsel, Belgium - 28 February 2004 - 4:00 p.m. CET
Agfa announced today that Hong Kong's Wen Wei Po newspaper has installed two :Polaris XTV violet-laser systems, making it the first newspaper in the city to implement CtP technology. The transition was marked by a ceremony at Wen Wei Po's facility attended by Mr. Zhang Guoliang, Director; Mr. Pan Yi Li, Deputy Director; Mr. Wang Bo Yao, Chief Editor; Mr. Liu Weizhong, Assistant Chief Editor and Mr. Kwok Wan, General Manager of the Wen Wei Po Press Centre.
The fully automated :Polaris XTV enables Wein Wei Poi to achieve greater efficiency and greater thoughput, within their production system. Plates are imaged at high speeds, up to 200 plates per hour, and then smoothly transported onto an inline punch and bending unit, where they are fully prepared for press. Whereas previously it took several people to oversee prepress operations, the new streamlined cycle can be controlled by just one operator.
":Polaris brings many benefits to our business. The systems are fast and easy to operate, which increases workflow efficiency, and they provide high-resolution plates, which improves our print quality," said Mr. Pan Yi Li, Deputy Director at Wen Wei Po. "We are proud to have the most modern prepress system in our region."
For high-quality results, the newspaper also uses Agfa's :N91v photopolymer plates, which print at 200 lpi. The durable coating of :N91v enables long press runs and excellent press performance.
"As the first newspaper in its region to switch to CtP, Wen Wei Po has already begun to realise the increase in productivity and decrease in manpower that :Polaris XTV systems can provide. Since installation was completed last month, the newspaper has imaged up to 90% of its plates using the :Polaris CtP system," said Agfa's Kurt Smits, director of newspaper business worldwide. "Agfa is glad to be able to offer customers around the world our powerful solutions, that help raise quality and keep costs under control."
About the :Polaris CtP System
:Polaris XTV uses a long-life violet (405 nm) laser, and reaches imaging speeds of up to 200 plates per hour. The single wide, high-speed flatbed platesetter uses a convenient plate trolley and keeps more than 1000 single or 500 panorama plates on-line and ready to image.
About Wen Wei Po
Founded in September 1948 Hong Kong Wen Wei Po is a mainstream newspaper in Hong Kong, and is delivered to many provinces throughout China. It also publishes overseas versions for Europe, America, South East Asia, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia and Canada, with a total circulation of more than 300,000 eah day.
About Agfa
The Agfa-Gevaert Group is one of the world's leading imaging and IT companies. Agfa develops, manufactures and markets analogue and digital systems, intended mainly for the graphics industry and the healthcare markets.
Agfa's headquarters are in Mortsel, Belgium. The company is active in 40 countries and has agents in another 100 countries throughout the world. Together they achieved a turnover of 4,215 million euros in 2003.
Product and company information can be found on Agfa's home page on the World Wide Web at: www.agfa.com.
Editor contact:
Marc Verbiest
PR Manager
Graphic Systems
+32-3-444 4101
