We now have CTP!!!!!!

[beermonster]

well it's taken me 8 long years to finally persuade this company to go CTP

the install has been over the past three days and has gone really really well.

the set up is a Screen Platerite 800II imaging Agfa azura plates.

The setter with single autoloader is second hand, about 6 yrs old - but has only done 27k plates. we bought from one of the most reliable and from our own experience with them - trustworthy dealers. In fact, as more of an engineers/maintenace company, they freely admit they don't want to sell "duffer" - they want service contracts. they sourced the kit and it is in mint condition.

anyhoo - I negotiated a very good deal on the gum unit and stacker with agfa (not mentioning "price" - lets just say its very very very low....) and agfa suppied a plate specialist for the install as well.

even after one day, man i already feel the "how the hell did we manage before" syndrome.

our junior press apprentice ran a trial yesterday - 4 col job on his own on a press he'd only ran once before - colour was very close to old pass sheet, perfect fit, no spots and everyone is very happy

there were 2 hiccups in entire installation - builders "removable panel" turned out to be removable....with a large hammer - they have since rebuilt the "hole" we bashed in

a sensor on the ctp failed, and was fixed (finished work at half 8pm last nite) and it's now running nicely.

i thought i'd share something positive with you all :cheesy:

[David]

congratulations Beer!!!!!!

WOOHOO!


welcome to the 21st century!

your life will never be the same!

have fun and don't work too hard!


cheers,
David


 

[Joe]

Congrats beer. Always good to hear "good news".

[Tracy]

yay beer!

[Santa]

Congratulations Beer and all the best, this one is for you!

[Ear]

Awesome Beer. I am running a Screen Platerite and it's a good unit. Most of the trouble I have had has been sensor trouble but it's usually trouble free. Let me know if it starts giving any fits, I have some tricks up my furry sleeve.

[frailer]

Your life will never be the same again, mate. How's your RIP data-holding capacity? That's what bugged me for a year; constantly watching the disk status. Got about 250GB. increase a few weeks ago, and that's transformed my life.

And begin to think of your DVD archive as your "film" archive, and you can't go wrong. Make sure it's indexed/accessible quickly with whatever app...there's a few around.

Mazeltov, beer!     :cheesy:

[Adriano]

Now you must buy a mig welder to do the "strip in"

[Marktonk]

Hey beermonster,

Congratulation, the only thing that could have been better is if it was a Suprasetter :grin: . You life has just become easier and you will notice a step up in quality and productivity....hey, you can probably go home on time on Friday now!!!

Best regards,

Mark

[jimking]

After 8 years, what convinced them to get with it? I've got the same problem.  :azn:

[tapdn]

Good for you Beer! Bout time.  :grin:

[DigitalCrapShoveler]

Hey Buck, welcome to the 25th century... bi-di-bee-da-bi.

[beermonster]

haaa cheers folks - day 2 after install - running a dream! trialled an awkward job we just did - junior press minder having a practise while work is a little slack, and FIRST pull off press was almost spot on register! of course - no spots whatsoever either

this azura plate has not affected the press in any way - except be better than our old plates! no chemistry changes on press - nothing at all.

of course - thats just cursed it - it'll screw up now :embarrassed:

what changed their minds?

well - they were aware we were behind the times, and that quality wise it was punishing us - quality issues in print these days? there's a thing!

there's an enormous "green" push here, and the azura plate ticks all the boxes. B1 plates (and film), conventional i mean, while still available freely, will become more expensive i think, which was a governing factor too. conventional film based plates always had issues with spots and make-readies were always a fun time - now we have reduced spotting out to little more than one or 2 at very worst, and fit is in almost immediately. there was always a long paper trail associated with everything film based, expensive chemistry to purchase and dispose of, not to mention the health and safety issues and the space taking cages needed to house used chemistry etc

the company is running a "lean manufacturing" programme, and anything automated is a winner in their eyes

so with the purchase of the wide format UV inkjet, which my pre-press coworker is now in charge of, its almost down to me to run pre-press along with my ctp and proofer and keep the presses running.

[G_Town]

 

Hopefully they give you a day to learn the ins and outs.

I remember when we got our first ctp the owner wanted us to "train" on live jobs. Ran live work the whole time the trainer was there never did get to crack it open :tongue:

[gnubler]

Congrats - it makes things so much more streamlined. I've been involved in 2 moves to CTP - one in 2003 and another in 04. What a time saver and all the press operators seemed to be pleased with the new plates. When I worked in prepress at a shop in 05 that was still doing negs/metal plates it was a real drag after having gotten used to CTP.