The Suprasetter 105 is the newest thermal computer to plate system from co. and it comes in numerous configurations: a 4- or 8-page basic model, a single cassette loader and a fully automatic multi-cassette loader. The automation is also field upgradeable, providing automatic slipsheet removal and up to 600 plates online. It is the only CTP system in the world to have center register with punch for sheetfed and edge register for web. Its plate-on-demand feature allows a press operator at co.'s CP 2000 press console to order the Suprasetter to re-image a plate if necessary.

HEIDELBERG USA , 888/472-9655, fax: 770/794-6272, www.us.heidelberg.com

Co. has added two features to its FlexoProof 04 since its introduction at Drupa '04. Now, converters can see what will happen if a press prints out of register or how an image will appear on a substrate with the proofer's out-of-register and substrate simulation functions. It uses 1-bit TIFF data directly from the imagesetter RIP to create the simulation. Its other features include the co.'s SpotColor for managing special colors, which also includes the Pantone® Library.

GMG GMBH & CO. , 49/7071-938-7424, fax: 49/7071-938-7422, www.gmgcolor.com

The nyloflex® infinity is a process and machinery for making seamless polymer sleeves. The system combines sheet polymer plates, mounting tapes and print sleeves into seamless, image-ready sleeves in about an hour. The nyloflex® infinity is a complete turnkey system available to tradeshops and printer/converters who operate with in-house platemaking capability, co. says. The new polymer material used in the process is nyloflex π, which can be used for photopolymer digital plates or as a direct laser engraved material.

BPS PRINTING SYSTEMS, LLC , 704/504-2628, fax: 704/504-2638

Co.'s latest mounter/proofer, the gearless Viper, has a cantilever mandrel arrangement for efficient changeover of sleeves, co. says. It has a servo driven system with a touchscreen PLC interface between the machine and operator. It also uses a multiple camera microdot mounting system. This machine, along with the TT Cobra mounting units for narrow-web applications, will be on display at CMM Intl., in Chicago.

J.M. HEAFORD, LTD. , 44/161-928-5679, fax: 44/161-927-7517, www.jmheaford.com

In order to steer away from conventional plate mounting processes, co. designs UniFlex™. It is a one-piece plate with its backing as the plate carrier, thus eliminating the mounting step. This results in no plate delamination because they are not attached to a carrier sheet, co. says. UniFlex™ comes in liquid and sheet photopolymer. All of the registration, from color to color and graphics to die, is determined in the computer file, including plate registration. The platemaker can also prepare a new plate without having the other UniFlex™ to register to.

CONTAINER GRAPHICS CORP. , 919/481-4200, fax: 919/469-4897, www.containergraphics.com

This co. has been awarded a patent for its ExSpect™ flexographic plate development process. This process, the co. says, will provide greater print clarity on corrugated, pre-printed linerboard and flexible packaging. The process lets corrugated converters print directly onto corrugate and get comparable results as if they were running pre-print. The same process can be done by flexible packagers to reduce set-up time, as the dot gain received from the new plates is far less than the dot gains from both digital or conventional flexographic plates, co. says.

PRECISION RUBBER PLATE CO., INC. , 317/783-3226, fax: 317/788-5680, www.prpflexo.com

The Flexowash A is designed to eliminate problems associated with perchloroethylene and chlorinated solvents for processing photopolymer plates, co. says. This milder washout solution results in less plate absorption, which reduces plate swell. The decrease in plate absorption reduces processing and drydown times. Its waste is non-hazardous and can be incinerated or put in landfills. Co. can also handle the recycling of the spent Flexowash A, which is reclaimed and balanced back to virgin-like product through gas chromatography.

ANDERSON & VREELAND, INC. ,866/282-7697, fax: 800/223-6869, www.AndersonVreeland.com

The Clarus waterless polyester plates for direct imaging presses are the first chemistry-free plates from co.'s line of digital plates. They are drop-in-compatible, so the plates can be used without having to change existing press settings. They are suitable for run lengths of 100 to 30,000 impressions. The plates also have scratch resistance and reduce overall energy consumption by allowing lower power output from the laser-imaging unit, co. says.

CREO, INC. , 604/451-2700, fax: 604/437-9891, www.creo.com

Metallic and opaque whites can now be produced on the Matchprint Digital Halftone Proofing System. Printers can now proof silver and gold inks with this system and create digital halftone proofs that include an opaque white underlayer as required for printing on clear or foil substrates. This IR thermal digital halftone system is designed for images featuring a common RIP to make both plates and proofs, ensuring identical screening on the proof and plate.

KODAK POLYCHROME GRAPHICS , 800/293-4284, fax: 203/845-7173, www.kpgraphics.com

The Prediction® 4600 is a completely automated digital halftone proofing system. The 22- × 30-in. format system is made with 10 media trays for the preloading of combinations of pigmented ink sheets and actual proofing substrates. It can be programmed to automatically select the appropriate ink sheets and substrates for optimum results during unattended proofing operations. It can process spot colors that include, among others, metallic gold, silver and opaque white.

LATRAN TECHNOLOGIES, LLC , 800/228-0979, fax: 800/385-8816, www.latran.com