I'm new to this list as I just stumbled across it this afternoon. Wow! What a wealth of information! I may be out of my league here but hopefully being part of this list will help me in our decision re: CTP.

I've already read many past posts re: Visible Violet and Internal Drum systems. Very Interesting! Unlike most of you though, we are a smaller commercial printing company with no where near the plate volume most of you go through. Like it or not however, with being faced with older film equipment that's on it's last legs it's time to look at my CTP options. One option that seems quite affordable is a 4up unit made by RipIt! corp. We have used their film setter for many years and have been very satisfied with it. We've never needed service on it and it just runs and runs. Now they offer both a 2up and 4 up violet internal drum system. Totally manual (you load / unload plate) including processing. Seeing that:
a) we don't have heavy plate volume and
b) we already have a plate / film processing room that would be very easy to convert for handling yellow safe light violet plates

it seems like this might be a good option for us. We also have all the front end RIP equipment with most of the bells and whistles we would need that would run it for us.

I admit my ignorance here when I ask: is this a good idea or am I heading for some rough sledding?

Other options I might consider are:
Agfa
Heidelberg
Presstek
??????

So far when I have talked with some of the above mentioned vendors I'm finding that I'm looking at a starting price of $100,000 - and probably more when all is said and done. That's a huge chunk of change for a smaller company like mine, but at the same time I don't want to do something stupid that could cost far more than I would ever guess.

Any thoughts, suggestions are appreciated!

Hi Markspress,

Welcome to the group. No need to feel uncomfortable, I started on an AB Dick and MultiLith way way back. Small press is the backbone of the industry and in these little shops are very talented versatile craftsmen. When I started working in larger printing companies I had so many skills because coming up, had to do so many things. Actually this is welcome discussion because many many folks are in smaller shops with limited budgets. I am not a fan of internal drum or violet CTP, but would still like to help you out. For the sake of others we can see what there is to sort out here.

I would look at the ECRM Mako very hard, should be in your price range. I also know many folks that have bought used CTP and did very well, so that's an option. There are great used devices out there, low mileage. I know that you are happy with RipIt, I've never had one myself but know an outfit that had the Exxtra setter and ran it very very hard. He would brag about it, loved it. Exxtra's virtual drum configuration is a clever concept, and I have not heard of any complaints of this technology. AlphaGraphics are one of the largest customers of this system and I read it was installed in over 150 of their stores worldwide.

However, I would urge some caution because imaging plates with CTP is much much more difficult than film, especially if you are going to run 4 color. Also when you cut from the film, risk of equip failure is much greater and a CTP is more mission critical than film was. You should plan on stretching out some to do the right thing for reliability sake. Let's talk about how many 4 color pages a day of output / throughput? What kind of presses and what kind of work mix. Preferred line screen... What else would be relevant factors?

In reading between the lines I am assuming that you have a front end RIP that is well suited for plug & play with the RipIt SpeedSetter® VM4 4-Up CtP System? . Do you have their OpenRIP® Symphony™ Adobe RIP because if you do, it would save some money to go with RipIt..

I think the ECRM Mako 4 would be a better bet and is proven over about 5 years in the CTP field already. Never hear a bad word about this device. Looks simple and easy to operate. This was one of the first violet CTP devices and still going well. Have a look at that definitely before you buy. Not sure how the cost will compare? The ECRM MAKO 4x
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JoePostscript -- support administrator

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Wind Turbine Buyer's Guide


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Hi Markspress, JP, I have heard good things about the ECRM Mako CTP. I have heard that the plates are good and the device does really good 4 color. Did you look at the little movie clip. There's a link from their site there with a demo movie. It shows what's under the hood and it's not much. I would definitely say this will be more reliable than anything internal drum with spinner. Capstan has always been more reliable and the way this is engineered it will make plates that register fine. In the video you see a little side pin that images in register that way. Looks like would be faster to load and such.

Thanks for the responses! To answer your questions joepostscript, our presses range from a 12x18 duplicator with T-head, GTO 2 color (14x20)which we commonly run 4 color in short runs (up to 10,000) and a MO 19x25 single color which we mainly use for an on-going project which prints 1/1 - using different images on one side. I haven't made the move to a 4 or 5 color yet as the one client who gave us loads of 4 color has dwindled down to almost nothing and at this point I don't feel I'm ready for the financial commitment. I believe that could happen in the next year or two, but I would rather get going on the CTP now so when we do make the move to a 4 or 5 color we are already up to speed on the plates.

As far as 4 color goes, I would say we only do a few orders a week. Lately we have had a lot of it but normally just a few. All other work is typically 2 color - usually tight register, large solids - somewhat demanding. Of course there is plenty of easy 1 and 2 color as well, especially on the 12x18 press.
I don't know what our current plate usage is -- that is something I need to do so I can start to build a spread sheet to determine not only current costs but what I can expect in the CTP arena - both plates and chemistry.

I will definitely look into the ECRM unit. It looks interesting. The RipIt was appealing in that we do have the Symphony Rip, including trapping which would run the plate setter. That would save some money for us, and of course we are already familiar with it.

Dear friends,
I´d like to help you with some information about violet and internal drum.
How you know always is much better external drum. It is high quality. The dot shape in a external drum is square. You can do a very good estocastic dot.
You can do good quality vignete.
The best is thermal plate procesless. It is the future. Forget to buy violet.
Heidelgerg in a few time close the production of violet CTP Prosetter. Has not future.
Reproservice@yahoo.es