Cobalt Violet CTP enters the Newspaper Market with High Speed and High Quality Imaging

DRUPA: Dusseldorf, Germany -- May 6th, 2004 -- Escher-Grad Technologies Inc. announces the release of Cobalt-6 News, a violet CTP newspaper plate production system. The Cobalt-6 News addresses the need of most newspapers to produce plates at very high speed as well as high quality halftones for magazine, insert and production work.

"Finally, newspapers no longer have to compromise," said Najeeb Khalid, President and CEO of Escher-Grad Technologies Inc. "With the Cobalt-6 News they can meet their need for high speed plate production with the ability to produce eighty-one broadsheet plates per hour or upgrade this speed to 160 plates an hour. And with high quality halftone imaging up to 400 lines screens per inch, Cobalt-6 News the ultimate in newspaper plate production."

The Cobalt-6 News is available in semi automated as well as fully automated versions. The fully automated version has two, high capacity, motorized SmartCassettes, which hold up to 440 plates online. An independent plate trolley and dual-chamber system design means a single operator can reload plates even which imaging is in process, for truly uninterrupted operation.

The Cobalt-6 News offers excellent value and the fastest ROI of any newspaper plate production system. The Cobalt-6 News handles high quality color work with the same ease as newspaper work. With color content and color quality increasing everyday, newspapers need the Cobalt-6 News for its throughput and image quality.

Cobalt 6 News CTP systems are the culmination of 18 years of research, design and manufacturing excellence. The Cobalt product line ranges from 4-up to 32-up models and from manual to fully automated operation. All Cobalt CTP Systems will image both silver and photopolymer plates at the highest quality and speed possible, at a price less than most image setters. The entire line of Cobalt Violet CTP Systems is covered by ComfortZone3, the industry's first and only 3-year parts warranty.

Established in 1986, Montreal-based Escher-Grad designs, manufactures and markets advanced, high-resolution laser imaging systems solutions that markedly increase productivity for the graphic arts and printed circuit board industries. All products are backed by a worldwide sales and support network with systems installed in more than 45 countries around the world.

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