Xitron (Ann Arbor, Michigan), a leading independent developer of RIP and workflow products for commercial, digital and high-speed inkjet printing, and Platesetters.com, a U.S. leader in refurbished CtP sales, have announced a joint program to assist printers who are still using violet-based CtP systems. “Most owners of these systems have been notified by the manufacturers that they’ll reach end-of-life status some time in 2019,” said Xitron. End-of-life typically means that service and support provided by the manufacturer will no longer be available, leaving independent service and parts’ distribution as the only means to this keep equipment running.
“We’ve been planning for this for over a year,” said Jeff VanderWeert, President of Platesetters.com. “We believe we have built up a sufficient supply of refurbished Screen PT-R CtP engines to handle the demand of printers looking to exit violet platemaking right away.” The immediate benefits include lower operating costs, a wide choice of competitive plate suppliers, plus an opportunity to eliminate plate processing and chemistry with develop-on-press plates, if desired. “In addition,” he added, “the customer can enjoy the peace of mind that comes from knowing they’re running the most popular and stable CTP engines ever developed.”
The replacement bundle includes a Xitron Navigator RIP and workflow that’s completely scaleable according to the needs of the customer. Based on the Harlequin 12.0 release (the first PDF 2.0 compatible RIP), available options include in-RIP trapping, preflight, imposition and proofing. Navigator drives the PT-R series of platesetters directly through Xitron’s USB interface, of which nearly 5,000 are now in service worldwide. “Xitron and Platesetters.com have worked successfully together many times in the past,” said Pat French, Regional Sales Manager for Xitron. “By formalizing this program, our goal is to help affected printers make the transition to thermal plates as easily and cost effectively as possible.”
Xitron and Platesetters.com partner on violet CtP replacement
