According to Esko-Graphics product manager Christian Erikstrup, up to 46 four-up plates can be exposed per hour on the PlateDriver 4HS, while up to 42 plates eight-up plates can be exposed on the PlateDriver 8HS (at 1200 dpi). Plates can be exposed in metric and imperial resolutions from 1200 to 3200 dpi.

The power of the violet FreeBeam laser has also been boosted from 30mW to 40mW, allowing the device to expose polymer plates at the same imaging speed as silver-based plates.

Esko-Graphics have designed the new PlateDriver with ease of use in mind, allowing printers to change between silver and polymer plates with only a few on-site changes activated by the PlateDriver’s control software, without changing any mechanical or optical parts. However, because of the different nature of the two plates, post-processing processing and chemistry need to be changed.

“With its lower price tag, lower laser cost, lower operating cost, and high speed, the PlateDriver HS is an extremely productive platesetter for medium to large facilities,” says Erikstrup.

“Along with the PlateDriver’s imaging quality, and workflow flexibility, Esko-Graphics is making it easy for printers to install a high speed platesetter that is truly future-proof.”

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