Australian Graphics install the first PlateWriter 3600 Pro in Australia

After its worldwide launch at drupa, Australian Graphic Servicing (AGS) one of Australia’s leading suppliers of pre-press and post-press solutions has now brought the iCtP PlateWriter 3600 Pro by Glunz & Jensen to the Australian market.

Suitable for small to mid-size commercial printers and community newspapers, the PlateWriter 3600 uses stable and proven solvent ink technology to ensure increased stability and reliability in day to day production operations.

AGS pre-press business development manager, Andrew Dunn says the PlateWriter 3600 is the ideal solution for print jobs from A1 size to envelopes, and any size in between.

“With more than 40 smaller format iCtp systems already installed throughout Australia the iCtp 3600 Pro now brings inkjet technology in an A1 format,” he says. “It is ideally suited to any print company that wishes setup a new pre-press department or upgrade from an existing thermal or violet system that needs replacing without spending a fortune”.

AGS has already installed the PlateWriter 3600 Pro to two happy customers. Russell McGowen from Victoria’s Echuca Moama Print & Design had the new iCtP system installed less than 2 months ago to replace a DPX platesetter that produced plastic plates.

“I upgraded to the PlateWriter 3600 Pro because I wanted to get a longer runs and better quality on my Heidelberg SM 52 press from what I getting previously with the DPX plates,” McGowen says.

“My experience so far is exactly that, it is also simple to operate and maintenance is minimal.”

A leading manufacturer of filling systems in Australia, Rolls Printing located in Seaford, Victoria had previously been sourcing their plates from an external trade shop.

Jim Browne from Rolls says, “We have been considering buying a CTP system for the past four years; however we found that conventional Thermal and Violet systems available on the market to be too costly. The PlateWriter 3600 Pro came at quite a reasonable price and met our needs, after we had the opportunity to see the system demonstrated we ended up buying it,” Browne explains.

Browne says he is enjoying the convenience of being able to produce plates in house.

“When we were reliant on an outside supplier, if something went wrong we had three to six hours of downtime until we could receive a plate back,” he says. “Now we are able to replace the plate within 15 minutes so downtime is significantly reduced now.”

Browne concludes, “The servicing when required is economical. Using Thermal or Violet and big international suppliers means you could be looking at thousands of dollars’ worth of ongoing machine servicing. With the PlateWriter 3600 and the AGS team, the cost is minimal which is why the unit is quite good. We are really happy with the purchase.”

The new PlateWriter 3600 is suitable for 2-up, 4-up and 8-up press formats with a maximum plate size of 914 by 1140 millimetres. Glunz & Jensen has been a leader in the inkjet CtP market for more than a decade, and with the development of the PlateWriter 3600, has now reached 2,000 installations worldwide.

Article and photo from Australian Printer, October 2016: http://australianprinter.com.au/