Fuji's violet plates, platesetters and chemistry have been gaining significant ground in recent months, thanks to their quality and cost of ownership advantages as well as their environmental benefits.

Newspaper scoop

The largest plate contract in the UK went to Fuji when newspaper group Trinity Mirror chose Fuji to supply 100 per cent of its CTP plate requirements. Trinity Mirror sites are using either the Brillia LP-NN2 plate for older green laser-equipped platesetters, or the new LP-NNV violet plate specifically designed for newspapers. As sites are upgraded, all will eventually migrate to the violet plate and the total volume is expected to grow as colour capacity increases.

Rupert Middleton, group director of manufacturing at Trinity Mirror, says "The decision to sign the deal with Fuji has come about after extensive discussions with senior managers at sites around the UK about the past performance and consistency of Fuji products. All were happy with the reliability and the service they had received."

Commercial coup

Environmental considerations were an important factor at commercial printer Sumfield & Day, which installed a Fuji Luxel V-6 B2 platesetter running Brillia LP-NV plates at its Eastbourne site.

"The Brillia plates are a lot cleaner than those we were using previously and have also drastically reduced our make-ready times," comments managing director Nigel Day. "They have enabled us to reduce our ink usage and we have significantly decreased wastage. The chemistry is also a lot cleaner than other products on the market."

Adam Stanislas, director at London-based Metrostat Communications in Print, which also recently installed a Luxel V-6, concurs: "Violet technology meets all our needs - it's lower maintenance than thermal, yet delivers high quality results. We chose Fuji's violet plates over the silver-based violet alternatives, because we believe they are far superior with regards to quality and environmental considerations."

Speed and quality were the key criteria along with cost of ownership and environmental savings at Thompson Print and Packaging of Edinburgh. The label and packaging specialist recently installed a Luxel V-6 platesetter as a result of a recommendation by another local printer. Managing director Jim Thompson comments: "The Fuji platesetter has brought sharper print quality and faster plate turnaround. We've been particularly impressed with its speed and ease of use."