The installation of the B2 Quansis EQT85 last week comes as part of a 125,000 move to CTP at the Lincolnshire printer.

NCS Integrated Solutions in Newcastle upon Tyne has provided the kit for the studio overhaul, including a Screen PlateRite 4300 platesetter with a Trueflow workflow, Spekta screening and an Epson 9600 large-format proofer.

Paul Houghton, AbbeyPrint director, said that the deal with Quansis had followed an agreement with KPG for its Electra XL thermal plates.

"We didn't know about them, but NCS suggested their machine, and when I saw it we were very impressed with it. It's really well-made, and there are no sharp corners so it's great for cleaning," he said.

John Wilson, KPG technical and services manager for plates, said that the Quansis plate processor was not yet fully accredited by KPG, but that he hoped for full accreditation by the end of the year.

AbbeyPrint has also invested in a Screen Cezanne copydot scanner, to sit alongside an existing ICG 360 scanner, as part of plans to digitise its film library.

"We need to digitise everything for the CTP, and we've got around 400-500 films to process as the clients call them up," said Houghton.
AbbeyPrint, which has 26 staff, made the move to CTP after deciding against an upgrade in the presshall.

The firm currently runs two Komori B2 presses, a 526 and a 528, two GTO machines, and a digital department sporting a Xerox 6060 press and a Xerox DC12 copier/printer.

Quansis was unavailable as PrintWeek went to press.