The AdFast Phase II CD, which is free to senders of artwork to the regional press, will be officially released on 20 June, when a downloadable online version will also be available. The upgrade will be available to Mac and PC users.

AdFast technical support manager Rob Fogwill said: The new version will be more accurate, with files validated against tighter criteria. The Newspaper Society will hold a series of roadshow seminars from July to promote the product.

It will also compile a database containing mechanical information, including ICC profiling, production deadlines and pre-flight preferences, of more than 1,500 regional newspaper titles.

The database has been designed for agencies to integrate into their in-house production systems on a site subscription basis for 1,250 a year. Last month file transfers on the system broke the 15,000 mark for the first time, compared with August last year when the system handled just over 8,500.

Since it was launched two years ago, with 1m of funding from the regional press, AdFast has handled more than 100,000 ads. To break 15,000 transfers is quite a milestone for us, so were very pleased. Next year we hope that there will be more than 200,000, said Fogwill.

Story by John Davies