A west Yorkshire firms pre-press set-up is the first in the UK to install Heidelbergs violet light CTP system, the Prosetter 102, with Meta-Dimension 2.5 RIP.

Larkfield Colour Groups semi-automatic internal drum system images and punches Agfa Lithostar plates before ejecting them.

We knew visible light was the way to go as the price of thermal was prohibitive, said sales director Nigel Moxley. Run lengths of around 5,000 were not long enough to justify a thermal system.

This will mean greater integrity of image on plate and to press, improved turnaround times and greater productivity. It will give better quality and savings.

The Brighouse firm prints a range of material and offers photography, design and finishing.

Its beta-site installation uses Signastation imposition software and includes a Hewlett-Packard Design-Jet 5000 proofer and Heidelberg consumables. The kit is expected to be fully-operational next week.

The Prosetter will make plates for six presses a four-colour Komori, one four-colour and two two-colour Heidelberg GTOs, a two-colour Speedmaster and a two-colour Quickmaster.

Larkfield is installing a Heidelberg SM74-6 six-colour press later this year.

Moxley said: We expect to go over to a double-day shift to feed this press and CTP will ensure we dont have pre-press bottlenecks.

Managing director John Haigh changed the name of his firm, Kirklees Printing, to Larkfield after it bought the print arm of the Leach Colour Group in 1999 and Bradford printer Thornton and Pearson this year.

Story by Jez Abbott