The PlateRite 8800, at 30 B1 plates an hour, is 50% faster than its current flagship machine, the 8600, and is the firm's first B1 machine to use the grating light valve (GLV) imaging technology first launched by Screen and Agfa at Ipex.

"8 to 30 plates per hour from our four machines gives a great range of price performance," said Screen's Phil Eaves.

The firm has sold 18 in Japan since the product was launched there three months ago.

Screen has also announced details of a major order for its VLF machine, the Ultima.

Quad/Graphics in the USA, which has been a big Creo user, has installed several machines in a greenfield printing plant

Trueflownet, which was launched earlier this year as Truenet, is a suite of software for integrating MIS, e-commerce and production. The first module for European users is a web-based print ordering system called EZorder.

It offers ordering of stock items and simple versioning of designs held by the printer. A number of US printers are currently beta testing the software.

Trueflownet is being actively developed at the moment and is based on JDF. For the domestic market Screen has developed its own MIS, but it will work with leading regional players in Europe rather than sell its own MIS.

Eaves promised more developments at Drupa.

"There's not so much new here at Igas. At Drupa you'll find a lot that is new," he said.

Story by Barney Cox at Igas