St Ives' first CTP system in its magazine printing division will be installed at one of three flagship web plants: Andover, Caerphilly or Plymouth.


Web division managing director David Emeny said the group was currently
in the throes of testing
CTP systems from Agfa, CreoScitex and Fuji, and that the tests would continue over the next couple of weeks.



Although St Ives has widely adopted Agfa's Apogee PDF workflow system across its web wing, Emeny said it was "by no means certain" the group would go down the Agfa road for CTP hardware. "On some of their systems the only plates they can run are their own, and that's no good to us," he explained. "We don't want to be tied in to one supplier".



Emeny also said continuity of plate supply was a crucial issue: "At the moment it's perhaps photopolymer that looks favourite, but it will depend upon our tests."



The Andover plant, for example, uses between 5,000-6,000 plates per month.



St Ives is evaluating which of its publishing clients are able to supply 100% or near-100% digital data. "We're not going to get into copydot in a big way," Emeny added. "Finding a solution for ads is an issue for publishers."



l Quebecor UK is currently installing a CTP system at its number two plant, which produces work for Associated Newspapers. The firm declined to reveal further details at this stage. Its move to CTP was flagged earlier this year (PrintWeek, 20 April).


Story by Jo Francis.