Four North American newspaper printers are going digital with KODAK thermal CTP (computer-to-plate) solutions.

The Denver Newspaper Agency, which prints the Rocky Mountain News and Denver Post, purchased five KODAK TRENDSETTER NEWS 200 platesetters and KODAK THERMALNEWS digital plates. Newspapers in Abilene, Tex., Anderson, S.C., and DeKalb, Ill. also purchased KODAK digital solutions to accelerate their printing operations.

Computer-to-plate technologies enable printers to write the image of a page from a digital file directly to the printing plate. This method eliminates traditional steps of generating a film image to make a plate. Plates are then affixed to a press to output the printed pages in a newspaper.

The Abilene Reporter-News, an E.W. Scripps Co. paper, purchased a KODAK TRENDSETTER NEWS 50 -- its second KODAK thermal CTP platesetter -- and THERMALNEWS digital plates to produce 35,000 daily and 45,000 Sunday copies, plus many weeklies and commercial print jobs.

"We recently ranked the highest in print quality by E.W. Scripps of all of the company's newspapers. KODAK thermal CTP platesetters and KODAK digital plates are the reason why. It just would not have happened with our previous system," said Mike Hall, Director of Operations at the Reporter-News. "We've been very pleased with the performance of the KODAK equipment. The quality and dependability of the platesetter and plates are key to our operation."

Independent Publishing Co. in Anderson, S.C., publishes the 38,000 daily circulation Anderson Independent-Mail and commercial jobs, including Clemson University's Orange & White sports publication. The publisher recently purchased a KODAK TRENDSETTER NEWS 100 platesetter, THERMALNEWS plates, PRINERGY Evo workflow system, PREPS imposition software and STACCATO screening.

"We looked closely at several brands before deciding to go with Kodak because we felt the KODAK digital solutions best fit our needs," said Sharon Rochester, Vice President of Finance at Independent Publishing. "We are confident in the quality of Kodak's service because they are our current vendor for plates and film."

Castle-Printech Inc. of DeKalb, Ill., purchased a second KODAK TRENDSETTER NEWS 70 platesetter to print weekly newspapers and a number of publication inserts.

Hot off the presses: thermal, digital technologies

Kodak offers proven solutions for newspapers, including thermal CTP platesetters, workflow, digital plates and screening technologies, all supported by 24-hour service availability. The TRENDSETTER NEWS thermal CTP device comes in five models to suit newspaper printing operations of all sizes. The TRENDSETTER NEWS platesetter delivers fast, reliable imaging with a standard file format interface for newspaper production. KODAK SQUARESPOT thermal imaging heads help achieve consistent and repeatable halftones (for reproducing graphics and pictures).

THERMALNEWS printing plates meet the rigorous demands of newspaper printing, providing run lengths of more than 200,000. STACCATO screening produces artifact-free images for fine detail and more impactful color. The KODAK PRINERGY Evo workflow system helps newspapers deal with last-minute changes easily, with software that helps newspapers accommodate tight editorial and ad deadlines and output pages quickly.

KODAK PREPS imposition software supports more than 200 types of printing document source files. It works with all KODAK and many major third-party workflow systems, enabling prepress professionals to remove more manual steps from their workflow.

All GCG equipment is backed by KODAK Service & Support, Kodak Graphic Communications Group's worldwide service organization, named Best Support Organization at the 2006 International Business Awards. Customers may access more than 3000 KODAK Service & Support professionals in 120 countries.