Apex Stage B3 litho Comeback With Ryobi LED UV and Low Cost CtP

Ireland & UK Ryobi Distributor - Apex Digital, is launching a major new initiative aimed at reclaiming the B3 market for small offset following several years of domination by digital print. New press/CtP packages for 52cm (B3) format printers are being launched at Print Efficiently 2015, which will take place in Hemel Hempstead in October

According to Apex MD Bob Usher, the key to the B3 offset revival lies in the combination of two innovations; the advent of LED-UV drying, and the introduction of the latest generation of low cost, high quality CtP systems from Chinese manufacturer Cron.
 
“LED-UV means that litho machines can now deliver a completely dry sheet, in the same way a digital machine can. Unlike a digital machine, a Ryobi press can do it at 15,000 sheets per hour, with offset quality and consistency, on substrates up to 600 micron, with no click charge.”

“And that’s not all,” he continues. “We can offer a four minute makeready and a price below £1 per plate – so we now have the lowest cost for a delivered sheet in the short run market. We are convinced it’s time to look again at B3 litho.”
Visitors to Print Efficiently can see three CtP solutions; 26-inch and 36-inch Cron machines – and the Mitsubishi VDP unit for B2 and B3 format polyester plates. All three devices will be driven by FFEI’s RealPro Adobe based workflow.

The 26” entry level CRON unit can be configured to produce low-cost UV metal plates or processless thermal using Fujifilm’s Pro-T plates, and is a highly flexible solution.
 
The 36” UV Cron device will provide high resolution, low cost plates to a five colour B2 Ryobi 755G at Print Efficiently, where visitors can see live demonstrations of the revolutionary LED-UV technology which Ryobi pioneered, introducing the first on-press working system at Drupa 2008.
 
“Ryobi LED-UV is a real draw, and we expect plenty of interest in this technology at the show” says Sales and Marketing Director Neil Handforth. “We have a genuine LED-UV system, not a hybrid or simple low-energy substitute. The advantages of instant drying, clean working, long lamp life and power saving are substantial. Any litho printer who has not yet seen genuine LED-UV up close should take this opportunity.”

Despite the excitement of a resurgent litho market, Apex does not envisage the demise of digital, and will show a Konica Minolta bizHub 1060 production press at the show.