"I came" and knowFlow ... The Create Tiv Side
Agfa Announces First US Digital Newspaper Solution at USA TODAY; Alliance to Benefit Both Newspaper Readers and the Industry
June 18, 1999
RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE) via NewsEdge Corporation -- Agfa Corporation, the world's leading supplier of innovative solutions to the newspaper business, and USA TODAY, the nation's top-selling newspaper available worldwide, today announced a sales agreement that will impact USA TODAY readers, production and the newspaper industry as a whole.
The Pitman Company, North America's leading supplier serving the graphic arts industry, orchestrated the agreement.
Agfa products were chosen by USA TODAY to provide a customized solution to the demanding needs of the rapidly changing newspaper industry. Agfa's 100 percent digital system, which includes Agfa Polaris 100 CTP (computer to plate) Platesetters, Agfa IntelliNet Digital Workflow software, PH W32 N processors, and N90 Plates allows USA TODAY to improve upon their already efficient newspaper distribution system. It also provides their readers with a higher quality, easier to read product and an earlier delivery time.
The adoption of the Agfa product solution delivers results specifically by shortening the window between the editorial close and press start by 30 minutes. This time saving feature also enables them to reallocate human resources to other critical areas such as reporting, advertising and circulation sales.
The greatest impact created by Agfa's Digital Newspaper Workflow is in the final production stages of transmission and distribution. Currently, at USA TODAY, the transmission of editorial pages and advertisements is a 12 hour process with additional time requirements for overnight delivery. Agfa's state-of-the-art solution cuts that process to four and one half-hours, and eliminates the delivery time. This shortened time frame provides productivity and cost savings never before seen in the newspaper industry. The system also provides the flexibility to lengthen editorial close times and provide readers with more timely, up-to-the minutes news.
"We made the decision to go with Agfa for several reasons," explained Ken Kirkhart, vice president of production for USA TODAY. "We chose the software based on Agfa's network design and the fact that they customized their solution to fit our needs. Their platesetters matched our high throughput requirements and our high quality standards. Bottomline, Agfa provided us with the tools, design, support and viability to build an ever sharper competitive edge. Their products will absolutely change the newspaper industry."
"Agfa, an experienced leader and pioneer in the digital printing industry, proudly joins USA TODAY, a leader and pioneer in newspaper publishing, in forging change and improvement in U.S. newspaper production," states Bob Caplan, Agfa Corporation director of newspaper business for the NAFTA region.
How the Agfa Digital Solution for Newspapers Works
Agfa IntelliNet NewsFlow software operates as the cornerstone for a CTP workflow using standard files and open interfaces. IntelliNet also serves as the hub of Agfa's complete workflow solution for USA TODAY, transmitting the daily newspaper edition to the newspapers 33 print sites and allowing for localized editing.
The IntelliNet software assembles and moves pages from the Page Make-up or front-end systems to the imagesetter or CTP system at the printing plants. Its top three features are publication management-works with multi-edition publications containing multiple sections to be sent to different regions; Electronic Plate Make-up-automatically pairs pages and electronic double-burn; and Importing of Production Plans-manages and distributes page element based on production plans.
IntelliNet works hand-in-hand with the Agfa Polaris 100. Designed for newspaper publishers who require CTP output at up to 96 broadsheet plates per hour, the Polaris 100 is a fully-automated, flatbed platesetter designed for high productivity. By loading two plates simultaneously, the Polaris system can produce more than one hundred 360 x 570mm newspaper page plates per hour at 1016dpi. It also has a capability of running 300 plates per trolley either punched or non-punched. Also, the plate sizes have a wide range from 12.5" x 12.5" up to 25.6" x 41" with a maximum image size of 24" x 39."
The USA TODAY installation will be incorporated in all 33 of USA TODAY's print sites and is expected to be completely installed and rolled-out by mid-October of 1999.
Agfa Corporation
Agfa Corporation is a subsidiary of the Agfa-Gevaert Group, one of the world's leading imaging companies, headquartered in Mortsel, Belgium. Agfa develops, produces and markets analog and digital systems, primarily for the graphics, medical and industrial radiography, and consumer imaging and photography markets. Agfa Corporation, headquartered in Ridgefield Park, NJ, employs 5,000 people. Worldwide, Agfa's annual sales are over $5 billion.
(Product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies.)
Editor's note: Color images of Agfa products are available for download from Agfa's home page on the World Wide Web at www.agfapress.com.
<<Business Wire, 06-17-99, 09:04 Eastern>>
CONTACT: Agfa Graphic Systems | Brian Miller, (201) 440-2500, x4204 | Brian-e.miller.b@us.agfa.com | or | Mullen Public Relations | Wanda Whitson, (978) 468-1155 x3134 | wwhitson@mullen.com
[Copyright 1999, Business Wire] |
