ECRM is growing its solutions portfolio with new CTP, workflow, and digital printing systems
For ECRM drupa marks the point where new prepress technologies are being launched. These include ECRM’s new digitally modulated screening, DMS, based on a patented technology that the company says is outperforming any other screening product in the graphic arts market today. (Ed: see Andy Tribute’s analysis page 51). ECRM is also introducing Nautilus 8, a new B1 low-cost violet commercial CTP machine that meets or exceeds thermal imaging quality standards.
In Australia ECRM solutions are supplied by Currie Group.
At the show, ECRM exhibited both the Nautilus 8 and the ECRM Newsmax high-speed newspaper platesetter. It was also co-exhibiting in the booth of dealer partner Huaguang (Lucky, where the ECRM Newsmax platesetter, which it says is the fastest CTP imager on the market, was demonstrated.
“Creating innovations in design and developing new patented technologies is how we’ve maintained our leadership position for over 40 years,” notes Rick Black, ECRM president and CEO. “Since 2002, we’ve concentrated on implementing the latest in violet technology and applying new design and manufacturing techniques to the needs and wants of a value-hungry market.
The newest of these innovative offerings is ECRM’s Newsmax, now the fastest and most flexible CTP solution for the newspaper and publishing market with speeds of up to 400 plates per hour. ECRM’s objective is to match the right products to the customers’ needs, as well as maintain our role as the price performance leader in CTP.”
DM Screening benefits
Available as a CTP rip upgrade option for all ECRM dealers and customers, the new ECRM DM Screening image enhancement and ink savings software uses patented technology that the company claims produces superior highlight and shadow detail (1 per cent to 99 per cent on press), as well as enhanced contrast.
Users also benefit from lower ink consumption. In testing at newspapers around the world, estimated ink savings of 15 per cent to 25 per cent over a conventional AM screen has been achieved. For the commercial printer, the resulting print quality is equivalent to a conventional 350-400 lpi.
Compared to FM screening, ECRM DM Screening is easier to calibrate, easier to control on both plate and press, and offers smoother flat tints. DM Screening digitally modulates every pixel, rather than repeating a fixed pattern of dots (as in AM screening) or randomly marking pixels (as in FM screening). The result says ECRM is an unprecedented quality of screening, which is easy to plate and print using ECRM platesetters
Industry Fastest: Newsmax
ECRM says the fully automated ECRM Newsmax CTP family provides new levels of simplicity, versatility and economy with high-speed performance. Available in production speeds from 100 up to 400 plates per hour, the Newsmax is according to ECRM the newspaper industry’s fastest production platesetter. Engineered for high-volume plate production publishers, Newsmax is designed for either semi- or fully-automated CTP production.
New Nautilus 8-up Drum CTP
The ECRM Nautilus 8 Drum CTP previewed at Drupa introduces the latest advances in optical technology. The result says ECRM is high quality plate imaging with the lowest operating cost in the industry. Nautilus was engineered to image all plate formats from 2 to 8-page signatures with resolutions from 1200 dpi to 2540 dpi. With a maximum format of 950mm x 1170mm. The standard unit has production speeds over 18 Speedmaster 102 size plates per hour at 2400dpi.
This machine is engineered for quality with one of the smallest spot sizes in the industry, supporting over 200lpi with conventional screens and over 350dpi with DM Screening. Violet laser technology supports traditional, low-chem and chemistry-free CTP plates. ECRM’s patent-pending plate loading and registration system allows for support of a wide range of plate sizes and employs a simple plate load sequence that will automatically register and punch plates within .001 inch. The high precision internal drum operates vacuum-free for further simplicity and reliability.
DPP 1200 Digital Press
The ECRM DPP 1200, 2-up digital press, is positioned to deliver commercial quality colour for the demands of today’s commercial printer. This innovative solution offers an economically-priced compliment to the digital service provider’s capabilities and production options. The digital press produces high-quality business cards, flyers, inserts, brochures, magazine covers, real-estate pages and much more, while supporting line screens up to 175 lpi. New at Drupa, ECRM was demonstrating the DPP1200, with the optional envelope feeder and stacker, enabling service providers to efficiently offer personalised and image-enhanced mailers in short runs.
WorkMates Workflow - Automation
Andrew Dunn, prepress manager at Currie Group says, “WorkMates is the ideal digital prepress workflow for commercial printers. You will increase efficiency, accelerate productivity, improve output quality and reduce your business expense.That’s where we come in. ECRM’s WorkMates is a digital prepress workflow that offers prepress automation without complication. WorkMates delivers all the basic prepress processes and streamlines your entire production workflow at a cost-effective price.”
Dunn says that is not a scaled-down version of an existing high-dollar solution. In fact, WorkMates was built from the ground up exclusively for small- to-mid-sized commercial printers who want to save time, reduce errors, improve output quality and lower operating costs.
