Esko installs 100th Aussie DPX CTP - exits newspapers and VLF
The DPX at Blueprint Dynamic Print Services, Melbourne, demonstrates the company’s continuing success is the smaller commercial printing segment. Sold by The Currie Croup the computer–to-polyester plate DPX has proved to be the spearhead of the industry’s advance into CTP.
Pictured above presenting Blueprint owner, Stephen Reichelt (right)with a barometer to mark the 100th installation of a DPX polyester plate setter from ESKO Graphics are, (from left) to right, Peter Henderson (ESKO Graphics regional manager, Oceania), Jean-Pierre de Moor (ESKO Graphics managing director, Asia Pacific), David Currie (managing director, Currie Group) and Tony Hyland (sales representative, Currie Group).
“When people talk of the numbers of CTP they never take into account our installed base of DPX platesetters. The numbers we have put in show that the industry is embracing CTP a lot quicker than people think,” said David Currie.
Which is just as well for Esko-Graphics. The company made the decision to abandon exit the newspaper sector and discontinue further developments of its Mondrian VLF platesetter after a strategic review. It will concentrate its efforts on what it believes are its main sectors – commercial, quickprint and packaging pre-press.
President Kim Graven-Nielsen said: “We want to focus our resources on the core competencies of the business to be able to put maximum resources into these areas. We have had a rough time of it with our VLF product and have decided to call it a day. It has not taken off as well as we would have liked.”
The decision to cease development of the Mondrian could lead to 28 job losses in Ghent, Belgium, and the company has begun talks with unions. It is also looking for interested parties to buy its newspaper interests, which include the DMX range.
There are no Mondrian VLF sites in Australia. There is one newspaper DMX site at The Burnie Advocate in Tasmania, part of the Harris Group. Esko-Graphics says it will ensure the continuing support for all it customers.
The DPX at Blueprint Dynamic Print Services, Melbourne, demonstrates the company’s continuing success is the smaller commercial printing segment. Sold by The Currie Croup the computer–to-polyester plate DPX has proved to be the spearhead of the industry’s advance into CTP.