Trendsetter VLF Quantum is the perfect packaging partner

Australia’s first Trendsetter VLF Quantum was installed late last year at Montage Graphics in Melbourne, the Carter Holt Harvey “centre of prepress competance.”

Considered to be the ideal unit for just such high-end packaging prepress companies as Montage Graphics, which services CCH's widespread printing plants, the Trendsetter VLF Quantum devices feature advanced SQUAREspot thermal imaging technology.

Trendsetter VLF devices are semi-automatic and highly productive thermal platesetters that provide CTP solutions for very large format web and sheetfed printing, as well as offset package and label printing. Providing reliability through field-proven architecture

The semi-automated Trendsetter VLF Quantum devices are built on field-proven architecture that ensures that they deliver on demand. The Trendsetter VLF Quantum handles high-volume production while assuring rapid payback for printers or trade shops with lower daily plating requirements.

Options: speed and automation

The Trendsetter VLF Quantum is available with different imaging speeds to meet your specific requirements. Higher imaging speed means higher plate throughput and reduced remake time.

The Trendsetter VLF Autoloader adds automation to any Trendsetter VLF device in a modular way, with components designed to be fully upgradeable to existing Trendsetter VLF systems and easily incorporated into new systems.

Scalable solutions for every need

Five Trendsetter VLF Quantum models are available to allow you to scale a CTP system to even the largest press:

• Trendsetter 4557 Quantum 1,143 x 1,448 mm / 45 x 57 in.
• Trendsetter 5067 Quantum 1,270 x 1,702 mm / 50 x 67 in.
• Trendsetter 5080 Quantum 1,270 x 2,032 mm / 50 x 80 in.
• Trendsetter 5467 Quantum 1,372 x 1,702 mm / 54 x 67 in.
• Trendsetter 5880 Quantum 1,473 x 2,032 mm / 58 x 80 in.

Each model accepts any plate size from 508 x 394 mm / 20 x 15.5 in. up to its allowable maximum. The addition of automated plate loading and unloading can help reduce costs by streamlining plate production.

SQUAREspot thermal imaging

The consistency of SQUAREspot thermal imaging technology provides accurate, repeatable plates. The Trendsetter VLF Quantum uses SQUAREspot thermal imaging technology, which images precisely, consistently, and predictably. A standard resolution of 1,200 or 2,400 dpi enables screen rulings of up to 450 lines per inch, and the Trendsetter VLF Quantum's high-powered thermal imaging head allows for a fast imaging speed.

SQUAREspot thermal imaging technology lowers your costs by cutting make-ready time and waste, and improving press utilization by delivering plates with unmatched accuracy and repeatability. SQUAREspot thermal imaging also helps you maintain end-to-end data integrity – from the original file through to the press. Presswork troubles caused by the variable dot gain of different halftone line rulings and dot shapes can be eliminated.

The accuracy of SQUAREspot thermal imaging technology, in combination with the inherent design strengths of the Trendsetter VLF Quantum, ensures that imaging is consistent and repeatable from plate-to-plate and platesetter-to-platesetter. This means that plates made on different Trendsetter VLF Quantum platesetters will also be in register.

The benefits of Staccato FM screening are included

The Trendsetter VLF Quantum comes with Staccato, Creo's stochastic (FM) screening software. Staccato produces high-fidelity, artifact-free images that exhibit fine detail, without halftone rosettes and screening moiré, gray level limitations or abrupt jumps in tone, and with no impact on RIPing or rendering time.

Staccato FM brings tonal and colour stability to the pressroom by reducing variations in dot gain, wet trap, and colour contamination from paper. The random nature of the Staccato FM halftone patterns also means that misregistration does not degrade the look of the halftone, nor does it cause overall colour shifts in presswork.

Because SQUAREspot thermal imaging provides printers with a superior level of process control, the Trendsetter VLF Quantum is the only very large format platesetter than enables reliable and consistent stochastic screening for routine daily production.

Temperature compensation system ensures accuracy on press

To improve fit and register on press, the Trendsetter VLF Quantum employs a unique temperature compensation system that adjusts for changes in ambient temperature and corrects for plate expansion and contraction over a wide operating range. Even the largest plates can be imaged with full predictability and accuracy. This temperature compensation system also reduces the number of wasted plates and plate remakes.

Accurate plate fit and register reduces costs

The Trendsetter VLF Quantum features electronic registration, which eliminates the possibility of improperly aligned plates and guarantees fit and registration accuracy. If the registration system senses that the plate is not properly aligned, the plate will not load, and the operator will be alerted to realign the plate.

Electronic registration decreases your costs by significantly reducing the number of plate remakes and saving the time and paper often wasted making adjustments on press.

Flexible CTP workflow

The versatile Trendsetter VLF Quantum can connect to Creo workflow solutions, such as Prinergy, Prinergy Powerpack, Brisque and Brisque Pack, or even third party workflow systems. Creo workflow solutions provide maximum flexibility through the production process.

Worldwide customer support for your Trendsetter VLF Quantum platesetter

The Creo product training and support network is the most comprehensive in the industry, with options tailored to suit the needs of every printer. Remote diagnostic and repair capabilities are among the support options available for Trendsetter VLF Quantum devices.

For more information on the Trendsetter VLF Quantum contact Steve Dunwell, Creo Asia Pacific Sales Director Steve_Dunwell@creo.com