AGFA GRAPHICS
PRESS RELEASE
Agfa Graphics
Septestraat 27
B – 2640 Mortsel
Belgium
Paul Adriaensen
Press Relations Manager
Agfa Graphics
T: +32 3 444 3940
E: press.graphics@agfa.com
AGFA GRAPHICS
Agfa Graphics launches new Azura TU
chemistry-free printing plate
Enhanced runlengths, throughput, and sustainability for
all sheet-fed commercial printers
Mortsel, Belgium – November 12, 2013
At a press conference at its headquarters in Mortsel, Belgium today, Agfa
Graphics announced the latest addition to its assortment of chemistry-free
printing plates.
Since the launch of the first Azura plate ten years ago, Agfa
Graphics’ ThermoFuse™ has been the leading technology in
sustainable platemaking. With Azura TU, Agfa Graphics expands its
reach to serve all sheet-fed commercial printers. All of them can
now benefit from the established advantages of the ThermoFuse™
technology.

Azura TU extends the runlength up to 150.000 copies. Higher
sensitivity increases platesetter productivity, whilst retaining the
high quality, high robustness and excellent image contrast that
Azura is known for.

The Azura CX clean-out unit (COU) and a pH-neutral gum is all
what is needed to clean and protect the plate. All variables in
the platemaking process are eliminated. The system has a very
long bath life of up to 7000 m² combined with very low gum and
negligible water consumption.

With unmatched image contrast and excellent daylight stability,
standard operating procedures apply. The gum-protected
aluminum shows excellent lithographic behavior, offers
excellent on-press stability and reduces the risk of needing
plate remakes.
1/3
AGFA GRAPHICS
PRESS RELEASE
Agfa Graphics
Septestraat 27
B – 2640 Mortsel
Belgium
Paul Adriaensen
Press Relations Manager
Agfa Graphics
T: +32 3 444 3940
E: press.graphics@agfa.com
AGFA GRAPHICS
“Switching from a conventional plate to Azura TU means less
waste, less disposal costs, less maintenance, and a safer work
environment. It also equals water savings of more than 95%”, says
Dirk Debusscher, Vice President Prepress, Agfa Graphics. “Azura
TU is more reliable, consistent and environment-friendly than any
conventional plate making system.”
Following an extensive testing program, Azura TU has now been
released for sale. "The prime characteristic of Azura TU for us is
that the plate is sustainable”, say Steven Yntema and Peter de
Weerdt from Mediacenter in the Netherlands, formerly using
conventional thermal plates. “We don’t need any chemistry. Just
gum. That has a positive effect on the water consumption. We don’t
dispose of any chemistry any more. What we dispose of is very
little in quantity due to the gum.”
Dax Britton, Prepress Manager, DG3, Gillingham, UK, shares his
enthusiasm: “With the Azura TU plate we have a chemistry-free
plate with all the environmental benefits that brings, but we haven't
compromised on speed. With the amount of plates we produce, this
was essential.”
"We particularly appreciated how easy it was to clean-out the plate
with the gum. With Azura TU, Agfa Graphics takes the simplicity of
platemaking yet another step further”, says Fabrice Gangloff,
Production Manager, OTT Imprimeries, France.
Azura TU completes Agfa Graphics' innovative eco-friendly plate
assortment of Azura TS, Azura Vi, Amigo TS and N94-VCF.
2/3
AGFA GRAPHICS
PRESS RELEASE
Agfa Graphics
Septestraat 27
B – 2640 Mortsel
Belgium
Paul Adriaensen
Press Relations Manager
Agfa Graphics
T: +32 3 444 3940
E: press.graphics@agfa.com
AGFA GRAPHICS
About Agfa
The Agfa-Gevaert Group is one of the world's leading companies in
imaging and information technology. Agfa develops, manufactures and
markets analogue and digital systems for the printing industry (Agfa
Graphics), for the healthcare sector (Agfa HealthCare), and for specific
industrial applications (Agfa Materials). Agfa is headquartered in Mortsel,
Belgium. The company is present in 40 countries and has agents in
another 100 countries around the globe. The Agfa-Gevaert Group
achieved a turnover of 3,091 million euros in 2012.
http://www.agfa.com
About Agfa Graphics
Agfa Graphics offers integrated prepress solutions to the printing industry.
These solutions comprise consumables, hardware, software and services
for production workflow, project and color management.
Agfa Graphics is a worldwide leader with its computer-to-film, computer-toplate and digital proofing systems for commercial and packaging printing
and the newspaper publishing markets.
Agfa Graphics is rapidly developing its position in the new segments of
industrial inkjet with comprehensive solutions for various applications such
as documents, posters, banners, signage, displays, labels and packaging
materials. Its experience in both imaging and emulsion technology has
provided the expertise required for developing a complete assortment of
high-quality inks.
Please visit us at http://www.agfagraphics.com
Contact:
Paul Adriaensen
Agfa Graphics Press Relations Manager
tel. ++32 (0)3/444.3940
e-mail: mailto:paul.adriaensen@agfa.com
3/3