ON THE SUPPLY SIDE.

MEDIASPAN

Melbourne, Fla.; Ann Arbor, Mich.

The Marysville (Ohio) Journal-Tribune began using CirculationPro as an ASP-hosted solution, giving the paper the benefits of the software with no maintenance or upgrade responsibilities. CirculationPro's server software and database are hosted on MediaSpan's secure servers, then accessed via users' Web browsers in Ohio. All data and functionality are retained, with no hardware costs.

AGFA GRAPHICS

Mortsel, Belgium; Ridgefield Park, N.J.

A chemistry-free, violet-sensitive, digital newspaper plate, previewed last month, is expected to be available in 18 months, following field testing under production conditions. Based on Agfa's N-91 plate, the new, neutral plate will dispense with prewash and aqueous processing. It is preheated to stabilize and harden exposed areas and requires only a clean-out section to remove non-exposed polymer and gum to protect the surface.

Agfa said the plate offers good visual contrast, problem-free pressroom handling, and chemical resistance even under difficult printing conditions.

Designed for the same sensitivity and speed as Agfa's existing violet plates, the new plate can be used with existing violet platesetters with no change to the diodes. Agfa said it expects the plate to provide 100,000 impressions. Executives said the plate will launch among small to mid-sized newspapers. A version for commercial printers also will be developed.

"We always knew that violet lent itself to this technology," remarked Sheila Nysko, North American business development manager for newspaper systems. In development for several years, the new plate was among the reasons Agfa focused on violet plates for newspaper work, said Hans Gerinckx, worldwide sales manager for newspapers. He also noted that the plate will eliminate the cost of a processor and reduce CTP system maintenance and variables.

Agfa expects the new plate to offer the same stability as its thermal chemistry-free Azura plate, used by Switzerland's Neue Zürcher Zeitung, which leapt from letterpress to on-press plate-imaging capability in its Wifag evolution offset press.

PRESSLINE SERVICES

St. Louis

The St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times has contracted for a multi-year project with the aims of reaching quality printing faster with less manual input, console-based register adjustment, and faster plating for zone changes. Included will be an upgrade to Technotrans dampeners, installation of Rockwell Automation PlantView and PressView controls and consoles, conversion from DC to AC drives and motors on a unit-shaftless basis, improved motorized sidelay and circumferential adjustment, and modifications that will permit printing of multiple web widths across the nine presses' 162 couples.

Closer to home, Pressline is rebuilding, upgrading and expanding a Goss Urbanite press that will go into a new building later this year for the 16,000-circulation twice-weekly Washington Missourian. The seven-unit press will grow to 18 units and two folders, with full automation. Operable as one or two presses, the new configuration will feature four 4-over-4 stacks and two mono units, with shaftless drives, remote circumferential and sidelay adjustment, a new inking system and spary bars, and a Rockwell Automation Quality Edition console.

PRINT2FINISH

Yardley, Pa.

PowerStick enables newspapers to apply labels, coupons, sticky notes, and promotional pieces at press speed to any page or pages with +/-0.20 inch accuracy. The system integrates with an existing web press and handles materials in sizes ranging from ¾ x ¾ inches to 5 x 7 inches.

Material to be applied may come from fanfolded supplies, each manually taped to the next, or from rolls that are spliced automatically using another manufacturer's machine that Print2Finish also sells.

QUIPP SYSTEMS

Miami

The Chronicle-Telegram in Elyria, Ohio, ordered a turnkey mailroom project for its building expansion, designed by Cleveland-based Forum Architects. The project consists of a Quipp Twin-Trak belt conveyor system, two Newstec high-speed inserters (22:2 and 10:2) delivering to three Model 501 stackers and associated tie-line and dock distribution equipment. Set to begin in September, the installation will be the first fully integrated post-press system delivered by Quipp since it acquired Newstec last August.

Other recent sales were a Viper wrapper to The Wenatchee (Wash.) World and a Model 501 stacker to The News-Enterprise in Elizabethtown, Ky.

PHOTO (COLOR): With PowerStick from Print2Finish, stickynote ads are not limited to section fronts