Agfa Xcalibur VLF. Platesetters/Output. Xcalibur VLF Xcalibur VLF High Speed Xcalibur VLF PlateManager

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1 Platesetters/Output Agfa Xcalibur VLF Xcalibur VLF Xcalibur VLF High Speed Xcalibur VLF PlateManager The smart choice for VLF computer-to-plate applications Agfa Xcalibur VLF is an innovative thermal platesetter for very large format (VLF) platemaking. This breakthrough system brings simplicity and quality to the demands of VLF computer-to-plate. It also brings high throughput in this large format raising the productivity of any commercial or packaging printing operation. Get the advanced capabilities you need The Xcalibur VLF family lets you select the format, speed, and level of automation that meet your needs. The family includes four models to match your maximum plate size. Plus, you can choose from the Xcalibur VLF or the maximum-productivity Xcalibur VLF-High Speed. No matter what Xcalibur VLF system you choose, you get Agfa s smart technology, workflow expertise, and stateof-the-art support all part of Agfa s leadership in computer-to-plate solutions.

2 Xcalibur VLF Agfa Xcalibur VLF brings smart technology to bear on the challenges of large-format platesetting. Its elegant, simple external drum design includes many innovations designed to make VLF platesetting faster, easier, and more accurate. If your printing operation includes VLF presses, you know how important it is to keep them running at maximum productivity. With Agfa Xcalibur VLF, you can ensure a steady stream of high-quality plates. Accurate plate placement During loading, the system guides operators to load plates correctly from the start. Once the plates are loaded, Xcalibur VLF features a registration system that automatically locates plates for accurate plate-to-plate image registration. On the leading edge, the system features a configurable, two-point mechanical contact, while the side includes adjustable electronic edge finding. The result? Superior consistency and accuracy. An elegant, attractive design Xcalibur VLF features a small footprint design that looks great and enables operators to work very efficiently. It s designed to fit seamlessly into your prepress environment, incorporating platesetting into your VLF operation like never before. With Xcalibur VLF, you can turn your prepress operation into a high-technology showcase. Simple plateloading Loading VLF plates is a major challenge, since the plates are large and can be difficult to handle. Agfa Xcalibur VLF uses an ergonomic, semiautomatic staging and loading solution that makes life easier for your operators, while ensuring fast, accurate registration of the plate. With Agfa Xcalibur, it s easy to load even the largest VLF plates and switching plate sizes takes no operator intervention. With the semiautomatic solution, operators can pre-load a plate keeping throughput high without requiring the operator to stay near the system. Or you can choose the optional Xcalibur VLF PlateManager for fully automated plate loading. Once loaded, the system is fully automated. Press-ready plates arrive automatically from the online processor. An over and under design approach Agfa Xcalibur VLF uses an innovative design that makes plate loading independent from unloading, allowing a second plate to be loaded while the first is being imaged or unloaded. With this approach, the operator is not tied to the cycle time of the platesetter. The result of this over and under design is greater flexibility and productivity. Plus, it enables Xcalibur VLF to have a small footprint compared to other VLF output devices.

3 A reliable, easy-to-use system design No matter what Xcalibur VLF system you choose, you can be sure it will be extremely user friendly right from the start. The system is simple to install and configure. An elegant, ergonomic design makes the system very easy to use and maintain, with simple calibration and maintenance. And long laser life means exceptional uptime. So when you choose Xcalibur VLF, you can be sure your system will provide reliable, simple use long into the future. A reliable modular laser Agfa Xcalibur VLF uses banks of extremely reliable 830 nm solid state lasers to image Thermostar plates. Each individual laser is connected to the lens system by an individual fiber. These lasers are extremely stable, and require very little calibration. They are chosen for their long life, ensuring a high mean time between failure. Thanks to the modular design of the Xcalibur VLF imaging system, lasers can be removed in banks and replaced if necessary. High quality The Xcalibur VLF laser provides a beam size and shape that provides superb image quality. Combined with the high resolution of the Thermostar P970 plate, Agfa Xcalibur VLF provides the quality you need to meet even the most stringent requirements. High throughput Agfa Xcalibur VLF provides the high throughput that today s printing operations need to stay competitive. In short, Agfa Xcalibur VLF provides exceptional throughput via a combination of fast imaging speeds and efficient plate handling. Plus, you can choose the level of throughput and automation you need to keep your presses busy. A flexible approach Agfa Xcalibur VLF integrates smoothly into your existing prepress environment, enabling a seamless fit with the way you work today. Agfa Xcalibur VLF is 100 percent compatible with Agfa s standard Apogee workflow, with an Operator Control Terminal controlling the system and PrintDrive Output Manager sending it jobs. Agfa Xcalibur VLF supports input from Agfa s Apogee. But it also accepts input from other front-end systems, including Rampage, Harlequin, Prinergy, PCC/Artwork Systems, and others. An efficient external drum Xcalibur VLF is based on a stable, external drum architecture ideally suited to VLF platesetting. The drum is manufactured to extremely tight tolerances and calibrated for the highest accuracy.

4 Xcalibur VLF PlateManager brings you automation and more Agfa is a leader in computer-to-plate automation, and continually innovates to create new ways of streamlining the process of handling, loading, exposing, and processing plates. The optional Xcalibur VLF PlateManager increases productivity, raises convenience, and frees your staff to do more strategic work. It s easy to add the PlateManager to your operation today, or when you need maximum automation. With or without the PlateManager, Xcalibur VLF provides the same high throughput. Smart design, remarkable ease-of-use, exceptional reliability the Xcalibur VLF PlateManager provides a complete solution. Systems approach The PlateManager is built around an innovative four-cassette design that gives you the flexibility to keep multiple plate types online at all times. With PlateManager s removable cassettes, you can even load and keep additional cassettes available offline. For example, you could load seven different plate sizes into seven cassettes, and load them in and out of the PlateManager as needed. Or if you have high plate demand, you could have extra cassettes loaded offline and ready for use. In either case, the PlateManager s multiple, removable cassettes keep your operation efficient and flexible. If you have multiple PlateManagers, cassettes can be shared between systems. Intelligent automation Xcalibur VLF PlateManager is a smart system designed to automate the many tasks involved in loading and handling plates. It automatically removes slip sheets and deposits them in a convenient slip-sheet basket. Cassettes can be loaded in any order. The system can sense when a cassette is empty and automatically switches to another cassette of the same plate type. It informs the operator by posting a message on the operator control panel and by flashing the PlateManager s alert lights. Cassettes can be loaded or refilled without stopping platemaking. And operators can monitor the PlateManager with a glance, since its status is displayed graphically onscreen.

5 Small footprint The VLF PlateManager integrates seamlessly with the Xcalibur VLF, taking up less room by eliminating the need for an extra bridge or conveyer. Additionally. you can position the PlateManager on the left or right of the system, depending on the layout of your facility. In either case, its small footprint design enables you to utilize your limited space as efficiently as possible. Fast, easy remakes Xcalibur VLF PlateManager makes it easy to complete the fast remakes that keep your presses operating efficiently. You can break into the middle of a job for a remake. Then you can either insert the plate you need manually, or dispense it automatically from the PlateManager. This flexibility recognizes the changing priorities of any printing operation. Allows manual loading Xcalibur VLF PlateManager is designed for reliable operation, shift after shift, year after year. Should the PlateManager need to go offline, you can continue to feed plates manually into the Xcalibur VLF ensuring continuous operation. Manual loading also enables fast remakes, or lets you load unusual plate formats. With Xcalibur VLF and the Xcalibur VLF PlateManager, you can be confident that you will have a steady flow of plates to the press. An optional trolley To take convenience even further, the Xcalibur VLF PlateManager is available with an optional trolley that lets you transport cassettes to and from the system if desired. It s an ideal solution if you want to load plates offline in a different area, or if you are using more than four cassettes. The Xcalibur VLF engine, Xcalibur VLF PlateManager, and online processor (not pictured) are integrated for efficient, reliable operation. The smart, elegant design of the PlateManager enables it to take up less space, while still providing a full range of advanced capabilities. It can be located on either side of the system, enabling you to match your system to the layout of your facility. For full automation and maximum ease of use, Xcalibur VLF PlateManager is the right choice.

6 Bringing you a comprehensive solution Agfa recognizes that a platesetter alone cannot ensure that your commercial or packaging printing operation will achieve maximum efficiency, automation, and quality. We focus our expertise on the key areas that are vital to any successful computer-to-plate operation including digital workflow, digital proofing, screening technologies, color management, service and support, and much more. This approach lets us bring you a comprehensive, integrated solution that provides you everything you need to succeed in today s competitive marketplace. Agfa s commitment to responsive support and expert service includes remote diagnostics via Odyssey, telephone support, on-site service and support, and a content-rich Web site containing a wealth of support information ( Plus, our service and support organization is the largest and best in the graphic arts industry 2,000 trained and qualified technicians and consultants located around the world. It s all part of Agfa Professional Support, our complete service and support solution, which provides systems integration, workflow optimization, ongoing service, training, and much more. Apogee streamlines your workflow Xcalibur VLF is an open solution designed to integrate seamlessly with your current workflow, including the Agfa Apogee family of advanced, PDF-based digital workflow solutions. Apogee complements your Xcalibur VLF system with a highly efficient, open workflow. As the world s workflow leader, Agfa continually refines and extends the capabilities of Apogee, which is already streamlining the digital workflow at thousands of printing operations around the world. Agfa provides world-class support The careful design of the Xcalibur VLF and thorough quality control ensure a high degree of reliability from the start. But Agfa also offers the responsive support and expert service personnel necessary to maximize uptime. Every Xcalibur VLF system is backed by Agfa Professional Support (APS), our full family of service and support solutions,providing systems integration, workflow optimization, ongoing service, training, and much more. We bring you the largest service and support organization in the graphic arts industry 2,000 trained and qualified technicians and consultants located around the world. Agfa is the only vendor that can support your entire operation. Apogee brings new automation and efficiency to packaging printers supporting step-and-repeat and nesting applications, post-rendering step-andrepeat raster assembly, integrated proofing, and more. Its user interface provides dedicated packaging terminology for maximum ease of use. And Apogee is the first PDF-based packaging workflow solution to use JDF data for greater automation. For today s packaging applications, Apogee brings more tools, more automation, and more productivity.

7 Agfa Thermostar P970 optimizes the Xcalibur VLF system At Agfa, we design and manufacture innovative digital plate manufacturing systems such as the Xcalibur VLF as well as the plates that they image. More than 1,000 engineers and scientists around the world collaborate on all aspects of our platesetters and plates, ensuring maximum optimization. When you choose Xcalibur VLF, you benefit from this synergy, which results in higher quality, greater reliability, and better performance on press. The ideal plate for Xcalibur VLF As the world s leading manufacturer of digital plates, Agfa offers the widest range of plate types and technologies in the world. Thermostar P970 is the plate we recommend for use with Xcalibur VLF. It s a positive-working plate based on an innovative two-layer thermal technology developed and patented by Agfa. Thermostar P970 provides the long runs and extreme accuracy that are the hallmarks of Agfa s thermal computerto-plate solutions. Designed for long runs Thermostar P970 is sensitized to 830 nm and offers fast imaging, convenient handling, and excellent press performance. Thermostar P970 is designed for long press runs of more than one million impressions with optional post-baking, or medium runs of up to 150,000 impressions without baking. Convenient plate handling All Thermostar plates can be handled conveniently in daylight. Thermostar plates are as easy to develop, wash, and gum as conventional plates since Thermostar uses standard processing chemistry. Thermostar is based on Agfa s proven aluminum plate substrate technology ensuring consistent press performance. Thermostar P970 consists of an aluminum substrate and a unique two-layer coating. The top layer, the thermosensitive layer, is less than a micron thick or 100 times thinner than a human hair and highly sensitive to infrared light. The high IR sensitivity of this layer makes extremely fast thermal imaging speeds possible, since it takes less laser exposure time to expose the plate. During exposure, the highpower laser causes a heat-induced conversion to take place in the top layer hence the name thermal imaging. The first coating layer the printing layer is a hydrophobic polymer that is insensitive to light of any wavelength. It provides the basis for Thermostar s lithographic behavior, and ability to be developed using standard aqueous alkaline developer for conventional positive plates. Thermostar s state-of-the-art aluminum substrate provides excellent rigidity and has a proven record of excellent lithographic performance in the industry. This substrate is made of electrochemically grained and anodized aluminum manufactured to exacting tolerances.

8 Platesetters/Output Xcalibur VLF product specifications Imaging system Minimum plate size Maximum plate size Plates supported (metal) Resolution Repeatability Non image areas Vacuum pump Xcalibur VLF, VLF High Speed 830 nm IR thermal solid-state lasers Solid state lasers Xcalibur VLF: 48 Xcalibur VLF High Speed: 96 Thicknesses supported Register system Plate loading Drive electronics Versions Maximum imaging rates Footprint (wdh) Weight 22.2 x 17.7" (565 x 450 mm) 80 x 58" (2030 x 1475 mm) to 0.020" ( mm) Agfa Thermostar P970 and other 830 nm plates, as qualified 1200 dpi, 2400 dpi.001 inches (25 microns) Top: 6 mm Bottom: 6 mm Leading edge: Positionable 2 point mechanical contact Side: Positionable electronic edge finding External drum vacuum pump supplied Daylight Agfa PrintDrive VLF 50: 50 x 45" (1270 x 1145 mm) VLF 60: 60 x 50" (1525 x 1270 mm) VLF 70: 70 x 55" (1780 x 1400 mm) VLF 80: 80 x 58" (2030 x 1475 mm) Linear inch Linear Model DPI /min. cm/min. VLF 2400/ High Speed 2400/ Notes: Imaging rates are the same for models VLF 50, 60, 70, 80 Rates listed for Agfa Thermostar P970 plate or similar plates All plates mounted gripper edge along the drum 121x 87 x 40" (3025 x 2210 x 1016 mm) 6,610 lbs (2998 kg) Maximum number of cassettes Number of cassettes included Slip sheet removal Extra conveyors required Effect on throughput of platesetter Upgrading Minimum plate size Maximum plate size Plates per cassette Run time between plate replenishment Approved plates Dimensions (wdh) Weight Electrical Environmental requirements Locating Options Xcalibur VLF PlateManager Holds up to four cassettes at one time Manages up to sixteen cassettes Four included with each PlateManager Included with system None None All Xcaliburs in the field can be upgraded with PlateManager 22.2 x 17.7", 8 mil (565 x 450 mm,.2 mm) 80 x 58", 20 mil (2030 x 1475 mm,.5 mm) Maximum Size plates/cassette 8 mil (.2 mm) 50 plates 12 mil (.3 mm) 50 plates 16 mil (.4 mm) 27 plates 20 mil (.5 mm) 20 plates Generally, with a random mix of plate sizes in four cassettes the PlateManager should run about one eight-hour shift without replenishment Agfa Thermostar P970 and other 830 nm plates, as qualified 102 x 86 x 75" (2591 x 2184 x 1905 mm) 5,380 lbs. (2440 kg) without plates 230v, single phase, 7 amps 65 to 85 F, (18 to 29 C) 35% 80% relative humidity On the right or left side of the Xcalibur platesetter Cart (trolley) for transporting cassettes Extra cassettes Upgrade kits Additional slip-sheet baskets Argentina, (Paraguay and Uruguay), Region del Plata, Agfa-Gevaert, Argentina S.A. Tel.: /5770, Fax: Australia, Agfa Graphic Systems Tel.: , Fax: Austria, Agfa-Gevaert G.m.b.H. Tel.: , Fax: Belgium, Agfa Belgium N.V. Tel.: , Fax: Belgium, Agfa-Gevaert N.V., Direct Export Tel.: , Fax: Brazil, Agfa-Gevaert do Brasil Ltda Tel.: , Fax: Canada, Agfa Inc. Tel.: Ext: 4053, Fax: or toll free Caribbean and Central America, Agfa Tel.: , Fax: Chile, (Bolivia, Columbia, Equador, Peru, Venezuela), Agfa-Gevaert Ltda. Tel.: , Fax: China, Agfa Hong Kong Ltd. Tel.: , Fax: Czech Republic, Agfa s.r.o. Tel.: , Fax: Denmark, Agfa-Gevaert A/S, Grafiske Systemer Tel.: , Fax: Finland, Oy Agfa-Gevaert Ab Graafiset järjestelmät Tel.: , Fax: France, Agfa-Gevaert S.A. Tel.: , Fax: Germany, Agfa Deutschland Vert. mbh & Cie. Tel.: , Fax: Greece, Agfa-Gevaert A.E.B.E. Tel.: , Fax: Hungary, Agfa Tel.: , Fax: Ireland, Agfa Ltd. Tel.: , Fax: Israel, Agfa Graphics Ltd. Tel.: , Fax: Italy, Agfa-Gevaert S.p.A. Tel.: , Fax: Japan, Agfa-Gevaert Japan, Ltd. Tel.: , Fax: Korea, Agfa Korea Ltd. Tel.: , Fax: Luxembourg, Agfa-Gevaert S.A. Tel.: , Fax: Malaysia, Agfa Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. Tel.: , Fax: Mexico, Agfa de Mexico S.A. Tel.: , Fax: /1403 Netherlands, Agfa-Gevaert B.V. Tel.: , Fax: New Zealand, Agfa-Gevaert New Zealand Ltd. Tel.: , Fax: Norway, Agfa-Gevaert A.S. Tel.: , Fax: Poland, Agfa Sp. Z.O.O. Tel.: , Fax: Portugal, Agfa-Gevaert Lda Tel.: Fax: Singapore, Agfa Singapore Pte. Ltd. Tel.: , Fax: South Africa, Agfa South Africa (Pty) Ltd. Tel.: , Fax: Spain, Agfa-Gevaert, S.A. Tel.: , Fax: Sweden, Agfa-Gevaert AB Tel.: , Fax: Switzerland, Agfa-Gevaert AG Tel.: , Fax: Taiwan, Agfa Taiwan Co. Ltd. Tel.: , Fax: UK, Agfa Gevaert Ltd. Tel.: , Fax: USA, Agfa Corporation Tel.: , Fax: Choose the right Xcalibur VLF system The Xcalibur VLF features an efficient 48-laser array that enables fast imaging and high throughput. The Xcalibur VLF can be field upgraded to the Xcalibur VLF High Speed by adding more banks of lasers. The Xcalibur VLF High Speed uses an array of 96 solid-state thermal lasers to double imaging speed. Both systems are available in models that match a range of plate formats: Model VLF x 45"/1270 x 1145 mm Model VLF x 50"/1525 x 1270 mm Model VLF x 55"/1780 x 1400 mm Model VLF x 58"/2030 x 1475 mm The smart choice for computer-to-plate solutions Only Agfa offers the full range of thermal and visible-light platesetters, RIPs, plates, processors, screening technologies, and other prepress systems and consumables necessary for your success. When you choose Agfa, you get a complete computerto-plate solution designed for maximum speed, reliability, and ease of use. Agfa can take responsibility for the complete workflow and provide convenient upgrade paths when you need to expand. For complete, high-quality platesetting solutions that give you more look to Agfa. Internet address: Copyright 2002 by Agfa Corporation. All rights reserved. Printed in USA. AGFA, the Agfa rhombus, PlateManager, Thermostar, and Xcalibur are trademarks of Agfa Corporation or its affiliates which may be registered in certain jurisdictions. All other trademarks are property of their respective holders. All product specifications are subject to change without notice. Appearance of equipment ordered may differ from that of equipment shown in photographs. NFV7M