The Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader began installation last month of two DiamondSetter 610S2P computer-to-plate units from Western Lithotech. The newspaper has some big changes in the works, including converting from letterpress to offset printing and converting to a CTP workflow.

The News-Leader (daily, 63,433; Sunday, 92,304) is slated to go into live CTP production in April. In addition to the CTP units, the newspaper has also installed two DiamondPlate 85U Processors, two Single/Double Optical Punch Benders and DiamondTrac software, all from Western Lithotech.

The DiamondSetters produce 194 single page or 114 panorama plates per hour at resolutions of 1,016 dots per inch. They are designed for medium- and large-sized newspapers and can scan plates at a rate of 2.1 millimeters per second at 1,200 dpi on a 24-by-36-inch image format.

With the DiamondSetters, the News-Leader predicts it will be able to reduce platemaking time significantly — from 20 to 25 minutes down to six minutes or less, according to Jerry Quinn, the News-Leader’s production director.

The News-Leader is also in the midst of installing a MAN Roland offset press, which will replace a 1963-model letterpress. The MAN Roland press will give the News-Leader the capacity to print 70,000 copies per hour and the press is also capable of printing 80 consecutive pages in color.