The Lansing (Mich.) State Journal this month began installing two WildCat XL computer-to-plate units from K&F International Inc.

The Journal’s new CTP units will feed directly into a single ProVision V-series punch and bending unit also supplied by K&F.

K&F's Project Manager Paul Biorn demonstrates the operator display panel on a WildCat XL computer-to-plate unit from K&F as part of a demonstration that took place in November for The Lansing State Journal.
Photo courtesy of K&F International

The positive results that sister Gannett newspaper, The News Journal in Wilmington, Del., had with the WildCats factored into the Lansing newspaper’s decision to purchase the units. Automation was also a priority, according to Doug Arnold, prepress and imaging manager for the Michigan daily.

“I have an off-site facility so I can’t have a staff of people there baby-sitting machines, pulling out slip sheets and that type of thing,” he said.

Also factoring into the decision was the newspaper’s existing relationship with K&F. Prior to purchasing the WildCats, the Journal used K&F’s automatic plate exposure units.

“[CTP] was a natural progression in their product line,” Arnold said. “We didn’t feel like they were going to manufacture something for a while and then sell the rights off to some other company to support.”

Lansing’s setup will consist of two flatbed WildCat XL units using FD-YAG lasers (supplied by ECRM Imaging), two K&F Universal Transition units to feed plates to the ProVision punch/bender and a CD-H cross conveyor to connect the two CTP lines for redundancy.

The Lansing State Journal plans to go live with the first CTP line at the end of the month and bring the second unit up in mid-March.