With Drupa now only a little more than one-month away, vendors are beginning to take the wraps off some of the technologies they intend to display.

The quadrennial show, expected to attract some 370,000 attendees during its two-week run in Dusseldorf, Germany, will “determine the direction of the print media in the years to come,” said Albrecht Bolza-Schunemann, president of Drupa 2004.

Some developments to anticipate:

ABB said it will showcase its entire line of newspaper production control applications, including MPS PageManager, for page planning; MPS PlateWorkflow, for platemaking; MPS Production, for production management; MPS Control Console, a press control desk; MPS Control and MPS Drive, for integrated control and drive systems; and MPS Roll Handling, for logistics management. Other apps include MPS InsertManager and MPS DeliveryManager, for postpress oversight; and MPS Cockpit and MPS Insight; management information software products.

Agfa is unveiling two newspaper violet computer-to-plate systems, the Advantage CL and CLS. Both feature a multiple cassette option. The CL can produce up to 160 plates per hour; the CLS 220 plates per hour, Agfa said. In addition, the CTP units feature Agfa’s Afirma closed-loop app and Sublima, for high-line output screening. At a pre-Drupa press conference, Kurt Smits, Agfa’s director of newspaper business, said interest among newspapers for violet systems is growing. “In 2003, Agfa saw an even split between green and violet system installations. As more smaller newspapers continue to migrate to CTP systems, we believe that they will be more inclined to choose violet systems.” In addition to the CTP systems, Agfa will introduce Arkitex Courier, a file transmission app designed to let newspapers with multiple locations pass files back and forth.

Baldwin will introduce new cleaning cartridges aimed at letting press operators clean web blankets more efficiently without requiring an external water source. The company also plans to introduce its modular Tower Clean system for single-width presses.

Creo said it would introduce Synapse NewsManager, a CTP workflow app based on technology it acquired through its 2003 purchase of IntelliNet. The company also plans to release Prinergy Evo, a PDF management app as well as a new generation of semi-automatic Trendsetter News CTP units. Finally, Creo will display a new negative-working thermal plate, the Fortis PN.

ECRM Imaging Systems plans to roll out a newspaper CTP system, the Newsmatic CTP. It’s designed as a fully automated CTP system capable of producing 80 broadsheet pages per hour, using violet or silver halide plates. It can accommodate a variety of web widths and cutoffs, up to a maximum of 25 inches by 36.5 inches.

Enfocus Software is adding job ticket and job definition format support throughout its PDF workflow product line.

Fujifilm will showcase violet CTP platesetters as well as two plates earmarked to the newspaper market: the Brillia LH-NN thermal plate and the Brillia LP-NNV violet photopolymer plate. Fujifilm is also expected to showcase a processless plate.

Goss International Corp. will have an 11,000-square-foot booth that will contain information about technologies aimed at helping newspapers get more flexible production out of their printing infrastructure. The firm will also have on display various presses and data about its digital inking platform, among other products and services.

Integra International is displaying the Gemini press, manufactured by Raghbeer Machinery of New Delhi, India. The four-high, 50,000-copy-per-hour press will be printing on newsprint stock during the show.

Kodak Polychrome Graphics is expected to roll out a processless thermal plate, capable of run lengths of 75,000 impressions, according to Doug Edwards, vice president of research and business development. In addition, KPG will roll out an entry-level CTP system aimed at small and mid-sized users. A newspaper-oriented plate, the ThermalNews Gold plate, will also be introduced. The plate can handle run lengths in excess of 200,000 impressions and has fast exposure speeds and improved resolution. Finally, it will demonstrate its Sword ultra positive processing thermal plate as well as Matchprint products.

Koenig & Bauer AG said it would display its latest generation of hybrid ink technology, featuring high-gloss inks with odor-reduced or odorless properties. It will also showcase waterless printing, although it won’t have its Cortina waterless press on display due to space constraints, the company said.

KrauseCTP is displaying its violet CTP systems as well as JDF-enabled workflow software.

MAN Roland Inc. is showcasing automation and apps designed to let printers employ computer-integrated manufacturing in their production facilities. One new app, printnet, is designed to let users integrate all aspects of a production process in a single JDF workflow. It’s also showcasing a number of commercial presses, including the Roland 900XXL, a 73-inch sheetfed press, as well as the plateless DICOweb press.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will demonstrate its Diamondstar 90 web press, which the supplier said is capable of producing 90,000 copies per hour. The company will also showcase a new 4-by-1 press. Mitsubishi will also demonstrate a prototype of a new press, dubbed the Diamondstar 16 Max-V, featuring variable width cut-off and a reusable plate system. The polymer plates, mounted on sleeves, can handle as many as 100,000 impressions, according to James Gann, international marketing executive.

Presstek Inc. said it would release its ProFire Excel thermal CTP system. The product supports a 16-micron dot and stochastic screening and is aimed at printers digitizing their workflows. In addition, Presstek will unveil a new line of ProFire-enabled presses and associated products.

QuadTech is making its first conference appearance since acquiring PressTech Controls. QuadTech, a unit of Quad/Graphics, is displaying a JDF-enabled app, Data Central, aimed at letting newspapers enhance press productivity. It’s also showcasing QuadTech Color Control System, which it is migrating to its Icon platform. Icon lets QuadTech apps integrate seamlessly, according to the company. New features within CCS will let press crews set up multiple jobs simultaneously and track press performance. The company will also display its Register Guidance System and Autotron 2800  newspaper register guidance control technology.

Screen will demonstrate its PlateRite Ultima 32000Z platesetter, along with Randot X, a second-generation FM screening technology.

X-Rite Inc. plans to roll out seven color management applications aimed at helping users streamline their prepress operations. In addition, the company will introduce a portable spectrophotometer and a companion spectrophotometer, dubbed the X-Y Autoscan, which will let users measure targets in fewer than three minutes, the company said.

In addition to product spotlights, Drupa will feature a number of demonstrations aimed at showcasing how rival applications and systems can work together. The biggest will be at PrintCity, which will showcase how a JDF-based workflow can harness multiple systems in an effort to get a project produced.

“Every technical process along the production route of a given print job, including the often-overlooked postpress stage, will be part of the JDF loop,” said John Dangelmaier, president of PrintCity.