The Denver Newspaper Agency selected thermal computer-to-plate technology from Kodak for its new production facility, scheduled to go into live production in 2008. The DNA, which prints the Denver Post and the Rocky Mountain News under a joint operating agreement between MediaNews and E.W. Scripps Co., respectively, tapped the vendor for five Trendsetter News 200 models and associated ThermalNews digital plates.

E.W. Scripps’ Abilene (Texas) Reporter-News also selected Kodak for a second Trendsetter News 50 thermal platesetter. The Reporter-News also uses ThermalNews plates.

“We recently ranked the highest in print quality by E.W. Scripps of all the company’s newspapers,” said Mike Hall, director of operations for the Reporter-News. “[That] just would not have happened a year ago with our previous system.”

Other newspapers to recently opt for Kodak thermal systems include Independent Publishing Co. in Anderson, S.C., publisher of the Anderson Independent-Mail, which purchased a Trendsetter News 100 with ThermalNews plates, Prinergy Evo workflow, Preps imposition and Staccato screening apps.

The Intelligencer of Doylestown, Pa., and the Ludington (Mich.) Daily News each purchased Trendsetter News 70s. In addition, The Intelligencer purchased ThermalNews plates, Prinergy Evo and NewsManager software and the Staccato screening app.

“Our sister paper, the Bucks County (Pa.) Courier Times, has the same system and we now can provide backup for each other,” said Production Director Bob Braun.

The Ludington Daily News will use its unit to print its daily, two weeklies, TMC products and a variety of commercial jobs.