Installations News
Kodak installs world’s largest CTP system at WKS Group

Kodak has completed the installation of the first Kodak Magnus Q4800 Platesetter at the WKS Group in Essen, Germany. Equipped with an XPL Pallet Loading System with four pallet stations for four different plate formats, the overall configuration of the Magnus Q4800 is almost 19 m (62 ft) long and 3.5 m (11.5 ft) wide. This is the biggest CTP system to be installed anywhere in the world.

WKS Group is one of the leading print and media service providers in Europe’s German-speaking countries. The group comprises of nine companies at six sites across Germany. Advanced production facilities enable printing projects to be executed ranging from print runs of one to enormous quantities in the high-volume segment. WKS Group provides web and sheet-fed offset as well as digital printing and finishing. Fulfillment and cross-media expertise round off WKS Group’s portfolio of services.

The fully automatic Magnus Q4800 Platesetter went into operation as planned at the WKS Group’s web offset site in December 2021. Yet before that could happen, the Kodak team had to overcome daunting logistical challenges for a CTP project. Fifteen large shipping crates had to be taken by truck from Kodak’s CTP development and production centre in Vancouver to Chicago. The journey then continued by air to Frankfurt, Germany, where they were subsequently transferred to the WKS Group’s Essen facility on four semitrailers. On arrival, the crates had to be lifted up to the fourth floor by crane for installation.

“The investment in such a huge CTP equipment configuration makes sense because it perfectly meets the current and future requirements of our Essen high volume production site in terms of plate sizes, throughput and fully automated operation,” said Frank Döding, business and operations manager of WKS Group’s Essen site. “The Magnus Q4800 Platesetter places the plate imaging capability for our web offset presses on a new technological foundation. It allowed us to switch from UV to thermal plate imaging, and it gives us the much higher plate-making capacity we need. We’re delighted that Kodak managed to install our new CTP solution right on schedule, especially during the continued difficult situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” concluded Frank Döding.

“We are extremely pleased with the successful completion of this pioneering installation. The Magnus Q4800 Platesetter will open up new dimensions for the WKS Group in terms of XLF plate imaging quality, automation and productivity,” commented Giuliano Bianchet, VP-sales EAMER, Kodak. “The new Magnus Q4800 Platesetter is further proof that Kodak is investing heavily in advancing prepress and print technology, meeting our customers’ needs to drive productivity, cost effectiveness and growth as the industry evolves.”