Pittsburgh Laundry Tag Manufacturer Improves Efficiencies with Agfa Graphics

Sees Quality Improvements in Move from Film to Agfa’s Chem-Free CtP and :ApogeeX Light Workflow.

Ridgefield Park, NJ, July 27, 2006, Agfa Graphics announced today that Liberty Pittsburgh Systems (LPS) of Liberty, Pennsylvania (USA), in its move to CtP, has experienced both the improved efficiencies it was looking for, as well as significant quality improvements thanks to its new :Acento CtP system, :Azura plates, and :ApogeeX Light workflow solution from Agfa.

“We are thrilled with the quality improvements the Agfa system has made,” said Will Harbison, president and chief operating officer of LPS. “Moving from film to CtP has not only improved efficiencies by eliminating several steps in the processing of the plate, but also provided savings on materials.” LPS installed the Agfa system in November 2005.

While LPS’ main objective was to increase productivity and reduce material costs, the Agfa system also significantly improved the quality of its end product. “The dependable :Acento and the :Azura plates are not only easy to work with, but because there are fewer intermediate steps, the plates are less prone to error, producing a quality plate time and time again,” added Harbison. “The days of outputting film, stripping, and then processing a plate for the press are gone.”

As one of the first installations in North America of :ApogeeX Light, a modular workflow automation system that has a scalable architecture, LPS was able to achieve the functionality it needed with the ability to upgrade in the future.

“Because of LPS’ niche, a scalable workflow solution was needed,” said Agfa’s Deborah Hutcheson, senior marketing manager, Digital Solutions, North America. “When we presented :ApogeeX Light to LPS, it was clear that this was the solution that would enable the company to move to CtP without having to reinvent their existing systems.”

:ApogeeX Light is a fully-equipped prepress workflow solution for operations that rely mainly on off-the-shelf applications to produce pages, fully imposed flats, or step and repeat jobs. Its modular design allows it to be cost effective and easily upgraded to grow with the customer.

:Azura is a grained and anodized aluminum thermal plate that uses patented ThermoFuse technology to physically bond images to the plate without any chemical processing. A clean-out step follows the non-ablative imaging process to enhance contrast. The result is highly stable and predictable thermal imaging, without any compromises on press. :Azura plates offer high quality (2-98% dots on plate) imaging for printers using 2-, 4- and 8-up formats.


About Liberty Pittsburgh Systems
Founded in 1927, Liberty-Pittsburgh Systems, Inc. is the leading innovator of printed supplies to the Laundry and Dry Cleaning Industry. From their manufacturing facility in Pittsburgh PA, they provide the world’s largest selection of forms, tagging systems, and computer supplies to customers around the globe. Business Forms, Inc., a division of Liberty-Pittsburgh Systems, Inc. specializes in custom forms, checks and printed materials for businesses of every kind.

Contact Information

Jeff Lewis

Media Relations Manager, North America

Agfa-Gevaert Group

Contact via E-mail