AGFA GEVAERT : Japanese printing company Daicolo uses more than 1 million m² of Azura printing plates
September 22, 2014 at 09:11 am EDT
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Launch "Ten Years of Azura" campaign
Press release
Mortsel, Belgium
September 22, 2014 3:00 PM CET
At a press conference last Thursday, Agfa Graphics Japan (Tokyo) and Daicolo Co., Ltd. (Osaka) announced that Daicolo's cumulative use of Agfa Graphics' Azura chemistry-free CtP plates has exceeded 1 million m2. The announcement was followed by a celebration, signaling the launch of Agfa Graphics' "Ten Years of Azura" campaign.
First introduced in 2004, Agfa Graphics' chemistry-free CtP plate Azura is the most used chemistry-free printing plate in the world. In Japan, known for its high quality demands, it quickly achieved a 90% market share.
Daicolo, a commercial printing company specialized in school photo albums is the world's No.1 Azura user. They have installed twelve CtP units in total since their first use of Azura in July 2006, and are the first company in the world to achieve a 1 million m² total of Azura use.
At the joint press conference, which was held at Daicolo's premises, President Matsuishi of Agfa Graphics, Japan thanked Daicolo for its confidence and loyalty.
Chairman and Executive Director Kagota of Daicolo said: "We have always been keen on incorporating new technologies since the company was founded in 1953 and we attach great value to efficiency and high quality. The photo album market has been in a tough situation due to the declining birth rate, which means that we had to find new clients in order to maintain or increase sales. In such a situation, we believed that environmentally-friendly solutions were essential, and we started to make environmentally-friendly graduation photo albums. This allowed us to comply with various environmental requirements and receive 200 to 300 new orders every year. Additionally, the efficiency and reduced workload of the chemistry-free Azura plates were vital during the busiest times when our CtP units operate 24 hours a day."
He added: "I am very happy that we were the first to achieve 1 million m2 cumulative use of Azura. I am looking forward to Agfa Graphics' continuing support and further product developments."
Ten Years of Azura
2014 marks the 10th anniversary of the release of Azura. To celebrate this anniversary, Agfa Graphics plans to put twelve Azura users from all over the world in the spotlight over the coming twelve months, ending at the IGAS trade show in Japan in Tokyo 2015.
The "Ten Years of Azura" journey can be followed on Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/agfagraphics/10-years-of-azura/.
More about Azura
Today, many thousands of customers around the world benefit from the advantages of the Azura plates. No chemicals not only means less waste, less disposal costs and a safer work environment, but also more reliable and stable printing results. Furthermore, the outstanding plate contrast of Azura allows for an easy visual inspection of the plate.
Next to its Azura TS plates, Agfa Graphics recently launched Azura TU, the third generation of its chemistry-free printing plates. Built on proven technology, Azura TU provides enhanced runlengths, throughput, and sustainability for all sheet-fed commercial printers. The company continues to develop its printing plate technology and strengthen its portfolio with state-of-the-art solutions that meet the demands of its customers.
President Matsuishi of Agfa Graphics presented President Kagota of Daicolo with a gift as token of recognition.
Agfa-Gevaert NV is one of the world leaders in the design, manufacturing, and marketing of imaging systems and products. Net sales break down by sector of activity as follows:
- Radiology solutions (36.9%). Agfa-Gevaert NV supplies radiology departments of hospitals all over the world with traditional X-ray film, hardcopy film and printers, digital radiography equipment and image processing software. Agfa's roots are in traditional medical imaging, but in today's healthcare market, digital radiography has become the dominant technology. All Agfa's digital radiography systems are offered with the company's leading MUSICA image processing software and its MUSICA workstation for image identification, acquisition and quality control;
- Digital Print & Chemicals (35.6%). Agfa-Gevaert NV supplies sign & display printing companies with a range of highly productive and versatile wide-format inkjet printers and dedicated inks, in addition to workflow software, cutting machines and inkjet media. Agfa produces classic film-based products, such as film for non-destructive testing and aerial photography, as well as microfilm and film for the production of printed circuit boards;
- HealthCare IT (21.6%). Agfa-Gevaert NV offers Imaging IT Solutions (The Enterprise Imaging platform creates a true imaging record for every patient, containing all possible images of the patient, regardless of the department and the facility that created them), Hospital IT Solutions (the leading Hospital Information System /Clinical Information System ORBIS, connects medical departments and administrative departments of hospitals into one virtual network), and Integrated Care Solutions (these solutions support collaboration across the borders of care organizations and medical disciplines and enable hospitals to actively engage with all stakeholders in the expanded care process, including physicians, informal care-givers and patients) ;
- Offset solutions (5.9%). Agfa-Gevaert NV is a leading supplier to the printing industry, offering innovative and reliable solutions. Commercial, newspaper and packaging printers around the globe rely on Agfa for the most extensive range of integrated solutions, from computer-to-plate systems with digital offset plates over color management and workflow optimization software to pressroom chemicals.
AGFA-GEVAERT NV 
