The 96-channel CTCP exposes printing plates on drum technology and can fire 500 (28x40-inch) plates in 24-hour operation. Presently, Maa Reprographics fires plates of all sizes – 550x650mm, 724x615mm, 790x1030mm, 820x1030mm, 1145x1430mm and 1260x1660mm.

Masoom said, “Economic price and very large format (1260x1660mm) were the two main reasons to invest in the Fujifilm CTCP. Besides, we have five years of experience with Fujifilm violet CTP at AM Graphics.”

He said cost is the main factor for printing industry right now. That’s why printers are using CTCP plates instead of CTP. “The cost difference between a set of four CTCP plates and CTP plates ranges from Rs 50 to Rs 800. The difference depends on the size and quality of the plates,” he added.

Masoom, who belongs to a printing family and who has 17 years of experience as a designer, established AM Graphics, a CTP processing house in Naraina Industrial Area in New Delhi, in 2011.

“Our new venture is a result of our expansion plan. Our size range is our USP. Few processing houses can match this range,” said Masoom. “Me and Pankaj are the two partners, responsible for technical and marketing, and clients respectively,” he said.

On the advantages of VLF, Masoom said, “These plates can be used to print bigger-sized boxes like refrigerators, washing machines, televisions and so on.”

He said the company did not have any problems regarding the shift in technology, as he can run all the software.

For now, the company is focusing on the converters located in Bawana, Rai and Kundli, which according to Masoom, is a huge market, with at least 200 four-colour printing presses. “If you consider only Bawana, then its requirement is around 44,000 plates per month and size of the plates will be 820x1030mm,” Masoom said, adding that more than 1,000 sq/m of plates are consumed in Bawana per day.

A supporter of Fujifilm printing plates, Masoom, said, “I tried Chinese, Indian and Fujifilm plates. Fujifilm plates satisfied me because laser speed value is same on any size of plates. We found that normal Fujifilm plate printed 26,000 impressions and baked ones printed 77,000 sheets. And plates are still ok.”

Masoom believes in advance maintenance and wash the device after each 1,000 plates. “Most of CTCP plates need to be clean by plate cleaner but our plates do not require any wash. The result is constant up to 50,000 impressions. Presently, 90% Fujifilm plates are used. In future, it will be 100%. Pass and Diamond are two brands of Fujifilm plates we use,” he said.

Presently, Maa fires from 150 to 300 plates per day in ten-hour operation. From 1 December, the processing house will be on full production. Six people work in 300 sq/m built up area.