Mortsel, Belgium - March 24, 2005 - 5.00 p.m. CET
Agfa announced today that it has signed a new deal with Belgium's leading newspaper publisher Rossel (Brussels, Belgium) for computer-to-plate equipment and digital plates. Four additional :Polaris violet CtP units will be installed at a brand new printing site Rossel Printing & Cie s.a. in Nivelles, which will be operational by August this year. In addition, a two-year plate contract was signed for :Lithostar visible-light digital plates.
Rossel has been using six of Agfa's Polaris CtP units across its three existing printing sites since 1998. As the company's board decided to invest in the new printing facility, it reconfirmed its partnership with Agfa for prepress production citing Agfa's technology leadership with visible-light imaging solutions and the professionalism of applications support and service as the main reasons.
"The new printing plant is of strategic importance to Rossel. We have seven years of CtP experience with Agfa already and are happy to rely on the company's technology and market leadership for the new site also," said Jacques Valembois, Rossel's technical director and project manager of the new printing site.
"Belgian newspapers were among the first in the world to convert to CtP and are now ready for second generation. As our home market is of great importance to us, we are very pleased that Rossel have given us a vote of confidence. Our visible-light solutions have made us a worldwide market leader. We see this continue with our new violet solutions," said Kurt Smits, director of Agfa's newspaper business.
About Rossel.
Rossel & Cie is a leading publisher of newspapers in Belgium. The company is based in Brussels and has three printing sites (Evere, Marcinelle, Grâce-Hollogne) and is currently adding capacity by building a fourth site at Nivelles.
Rossel publishes leading titles for the French speaking market in Belgium, such as Le Soir, La Meuse, La Province, La Capitale, Le Quotidien de Namur, Nord Éclair and Vlan. More information www.lesoir.be/ .
About Agfa.
The Agfa-Gevaert Group is one of the world's leading imaging companies. Agfa develops, manufactures and markets analogue and digital systems, intended mainly for the graphics industry and the healthcare markets.
Agfa's headquarters are in Mortsel, Belgium. The company is active in 40 countries and has agents in another 100 countries throughout the world. Together they achieved a turnover of 3,762 million euros in 2004.
Product and company information can be found on Agfa's home page on the World Wide Web at: www.agfa.com.
Editor contact:
Johan Jacobs
Corporate Press Relations Manager
+32-3-444 8015
Marc Verbiest
PR Manager
Graphic Systems
+32-3-444 4101
