A three-year contract with Kodak will see Australia's Fairfax Media switch its high-volume sites to the company's process-free Sonora News plates.

The move accounts for 70 per cent of plate volume across ten of Fairfax's 13 print sites in Australia and New Zealand, while the balance will use low chemistry Libra VP violet plates.

As a result, the costs of 16 processors and more than 60,000 litres of chemistry a year will be eliminated.

Group director of print and distribution Australasia Bob Lockley says the technology is part of a strategy to run high quality, efficient and sustainable production: "With the combination of Sonora News Plates and Kodak's thermal imaging technology, we will be able to lower costs and save energy, while also opening up opportunities to provide new levels of service for our customers."
"We had trialled the plates in a few sites, and were impressed."

Lockley (pictured) says Fairfax had wanted a thermal solution, and Kodak had the fastest totally chemical free solution - as opposed to a low-chem - one. "It is financially viable and environmentally responsible," he says.

Libra VP plates will be used at three sites which account for the remaining 30 per cent of plate volume, and will simplify processing by replacing traditional developer and replenisher with a single clean-out finisher. Use of the "easy chem" solution will further increase efficiency and save water.