Kodak Trendsetter Q400 doubles plate output to 30 units per hour at Golden Business Forms

The transition from legacy computer-to-plate (CTP) systems to process-free technology continues to accelerate among mid-sized commercial printers. In a clear demonstration of this operational shift, Missouri-based Golden Business Forms has overhauled its prepress department by installing a Kodak Trendsetter Q400 SA platesetter paired with Sonora process-free plates.

The upgrade replaces a 15-year-old ECRM Mako 800 CTP system, marking a definitive end to chemical plate processing for the facility. By implementing the Trendsetter Q400, the printer has immediately doubled its throughput, reaching a production rate of 30 plates per hour.

Beyond raw speed, the elimination of the traditional plate processor removes a significant bottleneck and maintenance burden. Process-free plates like Kodak's Sonora line bypass the need for developer chemicals, water, and the associated disposal protocols. For a high-volume forms printer, this translates directly into recovered production time. Kodak estimates that bypassing chemical processing and related inventory management can save operations of this scale more than 24 hours per month in labor and maintenance.

The Trendsetter Q400 SA (Semi-Automatic) brings additional stability to the prepress workflow. Thermal imaging technology reduces the process variations historically associated with older visible light systems, ensuring that plates hit the press with tighter registration and fewer remakes. Furthermore, the Sonora plates offer high image contrast, allowing operators to visually inspect plates before mounting them on the press, a critical factor in minimizing unexpected downtime.

For the offset printing sector in 2026, holding onto aging prepress equipment often costs more in maintenance, energy, and chemical consumables than the capital expenditure of an upgrade. Golden Business Forms' decision to modernize its platemaking infrastructure underscores a broader industry reality: efficiency in the pressroom begins with absolute reliability in prepress. By doubling output and stripping out chemical processing, the company secures a leaner, more predictable manufacturing footprint.