A week after announcing announced the one-thousandth user for its Sonora plates, Kodak has a bigger number to celebrate: 20,000 thermal imaging heads.

The Squarespot thermal CT technology was a key plank of the portfolio gained with the $980 million acquisition of Creo in 2005, and has proved “one of our most durable technologies”, according to worldwide graphics marketing general manager Rich Rindo.

Michigan, USA, book printer Edwards Brothers Malloy has taken delivery of the milestone product in a Magnus VLF platesetter.

Introduced by Canadian pioneer Creo almost 20 years, the technology was a first viable alternative to visible‐light plate imaging. CTP systems using it help reduce chemistry usage, plate waste, remakes and make‐ready times Rindo says.

The 1,000th customer for Sonora ‘process free’ plates, Ohio-based Reynolds and Reynolds, is also in the USA. A new plate manufacturing line has been added at Kodak’s Columbus, Georgia, facility in addition to those in Osterode, Germany and Xiamen, China.