Agfa Azura Plates - Hand process?

[RockLobster]

Does anyone know if you can hand-process an Agfa Azura plate? If it is chemistry-free, and just goes through a gumming processor to remove the unwanted emulsion, I don't see why one couldn't do it by hand. We want to test some out as we are having major problems with our current plate (Fuji) before we commit to it.
Rock

[steveagfa]

Hey Rock:

Yes, for a test, you can indeed rinse Azura in water.

We use a special gum that leaves an oxygen barrier
so the bare aluminum doesn't oxidize, enabling the
plate to hang around the shop for a while.

We can easily send you some exposed plates for you
to test on press - would that make life easier?

Also -
I'll be nearby (London ON) at the end of the month,
(seminar) with a bunch of plates and a gumming unit.
You could also visit, and leave with a few plates.

However you'd like!

Regards,

[steveagfa]

Rock:

The more I think about it, the more I recall
that prospects are "hand processing" sample
plates with some of our Azura gum. This would
be safer, so you don't suffer possible blinding
due to oxidation.

I suspect you are working through this with our
local rep - so I'll let that proceed.

Regards,

[steveagfa]

As a follow-up to this :Azura inquiry,
I just had an e-mail exchange with one of
our Azura customers. He used to use the
"gold" standard in thermal negative plates,
often running FM 20 on his Trendsetter.

(And no, this is not "Santa"!)

<snip>
Steve,

We've been very pleased with the AGFA Azura plate.
As you guessed, we haven't had any problems. I've been
impressed by the quality of the plates. I think we've seen
one plate defect since we started using them a year ago.
I'm amazed that there are still printers out there firing up
the old pizza ovens. That's one thing I'll be happy to never
see again.

Our cost savings have been tremendous. According to my
latest financials, my plate sales are up about 50% but my
plate materials costs are down 30%. I've also seen a
reduction in plating labor costs of about 30%. It's been
an amazing turnaround. On top of that we have seen a
big reduction is wasted plates, and a huge increase in
quality and consistency.
<snip>

Hmmm... now what if he had factored-in energy savings as well!

Regards,