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The cost of the violet UV laser compare with Thermal IR laser. It depends how you compare it.
For Violet UV laser diode, both Chinese manufacturers and Luscher are using it from the same source. However, the power of the laser used by China manufacturers is higher than one used by Luscher.
Basysprint CTcP is not using Violet UV laser diode, she is using a Violet UV LED, the power is much higher than the Violet UV laser diode.
Because the technology is not the same, the LED cost is much lower than the laser diode cost.
There is a price agreement between the high power Violet UV laser diode manufacturer with a company for the high power Violet UV laser, so the price cannot be lower.
The other Violet CTP suppliers, such as Founder, ECRM, they are using a much lower power laser so the cost of the Violet laser diode is much lower.
BTW, the Violet UV laser diode does not equivalent to low quality. Luscher CTP can give a very good quality output.

Thermal IR Laser diode, like Screen 8000, or 8600, the cost of the laser diode is more or less close to a Violet UV laser diode (high power).
For Kodak and Screen 8800, they are using light gate and GLV technology. The concept of Violet UV LED is very similar to those.
If you compare the total cost of 64 pcs. of Thermal IR laser diode with a Kodak laser head, then it is much higher. This is similar to the case of Violet UV Laser diode compare to Violet UV LED.