The opinions are given of three leading CtP manufacturers, namely, Agfa Deutschland, Kodak Polychrome Graphics, and Fuji Photo Film, on the availability of CtP plates in the market. According to Agfa Deutschland, the question of availability relates to the three different printing plates manufactured, namely, thermal, photopolymer, or silver based, and what the manufacturer offers, which for Agfa, are digital printing plates for conventional offset. Since about the beginning of 2000 there has been an unexpected demand for thermal plates. Agfa has not been excepted. Agfa has won new customers with its Thermostar™ System. All existing and new Agfa exposure to light systems and all customers of its thermal printing plates are continuously supplied. The silver based plates, in which Agfa offers violet temperature sensitive plates are completely available. This also is true for the existing plates (N 90A) based on photopolymer. From the second quarter of 2001 the sales of all CtP plates will increase considerably. At Kodak Polychrome Graphics (KPG), the availability of a stable supply of the CtP exposure with thermal printing plates is a priority company goal. The company can supply its existing customers and new business. KPG sells digital plates for 830 nm exposure, Non-Preheat Electra 830, and the Preheat Plate DITP 830. The growing demand for Non-Preheat Plates puts them in short supply. In early summer of 2001 at the KPG plant at Osterode/Harz, Germany, another production line will start up to further build on market position in all thermal new business. According to Fuji Photo Film, the company cannot attest to supply problems with the conventional plates. All CtP systems, which Fuji exhibited at drupa 2000, can be supplied by Fuji. Fuji can supply all customers with CtP plates. The company has no supply problems with CtP thermal plates and photopolymer. The company can also supply new customers with CtP plates.
