Fujifilm Graphic Systems says it has increased CTP consumables revenue by over 200% for the first six months of 2001 compared to last year.

The firm said demand was particularly strong for its positive thermal and photopolymer plates, while sales of conventional plates were "encouraging", especially in the newspaper market.

Sales of electronic equipment, including scanners, imagesetters and platesetters, were up 52% on last year, with the Luxel

P-9600 platesetter and Sumo Luxel F-9000 imagesetter proving popular alongside Lanovia and FineScan desktop scanners.

Fujifilm Graphic Systems director Gordon McFarlane said the firm was able to offer stability, "one advantage that most of its competitors cannot".

However, in the past month it has been hit by the departure of David Wilson, head of its electronic sales team (PrintWeek, 5 October), while electronics salesmen Nick Frost and Adrian Rowe left in September (PrintWeek, 21 September).

But Fuji continues to be "financially rock solid", stated McFarlane.

"Companies looking for quality suppliers in a difficult and highly competitive market need to partner with organisations that will be around tomorrow, next week, next month and next year," he added.

"Thats why we are succeeding and can post such encouraging results in adverse times."

Story by Gordon Carson