This establishes us as a fully integrated player, said chief executive Amos Michelson. We can now offer one-stop support from software to the pressroom.
The need to offer this to compete with other integrated suppliers in the B2 and B3 market, such as Agfa and Fuji, was acknowledged by the company, which has in the past been anti-bundling.
We couldnt compete, said Creo corporate vice president of marketing Boudewijn Neijens. This deal puts us on an equal footing with our rivals.
In response, Agfa UK Graphic Systems director Laurence Roberts quipped: What is it they say about imitation being the sincerest form of flattery?
However, not all companies see the one-stop shop as the only approach. According to KPG UK managing director Terry Baber, the move will not affect the companys strategy and he knew of no plans to return to the sale of electronics.
As well as its own factory Creo is using US and European plate manufacturers to make plates to its specification, something it has been testing for 18 months.
The biggest proportion of plates we sell today use our technology, but I cant say who makes them, said Michelson.
Creos suppliers for bundle deals are Ipagsa in Europe and Spectratech in North America.
The company claimed that it now had access to enough capacity to supply 25% of the current demand for thermal plates, which it estimated would be 95m square metres this year.
Consumable sales, including plates, are projected to supply 20% of its revenues by 2007, when it plans to be a $1bn company.
Story by Barney Cox
