The companies will target existing flexo customers with Creos ThermoFlex range of platesetters.

Litho Supplies flexo division sales director Kevin Harrison said: "We are seeing a definite move towards CTP in flexo in much the same way that there was in litho five years ago. The benefits are the same better workflow, repeatability and high quality."

Litho Supplies, which formed its flexo division in 1996 after buying Light Graphics, is also the sole UK agent for flexo plate supplier MacDermid Graphic Arts.

"We offer a range of products for the flexo sector and adding CTP was a natural extension to our portfolio. Creo was our first choice of partner," said Harrison.

He thought that the ThermoFlex 2360 would be ideally suited to the narrow web packaging and flexo label market.

The ThermoFlex has a TIFF front-end that verifies screened data prior to imaging, designed to speed up imaging and processing.

Story by John Davies