Openshaw has started to sell Kodak Polychrome Graphics plates including its Electra thermal CTP plate.


The firm is now working with three plate suppliers: Agfa, KPG and Lastra.


The KPG product is excellent. Weve always sold the film, said Openshaw chief executive David Coltart. We now have three very good plate manufacturers, which gives our customers an excellent range.


Laurence Roberts, Agfa UK graphic system director, added: People are nervous, quite rightly, about the supply of thermal plates we are all selling as much as we can make. Openshaw is selling as much Thermostar as I can let them have, and Im focusing supplies on users of my thermal Galileo.


When Openshaw bought Dantex at the end of last year it acquired the distribution for Lastras subsidiary Plurimetal. Coltart said the deal improves the situation with Lastra as we have Plurimetal as well.


Giacoma Viola, export manager at Lastra subsidiary plate, said: Lastra and Openshaw are currently evaluating their continuing relationship in the UK.


Lastra supplies materials to the UK via Openshaw, Pageant Graphics and Plate UK, a division of Stehlin Hostag.


Plate UK is aiming to be a major supplier of Lastra products in the UK with a plate converting line at its Nottingham factory and deals with other dealers including NCS offshoot Revolution.


It was formed last May by the three directors; Jeffrey Reeves, Barry Plested and Stehlin Hostag managing director Grant Penfield. Sales director Reeves was with Lastra for 15 years before setting up Plate UK.


Story by Barney Cox