The 11m-turnover Straford-upon-Avon company, which supplies News Internationals newspaper plates, is the only distributor with the rights to sell Fujifilm newspaper plates in the UK.

But it has now ended its relationship with Lastra and will sell Fujifilm products to commercial customers including Benham Goodhead Print (BGP).

Pageant Graphics managing director Jim Page said that the firm had supplied Fuji plates for 20 years, but had sold other manufacturers products to cope with demand.

"We have gone full circle. Since Fuji opened the new plant at Tilburg, in Holland, the plates are a lot more freely available.

"They sell on quality alone," said Page.

Story by John Davies