Agfa has hit back at CreoScitex by posting record sales for electronic equipment sales at Drupa a show which has seen a boom in orders for computer-to-plate systems.
Last week, CreoScitex chief Amos Michelson caused a furore after telling staff that Agfa would not be a long-term competitor in electronics. But UK graphic systems director Laurence Roberts hit back with the news that by Tuesday (30 May) the firm had sold almost 200 CTP devices, most of them Galileos. In addition, 70% of Galileo sales were violet models.
"We expect the final Galileo figure to be between 135 and 140," he said. "Even I managed to sell 22 in the UK pretty good for someone whos not a threat!"
CreoScitexs own sales picked up in the second half of the show, after early fears that sales targets at the newly-merged group would not be met. President of marketing Boudewijn Neijens said: "Our target was 100 CTP systems, and it looks as if we are going to hit it or at least the equivalent. In addition our friends at Heidelberg have sold close to 100 Trendsetters."
"It was an interesting last few days there was a big wave of orders in the second week," Neijens added.
Purup-Eskofot also found itself bowled over by the amount of activity in the CTP arena. The firm took orders for 50 ImageMaker systems, and made 100 sales of its new SpinJet 1000 proofer. Chief executive William Schulin-Zeuthen described the show as "phenomenal" and said the firm would have to bring in extra production capacity to meet demand. "During the last 14 days we have taken orders with a value equal to 30% of our worldwide turnover last year," added Schulin-Zeuthen.
By Jo Francis