Pressroom consumables firm Ultrachem has moved into pre-press consumables by signing a deal to sell Lastra plates in the UK.

"We are very excited about this new venture, it is a fantastic opportunity and means we can offer our existing client base an even greater range of products," said Ultrachems marketing manager Aidan McElroy.

The firm claims that customers were asking it to extend its product range to include plates.

Ultrachem will initially supply Lastras Futura Oro positive and Nitio Dev negative conventional plates. Later it will offer the firms Extrema 2 thermal plate.

Lastras old UK distributor Openshaw is still supplying some customers with both Lastra and sister company Plurimetals plates, although its primary focus since it took on Kodak Polychrome Graphics last year is KPG and Agfa consumables.