Fujifilm will cease taking new orders for its Pro-V violet plate for commercial print applications from 17 February. 

The supply of violet plates for newspaper customers is unaffected. 

Andy Kent, Fujifilm Graphic Communications UK’s divisional manager, said: “Fujifilm is phasing out supply of its Pro-V violet plates for commercial print in 2023. It will continue to supply violet plates for newspaper printing – a much larger market. 

“Customers, dealers and distributors affected have been notified directly with final order dates and, where possible, Fujifilm is working to migrate customers to its Superia range of processless plates.”

The commercial print market for violet plates has declined as firms switch to thermal CTP systems. 

The Fujifilm decision leaves Agfa Offset Solutions as the last major supplier of violet plates for that part of the market, with its N95-VCF product. 

“We’ve still got a reasonable volume and we can convert existing CTP systems to run N95-VCF, “ explained Agfa head of sales for commercial print in Europe, Eddie Williams.

He said existing CTP devices would probably require some small modifications to run the Agfa plate. 

“We are trying to move commercial printers away from violet technology, but in the meantime we have an option where they can work with us and we convert their CTP to run that plate.

“We work with Marlowe Digital, they are our preferred partner for the refurbishment.”

Williams noted that the commercial print space was more complicated than the high volume newspaper market because of the number of different assortment sizes required. 

Agfa also has a substantial ongoing business in violet plates for newspapers.

Kodak has a violet plate but it is not available in the UK. 

Fujifilm will stop manufacturing printing plates in Europe altogether later this year.