In response to an incrase in global demand for offset CTP plates, Fujifilm will invest approximately ¥15bn (US$151m) in the construction of a new CTP plate production line at its European manufacturing operation, Fujifilm Manufacturing Europe BV at Tilberg in the Netherlands.
Construction will begin in October 2008 and operations are planned to begin in January 2010. The European plate manufacturing operation is one of four global bases for the production of offset printing plates, the other three being in Japan, the United States and China.With the digitisation of the printing process, Fujifilm says demand is rising rapidly for CTP systems especially in the emerging economies due to their extraordinary economic growth, and this trend is expected to continue.
Meanwhile, due to heightened environmental
awareness in Japan, the United States and Europe, there is a strong demand for
environmentally friendly products such as processless CTP plates which generate
no waste liquid due to the elimination of the film development process, and
chemistry free CTP plates which reduce waste liquid due to simplified
development processes.
The new production line will feature FUJIFILM’s unique surface treatment technology, called MultiGrain Technology which refers to the placement of four layers of multiple grains of a very fine texture on the surface of the CTP plates' aluminum base. This enables the stable production of high quality, high definition CTP plates with excellent durability and consistency. It will also allow Fujifilm to manufacture processless and chemistry free CTP plates which require advanced production technology.
Looking towards the future, Fujifilm says this investment will not only allow it to meet the growing demand for CTP plates, but will also contribute to reducing environmental impact by expanding the local production of such environmentally friendly products. Fujifilm will also expand its supply to the high growth markets in regions such as the Middle East as well as to Europe in order to further increase its market share in the CTP plate market.
