Thermal CTP still overshadowing violet light

Worldwide sales of computer-to-plate rose by 19 per cent during 2004, with violet-light CTP enjoying a healthy rise of 12 per cent during the period. Thermal imaging effortlessly eclipsed this growth however, rising 23 per cent to 3,600 installations worldwide. Sticking the boot in even further, thermal accounted for almost 70 per cent of overall CTP purchases during 2004.

Huge expectations exist for the 4pp violet-light market, yet the study from Vantage Strategic Marketing found thermal 4pp machines outsold those of violet by a factor of almost two to one during 2004. 8pp platesetters continue to dominate and accounted for 45 per cent of all sales last year, with thermal machines again outselling those of violet by three to one.

The report also revealed some interesting trends for CTP worldwide, with Europe accounting for 44 per cent of worldwide sales while the US has dropped back to 25 per cent as adoption starts to approach saturation levels. Sales to the Asia Pacific region rose by a massive 50 per cent but still accounts for less than one-third of total sales worldwide, with the Chinese market still yet to take off.

CTP now accounts for around 40 per cent of the world's 500 million square metres of offset plates, with Vantage Strategic Marketing predicting it to smash the 50 per cent barrier within the next few years.