In response to a news item, "Bundling deals to boost Creo", in PrintWeek two weeks ago, the company issued a statement in which UK sales director Mark Nixon said it was "incorrect" to say that Creo could supply KPG and Mitsubishi plates.

He had previously told PrintWeek that Creo UK could supply KPG and Mitsubishi plates, but was also happy to work with other consumables vendors.

KPG sales and marketing director Terry Baber said: "The inference from the article was that it (Creo UK) is a dealer of ours, and that isnt the case.

"We do bundle deals and we will deal with all companies, but we have not got an agreement in place at present with Creo UK."

CreoScitex issued an apparent about turn in its finance and media strategy in September 2001 when it announced at Print 01 that it had signed agreements with Western Lithotech and Spectratech International to allow the company to bundle their plates with CreoScitex equipment (PrintWeek, 14 September 2001).

In a move echoing the US Creo UK announced in January this year that it was rolling out bundling deals to finance its equipment, with up to half of its sales expected to be financed this way in the future.

As PrintWeek went to press MCSi managing director Jo Simons was unavailable to comment on the situation.

Story by Andy Scott