Fuji Graphic Systems has quashed talk that News International has been running down stocks of Fujis FNN-E plate and switching to Agfas N91.


Fuji Graphic Systems UK managing director Gordon McFarlane said: "We have a five-year contract with News International and nothing has changed, weve got a long-term relationship with them. Theyve used Agfa plates on and off for some time and will probably continue to do so. But the contract is with us."


McFarlane added: "There were some technical issues, but weve worked in partnership with them to develop our products and our relationship. Theres no truth in this rumour."


Fuji won the exclusive five-year contract to supply NIs sites at Wapping, Glasgow and Knowsley with approximately 45,000 CTP plates a month last April.


News International declined to comment on plate supply this week.


The Wapping plant has nearly completed its move into CTP after the successful introduction of Mitsubishi subsidiary Western Lithotechs DiamondSetter newspaper system at Knowsley.


Wapping already has two 610S2P DiamondSetters and three 435s, and will take delivery of another 435 model within the next month. Eventually 90% of its plate production will go through the Mitsubishis.


MC Imaging won the Knowsley CTP contract two years ago (PrintWeek, 16 April 1999) to install three Western Lithotech 435 machines, which are capable of imaging 200 standard plates per hour, plus one larger 610S2P system capable of imaging 90 panoramic plates per hour, or 120 standard plates.


l Trinity Mirrors Oldham plant will keep the UKs first Agfa Polaris 200 CTP system after nine months of tests, but "it is not intended as part of some wider group purchases", said group technical manager Trevor Singleton.


Story by John Davies