Agfa is to sell its Thetford plate processor factory
to Danish pre-press hardware manufacturer Glunz & Jensen.


Glunz & Jensen has signed a letter of intent
to buy the assets and take on 69 staff of the unit on
1 October for an undisclosed sum.



The plant, which was acquired by Agfa when it bought DuPonts film and plate business, currently makes analogue plate processors and the processor for Agfas Thermostar thermal CTP plate.



It was never Agfas intention to have a processor division, said senior corporate vice president Walter Van Leuven. Thetford came with the DuPont acquisition. We dont see it as a core part of the business.



Many of Agfas global subsidiaries prefer to buy lower-cost processors from local third-party suppliers rather than Agfa-branded processors for conventional plates.



Glunz & Jensen emerged as a possible buyer after Agfa ruled out the possibility of an MBO. Glunz & Jensen already has a factory in Thetford, making conventional and thermal CTP plate processors, from its acquisition of Unigraph in 1999.



It made the best offer for the continuity of the plant and staff, said Van Leuven. We dont want to shut down the plant we have loyalty to the staff.



Agfa already buys over 90% of its film processors and some plate processors from Glunz & Jensen.



After the acquisition, it will continue to be supplied by the firm with a range of processors that Agfa will sell under its own label.



As PrintWeek went to press, no one from Glunz
& Jensen was available to comment on its plans.


Story by Barney Cox