GPS is offering the finance, which is applicable when its Chinese-manufactured X-treme thermal plate is bundled with any new thermal CTP device, through its dealer network.

The Netherlands-based company has offered to pay up to €20,000 (£16,200) of the cost of a new thermal platesetter upfront, which is then repayable over the duration of the plate contract via a surcharge on the cost of the plates.

GPS said it was making the offer available to its dealer network on the proviso that the finance is passed on directly to the end user. It added that the percentage of finance available would vary depending on the user's plate volume.

Wim Plaggenburg, international dealer manager at GPS, said: "The main reason we are making this offer is because we see it as a good tool to penetrate with our thermal plates into new installations."

He added that, while the company does not currently have a direct dealer in the UK, it has a cooperation with both Cron and HighWater Products.

GPS's X-treme plate is manufactured under an OEM agreement by The Second Film Factory of Lucky in China. However, Plaggenburg said that GPS added significant value to the plates.

"We have a representative in Beijing who is responsible for quality control and we also conduct entry control checks when the shipment arrives with Wifac," he said.

"We also keep stock in the Netherlands and we have plate and technical support specialists."