Established consumables players have shown concern, especially as Ipagsa is working with Creo. They have speculated that the plate is being sold at or below cost, with prices of 5.25 per square metre quoted by several rival suppliers.
"We'd be selling at a loss if we sold it for that," said NCSIS managing director Roger Stockdale. "It's not a bargain basement plate, it's good quality at a good price. It's going to be competitive."
Plates are currently being shipped from Ipagsa's factory direct to printers, which has caused some rivals to cast doubt on the firm's ability to provide proper logistics and technical support. This is a short-term measure, and if NCSIS does take on the plate it will handle the logistics within the UK.
NCSIS also sells KPG consumables and will make a decision on whether or not it will handle the Ipagsa plate this week.
Creo sales director Mark Nixon said: "There's a lot of attention on Ipagsa because it's an unknown player with a good plate at a half-decent price. There is no allegiance at the moment."
He added: "We have no plans to deliver plates, just facilitate the deal."
An industry expert said that regional plate suppliers such as Ipagsa and Samor, the owner of Verona Lastre (Vela) and French firm EFI, were set to become significant players in thermal plates. This was due to the relative simplicity of thermal plate coatings and the firms' cost bases, which allowed them to offer very competitive prices, he said.
Story by Barney Cox
