The firm has also shelved Creo's plans, announced prior to its acquisition, to build a brand new plate line near Dresden in Germany to serve Europe.

The West Virginia line's output was primarily made for the US market, although the firm had 50 accounts across Europe for the bakeable UV-resistant Mirus and Fortis thermal newspaper plates produced at the site.

Kodak will work on a customer-by-customer basis to switch Mirus and Fortis users to equivalent products such as the DITP Gold and Thermal News plates dependent on their requirements, processing equipment and other plates used.

The Creo PTP plate, which is manufactured by a third-party, remains available.

"At this stage there are no plans to change that," said Kodak GCG GS&S vice president marketing EAMER Stphane Livain.

Livain added that the Creo line in South Africa remained open, and that the closure of the West Virginia line was taken for local reasons.

Kodak is continuing the development of two processless plate technologies the KPG Thermal Direct Non Process plate, which is developed on press, and the Creo Clarus PL, which uses switchable polymers.

The firm is also working to launch its violet plate for the commercial market soon. Livain said that it continued to consider options for a supplier of a suitable platesetter for the plate.

Story by Barney Cox