It is fairly easy to answer the first question. Most of the world’s printers still use UV-sensitive plates exposed in a vacuum frame. Even in the US, there is still a significant volume of this, in spite of the CTP vendors’ best efforts. Furthermore, there are many CTP units being sold by vendors that don’t make plates (like ECRM, Basys, Lüscher, Escher-Grad, and so on). Both of these situations provide the Chinese with an opportunity for plate sales, as do the expirations of existing bundling agreements. As an example, Donnelley’s new plant in Poland is using a Lüscher CTP system and Chinese plates. So I conclude that bundling will slow, but not prevent, Chinese plate sales.

The second question, technical support, is tougher. Most Chinese plate manufacturers are not in a position to set up a worldwide network for local tech support. My best guess is that some of the larger distributors will end up doing this (as has occurred in at least one case in Europe). This could also become an opportunity for third-party technical consultants. Time will tell.

In the end, the economics are so compelling that coming up with a solution to these problems, whatever form it takes and almost regardless of its cost, will be very profitable. To me, that means that it will inevitably happen.