Wide format and commercial printing equipment manufacturer Agfa Graphics, Mortsel, Belgium, announced that it plans to close down its printing plate factory in Manerbio, Italy. The Manerbio plant produces analogue offset plates and negative CtCP plates, both product lines for which market demand is in decline.

“This decision is part of our strategy to improve our operational efficiency, margins and competitive position in the highly competitive prepress market,” says Stefaan Vanhooren, president of Agfa Graphics.

After having considered all options, Agfa Graphics has now informed Manerbio's employees as well as the trade unions that it intends to close down the factory impacting 123 employee positions. A redundancy plan will be developed for the employees that currently work in Manerbio.