China’s Largest CTP Maker Partners with ECRM

Though offset presses are slowly being replaced by digital devices in the in-plant world, for the 60 percent of in-plants that still have an offset press, a new computer-to-plate supplier has entered the field.

Hangzhou CRON Machinery & Electronics Co., Ltd, China’s largest CTP manufacturer, has formed a joint venture company with ECRM Imaging Systems. The new company, CRON-ECRM LLC, will be headquartered in Tewksbury, Mass., and will serve as the master distributor for CRON CTP systems and Blackwood, an offset printing plate line, in the North American market.

The expansion into the North American market is part of CRON’s vision of becoming a global CTP solutions provider. The company has established a footprint in both Asia and Europe, and Rick Black, chairman of ECRM and president and CEO of CRON-ECRM, says the strategic alignment will benefit customers in North America.

“ECRM has always had the prime objective of providing outstanding products, sales and service for our graphic arts partners, and we found a partner in CRON with the same objectives,” Black says. “The synergies inherent in this collaboration with CRON will be in the best interests of our combined customer base, distribution partners and the industry at large.”

Visitors to Graph Expo will find CRON-ECRM in booth 4404 in partnership with Graphic Systems North America.