CTP Plates and Prepress Supply for Nigeria
Last updated: October 2026
Quick answer: In Nigeria we supply a plate dealer with our single-layer, positive-working CTcP plates, at about two 20-ft containers a month. The main size is 650 × 550 mm, which Nigerian printers call the Kord plate; other sizes are cut to order. Plates ship by sea in containers, and terms, MOQ and lead time are confirmed in the quotation.
Key takeaways
- Our Nigerian customer is a dealer buying CTcP plates by the container, not a single printing house.
- The CTcP plate is single-layer and positive-working; it is imaged on a UV (CTcP) platesetter, not a thermal one.
- The Kord plate size, 650 × 550 mm, is the main size; any other size is cut to order.
- Trial plates come before the first container, so the grade is proven on local platesetters and processors.
Many printing houses in Nigeria run compact sheetfed offset presses, and computer-to-conventional-plate (CTcP) imaging is a common route for printers moving on from conventional PS plates and film. That shapes what a Nigerian dealer needs from a plate factory: one dependable CTcP grade, the local Kord size in volume, and a supply rhythm that keeps the warehouse from running dry between containers. This page explains what we actually supply to Nigeria today and how a new dealer or printer can start. For our other export markets, see the printing plate export markets overview.
Who we supply in Nigeria
We describe only what our customer has confirmed. The customer stays anonymous; we do not publish names, cities or volumes beyond what is below.
| Customer type | Product | Main size | Supply pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Printing consumables dealer | Single-layer, positive-working CTcP plates | 650 × 550 mm (Kord plate) | About two 20-ft containers a month; other sizes cut to order |
The dealer resells to local printing houses, so the plate has to behave the same on many different UV platesetters, processors and presses. That is why consistency from one container to the next matters more to him than any single test result.
CTcP plates for Nigerian printers
Our CTcP plates are made in our own factory on our coating line. They are single-layer and positive-working: the UV light from the platesetter exposes the non-image areas, and the developer removes them, just like a conventional positive PS plate but without film. Points a buyer in Nigeria should know:
- Platesetter: CTcP plates need a UV (CTcP) platesetter. A thermal 830 nm platesetter will not image them. If a printer is buying a new machine, our UV CTP platesetters are supplied with our partner factories.
- Processing: the plate is developed in a standard plate processor with positive developer; we can supply CTP/PS developer and a plate processor from our own production.
- Baking: the single-layer CTcP plate is bakeable for longer conventional-ink runs. It is not resistant to UV inks, even after baking, so printers running UV inks should ask us about a different plate type.
- Not supplied: we do not supply a double-layer CTcP plate. If a printer asks for one, our single-layer grade or a thermal plate on a thermal platesetter is the honest alternative.
Run length depends on the press, ink, fountain solution and whether the plate is baked; see the grade TDS and its test conditions rather than a single headline number. For the full workflow from exposure to press, read how CTcP plates are made and processed.
Kord plate size and other plate sizes
In Nigeria, the 650 × 550 mm plate is widely called a “Kord plate”, after the compact press format it fits. It is the main size our dealer buys. Everything else is cut to order on our slitting and cutting line, so a dealer can add sizes when local printers ask for them. Typical examples, all cut to order:
| Size (mm) | Typical use in the industry | Gauge options |
|---|---|---|
| 650 × 550 mm (Kord plate) | Compact single- and two-colour sheetfed presses | 0.15 mm, 0.20 mm |
| 525 × 459 mm | Small-format offset and duplicator-class presses | 0.15 mm |
| 745 × 605 mm | Half-size sheetfed presses | 0.20 mm, 0.25 mm |
| 1030 × 790 mm | Larger-format sheetfed presses | 0.25 mm, 0.30 mm |
Our offset gauges are 0.15 mm, 0.20 mm, 0.25 mm and 0.30 mm. Before ordering a new size, check the plate width, length, gauge and punch position against the press; the printing plate size chart and the custom plate sizes service explain what to send.
Container shipping and packaging for Nigerian dealers
Plates travel by sea in containers to the buyer’s nearest port. For a dealer ordering monthly, the practical questions are packing, mixing and timing:
- Packing: plates are interleaved with paper, packed in cartons and loaded on pallets or in wooden cases, so they survive handling and do not scratch or stick together.
- Mixed loads: a container can combine several plate sizes with developer and gum, confirmed in the quotation.
- Rhythm: a dealer can plan a regular container schedule; Incoterms and lead time are confirmed in each quotation.
Nigeria’s heat and humidity are hard on plates sitting in a warehouse. Keep cartons flat, off the floor, away from direct sun and in their sealed wrapping until use, and rotate stock first-in, first-out. Our plate storage guide covers this in detail, and shipping and packaging describes how export loads are prepared.
Trial plates and technical support
A dealer who commits to a container wants proof first. We send trial plates in the sizes you need, and the printer runs them on his own UV platesetter, processor and press. That answers the real questions: exposure setting, developer behaviour, dot reproduction and start-up on press. Use the plate test protocol to record results, and request trial plates when ready.
After supply starts, our technical team supports remotely with exposure and processing settings. For machines, an engineer on site or remote video guidance with manuals is confirmed in the quotation; see technical support.
For dealers and importers in Nigeria
Our Nigerian customer shows the model that works: one consistent CTcP grade, a core size in volume and other sizes on demand. Dealers can also ask about private-label cartons through our OEM printing plates programme, and about adding developer, processors and punches to the same shipment. Read more on the printing dealer programme. Elsewhere in West and East Africa, customers buy thermal plates and platesetters; see CTP plate supply for Africa.
FAQ
What is a Kord plate size?
In Nigeria, “Kord plate” is the local name for a 650 × 550 mm offset plate used on compact sheetfed presses. It is the main size our Nigerian dealer buys; other sizes are cut to order.
Which CTP plates are used in Nigeria?
Many Nigerian printers image plates on UV (CTcP) platesetters, so CTcP plates are common. Our Nigerian customer buys our single-layer, positive-working CTcP plates; we also make thermal CTP plates for printers with thermal platesetters.
Is a CTcP plate the same as a thermal CTP plate?
No. A CTcP plate is exposed with UV light on a CTcP platesetter, while a thermal CTP plate is imaged at 830 nm on a thermal platesetter. The plate must match the platesetter you run.
Can CTcP plates be baked for long runs?
Yes, our single-layer CTcP plate is bakeable for longer runs with conventional inks. It is not resistant to UV inks even after baking. Run length depends on press conditions; see the grade TDS.
How are printing plates shipped to Nigeria from China?
Plates are interleaved, packed in cartons on pallets or in wooden cases, and shipped by sea in containers to the buyer’s nearest port. Mixed loads, Incoterms, MOQ and lead time are confirmed in the quotation.
Supplying printers in Nigeria? Request a quote — send the plate sizes (including Kord size quantities), gauge, your platesetter type and your container plan. Or request trial plates / contact us.
Disclaimer: values on this page are typical and for reference only; final specifications, MOQ, price and lead time are subject to the grade TDS and the quotation.
