Processless CTP Plates and Prepress Supply for the USA and Canada
Last updated: October 2026
Quick answer: In North America we supply processless thermal CTP plates made in our factory. A print shop in Canada runs them on its existing thermal platesetter and has ordered every month since 2024, and a consumables dealer in the USA buys them for regular use. Plates are cut to your size, shipped by sea in containers, and you can test sample plates before ordering.
Key takeaways
- Our main product for the USA and Canada is the processless thermal CTP plate: imaged at 830 nm, developed on press, no processor or chemistry.
- Confirmed customers: a print shop with a bookstore in Canada and a consumables dealer in the USA.
- Plates are cut to order in standard offset gauges (0.15, 0.20, 0.25, 0.30 mm).
- Sample plates on your own platesetter and press are the first step; MOQ, price and lead time are confirmed in the quotation.
Many North American print shops have moved to processless plates to remove developer, processor cleaning and chemical waste from the plate room. The trade-off is dependence on a single plate supplier — and when prices go up or supply tightens, there is no easy second source. Buyers who look at plates from a factory in China usually worry about three things: will the plates clean up on press, will shipping take too long, and can they risk a new plate on customer jobs? This page answers those questions with what our customers in the USA and Canada actually do.
Who we supply in the USA and Canada
We keep every customer anonymous. These are the confirmed customer facts for this region:
| Country | Customer type | Product | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | Print shop with a bookstore | Processless thermal CTP plates on its existing thermal platesetter | Tested with sample plates; ordering every month since 2024 |
| USA | Consumables dealer | Processless thermal CTP plates | In regular use |
The Canadian shop had used another manufacturer’s processless plate and wanted an alternative supplier without changing its platesetter or press workflow. We matched our processless grade to its platesetter, sent sample plates, and the plates ran fully on its own platesetter and press. Read the full Canada processless plate case study.
Products that fit North American print shops
Most of our business in this region is processless thermal CTP plates. Where a shop still runs a processor, or needs very long baked runs, other grades from our factory may fit better:
| Plate | Best for | Processing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processless thermal | Print shops that want no chemistry in the plate room | Develops on press | Negative-working; can run UV inks — trial first |
| Single-layer thermal | General commercial work with a plate processor | Developer in a processor | Bakeable; not for UV inks |
| Double-layer thermal | Long runs and UV inks | Developer in a processor | For the longest baked UV runs |
All of these image at 830 nm on a thermal platesetter. Run length and shelf life depend on the grade, press and inks — see the grade TDS and its test conditions. If you are comparing plate types, our plate selection guide walks through the choice.
Shops that need a new or additional thermal platesetter can source one through us; thermal CTP platesetters are supplied with our partner factories, and installation support is confirmed in the quotation.
Plate sizes and gauges
Plates are cut to order to the format of your platesetter and press, so you are not limited to a fixed size list. Offset plates are typically supplied in 0.15, 0.20, 0.25 and 0.30 mm gauges; tell us the gauge your press is set up for. Send sizes in millimetres or inches with the request for quotation — the plate size chart and custom plate sizes page explain what to specify.
Shipping and packaging to North America
- Packing: plates in cartons on pallets or in wooden cases, protected for sea freight.
- Transport: sea freight in containers to your nearest port.
- Mixed loads: different plate sizes in one shipment are normal; adding other consumables is possible and confirmed in the quotation.
- Terms: Incoterms, MOQ and lead time are confirmed in the quotation.
See shipping and packaging for packing details. After arrival, store plates in the original packing, flat, away from heat, light and humidity — the plate storage guide covers this.
Support and trial plates
- Send your setup: platesetter type, plate size, gauge, press and inks.
- Receive the matched grade and TDS.
- Test trial plates on your own platesetter and press, following our plate test protocol and the processless plate start-up guide.
- Review results with our technical support team remotely — send photos, test-form results and settings.
If you are replacing an existing supplier, keep your current stock until the new plate is approved; our guide on how to switch CTP plate supplier explains a staged switch.
For consumables dealers
A consumables dealer in the USA already buys our processless thermal plates for regular use. Dealers can buy plates under the CTPPress name or with private-label packing; see OEM and private-label printing plates and our dealer programme. Pricing, MOQ and sample terms for dealers are confirmed in the quotation. For other regions, see all our export markets.
FAQ
Can I buy processless CTP plates from China for the USA or Canada?
Yes. We make processless thermal CTP plates in our factory and supply a print shop in Canada and a consumables dealer in the USA. Plates are cut to your size and shipped by sea in containers.
Will your processless plates work on my existing thermal platesetter?
Our processless plates image at 830 nm like other thermal plates. We match the grade to your platesetter, and sample plates tested on your own platesetter and press confirm the fit — as the print shop in Canada did.
How are printing plates shipped to the USA and Canada?
Plates are packed in cartons on pallets or in wooden cases and shipped by sea in containers to your nearest port. Incoterms and lead time are confirmed in the quotation.
Do you supply consumables dealers in North America?
Yes. A consumables dealer in the USA buys our processless thermal plates for regular use. Dealer and private-label terms are confirmed in the quotation.
Can processless plates run UV inks?
Our processless plate can run UV inks; run a trial first. For the longest baked UV runs, a double-layer thermal CTP plate is the better choice.
Looking for a second source of processless plates? Request a quote — send your platesetter type, plate sizes, gauge, press and monthly usage. 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.
