Flint Raises Prices on Spot-Color Inks, Varnishes and Pressroom Chemistry

PLYMOUTH, MI—March 30, 2012—Flint Group North America has announced an 8-percent price increase on spot-color inks and overprint varnishes used in sheetfed and heatset applications. In addition, it is instituting price increases of $0.75 to $1.25 on press washes used in sheeted and offset web applications. The increases take effect April 1, 2012, subject to existing contracts.

“The global raw material market continues to suffer from an imbalance in supply and demand,” explains Doug Labertew, vice president, Sheetfed. “This is continuing to drive up costs of key raw materials and oils used to manufacture and deliver inks and pressroom chemicals.”

In 2011, raw material costs were greater than their peak in 2008. This upward trend has continued in 2012, with crude’s rising and volatile cost a key factor.

“The cumulative effect of all this cost pressure,” notes Michael Kellen, business director, Pressroom Chemicals, “has had a tremendous impact. In addition to the increases on the feed stocks used to make pressroom consumables, the pressure is adversely affecting costs on product containers, utilities and freight.”

About Flint Group
Flint Group is dedicated to serving the global printing and packaging industry. The company develops, manufactures and markets an extensive portfolio of printing consumables, including a vast range of conventional and energy curable inks and coatings for most offset, flexographic and gravure applications; pressroom chemicals, printing blankets and sleeves for offset printing; photopolymer printing plates and sleeves, platemaking equipment and flexographic sleeve systems; pigments and additives for use in inks and other colorant applications.

Source: Flint Group.