Flint Group Raises Prices for Certain Inks, Chemicals

PLYMOUTH, MI—Flint Group North America has announced price increases on certain printing inks and pressroom chemistry sold in the United States and Canada. This is in addition to the news ink price increase implemented Jan. 1, and previously announced increases for blankets and sleeves.

Prices will increase on inks, overprint varnishes and pressroom chemistry as follows, effective Feb. 1, and subject to existing contracts:

Liquid packaging and narrow web inks:
• All whites: up to 10 percent, depending on technology;
• Solvent colors: up to 8 percent.

Specific increases for the above products, as well as for nitrocellulose-based clears, other solvent-based clear formulations, and all violet colors will be communicated individually to customers depending on formula makeup and technology.

Print media inks:
• Sheetfed conventional: 8 percent;
• Heatset—process: 10 percent; blends, metallics, fluorescents and OPVs: 12 percent;
• Directory: 9 percent; and
• Publication gravure: 9 percent.

Print media chemicals:
• Spray powders: 8-15 percent;
• Press washes: 8-12 percent;
• Web conditioners: 6-10 percent;
• Fountain solutions: 5-8 percent; and
• Aerosols: 8-15 percent.

Diane Parisi, vice president supply chain, Flint Group, cited capacity constraints, government policies worldwide, environmental concerns and decreased production of feedstocks as among the reasons for the increases.