PRINTING PLATE UPDATE -- New Precious Metal

This commonality in printing plates hit home earlier this year when vendors notified customers of price increases due to the rising cost of raw materials. Aluminum prices reportedly have risen some 40 percent over the past two years, and higher energy prices have compounded the problem.

"Aluminum represents more than half the cost of a litho plate, and production efficiencies cannot offset the magnitude of the increase in aluminum prices," points out Jack Wiethoff, staff vice president for plates at Kodak Polychrome Graphics (KPG).