Flint to increase printing plate prices

Flint Group Flexographic Products is to increase the price of nyloflex and nyloprint printing plates in 2012 after failing to absorb high raw material and energy cost increases in the last 18 months.
 
It said raw material and energy costs have grown considerably since the middle of 2010, with some materials witnessing growth rates of up to 100 percent.
 
Flint Group said it continuously pushes productivity and cost savings initiatives, but the raw material cost increases placed on the market have not been able to be absorbed and will have to be passed on.
 
The announcement follows the rise in ink prices in both Europe and North America.
 
Thomas Zwez, vice president of operations at Flint Group Flexographic Products, said: ‘While the exaggerated cost situation is projected to stabilise at a high level for single raw material components, costs for key materials to manufacture printing plates will continue to increase further while energy costs are forecasted to grow significantly in the near future.
 
‘This situation is compounded further with the fact that the markets are still driven by capacity shortages, which stems back to the economic crisis in 2008, and by an increased global demand, in particular from emerging countries, which have escalated the competition for limited resources.’
 
Eberhard Huter, vice president of sales at Flint Group Flexographic Products, added: ‘We have now begun the process of contacting customers directly to inform them about the respective price increases and will continue to work with them to minimize the impact on their business and find the best solution in order to meet their needs.’