Choice is easy for CPI's new ink ownership

A growth in its ink division leads CPI to acquire Choice Inks Australia.

David Bull, general manager of CPI, said that the acquisition now allows for the strong growth to flourish. "We have had phenomenal success with our ink division," he said.

"Choice Inks has been our supplier of Pantone for a long period of time and we were outgrowing our current supplies and wanted to keep that growth without upsetting existing customers."

The deal is hailed as cementing CPI's position in the Transtasman marketplace and comes with a ten-year distribution agreement for A&A Ink from Korea. A &S Inks produce sheet fed, coldest web, heat set web and UV inks, along with varnish and additives. Bull said that the acquisition now provides CPI with the opportunity to seriously consider markets such as heatset, coldest and UV.

"It is a strong package offering and Korea is so close that it's almost like a local supply," he said.

Rob Vlasveld will join CPI, Victoria to take care of technical sales while also implementing the A&S brands into CPI Inks product portfolio and servicing existing Choice Ink customers for CPI.

This is the third major deal for CPI in the space of less than six months, following its partnership with NexPress and the acquisition of The Red Paper Group.  Bull said that CPI would not rule out the chance of any further acquisitions. "We've put ourselves in a strong financial position, so acquisitions in any division are always a possibility and we consider anything that will benefit customers or shareholders," he said.