Global prices for flexo plates on the rise

Escalating costs of manufacturing flexographic printing plates will see a worldwide increase of all Kodak flexographic plates of up to 7 per cent as of 15 July, an industry trend set to continue.

Manufacturing efficiencies put in place by Kodak have absorbed overhead increases in energy and raw materials to date, but with prices continuing to climb, future increases implemented in each region will be based on local market conditions.

Adrian Fleming (pictured), managing director for Kodak ANZ says Australia doesn’t anticipate any significant price increases, “largely due to the current exchange rate.”

Details of the new pricing structure will be revealed over the next month to all customers and dealers.

Mohan Garde, VP of Prepress Solutions at Kodak says it is never easy passing these price increases onto customers, “we are committed to working with them to ensure that their plate needs and business requirements are met as effectively as possible.”

“The value that our plates bring to the market—high quality, efficiency, repeatability, and more—continues to make them a sound investment for flexo printers who desire the best possible results. As always, we’ll continue to pursue manufacturing efficiencies that will minimize any future pricing impacts for our customer base,” said Garde.

There are currently no plans on the table for a price rise of FujiFilm flexo plates, according to Matt Ritson, marketing manager of FujiFilm Graphic Systems.

“As far as I am aware as of this point in time we have no plans to increase the prices of our plates, and it is business as usual for FujiFilm,” said Ritson.

MacDermid Printing Solutions, a global manufacturer and supplier of products and services, raised the prices on all flexo products worldwide by seven per cent in March.

Anthony Dalleore, general manager for MacDermid Australasia says the price increase was along the same lines as Kodak, in that it was due to price increases in energy and raw materials. “I do see the price of flexographic plates increasing with price of raw materials.”

Rising prices of flexographic plates is also hitting the US print market with North America-based Flint Group raising the prices for its flexo products 5 per cent for nyloflex printing plates and by 10 per cent for nyloprint printing plates due to increasing prices of raw materials and energy.

Due to the continued raw material cost pressure Flint Group also increased prices on all of its packaging and narrow web inks available in North America effective 1 May 2011.

According to Flint Group, its water and solvent-based products will increase eight per cent, with the exception of white at a 10 per cent increase, and all energy-cured products will increase five per cent.