Rising Costs Affecting Raw Materials for the Print Industry

Due to rising petroleum prices, printers are seeing cost increases in finishing products, inks and substrates. “We are seeing five to seven percent increases,” said Jerry Hill, vice president of sales and marketing, Drytac Corporation. “Almost all the components used to make our overlaminate and adhesive products have risen,” agreed Angela Mohni, director of marketing, Neschen Americas. This includes base film carriers, such as PVC, polyester and polypropylene. “We have seen unprecedented and relentless increases over a period of three years in plastic substrates and adhesive. It is clear there is limited availability of some of the highly engineered components of our laminates,” explained Gideon Schlessinger, GBC vice president of marketing, product technology and development. “Simultaneously, significant increases in the cost of oil and spiking demand for all petrochemical products out of Asia have created a situation in which suppliers have more customers than capacity, and they are able to demand higher prices.”