Agfa Gevaert : to increase offset printing plate prices
October 18, 2021 at 07:34 am EDT
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For the third time in less than ten months, Agfa will increase the price of its offset printing plates and chemicals.
Raw material shortage remains an ongoing concern and the competitive environment to secure aluminum and other raw materials has accelerated the cost increase. Recently, aluminum futures traded to a 30-year high on the London Metal Exchange, reporting now at over double the cost of 18 months ago.
In addition to the raw material cost pressure, logistics and operational costs have soared, as the economic recovery drives demand for these.
'Initially, we were hoping the inflationary pressure would be of a temporary nature, but the issues with global supplies of crucial raw materials have not shown any signs of stabilization. They are likely to stay at these levels in 2022. Agfa will be reviewing the need for further pricing actions on a quarterly basis', says Frederik Dehing, VP Global Sales.
As used aluminum offset plates are being recycled, the price increases will to a large extent be compensated for by the increased value printers will get from their scrap aluminum.
The specific - but double-digit - price increases will apply from November 1 onwards and will be communicated directly to Agfa's customers.
About Agfa
The Agfa-Gevaert Group is a leading company in imaging technology and IT solutions with over 150 years of experience. The Group holds four divisions: Radiology Solutions, HealthCare IT, Digital Print & Chemicals and Offset Solutions. They develop, manufacture and market analogue and digital systems for the healthcare sector, for specific industrial applications and for the printing industry. In 2020, the Group realized a turnover of 1,709 million Euro.
Agfa-Gevaert NV is one of the world leaders in the design, manufacturing, and marketing of imaging systems and products. Net sales break down by sector of activity as follows:
- Radiology solutions (36.9%). Agfa-Gevaert NV supplies radiology departments of hospitals all over the world with traditional X-ray film, hardcopy film and printers, digital radiography equipment and image processing software. Agfa's roots are in traditional medical imaging, but in today's healthcare market, digital radiography has become the dominant technology. All Agfa's digital radiography systems are offered with the company's leading MUSICA image processing software and its MUSICA workstation for image identification, acquisition and quality control;
- Digital Print & Chemicals (35.6%). Agfa-Gevaert NV supplies sign & display printing companies with a range of highly productive and versatile wide-format inkjet printers and dedicated inks, in addition to workflow software, cutting machines and inkjet media. Agfa produces classic film-based products, such as film for non-destructive testing and aerial photography, as well as microfilm and film for the production of printed circuit boards;
- HealthCare IT (21.6%). Agfa-Gevaert NV offers Imaging IT Solutions (The Enterprise Imaging platform creates a true imaging record for every patient, containing all possible images of the patient, regardless of the department and the facility that created them), Hospital IT Solutions (the leading Hospital Information System /Clinical Information System ORBIS, connects medical departments and administrative departments of hospitals into one virtual network), and Integrated Care Solutions (these solutions support collaboration across the borders of care organizations and medical disciplines and enable hospitals to actively engage with all stakeholders in the expanded care process, including physicians, informal care-givers and patients) ;
- Offset solutions (5.9%). Agfa-Gevaert NV is a leading supplier to the printing industry, offering innovative and reliable solutions. Commercial, newspaper and packaging printers around the globe rely on Agfa for the most extensive range of integrated solutions, from computer-to-plate systems with digital offset plates over color management and workflow optimization software to pressroom chemicals.