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Due to increases in the cost of crude oil, and the impact on raw material and transportation costs, Fujifilm Sericol will increase prices in North America, effective Aug. 1. The increases will range between 5 and 10 percent by product group with a few exceptions up to 15 percent, says the company. This will affect all product technologies including UV, water, and solvent-based inks.

  “Unfortunately, over the past several months we, and the rest of the industry, have experienced unprecedented, non-negotiable price increases from virtually all of our key suppliers,” said Mitch Bode, senior vice president of Fujifilm Sericol Americas.

  Bode added, “Most of our raw materials are petroleum based, and the price of a barrel of crude oil has risen from $53.39 to $140.21 since our last price increase in November of 2005. Up until now, productivity improvements in manufacturing and optimization of freight efficiencies have helped offset some of the raw material and transportation cost increases. However the size of these increases and the breadth of materials impacted can no longer be absorbed or offset by manufacturing or supply chain efficiencies.”

  Fujifilm Sericol is a leader in the formulation, manufacture and marketing of premium inks and consumables for the inkjet, screen, and narrow web print markets. They also market a broad array of inkjet presses for the wide-format print industry.