The deal to supply K+E sheetfed inks to Wales-based Pensord was signed at Drupa 2008.

Pensord's production director Karl Gaiter said: "We carried out an extensive evaluation programme across a number of manufacturers and K+E inks came out the best.

"Given the influence ink has on the finished product, it is probably the most important consumables purchase we make."

As of 1 July, Flint also revealed it will increase the price of its printing inks by up to 20% due to the escalating cost of raw materials.

The increase covers all of the group's ink divisions, although the increase will depend on the product type.

Flint said the "critical supply situation" for precursors of pigments from China, as well as the shortages due to environmental restrictions imposed by the Chinese government around the Beijing Olympics, were driving up costs.

Dirk Aulbert, president of Flint Group, said: "With the current surge in raw material costs, the implementation of these price increases are a necessity.

"The current dynamic in the raw material markets is putting a strain on the entire value chain and is forcing difficult messages to customers about resetting the value proposition for our products."

Flint Group serves the global printing and packaging industries with business units specialising in inks, flexographic products, narrow web and pigments.