The Japanese manufacturer, which has a European plate manufacturing facility at Tilburg, in the Netherlands, said it had worked hard to reduce its own operating costs, but the substantial increases in raw materials and logistics were impossible to absorb. 

From 1 November, it will increase the surcharge on aluminium offset plates by an average of 60p/sqm. 

Fujifilm said that printers looking for “certainty in plate pricing over the long term” should consider its Platesense programme. 

The programme pre-dates the current crisis affecting supply chains, and was launched in 2018. 

Via the scheme Fujifilm manages a number of plate-related functions, including plate supply and collection of scrap, for a fixed monthly fee “helping businesses manage their plate production more efficiently, and ultimately reduce costs”. 

Taku Ueno, senior vice president at Fujifilm Graphic Systems EMEA said that after the previous price increases and surcharge announced in April, and implemented in the UK from June, the situation had worsened. 

“Over recent months the situation has evolved to an unprecedented level. While this is unfortunate, and we certainly understand that these conditions are hugely difficult for our customers, the new surcharge will be offset by the increase in the value of scrap aluminium,” he stated. 

Fujifilm will base the plate surcharge on the London Metal Exchange rate, and will review the situation on a monthly basis.