DuPont has announced a 3-6% increase in the price
of its Cyrel flexographic plates in the US from 1 December, and similar rises are expected for Europe and the rest of the world.


In a statement, vice president of DuPont Cyrel Bob Wyatt said: "Due to unprecedented increases in the cost of petroleum-based raw materials and rapidly escalating transportation and freight costs, we must increase prices for our photopolymer plates."


DuPont UK marketing manager Graham Harris said he was unaware of any impending rises for the UK despite the announcement from DuPont in the US. But he later confirmed that DuPont was in discussions about the price of Cyrel plates in the UK.


Wyatt said: "DuPont Cyrel continues to work diligently on productivity programmes internally and with direct customers, but cost increases of this magnitude have forced a price increase at this time."


The increase will vary depending on the composition of each type of Cyrel plate.


DuPont president and global business director Barry Granger refused to comment on price increases in the UK and Europe.
Last year, DuPont launched its polyester-based Cyrel Fast plate. The Cyrel Fast is processed thermally and does not need the wash-out process required by other Cyrel plates. Cyrel Fast plates can be imaged in one hour.


Story by John Davies