DuPont Packaging Graphics, of Wilmington, DE, USA, has announced a price increase in the US and Canada effective March 1 for all DuPont Cyrel products. The increases range from 3 percent to 8 percent, depending on the product.

“We have avoided taking this action for a long time,” says Bob Zoelle, North American Business Director for DuPont. “Our products are highly dependent on oil based feed stocks. Over the last five years DuPont Packaging Graphics has aggressively pursued manufacturing productivity improvements and cost reductions in an attempt to offset the sustained increases in the cost of petroleum-based raw materials and energy costs of manufacturing, warehousing and distribution. We will continue to work to offset these cost increases, but we’re now at a point where we see no choice but to pass along some of these costs.”

Zoelle points out that this is the first time there has been a price increase on Cyrel FAST, and went on to note that DuPont is continuing its focus and commitment to innovation in flexography. “We expect to launch four new Cyrel plates this year — two for use in solvent processes and two Cyrel FAST — and introduce several major new system offerings at this year’s Drupa,” says Zoelle. “Despite the rising costs, we continued to invest in innovation to ensure that our customers can maintain their competitive advantage in a challenging global marketplace.”