Siegwerk Druckfarben AG & Co. KGaA, an international supplier of printing inks for packaging applications and labels, has signed a contract to purchase Ultra Inks Inc. The Canadian expert for flexographic inks is located in Bois-des-Filion, Québec, and focuses primarily on water-based flexo inks for narrow web and paper and board applications.

With this acquisition, Siegwerk further expands its product portfolio for packaging and label printers while strengthening its local footprint in the Canadian market. “Ultra Inks is a well-established expert for packaging and label inks with a very strong local reputation, especially in Québec. The company is known for its highly personalized inks and services, and therefore is a perfect fit to our Siegwerk family,” explains Dave Hiserodt, head of CUSA Region at Siegwerk.

The acquisition enables Siegwerk to significantly expand its local footprint and build up its infrastructure and workforce to further grow in the region and across Canada. With this purchase, Siegwerk continues to enhance its profile as a global supplier of inks for labels and packaging.

This purchase combines the best from both companies: Ultra Inks has more than 20 years of experience in the Canadian market and offers well-established high-quality products. Siegwerk has an extensive global reach, better access to international raw material suppliers and key accounts, and a strong, complementary narrow web UV technology and ink portfolio. The integration of Ultra’s inks into Siegwerk’s broad offering will enable Ultra Ink customers to benefit from a more comprehensive product portfolio and wider technological expertise. Both companies target their solutions specifically to the customer’s individual needs, ensuring a smooth transition and a simplified integration process going forward.

“We believe in partnerships that put the emphasis on clients’ needs, commitment to quality and product development and this is exactly what we have found in Siegwerk,” says Frédéric Perrier, CEO at Ultra Inks. “We are very glad to name Siegwerk the new owner of our company, who will integrate our quality ink into a significantly larger structure and thus further advance it on the market. As far as service and support is concerned, Ultra Inks will maintain its high standards.”

Going forward, Siegwerk will continue to produce and serve customers from Ultra’s production site in Bois-des-Filion. Ultra Inks Inc. will become part of Siegwerk Canada. The parties have agreed not to disclose any financial details related to the acquisition.

The acquisition of Ultra Inks Inc. follows other strategic investments that Siegwerk has completed to enhance its position as a full-range provider for the packaging market. In 2017, Siegwerk has, for example, acquired Hi-Tech Products Ltd., a specialist supplier of water-based inks and coatings for paper and board located in the UK, as well as Van Son Liquids B.V., a Dutch manufacturer of high-quality water-based flexo and gravure printing inks. In the narrow web segment, Siegwerk acquired in 2017 the UV coatings business from Schekolin and in 2018 the UV inkjet business from Agfa.