Kodak’s Graphic Communications Group will increase prices of digital and conventional plates May 1, 2011, in all regions of the world. According to the company, this move is necessitated by the sustained, universal rise in costs for key raw materials and utilities used in the production of offset plates.

　　“Kodak understands the difficulty our customers face with increasing costs for many of the consumables used in the printing process, from ink and paper to energy and fuel,” says Doug Edwards, GM, prepress solutions and VP, Kodak. “During a time when all companies are facing added costs of doing business, we will work closely with our customers to ensure that both their plate needs and business requirements are met as effectively as possible.”

　　Increases for digital plates will be in the range of 5% to 10%, while the increase for conventional plates will be between 15% and 20%. Details of the new pricing structure will be communicated in April to all customers and dealers. All current contractual commitments will be honored.