Making a Statement

Duncan explains cost issues come mainly from expensive specialty pigments. "Higher volume consumption will bring prices down, but that growth is hampered by the current pigment cost."

But even if prices do drop, converters shouldn't expect much of a windfall, believes Bob Plant, marketing manager, Superior Printing Ink. This is because many specialty inks are maturer technologies that won't see the significant product advancements that generally predicate larger price breaks, he says.