The talks are at an early stage and Flint said in a statement there was “no certainty” the talks would lead to a deal.

Should a takeover happen, it would make a £1.5bn global print consumables operation with 8,500 staff.

It would also follow the merger of Flint Ink with Stuttgart-based Xsys Print Systems in 2005, when Flint Group was formed.

Xsys itself was formed by the merger of BASF Printing Systems and ANI Printing Inks, following their respective acquisitions in 2004.

Day International completed its acquisition of Duco International in October 2006, a blanket manufacturer headquartered in the UK.

Neither Day International or Flint Group would comment until an agreement has been reached.

Separately, Baldwin Technology Corporation has bought Swiss web cleaning systems company Hildebrand Systeme.

---

DAY INT'L FLINT GROUP
Day International
Staff: 1,400
2006 sales: £173m ($348m) Products: printing blankets and pressroom chemistry
Flint Group
Staff: 7,000
2006 sales: £1.3bn ($2.7bn) Products: printing inks