Flint Ink has bought Venezuelan ink manufacturer INKS-Chemicals B&T for an undisclosed sum as part of its push to build a local network in Latin America.


Flint Ink Latin America president Jerko Rendic said: We can now transfer formulations for inks that we have imported from the US in the past.


The Caracas-based firm supplies 70% of the ink used in the Venezuelan news-paper market. It also makes sheetfed and heatset inks.


Rendic said the plant also had the capacity to manufacture water-based flexo ink in the future.


Flint Ink director of communications Rita Conrad said the deal was part of the long-term plan for a local manufacturing network.


We continue to look for opportunities. This was simply a way of getting into a new market more efficiently. If were based locally were able to offer much better service, said Conrad.
However, she refused to comment on any other likely acquisitions.


Flint now plans to increase production at the facility by investing in additional equipment and running extra shifts.
The US group employs 600 staff in Latin America, out of a total of nearly 4,000 worldwide.