The consumables giant has announced a rise of 3-7% in its inks and coatings for flexible packaging which came into effect on 1 November.

Sun Chemical corporate vice president Europe Michael Griem said that reductions in operating costs and improvements in productivity had been "overrun" by escalating raw materials costs.

He said that without the rises it was impossible to "adequately reinvest in our business or sustain a minimum acceptable level of return on capital employed".

The statement follows an identical announcement from Sun Chemical for its North American markets in October and warnings from the British Coatings Federation of likely 5-15% price rises in 2005 (PrintWeek, 28 October and 11 November).