Agfa now officially the owner of Inca

Inca Onset with automation
Inca Onset with automation

Agfa’s acquisition of the UK’s Inca Digital Printers has completed, as scheduled.

Inca was previously owned by Screen. The Agfa purchase was announced last month with completion targeted for the end of May. The terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

Agfa CEO Pascal Juéry (pictured far right, below), who is at the Fespa Global Print Expo taking place in Berlin this week, commented: “I am pleased that we are now able to start integrating Inca’s activities into our organisation. 

“This acquisition is a major step in the transformation of our Group. Our digital printing growth engine has a tremendous potential, which will be further accelerated by the addition of Inca.”

Inca products are not running on Agfa’s Fespa booth, because the formalities of the deal were not completed prior to the show, but Inca personnel are with Agfa at the expo. 

Vincent Wille, president of Agfa’s Digital Print & Chemicals division, said: “The combination of Inca Digital’s manufacturing know-how and Agfa’s inks, technical expertise, worldwide presence and excellent service networks makes this a great opportunity to grow in the fast-moving packaging business. 

“We now can take our position with high-end and high speed systems in both the sign & display and the developing carton and corrugated markets.”

Juéry believes the Inca buy will allow the €1.6bn (£1.36bn) turnover group to rapidly enter new high-growth inkjet markets and dramatically increase ink sales.

This includes an accelerated move into single-pass inkjet via Inca’s Speedset B1 sheetfed inkjet device, which uses water-based ink and is targeted at high growth packaging markets. Beta testing is due to start next year. 

Inca also has a partnership with BHS for large volume corrugated production.