Country Pines Invests in Efficiency Boosting HEIDELBERG Prepress Automation (piworld.com)

Tony Lord President of Flint Group Commercial Publication Web Division said, "The first responsibility of a supplier is to meet its obligations to its customers for provision of required volumes to maintain the integrity of the supply chain. To meet this requirement we have been successful in responding to the post pandemic’s unprecedented disruption in both global raw material and energy markets by ensuring both product and energy availability to meet our customers’ demands. This has, however, been at previously unparalleled price levels across our entire portfolio of raw materials and manufacturing locations". Lord further stated "Regrettably the hoped for stabilisation in both raw material availability and pricing has failed to materialise so far in 2022 with products remaining scarce and their pricing continuing to escalate accordingly. This, coupled with the exponential increase in energy tariffs, has created a situation where current selling price levels for our products are simply not sustainable. To respond to this sudden rise in costs we feel the sensible approach is to avoid a general price increase and apply a monthly surcharge whilst awaiting further market developments. To this end, effective for deliveries from March 1st 2022, surcharges to recover these recent cost increases will be applied across our entire publication ink portfolio so that we can maintain supply to our customers".

Revenues decreased by $83.1 million, or 11.8%, from $705.8 million in the first quarter of 2020 to $622.7 million in the corresponding period of 2021. This decline is mainly attributable to lower volume in the Printing Sector due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the sale of the paper packaging operations, which occurred toward the end of the first quarter of the previous year. This decrease was partially mitigated by the solid organic growth in revenues in the Packaging Sector and the revenues generated by the acquisition of Artisan Complete Limited in the Printing Sector. Operating earnings increased by $6.4 million, or 15.7%, from $40.8 million in the first quarter of 2020 to $47.2 million in the first quarter of 2021. The increase in operating earnings is explained by the organic growth in the Packaging Sector. In addition, in the Printing Sector, initiatives to optimize operational efficiency and the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy offset a majority of the decrease in volume. Net earnings attributable to shareholders of the Corporation increased by $21.3 million, from $6.4 million in the first quarter of 2020 to $27.7 million in the first quarter of 2021. This increase is mostly explained by the income tax expense related to the sale of the paper packaging operations in the first quarter of 2020, higher operating earnings and the decrease in net financial expenses resulting from a reduction in net indebtedness and a lower weighted average interest rate.

The annual Dscoop Conference is a unique gathering of marketers, printers, industry experts and suppliers from around the country. “I have had the fortune to be at every DSCOOP event since its inception in Sanibel, FL in 2006” said Mike Ratcliff, Midland’s President – Specialty Paper and Film Division. “The timing of this event before DRUPA 2024 is special given HP’s commitment to give the U.S. market a peak of what will be on display in May at DRUPA”. Midland Paper, located at Booth #2090, will have key representatives of their Specialty Paper and Film Team on hand to showcase the latest digital products in their portfolio including: • Coated, Uncoated and Specialty Papers • Pressure Sensitive Films • Synthetic Papers • Grand Format • Wide Format • High Speed Inkjet. Stop by Booth #2090 and pick up your set of Eclipse 2024 solar eclipse viewing glasses.