Agfa has flagged substantial increases in plate prices in a response to "soaring" aluminium costs.

The company has announced global price increases program for printing plates, with increases of up to ten per cent depending on contracts, markets and regions, "implemented immediately".

President of Agfa Graphics Stefaan Vanhooren says soaring prices of aluminium - the largest cost component of a printing plate - are the main cause: "However, thanks to the increased intrinsic recycle value of the used printing plates, the price increase will not necessarily result in a cost increase for our customers.

"We know our customers highly value Agfa Graphics' continuous investment in advanced prepress technology and related services - such as in the new launched ECO3 framework - which leads to substantial economic benefits in their print shop.

"That is why we believe our customers will understand the rationale behind these exceptional price increase actions."