Flint Group has been on an impressive buying spree recently, adding Siegwerk’s web offset business, Advanced Color Systems and most notably, Xeikon. In terms of printing ink, the news that Flint Group is adding American Inks & Coatings (AIC), the eighth-largest North American ink manufacturer in Ink World’s Top 20 with $130 million in sales in 2015, is the largest news to date.
 
As always, the transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions, including necessary regulatory approvals. It is estimated that the acquisition should be completed this year.
 
Headquartered in Pine Bluff, AR, American Inks and Coatings has locations in Winston-Salem, NC; Shreveport, LA; Portland, OR; Ontario, CA; San Leandro, CA; Dallas, TX; Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL; Fairfield, OH; and Mississauga, Ontario. The company has more than 300 employees.
 
The Fairfield, OH location is particularly interesting, as it was previously the state-of-the-art manufacturing plant and headquarters for Color Resolutions International, which AIC acquired in 2014.
 
AIC’s major markets include water- and solvent-based inks for flexible packaging, folding carton, multi-wall bags, gift wrap and corrugated printing.
 
AIC’s history began in 2001 when Jerry Mosley, its CEO, founded the Packaging Ink Company. In 2002, Mosley acquired American Inks & Coatings, which then became the company’s name. In recent years, AIC made a few important acquisitions in the packaging ink field, picking up Graphic Sciences in 2011 as well as Color Resolutions International in 2014.
 
Flint Group is the second-largest ink manufacturer in the world. The leader in the publication ink market, the company lacked a digital presence until it acquired Xeikon in late 2015. The addition of AIC strengthens its packaging ink position in North America.
 
Not coincidentally, inkjet and packaging are two of the most promising growth areas for the printing and ink industries.
 
Flint Group CEO Antoine Fady welcomed AIC to Flint Group, adding that the combined company will expand its service capabilities, product portfolio and innovative new products. He also said that there could be more moves to come.
 
“Flint Group will continue to build our businesses in ways that enable us to deliver the very best products, solutions and expertise to the printing industry around the world. The investment in American Inks and Coatings is an important building block of this overall strategy,” Fady added.