Melbourne, Australia (June 23, 2004) – Flint Ink, the world’s largest privately owned ink manufacturer, has completed an upgrade of its ink plant in Auckland, New Zealand. Flint Ink consolidated the facility’s manufacturing, product development and warehousing into one site, creating efficiencies and improved capacity. With these improvements, Flint Ink will provide higher quality product, faster turnaround times, and is better positioned to introduce new technologies to customers in the region. The Auckland facility is the only ink plant in New Zealand to produce a wide range of ink systems for all printing needs. The plant manufactures conventional and UV paste inks, screen inks and water-based and solvent-based dispersions for the commercial, publication, news and packaging markets. “Flint Ink prides itself on being a global ink supplier that provides the attention and service of a small company locally,” said Michael Johnstone, General Manager, Flint Ink New Zealand. “We are committed to the New Zealand printing market and are confident that the enhancements to the Auckland ink plant will help local printers, converters, and packagers gain a competitive advantage.” Flint Ink increased Auckland plant’s capacity by optimizing the plant’s layout, refurbishing equipment and increasing tank size in mixing areas to allow for bigger batches. The additional capacity will also enable the plant to better service its export markets, including Australia, India, China, and Southeast Asia. With the consolidation of the facilities, Flint Ink’s Auckland product development laboratories and manufacturing are brought together, helping to speed the path from innovation to commercialization. Flint Ink dedicated a new factory building for the ink plant and purpose built a new laboratory facility that houses quality control, PDL and technical services. The Auckland plant is ISO 9001:2000 certified. Founded in 1920, Flint Ink offers a comprehensive range of flexographic, sheetfed, web offset, gravure, UV/EB curable, digital, and advanced and conductive inks. Operations are organized into eight segments: North America, Latin America, Asia, India/Pacific, Flint-Schmidt in Europe, Jetrion LLC (digital inks, equipment and integration), Precisia LLC (printed electronics), and CDR Pigments and Dispersions. Flint Ink operates nearly 100 facilities worldwide, employs approximately 4,600 people and has sales in excess of $1.4 billion USD worldwide.