Kodak to acquire relief plates business from Japan’s TOK

The relief plate business includes flexography, letterpress, Braille and molding plate products produced and marketed by TOK worldwide. Included in the acquisition agreement is a manufacturing plant located in Yamanashi Prefecture, west of Tokyo, that produces relief plates.

TOK has a diversified business in microelectronics technology and equipment, as well as industrial materials.

Kodak is a worldwide leader in the printing plates market, with a portfolio that includes digital offset plates, flexographic plates, analog offset plates, and processing equipment, which complement a range of computer-to-plate devices and a comprehensive family of Kodak prepress solutions. Kodak has been steadily expanding its portfolio to offer complete solutions for packaging customers, including the award-winning Kodak Flexcel NX Digital Flexographic System, Kodak Prinergy Powerpack Workflow, and the Kodak Approval NX Digital Color Imaging System.

The approximately 100 employees who are part of TOK’s relief plates business are expected to join Kodak upon completion of the acquisition, which is expected to occur during the first quarter of 2011, subject to customary closing conditions.

Until the acquisition is completed, both companies will continue to operate their packaging industry businesses independently, supplying their current customers. Financial terms of the agreement are not being disclosed.