Siegwerk acquires Van Son Liquids BV to further strengthen its water-based ink business

Siegwerk Druckfarben AG & Co KGaA, one of the leading international suppliers of printing inks for packaging applications and labels, has signed a contract to purchase Van Son Liquids BV located in Hilversum, The Netherlands. The family-owned company manufactures high-quality water-based flexo and gravure printing inks for more than 25 years.

With this additional purchase in the water-based ink segment, Siegwerk is further expanding its product portfolio for paper & board applications and strengthens its local footprint in the Benelux region. "Van Son Liquids B is one of the leading ink manufacturers in The Netherlands. The company is known for its high-quality inks with excellent consistency. Its ink and coating solutions perfectly fit into our water-based ink portfolio”, explained Piet Deceunynck, Regional Sales Director Central and North Europe Paper and Board at Siegwerk. "The merger enables us to expand our local footprint in the Benelux region and therefore, to continue raising our profile as a supplier of water-based printing inks in Europe.”

The deal includes the transfer of all technical expertise, product portfolio and manufacturing equipment related to Van Son Liquids headquarters in Hilversum. Siegwerk will continue to produce and serve customers from the production site in Hilversum. As a new member of the Siegwerk family, Van Son Liquids BV will be renamed into Siegwerk Hilversum BV going forward, whereas the product brand name AquaBase+ will be kept.

The integration of the acquired products into Siegwerk’s water-based ink offering will enable customers to benefit from a more comprehensive product portfolio and a wider technological expertise. Both companies will work closely together to ensure a smooth integration of business without any interference for current customers of both companies.

"We are delighted to have found in Siegwerk a great partner and new owner for our company that can integrate our quality inks into a significantly larger structure and thus advance it on the market,” said Wim van Mastrigt, the departing MD of Van Son Liquids BV.

The acquisition of Van Son Liquids BV follows other strategic investments and disinvestments that Siegwerk has completed to enhance its position as a full-range provider for the packaging market. Earlier this year, Siegwerk acquired Hi-Tech Products Ltd, a specialist supplier of water-based inks and coatings located in the UK. Together with the 2016 purchase of ACTEGA Colorchemie (today Siegwerk Buedingen) and the opening of a Blending Center for the production of water-based inks at its Technical Center in France, Siegwerk has made targeted investments over the last years that one by one have enabled the company to enhance its water-based ink business – all in line with its goal of clearly devoting its resources to the markets of tomorrow and focus on its core business in packaging printing.

The Royal Dutch Ink Factories Van Son BV in Hilversum, The Netherlands, will continue to manufacture and distribute Van Son branded offset inks to the worldwide commercial printing & packaging market through her subsidiary Van Son Holland Ink Corporation in Chicago, Illinois and the vast global network of distributors.

The parties have agreed not to disclose any financial details.