Luxembourg-based printing and packing supplier Flint Group has acquired water-based inks firm Eston Chemica.

The acquisition is part of an ongoing strategy by Flint Group to grow organically and from tactical acquisition.

Italian firm Eston Chimica manufactures and sells water-based inks for flex and gravure applications to printers located across Italy and Southern Europe.

Discussing the move, Kim Melander, vice president and general manager EMEA ,Flint Group, said: “Eston Chimica’s state of the art facility in Italy is fully automated providing Flint Group important geographic expansion plus full manufacturing capabilities in Southern Europe – an excellent complement to our established manufacturing facility in Europe.”

Nicola Mellon, chef executive of Eston Chimica, said: “The team at Eston Chimica is the principal reason for our business success thus far and we are very excited by the prospect of growing our business as part of Flint Group. In combining our strengths, we are able to offer our customers cutting edge innovations in both inks and coatings and customer-focused support. The water-based packaging print sector is growing and changing; this partnership gives us the opportunity to stay one-step ahead and effectively plan for the future.”