Recently
British "Print Weekly" magazine
Open the "New Year's Forecast" column
in the form of question and answer
Invite printing associations and business leaders
Predict the development trend of printing industry in 2023
What new growth points will the printing industry have in 2023
What opportunities and challenges will printing enterprises face
...
printers agree
Coping with rising costs, sluggish demand
Printing companies must practice low-carbon environmental protection
Accelerate digitalization and professionalization
Viewpoint 1
Acceleration of digitization
Faced with challenges such as sluggish printing demand, rising raw material costs, and labor shortages, printing companies will tend to apply new technologies to deal with them in the new year. The demand for automated processes continues to increase, and accelerating digitization will become the first choice for printing companies.
"In 2023, printing companies are expected to invest more in digitalization." Ryan Myers, managing director of Heidelberg UK, said that in the post-epidemic era, printing demand is still at a low level. Printing companies must seek more efficient ways to maintain profitability, and accelerating automation and digitization has become the main direction of printing companies in the future.
According to Stewart Rice, head of commercial printing at Canon UK and Ireland, print service providers are looking for technologies that can help reduce turnaround times, increase production levels and potentially boost returns. “Due to labor shortages across the industry, printing companies are increasingly demanding automation hardware and software that can help streamline workflows, reduce waste and reduce energy consumption. These advantages are extremely attractive to printing companies in these challenging times. "
Brendan Palin, general manager of the Federation of Independent Printing Industries, predicts that the trend towards automation will accelerate due to inflation. "Inflation has pushed companies to take advantage of advanced software and equipment that streamlines the printing workflow from front-end to back-end, thereby increasing output and production efficiency."
Ken Hanulek, vice president of global marketing at EFI, said that the transformation to digital will become the key point of business success. "With solutions in automation, cloud software and artificial intelligence, printing efficiency reaches new heights, and some companies will redefine their markets and expand new business in 2023.
Viewpoint 2
Specialization trend emerges
In 2023, the trend of specialization in the printing industry will continue to emerge. Many enterprises focus on R&D and innovation, forming their own unique competitive advantages and helping the sustainable development of the printing industry.
"Towards specialization will become one of the important trends in the printing industry in 2023." Chris Ocock, UK strategic account manager of Indac Technology, emphasized that by 2023, printing companies must find a niche market and become a leader in this field. of the best. Only companies that innovate and pioneer and lead in niche markets can continue to grow and develop.
"In addition to finding our own niche market, we will also see more and more printing companies becoming strategic partners of customers." Chris Ocock said that if only printing services are provided, it is easy to be copied by other suppliers . However, providing additional value-added services, such as creative design, will be difficult to replace.
Rob Cross, director of Suffolk, a British family-owned printing company, believes that with the sharp rise in printing costs, the printing pattern has undergone great changes, and high-quality printed products are favored by the market. 2023 will be a good time for further consolidation in the printing industry. "Currently, printing capacity is still in excess, leading to a decline in the price of printing products. I hope that the entire industry will focus on its own advantages and give full play to its strengths, rather than just pursuing turnover."
"In 2023, consolidation within the printing sector will increase." Ryan Myers predicts that in addition to the impact of existing inflation and dealing with lower demand that will continue in 2023, printing companies must deal with extremely high energy costs Growth, which will prompt printing companies to become more specialized and improve production efficiency.
Viewpoint 3
Sustainability becomes the norm
Sustainable development has always been a topic of concern in the printing industry. In 2023, the printing industry will continue this trend.
"For the printing industry in 2023, sustainable development is no longer just a concept, but will be integrated into the business development blueprint of printing companies." Eli Mahal, marketing director of label and packaging business for HP Indigo digital printing machines, believes that sustainable development will It was put on the agenda by printing companies and listed at the top of the strategic development.
In Eli Mahal's view, in order to accelerate the implementation of the concept of sustainable development, printing equipment manufacturers must look at their business and processes as a whole to ensure that they provide printing companies with solutions that have less impact on the environment. "At present, many customers have invested a lot of money to reduce energy costs, such as applying UV LED technology in traditional UV printing, installing solar panels, and switching from flexo printing to digital printing." Eli Mahal hopes that in 2023, the See more printing companies proactively responding to the ongoing energy crisis and implementing energy cost-saving solutions
Kevin O'Donnell, Director of Graphics Communications and Production Systems Marketing, Xerox UK, Ireland and the Nordics, also holds a similar view. "Sustainable development will become the focus of printing companies." Kevin O'Donnell said that more and more printing companies have high expectations for the sustainability provided by their suppliers and require them to formulate clear plans to manage their carbon Emissions and social impacts on host communities. Therefore, sustainable development occupies a very important position in the daily management of printing enterprises.
"In 2022, the printing industry will be full of challenges. Many printing service providers will be affected by factors such as high energy prices, resulting in rising costs. At the same time, there will be more stringent technical requirements for environmental protection and energy saving." Stewart Rice predicts that in 2023 , the printing industry will increase its demand for sustainability and environmental protection on equipment, inks and substrates, and remanufacturable, re-upgradable technologies and environmentally friendly processes will be favored by the market.
Lucy Swanston, managing director of Knuthill Creative in the UK, expects sustainability to be key to the development of printing companies. “I hope that in 2023 there will be less ‘greenwashing’ in the industry. We must share environmental responsibility and help brands and marketers understand the importance of sustainable development in the industry.”
(Comprehensive translation from the official website of the British "Print Weekly" magazine)
Post time: Apr-15-2023