Vincent Mallardi

Mark Michelson is the Editor-in-Chief of Printing ImpressionsServing in this role since 1985, Michelson is an award-winning journalist and member of several industry honor societies. Reader feedback is always encouraged. Email mmichelson@napco.com

Combined, the Top 25 “Hot Markets for Print Demand 2018-19” account for nearly 95% of total print-related purchasing, according to its author, Vincent Mallardi. It stands to good reason, then, that printers study these Top 25 industry verticals closely and Mallardi's accompanying expert commentary on the types of printing that they purchase.

by Vincent Mallardi, C.M.C. Energy price hikes are tanking economic energy. Real GDP, net of fuel and power, is zero, which means any growth in '05 will be in the second half. Printing sales are up at a nominal 6 percent pace, but with less value-added because of energy-related inflation in paper, electricity and freight costs. Most benefitting from the present 4.3 percent inflation rate at the consumer level is banking/insurance ($2.68T, +5 percent; with $14B to print). Commercial banking ($>9B to print, +21 percent) is cashing in on the tougher federal bankruptcy law and lesser restrictions for charge card issuance. Bank on

COMMENTARY by Vincent Mallardi, C.M.C. A monstrous double-round cylinder transfixed a trio at a trade show as if it was an object from outer space. A technician turned it reverently as it revealed the gleaming and exaggerated reflections of the human forms facing it. "That's what we need to replace the M-1000-A!" A sales exec nearby wasn't moved. Eerie onlookers like these were serious in intention, correct in their vision, but pathetically "years late and dollars short." That's why only a cylinder, and not a press, was being exhibited; as an auto dealer might showcase a wheel-assembly instead of a car. Web printing is no longer

by Vincent Mallardi The New Year economic forecast calls for gross domestic product growth of 3.8 percent, compared to a less-than-forecast 3.5 percent GDP change in 2004. This nascent "recovery" will provide a 5 percent printing sales increase—but with less value-added. Energy costs and a runaway international trade deficit are sapping economic vitality, especially in capital investment. Interest and inflation are moderately increasing, which means that deflated (or constant dollar) GDP could slide to zero or less, with real printing sales change diminishing to around 3 percent. This is also occurring in the European Union. In this shallow environment, the smart money will

By Vincent Mallardi, C.M.C. There are new tensions in web offset these days, some unanticipated, some expected and welcomed. The mainstays of the medium—catalogs and magazines—are going face-in as both the numbers of issues and page counts continue to decline, but at a lesser rate of about 5 percent. These victims of less literate readership, declines in real disposable personal income, as well as the exponential rise in Internet advertising, shopping and information, are forcing heatset web production, in particular, to re-tool. Larger page-count configurations reduce presstime, deliver faster makereadies, permit greater flexibilities in content and fuel the emergence of new custom published products such as

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