Executive Outlook Conference Reveals Top 12 Technologies Most Critical to Printers' Survival
7. & 8. Digital Printing
Production digital color printing (toner or ink jet), the primary printing industry growth process. Although a variety of products are printed digitally, short (but getting longer) run work and direct mail containing at least a minimum of variable data are the leading applications. An understanding of direct marketing requirements and mailing capability are important ingredients for production digital printing success and are ranked in seventh place almost in parallel with production digital color printing.
9. Specialization
Market and Product Specialization - Customer market segment specialization with in-depth knowledge of the segment in conjunction with specialized technologies and equipment to produce special/unique print products for that segment.
10. Marketing Service Provider
Adopting the technology, skills and business approach to convert from being a conventional printer to a 'marketing service provider.'
11. & 12. Up-to-Date Equipment
Up-to-date equipment for the pressroom, closely followed by binding and finishing, ranked eleventh and twelfth respectively, including the integration of binding and finishing into press production lines. Software upgrades and replacements for both the pressroom and postpress operations need to be monitored continuously and implemented for improvements and advantages, the Committee noted.
"As our industry knows too well, the challenges facing printers run the gamut, from an as-yet recovering economy to a decreasing emphasis on print due to e-competition, environmental concerns and more," said Bill Lamparter, Chair of the EXECUTIVE OUTLOOK Conference and the MUST SEE 'EMS program, and President of PrintCom Consulting Group. "In large part, how successfully a graphic communications service provider fares in this changing era of print will depend upon how, and how well, they implement and integrate technology across their operations."
Recognized as the commercial printing, publishing, mailing and transactional exposition for the Americas, GRAPH EXPO 2010 themed, "The Next Generation of Print," has been designed to offer a customized show-going experience for a diverse spectrum of attendees from 11 key market segments. The exhibition will offer the latest graphic communications technologies, live equipment demonstrations on the show floor, plus education on the most in-demand products and profit-making opportunities. Attendees will find eight special interest sections on the show floor. Along with the debut of News Print-the newspaper pavilion, these include PackPrint, covering package printing; Future Print, featuring two of today's hottest technologies Printed Electronics and RFID; the Mailing & Fulfillment Center, the industry's largest mailing event anywhere in the Americas; the second annual GREENspace, a showcase on sustainability and eco-friendly products and services; the Prepress/Software-Design and Press/Finishing sections; and Education Main Street, for attendees seeking well-educated, talented industry newcomers to augment their company's workforce.
