Medium is not the message
To hear two leading UK newspaper types tell it, the outlook in Goss space, KBA country and Manroland-land is gloomy, to say the least. The editors of leading London newspapers The Guardian and The Times, told ProPrint’s UK stablemate MediaWeek that their current printing presses might be their last. Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger said its latest presses were installed in 2005 for the next 20 years, adding “that might be telescoping quite dramatically now”. John Witherow, editor of Murdoch-owned The Times, said its new presses were supposed to plug away for 30 or 40 years on the assumption they would be the last. “Things are speeding up now and trying to predict how long print will be around is very difficult,” he said. Both predict a big switch from web to web – online platforms could be the key to the future of both publications.
Signage of the times
With all the post-Ipex reportage dominating the news media, spare a thought for the signage/display segment of the industry, which gathered in Munich late last month for Fespa 2010. Wide-format technology ruled the roost. Highlights included pre-production solutions that streamline workflow for large-format digital printing and finishing from pre-press to the finished product.
Trade fair build-up starts anew
Hardly had the doors closed on a resoundingly successful Ipex than the Düsseldorfers are pounding the pavements for, would you believe, May 2012! The next Drupa applications are already being touted online (no hard copies will be available) with deadlines for registrations as the end of October 2010.
You’re in good company
The Printing Industries Association reckons that Australia’s printing industry employs more than 115,000 people and has an annual turnover of some $23bn. Though no doubt all the company closures and consolidation have brought those numbers down. The figures show that the vast majority (85%) is represented by SMEs (fewer than 20 employees). It claims there are about 5,000 companies, spread across Australia with a physical presence in every region. But the balance of trade is lousy – imports cost more than $2bn while exports barely exceed a quarter of that.
Their need, your opportunity
You won’t find many old style printers’ sales manuals that list ‘problem solving’ as a prime topic. But today’s competitive industry makes it a mandatory component. It comes down to the
simple delineation between handling a conventional print job and the broader concept of addressing customers’ real needs. In other words, problem-solving skills need to be very much part of a printer’s offerings. The result is that both parties are the better for it.
Whoops!
My story in May about LATMA training said principle trainer Michael Taylor represented Lean Capabilities International. Taylor works for Contours Customised Solutions, and co-presented with Lean Capabilities’ Paul Anderson.
Henry Mendelson has decades of experience in advertising, and has long been a keen observer of the print industry
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