The analysis will only be available to members and will be handled by US-based consultant, Industry Insights, which cites the American Tag and Label Manufacturers Institute and FINAT as ongoing clients.

Newly elected LATMA president John Leathart said the survey would require converters to submit baseline financial data from P&Ls and balance sheets, after which Industry Insights will compile and analyse the data.

“They then spit back individual packages to each participating converter with benchmark comparisons about how the business is running, compared to industry and global norms,” said Leathart. He added that the association plans to make the survey an annual occurrence.

The concept of this kind of comparative analysis had been the subject of intense planning by the previous LATMA board under the guidance of outgoing president Frank Gavrilos from AC Labels (pictured).

During an intensive session, Industry Insights’ executive Shawn Six outlined the mechanics of the survey to conference attendees, emphasising that all submissions are treated with the strictest of confidence. His firm currently process more than 100,000 survey forms annually and is highly sensitive to the proprietary interests of survey respondents.

The incoming LATMA board comprises: president John Leathart (Pegasus Print); vice-president Peter Petran (Rotometrics); treasurer Antony Prince (Austab). The board includes Mark Easton (Impresstik), Barry Smith (Wedderburn), Tim Stafford (Universal Print Partners).

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