2018 Aug/Sept

PRINT 18 is Back in Chicago

September 4, 2018

PRINT 18 is coming to Chicago, Illinois, Sept. 30-Oct. 2. Explore the networking and event opportunities happening all three days of the show. The Learning Experience – complete with seminars, computer labs and lunch sessions addresses topics of impact to today’s graphic communications industry. Attend the First Timer’s Reception, the International Networking Reception and Celebrate Print! Our Party with a Purpose. Look for cutting-edge technologies and explore the latest products and services on the market to gain the knowledge needed to overcome business challenges.

The following PRINT 18 exhibitors may be of interest to PostPress subscribers:

Absolute Printing Equipment Service, Inc.
Booth #1411
Showcasing the full line of KAMA finishing equipment, such as diecutters, folder-gluers and cliché positioning equipment, as well as a Baumann/Perfecta Cutting System including D2F and S2C makereadies.

B&R Moll Inc.
Booth #1022
Demonstrating the new Moll FlexCut System, a rotary diecutter that cuts, strips and runs inline with its folder-gluer all in one pass; the new Mailer Plus System, which feeds, creases, tips on and plows fold shut with fugitive glue; the digi-mollPAK System and the Mollti-Taper System.

Baumer hhs
Booth #2437
Highlighting camera technology. The use of camera technology for quality control is on the rise. A simple and intuitive way to control placement of security devices and tipped items, measure edges and alignment, check for presence of print, etc. Experience how Baumer hhs camera solutions can enhance business and improve quality.

Brandtjen & Kluge
Booth #1603
Demonstrating high-quality finishing equipment solutions with new advancements in diecutting, foil stamping, digital foil transfer and folding/gluing. This includes the Apex Foil™ – the DIGITAL METAL® process, which allows for digital transfer of foil onto paper and cardboard substrates – and the OmniFold 3000 automatic folding/gluing system.

Capital Adhesives
Booth #3149
Supplying liquid and hot melt adhesives for industries across the US and around the world since 1987, Capital Adhesives is an ISO Certified manufacturer of adhesive products. With an emphasis in high-speed glue applications, its products are used in packaging and converting, case and carton seal, folding carton, graphic arts, envelopes, printing, corrugate, laminating, product assembly, direct mail and more.

Colter & Peterson
Booth #1607
Featuring a remarkable trio of finishing equipment, North America’s largest independent distributor of paper cutters will demonstrate a new PRISM jogger, 45″ SABER® S115 and the new 31.5″ PRISM® P80 paper cutters – equipped with a Microcut® automated electronics package.

D&K Group
Booth #2852
Showcasing its popular lamination systems including the two-sided Double Kote Junior and the new single-sided AutoKote Pro. These systems are fully automated with sheet feeders, lamination stations and automatic cutters/separators to reduce labor costs while increasing output.

Databind Corporation
Booth #3506
Featuring new automatic desktop laminators from LAMI Corporation and on-demand diecutting HOT • LAM • CUT demonstrations. RENZ professional machines run high-speed punching, binding UV-flat and spot coating. VIVID demos include unique laminating and foiling. STAGO machines will demonstrate stapling, round-cornering and more.

Duplo USA Corporation
Booth #3004
Providing live presentations and demonstrations with a focus on streamlining workflows and increasing profitability with print embellishment. The DDC-810 Raised Spot UV Coater will be on the floor along with a variety of finishing solutions including slitter/cutter/creasers, bookletmakers, diecutters, perfect binders, folders and more.

Eagle Systems
Booth #1142
Displaying its 40″ cold foil unit, specially designed components make the Eco-Eagle the world leader in foiling systems. Its machines are fully automatic and compatible with new or existing sheet-fed offset presses including KBA, Heidelberg, Komori, Manroland, Mitsubishi and others from 28-80″. Runs single web, multiple combinations cold foil from 2″ to full width of press, all on one shaft.

FSEA
Booth #3846
Distributing PostPress magazine, the quarterly publication that serves as a resource and educational platform for print enhancement and bindery technologies. The 25th annual Gold Leaf Award winners will be on display, and information on association benefits will be provided.

Gateway Bookbinding Systems Ltd.
Booth # 212
Offering an extensive lineup of equipment including the tabletop, fully electric Koilmatic Automatic Inserter/Crimper. The makers of PLASTIKOIL® plastic spiral binding offer 45 colors of PLASTIKOIL® – Envirokoil® – RecyKoil®. Demonstrating PLASTIKOIL® Concept QS Interline system, for in-house coil manufacturing and automated insertion, with production speeds up to 1,400+ books an hour.

Konica Minolta/MGI
Booth #1611
Demonstrating dramatic 2D/3D decorative special effects and personalized embossed variable data foiling (VDF) with the JETvarnish 3D Series of 100% digital print enhancement presses (no dies, screen or plates are used). The value of Meteor Unlimited Colors digital toner foiling presses to improve the impact and profitability of commercial applications also will be shown.

Leary, W. H.
Booth #2848
Providing glue application and quality assurance equipment for folding carton and print finishing manufacturers that deliver the highest quality product. Visit W.H. Learys booth for flexible, time-saving solutions including hot melt coating heat applications, mixed copy detection, print inspection and new system gluing options.

Nobelus
Booth #1225
Unveiling the Future of Profit in Print…Finishing. Educating the print industry on specialized finishing, using specialty laminates, foils and techniques to create the most dynamic offerings. Sharing examples in profit margins, real print projects and an overview of training programs for sales, marketing, estimating and production teams. Showcasing two holographic films for print and packaging.

PVC Spiral Supply
Booth #419
Specializing in manufacturing high-quality plastic spiral coils and binding equipment and supplies. Offering excellent customer service and quick turnaround time on any queries, concerns or orders its customers have.

Rhin-O-Tuff®
Booth #609
Manufacturing and delivering innovative print finishing equipment to offices and printers around the world. Featuring the new Tornado Autopunch EX®, the world’s first collating autopunch, delivering an average of 40% in production efficiency savings. Free demonstration of its full range of solutions.

Rollem International
Booth #1423
Previewing two size diecutters, inline folder-gluers and automated slit/score perf systems. See the new Insignia X3 diecutter, with opportunities to expand into the growing packaging segment with affordable and high-quality custom diecutting; the Jetstream XY bi-directional slit, score and perf system that converts 8-up postcards sheets; and the Insignia 6 flexo-magnetic diecutter.

Spiel Associates
Booth #2837
Featuring the Sterling Wiremaster Compact. A game-changer at under $60,000, the Compact is an automatic wire binder capable of binding up to 2,000 BPH. The operator drops a book on the conveyor, and the Wiremaster Compact cuts, inserts, closes the wire and delivers the books onto a conveyor.

Standard Finishing Systems
Booth #1629
Showcasing a comprehensive lineup of feeding and finishing solutions set up for live demonstrations in diecutting, perfect binding, folding, saddlestitching and more. Highlights include the Horizon BQ-480 Perfect Binder, StitchLiner Mark III Saddlestitcher and Hunkeler Generation 8 demonstrated in two unique configurations.

The Challenge Machinery Company
Booth #815
Featuring a diverse line of print finishing equipment including paper cutters from 15″ to 62″, single- and three-knife fully-automated book trimmers, paper drills, joggers, cornering machines, stock trucks, padding presses and other bindery equipment. The Challenge Machinery Company is an American manufacturer.

THERM-O-TYPE
Booth #3805
Demonstrating the new Glue-Tech sheet laminating machine, as well as the RAS-mc right-angle slitter; RDC-Flex rotary diecutter; Zip-TS2L cutter/slitter/creaser; foil-fusing equipment; the NSF Excel, with inline waste-stripping attachment; and the new NSF Ultra foil stamping/embossing/diecutting press. THERM-O-TYPE is a leading manufacturer of digital finishing and enhancement technologies.

Recruiting Millennials

September 4, 2018

by Katy Ibsen, managing editor, PostPress

Skill Scout is a Chicago-based hiring firm that assists companies in modern-day recruitment practices. Founded in 2014, the company strives to help other companies understand that they cannot be what they cannot see.

“Job descriptions don’t show what a job is like,” said Elena Valentine, Skill Scout CEO and co-founder. “The hiring process is missing out on an important opportunity to help candidates consider careers they may not have considered before.” Valentine and her team quickly learned the power of video provided more intel for candidates, demystified requirements and offered more information about the opportunity.

“We saw it as our mission to use video and storytelling to help make more meaningful hiring connections between candidates and companies,” she said.

Since its founding, Skill Scout has partnered with more than 100 manufacturers to educate them on improving the hiring process, increasing retention and increasing the amount of quality talent that comes down the pipeline – all through the power of video storytelling.

PostPress asked Valentine more about her firm and its value to manufacturers seeking new, millennial team members.

Tell us about your operation and what Skill Scout offers to companies looking to expand their hiring practices.

Skill Scout is a media company that helps manufacturers tell their story on video as a way to attract and retain talent. In addition to full-scale media production services, we have a DIY video product offering that puts the storytelling in the company’s hands. We give them the plan and the video kit. They film. We edit and create a compelling video that they can share across their platforms. Our main mission is to empower manufacturing leaders to be chief human storytellers of their business and use video as part of their creative tool kit to do so.

Based on your research and work, why is there a shortage of millennials in the world of manufacturing?

Long and short of it: exposure and perception. We were the generation whose education system did away with shop class and vocational tracks. We were the ones with guidance counselors and parents pushing us to see college as the best and only route. Fact is, we didn’t have the same kind of exposure to this industry as others did. You cannot be what you cannot see. Only now are these programs making a comeback, thanks to society wising up to the crippling student loan debt and manufacturing’s strong hold on the global economy.

Ninety percent of millennials believe manufacturing is fundamental to America’s prosperity, yet we rank it dead last as a career choice. What we’ve come to know of manufacturing is outdated and negative. So much of the rhetoric either harkens to the Upton Sinclair days or the opposite extreme – robots taking over all of those jobs. We know this isn’t true. For too long, manufacturers have allowed others to take control of the narrative. I’m relieved to see that’s quickly changing.

Why do you believe millennials are good hires for manufacturing?

Millennials aren’t just good hires for manufacturing. At this point, they are the hires for manufacturing, with Generation Z quickly to follow. Hiring good millennials is inevitable. In fact, the majority of companies reading this probably have a large contingent of millennials already working for them.

Manufacturing still has a place for this generation and beyond. It’s simply how we communicate the value and opportunities of this industry that we have to highlight more. This includes things like:

How might their roles fit in with the overall mission and vision of the company?
What growth opportunities exist? And, what kind of pathways does the company provide to help them get there?
How would companies describe and showcase their culture?

Why do varying sectors within manufacturing need to think differently about how to hire millennials?

Some of this is about exposure. Depending on the sector, products might be hidden and relatively unknown to the everyday consumer and candidate. Think of a small component that goes inside the engine of a car. While it’s an essential component, most would be hard pressed to open the hood, point out that component and know that Company X made that.

For that reason, some sectors will be pushed more than others to communicate a story that shows how their work contributes to the whole – in this case, a car. However, this goes beyond just talking about the car, to answering an even more important question: What is the value of a car in someones life in the first place? A car helps someone get to work and take care of their family. A car connects loved ones from far away. Thats the story candidates – millennials and beyond – can understand and get behind.

What are some antiquated hiring practices companies should eliminate?

Post and pray no longer works. Throw a sign on the lawn and expect people to walk inside and apply? With unemployment at an all-time low, gone are the days of “posting and praying.” Recruiting strategies have to be proactive and less reactive.
Update those old boilerplate job descriptions. When was the last time hiring managers looked at the job descriptions? Technologies have evolved, products have evolved and so have the people being hired for those jobs.
This is not a one-way interview conversation. What impression are candidates leaving the interview with? Are managers trained in how to effectively run a Company X interview? If not, they should be. They could very well be driving candidates away and not know it because of a negative impression during an interview.
Resumes alone don’t lead to understanding someone’s skills. Many manufacturers are looking for highly skilled and highly experienced individuals. An easy way of trying to navigate that is through the resume. Managers can peruse where candidates come from and how many years of experience they have. But – does that really show what they can actually do? The answer is no. One thing we’ve implemented at Skill Scout for our own hiring practices is the use of work samples. It’s giving someone a chance to try their hand at the job. Work samples are the best predictor of job performance, and they significantly reduce hiring bias. It’s like giving the candidates a blueprint and having them walk through how they would troubleshoot a machine. Or, if this is for a quality role, it’s giving them two products and having them inspect for errors.

What challenges have you run into when consulting manufacturing companies on hiring?

Like all things, change is hard. Despite that the current way of doing things is not working, it’s an outcome and a process that you’re comfortable with. It can be hard for manufacturing leaders to see that what worked for them coming into this industry doesn’t work today. What’s more, the level of technology and new approaches feels foreign and something that might be hard for someone to pick up on top of the multitude of responsibilities they have.

Yet the question I always ask in these cases is, what will happen if you don’t change? It becomes a conversation less about whether they hire Skill Scout and more a question around a call for them to act on anything.

The other thing we come up against more often than not is whether the company culture is set up for something like this. What we typically find is that these approaches bring candidates in, but does the company have what they need to keep them and develop them? What’s their pay structure like? Do they offer clear paths for promotion? What’s the work environment like: family or hostile? No one likes to admit that they have a negative working environment, but we’ve had a few companies halt video because the planning of it brought up some heavy issues regarding low morale and conflicts among leadership. Suffice it to say, an approach like Skill Scout’s doesn’t work unless that company has a culture to embrace it.

Why promote video as the best means for reaching millennials?

Media is the literacy of the 21st century, and we are the YouTube generation. By 2020, video will be the largest driver of internet traffic. Video and visuals is how we learn, and there is science to prove it. We retain 65% of what we see and hear vs. 15% what we read. We watch videos to learn everything from how to fix our kitchen sink to learning math equations. Given the already overwhelming data that supports video, its not surprising that this works to expose a new generation to the manufacturing industry.

How can companies that have never used video to hire move in that direction?

Start small by simply taking out smartphones and snapping photos/videos of the company’s work and environment. Share them on the website. Craft social media posts with a caption of what viewers are seeing. Attach them to job posts to give candidates a glimpse into the requirements. This is all free and something managers can start doing tomorrow.

Beyond video, what advice do you have for hiring managers who want to attract millennials?

Call me biased, but it’s all in the story and how managers communicate the opportunities candidates would have with their company. All communications from the phone screen to the job ad should center around the candidate first, not the company. How will the opportunity at the company help this candidate grow in life and their career? If managers can answer that question authentically, and put in some resources to spreading that message, they can become an employer of choice in this industry.

For more information, visit www.skillscout.com.

Set Sail with Jostens Award-Winning Naval Academy Yearbook

September 4, 2018

by Brittany Willes, contributing editor, PostPress

Anchors aweigh on a voyage of memories and high-quality production! When the U.S. Naval Academy needed a designer for its “Voyages – Lucky Bag 2017” yearbook, it looked no further than the yearbook experts: Jostens, Inc. Having worked with the Naval Academy on past yearbooks, Jostens was well-suited to the task of creating a distinct product that goes far beyond any typical high school yearbook.

“The United States Naval Academy book is one that everyone takes a lot of pride in producing,” stated Tim Beymer, Jostens’ manufacturing manager. “As with any yearbook, it is the final reward for a whole year of work.” Unlike most yearbooks, “Voyages” is printed in an extremely high quantity of copies and incorporates UV pages, special design end sheets and a vellum foil tip in that registers to the first page.

“Voyages” is no ordinary yearbook.

Working together with U.S. Naval Academy staff and a representative from the Lucky Bag yearbook staff, Jostens artists came up with a design and theme befitting naval heritage as expressed in the opening pages, which proudly proclaim, “Since the early days of the naval services men have roamed the globe on great voyages in search of gold, glory and adventure. In today’s service we travel further, faster, and with more power than ever before. Naval officers have stood on the moon, been to the poles of the earth and dived into depths unknown. Our life is a voyage magnified by our time in the Navy and Marine Corps.”

In creating the yearbook’s cover – silhouettes of the continents spread across the front and back with strategically placed stars of gold foil, all set against a medium-grey background – material was chosen from Jostens’ Natural Line, which is specially made to receive the burnish application responsible for the black silhouette designs. The “Voyages” name stands out on the front cover in brilliant white, while the academy’s military seal decorates the right corner of the back cover.

Once selected, the material was cut to size and final art stages, including silkscreen files and die files, were created. White silkscreen ink was applied for the “Voyages” text and accompanying arrows. The cover itself was casemade, burnished, foil stamped and finally embossed. The inside pages were printed on 100lb matte stock on the companys KBA offset printing press. Selective UV gloss was applied to the opening pages and all dividers throughout the book. “In terms of size,” said Beymer, “this book ranks as one of the largest that we do.”

Despite the book’s massive size, it went through the same production process as any other yearbook handled by Jostens, meaning that production time was not slowed by any special precautions that might otherwise have been needed.

“The burnishing for the cover was done using a Teflon coated die from Owosso,” explained Beymer. “It’s basically a foil stamping process using a foil die, except the die is Teflon-coated due to the increased heat and pressure not present in traditional foil stamping. Also, we obviously didn’t use foil for the burnishing. It is strictly the die hitting the material to give it a branded-type look.”

The cover was run through the equipment in two passes – the front lid and spine were done in one pass, and the back lid is the second pass. The foil stamping for the decorative stars was done similarly, with the front and back lid going through two passes on Jostens Kolbus PE-312. The embossing on the front lid and spine, however, was achieved in a single pass using a Sheriden Stamping Press. The endsheets were printed in blue, with white text corresponding with the white of the cover text.

Along with gold foil stamped stars on the cover, the book also was gilded along the edges in a matching gold color. “Every book we do for the United States Naval Academy includes gilding along the edges,” remarked Beymer. “The color of the gilding changes from year to year, based on the color of foil used for the cover design. In past years the gilding has been copper or silver to match the cover.”

To create the signature gilded edges, the books are overcut off of a three-knife trimmer before undergoing a process of grinding and sanding. Finally, a heated foil is applied to the three edges of the book, which gives it the look of gold gilding. The gilding was completed after the book block was created but prior to binding. Further gold foil was applied to the vellum tip-in registered to page one, showcasing the academy name and location.

Jostens’ years of experience and dedication have proven invaluable when faced with such sizable jobs as the “Voyages” yearbook. It’s little wonder the company, and the book itself, have received notable recognition for its efforts.

“Voyages” recently won an Award of Recognition from the Printing Industries of America (PIA) for its quality of photography, design expertise, printing and binding quality, cover design and overall expertise. “The PIA award constitutes very high praise,” stated Beymer. Further praise was given when the book received a gold award in the 2018 FSEA Gold Leaf Awards.

Well-Executed Makeready Can Be a Game Changer

September 4, 2018

by Greg Faddis, direct sales professional, UEI® Group Companies

Improving the makeready component of a job can make a big impact to the bottom line. It is often an overlooked cost center that when materials, processes and tools are improved, profit is generated. From the obvious benefit of an excellent foil-stamped or embossed job to the efficiencies and cost savings generated, well-executed makeready can be a game changer.

There are so many variables in today’s foil stamping and embossing jobs that it’s important to have good makeready practices in place. It goes beyond understanding your equipment well, it now includes more options with paper, inks, coatings and complex design choices. Having the correct makeready products and knowledge are critical to having an effective makeready technique appropriate to the job.

The basic principles for a hot stamping job are heat, dwell and pressure. In most cases, a hot stamping job makeready set-up is with hard phenolic board or epoxy glass board and a spot sheet underneath utilizing makeready tapes.

For some jobs a traditional hot stamping makeready is the answer, but with more complex designs that include both fine-line detail and solid areas/panels together with reverse-out areas, additional techniques need to be added. To have foil cut cleanly around the images, a harder makeready surface is needed, but when you also need to foil stamp a solid area, consider adding a cushion makeready. If you find challenges with cleanly stamping the fine lines while keeping the reverse-out areas open, you may try combining both hard and cushion makeready techniques. This makeready technique starts with the traditional phenolic board or epoxy glass board but with Tough Film underneath. The Tough Film acts as a shock absorber to even out the overall pressure while providing an extra “cushion” in areas where it is needed.

Other aspects of foil stamping that may get overlooked include adjusting the heat and speed of the press. If open areas start to fill in with foil, start by turning down the press temperature, then try increasing the press speed. If you are not getting the foil coverage needed, then turn up the temperature of the press and if the foil still isn’t transferring as desired, slow down the press.

Embossing makeready

When embossing or debossing, the makeready technique choices increase depending on the application. First, the embossing or debossing job adds another element – the pre-cast counter. One of the best emboss/deboss makeready techniques is the floating counter makeready technique because it provides the most flexibility for the operator.

The floating counter makeready technique starts with a float sheet that is taped onto the platen press, which provides the floating aspect. Start with a thin sheet of paper underneath the makeready float sheet, as it will be used as the spot sheet. It is essential to have a spot sheet so you can apply the makeready tape to build up the weaker spots of the image. By taping the spot sheet to the platen (top only) it provides the press operator the ability to remove it for applying makeready tape while replacing it accurately underneath the float sheet.

After you have your makeready float sheet and spot sheet set, begin mounting the pre-cast counter. Apply a double-sided tape (e.g. DuploFLEX FOL) across the entire back of the pre-cast counter (don’t remove the tape backing until later). On a hard surface, and utilizing a tool called the counter pin extractor, place the white counter pins onto the Counter Pin Extractor’s positioning end and inset the pin into the holes in the pre-cast counter.

It is important to execute the preparation of the pre-cast counter on a hard, flat surface to keep the counter pins at a 90-degree angle, which is required to correctly position the pre-cast counter onto the engraved emboss/deboss die. Now, it is appropriate to carefully remove the double-sided tape backing.

After everything is in place, make an impression with your press to transfer the pre-cast counter onto the makeready float sheet. After the transfer, remove the counter pins, using the pointed end of the counter pin extractor.

With the counter and engraved die mounted to the press, it is recommended to “cap” your counters. There are a few choices for capping a counter, depending on the substrate and type of image you are embossing/debossing. The most common would be yellowboard or silver cover film.

Yellowboard is a good choice for both multi-level and single-level embossing/debossing jobs, as it works with a variety of substrates from heavy to light weight. You can also easily cut yellowboard to match the size of your pre-cast counter and apply masking tape to the edges (avoiding image area) to hold it onto the pre-cast counter. It is recommended to slightly moisten the yellowboard by using a spray bottle (apply two mist sprays) or a wet rag to rub over the top of the yellowboard.

With the yellowboard moistened, turn your press on impression and run for a few minutes without pulling any paper. As the press continues to hit on impression, the yellowboard will begin to take form and shape of the image from the pre-cast counter. This process also will help dry out the yellowboard, at which point you can proceed to pulling press sheets. Depending upon your first impressions, you can then apply makeready tape to your “spot” sheet.

In addition to embossing or debossing projects, the floating counter makeready technique also is used for combination foil stamping and embossing jobs. The makeready set-up is generally the same; however, one key difference is how to “cap” your pre-cast counter.

Combination engraved dies are embossing dies that have a foil cutting edge on the outside edges of the image. This edge allows the foil to “cut” away from the substrate while keeping the non-image area free of foil stamping. Foil stamping with a combination engraved die requires a thinner makeready product to “cap” the pre-cast counter.

A makeready product called DuraCover is a great place to start when capping your pre-cast counter for a combination job. DuraCover is applied, just as you would yellowboard, by cutting a piece equal to the size of your pre-cast counter and taping its edges to the pre-cast counter. After that, follow the necessary spot makeready steps as you normally would for a foil stamping and embossing job.

A second option, with combination engraved dies, is to use Silver Cover Film (instead of the DuraCover). Silver Cover Film has an adhesive backing, so the masking tape is not needed to apply it to the pre-cast counter. Both DuraCover and Silver Cover Film are great for helping to eliminate diecutting on the edges of the foil and embossed image, and they also assist in achieving embossing/debossing depth for better definition of the combination die image.

While there are certainly more techniques, the above seem to help solve many makeready needs. As our industry grows, technology changes and integrates with new and existing equipment. We must continue to educate ourselves with proper makeready techniques and craftsmanship that meet today’s needs.

UEI® Group – with a world headquarters in Overland Park, Kansas (US), has several companies and sales offices throughout the world specializing in foil stamping and embossing, including the US, Great Britain, Germany, and Denmark. UEI® Group also offers its products through market developers worldwide. UEI® Group’s leadership in providing quality products, innovative solutions and technologies has made it a market leader. Visit www.ueigroup.com for more information.

Worldwide Market for Print 2.0

September 4, 2018

Executive synopsis courtesy of the Association for Print Technologies

Editor’s Note: About This Study
In 2013, NPES/PRIMIR (now APTech/PRIMIR) published the “World-wide Market for Print: Identifying Global Opportunities for the Print Industry (WWMP)” study, providing a comprehensive view of the print market in 51 countries, detailing historical data from 2007 to 2011 and annual forecasts through 2017. In 2016, VDMA joined the research effort with the launch of a new two-phased study continuing the WWMP series to look first at the print packaging market in 26 countries and, in phase II, covering both publishing printing (books, magazines and newspapers) and marketing and commercial printing (brochures, catalogs, directories, inserts and direct mail).

This Executive Synopsis covers both phases for the latest two publications of the WWMP series, with forecasting from 2016 through 2021. The full study scope covered 26 countries representing 80% of global GDP and 70% of the world’s population. These countries were analyzed for potential growth opportunities. Combining a top-down and bottom-up approach, the study delivers five years of historical detail and five-year forecasts for each print product segment. Strategic analysis highlights change drivers, trends within segments, regional and country profiles, in-depth investigation of six key country markets and recommendations for NPES/PRIMIR members. Historical estimates, forecasts and key macroeconomic and demographic indicators also are included.

Print packaging, publishing printing, and marketing and commercial printing are the largest segments in the industry, accounting for the majority of the market. The three segments will total $421 billion in 2020. Print packaging is the largest print segment and will drive print expansion until 2020.

Global dynamics are constantly changing the print packaging landscape. Emerging markets in the Asia-Pacific region offer bright spots along with, to a lesser degree, the Middle East and Africa. The latter two offer high potential, but with a degree of risk as the study reveals opportunities and challenges for all countries studied. Rising incomes and education levels mean Asia-Pacific markets are growing in both publishing printing as well as marketing and commercial printing. However, developed markets in North America and Western Europe are facing challenges. Book printing will remain resilient in many markets, while brochures and catalogs are bright spots as printers and print buyers adapt to the shift to digital platforms.

The outlook for packaging

Print packaging revenues totaled $244 billion in 2016, and will grow to $286 billion in 2020, an average annual growth rate of 5.2%. The global print packaging market is concentrated, with the top five markets accounting for 80% of the total market. The US is the largest print packaging market in the world, at $78 billion in 2016. It is expected to grow steadily during an era of thinning profit margins and consolidation. The second largest market is China, at $69 billion. It will continue to grow strongly through 2020, narrowing the gap with the US. The fastest-growing print packaging market, India, gained three positions since 2011, from eighth to fifth largest in 2016. Indonesia, like India, is a high growth and high potential market, and the Mexican economy will grow at a healthy rate, despite being strongly tied to the US.

Trends in packaging

Economic growth underpins print packaging growth across all countries, with emerging markets facing a more positive economic growth outlook than developed markets. The rise of the middle class translates into more consumers and, therefore, growth for packaging. In addition, more robust urbanization is a key driver of growth in emerging markets.

Developed markets also offer opportunities based on product differentiation. Consumers are willing to pay a premium for differentiation. Packaging can change the perception of a product and act as a price driver. This trend demands innovation and design advances, and print packaging companies are in an ideal position to offer end-to-end solutions to clients. In addition to digital printing for those consumers demanding a diversified array of products, 3D printing offers opportunities during the development and conceptualizing phases. Smart packaging increasingly is being incorporated into product portfolios, along with the use of coding and marketing technology.

Recommendations for packaging

Invest in key country markets. Top markets by percentage growth (CAGR 2016-2020) include India (12%), Nigeria (10.3%), Indonesia (10.1%) and Vietnam (9.7%). Emerging markets with potential high growth, but with correspondingly higher operation risks, include China, Chile, Saudi Arabia and Colombia.
Keep up with trends and technologies. The next step for the industry is the further advancement and popularization of digital printing in other segments, such as flexible, folding carton and corrugated.
Seek value along the supply chain. Add consulting to the list of products and services, lightweighting of packages to make them cheaper to ship and manufacture, developing machine-to-machine technologies and creating internal regulatory and quality assurance teams to monitor the product.
Stay ahead on green packaging. Consumers are looking for more than recyclable packaging; they want a reduced footprint over its entire production. To this end, companies are creating ways to reduce package weights, redesigning packages with a strong focus on sustainability. Governments are expected to strengthen green packaging regulations.

The outlook for publishing printing

The rise of digital media and decline in print advertising sales will create a difficult environment for publishing printing. Print growth will be dragged down by publishing printing, which will decline at an annual rate of 2% between 2017 and 2020.

India is the bright spot in the publishing printing market. Its large market will grow at 8.1% per year, adding $1.2 billion of revenue from 2017 to 2021. In fact, by 2020, India’s market will surpass those of France and the U.K. By 2021, Asia-Pacific will command 58.5% of the global market for publishing printing products, with Western Europe claiming only 18.6% and North America 15.2%.

In addition to India, the top four compound annual growth rates from 2017 to 2021 (in local currency) include Vietnam (6.1%), Indonesia (4.2%), Philippines (3.2%) and China (1.2%). Compare that to negative growth rates for countries such as the US (-5.4%), Germany (-6.2%) and Canada (-5.9%).

The outlook for marketing and commercial printing

In general, marketing and commercial printing has been performing better than publishing printing, with brochures and pamphlets leading the way. This category’s growth will fluctuate in the coming years as emerging markets pick up. In the US, marketing and commercial printing will decline from 2017 ($13.7 billion) to 2021 ($12.7 billion). By 2021, Western Europe (39.6%) will dominate this $62.6 billion market, followed by Asia-Pacific (30.9%) and North America (23.1%). The top three growth markets for marketing and commercial printing are concentrated in Asia-Pacific, notably Indonesia (8.2%), India (7.7%) and Vietnam (6.1%). Other top growth markets include Turkey (3.6%), Philippines (3.5%) and Colombia (3.0%).

There is much fluctuation within the marketing and commercial printing segments. This reflects changing strategies among brand owners and advertising agencies. Overall, brochures and pamphlets, along with catalogs, show favorable growth from 2017 to 2021. In addition, market potential during the same period is high. Overall market potential is a qualitative assessment of growth opportunity from 2017 to 2020.

Direct mail is predicted to show unfavorable growth from now until 2021. However, it remains a stable market for the foreseeable future. In addition, personalization and the opportunity to capitalize on multi-channel or omni-channel marketing approaches offer some, albeit low, overall market potential.

Trends in publishing printing and marketing/commercial printing

Access to telecommunications technology includes not only the internet, but the expansion of mobile network coverage. Even in emerging markets, 71% of the population has access to at least 4G networks, while 96% has at least 2G coverage. As a result, printed magazines and newspaper subscriptions and circulations are declining as content moves to online platforms. Printed books, however, still prevail over e-books. Overall, consumers will be reading less and watching more.

While advertising moves away from print, governments are introducing new regulations to protect data and privacy. While it is likely these regulations will not directly affect print, they still have effects on the industry. The EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) became effective in May 2018; China’s similar data protections already were put into use in June 2017. Digital marketing will be most affected by these regulations, as consumer information is used to target digital advertising, as well as printed direct mail, catalogs and brochures.

As multi-channel advertising grows, printers are leveraging the internet and cloud technology to automate processes and grow print-on-demand services. Personalization of print marketing enables better consumer targeting, and web-to-print services give control of the production process directly to consumers.

Recommendations for publishing printing and marketing/commercial printing

Invest in key country markets. India, Vietnam, Indonesia and Philippines lead the market in growth percentage and added value. India and Indonesia also lead the pack in terms of dollar growth, along with China and Germany. In addition, top emerging markets based on overall business environment include Chile, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Brazil. Keep in mind that Saudi Arabia and Chile also are high in operational risk factors.
Identify key opportunities. This may include incorporating digital technology to streamline printing services and allow customization. Since growth is mixed among printing segments, diversification into growing markets – while using or adapting the same equipment, process and distribution channels you have – is a sound approach. Digital marketing can provide brand owners with more consumer data, so adopt tracking technologies and engage customers throughout the buying experience.
Seek value along the supply chain. First maximize your capabilities and efficiency. Then be sure you are providing valuable services to your customers. Consolidate content management for clients. Harness the power of data analytics by investing in human capital. It is a key component for success.
Adapt to changing market dynamics. To effectively compete in the industry, printers, OEMs and brand owners need to keep up with trends and technologies as well as regulations that directly and indirectly affect the industry.

The Association for Print Technologies (APTech), formerly known as NPES, is a purpose-driven organization dedicated to supporting the entire commercial printing value chain. APTech helps members maximize alignment with their value chain partners to be more effective and competitive. Visit www.aptech.org for more information.

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