Driven by a passion for innovation and a desire to change the printing industry, the company focuses on providing OEM partners around the world with advanced printhead, module and ink technologies. Together, they develop fast, high-resolution and flexible digital printing solutions for a wide range of market segments at favourable conditions.
Interim report from the perspective of a digital print manufacturer: Len Lauer, CEO of Memjet, one of the leading providers of digital inkjet technology, comments on the development of the printing industry in the current financial year.
Mr Lauer, two thirds of 2018 are now behind us. How do you rate the year so far for the printing industry?
Len Lauer: In the USA, real gross domestic product grew by 2.3 per cent in the first quarter of 2018. Seasonally adjusted GDP also rose in Europe in the first quarter of 2018. Production volumes and the order situation are signalling increasing optimism among both consumers and small businesses. For us, the question now is whether the increasing optimism will also be reflected in growth in the printing industry at a macro level. Our answer is yes.
We have noticed that print service providers and suppliers are increasingly optimistic. This positive basic attitude is also reflected in the 5th drupa Global Trends Report reflected. It is based on a survey of more than 700 print service providers and 200 suppliers and clearly shows a Increased confidence in the printing industry compared to previous years.
According to the survey, the mood among 40 per cent of the print service providers and 56 per cent of the suppliers surveyed is „good“ to „positive“ compared to only 9 per cent and 5 per cent of the print service providers and suppliers, respectively, who are slightly pessimistic or rate their business situation as „poor“. This is a huge difference compared to the mood barometer of the printing industry two to three years ago! This optimism is also reflected in the greater willingness to invest on the part of print service providers and suppliers down. For this reason, it has so far been relatively secure positive trend for 2018 go out.
You mentioned the increasing propensity to invest. Which technologies are in vogue for new purchases?
Len Lauer: We are observing a clear shift towards Investments in digital printing technologies. This is largely due to further developments in inkjet printing in recent years. Inkjet printing now has the printing speed and high print and colour quality required by the market for printing on a wide variety of materials.
Added to this are the comparatively low investment and operating costs. For this reason, inkjet printing offers attractive business opportunities for OEM manufacturers and their end customers as well as for print service providers in a wide range of market segments, such as packaging, labelling and commercial printing, and even 3D printing.
What is remarkable in connection with the drupa report is the statement that print service providers are currently see opportunities to open up new markets in inkjet printing - a fact that we at Memjet can also observe. For example, a label printing company wants to enter into the production of folding cartons or print service providers who previously only printed envelopes now also want to produce direct mailings.
In principle, the participants in the drupa survey indicated strong growth in all areas. However, it is striking that the forecast sales growth is all the higher, The more specialised the market in which the printing companies operate.
What other factors are contributing to the growth of inkjet printing?
Len Lauer: The Personalisation is a strong market driver and will remain so. Print service providers are gradually realising that the further development of digital media is no longer a threat. Rather, it is an opportunity to bring together the digital world with the world of printing, to provide the end customer with the best possible experience and service.
This connection between printed and digital communication requires a degree of individualisation for which inkjet technology is predestined.
Take, for example, a company that customises sneakers with designs provided by customers online. On the one hand, this manufacturer utilises the advertising opportunities on the Internet and, on the other hand, can accept and process orders directly online.
The entire product is therefore based on a high degree of Interaction and personalisation with the end customer. This company could also extend the personalised customer experience to the packaging, so that each package has the same design as the customer's desired motif for their shoes. It is obvious that the Customised packaging design should be. This means that the „Printed part of the customer relationship“ as personal as the online customer experience.
What can the printing industry expect for the rest of 2018?
Len Lauer: Digital printing will remain on the rise beyond 2018. OEM manufacturers attach importance to Functions to support larger print runs at more competitive costs. Of course, low acquisition costs continue to be important. We also anticipate that the demand for new inks, higher speed and new features will increase - features that will enable OEMs and print service providers to open up new business areas. You can expect Memjet to contribute to this with further developments and integrations in the coming months.
