Visiting drupa with a vision
The future of the printing industry is on the brink of an exciting turning point, shaped by innovation, technology, and changing market needs. While traditional printing methods continue to play a role, digital transformation is propelling the sector into new dimensions of growth and opportunities. This shift presents both challenges and opportunities for businesses ready […]
AI in the printing industry – may remain an abstract desire for many
Artificial intelligence (AI) has a media presence in our industry comparable to the paper price situation in the past year 2022. Few opportunities are missed to present AI as the grandiose problem solution of the future. This stirs up hope and creates desire – good for all those who have an “AI solution” in their […]
European printers invest more than their German counterparts.
It is hardly surprising that over 90 percent of the printing industry’s annual investment is in machinery. That the proportion of companies that invested at the start of the Corona pandemic has only fallen by four percentage points, may in cotrast, be a little more surprising. Definitely noteworthy remains the fact that Germany, once amongst […]
Using machines instead of buying them
The Vienna University of Applied Sciences, in collaboration with the strategy consultants Kaufmann / Langhans, has produced a remarkable study on the mega topic of “pay-per-use”. More than 100 machine and plant manufacturers from the DACH region were surveyed. The study comes to the conclusion that “pay-per-use models” ensure additional sales of machines even or […]
Only what is measured can be systematically improved
No matter which sport you devote yourself to, one thing is inevitably noticeable: nowadays the best of the best are absolute athletes. Top performances in tennis, football or other physical sports require superhuman-looking physique. Even in chess, the world’s top players openly talk about the relevance of physical fitness. The advantage is measurable! In addition […]
„Operational Excellence“ secures the future of commercial printers
In no segment of the German printing industry is the competitive pressure felt as much as in commercial printing. Since 2015, sales of the most important product groups in the commercial sector have declined by 3.8 per cent annually, while the number of businesses has “only” decreased by 2.6 per cent. Moreover, no business sector […]
German packaging industry defies the covid crisis
The number of companies in the packaging industry is declining. The number of employees, on the other hand, has increased since 2015. This is based primarily on the development of companies with 100 to 499 employees. Compared to 2019, the sales values achieved for the products of the packaging industry increased for the most part […]
Transformation Concept Integrated Print Factory (IPF)
The past has shown it time and again. Veritable industry crises are not only catastrophes for the printing industry, but also always spurs for extraordinary innovations. When the internet presumed to substitute digital solutions for everything printed, printers invented online printers. In less than 20 years, this species of company has managed to generate 15 […]
Myth of Riga
For some time now, Latvia, and Riga in particular, has been repeatedly cited as an explanation when it comes to publishers demanding lower and lower prices for the production of their books or printers losing lucrative orders. Apenberg & Partner has taken up this issue and undertaken research on Latvian book production and its export, […]
Updated “Corona forecast for the printing industry”: development of GDP and insolvencies
In August 2020 Apenberg & Partner issued the “Corona forecast for the printing industry”. We update this forecast with ACTUAL data from 2020, ACTUAL data from Q1 2021 and an adjusted outlook for the current year 2021. Almost one year later, it can be seen that the course has not been exactly as forecast. Nevertheless, […]
Opportunities of digitalisation in packaging printing – a stocktaking
Digital packaging printing is becoming a decisive factor in the marketing and production workflow. For a successful business, however, not only internal but also external know-how is required. Digital printing entered Gutenberg’s world more than 20 years ago. Because of the diversity in terms of material, application and customer requirements, this happened later in the […]
Purchasing – a declaration of war on one’s own life
In many companies, procurement ekes out a shadowy existence, works separately from the other teams or does not even exist in a professional form. Yet it is undisputed that procurement professionals contribute a large share to profits. So what are the right levers? Profit lies in procurement. This old business rule has lost none of […]