The key to your business' success may not lie in the type and capabilities of the printers you have. But it may lie in the services your business can provide after printing–in particular finishing and binding.
The report “Digital Postpress: The Convergence is Underway” from TrendWatch Graphic Arts (TWGA) suggests that because the press itself may not be the profit center it once was, the addition of an efficient bindery and/or other finishing processes may help printing companies differentiate themselves from their competitors.
“Today's 'digital print factories' include postpress as an integral part of the equation,” notes Vince Naselli, TWGA director. “Consider the impact of today's more powerful, higher-quality digital copiers being installed at customer locations. Many customers now have the capability to produce many short-run applications in-house [and do]. It is only the finishing requirements that keep many short-run projects on the floors of commercial shops.”
”
In addition, the study notes that the use of toner- and inkjet-based devices is growing as digital technology creates a market for new applications (variable-data printing, books-on-demand, etc.). This growth in digital printing (and the proliferation of applications) has created opportunities for press manufacturers and vendors of postpress equipment.
The 107-page report sells for $1595 and can be downloaded from the TrendWatch website. (TrendWatch Graphic Arts: www.trendwatchgraphicarts.com)