There has been a considerable fight within the printing industry and different companies are striving for number 01 place.

Kyle Jardine, BPIF research manager, comments on the report: “Confidence in the general state of trade in the printing industry has taken a knock that it hasn’t yet recovered from. Whilst companies have reported some improvement in their output and orders, there is less confidence for the wider industry.

BPIF’s latest Printing Outlook survey

BPIF chief executive Charles Jarrold adds: “The Q2 report, in the immediate aftermath of the EU referendum, showed that confidence levels in 2016 have been lower than in recent years. There has been little improvement in Q3 – though a boost in Q4 is expected to lift confidence.”
“The print industry has shown a tremendous level of resilience and innovation; the climate is tough yet over half of respondents to Printing Outlook report that their own businesses are expanding. The industry is showing that it can be successful despite the numerous challenges thrown our way.
“The print industry has shown a tremendous level of resilience and innovation; the climate is tough yet over half of respondents to Printing Outlook report that their own businesses are expanding. The industry is showing that it can be successful despite the numerous challenges thrown our way.”

The industry is highly experienced in managing its costs carefully and that experience will be valuable as businesses face some difficult choices”
“Paper and board price rises – resulting from the devaluation in sterling that has been stimulated by the Brexit outcome in the EU referendum – is the latest challenge the industry is facing; it is not a new one. Some companies will be protected, to some degree, by their ability to target export markets; others may have paper price adjustments written in to some of their supplier contracts.
“However, many will have a decision to make about whether or not they can pass cost increases on in higher prices, afford to take the hit in their margins or look to mitigate cost increases through their purchasing or through efficiencies elsewhere in their business.
“The industry is highly experienced in managing its costs carefully and that experience will be valuable as businesses face some difficult choices.”

Bespoke-size display board is a new and unique offering by Tradeprint. It will help customers a great deal to reach out to new markets.

“When we brought in the fixed sizes it was a bit of an experiment,” said Barrett-Bunnage, “but what we’ve done now is brought in bespoke sizing and pricing with our simplest and quickest interface yet and we are able top offer some of the lowest prices in the UK for large format products.” From Now onwards, the products will be priced in square metre instead of pricing per product, he further explained.

Tradeprint Bespoke-size display board

“We see huge potential in the large-format market. We want to be a one-stop shop for our customers and so we need to carry a full range of products. We are introducing this to small commercial printers and showing them that there are other markets to tap. We want to grow with those businesses,” he explained.

“Because we are part of a group like Cimpress we can leverage that to maximise our volume discounts from the supplier and then pass it on the customer,” he said. “Our price point looks to be competitive but not hugely disruptive – we want to fit in with the rest of the market,” he added.

He explained: “We are a trusted name, our standards and quality are well-known and we’ve been growing exponentially. The major market difference between us and others out there is the price point,  but we don’t want to be cheapest because a large element of what we supply is the whole package. We make a lot of effort not to be value-oriented.”

“Price wars are a huge issue and it’s inevitable people will start them, which means the rest of the market has to respond, but it’s not something that helps the industry. It’s not sustainable.”

Atlantic Tech Services has installed Ricoh Pro L4130 latex printer to increase its printing, cutting and lamination capacities.

It opens up new opportunities for the business as they can produce and finish a lot better. On procuring this machine, the managing director of the company was very pleased and he expressed his feelings in an interview.

 “The installation of the Pro L4130 has opened up a number of new business opportunities for our business,” says Steve Tanner, managing director of Vinyl Decals Direct, adding: “The sharper images, vibrant colours with the ability to print quicker, without the need to de-gas is brilliant for our production deadlines.”

Ricoh Pro L4130 latex printer

Keith Pratt, Director at Atlantic Tech Services adds: “The installation at Vinyl Decals Direct was an important development with our sales of the Pro L4100 Series Latex Printers.“These printers offer those companies who are looking to install a latex printer a quality printer with Ricoh GEN5 high-speed print heads that last and last, with the added benefit that you don’t have to change print heads after just a few litres of ink as with most other latex printers.

“This added to the recent release of the new Ricoh AR fast drying Latex inks gives the L4130 printer the ability of printing at speeds up to 50 percent faster than its nearest rivals.

“The AR Inks reduce those ink smells you normally get from solvent inks and come supplied in 600ml bulk ink packs.”

Moreover, this machine provides higher efficiency and in lesser time the company will be able to produce more. Atlantic’s reliance on Ricoh machine is a good notion as the company is seeing growth and it is upgrading its resources, equipment and machine.

BBC Earth magazine has been launched by BBC Worldwide at Sealife Centre, London on November, 2.

The magazine will be sold out at a price of £3.99. The price is within reasonable ranges. It is published by River Group of London and it will be printed by Midlands-based Precision Colour Printing (PCP).

Front Cover Of BBC Earth magazine

Sharon Kirby, the River Group publisher described the magazine as, “packed full of unmissable photography and inspiring features across nature, science, people and space”.

Initially, 73,000 copies of the magazine are printed and PCP has been granted a long-term contract by BBC Earth.

The sales director of PCP, Richard Kibble said “We have been working with River for many years and doing various titles for it. Obviously, it now has this partnership with BBC Worldwide and we are delighted to have that in the portfolio.

“The content and photography in this title are just fantastic and both have reproduced beautifully.”

He is also expecting a huge amount of sales as the magazine contains thoroughly researched work by renowned specialists throughout the world.

The magazine is UV varnished and contains a high-quality paper and printing of excessive quality. BBC has a worldwide popularity and its resources are considered to be very authentic. So, one may envisage a high demand of this magazine.

BBC Earth is a core brand of BBC and it is a good decision by the news agency to convert one of its major brands into a printed product.