Flexographic Printers Discuss Business Outlook, Production Challenges in FLEXO Magazine Flash Poll

Posture & Purchases

Winning Strategies

What steps are being taken to strengthen competitive posture?

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Strengthening competitive posture appears on the list of every converter’s strategic action plan. “How?” is what they ask themselves. Survey findings indicate adoption of best practices and workforce development as popular paths. Printers answering FLEXO’s query express heavy interest in both options. Sixty-eight percent elect to deploy best practices. In a very similar vein, 67 percent commit to workforce training initiatives that build skills and recognize individual accomplishment.

Fifty-eight percent of printers that outline their action plan say carefully developing and orchestrating effective capital expenditure programs is a must. Similarly, 54 percent point to “introduction of new products and applications” as critical. One-third of poll participants see application of standards, like Flexographic Image Reproduction Specifications & Tolerances (FIRST) as a link to bettering consistency and boosting abilities to exceed customer expectations. Collectively, 23 percent of the converter audience shows interest in utilization of print scorecards. Fifteen percent of firms offering a glimpse at business building plans look to acquiring existing print enterprises to expand reach and product lines.

Best Buys

What will you focus investments on?

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Optimization of production is clearly driving any and all investment strategies, according to poll results. Seventy-six percent of printers express that as both current case and complete necessity. Breaking what’s a very broad spectrum into specific elements and actions, 58 percent of converters answer that converting equipment will draw precious capital expenditure dollars. Close behind come presses with 54 percent of the collective sample acknowledging they’re considering a buy.

A contingent half that size—25 percent of printer poll participants—indicates that plate processors and prepress systems are catching their eye. Fourteen percent point to cleaning systems as a valid and likely purchase. Environmental controls, which many say include cleaning systems, are targets of 7 percent of respondents. Just 4 percent are weighing potential purchase of virtual reality (VR) platforms.

Tracking & Tracing

Which of the following do you prioritize?

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When it comes to efficiency-enhancing tracking and tracing tools, printers focus on job management software and the benefits it brings. Eighty-six percent of those offering responses to FLEXO’s query give that as their No. 1 preference. Collectively, 64 percent of the sample emphasize inventory management and 61 percent, color management. Brand management and asset management trail considerably with 24 percent of the sample assigning asset management software as a priority for deployment and just 18 percent naming brand management.

Printers offer further insights:

“Adding automation in as many of the day-to-day tasks—software to machinery—will greatly reduce errors and miscommunication, which in turn should improve overall workflow and awareness to other key aspects of one’s position and duties”
“Digitalization will help steer future production runs by eliminating waste, reducing makeready times and increasing press uptime”
“Automation will be a large focus as labor is limited. Also, raw material sourcing is a large challenge, which will lead us to seek more reliable domestic sources wherever possible”
“Automation and innovation are key factors to grow. Everyone knows it”

Tomorrow’s Trendlines

By consensus, here is where printers say and believe things are heading:

“Our mission—Maximize assets, ensure customer growth”
“The future will be a complex labyrinth of supply, people and inflation”
“We have to become more automated using available technologies. We need to invest in training/educating and higher pay/benefits for workers to ensure a consistency in production processes and outcomes. Growing relationships with suppliers is crucial to a solid pipeline of raw materials/equipment necessary to meet customers’ work”
“Change is the driver. No change, no forward drive”
“Those that innovate to adapt quickly will survive and prevail”