It’s an exciting time for the pressroom industry. The global commercial printing market is projected to grow to $484.22 billion by 2027 — nearly a 12% increase from 2021. Technological advancements, financial pressure and evolving market demands have resulted in several challenges despite this growth. The industry is more fast-paced than ever, leaving less time to contend with these challenges and more competition.
Consumer demands for quality are increasing, and understanding and addressing pressroom challenges is crucial for print professionals. Remaining agile is essential to maintain profitability and relevance in today’s demanding and evolving business landscape.
The printing industry has experienced unprecedented changes in recent years. Many businesses are dealing with new challenges alongside long-standing issues. Here are some of the most common pressroom printing challenges.
The biggest challenge facing today’s printing industry is rising pressroom printing costs. The industry is grappling with significant overheads, including the rising prices of printers, paper, ink, transportation and staffing. Customers expect the highest quality, which makes profitability even more challenging. Managing cash flow and minimizing the effects of rising prices are critical in the low-margin printing industry.
Printing businesses must devise cost-saving strategies. Consider exploring bulk purchasing and resetting payment terms with clients and suppliers. Everyone is feeling the pinch, and your customers and suppliers will likely be open to mutually beneficial solutions. You can try several solutions to reduce costs and boost your bottom line.
The printing industry is increasingly competitive. Finding new customers is a significant challenge for many companies. Besides differentiating your business from competitors, you must also consider your capacity limitations. You’ll only be able to take on some of the leads that come your way. Attracting the right print jobs to sustain your operations is essential. Again, the marketplace forces print shops to get creative and employ new tactics for generating high-quality leads.
Maintaining a healthy business pipeline starts with lead generation. The following tips can help you generate appropriate leads for your pressroom:
The digital revolution is a double-edged sword for printing businesses. On the one hand, you have access to technologies that streamline your operations and boost product quality. On the other, many of these technologies require a significant upfront investment.
Balancing the adoption of new technology and printing automation involves assessing the risks and making strategic investments based on project volume and repetitiveness. For example, UV-LED curing technology offers considerable benefits, including instant curing, lower energy use and faster turnaround times.
Integrating the latest technology can give you a competitive edge. Still, it comes with a considerable price tag. Your teams may also experience roadblocks as they learn the most efficient operating processes. Automation can transform your workflows. It’s nonnegotiable for most printing operations. The challenge lies in deciding which processes to automate first. The higher the volume and the more repetitive the task, the better candidate for automation.
Many reasons exist to automate existing processes. For example, automation in sheetfed offset printing is driven by the absence of qualified labor and waste minimization. Integrating digital tools is critical to staying relevant, and choosing the right one depends on your unique setup and goals.
Almost 90% of consumers believe organizations should do more to reduce their carbon impact. Like many other industries, the printing industry is transitioning toward eco-friendly materials in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Printing businesses have always had a complicated relationship with sustainability. The main challenge lies in finding the balance between sustainable and profitable operations. Food safety is also a significant concern. Recent food safety regulations impact digital printing operations in food packaging, toy printing and consumer goods.
The most common environmental concerns include using trees for paper production and petroleum-based inks that contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs). However, the global drive toward sustainable practices has turned this challenge into an opportunity. You can use eco-friendly inks and recycled paper and plastics to align with consumer goals and mitigate their environmental impact.
You can also align your business with the growing demand for sustainable solutions. Consider energy-efficient equipment and promote green printing options. Many printers are initiating environmental programs, while print buyers choose to work with organizations that demonstrate a sustainability focus in their operations.
The concept of quality is constantly evolving. Customers expect more in a fraction of the time, and maintaining quality color is a common challenge in offset pressrooms. Exact color reproduction and color consistency are essential for brand recognition. Weak color often results in faded or low-resolution prints, impacting customer satisfaction when retention is vital. Effective troubleshooting involves adopting a systematic approach. Consider integrating a preventive maintenance strategy based on manufacturer-specific guides.
Preventive maintenance is your most valuable tool in avoiding weak color and the associated issues. Depending on the task, you may need a daily, weekly or monthly log that your staff can follow. Ensure your team knows how to maintain proper roller settings and pressures, keep fountain solution tanks and filters clean, and keep ink rollers free of calcium and other surfactants.
Some best practices for effective pressroom color management include:
Modern pressroom challenges require a careful, systematic approach to maintain profitable printing operations. The industry is changing, but with the right partners and high-quality equipment and software, you can capitalize on new trends and differentiate your business from the competition.
Fujifilm Graphic Communication is here to streamline your operations from printing material to system and workflow. Our long-term partnerships with printers speak for themselves. Our ability to deliver innovative, high-quality print solutions can help you gain and maintain a competitive edge.
Explore our state-of-the-art solutions online, or request a demo to experience what sets us apart.