One of the many interesting topics covered in the interview with Heidelberg's Jürgen Rautert is the discussion about alternative models for financing capital equipment.
Especially at the very heavy metal end of things, such as web presses (not a concern for Heidelberg anymore, of course), it appears to be an area that is ripe for change and that would benefit from some fresh thinking. It seems some manufacturers are stuck with a somewhat inflexible approach that rather limits their, and their customers' options. Of course it's perfectly understandable that manufacturers require security, but the 21st century print landscape also requires considerable flexibility and that's something that seems to be in short supply in the world of press finance at present.
It would seem sensible to create new financing models that allow customers to buy. Whether this means the digital print capex model will move upstream I don't know, but it's certainly an option. Perhaps someone will find a new way of dressing up click charges that doesn't involve the words "click" or "charge". What about renting a press? I know it's not quite so easy to remove than, say, taking back a car or a van if things don't work out. But it's not impossible. Either way, the old model of printers being able to find, say, 30% of £6m seems to be largely gone and many printers simply haven't got the cash to buy. So something has to replace that.
