William Davis, chairman and chief executive of RR Donnelley, admitted his groups printing and binding equipment was producing finished goods at just 50% of potential capacity.

85% overall equipment efficiencies is world class and as an industry we should march towards 85%, he said. You cant build world-class operating efficiencies on intuition and personal preferences.

Polestar chief executive Barry Hibbert said printers were too preoccupied with equipment, leading them to overlook opportunities and changes in dynamics. He spoke of two emerging supply models: the printer-innovation model, where the process remains the dynamo; and print management, which fulfilled clients needs for greater efficiencies but was disadvantageous to printers.


Comprint is to merge with the World Print Forum to create the World Print and Communications Forum. The next event is in January 2005 in Cape Town.