1. What do you believe will be greatest opportunities for printers to grow their businesses in 2008?
I still believe that the greatest opportunity for a printer to grow lies in the desire to invest in the most productive and efficient equipment available, and get the most out of it.
2. What will be the greatest threat to your sector for 2008?
I think that there are a number of threats that we are currently aware of, and will have to continue to monitor throughout next year. Perhaps the three that immediately come to mind are: printers' fear of investment; competitors continually reducing prices in order to win business, but without making any money; and, of course, new equipment introductions at Drupa.
3. How can the industry raise its profile next year?
Drupa should help for starters. Printers themselves can raise their own profiles, though, by adding more value to the services that they provide.
4. What do you believe is the most under-recognised aspect in printing that is likely to become more important in 2008?
Incorporating more elements of the printing process in-line is still definitely under-recognised. This also refers back to the previous comment about adding value to basic printing capabilities.
5. What print sectors do you believe will experience the greatest innovation next year?
We have already been told that the forthcoming Drupa with be the inkjet Drupa, so I am looking forward to seeing what is actually introduced at the event. Apart from that, I anticipate gradual improvements in productivity and efficiency across all sectors of the industry, and ever more integration with JDF-capable systems.
6. What should the print industry do when it gets back to work after the holidays?
Convince itself that, in order to move forward, it needs to continually re-invest in the latest and most efficient hardware. MAN Roland has some suggestions to make to those printers.
7. If the government stepped in and did one thing to help the industry, what would you hope that would be?
Reduce interest rates, and then keep them stable.
8. What will you do differently in 2008?
As a company, I believe we should look to focus even more on providing printers with a unique product package, which would include our printcom consumables range and our finishing products.
MAN Roland - eight questions for '08
This year has been another rollercoaster ride for the industry. While the printweek.com editorial team takes a (well-earned) break over the Christmas season, we've turned to the great and the good of UK print and asked what we can expect from the year to come. Here's the forecast from <b>MAN Roland GB sales director for sheetfed products Gary Doman</b>.
