What trend do you think 2012 will be remembered for?

Inkjet Technology went mainstream in print and came of age with endorsements from Landa and all the big players.

What do you think will represent the single biggest opportunity for printers in 2013 and why?

Investment and diversification. The industry is changing at quite a pace and now is not the time to sit back and wait. Explore new opportunities & services with your customers, bring new print capability in house and leverage advances in technology to add capabilities.

What do you think will represent the single biggest threat for printers in 2013 and why?

Not getting paid and the increase of the pre-pack. Cover this with insurance and prudence on payment terms. Do more with the customers you know and keep an eye on your customers financial stability.

What’s the one thing that the industry should do more of, or do better, in 2013?

Attract more young people into the industry via apprenticeships, graduate training and working with local schools. The industry needs new blood and energy to spark life into the opportunities that the new wave of social media marketing opportunities are bringing. We need more excitement and positive drive in the industry.

What was your highlight of 2012?

The last day of Drupa.

What are your hopes for 2013?

That the politicians finally get to grips with the financial crisis and bring the economies back onto a growth path. Actually "crisis" when written in Chinese has two characters – one is "danger" and the other "opportunity". Lets hope all the danger is now done and 2013 brings the opportunities.

What was the most important thing that you learnt in 2012?

If you stay long enough on a hotel boat at Drupa the seasick feeling does finally go away, especially if the local Pils medicine is taken on a daily basis!

What will you do differently in 2013?

We won’t be booking a hotel boat on the Thames for the Excel for Ipex 2014.

What does the industry need to do differently in 2013?

Focus on the positives in the industry. Creating value rather than cutting prices in a race to the end. Use short run printing creatively and develop new products and segments. Modernise the image of print through the adoption of new technologies and marketing tools.