Current issue - April 2010
Storm after the calm…
According to the so-called experts, we are heading in the right direction for recovery. Or so say Bloxham Stockbrokers, swiftly adding that the economy needs a return of ‘normal’ lending practices to kick-start activity. With so much change of late, what is ‘normal’ any more in the world of commerce and manufacturing?
Employers’ body IBEC was also singing off the same hymn sheet, declaring that we are beginning to pull out of the depths of this horrid recession.
Such words, and they are just that as no one else seems to see much real improvement, are hard to swallow when we hear of more company closures, job losses and livelihoods affected by the downturn.
Wood PrintCraft was forced into examinership, J.C Printers went into liquidation, while in
Portadown, Lithoforme printers also closed their doors after trading for over 150 years. Brunswick Press also closed its production department, outsourcing all of its work whilst retaining a skeleton sales team. The industry is enduring more than a tough time, with the effects of last year’s dramatic fall in orders and as ongoing price war hitting operators with full force this year.
Merging or restructuring processes are often viewed as an alternative exit solution – a propping up pillar in times of desperation. Entering and working within a merger operation is not an easy process, as shown in our cover story. It is a process favoured by the financial institutions, and given the current climate, something that may be encouraged more in the future. Experts in this field say that the main reason for failure of mergers is that companies merge purely to survive but restructuring should not be a desperate knee-jerk reaction, rather a systematic way to become a more competitive and leaner operation.
The news that paper prices are set to increase in early April was also met with some anger and trepidation in the market-place. The earthquake in Chile and the strike at the Finnish port has had a detrimental effect on pulp supplies, with mills saying they have no choice but to pass on price rises to suppliers and printers. No one can afford to absorb such a rise, estimated in the region of eight to 12per cent, and will be the final straw for many.
Amidst this doom and gloom in the industry, within the last month, two Limerick-based guys
have cemented their position as the ‘new generation’ of the sector. Having worked in the eventsand IT industry, they decided that their own print needs were best served by establishing their owncompany. Some may call it foolish, or indeed mad, but the men set up the business, ProPrint, afterwinning new customers and knocking on every door in the city. As well as working on a new Web-to-Solution to win global business, they also set up an online forum(www.irishprintforum.ie) to share information and discussions with the industry. There must be something good about this industry to attract two such budding entrepreneurs.
Gráinne Burns
Editor
Email the Irish Printer Newsdesk
Storm after the calm…
According to the so-called experts, we are heading in the right direction for recovery. Or so say Bloxham Stockbrokers, swiftly adding that the economy needs a return of ‘normal’ lending practices to kick-start activity. With so much change of late, what is ‘normal’ any more in the world of commerce and manufacturing?
Employers’ body IBEC was also singing off the same hymn sheet, declaring that we are beginning to pull out of the depths of this horrid recession.
Such words, and they are just that as no one else seems to see much real improvement, are hard to swallow when we hear of more company closures, job losses and livelihoods affected by the downturn.
Wood PrintCraft was forced into examinership, J.C Printers went into liquidation, while in
Portadown, Lithoforme printers also closed their doors after trading for over 150 years. Brunswick Press also closed its production department, outsourcing all of its work whilst retaining a skeleton sales team. The industry is enduring more than a tough time, with the effects of last year’s dramatic fall in orders and as ongoing price war hitting operators with full force this year.
Merging or restructuring processes are often viewed as an alternative exit solution – a propping up pillar in times of desperation. Entering and working within a merger operation is not an easy process, as shown in our cover story. It is a process favoured by the financial institutions, and given the current climate, something that may be encouraged more in the future. Experts in this field say that the main reason for failure of mergers is that companies merge purely to survive but restructuring should not be a desperate knee-jerk reaction, rather a systematic way to become a more competitive and leaner operation.
The news that paper prices are set to increase in early April was also met with some anger and trepidation in the market-place. The earthquake in Chile and the strike at the Finnish port has had a detrimental effect on pulp supplies, with mills saying they have no choice but to pass on price rises to suppliers and printers. No one can afford to absorb such a rise, estimated in the region of eight to 12per cent, and will be the final straw for many.
Amidst this doom and gloom in the industry, within the last month, two Limerick-based guys
have cemented their position as the ‘new generation’ of the sector. Having worked in the eventsand IT industry, they decided that their own print needs were best served by establishing their owncompany. Some may call it foolish, or indeed mad, but the men set up the business, ProPrint, afterwinning new customers and knocking on every door in the city. As well as working on a new Web-to-Solution to win global business, they also set up an online forum(www.irishprintforum.ie) to share information and discussions with the industry. There must be something good about this industry to attract two such budding entrepreneurs.
Gráinne Burns
Editor
Email the Irish Printer Newsdesk