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While none of the traditional German, old line European or Japanese manufacturers express any desire to move manufacturing to these cheap labor venues, Ralf Sammeck, KBA’s President and CEO, described two acquisitions in the former east German block that were clearly motivated by a high regard for the engineering talent and their accompanying lower labor costs relative to Germany’s highest European scale.
Bill Esler, Editor in Chief of Graphic Arts Monthly, was awarded the 2005 McMillan Award for editorial excellence. This lifetime achievement acknowledgement was the seventh annual award issued. Though a classic journalist, Esler has always impressed me with his engineering-think and ability to get to the core potential strength or weakness of a new product/technology offering.
NAPL’s 2005 Soderstrom Award designee was Harris DeWese, Chairman and CEO of Compass Capital Partners, Ltd. Ever popular for his oft self deprecating humorous Printing Impressions articles cajoling print salesmen to “get out there and sell something,” DeWese tweaked his audience in his acceptance speech on the passionate need for leadership, not management in the printing industry.
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| Yves Rogivue: Threw down the gauntlet at Graph Expo '03 |
Yves Rogivue, CEO of MAN Roland, has earned the respect of clients, prospects and competitors alike with his challenges to non-traditional management thinking. Two years ago at Graph Expo ’03 he threw the gauntlet down to competing press manufacturers to stop offering “creative financing.” This practice was propping up failing printers and resulting in printing price wars.
This year he challenged the Print Trade Associations to rethink how best the suppliers and manufacturers might support conventions, educational venues and other projects all of which needed supplier financial support. Suppliers simply don’t have the bottomless pockets of moneys to contribute to worthy industry endeavors as they once did. Consolidation of associations and collaboration of meetings will add some relieve, but not enough. For example, PIA/GATF’s Tech Alert Conference ended its run with its February 2005 conclave because the suppliers said there were more manufacturers’ representatives, consultants and journalists in attendance then printers. Yves is not making a threat. He is simply addressing reality.
On a similar note there are now five world wide mega print shows: IPEX in England, Print in Chicago, DRUPA in Düsseldorf, IGAS in Japan, and the newest kid on the block - China Print. With the key press manufacturers being from Germany and Japan it is difficult to imagine those venues going away. With China and its 90,000 printers emerging as the world’s fastest growing print equipment market that one has another generation of growth for sure. That means that IPEX and Print will probably be relegated to regional shows, which quite frankly makes sense.
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