The “private” trade show held every other year (due to Covid, the last one was held in 2019) by the abinding and assembly equipment manufacturer Hunkeler in Lucerne, Switzerland, opened on Feb 27th and Pap'Argus was there. For some, the promises of Industry 4.0 may still seem vague, yet all industry players agree to automate and orchestrate all the processes related to printing and finishing paper. While the market for commercial printing has been shrinking steadily since 2008, the market is transforming to benefit those involved in digital solutions from PDF to final product. The show opened its doors with 50 equipments installed by 100 exhibitors. The objectives were clear with 6,500 visitors and a stronger American presence. The main change compared to the last tradeshow was the strong presence of software players whose role is increasingly critical (note the Bronte – Rotomail Group solution) that allows the printing of books in a simple and profitable way. All the exhibitors were clear-sighted, and agreed that the industry is consolidating and the solutions must meet the requirements of the market such as scarcity of labour, automation and flexibility of production, and cost and waste reduction. The dilemma that all players want to solve is the increase in the price of energy and paper alongside clients who have constant or declining budgets. It seems that the digitalized “end-to-end” solutions, software solutions and new “business model” are the answers à la mode. We’ve gone from hardware to software with partnerships. If it looks like the auto industry, is that a coincidence?
Published on 09/03/2023