Landa Requires Greater Investment, Announces Restructure

Currently, there is a specific global raw material shortage affecting UV curing inks. This impacts supply of a UV photoinitiator commonly known as “TPO.” While supply of TPO comes from several different manufacturers, a key chemical feedstock used in the manufacture of TPO (and other similar photoinitiators) comes from one main upstream source in China. The manufacturing of this feedstock has been temporarily halted while inspections are undertaken due to an unrelated incident in the same industrial zone. This incident comes within the wider context of similar unplanned shut downs of UV raw material capacity in China and a tighter regulatory environment in Europe limiting alternative options. This supply disruption means that the feedstock cannot be produced at present and supplies are now at critically low levels globally, which has impacted the availability and production of TPO itself. We anticipate the situation will be resolved in a matter of weeks but are taking actions to cover our supply in the meantime. Please note that this is an industry-wide shortage affecting all UV ink manufacturers. Click Read More below for additional information.

The new Household Fusion™ mail-packaging solution was created to offset continued U.S. Postal Service rate hikes by combining into one recyclable polybag various catalogs or marketing mail from different brands or various magazines from different publishers that are destined for a single household. The solution, which exemplifies the company’s commitment to relentless innovation, is powered by proprietary software created by Quad. Household Fusion mail optimization also includes separately printed direct mail pieces as well as onserts that can be placed on top for maximum visibility. “Quad has always helped brands make more direct consumer connections, and that has made us a leading expert in mailing to households across the country. We also have innovation in our DNA. Our Household Fusion offering combines these powerful dimensions of Quad’s expertise and underscores them with our unmatched technology, production and delivery capabilities,” said Don McKenna, Chief Administrative Officer for Quad. “This new mail optimization service is the latest example of Quad’s robust capability for bringing brands closer to their target audiences – efficiently and effectively.”

The last two years have proved to be an extremely challenging period of time for the print industry. Raw Material shortages and multiple price increases, combined with staff shortages caused by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, created arduous circumstances for all businesses involved in our industry. From printers themselves, to freight companies and suppliers of key raw materials, all were adversely affected. After over two years experiencing the challenges that the global pandemic presented, the more optimistic amongst us had hoped that 2022 would present some stabilization in the print supply chain, however, as we move in to the second quarter of the year, this stabilization is yet to materialize, and is unlikely in the near future whilst the tragic events in Ukraine continue to develop. Not only are the trials of the Covid-19 pandemic still with us, but rising inflation, increasing fuels costs, huge demand for packaging of all types and a global energy crisis have further increased the burdens faced by suppliers to the print industry. These increases, in some cases, have been so astronomic that it is not possible for any supplier to absorb, and ultimately, the increased costs have been passed down the supply chain.