PRINTING United Alliance Opens Annual Product of the Year Awards Competition (piworld.com)

Sun Chemical and the DIC Corporation will increase prices across select parts of its color materials portfolio, effective July 1, 2022 or as contracts allow. The price increase affects all market segments. Without signs of relief, the cost increase for key raw materials and packaging components as well as the inflationary pressure on manufacturing operations persist. Energy and logistics costs remain at historically high levels, and the uncertainties due to the Russia-Ukraine crisis and COVID-19 related lockdowns in China, are negatively affecting global value and supply chains. The ongoing escalations make it necessary for the company to increase prices for several product lines of its pigments, dyes and preparations portfolio. The price increases are in addition to those previously announced, including energy and transportation surcharges.

We all wish we had a crystal ball to see the future. The paper market continues to be difficult to predict due to ongoing fundamental stresses at the mills and along the supply chain. We do, however, see initial signs of hope the paper market could improve in 2023 and have balance largely restored within the next two years. Our recommendations for marketers for Q3-Q4 remain the same: Plan your campaigns well ahead and be prepared for unexpected delays. We are predicting additional price increases for the back half of the year due to still rising input costs – pulp, labor, energy, chemicals, and freight. With the country experiencing 9% inflation in June, it’s no surprise these costs remain unstable. In fact, pulp prices are up 20% in just the past five months.

Citing two new white papers from the Printing Industries of America, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) finds new technology when driven by the automation of processes like “Push to Stop” provides a direct link to enhanced productivity and maximum profitability. The two white papers, published by Dr. Ronnie H. Davis, PIA’s Chief Economist, focus on the roles that productivity and costs play in a printer’s overall profitability. Davis argues lowering manufacturing costs is the main way to boost profits. In fact, a 1% decrease in costs equates to a 34% increase in profits based on the industry-wide average of 2% profit. The reports show the wide profit gap ($13 for every $100 Job) between profit leaders in the printing industry and those with profit potential (Figure 1). This gap, Davis attributes, is a direct result of the reduction of manufacturing costs by the profit leaders through investment in new, technologically advanced equipment. According to PIA’s studies, customers who invest in new technology, “save more than two employees per million dollars in sales.” Click Read More below for additional information.