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Broader drivers for growth in the region 21.10.2011 |
By Frits Beurskens, Guest blogger
Growth in an industry is always related to different aspects. Technological development in an industry is definitely one of the drivers, which will have an impact on growth.
Since technology is basically available everywhere, it can contribute to the growth in all regions of the world. However, practically you see that growth related to technology is not necessarily the same in all regions of the world. Growth based on technology is always related to knowledge and skills of the people working with the technology.
That is one of the reasons that there are differences between regions and countries. Introducing new technology without proper training to the user will not have the expected result. Training in this respect, is not only to train people on the actual use of equipment or software but also training on the process behind the software.
How to "push the buttons" is easy to learn. Why and when to "push the buttons" is a different story. Good understanding of the process is necessary for correct implementation of (new) technology. It happens too often that companies invest in technology, get a basic training by vendors on how to use the technology but were not trained on correct implementation in the process.
The result is that the expectations of the investments are not met. When a company invests in technology, it does that because it wants to achieve a certain growth, whether that is growth in revenues, growth in quality or growth in size. When the implementation of technology is not done correctly, the expected growth will not materialize.
This goes for individual companies but also for the industry the companies belong to. The growth of the "Graphic Arts Industry" in a certain region depends, among others, strongly on the skills and knowledge of the people who are working in the industry. Formal training on background knowledge and correct training on implementation by vendors is therefore a condition for growth.
'The asian region is a hotspot' It should be clear that technology and education are important drivers to achieve growth. The Asian region is a "hotspot" for growth but to make this growth structural we should not forget to invest in knowledge transfer. |
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Asia is moving West, FESPA is moving East 17.10.2011 |
 By Neil Felton, Managing Director, FESPA
Not so long ago, I read an interesting blog by Andrea Ragnetti for The Huffington Post. The writer observes that Asia's influence extends far beyond the impact of its booming economies. Commenting that "Asia is moving West", he points out that Western culture is increasingly permeated by Asian attitudes to health and wellbeing, design and aesthetics, food and fashion, art and film.
Meanwhile Asian investors are making significant inroads in Western capitals, and of course many businesses in Europe and North America are looking to forge stronger links with partners in Asia to safeguard their future and expand their markets. I agree with Ragnetti when he says that the West can be guilty of considering Asia simply as a low-cost manufacturing or customer support centre, failing to acknowledge that Asia is often at the 'bleeding age' of technology and service development.
So, my own excitement and anticipation of what FESPA Asia 2011 has in store is mounting. One of the most rewarding aspects of working for FESPA is the knowledge that we represent a global community of print service providers. It's our organisational mission to share knowledge and best practice within that community, and - having met many Asian print service providers in recent months – I can confidently say that they have much to teach their counterparts in other regions.
Asians have a special ethos of service and customer care that can be held up as an example to any Western business. The Asian focus on achieving balance and harmony translates naturally into mutually rewarding and respectful relationships and a concern for the holistic impact of business. To hear my Thai colleague Chaiyaboon Kulsiriswadi talk at our FESPA Asia Summit about the parallels between Thai water culture and his environmental policies was a salutary reminder that sustainability is more than just a tick in the box for a CSR manager – it is a matter of community. The printers I have talked to in Asia balance their respect for tradition with a healthy disregard for time-worn processes or business models that no longer meet customer needs. They innovate where it matters, taking considered risks and reaping the rewards. In Asia, it seems, innovation is in the blood.
In less than two weeks, hundreds of printers from across Asia will come to FESPA Asia 2011 at Suntec Singapore to experience the latest innovations in screen, digital and textile print, and to participate in a world class conference where they can learn from print's leading lights, including many Asian innovators. It will be a dynamic forum for print professionals from every continent to share their experiences, challenges and ambitions, and I look forward to being part of this real cultural and knowledge exchange. In our particular case, to paraphrase Ragnetti, 'FESPA is moving East', but I am sure that we will all learn just as much as we teach, and that the influence and reward will be wholly mutual. See you in Singapore!
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Lynda Sutton's Blog 14.09.2011 |
Asia is under starters orders...
By Lynda Sutton, Marketing Manager, FESPA, 14.09.2011
It’s been a very busy and exciting couple of weeks for me. With FESPA Asia less than two months away, the marketing campaign is in full swing and we are working hard to stage the ultimate Asian digital print exhibition in Singapore in October. I recently travelled to Thailand and Singapore to observe the Asian market in action and speak to members of the industry about their hopes and expectations for the Asian print sector in the coming months and years.
Before I’d even arrived at my hotel in Bangkok I noticed some eye-catching print campaigns lining the roads and mounted on huge billboard frames. One of my favourites was for Pepsi Cola. Using an opaque film they had covered every window of a large glass panelled building to create an amazing super-wide format advert. Passing more and more big brand adverts, my sense of anticipation for FESPA Asia rocketed. It’s clear that wide format is being embraced in Bangkok, and in just a few short weeks, FESPA would be here, in South East Asia, to promote this area of the print market to the Asian community. The potential for the show seemed infinite.
The first stop on my itinerary was Pack Print International at Bangkok’s BITEC. Walking into the show I was immediately struck by the hive of activity. The aisles were packed with visitors, the technology on display was innovative, and the enthusiasm in the air, palpable.
During the show I had the chance to speak to a wide variety of people including media representatives, print service providers and manufacturers as well as our Japanese and Thai member associations. The message they delivered was consistent; the digital wide format print market is buoyant. Printers are energetically investing in digital print technology to boost their customer offerings and to become a one stop print shop. They’re seeing a growing trend for short print runs, and as a consequence digital is now the technology to invest in. Despite this, the traditional screen printing industry is still incredibly important in Asia, which was great to hear as screen lies at the heart of FESPA. It’s our heritage and it’s good to see a clear a stronghold for it in this region.
Still buzzing from my experience in Bangkok, I started the next leg of my journey to Singapore and to the venue where FESPA Asia will shortly take place - SUNTEC. One of the most renowned exhibition centres in Asia, SUNTEC offers a self-contained, totally integrated event infrastructure and we are confident that it will exceed the expectations of FESPA’s exhibitors and visitors. Meeting with PMAS (Print and Media Association Singapore), it was gratifying to hear how committed the association is to supporting the FESPA Asia show and to be told, yet again, that shows like FESPA are what is needed to maintain the momentum of innovation and to keep driving the industry forward in Asia.
Of everything I saw in Singapore the most exciting, surprisingly, wasn’t print relate. Recalling Neil Felton’s last blog (see below), I was thrilled to see the city preparing for the Singapore Grand Prix. The streets were brought to a standstill as roads were blocked off and the motorsport community began preparing for its famous annual night race. To me, the timing was symbolic; as the cars approach the starting line in Singapore, the race to FESPA Asia is on. The adrenaline is pumping in the region’s print industry, and in the FESPA team, and FESPA Asia 2011 promises to energise and already vibrant market. I don’t know about you, but I’m really excited to see the result. |
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Neil Felton's Blog 31.08.2011 |
Taking Pole Position: What Print Could Learn From F1
By Neil Felton, Managing Director, FESPA, 31.08.2011
This year, Singapore plays host to the F1 Grand Prix, as well as FESPA Asia 2011, so the Formula 1 race was a natural focal point for the show's marketing campaign. Like print, F1 is exciting, competitive and fast-moving, but the parallels don't stop there.
To an outsider a print business appears to centre around its print output technology – and what it can produce. Likewise, to the untrained eye it would seem that F1 is all about the car and its engine. If the car/engine/printer is the most powerful on the market, then how can it lose?
Whether in F1 or in print, the recipe for true success is more subtle.
The Driver
Leadership is vital. In F1, the most sophisticated car will lose out if its driver is not in peak condition, and leveraging his skill and experience to get the most from the vehicle. Print business managers must stay fit for business, stay abreast of trends and opportunities, maintain knowledge, gather information, network actively, and – most importantly – share their insights with the entire team so that everyone understands the drivers for success.
The Team
Teams, whether they are formed for sport or business are, to quote Aristotle, 'greater than the sum of their parts'. The only way to achieve success is to consider and develop all areas of business, from technology to training. Communicating strongly and openly with your team will motivate and foster initiative and loyalty.
The Strategy
Race strategy is fundamental. The goal is clear – to win. But how will you achieve it? A clear strategy defines the 'how', and if communicated to the whole team, empowers everyone to work together towards a clear goal. Whether you choose a simple strategy or something more innovative or radical, make sure it differentiates you from your competitors, otherwise you'll only ever draw level with them. And don't be afraid to rethink strategy if the conditions change.
The Variables
There are so many factors that affect the performance of even the most finely tuned racer. In the F1 world, hours are devoted to tweaking fuel loads, tyre wear, and suspension. Printers too can look beyond the 'engine' to find ways of optimising performance and boosting profit. Workflow, finishing, inks and substrates all offer scope to gain efficiencies, improve speed to market or deliver a new product or service.
Problem Solving
When a car pulls in for a pit stop during the Singapore Grand Prix, the speed at which the team works to get the car back on the track will be fundamental in deciding their place at the chequered flag. All print businesses suffer setbacks, none more dramatic than the recent economic crisis from which we are recovering. Responding positively and quickly to setbacks, identifying faults, and engaging the whole team to deliver solutions, will make the difference between dropping out or getting back in the race.
Positioning
Equally vital for determining a team's place on the podium is the race start, often considered the most exciting moment of a Grand Prix event. It's the time when every team is struggling to find an advantage, something which will guarantee that they are the first to hit the first corner. To stay ahead of the competition, a print business needs to get ahead, move away from the 'pack' where services are commoditised and margins squeezed. Whether a new or established business, innovation is key. Think of new products, services, or business models and market them before the competition gets there. Once you're leading the race, it's easier to stay at the head than it is to overtake from the back.
Half way through the Grand Prix season, and with the Singapore Grand Prix taking place in a matter of weeks, the competition is heating up. For Asian printers looking to steal pole position in this fast growing and opportunity-filled marketplace, FESPA Asia comes at exactly the right time.
Of course, printers wanting to beef up their 'engines' will find all the latest screen and digital technologies from 180 of the world's principal manufacturers and suppliers. More importantly, they'll learn how to use these to improve their current business, or make the move into new areas of business.
FESPA's multi-faceted events are far more than simple exhibitions. Our satellite programmes offer education, knowledge-sharing and examples of best practice, whether your focus is on screen, digital or textile. A rich timetable of seminars and workshops at FESPA Asia will help you to find inspiration or practical solutions to many of the challenges and opportunities facing your business.
The 'Grand Prix of Print', FESPA Asia 2011 will be the meeting place for the brightest and best in the Asian print community, with the energy and colour to match.
So pre-register now, and claim your place on the winner's podium.
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