It’s an interesting age for the print business. Despite a paperless push, a decline in print media, and a decline in traditional retail that has forced changes in the way you operate, print continues to grow, and those who shift with the times are in a unique position to succeed.
Whether it’s the USPS study that found that Millennials and Gen Z love direct mail, the expectation that brands provide an ecommerce ‘experience’, or the rise of customization services and small-batch needs, this booming economy has created demand for a variety of print services.
A Market Up for Grabs—in a Variety of Ways
According to Printing Impressions Magazine, nearly half of the 25 biggest printing markets will see 5-15% increases in demand, meaning 2020 should be the best sales year in history. Consumer confidence is higher than ever, shifting business models have created shifting demands, and printers can expect to sell $207.6B this year—up 4% from 2019.
As discussed in their Top 400 Printers Report, 2019 was a big year for mergers and acquisitions in the commercial space. Consolidation for some, diversification for others, and convergence for others still makes for an interesting display. That’s not even mentioning the instability at the top of the food chain, with two of the biggest printers experiencing stagnation.
All of this means that if you know where to look and know who’s in play, you could be in for a much better year than that four percent industry growth.
Hottest Growth Markets for Print in 2020
As discussed in the Printing Impressions report, those looking for a safe bet can always stick around the packaged foods industry. With a $19.9B print potential, up 3% from last year, this is a naturally stable marketplace. Alongside Medical/Pharma, Publishing/Non-Newspaper, Health Providers and Travel and Hospitality all expecting more than $11B apiece, each of these shows promise. However, the biggest potential is in the following industries:
Travel and Hospitality: $1.4B More Demand for Print, Up 13%
One of the biggest markets and one of the biggest growth potentials, travel and hospitality may be the best focus for printers in 2020. The fifth biggest industry in printing, there’s $11.1B in play for printers, up 13% from last year. Airlines and airports and Cruise Lines will both be in need of printing, though lodging will grow slower than most.
Expanded retail, dining, lodging, and entertainment space means more signage, reading material, specially re-packaged travel amenities in what is regarded as the most underserved of print marketplaces.
Logistics and Freight: $750M More Demand for Print, Up 15%
Big time growth is expected in this industry. With a $5B print potential in 2020, more tonnage, units of delivery, and both sources and carriers of packages will be on the move than in all history, according to the report.
Driven by incredible demands for ecommerce, the biggest new growth will come from specialty transport. This is the segment that requires verified sourcing, chain-of-custody, hazard management, and security/protection — all very costly to provide and profitable to deliver. RFID, barcoding, warning, and other intelligent containment, labeling, and detection products will grow segment print demand to more than $1B (2022).
Societal Activity: $220M, or 10% More Demand for Print
It’s an election year in the US, and all that money has to go somewhere. $2.2B is up for grabs, up 10% from season 3. War chests will be bigger than ever, and advocacy will see a 60% surge.
Advocacy—directly or indirectly designed to influence election races—will bring close to $0.7B in direct mail, literature handouts, FSIs, promotional imprints, and signage from pillar-to-post and pole-to-poll.
Don’t Lose Sight of Pollution Control During Sustained Growth
With all this growth, it’s important to avoid losing sight of your printing operation’s control over pollutants. There are many ways to do this ranging from the inks you use to the lids, but no matter what, the right abatement and destruction strategy starts with accurate and detailed documentation of exhaust components and concentrations.
The CMM Group offers consulting services and specializes in the design and manufacture of air pollution control solutions for the graphic arts and package printing industry. Learn more about Regenerative Thermal Oxidizers for the Graphic Arts Industry and see some of our case studies featuring companies like yours below:
- Graphic Arts Printer Replaces Emission Control System With RTO
- Heat-Set Web Offset Printer Replaces Catalytic Units With RTO
- Flexible Packing Operation Replaces APCS With RTO
- Coating & Laminating Company With Rewarranted Catalytic Oxidizer
- Wine Capsule Flexo Printer Installs RTO To Control Emissions
