In 2023, Apenberg & Partner asked managers about their assessment of the development of their industry. 221 companies took part in the survey. With 158 companies, the “traditional” printing industry traditionally forms the largest group of participants, followed by packaging printing, which is slightly ahead of the graphic supply industry with 33 participants.
Printing industry and graphic supply industry optimistic about the new year
Just under a third of small and large printing companies are expecting results to rise in the coming year. Just under 20 per cent of medium-sized printing companies and the graphic supply industry expect an improvement in earnings. In general, small and medium-sized printing companies are more positive about 2024 than large printing companies and a reduction in the number of employees is expected across all sectors compared to the previous year. According to the survey, rising supplier prices will only play a subordinate role this year. Packaging printers are more pessimistic about the coming year than the graphic arts supply industry and the printing industry. Digital printers (see chart) are positive about the future. Only 21 per cent of digital printers expect a negative earnings trend for 2024.
Segmentation
The 158 companies in the printing industry mainly generate their added value through sheetfed offset printing. Just over 20 per cent of companies rely on digital printing, with the proportion of digital printers increasing by around 20 per cent compared to the previous year. The remaining companies are divided into media prepress, screen printing, gravure printing, letterpress printing, UV offset printing and flexographic printing.
Apenberg & Partner
Apenberg & Partner is one of the leading management and personnel consultants in the printing industry, print media, packaging printing and industrial printing markets. Since its foundation in Hamburg in 1987, the company has advised more than 250 medium-sized companies and groups.
Half of all participants from the printing industry focus on sheetfed offset printing.
A quarter of the printing industry is focussing on digital printing.
