No time to stand still

27 March 2009



Manroland’s Gary Doman talks about market conditions, competition and technology


Converting Today: Germany has always been at the forefront of package printing technology. Will the current economic situation mean we might see less innovation coming out of the region?

Gary Doman: On the contrary. There is intense pressure in this sector as packaging buyers with products to sell demand unique yet economical solutions from their suppliers, whose job it then is to strike that delicate balance. This has meant that, traditionally, the packaging and converting sector has seen some of the print industry’s highest levels of innovation and investment in R&D. Just like any technology supplier to the sector, we must continue to devise evermore intelligent automated and in-line production solutions, because the demands on the sector will continue to increase over the coming years.

Environmental sustainability is also becoming a major factor in the production of packaging, so there is a real challenge for the industry to meet both the requirements of packaging buyers and the new regulatory and legal framework packaging will have to comply with in the future. I’m confident the industry will meet these demands through its commitment to innovation.

CT: Do you believe it is important for suppliers to the industry to continue to invest in R&D under the current economic conditions?

Gary Doman: Despite the current economic conditions it’s crucial that suppliers continue to dedicate resources to research and development. R&D is a long term process - the technology and innovations that come to market today will have been years in the making. So, R&D activity taking place now will bear fruit two, three, four years from now, when the economy has recovered and is growing again. Manroland has over four decades of heritage in the packaging industry, so while the current market is undoubtedly painful for many, what we’re experiencing must be powered through and seen as cyclical. The world doesn’t stop in a recession and we believe our continued commitment to R&D is one significant way of ensuring that manroland is ready with a new range of strong, innovative products when the upturn eventually comes.

CT: Given the market conditions, not many converters might be looking to invest in new technology. What advice would you give them in order to continue to prosper?

Gary Doman: While it’s not difficult to see the logic in holding back on investment in new technology given the current market conditions, I do think that strategy carries its own risks. Those that hold back now are always exposed to the danger of being left behind by those that don’t, and this is true regardless of the difficult market conditions. Even if the general economy has slowed, it’s still important to keep abreast of the latest technology relevant to your sector. Some would argue – myself included - that the current market conditions offer the ideal time to secure and grow market share. Any gains made now are well placed for significant growth when the economy begins to recover.

CT: How can converters make better use of their existing equipment in order to minimise operational costs whilst continuing to be environmentally-friendly?

Gary Doman: Most manufacturers will agree that training in the full functionality of particular presses is often overlooked, and suppliers have a responsibility here, too, in making sure it’s readily available. It’s not uncommon for a company to make a significant cash investment in machinery and then simply move their operator from the old machine which could be 10 years old, to the new machine, with no specific training. That operator will likely get good results from the press in terms of image quality but, without training in the press’s specific features, it won’t be run as efficiently or productively as possible. Manroland is always happy to train users in specific features and functions that they feel will reduce their operating costs and wastage.

CT: What new technology/ equipment is available to help converters with the green initiative?

Gary Doman: Waste reducing press features concerned with colour management and faster makereadies are critical to converters looking to improve their green credentials. As an example, manroland’s InlineColour Pilot immediately identifies colour variations and corrects them within a fraction of the time it could be done manually. Or, with QuickStart, a manroland press can start working at the required production speed almost immediately – reducing makeready to as little as 100 sheets.

Utilising these features would reduce the amount of waste going to landfill and significantly improve a business’s bottom line with the subsequent reduction in purchasing and disposal costs. As it currently stands, there is more interest in extras such as those highlighted above in Europe than in the UK, but that situation is improving.

CT: Does manroland have any specific plans or strategy for the packaging market?

Gary Doman: The best way to add value to technology users in the packaging production sector is to enable as many processes as possible to be carried out in-line and in a single pass. That way, printers can provide unique and innovative solutions to their market at competitive prices and at the desired high quality. This is the core of manroland’s strategic and commercial ethos, and where our strategy must always be focused.

Gary Doman is sheet-fed sales director of manroland GB


Gary Doman

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