2008 Executive Forecast

Bob McAleavey, GM, Specialized Printed Forms, a Div. of Ennis

Here’s the short-term outlook from Specialized Printed Forms: We’re expecting an increase in four-color process work, as direct mail and promotional printing continues to replace many “traditional” business forms production. Business[es] [are] aware of the importance of transmitting their image[s] through print, especially as their options increase.

We’ve ramped up our production to meet those demands, both in prepress systems and in press equipment. Though the transcendence of the Internet had been looked on with fear [by] printers and distributors, it appears to have added to the demand for quality print[ed] products to secure sales. Distributors align[ing] themselves with the marketing and sales efforts of their customers will continue to see possibilities, even as communications methods change or are enhanced.

Based on recent experience, we see steady sales of some “traditional” products where paper-based transactions are efficient and cheap. Our bindery was inundated with work last year. We expect that to continue next year, as we offer the convenience of managing products from prepress to final binding or hand assembly.

On the good side of the declining U.S. dollar, we’re seeing an increase in orders from Canada, and look for new opportunities with the pendulum swinging the other way after [more than] 30 years!

Jerry Wertz, President and CEO, Data Papers

As we approach 2008, the focus at Data Papers will be to help our distributors provide additional products and services to their customers.

Our new catchphrase is: “investing in your future.” We believe that investing in equipment and technology that makes it easy for our distributors is the way to prosperity for Data Papers, our distributors and their customers. To this end, we have made major investments in the past year to participate in two growing markets. Two new presses—an eight-color UV press to address the high-color promotional market, and an Indigo 5500 digital press to handle short-run on-demand products—were added to our pressroom this year.