2008 Executive Forecast

Additionally, the purchase of a Duplo 5000 has given us the ability to provide our distributors with long- and short-run booklets.

Our capital investments are key, but not the total solution. The growing promotional and digital markets are a challenge to many of our distributors, so we must assist them in other ways. Data Papers will partner with distributors by making joint sales calls to provide technical support, offering a unified manufacturing [and] sales presence to the end-user.

Rich Lippmann, Owner, Lippmann Printing & Graphics

As 2007 draws to a close and we look ahead to 2008, many challenges lie before us as printing professionals.

The increased costs associated with fuel, energy, paper and healthcare will make it hard for manufacturers not to pass on price increases in 2008. These rising costs over the past couple [of] years have been offset by production efficiencies and negotiations with vendors. I believe only those companies that pass on these increases will thrive and survive in 2008 and beyond. That being said, I anticipate Lippmann Printing to grow at a 20 percent rate in 2008, as it has each of the last four years.

Luis Campos, Vice President of Sales, Vijuk Equipment

Vijuk Equipment revolutionized pharmaceutical packaging with its patented outsert units in the ’80s and ’90s. Now, the Vijuk MV-2001 and MV-2005 Outsert Systems are answering the industry’s changing needs. At new high speeds, Vijuk systems can produce larger outserts with greater compression, keeping finished outserts small and compact [and] necessitating little changes in the packaging.

The FDA’s June 2006 rulings increased the demand for leaflets and larger outsert formats, making miniature-leaflet printing and folding positive ways to diversify and expand printing operations. Outsert system sales have expanded worldwide due to globalization and companies opening plants where labor costs are lower. However, countries exporting to the United States must comply with FDA regulations.