Product Reviews

The web offset market has never had it so tough. All industry sectors are struggling at the moment, with volumes and margins down and limited cash available to invest in new kit, but web offset printers and kit suppliers are suffering more than most.

Web offset is also coming under increasing pressure from gravure, according to John Ellis, Manroalnd director of web presses. "The gravure market is well invested and that's going to take some work away from the web offset market," he says.

Ongoing consolidation over the past few years has reduced the dangerously high overcapacity in the sector, which had impacted negatively on margins. But it's generally accepted that more consolidation needs to take place before the sector can strike a happy balance between supply and demand.

"There have been 40 companies in the past eight or nine years [leaving the sector], so a lot of capacity has gone out," adds Ellis.

There are some glimmers of hope on the horizon for manufacturers. The one fillip for the sector could be a growing emphasis on niche markets, according to Ellis, who cites the example of supermarket flyer printing.

Another opportunity is the combination of web and digital printing in newspaper and commercial markets. High-speed personalisation, upcodes and variable data printing are just some of the things that can be achieved. "While the bulk of printing will be done web offset, others like reprints, and pre-prints are done digitally," says Ellis.

In terms of the press technology, little has changed, although Ellis promises higher levels of automation with colour control and closed loop systems the future focus.

"We're working on one-touch printing called Autoprint, which is basically lights out printing with increased automation in every area," says Ellis.

But automation on its own isn't going to reverse the fortunes of this struggling sector.