Rings of confidence

3 August 2005

Hats off to MetalFX for the first press release received promoting products for the 2012 Olympics. Just hours after the announcement from Singapore that London had been chosen as host city for the Games, the company sent its email entitled MEDALFX!

It suggested that its licenced printers were already ahead of the race as the gold, silver and bronze medal colours can be reproduced in only one run of a five colour press along with hundreds of other striking metallic colours, by using only the MetalFX base silver ink alongside the usual CMYK set.

On a more serious note, the Olympics will of course boost many industries in the UK. Without doubt the printing and converting industries will benefit in the lead-up to the event with vast amounts of commemorative and official material, and special packaging.

Before we all get too carried away it's worth remembering the pressures on margins across the converting business. Continued downward pressures on company profitability is one conclusion from a new PCI Films Consulting study on the €9.2 billion European converted flexible packaging market (see news section). It is also clear that there is increased interest from end users in sourcing converted products from Turkey and some low cost Asian sources creating additional pressures.

Leading multi plant converter groups, such as Amcor Flexibles and Alcan Packaging, are establishing a much stronger manufacturing presence in the East through acquisition and greenfield investment. More are expected to follow as this trend continues. If that wasn't enough we have to add in the effect on profitability from some rapidly rising raw materials prices.

Certainly the news from Singapore may herald a boost we could all do with.

If only the margins could be improved – now that would be a welcome Olympic result!

  



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