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PRESS RELEASE
Monday 19th
June 2006
Vantage Strategic Marketing are pleased to
announce the publication of their latest worldwide assessment of ‘direct-to’
technology investment. Now in its fifteenth year of publication the new annual
Report is intended as a strategy planning document for manufacturers and vendors
of machines and consumables. It covers the global markets of North and South
America, Europe, Japan, Asia Pacific Rim and China and provides forecasts for
the next five years for printing plates and film, CtP and CtF, polyester and
paper CtP, digital proofing and DI and electronic press markets.
Among its main findings
are
- Demand for offset
printing plates grew by 5% last year to some 540 M2 million, (5 ft2 billion).
This was despite record shipments of electronic presses and greater spend on
alternative advertising and information media.
- VSM anticipate
continuing growth in demand for offset printing as emerging markets such as
China, India and South America expand. Plate demand will continue to grow with
the increased number of shorter runs and further demand for colour.
- The largest market for
offset plates, Europe, accounted for 33% of demand while the Asia Pacific
Region accounted for 30%. North America and Japan accounted for 16% and 13%
respectively.
- CtP plates now account
for 48% of worldwide plate demand – up from 41% in ’04, and are expected to
account for more than 60% in ’10.
- Thermal CtP plates
accounted for 70% of CtP plate consumption in ’05, despite strong sales of
violet platesetters last year.
- Europe is the largest
market for violet plates accounting for over half of total consumption.
- Sales of platesetters
rose 10% to some 6000 machines in ’05, of which two-thirds were thermal
machines. Even in Europe, the largest market for platesetters, thermal
machines outsold those of violet by 2 to 1.
- For the first time, 4pp
platesetter sales outstripped those of 8pp, accounting for over 40% of total
sales.
- There are now almost
30,000 platesetters installed around the world, over half of which are
thermal.
- VSM anticipate a
slowing down in sales of platesetters over the next five years as Europe,
North America and Japan approach saturation point. However, there will still
be good opportunities for sales to South America and the Asia Pacific Region.
- The market for
polyester plates remains moribund and VSM doubt whether polyester CtP will
gain many new adherents in the light of more affordable metal CtP systems. VSM
remark on the switching roles of Printware and ECRM in their respective bids
to expand their business platforms.
- With Heidelberg
withdrawing from the DI press market, VSM think this sector will become even
more limited and niche application despite the hopes of Presstek to fill the
gap.
Further information about
this and other reports published by Vantage Strategic Marketing can be obtained
from Barry Happé at bhappe@vsm.uk.com
or from their website www.vsm.uk.com
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