To summarize the whole picture of the industry in the past year, www.keyin.cn presents top 10 key words.

E-commerce in printing

In the era of e-commerce featuring digitalization, e-commerce in printing is no longer a newly-coined term. Without explaining its literal meaning, the sector has recognized its position.

For e-commerce in printing, the road ahead is by no means smooth, nor is blurred. Just like every newborn, participants will stand the test of keen competition. A tempting market cannot cover up its immature situation in the operation mode. Though successors firmly believe that the business mode (mouse + printing plants) will become a mainstream in the future, they should focus on techniques and management with e-commerce only serving as a platform. There is still a long way to go. The growth of e-commerce in printing will be bound to bring out a mode with distinct Chinese features.

Green printing

In 2013, key printing houses were granted with special financial incentives by local governments (e.g. in Beijing and Shanghai), boosting the faith in green printing. That move will motivate businesses in favor of green printing. The growth of green printing in 2013 would highlight China’ printing industry.

WeChat

By November 2013, the registered users of WeChat hit 600 million. WeChat boasts of the most users of mobile instant messaging software in Asia. Besides sending and inquiring messages, WeChat lacks of specific modes and cases for whether such an enormous customer base can create a mobile Internet commercial environment. Due to the unknown blue ocean, people from all walks of life pay much attention to it.

Exhibitions for printing

Exhibitions are of vital significance to suppliers and exhibitors. The very purpose for exhibitors is to get substantial returns for their investment in attendance. If not, they will be absent, so it was the case for Ipex 2014. During 2013 China Printing ExhibitIn 2013, the exhibitions for printing in China, top leaders from many well-renowned companies attended at the site. Landa, the leader of nano-inject printing, shared the new technological concept at the forum. All the facts showcased international printing houses’ enthusiasm on the Chinese market. We have full confidence for All in Print in November 2014 due to the great market potential and ever-increasing appeal of China’s printing industry.

Load reduction for businesses

Currently, problems like excess production capacity persist in China’s printing industry. With the lowering threshold of the business, competition in the market will become keener and keener.

Reorganization

Kodak applied for bankruptcy and Manroland Sheetfed divested in 2012. Those reorganized businesses passed on positive energy to the sector in 2013.

In China, Hans-Gronhi Graphic Technology Co., Ltd. (Hans-Gronhi) started to make brilliant presence in various printing exhibitions both at home and abroad after acquiring Shinahara Japan, winning acclaims from printing customers all over the world. Masterwork USA, dubbed as the Star of Postpress Finishing, acquired 85% of equities of Shenzhen Qunli Printing Co., Ltd. as No.1 stockholder for the latter, rapidly extending its industrial chain. Meanwhile, Masterwork USA partnered with Gain-How Taiwan in cloud-printing and co-sponsored to set up Tianjin Masterwork Digital Technology Co., Ltd. with Worthjet Beijing. All those efforts are to explore the market of ink-jet printer. The epoch-making printing mode, ink-jet printing+cloud-printing, came out. On 24th, December, Masterwork USA announced that Mr. Cai Liancheng, former CEO of Heidelberg China Ltd., was nominated as the new general manager. Under Mr. Cai’s leadership, Masterwork USA will have promising prospects in the years ahead.

Facing up to the bleak picture of the printing sector ahead, many manufacturers and printing houses reorganized to have a rebirth. It is believed that many will become even stronger in 2014.

Talents

Talents are the very source for a sector or a business whether it rains or shines. High-calibers power the growth of an industry and transformation of a business. There is no exception for the printing industry. In 2013, the total output of China’s printing industry will hit RMB 1 trillion. China is expected to become No.2 powerhouse in printing.

Digitalization in postpress finishing

Experts predict that much attention will be devoted to high efficiency, high intelligence, on-line production and digital postpress finishing. The last will become a necessary one in printing.

Currently, digital postpress finishing is at the early stage in China. Though dozens of large-scale suppliers have developed and introduced digital equipment, there is a long way to go for digital printing’s going popular like the case in Europe and the U.S.

Ban on greeting cards

On 31^st October, 2013, the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection published the Circular on Banning the Procurement, Printing and Sending Greeting Cards by Public Finance. The ban aroused a shock in the printing industry. Printing houses mainly dealing in greeting cards and wall calendars suffered the most.

Transformation

In 2013, the call of Practicing Frugality and the Ban on greeting cards from the CPC Central Committee exerted a profound influence on the market. Printing houses were hit the most. Over-packaging and sending greeting cards went popular in China. Many printing houses survived by false prosperity and dealt in single business. The impact is enduring and a large proportion of businesses suffer. Printing houses shall quicken the pace for transformation and upgrading for the development in the harsh market.