Sri Lankan printers look for new global business model
The Sri Lankan printing sector will be looking at a new global business model by cutting costs and achieving higher productivity and quality, despite the stiff competition and rapid technological changes.
This was stated by Sri Lanka Association of Printers (SLPA) President and Sharp Print Holdings Chairman/ CEO Ranjith Fernando when he outlined his insights on where Sri Lanka’s print sector going in the future and how to meet the local and international needs as well as the upcoming Sri Lanka print industry showcasing week.
The SLPA provides solutions to resolve the challenges faced by the printers, so that they can win new business from customers both here and abroad or from others in their existing markets, amidst difficulties in finding skilled workers for the industry.
Fernando said, “Another option is diversification, which due to the widening range of current printing technologies, probably presents the most opportunities for boosting sales and profits.”
Sri Lanka print industry’s drive for more efficiency, combined with diversification will be showcased at the upcoming events lined up in the mega print show in Colombo from March 15 to 18.
It focused on areas like textile printing, large format graphics, printing as a manufacturing process, printed electronics, enhanced three-dimensional decorative printing and printing on different substrates such as glass, advanced plastics and metals, he pointed out.
The SLPA is constantly lobbying to gain concessions and assistance from the government for the benefit of around 5000 printers countrywide and only 500 of them are registered with the association, he revealed.
As a result, the government has recently removed the cess on ivory board imports and the industry will get more duty concessions for the imported material, including quality paper and board for valueadded printing works for the international market, he said.
The immediate challenge before the SLPA is to tackle the dearth of skilled workers and retain the current work force, he disclosed, adding that youths are reluctant to enter the field of printing due to lack of awareness on the job prospects in the ever changing industry.
The industry is losing many skilled workers as they get overseas jobs, especially in countries in the Middle East and Korea.
In addition to organising several awareness and outreach programmes for school leavers, the SLPA offers scholarships for skills training, especially at the Sri Lanka Print Media Academy.
The Federation of European Screen Printers’ Association and Asia Print were among the international institutions which have expressed willingness to work with the SLPA for training and education of youth to enter the printing arena.
Skill requirement
The printing industry requires skills as well as training to mould good printers. It can offer great opportunities to earn high incomes and to improve quality of life, Fernando claimed.
“This is no more an ink and grease industry. We train young people to take advantage of the many opportunities offered and available in the printing sector. We have commenced several courses in printing,” he said.
While striving to increase the membership, the SLPA maintains close relationships with national and international agencies such as the Export Development Board, Ceylon National Chamber of Industries, Sri Lanka Institute of Printing and National Chamber of Commerce, he said.
Digital printing is fast making inroads and it will be important for the printing companies to integrate both offset and digital printing in the future, he said.
The industry is now opening its doors to transform the country as a global printing hub that would create more business avenues and much-needed foreign revenue, Fernando disclosed.
It provides a wide range of products to the export market ranging from commercial printing to quality packaging materials such as tea cartons, garment tags and labels, which provide a supporting service to major export sectors.
With the main vision of going global, the SLAP will hold their biennial Print Conference on March 15, 2018, at Waters Edge, Battaramulla, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. under the patronage of Skills Development and Vocational Training Minister Chandima Weerakkody as the chief guest.
The National Print 2018 conference will gather all stakeholders in the printing industry to a single platform, for far-reaching discussions, debate and sharing knowledge on the theme ‘Going Global’.
The global challenge for sustainability of packaging, competition to the print industry, business of printing human potential management for sustainable business enterprise and commitment for compliance to environment would be key areas of discussion with the panel of speakers at the conference.
Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science and Technology, Haryana, India Vice Chancellor Prof. Rajendrakumar Anayath, who chairs the judging committee of Sri Lanka Print Excellence Awards 2018, will deliver a lecture on print excellence, the conference Project Chairman and Tprint VP Operations Peter Deckker stated.
Deckker noted that the conference is aimed at laying the foundation for discussion, knowledge sharing and a road map towards establishing a printing logistics industrial park to achieve the vision of going global.
The major event of the printers mega show, the Sri Lanka Printers’ Exhibition and Trade Fair, will be opened at Sri Lanka Exhibition and Convention Centre in Colombo Fort on Friday, March 16, at 9:00 a.m.
Sri Lanka Print 2018
Elaborating the objectives of the Sri Lanka Print 2018 exhibition, Fernando noted that it will showcase the availability of new technology, modern machinery, new trends in digital printing, innovative print designs and new creative productions of the industry while providing prospects for exhibitors, customers, suppliers and visitors to establish contacts during oneto-one talks under one roof.
One of the main focuses of this year’s exhibition will be the introduction of printing as a career path for young school leavers and guide them to take advantage of the many opportunities offered and available in this field, he revealed.
The main feature of the exhibition is the large number of international participants and there will be 32 stalls of foreign printers, he said. An Asian print delegation is also expected to participate in the exhibition.
The industry has taken giant steps in recent times improving its machinery in terms of scope, technology and speed. Computers and electronics have invaded all the departments of printing, improving quality and speed of the jobs with the consequent enhancement of costs.
This change opened the doors for the Sri Lankan print industry to modernize by investing in the latest of technology and machinery, he said.
The progressive printers of today are equipped with the latest computer-controlled printing machines.
Leading print companies have optimized the use of information technology in each and every area of their business. These printers are today equipped on par with the best print production facilities in the world.
For the first time, the SLPA has introduced an online registration process of participants and digital counting system of visitors to the exhibition, making the best use of information technology, Intag International (Pvt.) Director S. Kethees said.
This will enable the association to maintain a comprehensive data base of participants with their all relevant data for future references and establish contacts, he added.
The curtain will come down on the print industry mega show with the print excellence gala awards night organised to felicitate and recognize the printers of excellence in Sri Lanka, at Shangri-la Hotel in Colombo, on March 18. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will grace the occasion as the chief guest.
The award recipients will be selected by a panel of international and expert judges. The number of categories has been increased to 28 and the best finished products will also receive awards.
The future is about technical and other changes that impact the industry; thus, there is a need to transfer from craft skills to It-skilled personnel.
This means the changing balance between physical skills into computer-based process control are the future needs to challenge the global competition, Fernando pointed out.