David Savastano, Editor10.14.21
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a difficult time for everyone. Even now, the Delta variant has prolonged the pandemic, forcing further slowdowns and additional lockdowns.
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the entire globe, and the world of business is no exception. The ink industry has been heavily impacted on many fronts. In “Ink Manufacturers Facing Raw Material, Logistics Challenges,” which begins on page 22, I spoke with ink industry purchasing executives, who detail some of the seemingly countless issues they are facing.
We all know the raw material problems – prices are going up across the board, and that is when a company can actually get the materials they need. There have also been natural disasters that have forced companies to shut down key operations, further tightening supply.
The logistic details are startling. Even when goods can be ordered, there are delays in shipping. Meanwhile, the costs of shipping have skyrocketed. Then there are challenges with trucking, as there is a shortage of truck drivers. All in all, raw materials will undoubtedly continue to be a challenge for ink manufacturers for the foreseeable future.
In the midst of the pandemic, we are seeing new business models that offer some advantages over conventional approaches. One area is textile printing. While digital textile printing is still a small portion of textile printing, it is growing fast, and the advantages of digital printing are changing market dynamics.
In “The Digital Textile Ink Market is Pressing Forward,” starting on page 30, digital ink leaders talk about what they are seeing. They note the ability to produce just-in-time delivery is of particular interest.
As retailers struggle to get inventory from overseas due to logistics and also try to sell off excess inventory, they are seeing the benefits of just-in-time inventory, which can be produced close by. This is leading to new opportunities.
The October 2021 issue features Ink World’s annual Buyers’ Guide, the ink industry’s most comprehensive listing of raw materials, equipment and services, distributors and trade associations. In addition, our annual Buyers’ Guide is available online at www.inkworldmagazine.com. We hope you find it to be very useful!
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the entire globe, and the world of business is no exception. The ink industry has been heavily impacted on many fronts. In “Ink Manufacturers Facing Raw Material, Logistics Challenges,” which begins on page 22, I spoke with ink industry purchasing executives, who detail some of the seemingly countless issues they are facing.
We all know the raw material problems – prices are going up across the board, and that is when a company can actually get the materials they need. There have also been natural disasters that have forced companies to shut down key operations, further tightening supply.
The logistic details are startling. Even when goods can be ordered, there are delays in shipping. Meanwhile, the costs of shipping have skyrocketed. Then there are challenges with trucking, as there is a shortage of truck drivers. All in all, raw materials will undoubtedly continue to be a challenge for ink manufacturers for the foreseeable future.
In the midst of the pandemic, we are seeing new business models that offer some advantages over conventional approaches. One area is textile printing. While digital textile printing is still a small portion of textile printing, it is growing fast, and the advantages of digital printing are changing market dynamics.
In “The Digital Textile Ink Market is Pressing Forward,” starting on page 30, digital ink leaders talk about what they are seeing. They note the ability to produce just-in-time delivery is of particular interest.
As retailers struggle to get inventory from overseas due to logistics and also try to sell off excess inventory, they are seeing the benefits of just-in-time inventory, which can be produced close by. This is leading to new opportunities.
The October 2021 issue features Ink World’s annual Buyers’ Guide, the ink industry’s most comprehensive listing of raw materials, equipment and services, distributors and trade associations. In addition, our annual Buyers’ Guide is available online at www.inkworldmagazine.com. We hope you find it to be very useful!