Focus Label Machinery says few industries have been unaffected by supply chain problems since the start of the pandemic, which have been exacerbated by the Ukraine War and other global factors.
Paper
The price of paper has been steadily rising for some time, due to a potent combination of factors, such as increasing demand, spiralling fuel costs and shortages of raw materials, among others. During the pandemic, many businesses suspended their print marketing but, with the world returning to normal, demand for paper is outstripping supply, particularly specialty materials for bespoke orders.
Ink
Similarly, the availability of ink has triggered issues in the print supply chain, with a commercial printer ink shortage caused by compound shortages, fluctuating demand and rising fuel prices that are impacting on shipping costs. Many businesses rely on water and UV ink for most of their everyday printing, so delays are emerging in the supply of these inks, while specialty inks are, in some quarters, becoming more difficult to obtain. For all projects using standard and specialty inks, effective advance planning is crucial to ensure that supplies are sourced at a competitive price in advance to prevent shortages that could affect project delivery.
Turnaround time
During 2023, most businesses have resumed normal pre-pandemic operations, including office-based working, direct marketing campaigns, face-to-face trade shows and events, which has significantly increased demand on print businesses for rapid turnaround times. A surge of orders at a time of acute delays in the print supply chain has posed logistical challenges for many printing companies, which have had to find innovative and versatile solutions so their production teams can meet soaring demand and achieve challenging turnaround times.
FOCUS LABEL MACHINERY
jamesb@focuslabel.com
https://www.focuslabel.com
