AllThingsD writer Arik Hesseldahl has speculated on the future of HP as the technology company is set to report its quarterly results in the afternoon of 22 February 2012, in which he notes that despite “most analysts expect[ing] it to come through and meet – and perhaps even beat – some diminished expectations […] HP is facing a significant problem in a key market: Printing.”

Hesseldahl states that although the activities of HP’s Imaging and Printing Group (IPG) account for approximately 20 percent of HP’s revenue, making it a larger business-by-revenue than the enterprise and server, storage and networking businesses, “the printing business is on the wane. For all of 2011, combined sales grew by 0.7 percent, according to IDC, and what little growth there was didn’t go to HP. IDC says HP’s printer shipments declined by 0.7 percent last year, while Canon, Samsung and Brother all saw their shipments grow.”

The decline of sales of supplies – “remember that HP takes a low on every printer it sells and makes it up on much more profitable supplies” – was also recognised, stating that “a decline in ink sales can have an outsized impact in IPG’s profitability: operating margins in IPG declined from 17.1 percent in 2012 to 15.4 percent in 2011.”

Ultimately, Hesseldahl was keen to stress the simplicity of HP’s circumstances: “If people are printing less, they’re buying fewer printers. And if they’re buying fewer printers, they’re buying less ink. All of it is bad news for the world’s biggest printer company.”

Mark Gedek, a Kodak employee who continues to work at the company, has launched a civil lawsuit against the printer manufacturer, stating that directors and officials did not disclose information about Kodak’s financial situation, reports Reuters.

Gedek, a participant in the Kodak Employees Savings and Investment Plan as well as the Kodak Employee Stock Ownership Plan, states that board members and directors failed to disclose information to stock-plan participants, and retained investments in the company’s equity when it was no longer advisable. He also claims that the board members and directors continued to sell shares to employees and invest in them ahead of the bankruptcy.

According to Reuters, Gedek said the company “should have known it was suffering from a dying technology; was unable to bring new, profitable products to the market quickly enough; could not generate enough cash from patent lawsuits and was suffering from a liquidity crisis”, claiming that these aspects caused the stock price to collapse and inflict severe losses to the plans and its participants.

Among those named in the lawsuit are Kodak Chief Executive Antonio Perez, several members of the board of directors and chairpeople for the savings and investment plan, and the plan administrator.

Spokesperson Christopher Veronda emailed with a statement: “Kodak believes this suit is without merit, and we will vigorously defend against it.”

Kodak recently announced plans to exit the digital camera business, intending to commit to the printer market.

Printer consumables supplier TonerGiant has recently announced its status as one of the few UK resellers authorised to sell the Lomond EvoJet K2 Office Printer, reports Journalism.co.uk.

The device counts among its unique characteristics a 222.8mm wide Memjet printhead, which includes 70,000 print nozzles. Instead of moving across the paper, as per standard inkjet printers, the printhead remains static while the paper sheet moves, which Lomond claims improves durability.

Lomond also cites “exceptionally low running costs”, with the M101 black ink cartridges offering a cost per page of £0.011 ($0.017/€0.013), while the M101 Cyan, Magenta and Yellow colour cartridges offer £0.0067 ($0.011/€0.008).

Stuart Deavall, Web and Digital Marketing Manager at TonerGiant, commented: “We recently installed a Lomond EvoJet here in our office and it created quite a buzz. We were a little sceptical if an inkjet printer could be that quick at first, but after using the Lomond for the first time, we couldn’t help but be impressed how fast this thing can print.”

Deavall also stated that while performance figures were impressive on paper, users can only appreciate the performance of the machine once seen in action.

Jon Hartley, Production Development Specialist at TonerGiant, added: “Seeing the Lomond printer and its blistering speed in action is a truly surreal experience – suddenly everything else seems slow.”

Print-Rite has announced its commitment to “produce eco-friendly print consumable products” for 30 years through an LED screen display in Times Square in New York City.

The announcement, titled For the next 30 years, we will color the world with GREEN, was displayed on the famous LED billboards in New York City on 27 January 2012. The company noted that it made the announcement to pledge itself to “30 years of commitment to produce eco-friendly print consumable products”, and that it has “always taken green printing as its mission since it was founded in 1981”.

Print-Rite CEO Arnald Ho appeared on the announcement, which Print-Rite stated “makes the mark on the history of [the] print consumable industry”, and adding that Times Square was chosen as it is “symbolized as ‘The Crossroads of the World’ which have effectively conveyed company images and ideas to the top officials and senior executives” in the city and beyond.

The company stated that “for the past thirty years” it has transformed from a “wholesale trade to an own brand manufacturer” and that it has “always taken green printing as its mission since it was founded in 1981”, adding that “for the next 30 years, Print-Rite will color the world with GREEN, and bring a more beautiful life to our customers”.

Ho was recently awarded the Owner Operator award by the Hong Kong Business Award 2011 for his work with Print-Rite since its conception.

Investment bank Morgan Stanley has issued a note to investors that the spread of tablet use, led by the Apple iPad, is adversely affecting corporate printing at a higher rate than originally predicted, reports Apple Insider.

A Blue Paper released in February 2011 predicted a decline between eight to 15 percent, although a new survey suggests a dip of as much as 16 percent, aided by company measures to curtail
printing.

In a survey covering 700 tablet users in the US, 46 percent of respondents with 13 percent of the aforementioned printing 16 percent less following ownership of a tablet. 41 percent of participants cited a reduction in printing as a “main benefit”.

Company efforts have also played a significant part in the reduction, with 75 percent of participants printing less following curtailment orders from employers.

Analyst Katy Huberty stated that Lexmark, Ricoh and Konica Minolta would be the most “structurally challenged” by the decline. Fujifilm, Canon and HP are also predicted to experience minor negative impacts.

Huberty points out the nine percent decline in printing and writing paper demand in the US following the first iPad release in April 2010. As of Q4 2011, paper demand has fallen by 24 percent since its peak in 2006. Apple CFO Peter Oppenheimer is quoted by Huberty as saying that the iPad has experienced “unprecedented adoption in business” and nearly all of the top Fortune 500 companies are actively using iPads.

Messe Frankfurt have released a final report on the Paperworld exhibition, including Remanexpo, following its close on 31 January 2012, celebrating an increased combined visitor turnout of 49,350 visitors across 71 countries.

Remanexpo also saw an increase in visitors, with a 4.7 percent upturn in issued tickets and an average number of visitors per exhibitor at 52.14. Although the mature market saw few new faces, feedback from exhibitors reveals that the quality of visitors was very good.

Overall, Remanexpo hosted 163 exhibitors spread across 3,685m2 and saw a visitor count of 8,500 to 9,000.

Popular trends at the trade fair centred around sustainability and quality in demand, as visitors and consumers look towards not only the ecological standpoint of the products but also within production and sourcing – areas in which the remanufacturing industry is pioneering – and
internationality, with buyers from across Europe and Asia able to expand their international business.

Karl Kallinger, Member of the Board, KMP, stated: “We welcomed significantly more customers than last year, especially customers from outside Germany. East Europe and Southern Europe were particularly well represented. The [economic] crisis has not even been mentioned and the focus in on business […] Every sector needs its leading trade fair and, for us, it is undoubtedly Paperworld!”

Dirk Hünselar, Sales Manager, OCP, also remarked: “The first days were somewhat quieter than last year. This is not a problem because it takes time to conduct good discussions. Thus, although the throughput is down, the efficiency is up. This suits us very well as a company-oriented towards quality and not quantity. Hence, we are very pleased overall.

“The incorporation of Remanexpo into Paperworld is a blessing because some of our customers are also Remanexpo exhibitors and this represents an enormous increase in efficiency.”

Detlef Braun, Member of the Executive Board of Messe Frankfurt, commented: “Our trio of fairs is a genuine magnet for international buyers. And this is shown by the stable number of visitors […] There was a significant increase in the number of East European and, in particular, Russian
visitors and this supported the international strategies of our exhibitors.”

Planning for Remanexpo 2013 is well under way, and The Recycler will be in the vanguard promoting and supporting the event with an extensive visitor and exhibitor marketing programme and developing the seminar and networking programme.

David Connett, Editor and Publisher of The Recycler, said: “The Recycler will be supporting the
local Messe Frankfurt offices or Sales Partners who are now responsible for Remanexpo and Paperworld sales. These changes will enable us to work closely with the local Messe Frankfurt offices and Sales Partner network partners, who will deliver all the services we have provided
but will be able to offer these services in local languages and time zones, providing one local access point for all the events.”

Stefanie Unland, Deputy Publisher of The Recycler, added: “All our exhibitors will be contacted by
their respective sales offices over the next month or so to introduce themselves, and I will always be on hand to assist if needed.”

Leading trade fair organiser Messe Frankfurt has claimed that recent research has revealed a shift towards sustainable products as demand for paper products and stationery in the Middle East increases, due to growing awareness of environmental issues and the damage caused by unhindered commercial paper consumption.

As such, Epoc Messe Frankfurts, organisers of Paperworld Middle East, expect to see significant interest in companies specialising in sustainable products and services, as well as companies involved in recycling used paper products.

Ahmed Pauwels, CEO, Epoc Messe Frankfurt, commented: “The Middle East market for paper is expected to continue to grow in the near future, with recent figures indicating that the region would need 28 million tonnes of paper to fulfil its needs by 2020 [according to research by the
Indonesian Pulp & Paper Association].

“While the outlook for growth remains robust, environmental concerns and the perceived need for greater sustainability in what is seen as a ‘high carbon footprint’ industry, has led to a growing trend among corporate customers to opt for sustainable and recyclable paper to meet their needs.”

Paperworld Middle East will be held 6 to 8 March at the Dubai International Convention and
Exhibition Centre, and will feature international and local manufacturers and suppliers of office and paper products for private and business use.

GIT Dubai's management team at the top 100 event

GIT Dubai’s Dr Sassan Dieter Khatib-Shahidi stated in an email that the company “is very proud” to have ranked 11^th, and noted that “it is possible for our industry to outshine other business sectors” in such rankings.

The remanufacturer stated that it is one of around 72,000 SMEs operating in Dubai, with only 13 of the 100 chosen engaged in manufacturing. Between them, the 1000 generate AED 2.3 billion ($626.1 million/€471.9 million), and the bi-annual ranking, beginning with this contest, is based on financial records and a “stringent audit” by Dubai SME.

The top 100 SMEs were honoured by His Highness Sheikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Economic Sector Committee in Dubai, President of Dubai Civil Aviation and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group.

His Excellency Sami Al Qamzi, Director General of DED, stated of the SMEs: “I congratulate the first batch of Dubai SME 100 companies who have demonstrated the willingness and capabilities to be evaluated under the DubaiSME 100 model. They have shown commendable performance and vision for growth and development.  I also commend DubaiSME for launching such an initiative to create a dynamic platform for all SMEs to come forward on their own will, participate, exchange information and share best practices. I am sure SMEs will be curious to know how their fellow-enterprises have grown and developed.”

Khatib-Shahidi added that the company also placed fourth in Human Capital Development and sixth in financial growth, and stated that he hopes the company’s recognition “can inspire other entrepreneurs, newcomers and seasoned players alike, to manage businesses […] in our industry” in a way to achieve such a reward. He noted: “The sometimes not so glamorous self attributed appearance of our industry can be shed easily if industry leaders do the right thing and manage their businesses just like any other business is and should be doing, in accordance with sound management and market principles.”

GIT Dubai previously achieved fourth place in the Arabia500 list of the 500 fastest growing companies in the Middle East, and helped produce an hourly newsletter at the recent GITEX trade show in Dubai using its own products.

Thai Industry Minister Pongsvas Svasti

The OEM has apparently “expressed interest” in forming a venture with Thai-based electronics company Cal-Comp Electronics to build the inkjet printer facility in Thailand, according to the Bangkok Post.

Thai Industry Minister Pongsvas Svasti met with HP Senior Vice-President Reinhard Winkler, and stated that he claimed the company would make a decision on the plans “within 30 days”.

Svasti added: “Hewlett-Packard is now expanding investment in Asean nations and sees Thailand as a priority. [HP executives] are here in Thailand to investigate our infrastructure, especially the government’s water management measures, which we are committed to, and we pointed out our investment promotion privileges supporting the electronics sector”.

Vatsun Thirapatarapong, Country General Manager for HP’s Imaging and Printing stated that China, Vietnam, India and Malaysia are “also possibilities” for expansion in Asia.

Thirapatarapong added: “Thailand has an advantage in terms of infrastructure and logistics, but HP is concerned about the government’s water management abilities.

“We want the factory close to customers in Asia, where future growth is promising due to the planned Asian Economic Community in 2015.”

The OEM would join other OEMs in basing production facilities in Thailand, though Canon, Brother, OKI and Ricoh have recently experienced difficulties relating to floods in the country.

The Canadian-based aftermarket company has promoted Robert Cotran and Sam Bahous to President and COO and Vice Chairman respectively.

The company noted that Cotran has worked at the company and been a major player “for many years”, and added that his “vision, his knowledge of the inner workings of the company” and “his constant desire to improve working methods” will help Densi to “find new ways of making Densi successful”.

Cotran will be responsible for the day to day operations at Densi, with Camille Cotran, CEO and Chairman of Densi, noting: “It is with great pleasure that I nominate Robert to this position.  He has been pivotal in the continued growth of Densi.

“His emphasis on maximizing the use of the latest technology will take the company to new heights.”

Sam Bahous was appointed as Vice Chairman, in which he will support Cotran and the senior management team. Bahous has, like Cotran, been working for Densi since the company was created, and Camille Cotran added: “Sam has worked alongside me since the creation of the company. His knowledge of the industry and the products are a great asset which enables him to give good guidance to Robert and his team.”

David Deslauriers was also appointed to Manager of Information Technology, and Camille Cotran elaborated on the future for the company in the industry: “Our market is constantly evolving, and Densi is positioned to become a leader in customer service and product quality. We are ready to meet the new challenges of our industry.”