By Joy Aliyu

Stakeholders in the country’s printing industry have expressed concern over the decrease in demand for offset printing.

The experts said although there was still a huge market for exercise books because kids use them, adults were jettisoning print publications in favour of digital formats.

They said this at an Executive Seminar on Flexographic Printing and Packaging themed: ‘Unlocking Profitability and Sustainability Through Flexo,’ held in Lagos.

Speaking at the event, Chief Executive Officer of VIP-System Group, Guenter Franz, said flexo printing was one of the approaches that was now being used in attracting young people to the printing industry.

Franz said: “The printing market is still big in Nigeria in regard to offset printing. All over the world, the orders and volumes in offset printing are going down. There is still a huge market in exercise books or school books because kids still use them. But as soon as they get older, they do not want to read books or newspapers. They want to read on the internet with their smartphones. That is a challenge. It is a problem.

“That is the reason why we have to find new ways to get the young people attracted to the printing industry. One of the ways we have decided to do that is evaluate the possibilities in packaging. Flexoprinting has lots of benefits, including saving costs and green energy ideas.”

On her part, Managing Director of FAE Limited, Princess Funayo Bakare-Okeowo, said flexo printing was the most effective way for industry players to reduce costs.

Bakare-Okeowo said: “When you talk about printing, a lot of people marvel and ask if people are still into printing with digitalisation. This (flexo printing) is how to stay in business and modernise. With this, those in the industry can cut costs and remain in business.

“Flexoprinting is environmentally friendly. This is the right time for those in the industry to embrace it because it is a cheaper and efficient way to reach their objectives.”

Meanwhile, Technical Director at Randomsoft Limited, Olakunle Ogunjobi, said flexo printing was centered on sustainability and profitability.

According to him, because there was always a constant war between cost and taking care of the environment, flexo printing became the preferred choice.

He said: “We have looked into the packaging space, and we understand that there are quite a number of technologies that could be used in the area of printing and packaging. We understand the various environmental impacts and different aspects of such.

“Most users of this technology are familiar with the offset printing market. The cost of acquiring this advanced analogue flexo printing solution is about 60 per cent of offset printing. What we are introducing for the packaging is not as expensive. If they listen to us, they have the right technology in the flexo printing solution.”