A crowd of more than 110 peers and competitors set aside their differences to promote a brighter future at the Australasian Printing and Communication Papers Market Outlook Forum 2013, presented by IndustryEdge at the Bayview on the Park in Melbourne.
- Tim Woods, director, IndustryEdge
The first dedicated market event for the sector in years, the Forum offered insight into trends and near-term forecasts, as well as prompting open debate on industry hot topics ranging from pricing and sustainability to stronger convergence across the distribution chain. The event saw an in-depth address from IndustryEdge director, Tim Woods, as well as exclusive keynotes from well-known industry leaders such as Bill Healey, CEO Printing Industries Association of Australia (PIAA), Kellie Northwood, executive director Australian Catalogue Association (ACA) and manager of Two Sides Australia, Jim Henneberry, CEO of Australian Paper, Andrew McKean from Norske Skog Australasia, Chris Philpot on behalf of Planet Ark and Mr Richard Davies representing the Department of Industry.
Tim Woods, director of IndustryEdge, said, “The industry hasn’t come together in this kind of a forum in something like 25 years, from what I’m aware. Our initial view was we would get maybe 50 people to attend, but we’ve ended up with over 110 people registered here, sharing information and networks that they simply haven’t had access to in quite a long time.”
Woods stressed the event’s relevance to all tiers of the distribution chain, from paper makers, merchants and importers to printers, setting lines of communication and understanding to create value for the industry at large.
In his keynote Woods revealed the IndustryEdge forecast for printing and communication papers over the next three to five years. The figures predict that while global demand looks set to contract by 4.5%, due to sharp declines in North America and Europe, the Australian and New Zealand market has a brighter future. According to IndustryEdge estimates the pan-Asia region’s demands are likely to expand by 4.6% for the main grades through to 2017.
Printing Industries CEO, Bill Healey spoke of a more holistic perspective, encouraging convergence of the industry into an integrated supply chain.
“A printer’s product today is actually a communications solution, it’s not the card or the box. The printers that I represent are moving into multi-channel communication, working to shift from a cost model to a value model. To do that they’ve got to keep informed about their market, they’ve got to have an effective relationship with their supplier and understand the challenges they’re facing,” said Healey.
The Hon Ian Macfarlane MP, Minister for Industry, sent along a message, despite being unable to attend the event in person, pledging the government’s support to the printing and paper industries.
“Pulp and paper and printing industries have a strong future in Australia, as they lead the way in attracting investment, fostering change and maintaining and enhancing world class environmentally sustainable practices,” he said.
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Issues surrounding sustainability and certification were revisited throughout the event. A lively panel, including Kellie Northwood and Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) strategic policy manager Mick Stephens, debated the engines driving sustainability in the industry. According to Northwood the corporate-lead model was detrimental to the movement, insisting that a government-lead approach would better complement the industry.
Northwood also presented some compelling research on “cradle to cradle” sustainability in her keynote later in the day, highlighting the efforts of Austrian paper manufacturer gugler.
“Of all industries tackling sustainability, print is in a unique position to lead in this area. Pulp and paper actually has a great opportunity to have a good environmental story, to actually function with zero waste. It’s possible, it can be done now. What’s important is telling that story to the wider industry,” she said.
Jim Henneberry offered a candid insight into the strategic development of Australian Paper’s Maryvale recycling plant, a $90 million investment which is slated to open in 2014 and save up to 85 million tonnes of waste.
Tim Woods commended Henneberry and the other company heads who opened up at the event.
“I must say I’m always impressed by the leadership in the industry, whether that’s in the associations. Bill Healey and Kellie Northwood’s contributions have been fantastic, but especially those CEOs who are prepared to do the flip-top head moment and say look inside our business… because they know that making a better industry is going to help them make a better business,” said Woods.
In attendance were delegates from BJ Ball, Carter Holt Harvey, Equilibrium OMG, Forestry Corporation, Hannanprint, Jackaroo, K.W. Doggett, Paper-Pak and Spicers, among many others.