Government In-plants Excel
Though our new survey of government in-plants offers a good picture of this market segment, the data is even more illuminating when viewed next to the results of an industry-wide survey conducted by IPG earlier this year. For the most part, government in-plants match the trends we see among all in-plants, but there are several areas where government printers excel.
More of them are providing digital printing (97%) than in the in-plant industry at large (90.6%), and more government printers handle data center/IT printing (33% vs. 18.7%). Also, more of them have computer-to-plate (CTP) systems (74% vs. 53.2%) and color printers in the 41-99 ppm range (74% vs. 53.2%).
Of the printed products produced, government in-plants are ahead in the production of ID cards (41% make them vs. 28% in the entire industry), engineering drawings (25% vs. 14%), Annual Reports (86% vs. 62%) and directories (70% vs. 59%). They also lead in stationery (87% vs. 78%) and pocket folders (43% vs. 34%).
More government printers are insourcing (62% vs. 54.3%), more are charging back (85% vs. 72%) and more have the right of first refusal (59% vs 30%).
They don’t lead in every way, though. Fewer government in-plants have production color printers (17%) than among all in-plants (32%). Fewer provide variable data printing (49% vs. 54%). Fewer are in charge of obtaining copyright permission (6% vs. 20%). And slightly fewer market their services to customers (57% vs. 61%).
Click on the link for the PDF at right, under “related items.”
Bob has served as editor of In-plant Impressions since October of 1994. Prior to that he served for three years as managing editor of Printing Impressions, a commercial printing publication. Mr. Neubauer is very active in the U.S. in-plant industry. He attends all the major in-plant conferences and has visited more than 180 in-plant operations around the world. He has given presentations to numerous in-plant groups in the U.S., Canada and Australia, including the Association of College and University Printers and the In-plant Printing and Mailing Association. He also coordinates the annual In-Print contest, co-sponsored by IPMA and In-plant Impressions.
