CEO Reflects as P.A. Hutchison Marks Major Milestone
The other thing is deciding on new technology. Being part of a long history of an industry with overcapacity, we've followed inkjet from its development, but trying to decide the right leaping-off point not to reiterate more overcapacity in the marketplace.
EXTRA: What are your publishing customers' biggest challenges, and how are you helping them address these challenges?
HUTCHISON: Beyond the delivery format of them knowing how much to commit to print versus electronic, and how to manage inventory and keep costs down, one of the things we provide is that we're set up for run lengths from 10 to 100,000. So that, [along] with quick turns, helps them manage their costs and warehousing efficiently.
EXTRA: What do you see as the biggest opportunity for growth right now for P.A. Hutchison?
HUTCHISON: I just think market share, really. We've decided at least for the next, probably, 24 months that we'll continue to focus on one- and two-color books. And hopefully inkjet and electronic will play out a little bit in that timeframe before we decide on a different market strategy.
EXTRA: In what area is the company investing most heavily right now?
HUTCHISON: We actually are just coming off a three-year period where we've invested over $11 million, and we really did it across the board, from web press to perfect binding to facility and prepress. So we're taking a breather this year. And I think inkjet would be our next investment.
EXTRA: One-hundred years in business is quite an accomplishment. To what do you attribute your ability to survive through several major recessions and a changing publishing/printing environment?
HUTCHISON: I think a good operating strategy, and a great workforce that provides flexibility to ups and downs and twists and turns of cycles within publishing has helped us most.
EXTRA: There has been a lot of consolidation in the printing business in the past few years, and many are concerned about further consolidation creating a lack of choice and competition to help keep pricing down. Do you see further consolidation ahead?
