Book Manufacturing Could Soon See Major Changes
A new report from the Book Manufacturers’ Institute on the state of the book industry predicts that printing is on the cusp of potential major changes.
The report notes that because American book manufacturers are no longer preoccupied with meeting European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) requirements (print products were removed from the regulations late last year), they are better positioned to integrate digital printing, AI tools, and better communication with publishers to create a more efficient manufacturing environment.
One potential shift in the publisher-printer relationship could stem from publishers' growing acceptance of digital printing, as they become more willing to deviate from offset printing in order to lower costs.
“Historically, purchasing has trended toward sourcing books at the lowest unit cost, which would then be printed with conventional technology and stored in inventory as needed,” the report states. “As book demand has dropped amidst digitization, publishers are now increasingly less inclined to purchase in such high volumes with inventory and disposal costs potentially negating the low unit cost savings.”