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Rise of the machines
This whole low-cost labour thing is starting to worry me. Don’t get me wrong, I’m in favour of printers using all available tactics to further their business. However, in my opinion, the Government’s open-door policy is more to do with short-term political gain than future economic stability. My preferred solution is automation.
Here is my simple argument. On a local scale, the biggest migration of labour to the UK since the end of the Second World War is a one-shot, one-way ticket. One-shot because once you’ve based your business plan on low-cost labour you can’t repeat the saving. One-way because when interest rates rise significantly (and they will) and the economy slips back (which it will), a large low-cost workforce becomes a large expensive workforce. Naturally, this will be accompanied by a sharp rise in social costs and its associated tax burden.
It’s enough to make you want to move to America. Maybe I’d end up sitting next to Mr Blair on the flight.
However, don’t despair. Yes, apply low-cost labour where appropriate, but please not at the expense of technology and automation.
An automated print and finishing process has got to be the ultimate value-added money making machine. Forget the obvious benefits of machinery such as improved product quality, 24/7 operation and a holiday/sickness-free working year. In the topsy-turvy world of wide-format print, automation offers much needed flexibility. When business dips for a day or two turn the speed dial to number three. When business returns turn the speed dial to nine. More than that and you can always call the service engineer for an upgrade. Nice.
