Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/522141
12 PalletCentral • May-June 2015 palletcentral.com he printing industry is one of the largest industries in the world and a significant contributor to worldwide economies. It is also a critical link in the supply chain of advertisers, media outlets, businesses, non-profits, governmental entities, and many other industries – including the pallet industry. The print industry accounts for roughly 8.4% of the business of NWPCA members. Commercial printers produce and ship magazines, catalogs, newspaper inserts, books, direct mail marketing pieces, corporate reports and other financial printing, training manuals, promotional materials, and business forms – almost entirely on wooden pallets. According to Printisbig.com, an online informational site presented by Keen Systems, Inc., the printing industry generates some $640 billion in annual revenues worldwide. That compares to the music industry at $67 billion; online advertising at $47 billion annually; and the auto industry which generates a mere $432 billion annually. Moreover, the print industry drives roughly $3.8 trillion in related services, according to the Keen site. Despite the decline of print in today's real-time digital/mobile global economy, print remains a key medium. Last year the U.S. produced about 21 million tons of paper, according to some estimates. Although we may consume a third less paper than 20 years ago, print still matters. Millennials will tell you the same, revealing in March, 2015 that they are far more likely to read printed books than eBooks, according to Publishing Technology research. 1 So where is the print industry headed? Moving from Paper Mill to Retail The Kraft Group is just one of nearly 4900 paper manufacturing facilities in the USA, producing numerous types of paper and paper The Print Industry is Here To Stay By Leah Wheeler INDUSTRY T