* “The English philosopher Francis Bacon, who’s credited with developing the scientific method, wrote in 1620 that the three inventions that forever changed the world were gunpowder, the nautical compass and the printing press”.
The printing industry has been around for a very long time and pre-internet, is credited with being the best source of disseminating information, creating opportunity for people to read books and learn, and launching the original wide-spanning newspaper network. As machines and technology became more sophisticated, the industry that we know today has branched into many segments in addition to the general printer and bindery. The bindery itself, has far reaching effects despite the fact that the general population would be hard pressed to know just how much a folding machine, stitcher or paper cutter actually impacts their lives.
Although I would be considered relatively young in terms of my involvement in this industry (a scant 40 years compared to history), there are some things that jump out at me…
· The folks in the printing and bindery industry are some of the most hard-working people you will ever know. And they are resilient too- Many are struggling right now. Some are mom and pop shops and others larger corporations. We are hopeful that things will turn around soon allowing everyone to get back on their feet and get, or keep the machines rolling. Keep the faith.
· I believe printing will be around in some form or fashion for a long time to come even though the introduction to the internet and electronic communication has changed the way the printing industry operates. There is still a need and a desire for things to be printed on paper. According to the NY Times, May 2019, “sales of printed books continue to rise to new highs, as do the number of independent stores stocked with these voices between covers, even as sales of electronic versions are declining”.
· Nothing quite replaces the feel of a good ‘old-fashioned’ paper book. It is not only books that are becoming more popular. Judging by the amount of marketing I get in my email inbox each day, and end up deleting without opening them, I can’t help but think that others have a similar experience. There are companies who are going back to sending a portion of their advertising in the form of direct mail, (ours included) to have more presence and be seen more easily. There is value in being able to keep your hands close to a piece of paper that you know you will want to reference again in the future.
While we don’t know how the next few months will shake out, I am beginning to see some signs of life within our industry- more quotes coming in for parts and machine rebuilds; phone calls requesting general information, and businesses beginning to re-open and send employees back to work. It’s comforting, not only to me as small business trying to earn a living, but because I consider my customers my friends, and want them to succeed in whatever they choose to do going forward. We are here to help in the obvious way of providing parts and service, but also, and know that you have a fan club rooting for your success!
Janice
MSI Bindery Parts
· *Full article can be found at History.com, 7 ways the printing press changed the world.
UPDATED:
SEP 3, 2019
ORIGINAL:
AUG 28, 2019
7 Ways the Printing Press Changed the World