NPES First-Half 2006 Data Shows Strong Growth for Equipment

A quick look at some of the equipment categories shows that sheet-fed press sales have led the industry growth at a whopping 70 percent increase over first half 2005.

Product type / Growth 1st half
Platesetters +2.5%
Sheetfed presses +70.6%
Web-fed presses +6.1%
Cutters -8.1%

On the heels of an extremely well attended GRAPH EXPO in Chicago and based on many discussions with members on the show floor, we believe that the second half will be strong too; however it will be difficult to maintain a 29 percent growth pace. But even if the growth rate slows somewhat, 2006 will probably hit the books as one of the best years in the last decade for sales of equipment.