WOA 50th ANNIVERSARY -- Web's Balancing Act

Printing clearly continues to be a consolidating industry, Frick agrees, but he sees it as part of a broader business trend. Companies are streamlining the way they do business and buying more products and services from fewer providers, he points out.

"We are doing the same thing. We've gone from having more than 20 paper suppliers down to six," the Lehigh exec reveals. "We are seeking partnerships. That is one of the most overused terms in the business lexicon, but it is a real concept and is critical to success. It means identifying the irreducible number of core providers in a given category—equipment, supplies, etc.—and building stronger relationships with a commitment to sharing information," he says.