Leasecontrol focuses primarily on the food & agri sector, graphics industry, packaging industry and mail order (e-commerce) sector. These sectors all face their own challenges, but they have two things in common: through innovation and a focus on sustainability, companies can differentiate themselves. Leasecontrol visited Drupa, the world’s largest trade fair for the graphics and packaging industry, and came back with several examples of (sustainable) innovation that other sectors can learn from.
Looking back at Drupa
Drupa took place this year for the first time since 2016. It was therefore a bit of a test to see what the interest and atmosphere would be like, from May 28 to June 7 in Düsseldorf. And what the results would be. Leasecontrol was there and noticed that it was not super busy, but relaxed. Perhaps the right recipe for a good conversation to achieve a balanced and profitable business case together with business partners.
Afterwards, the Drupa organization came up with the numbers: 170,000 visitors passed through the entrance gates. That’s not bad against an expectation of 200,000. On the other hand, a record number of deals were said to have been closed, that by the way without going into details. The majority (over 50 percent) of visitors were from the graphic arts sector, followed by the packaging industry.
Innovation in the packaging industry
And that immediately mentions the most important trend: graphic companies are focusing more and more on the packaging industry. Not illogical when you consider that e-commerce and fulfillment companies, for example, continue to strive for greater efficiency in their chain. Printing, printing, secure packaging, shipping, it should all be done in one smooth process. There are gains to be made in these types of use cases and, with the right print or printing technology, leads to a better relationship with the end customer. Cardboard clearly offers opportunities to strengthen brand awareness.
Sustainable cooperation
Major manufacturers such as Heidelberg are emphatically positioning themselves as partners for the packaging industry. Sign & print, cartonnage, graphic finishing and the integration of protective packaging materials, such as air cushions or air cushion film. In this context, it is interesting to mention the acquisition of Highcon (digital punching machines) by Sealed Air (air cushions, air cushion film). This allows companies to combine folding and corrugated board production with smart packaging solutions. Benefits include allowing companies to make their packaging more efficient, thereby spending less money on shipping and reducing their carbon footprint.
ECO stamps tilt business cases
In 2021/2022, we (Leasecontrol) assisted a leading e-commerce company with the purchase of a variable carton box packing robot from manufacturer CMC. This machine creates variable packaging, for a lipstick box, a laptop or a bicycle. With this box-to-size concept, more items fit in the same truck. This results in substantial savings in transportation costs, which reflects positively on the environment (CO2). Considering that the government stimulates this type of investment with tax incentives such as the MIA and VAMIL, very interesting business cases are emerging here.
Environmental List
For a manufacturer of environmentally friendly and sustainable solutions, it can be very rewarding to have its machine(s) placed on the environmental list. That is a list of machines or equipment or even software that are proven to be environmentally friendly. If your machine qualifies for the environmental list, its purchaser – depending on its environmental friendliness – can virtually write off an additional 27%, 36% or 45% in the fiscal year in which the investment takes place. Moreover, independently of this, one can benefit from the VAMIL, which stipulates that the buyer may depreciate 75% of the investment arbitrarily over time. This turns the business case regarding the machine completely on its head: the tax benefit can add up.
The lesson of Drupa
The lesson of Drupa 2024 is that innovation is there for the taking, but it is also clear that success is not guaranteed. Work on a clear business case with solutions that will move your business forward. We are happy to engage with you to identify and capitalize on the opportunities.
Round up
- Leasecontrol guides you as a supplier to get your machine(s) qualified for the environmental list.
- Leasecontrol will guide you as a buyer to qualify for MIA and VAMIL.
- Leasecontrol simultaneously provides financing for this equipment.
With Leasecontrol, you get more than a balanced business case: we round up your business case for you. So you can innovate sustainably with confidence.
