In a popular podcast episode, Marcus Timson welcomed Dario Urbinati, the CEO of Gallus, a subsidiary of HEIDELBERG, to discuss changes that are happening in the print industry, his economic outlook, and the future of technology.

Dario Urbinati's journey to becoming CEO of Gallus is an indication of his commitment and experience within the print industry. Having started in 2007 as a product manager for the global screen printing business at Gallus, Urbinati's career has extended over various roles across continents, giving him a unique perspective on the industry's challenges and opportunities. His leadership comes at a time when the industry faces significant shifts, not only in technology but also in economic and demographic trends.

Urbinati, an economist by training, shared his observations on the current economic conditions and their implications for the print industry. He highlighted several key points:

• The Impact of Demographics: The retiring baby boomer generation is leading to a scarcity of skilled labour, knowledge and capital, which poses a significant challenge to the print industry. Additionally, there's a notable generational shift, marked by a decreasing number of individuals from Generations Y and X opting for careers in printing due to perceived unattractiveness.

• Sustainability and Digital Transformation: Over the past decade and a half, sustainability has shifted from a niche concern to a central topic of discussion within the industry, alongside the rapid growth of digital printing technologies.

• Consolidation and Innovation: The industry has seen significant consolidation, but Urbinati believes that embracing technological innovation is crucial for adapting to changing market demands and labour shortages.

Under Urbinati's leadership, Gallus is focusing on automation and total cost of ownership (TCO) to adapt to the industry's challenges. He emphasised the importance of developing technologies that require minimal human intervention, not as a means of replacing jobs but to compensate for the diminishing workforce. By adopting a holistic approach to TCO Gallus wants to offer solutions that are not only economically viable but also sustainable and efficient.

Additionally, Urbinati underscores the importance of optimizing the entire technological ecosystem, which includes user-friendly machines, data collection, analysis, and decentralizing the value chain. By considering the entire ecosystem, Gallus provides a holistic approach to TCO, aiming to offer solutions that are not only economically viable but also sustainable and efficient, thereby significantly influencing a company's operational effectiveness.

In June 2023 the Gallus Experience Center was inaugurated as a pivotal touchpoint for the industry. Designed to foster innovation and collaboration, it empowers stakeholders across the industry to exchange knowledge, explore, test, and advance new ideas and technologies. It represents a call to action for the industry to join forces in addressing the challenges of innovation collectively as an industry.  

Urbinati highlights the recent fundamental shift in Gallus's approach, emphasizing the adoption of an outside-in culture. Recognizing the necessity to navigate today's industry challenges, developing an outside-in perspective becomes crucial. This involves actively listening to customers and the broader market, understanding challenges, and subsequently formulating actions and solutions. By fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation, the print industry can effectively address the complexities of the modern economic landscape, emerging stronger and more resilient.

For those interested in the future of print and how companies like Gallus are influencing it, this episode offers a preview of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Additionally, Urbinati underscores the importance of optimizing the entire technological ecosystem, which includes user-friendly machines, data collection, analysis, and decentralizing the value chain. By considering the entire ecosystem, Gallus provides a holistic approach to TCO, aiming to offer solutions that are not only economically viable but also sustainable and efficient, thereby significantly influencing a company's operational effectiveness.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST HERE