The capital expenditures of commercial printers fell in 2016, but the investment in less expensive used equipment may have been a major factor. The volume of used equipment is usually a factor of availability. Most all printers check the used market before making purchases, and it’s hard to find any owner who is not receptive to a pitch about equipment coming to market. Overall, consolidation has pushed equipment onto the market, and the money used to buy printing companies subtracts from the total money available in the marketplace for new capital expenditures.
