Paramus, N.J. – The NAPL Capital Investment Study, a new landmark report on the capital investment process in the graphic communications industry, will be unveiled at the NAPL Critical Trends Summit during GRAPH EXPO 2010 on Monday, Oct. 4, at McCormick Place (S106) in Chicago.

The study, sponsored by Canon, is based, in part, on responses from more than 350 industry companies in every market segment and with sales ranging from less than $1 million to more than $300 million. “Comprising far more than survey results, however, it also explores the entire capital investment process,” says NAPL Senior Vice President and Chief Economist Andrew Paparozzi, who will reveal key report results at the Oct. 4 Summit.

“Our aim was to help graphic arts companies improve their investment process and avoid common capital investment mistakes that companies in our industry simply can’t afford to make any more because our margin for error has become so thin,” he explains.

“The result is a report that will define the essential steps in the process, as well as the ‘dos and don’ts,’ offer reliable information sources, explain how to build flexibility into the process, and show printers how to navigate the capital investment journey successfully—and leverage the assistance of manufacturers and technology suppliers in doing so.”

The NAPL Capital Investment Study also details what graphic arts companies would most like to improve about the process and addresses process challenges such as developing unbiased, agenda-free input to help evaluate investment options and strengthen post-investment evaluation. In addition, it provides statistical data and insight on how much graphic arts companies have invested in capital equipment over the last three years and what their investment priorities are for the next three years.

“This study will be important reading for executives of all graphic arts companies—including in-plants and franchisees—who want to make capital investment decisions,” says Paparozzi. “And all providers of graphic arts technology—whether equipment, hardware, or software—will find it useful in understanding where their clients plan to invest over the next 36 months, how they make those choices, and how suppliers can help them make better investment decisions.”