The printing industry is undergoing rapid change as a result of the increasing digitalization of the press. IPM, owner of several major newspapers such as La Libre , La DH/Les Sports and L'Avenir recently announced the closure of its Anderlecht printing plant, scheduled for completion by the end of 2024. The decision to rationalize printing sites raises a number of issues for players in this sector.
"The press business model is undergoing an accelerated pace of digital transformation," said François le Hodey, head of the IPM Group.
The paper press is undergoing a steady contraction in the face of the increasing power of digital content. This transformation is leading to a drop in printing volumes and, consequently, a rationalization of production sites. The closure of IPM's printing plant in Anderlecht reflects this trend, with many players having to reassess their business models.
The closure of the IPM printing plant comes against a backdrop of consolidation. In April 2023, IPM entered into a partnership with Rossel to centralize the overnight printing of daily newspapers at the Nivelles site. This centralization strategy could become a standard in the industry, where concentrating volumes on a limited number of sites optimizes production costs.
Aging infrastructure and lack of reinvestment
The Anderlecht printing plant, which operated with presses over 15 years old, did not reinvest to modernize its equipment. This decision not to renew equipment highlights a common problem in the printing sector: the difficulty of justifying heavy investment in a shrinking market.
