( Weymouth, MA) September 17, 2002... CAP Ventures estimates that the European forms market will grow from 1,454 thousand tonnes in 2000 to 1,546 thousand tonnes in 2005, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.2%. Despite the overall increase in volume, however, the forms market is decreasing in value. In terms of revenue, the market is expected to decline at CAGR of 3.8%, from $5.7 billion in 2000 to $4.7 billion in 2005.

Faced with declining revenues, business forms printers are exploring how they can develop smarter, quicker, and cheaper business practices to better differentiate their services. In the future, the most successful companies will be those that can move up the value chain to address their customers' needs for total workflow integration, making the transition from business forms printers to business communications service providers.

Innovators in the European business forms industry have developed services that distance them from the actual printing of the job. Services include forms management services such as just-in-time production as well as consulting services in developing and optimizing forms, including building a forms library. They also offer archival and extraction services for filled out forms (data capture), direct mail with personalization, electronic forms (e-forms), intelligent forms (I-forms), and overall business administration.

CAP Ventures recently completed a comprehensive research study, which takes an in-depth look at the European business forms market. Key features of the study include: 

• A comprehensive overview of the business forms industry, highlighting trends and developments directly affecting businesses      
• Analysis and advice on transitioning to value-added products by identifying key opportunities for business forms printers      
• Detailed market data for pre-printed impact and non-impact forms      
• In-depth technology overview      
• Market analysis of Western and Eastern European countries 

The complete findings of the study are available immediately in CAP Ventures' research report entitled The European Business Forms Industry. To learn more about the study or to make a purchase, please contact Alison Hipp at , ext. 126 or via e-mail at

CAP Ventures is a strategic consulting firm for providers and users of business communication technologies and services. We deliver key research, analysis, forecasting, benchmarking, and strategy recommendations to make a competitive difference in our clients' businesses. Additional information about CAP Ventures is available on the Web at www.infotrendsresearch.com.