Issue 340 - January / February 2023 www.printmonthly.co.uk 2023 Predictions We ask the industry what they think the trends and challenges will be for 2023 - Page 22 Archive made of books Cambridge University Press has digitised its historic Christmas book series - Page 06 Tackling the Energy Crisis Stephen Jones finds out ways to address the energy crisis and what support there is - Page 33 Antalis updates portfolio After acquiring brands from Arjowiggins Scotland, Antalis is ready to launch new products - Page 10 Solopress Carys Evans speaks to Simon Cooper, MD of Solopress following a year of investment - Page 28 Sustainability Show launches The software company has launched The Sustainability Show via TharsternTV - Page 16 04 Industry Mills across Europe reassess options
January / February 2023 Industry 3 Printed on Sappi Magno Satin from EBB Paper CBP00015512002182040 Unit D, Link House, Britton Gardens, Kingswood, Bristol BS15 1TF All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system without the prior consent of the publisher. The views expressed by contributors to Print Monthly magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher or editorial team and Link Publishing Ltd. takes no responsibility for any errors that may have occurred. The publisher also accepts no responsibility for the advertising content, including any error, omission or inaccuracy therein. Calls may be recorded for training purposes. Link Publishing Ltd. retains the right to publish and re-publish any images or information sent to the publication. Issue 340 - January / February 2023 Issue 340 - January / February 2023 www.printmonthly.co.uk 2023 Predictions We ask the industry what they think the trends and challenges will be for 2023 - Page 22 Archive made of books Cambridge University Press has digitised its historic Christmas book series - Page 06 Tackling the Energy Crisis Stephen Jones finds out ways to address the energy crisis and what support there is - Page 33 Antalis updates portfolio After acquiring brands from Arjowiggins Scotland, Antalis is ready to launch new products - Page 10 Solopress Carys Evans speaks to Simon Cooper, MD of Solopress following a year of investment - Page 28 Sustainability Show launches The software company has launched The Sustainability Show via TharsternTV - Page 16 04 Industry Mills across Europe reassess options 04 Industry The latest ‘must-know’ news from across the world of print 08 Business The lowdown on the latest deals, ventures, and growth in business 14 Kit & Media The latest in cutting-edge machines, materials, and installations 16 Environment Coverage of environmentally friendly print solutions and initiatives 18 Events All the details you need on recent and upcoming shows and conferences News Specials 22 2023 Predictions Carys Evans asks those operating in the print industry what challenges and trends they think 2023 will bring 26 Under The Hood Brian Sims explores the impressive new ‘factory within a factory’ from MGI and Konica Minolta, the MGI AlphaJET 4.0 28 Ahead Of The Curve Carys Evans speaks with Simon Cooper, managing director of Solopress following a significant period of investment and expansion Features 33 Focus On Tackling the Energy Crisis Stephen Jones looks at measures businesses can take to tackle rising energy costs and what support is available 37 Taste for Success Binding Technology Rob Fletcher casts an eye over the binding market to analyse the latest developments with this technology 41 Need to Know MIS Software Carys Evans quizzes some Print MIS providers about the benefits of adding this type of solution to a print business 47 Back to Basics Paper Solutions David Osgar looks at the paper industry and what questions and solutions to consider when using this product Contents Hello and welcome to our first issue of 2023! To kickstart the new year off with a sense of purpose and direction, we asked industry members and associations what they predict the challenges and trends will be for the year ahead. Key themes of sustainability, wellbeing, diversification, and a bigger need for creativity all featured (P22). Unfortunately, the difficulties of 2022 are yet to be put to bed with issues such as the cost of living and the energy crisis still raging on. The paper manufacturing industry is one that has been hit hard by the energy price hikes and we hear from a number of European mills about ways they are reassessing their energy usage. Interestingly, many of these methods are actually benefitting the environment! (P04). We also take a deeper look into the energy crisis itself and speak to some businesses about how they are combatting this, and the support available whilst we all navigate this difficult time (P33). It’s a jam-packed issue and I really hope you enjoy reading it. As always, please get in touch with any news you have to share, or to let us know if there are any topics you think we should be covering. Carys Editor's note t: 0117 980 5040 e: carys@linkpublishing.co.uk @printmonthlyed Publishing director Page Tuck Editor Carys Evans Online editor David Osgar Lead Contributor Rob Fletcher Contributors Stephen Jones Brian Sims Advertising sales Tim Hall Luke Stoneham Richard Tuck Credit control Kathryn Quinn Production Shaun Edwards How to contact us Sales: 0117 960 3255 Accounts: 0117 980 5042 Editorial: 0117 980 5040 Production: 0117 980 5041 @printmonthly www.printmonthly.co.uk 28 47 10
January / February 2023 Industry 4 Mills across Europe reassess options Paper mills around Europe are reassessing their operations and making adjustments as energy prices continue to increase. Interestingly, some of these changes are also set to benefit the environment. The cost of energy has been an ongoing issue for mills for some time with Print Monthly reporting the first hints of trouble in 2021. At the start of 2022, Metsä Tissue announced it was temporarily halting its production due to the high electricity cost with both its Zilina Mills in Slovakia and its Kreuzau Mills in Germany stopping production for several days. In the summer of 2022, Lessebo Paper was forced to halt production in Sweden citing the same reasons. According to the company, its electricity cost had escalated from €3m (£2.6m) to €19m (£16.3m) per year. The autumn/winter period of 2022 proved to be no better with energy prices continuing to rise at unprecedented levels. Other mills and paper manufacturers are now assessing the way they use energy. UPM has opened a new combined heat and power (CHP) plant in Germany in a bid to become more efficient amidst the current energy crisis. Koehler Paper (part of Koehler Group) has signed a long-term green power agreement with RWE Supply & Trading. The ten-year contract is for up to 175,000-megawatt hours per year from 2023. This power will come from the Dutch 54-megawatt Waddenwind wind farm in the Groningen region. European manufacturer and distributor of specialty paper for labels and flexible packaging, Lecta, has invested in a refuse-derived fuel (RDF) boiler at its Condat paper mill in France. Based on a circular economy, the RDF boiler will collect waste with high biogenic content from local sources to then be used as fuel. The boiler, which will cover about 50% of the mill’s steam usage, is much less expensive than using natural gas. UPM has invested €100m (£87m) in a combined heat and power plant in Germany XSYS confirms price increase on products XSYS has announced a price increase for all products and spare parts across its ThermoFlexX pre-press portfolio as a result of the “critical global economic situation” that continues to drive up costs for its pre-press equipment division. ThermoFlexX imagers and ThermoFlexX Catena prices will increase 10% across the board, while spare parts and service agreements will see a 20% rise as these offerings were not included in previous increases. While raw materials, energy, and other input costs already increased by between 10% and 20% throughout 2021, XSYS says double-digit percentage inflation continued in 2022, further compounding financial pressures on the sector. Ongoing issues include supply shortages in the steel and plastics markets, global shortages of parts and supply chain issues within the electronics sector, and how volatile gas and electricity prices are affecting production costs and raw materials. XSYS has also announced an increase in the price of its nyloprint letterpress plates. Nyloprint offers plates in the areas of moulding and stamping, security print, tubes, cups, and cans, as well as pad printing. The company which has offices in North America, Belgium, China, and Germany, has sent a formal notice to customers informing them of the increase which became effective from January 1st, 2023. So far the business has been able to offset a proportion of ongoing increases against various efficiency measures, however, feels it has to act now to encourage the ongoing growth of the market. Global commercial vice president at XSYS, Friedrich von Rechteren, states: “XSYS is committed to delivering best-in-class products to all customers despite the unprecedented cost pressures and the challenging supply chain situation. “When securing contract terms for 2023, we have again seen significant base price increases from our suppliers, which are especially impacting the XSYS nyloprint portfolio. The challenge of securing the transportation for special materials and rising energy costs have all affected the industry By Carys Evans Editor @printmonthlyed of steam usage covered by RDF boiler 50% By Rob Fletcher & David Osgar
January / February 2023 Industry 6 Scotland’s parliament has called on the country’s government to release more funding for apprenticeship schemes. Campaign groups had noted that the budget for training providers delivering apprenticeship programmes has been frozen, with this being taken as a real-terms cut given the increase in inflation rates. Such has been the impact of this freeze that campaigners, including the Scottish Training Federation, say many training providers will have to make redundancies or close their businesses, without intervention by the government. This would then lead to many young people not completing apprenticeships on schedule, which could in turn harm Scotland’s economic recovery. In response, parliament called on the government to come forward with funding to ensure that a further 2,000 apprenticeships are funded in the next six months to meet what it understands is “significant employer demand”. Cost warnings for flexible packaging Creation Reprographics, a pre-press and repro partner to flexible packaging printers, has set out a number of key trends businesses should be aware of in 2023. According to Creation, 2023 will likely be a year of significant change as challenges mount and printers respond. Matt Francklow, managing director at Creation, explains that companies working in this market should plan carefully for 2023 in order to address incoming trends and ensure their businesses are properly prepared. “In 2023, it’s clear that increased pressure on cost will be one of the key talking points,” he says, adding: “Record inflation is affecting businesses of every size and pushing up material and production costs, which cannot easily be absorbed and will force price increases downstream. “Some of the most valuable innovations over the coming year will be those that enable printers to control their overheads, while delivering more fundamental value, protecting what will be more fragile profitability levels.” Due to a greater need for cost control, Francklow says the company is expecting to see a big drive towards fixed colour palette printing, which swaps out costly and resource-intensive spot colour inks for an extended gamut printing system. Other trends Francklow says to look out for in 2023 and beyond include sustainability, which continues to dominate the agenda, and the flexible packaging design is evolving to be lighter in weight, stronger, and more easily recycled in response. Creation predicts cost and sustainability will shape much of the market in 2023 Concerns have been raised that apprenticeship schemes may not complete in time Urges for more apprenticeship funding The Printing Charity hosts luncheon Industry members and The Printing Charity team gathered in the iconic Stationers’ Hall in London on Thursday November 24th for the Charity’s 193rd annual luncheon. Founded in 1827, The Printing Charity has a long history of supporting people of all ages in the printing, paper, packaging, and publishing industries. Returning after a three-year break, this year’s lunch was a welcome opportunity for the Charity to thank its supporters; and for guests to meet and network, as well as hear updates on the Charity’s recent activities and plans for the future. Jon Wright, Chairman of The Printing Charity provided a speech highlighting the Charity’s services including its helpline which was launched in June 2019 and is now available to almost 20,000 employees across over 200 companies. As well as the speech from Wright, guests enjoyed a keynote speech from current President, George Osborne. Osborne is the former editor of the Evening Standard which was launched in the same year as the Printing Charity back in 1827. The Printing Charity lunch returned to the Stationers’ Hall for its 193rd year Digital archive made of historic Christmas books The Cambridge University Press, a global publisher of a variety of books and information, has created a digital archive of its historic Christmas books. The original books started in the early 1930s as a way of University printer Walter Lewis showcasing the capabilities of the Press. The books continued for many years after gaining a great reputation amongst those in the print and publishing communities. The digitisation of the books was undertaken by the Digital Content Team at the Cambridge University Library, which houses the Press archives. Johanna Ward, a member of the Digital Content Team, says the process involved taking archive-quality photographs of both the books and the intricate slipcases with the majority robust enough to be digitised on a book cradle. The Christmas books were originally published between 1930 and 1973 (only interrupted by World War II) and were limited edition volumes that demonstrated the craftsmanship and skills of its designers and printers. The books would be given as gifts and covered a range of topics largely related to Cambridge and the print/ publishing industry. The Cambridge University Press has detailed the digitisation on its website via photos and videos By Rob Fletcher Lead contributor @pmrobfletcher By David Osgar By Carys Evans
Business 8 January / February 2023 KP Services to continue newspaper printing Based in Saint Saviour, Jersey, KP Services, which is a joint venture between Kodak and Guiton Group, will continue printing UK national newspapers until May 2024 due to a renewed deal. The agreement will see the company print the newspapers belonging to News UK, The Daily Mail Group, Reach Plc, and the Jersey Evening Post titles. The latter will be distributed in Jersey and Guernsey with the portfolio amassing over 20 separate titles. KP Services was founded in 2015 and began printing newspaper titles in the Channel Islands from May 2016. This meant that copies of national titles no longer needed to be flown into the islands and reduced the risk of delays or cancellation due to bad weather and other unforeseen issues. The onshoring of the print work also meant that the printing of the local Jersey Evening Post title which was previously published by Guiton Group could be moved from a 40-year-old press to state-of-the-art digital printing technology; and from black and white and partial colour printing to full colour. The technology used by KP Services includes two KODAK PROSPER 6000P presses which use KODAK Stream Continuous Inkjet Technology. Designed specifically for publishing applications such as newspapers and books, the PROSPER 6000P inkjet web press prints CMYK at speeds of up to 300 metres per minute on standard newspaper print. Offering short setup times, fast job changeovers, and minimum start-up waste, Kodak says the press is ideal for companies needing to print a large number of low-volume titles. The two presses have reliably printed the UK national newspaper titles and the Jersey Evening Post since they started six years ago. Bill Paterson, managing director of KP Services (Jersey), says: “Day after day, our operation is proving that Kodak’s high-speed continuous inkjet technology is a perfect solution for flexible, short-run printing of newspapers and other publishing products.” Two KODAK PROSPER presses are used to print the newspapers in KP Services' Jersey portfolio Stephens & George acquires competitor Magazine and production print group Stephens & George (S&G) has announced that it has acquired neighbour and long-term competitor the Pensord Group. S&G is a leading company in the industry and has been for over 110 years. Despite a challenging few years due to the pandemic, the print group has continued to invest heavily in new technology to improve automation and enhance its quality. Part of this continued investment has been searching for an opportunity to expand its foothold in the market. The acquisition of Pensord Print Group which comprises of Pensord Press and Cambrian Printers will enable it to do just this. Despite holding its own strong reputation within the industry, the impact of the pandemic paired with the global energy crisis has meant Pensord would have struggled to continue a fourth consecutive year of impact. Darren Coxon, outgoing Chairman of Pensord Group, says: “Stephens & George is probably the best equipped sheetfed printing plant in the UK; and backed by a robust balance sheet and healthy financial structure and so much more, it's able to deal with the energy hikes and a market downturn.” Coxon explains that the close proximity of the two companies and the fact that they are operating within the same sphere, meant the acquisition made sense. A priority for the former Chairman was that the acquisition meant the respected brands of Pensord and Cambrian Printers could continue, and their clients are now provided with certainty and continuity regardless of what is in store for the future. Andrew LG Jones, managing director of S&G, adds: “As a bigger business with continuity of ownership for over 110 years we have been able to build up a robust, rich, state-of-the-art infrastructure enabling us to survive whatever is thrown at us and to thrive long into the future.” Stephens & George Print Group was formed in 1912 and incorporated in 1946 and is based in Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales By Carys Evans Editor @printmonthlyed titles in Jersey portfolio 20+ By Carys Evans
Business 10 January / February 2023 Distributor of paper, packaging, and visual communications, Antalis, a part of Kokusai Pulp & Paper (KPP) group, has updated customers and the industry following its November acquisition of Arjowiggins brands. Following the administration of Arjowiggins Group last year, Antalis says it is pleased to provide a positive update on the relaunch and revamp of the brands it acquired ready for Q1 2023. The company has carried out extensive analysis, product testing, benchmarking, and onsite mill visits to several European Fine Papers manufacturers. Following the end of running pre-production trials, Antalis is looking to announce the new Olin Design range with first deliveries beginning in early February 2023. The company says: “Olin Design will continue to offer a wide range of finishes and shades, suitable for both offset and digital printing.” Antalis will also extend its reach with a coloured items offering with the “integration of the Pop’Set assortment” as well as a large range of assorted envelopes. High quality continues to be Antalis’ priority as it ensures the company’s stock and indent offer will be comprehensive in all European countries. In areas where Antalis or other KPP Group distribution companies are not directly present, plans remain to make brands available through a network of distribution partners. Regarding brands like Conqueror, Keaykolour, Curious, Rives, and Opale, the company says it’s progressing well with its upcoming range of Creative Papers. Antalis states it will be taking deliveries in February/March 2023, offering the majority of existing products as well as new innovative items. Antalis gives updates on portfolio Antalis has offered an update on its newly acquired stock and brands like Olin Design and Keaykolour from Arjowiggins Scotland Premier Paper Group expands its offering Premier has acquired WBC which will expand its offering of added-value and complementary markets Supplier of paper and packaging materials in the UK, Premier Paper Group, has expanded into added-value markets with the acquisition of WBC. WBC is a packaging and display product supplier for the speciality drinks and food sectors and has an annual turnover of £18m and employs 55 people. The acquisition is the second in less than six months as Premier also acquired lamination film supplier Zulu Packaging (now Premier Lamination Films) in July. All 55 of WBC’s employees will be retained and the company’s name and branding will remain unchanged due to its strong reputation within its sectors. Michael Beever, chief executive officer of the Premier Paper Group describes the move as an important step for Premier as it expands into added- value sectors. By David Osgar Online editor @pmdavidosgar Trade supplier of printed products and merchandise, Where The Trade Buys (WTTB) has added Tony’s Chocolonely to its range of products in order to diversify its gifts portfolio. Tony’s has made a name for itself in the last few years for not only its ethical approach to chocolate manufacturing, but also its unique branding. Managing director of WTTB, Louise Stephenson, says: “We are constantly adding to our offering of personalised gifts which are perfect to celebrate a special occasion, as a staff reward or for a company which really wants to make an impact.” WTTB customers can add their own colours and company logo as an effective way to create brand awareness. WTTB teams up with ethical chocolate producer Tony’s Chocolonely is the latest product to be added to WTTB’s portfolio Fujifilm is to close the remaining offset plate production line at its Tilburg manufacturing plant in the Netherlands. Production of plates currently made at the facility will be transferred to factories in Japan and China, after which the production of offset plates in Tilburg will stop, with the process expected to be complete in late 2023. Fujifilm says the decision came in response to a continuous decrease in demand caused by the transition to other forms of communication, particularly digital media, as well as the diversification of printed output due to the growth of digital print. The manufacturer also cites the effect of the pandemic and the volatility of the energy market. Production of plates will be transferred to Japan and China Fujifilm to close final Tilburg offset plate line Xerox has entered into a long-term, sustainability-focused partnership with the Ministry of Defence (MOD). Under the deal, Xerox will utilise its Managed Print Services to support the MOD with its aim to meet Government Greening targets for net-zero carbon emissions before 2050, as well as reduce paper consumption. Using its Managed Print Services, Xerox will assist the MOD with reducing device numbers, energy consumption, and the volume of printed and photocopied material, with the service providing management information and analytics on service consumption. In addition, Xerox will enrol the MOD in both its PrintReleaf reforestation program and its Eco Box service that provides for the return of used imaging supplies. Xerox secures long-term Ministry of Defence contract The deal will focus on helping the MOD hit its sustainability targets
11 January / February 2023
Business 12 January / February 2023 Two of Large Print Works’ longest-standing employees have taken the reins of the Newcastle-based print company as the founder steps down as chief executive officer. John Laidler founded Large Print Works (formerly The Rip) in 1988 with the business experiencing growth year on year and expanding to specialise in large-format print from a 4,000sq ft facility. With customers including local councils, northeast businesses, universities, museums, and design agencies, Large Print Works produces work including Foamex, posters, digital wallpaper, banner stands, exhibition displays, and indoor and outdoor billboards. Laidler has now sold 90% of the company to former sales manager Natasha Scott and production manager Gareth Kerr whilst retaining a 10% stake in the business. He will remain as a non-executive director. Following the management buyout, Scott will oversee the business as managing director and Kerr will take the role of production director. Reflecting on the decision not to sell externally and instead opt for an internal sale, Laidler says: “Because I had built the business from scratch, and my staff are like family having been with me for a long time, I knew deep down I would never be comfortable selling the business to investors. “By doing it this way, we can safeguard its independence for the long term as well as providing some reassurance to our long-standing clients that it is business as usual. Selling to Natasha and Gareth will secure the values, culture, and ethos we have all built at Large Print Works and root more jobs in Newcastle as they continue to grow the business.” Large Print Works announces MBO [L to R] Gareth Kerr and Natasha Scott have taken over the business from founder John Laidler Simon Paul Inglis King, director of Blackfriars Contracts in Plymouth, has been disqualified as a company director for ten years. The announcement comes following an investigation which found King had claimed two Bounce Back Loans (BBL) for his business totalling £80,000, an amount well over the £50,000 allowed by the scheme. Blackfriars Contracts ran as a printing company until the company went into liquidation in 2020 with debts of over £230,000. According to GOV. UK, the business was referred to as a “hidden treasure” in Plymouth due to its long family history in print operations. King was already restricted by a five-year bankruptcy restriction also for Bounce Back Loan abuse. Previously he owed more than £100,000 leading to investigations into his involvement in BBLs. Martin Gitner, deputy head of insolvent investigations at the Insolvency Service, states: “Bounce Back Loans were introduced to help viable businesses through an extremely difficult period, providing them with the financial support during the pandemic to protect jobs and return to prosperity.” In the first case, King had exaggerated his income as a sole trader to claim a £50,000 loan for Blackfriars Contracts Division. The second most recent circumstance saw King apply for a £50,000 loan for Blackfriars Contracts after which he applied for a further £30,000 paid into a different company account. Gitner adds: “The conduct of Simon Paul Inglis King fell extremely short of the standards required of company directors.” King won’t be able to be involved in the promotion, formation, or management of a company without the approval of the court Plymouth print director faces ban Premium papers manufacturer Fedrigoni has agreed a deal with Arjowiggins to acquire Spanish specialty graphic papers provider Guarro Casas. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the acquisition was brokered in the days following the announcement that Arjowiggins Group and its UK subsidiaries filed for administration. Guarro Casas specialises in the production of fine papers, mainly for binding and creative applications, delivering products with value-added finishing for luxury packaging, book covering and security applications. “The acquisition of Guarro Casas is a new chapter of our global growth strategy in the world of specialty papers for premium packaging and other creative applications,” Fedrigoni chief executive Marco Nespolo says. Fedrigoni acquires Spanish paper provider Guarro Casas Guarro Casas was previously part of Arjowiggins which entered administration in late 2022 Penny Black secures new £1.3m investment Agfa and ninepointfive each committed £650,000 New e-commerce marketing and packaging innovator Penny Black has secured a further £1.3m in seed funding from Agfa and venture capital investor ninepointfive. Penny Black will use the new funding to support the ongoing development of its software that is designed to seamlessly connect ecommerce stores, marketing tools, and fulfilment operations. Agfa and ninepointfive each committed £650,000 to Penny Black as part of the latest round of funding. Having been incubated in Agfa’s innovation lab, Penny Black launched independently in the UK and Europe in April 2022 and has already secured a number of customers, including luxury jewellery and watch retailer Paul Valentine. By Carys Evans Editor @printmonthlyed By David Osgar
Kit & Media 14 January / February 2023 Canon UK and Ireland’s Colorado 1650 and UVgel 460 ink have been approved for inclusion in the 3M MCS Warranty programme. This approval ensures applications printed on the Colorado 1650 in combination with the UVgel 460 and 3M’s approved media will achieve the quality standards set by 3M. Duncan Smith, production direct sales director at Canon UK and Ireland, comments: “The way that applications are being produced is being transformed by UVgel technology. By securing the 3M MCS Warranty, we have passed another milestone in our long-term strategy to continue the adoption of this unique print technology. By working together with key industry partners such as 3M, we will continue our mission to offer print service providers in this exciting market a wider choice of print technologies and demonstrate the significant difference UVgel could make to their business.” Slingsby offers advice Industrial and commercial equipment provider Slingsby has presented businesses with a six-point guide as to how they can maximise efficiency with the use of certain equipment and kit. Slingsby says while there are many different kinds and categories of handling equipment, some are seen as essential across different industries, including print, and can go a long way to helping enhance operations. First, Slingsby highlights hand trucks and platform trucks as among the most versatile pieces of labour-saving equipment that can be applied for many different uses. Next, Slingsby says shelf and container trollies are a very efficient way of moving items to where they need to go, with making the routine processes as easy and swift as possible being of the utmost importance for the wellbeing of staff. Also highlighted in the guide are pallet trucks or pallet jacks for when goods are primarily transported on pallets. These feature two forks to grip onto the pallet and a hydraulic system, and can be used by hand and with minimal effort. Moving on, driveable trucks such as forklifts, sideloaders and order pickers can play a key role in helping print businesses operate, according to Slingsby. Slingsby also highlighted electric drive-powered tugs, which it says may be a better solution for increasing efficiency. Finally, if moving items in bulk, Slingsby picks out conveyor systems as a good option which can be either manual or motor-driven. Slingsby picked out several pieces of equipment that can help printers The Colorado 1650 and its UVgel 460 inks were put through a series of tests Canon bags 3M approval for UVgel 460 ink and Colorado Tradeprint hails iX3200 impact Tradeprint has revealed how its investment in a new Canon varioPRINT iX3200 earlier this year has allowed it to increase its digital print capacity, drive additional business growth, and access new markets. The business took on the machine in a bid to optimise its production workflows and improve offset runs, with the installation having allowed Tradeprint to increase production capacity and achieve higher quality prints. Tradeprint also says it has been able to expand its range of printed booklets by leveraging the capabilities of the device, while the planet-friendly features of the machine, including ultralong life piezo print heads, water-based pigment inks, and lower energy consumption levels, is helping the business achieve its sustainable goals. Rod Scrimgeour, operations director at Tradeprint, comments: “Our experience with Canon has been nothing short of excellent and on a tight deadline, the team turned the installation around swiftly and professionally. “Our operators now have more flexibility to carry out other tasks whilst managing the machine.” The installation was the first inkjet device for Tradeprint RNB completes triple purchase from Friedheim Leeds-based print, direct mail and fulfilment specialist RNB Group has finalised a purchase of three finishing machines from Friedheim International. RNB took on a Hunkeler Unwinder UW6, Spedo 8500 E Stacker with tray (second user), and Spedo 2600 Pinless Cutter 2600 in an effort to enhance the flexibility of its production. The three machines have been in place a number of months now, with RNB’s project and account manager Dave Martin explaining that the triple purchase has improved the finishing process at RNB and helped free up staff to take on other work. “The devices have allowed us the flexibility to produce more with less down time, while they have also helped to streamline our paper-to-envelope time,” Martin says, adding: “The investment has also reduced the number of touch points in finishing, freeing up staff in the process. “The result of this was an immediate increase in productivity, which is what we expected when placing the order. Simply put, it has allowed more flexibility without breaking down kit.” The new Hunkeler Unwinder UW6 was installed at RNB Group By Rob Fletcher Lead contributor @pmrobfletcher point guide to handling kit 6 By Rob Fletcher By Rob Fletcher
Environment 16 January / February 2023 Koehler Group has strengthened its commitment to the environment by entering into a new partnership for funding innovations from the paper and renewable energy segments with non-profit UnternehmerTUM. Based in Munich, Germany, UnternehmerTUM is responsible for 50 highgrowth tech start-ups each year. The partnership will establish Koehler as part of the FamilienunternehmerTUM initiative, allowing it to collaborate with start-ups and also commit funding and investment to new technologies. “With this partnership with UnternehmerTUM, we are investing in the Koehler Group’s innovative capacity,” Koehler chief executive Kai Furler says, adding: “The family business can look back on a 200-year history, in which the continual development of innovations always secured the success of future generations. “Providing support for start-ups also contributes to the ongoing development of entrepreneurship in Germany.” Christian Mohr, chief customer officer of UnternehmerTUM and also the founder of the initiative, adds: “Companies alone can no longer solve the many challenges of our time.” Kyocera highlights need for sustainable printing practice Martin Fairman, group sales and marketing director of Kyocera Document Solutions, says changing printing habits can significantly enhance sustainability UnternehmerTUM has been supporting start-ups since 2002 Tharstern launches ‘The Sustainability Show’ Software provider Tharstern has launched ‘The Sustainability Show’ as the latest instalment in its TharsternTV series, which focuses on carbon footprinting for printers and converters. In the new chat show style series, Tharstern's customer enrolment manager Ross Edwards talks to Dominic Harris, the co-founder of carbon measurement experts CarbonQuota, about how printers can reduce emissions, how they are measured, and how to follow international standards on carbon footprinting. Edwards also talks to Chris Bottomley, managing director at Leeds-based direct mail and digital print provider Gecko, about its own journey to becoming carbon neutral. In addition, the series delves into an integration between CarbonQuota and Tharstern’s MIS solution, which was first developed from an introduction by Gecko’s managing director who wanted to add the carbon footprint of each job onto his quotes and orders – offering further insight to viewers. This integration has allowed Gecko to measure carbon emissions in real-time and provides both a monetary cost and a climate cost on each quote produced. Koehler details investment Tharstern worked with CarbonQuota and print provider Gecko on the series Manufacturer Kyocera has issued a plea to organisations around the world to address their printing methods to ensure they are operating in the most sustainable manner possible. Many industries are seeking to reduce their environmental impact through more sustainable business practices, supply chains, and procurement, with Kyocera saying a switch in printing methods could help companies become greener. This, the company says, could include using the correct print methods, incorporating devices that possess long-life components, switching consumables, and reduced energy consumption. Martin Fairman, group sales and marketing director of Kyocera Document Solutions, says: “Print devices are the workhorses of document processes and consume electricity even when resting idle. “Most older models were not designed with energy efficiency in mind. Even among newer machines of equivalent performance, there can be a wide range of energy consumption ratings. “Reduced energy consumption across a large print estate can equate to cost savings and a positive environmental impact. Organisations should select print devices with sleep modes which directly reduce energy consumption.” In terms of its own environmental efforts, Kyocera Group UK is to begin offering its whole printer and MFP portfolio as carbon neutral for transactional and managed print service customers. Through the new offering, two carbon neutral printing solutions for the UK and Irish market will offset the carbon footprint of customers’ devices and consumables. These will be in the form of Carbon Neutral Printers & MFPs (CNP) and Carbon Neutral MPS (CN-MPS), both of which will be made available to channel partners and end-customers. CNP will carbon offset both the device and the consumables it uses over the lifetime of the product via a bolt-on to the device, covering all elements of production, packaging, transportation, consumables, plus toner and device recycling. With, CN-MPS Kyocera says this extends CNP to include engineer mileage for customers taking a Kyocera service and is targeted to their channel partners. To close the loop, both solutions include Kyocera’s Toner Take Back and Device Recycling services. Fairman says: “A huge amount of work has gone into making this possible. We see it as the strongest indicator yet of Kyocera’s commitment to sustainability and our carbon-neutral company status.” “Now we wish to share this with our channel partners and all our customers; that’s why we developed two green printing offers – Carbon Neutral Devices and Carbon Neutral Managed Print Services.” By Rob Fletcher Lead contributor @pmrobfletcher Kyocera partnered with PrintReleaf June 2022 By Rob Fletcher By Rob Fletcher
Events 18 January / February 2023 FM Future to bring back EcoPrint event in June The EcoPrint Summit has been announced which will be held in Geneva from June 6th to 7th and hosted by FM Future, owner of FuturePrint Back in 2012 Frazer Chesterman and Marcus Timson, owners of FM Future and FuturePrint launched the EcoPrint Show which they say was the first event focused 100% on sustainable print technology and production. Ten years later the event is returning with the Summit acting as a focal point for discussion and collaboration around sustainability. The topic is clearly becoming a priority with brands and consumers requesting more sustainable products and initiatives from the print and packaging industry. It is also gaining traction within government and the recent COP27 Conference in Egypt saw world leaders pledge to reach net zero by 2050. Still in concept format, the event promises to provide a space to hopefully facilitate actionable outcomes for print businesses, associations, print OEMs, brands, and the wider industry. TPS exceeds expectations for the Online Print Coach Colin Sinclair McDermott, also known as the Online Print Coach, has spoken positively of his appearance at The Print Show 2022, praising the quality of visitors. Exhibiting for the first time, McDermott attended the show to connect with people from across the UK industry and make them aware of his services, which focus on business training for print companies. Reflecting on his three days at the show, McDermott says such was the success of the event that he will return in 2023 and has already booked a stand at the next edition of the show. “The quality of the attendees led to some real high-level conversations I hadn’t foreseen coming from this event,” McDermott says. McDermott left the event with over 60 strong leads, and he says 15 of these have already converted into clients. Colin Sinclair McDermott, AKA the Online Print Coach, on his stand at the 2022 show The inaugural EcoPrint Summit will be held in Geneva in June 2023 CONNECT 2023 set to empower print eProductivity Software’s (ePS) annual user conference, CONNECT, is set to take place from January 23rd to 26th, at Wynn Las Vegas. In 2022, EFI announced it had sold ePS to an affiliate of Symphony Technology Group with the company operating as an independent global software company. ePS is a global provider of industry-specific business and production software for the packaging and print industries. Kicking off the new year, the four-day event will provide a space for industry leaders, business owners, and technology users to come together to learn about ways to innovate and optimise their operations. The event will focus on ways to drive profits in good and turbulent markets, address current and future industry trends, and explore how to build sustainable business models. Keynote speakers have been revealed with Ford Bowers, chief executive officer of PRINTING United Aliance; Alison Keane, president and chief executive officer of the Flexible Packaging Association; and Jessica Lobo, global goals and climate programme manager for the United Nations all included in the line-up. Bowers will be speaking on Tuesday January 24th and will discuss how the print and packaging industries can meet evolving market and consumer demands. Having attended CONNECT for many years, Bowers says: “I have always looked forward to engaging and networking with friends and experts, from whom I have learned and am still learning a great deal.” During a time of rapidly evolving packaging policies, Keane’s keynote will guide the audience on the need for innovative technology in order to keep pace. Lobo will discuss the role sustainability has to play in the resilience of print and packaging industries and says the topic is “fast becoming a catalyst for driving growth, ambition, and impact”. “I’m looking forward to attending the conference to speak about why sustainability matters and explore how businesses can use the Sustainable Development Goals to scale up action, accelerate innovation, and generate transformational change,” Lobo says. In addition to the keynotes, the event will also feature technology learning tracks and sessions on how customers can enhance profitability as well as how to take products to market efficiently. Gabriel (Gaby) Matsliach, chief executive officer of ePS, adds: “ePS is coming to the end of our first year as an independent, global software company. We have invested significant efforts into expanding our value, influence, and partnerships within the print and packaging ecosystems, to great benefit of our customers and our industries at large. “I am excited about how our vision will present itself at CONNECT 2023 with a broad range of sponsors and exhibitors as well as a notable panel of keynote speakers that span the globe and relevant topics to print and packaging.” The four-day event will be held at the Wynn hotel in Las Vegas and will feature keynote speakers and tech sessions By Carys Evans Editor @printmonthlyed January - CONNECT 2023 23rd - 26th By Carys Evans
January / February 2023 22 xxxxx 2023 Predictions Looking ahead A new year full of promise and possibilities. But will this actually be the case? We speak to industry members to hear what trends and challenges they think the year 2023 will bring You’d expect my response to be about people because that’s who we are here to support and now, more than ever, it’s vital to know your teams and provide support. So, rather than three unrelated predictions, we have three connected areas that I think will be inextricably linked and visible in 2023. Staff wellbeing: It’s really encouraging to see that staff wellbeing has jumped to the top of the agenda in the print industry since Covid. A clear, consistent, and effective wellbeing strategy continues to develop that resilience we’ve seen so clearly across the industry during the past few years. People: This naturally links to my point about wellbeing, but I think we’ve yet to see the true impact of Covid, and everything that has happened since, on the people in our sector. It isn’t just about the individuals working in print themselves, it’s about their families, too. I think more companies will be searching for ways to support their staff as these pressures mount. Cost of living: Trying to navigate the current sense of uncertainty caused by the cost-of-living crisis is impacting everyone, so of course it impacts those working in print. People and businesses everywhere are struggling with what previously has been taken for granted, the ability to keep the lights on, and sadly more businesses will close. There aren’t any easy answers to these pressures, and we expect to hear from more people facing uncertain futures. It’s important that we keep pushing for greater awareness of the practical and emotional support we provide. Even more so the effectiveness of visual print to create value in the eyes of the customer, marketeers, and specifiers will shine through against other communication outputs. There is an alignment between providers of print, greater confidence, and an understanding of how to sell solutions. Manufacturers of equipment and consumable suppliers are on a mission to deliver this message upstream to brands, and of course the BPIF is a catalyst to amplify the message! The power and talent of people will also be a trend. Resources will be mined to a greater extent, and talent as well as management will be utilised to deliver great solutions and experiences alongside the ongoing use of labour-saving technologies. Talent and skills are a scarce gem now. 2023 will also see ongoing consolidation and merger activity driven by the dynamics of rising cost bases and changing revenue patterns. Neil Lovell, chief executive officer of The Printing Charity Marcus Clifford, regional director of the British Printing Industries Federation (BPIF) The importance of automation, optimisation and visibility into production workflows within our industries is our biggest takeaway from 2022. The onset of pandemic lockdowns in 2020 exposed the risks in operations where the fallback was to rely on available labour resources to fill in production gaps. Automating tasks that can and should be automated was crucial to print and digital media businesses in 2022. Especially with the shortages in ink, media (paper) and equipment. In 2022, you might have wanted to make changes or might have made the decision to change your workflow (your set processes) or even equipment and are still waiting for implementation due to supply shortages. Our current global environment punctuates the need for technology to help fill the gaps to create critical differentiators based on automation, optimisation, and visibility. I predict the three key trends for 2023 will be: continued consolidation to PDF as a print file format; requirements for highly optimised files to reduce the impact on production processes; and automated workflow and hardware solutions that are self-maintainable with reduced professional services or custom code needs (either internally from IT or externally from vendors). Mary Ann Rowan, chief experience officer of Solimar Systems
January / February 2023 23 2022 was a tough year for supply chain and I expect to see this continue for much of 2023. What this has meant for the customer is the need to be flexible and adaptable to last minute estimating and planning changes due to supply constraints or allocations. Often changes are happening right up to the last minute in production, moving from device to device, due to these constraints. In addition, the inflation and energy challenges have impacted the later half of 2022, making the ability to mitigate and offset costs through technology and business continuity processes critical as we move into 2023. The next wave of digital or digital 2.0 is here. 20 years ago we saw digital start to impact our industry but we are seeing the second wave, with higher speed, higher quality roll-to-roll inkjet not simply being an alternative for short run or when variable data is needed, but in many cases a true replacement for digital capacity with all the benefits. This is impacting everything in workflow, from estimating, order acquisition, planning, and production. For many, it is a total rethink of how they produce. Macro-level influences will always have an impact on all marketing channels and providers, but agility is key. There are increasing levels of uncertainty around mail due to the inconsistency of paper price pressures and delivery costs. The speed at which they are happening and the notice that we as providers are given makes it a challenge to react in a timely way. We’re now at a point where agility is a necessity, and we’re extremely lucky that, and continue to work hard to ensure that, Go Inspire remains highly agile. I expect the number of jobs we see come through our factories will remain similar to last year, but that batch volumes will decrease. Targeted and personalised communications will become a necessity to get cut through, and the data strategies that sit behind communications will become even more important than they already are to facilitate this. Sustainability: One of the biggest challenges we face as an industry is greenwashing that comes as a result of poor education around print as a media channel and how sustainable it is. We need to educate brands, marketers, and the future generations of marketers so that we can stop the misconceptions around print and its eco creds. Innovation: We need to start doing more innovative print, not just commenting on ‘cool’ designs. To quote Thomas Edison, “the value of an idea lies in the using of it”. So, let’s not keep fantasising about innovative print, let’s start doing it. So, for the printers reading this, we (media agencies, brands, creative agencies), need more innovation from you, not just the typical response of “how much budget have you got?” We need you to educate us in the ‘what’s possible’. Phygitisation: The world is becoming more digitally focused as consumers require faster and easier ways of doing things. Note that I haven’t said moving to tech-first because it’s ‘cool’…well, it is, but much like innovation, combining print and digital technology isn’t done just for the sake of being cool, but because it’s a necessity to enable and enhance the customer experience. Take our ‘button pack’ for Jaguar Land Rover (JLR). Cool, yes. Innovative, yes. A world first...yes. BUT, the reason it was done? To make the customer journey for booking test drives seamless for the time poor, cash rich JLR audience. That is the power in combining the physical and digital worlds in print. To make campaigns more effective; to make it easier for consumers; or to drive more response. I would say that the main two trends will be a continued drive for sustainability and a further drive for more creativity in store. With the cost-of-living increases, there will be even more competition than ever to win people’s money, and so marketing and standing out in store will play a huge part in this. Big and bold ideas will help to cut through the noise and beat the competition on shelves for retailers and brands alike. Sustainability is so key to our future that I can’t foresee focus lessening on this. The challenge will be allowing retailers and brands to achieve their necessary sustainability targets, whilst helping not to increase their cost base too much. And I would also expect to see a further reduction in retail stores, with more closures and so printers will receive more requests for shorter production but with a higher focus on recyclability and carbon footprint. Nick Benkovich, VP Global Portfolio and Product Management at ePS and member of the Strategic Mail Partnership Danny Cook, managing director, Go Inspire Solutions – part of the Go Inspire Group, a Xerox Company and member of the Strategic Mail Partnership Ben Briggs, managing partner at Join the Dots and member of the Strategic Mailing Partnership Ashley Moscrop, managing director of Dufaylite
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