Issue 351 - November / December 2024 www.printmonthly.co.uk
3 CONTENTS Issue 351 November / December 2024 www.printmonthly.co.uk November / December 2024 - Issue 351 ISSN 2976-9213 NEWS Industry 06 Business 10 environment 14 People 18 events 22 PRINTING United was home to a range of new printing solutions SPECIALS Under the Hood: Intec LC700 and LF700 frame 29 Seasonal Print 33 Mergers & Acquisitions 37 COLIN SINCLAIR MCDERMOTT: INDUSTRY TIPS 40 The Online Print Coach gives his advice on when and how to expand your team FEATURES SPECIAL EFFECTS 43 Humidification Solutions 49 WIDE-FORMAT PRINT KIT PT.II 55 THE PRINT SHOW REVIEW 59 The UK-based exhibition returned with strong attendance, sales, and positivity across its three days IN THIS ISSUE 55 10 06 18 33 14 59
ISSUE 351November / Decemebr 2024 Publishing director Page Tuck Production Shaun Edwards Contributors Brian Sims, Colin Sinclair McDermott, Carys Evans Contact Editorial: 0117 980 5040 Sales: 0117 960 3255 Production: 0117 980 5041 Accounts: 0117 980 5042 Find us online www.printmonthly.co.uk Socials 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. Link Publishing Ltd, Unit G, Link House, Britton Gardens, Kingswood, Bristol BS15 1TF Editor David Osgar david@linkpublishing.co.uk Accounts Jan Thomas jan@linkpublishing.co.uk Sales Tim Hall tim@linkpublishing.co.uk Features Writer Rob Fletcher rob@linkpublishing.co.uk Accounts Kathryn Quinn kat@linkpublishing.co.uk Office therapist Skye PrintMonthly printmonthly PrintMonthlyMagazine Printed on Sappi Magno Satin from EBB Paper CBP00015512002182040 November / December 2024 - Issue 351 4 email: news@printmonthly.co.uk PrintMonthly printmonthly PrintMonthlyMagazine Hello and welcome to Print Monthly November / December! It’s a privilege to be taking over as editor even if it’s a bit of a strange after being online editor for over three years. This new role comes after a whirlwind year which has included several big events, the launch of our new website, and the wrapping up of lots of work behind the scenes. What is most strange is taking over the reins from my former editor Carys Evans, who I worked with since I started at Print Monthly. Many members of the industry will have seen us both out and about interviewing and filming — experiencing many events together for the first time, such as FESPA Global Print Expo, drupa, and Hunkeler Innovationdays. It’s fair to say that I owe the majority of my knowledge of the industry and this new role to Carys and so I firstly want to thank her for all her support, lessons, and friendship over the years — it will all certainly come in extremely useful when undertaking this new role. Though I’m sure I won’t be completely giving up the DSLR camera anytime soon, thankfully we have our new multimedia journalist, Jonathan Pert, to help in creating more fantastic news, specials, and videos. Jonathan has a vast amount of experience in video production and content writing which has already been a great asset to Print Monthly. I’m sure the industry will continue to welcome him as warmly as it does everyone and I look forward to working alongside him, Rob Fletcher, Shaun Edwards, and the rest of the editorial/production team. With a host of industry events rounding up the year, it’s an appropriate time to look both back and ahead. Recently we got to attend The Print Show, which you can read about on page 59, as well as attend award ceremonies like the SMP Awards (more on page 8). Looking forward there’s also more important dates in the calendar such as The Printing Charity Luncheon, Power of Print, and Packaging Innovations & Empack (all of which you can read about on page 22). After attending the IPIA’s recent Annual Conference as well as many manufacturer open days, it’s clear that the printing industry is striving for change, whether that be through encouraging young talent into print or diversifying the products printers can produce. We’ll be here to cover it all and I look forward to helping bring more insightful content to our readers. Dave EDITOR S NOTE Carys Evans MEET THE TEAM VIDEO COVERAGE Scan the QR code to watch our video coverage over on our Print7 YouTube channel Multimedia Journalist Jonathan Pert jonathan@linkpublishing.co.uk
INDUSTRY / NEWS 6 email: news@printmonthly.co.uk November / December 2024 - Issue 351 PrintMonthly printmonthly PrintMonthlyMagazine The IPIA launches Narrative for Print project The Independent Print Industries Association (IPIA) held another successful day of education and networking at its Annual Conference titled ‘Ahead of the Curve’ where it launched ‘A New Narrative for Print’ project. Brendan Perring, general manager of the IPIA, introduced the initiative which is meant to raise the profile of print to the public. Perring then introduced Carey Trevill, co-founder and director of Mission Element, who presented the initial research and findings of the project. Trevill said: “We want to show how we are better than digital advertising”. The initiative which has been made possible by IPIA members: Imprint MIS, Ricoh, Konica Minolta, Epson, The Printing Charity, and Citipost, has conducted a study into the perceptions of the UK print industry. Working with communications agency Madano, research was carried out over a number of key metrics using specialist data science technology and analysis tools. In her presentation, Trevill said the industry often speaks in defence of print, drives innovations but without credit outside the industry, and struggles in challenging the sustainable credentials of the medium. Trevill concluded by stressing that the industry must leverage its current position but must do so in a balanced and ‘harmonious’ way. Speaking about the project, the IPIA says: “By obtaining an accurate picture of how the print industry and its products are perceived — and by identifying the individuals and organisations driving these perceptions — the IPIA and its partners can develop a long long-term strategy to strengthen the print market in the UK.” Following on from this presentation were a number of speakers who all underpinned the importance of using new work models, navigating challenging circumstances, and adopting new practices. Rounding off the day, Charles Rogers, chair of the IPIA, said that the key takeaways for him were the importance of diversification and that businesses and suppliers need to ensure they keep working together in order to make the industry as strong as it can possibly be. Nigel Clarke at the annual conference, showing the audience a quote from his grandfather about working in print By David Osgar UK packaging supplier, Kite Packaging, has announced the introduction of a new case erector machine as part of its lineup of products. Case erectors are packaging machines designed to automate the process of forming and assembling corrugated cardboard boxes or cases from flat, unassembled sheets. The supplier’s new machine erects up to 12 cartons per minute and 720 per hour and is compatible with 2-inch and 3-inch tape. The erector can handle carton sizes ranging from a minimum of 250mm x 150mm x 100mm to a maximum of 450mm x 400mm x 400mm. Kite Packaging launches new case erector Konica Minolta UK has welcomed a group of Year 8 students from local schools to its ‘Girls in Tech’ event, hosted at its Client Engagement Centre (CEC) in Houghton Regis in Bedfordshire. The event, held in partnership with educational initiative TechGirls, was held on Ada Lovelace Day, an international celebration of the achievements of women in science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM). The event aimed to support students deciding on their GCSE options and encourage them to think about career paths in STEM sectors. Utilising Konica Minolta’s printing technology, students were tasked with creating a poster that promotes women to pursue careers in STEM. Once designed, the posters were printed using Konica Minolta’s range of print devices. Gillian Nuttall, people and culture ESG partner at Konica Minolta, comments: “The tech industry continues to face challenges with female representation, and this event is one way we can address this by showcasing the vibrant and dynamic opportunities within the sector.” Customers purchasing a case erector will also receive five free pallets of Kite’s enviro boxes Konica Minolta host ‘Girls in Tech’ event Industrial printing company Domino Printing Sciences (Domino) has announced a new 1200dpi digital print engine for integration into flexographic lines. The N730i Integration module was announced by Domino at this year’s Labelexpo Americas. The new digital hybrid printing and finishing machine allows converters to work with their preferred original equipment manufacturer (OEM) partners, creating a customised solution to their choice of configuration. According to the company, the technology stack delivers “high resolution print at up to 70m per minute across all colours, including printing of high-opacity white at top speed.” Domino launch 1200dpi hybrid printing module The solution was announced at this year's Labelexpo Americas HP has collaborated with print advertising agency Precision Proco to produce and supply books to children whose lives have been disrupted by the war in Ukraine. The initiative aims to provide comfort to young people affected by the conflict and who have been relocated to new homes. As part of the ongoing collaboration, books have been printed in both English and Ukrainian. Most recently a shipment of books was delivered to Ukrainian libraries to support children living in the midst of conflict. Previous shipments have also been delivered to Ukrainian children who have been relocated to the UK. The initiative was made in collaboration with publisher Pineapple Lane Books, charity Book Aid International, and human rights organisation PEN Ukraine, as part of the Unbreakable Libraries project. Printed reading material supplied to children from Ukraine The books were printed using the HP PageWide Web Press T240 and HP Indigo 12000 Digital Press Students with printed products they made with Konica Minolta
INDUSTRY / NEWS 8 email: news@printmonthly.co.uk November / December 2024 - Issue 351 PrintMonthly printmonthly PrintMonthlyMagazine September 26th the Steel Yard in London was abuzz with excitement for the Strategic Mail Partnership (SMP) Awards 2024 organised by several companies within the printing and mailing industries. The event was hosted by comedian Ellie Taylor, back by popular demand after having hosted the previous year’s event. Taylor regaled the lively and raucous crowd with a set of stand-up comedy, before presenting the awards. The awards on offer were in three distinct categories: the Mail Performance Award, the Sustainable Campaign Award, and the Bright Futures Award. The winner of the Platinum Performance this year was the Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s (RNLI's) in-house agency, in collaboration with Go inspire, Encore Group, and Paragon. Integrated marketing company Webmart won awards in all three categories, including a Bright Futures Award for client strategist at Webmart, Darryl Worbey. Speaking at the show, Maddie Reynolds, winner of the Silver Bright Futures Award, said: “We’re an industry of very few young individuals and it’s nice to see people who are championing us in print. I think the SMP really champion that young talent within our industry, which is so important.” Another winner of the night was Instantprint which won the Gold Award in the Mail Performance category. The Mail Performance Award was won for a direct mail campaign in which Instantprint sent physical books to its customers to try to demonstrate its prices, quality, and turnarounds in a unique, eye-catching way. By Jonathan Pert SMP Awards celebrates industry success SMP Awards included the Mail Performance Award, the Sustainable Campaign Award, and the Bright Futures Award A host of companies within the print industry have announced updates that use generative or machine-learning AI, including manufacturer Heidelberg and web-to-print company OnPrintShop. In a recent report from Forbes Advisor, it was estimated that 42% of the British public are concerned about a dependence on AI and a subsequent loss of human skills, with 39% worried about autonomous AI systems making decisions without human intervention. For software company Alludo, AI would appear to be a key part of its technological innovations. The CorelDRAW Graphics Suite, a design program marketed by Alludo for uses including business cards, magazines, and brochures, has recently announced a new AI graphics feature. Web-to-print software company, OnPrintShop, showcased its latest generative AI innovation at the recent PRINTING United Expo 2024 in Las Vegas The OnPrintShop storefront aims to streamline the process of turning designs into prints for companies and customers. Companies endorse AI in print Read more of the story via the QR code above World Mental Health Day took place on October 10th, an international day for global mental health education, awareness, and advocacy against social stigma. Recently, the charity Mental Health UK released its ‘Burnout Report 2024’, which was based on a YouGov poll of around 2000 adults. The survey found that 91% of UK adults experienced high or extreme levels of pressure or stress in the past year. Ahead of World Mental Health day, The Printing Charity released an article about how print businesses can prioritise mental wellbeing in the workplace. Findings in the article came from a ‘Knowledge Exchange’ webinar hosted by the charity, in which individuals from across the printing industry shared what measures have been effective in their workplaces to create positive environments. Among the suggestions put forward during the event was the idea that print employers should consider providing physical and mental health checks to employees as well as recreational group events, activities, and dedicated spaces within work premises for relaxation. The Printing Charity highlights key takeaways on World Mental Health Day The Printing Charity suggests that printing companies should provide physical and mental health checks to employees Drupa, a global trade fair for printing technology, has confirmed that it is sticking to its four-year cycle and holding its next exhibition in May 2028. Taking place once more in Düsseldorf, Germany, the event will be held between May 9th and 17th, 2028, which is two days shorter than the 2024 eleven-day show. Wolfram N. Diener, chairman and chief executive officer of Messe Düsseldorf, comments: “Drupa 2024 was more international than ever, and the positive atmosphere throughout the halls reflected our industry’s determination to drive profound change in order to make the printing and packaging industries more sustainable through automation, artificial intelligence, and strategic partnerships.” Speaking about the change in duration for the event, Sabine Geldermann, director of drupa, adds: “Shortening the fair’s duration is a direct response to the industry’s desire for a more focused and efficient event that continues to provide international participants with a unique opportunity to discover groundbreaking innovations and technology.” The organisation has confirmed that it will reveal the conceptual direction, key visuals, and ‘future claim’ of drupa 2028 next year. Drupa announces dates for 2028 Drupa will return to Messe Düsseldorf to showcase a range of print technologies for nine days in 2028 By Jonathan Pert By David Osgar
BUSINESS / NEWS PrintMonthly printmonthly PrintMonthlyMagazine 10 email: news@printmonthly.co.uk November / December 2024 - Issue 351 Antalis, a distributor of papers, packaging, and visual communications, has announced it has acquired the EMEA Xerox paper business which distributes office paper and digital printing products in more than 40 countries. The deal includes exclusive marketing and distribution rights of Xerox-branded paper and digital printing media in Eastern Europe, the Balkans, the Middle East, India, and Africa. Over the past year Antalis has continued to expand its portfolio with several acquisitions of European brands including the acquisition of 100 metros in Portugal and the reintroduction of Keaykolour, which was previously owned by Arjowiggins. The deal means that Antalis is the sole distributor of Xerox-branded paper in EMEA following the 2013 acquisition of the Xerox Western Europe paper business. Currently the deal is subject to other customary closing conditions and competition approval in some countries. The acquisition means Antalis can strengthen its position in the office paper market as well as the “fast-growing” digital printing market. Hervé Poncin, chief executive officer of Antalis, says: "While our strategy remains to develop in fast-growing countries and high-potential markets such as packaging, we have always affirmed the need to participate in the consolidation of the papers distribution business. At the beginning of the year Xerox announced a new operating model and organisational structure to further the company’s “reinvention”. This restructure included the realignment of its executive team as well as new priorities and intended outcomes in its core print business, global business services, IT, and digital services. Antalis acquires EMEA Xerox business Xerox has sold off its European paper business during the restructure of the company The future of direct mail, fulfilment, and print company, RNB Group, is said to have been secured thanks to a sale led by Begbies Traynor Group to PDMF. Securing the jobs of all 30 employees, the sale was led by Bob Maxwell and Louise Longley of Begbies Traynor Group. Citing mounting cash flow issues, the directors of RNB Group sought the help of Begbies Traynor Group to market the business. The sale garnered substantial interest and the business subsequently went to PDMF, a print and delivery services company which agreed to the deal two weeks later. Following the sale, all 30 jobs have been transferred to PDMF which will continue to operate the business from its existing site. RNB Group’s future secured thanks to sale of business Bob Maxwell, joint administrator of Begbies Traynor Group By David Osgar Multi-brand franchise operator, XplorerGroup, has acquired design and print brand Kall Kwik from The Bardon Group. Kall Kwik joins the XplorerGroup’s growing portfolio which includes children’s education brands ComputerXplorers and ActiveXplorers, and lead management system, Discover My Franchise. Kall Kwik, a provider of printed materials and designs for brands with 32 centres across the UK, has been in business since 1979. As well as printed materials, the company provides customers with personalised websites as well as marketing, sales, and financial advice. Speaking of the acquisition, Xplorer Group chief executive officer, Stuart Harley, says: “Kall Kwik is a popular, established brand in the world of print and digital and has already proved itself adept at adapting to changing community and business requirements by expanding its offering from printing services to a one-stop design, print, and online solution for businesses.” The acquisition comes shortly after XplorerGroup relaunched its children’s computer education brand, ComputerXplorers, in the US. ComputerXplorers was also acquired from the Bardon Group in 2021. As well as Kall Kwik, The Bardon Group also owns promotional clothing and products brand Recognition Express, and IT cleaning services brand Techclean. Nigel Toplis, managing director of The Bardon Group and non-executive chairman of Kall Kwik, says: “I have always said that we are only ever custodians of great brands and to ensure we develop and grow we need to continually infuse the system with new ideas, younger blood, and a contemporary mentality.” XplorerGroup acquires Kall Kwik Birmingham-based SME printing company, Set and Match, has completed a management buyout (MBO) thanks to an Asset Based Lending (ABL) deal with Time Finance. Comprising a £70,000 Invoice Finance facility and a £70,000 Secured Loan, the deal has enabled managing director Stuart Mills to buy out the existing shareholders. The £140,000 ABL deal was facilitated by Time Finance’s broker partner, Paul Varley, at Navigate Commercial Finance. As a result of the MBO, Mills will merge Colprint (which Set and Match acquired in 2002) with Mills' business and own Set and Match outright. Mills will focus on growing the business’ print services. Set and Match set for MBO following funding success [L to R] A member of the Set and Match printing team with MD Stuart Mills, Rob Walters from Time Finance, and Paul Varley from Navigate Commercial Finance Kall Kwik has 32 centres across the UK and has been in business since 1979 By Jonathan Pert
BUSINESS / NEWS 12 email: news@printmonthly.co.uk November / December 2024 - Issue 351 PrintMonthly printmonthly PrintMonthlyMagazine PHD Marketing, a marketing communications partner to the printing and packaging industries, has announced a rebrand to Think B2B Marketing. The rebrand comes as the company marks its tenth year in operation, expanding in that time to include 25 team members. A new logo and revamped website has accompanied the rebrand. The new name was chosen “to better reflect our dynamic, targeted, and multi-layered business approach,” says the company. PHD Marketing rebrands to Think B2B Marketing New look Reuseabox Reuseabox, a circular economy packaging company, has announced a rebrand of its logo, colour scheme, and overall design. The rebrand aims to better communicate its commitment to sustainability and reusing cardboard boxes. Marketing manager, Rachael Hunt, a previous winner of the Printing Charity's Rising Star Awards, says: "As we have grown and learnt more about the critical environmental challenge we face, […] it became obvious that our brand needed to evolve.” CyanX has been appointed as an official distributor for Harris & Bruno International (H&B) in the UK, providing advanced coating and digital embellishment solutions. The partnership with CyanX aims to provide greater access to support services and new technologies for H&B customers. CyanX will offer a range of H&B's equipment, including the new ExcelCoat ZRX printer (ZRX) for digital embellishment. CyanX's team will also provide comprehensive customer support, including technical assistance for H&B equipment. Harris & Bruno find new UK distributor Pureprint announces major investment The Pureprint Group has announced a major multisite investment with its sites in Uckfield and Newcastle both receiving significant upgrades. The investment comes as Pureprint reported robust end of year results for 2023. According to the company, it achieved record revenue, solidifying its position across several key markets. At the Uckfield site, Pureprint has commissioned an eight-colour HEIDELBERG Speedmaster XL 106-8PL in its litho plant, replacing the previous four-colour model. The machine was financed with the help of Close Brothers Asset Finance’s Print team which has worked with Pureprint for a number of years. Among the other machine installations, a Horizon Hard Case Binding Preparation System has been added, along with a BQ-500 perfect binder, and HT-1000V zero makeready variable trimmer. At Imprint, the wide-format arm of Pureprint, a Durst P5 350 HSR D4 has been installed, with the goal of expanding Imprint’s roll-to-roll manufacturing capabilities. Pureprint currently employs over 400 people, with an annual revenue of £70m Half a million pounds donated to local charities by Bakers Labels, packaging, and materials manufacturer Bakers has announced it has hit a major fundraising milestone. Summer donations distributed by the Bakers Foundation, the charitable arm of the business, totalled £62,000 in August of this year, following a further £44,000 in Easter donations. Along with several other ad hoc donations throughout the year, this brings the 2024 total alone to £151,310. Steve Baker, managing director at Bakers, says: “I am immensely proud that we are in a position to be able to continually support charities in our community. It is really important to me that the legacy of the Bakers Foundation will continue to do good for as long as the company maintains success.” Charities supported by donations from the company include Wipe Away Those Tears, a charity that aims to grant a wish for terminally or seriously ill children in Essex, and Hopefield Animal Sanctuary, the largest sanctuary in Essex. The family-owned business was founded in 1973 by Roy and Marian Baker. Steve Baker took over as managing director in 2000 Fiery acquired by Epson in deal worth £443m It has been announced that Fiery, a provider of digital front ends (DFEs) and workflow solutions for the print industry, has been acquired by Seiko Epson Corporation (Epson). Epson will acquire Fiery from Siris Capital Group (Siris), in a transaction valued at approximately $591m (£443m at the time of writing). The purchase will combine Fiery’s software, server, and workflow solutions with Epson’s range of print devices and applications. The transaction is expected to close within 2024, subject to customary closing conditions including required regulatory approvals. Once the transaction is complete, Fiery will become part of the Epson group but retain its current name and organisational structure and continue to operate from its existing offices. Siris acquired Fiery as part of Siris’s wider acquisition of Electronics for Imaging (EFI) in 2019. Under Siris’ ownership, Fiery separated from EFI in 2021 to become an independent company. Fiery has a customer base that includes over 2 million digital front ends (DFEs) sold worldwide
ENVIRONMENT / NEWS 14 email: news@printmonthly.co.uk PrintMonthly printmonthly PrintMonthlyMagazine November / December 2024 - Issue 351 Innovations in typeface, font choice, and page layout have apparently led to significant savings in emissions for publishers, according to a report recently published by the BBC. Typesetting company 2K/Denmark developed its Sustainable Typesetting project with the goal of efficiency in mind. The aim is to subtly change the typeface and more efficiently distribute space between letters and lines in order to, in its own words, “save a significant amount of pages and reduce the size of data files, delivering reduced CO2 emissions and considerable financial savings.” The perceived wisdom within font makers is that legibility of text is primarily determined by “x-height”, the height of the majority of lowercase letters in the Latin alphabet. The x-height of a typeface can therefore be increased without enlarging the whole text, allowing for more letters per line of an equivalent sized typeface. With this in mind, 2K/DENMARK has designed its Sustainable Serif font. This has a larger x-height than many equivalent popular typefaces, such as Garamond. These space savings can have a knock-on effect on the number of pages needed, which can therefore reduce paper usage. Over time these savings are believed to substantially reduce emissions. But for Andreas Stobberup, project lead at 2K/DENMARK, it is important to also focus on the financial savings that these reductions will allow for. “We need to make sustainability cheaper,” he says. “We simply need to show that we do not think it is a compromise. We think it is a better product.” David Miller, president and publisher at non-profit Island Press, reported a 19% reduction in pages and a subsequent 10% cost saving by working with Sustainable Typesetting. For HarperCollins, the typeface innovation originally came from its Christian publishing division, Zondervan Bibles. A typical bible will use thousands of pages, but through experimenting with different fonts and adjusting page layouts, Zondervan was able to significantly reduce the number of sheets used. This reduced the amount of paper required per book and cut printing costs. According to the publisher, subtle changes to typeface, layout, and even ink choice have so far saved 245.6 million pages, equivalent to 5,618 trees. Further savings on emissions have been made by subtly reducing paper thickness. Reacting to the report, Jonathan Tame, managing director of Two Sides, comments: “Sustainable innovation for using fewer materials must be applauded, and no industry can argue with using less. However, the fact remains that paper physical books are a natural, renewable, and sustainable way of reading. “We shouldn’t forget that paper books store carbon, are kept, shared, and when they have finished their life, can easily be recycled and made into new products.” By Jonathan Pert According to HarperCollins the font and layout changes have so far saved 245.6 million pages Global print-on-demand company Prodigi has announced the official launch of Ecocaps, a biodegradable alternative to plastic end caps for cardboard tubes. Developed in-house at Prodigi’s fulfilment centre in the UK, the tube end is made using a unique blend of recycled paper products. The Ecocaps product is designed to address a gap in the market for sustainable packaging solutions, and is fully compostable, biodegradable, and recyclable. By negating the need for traditional plastic end caps in rolled print or poster tubes, it saves two pieces of plastic per tube, roughly equivalent to 10g of plastic. A phased roll-out for packaging on Prodigi rolled prints and posters, which are shipped from the UK, began in February this year with deployment in the US scheduled for November. It has been estimated that the transition has already eliminated more than two million pieces of plastic from the company's supply chain to date. Prodigi develops new sustainable packaging in “global first” Prodigi has announced that Ecocaps are now available for resale to businesses and suppliers Publishers develop new “sustainable” typefaces to save paper By Jonathan Pert Fujifilm Business Innovation has announced the establishment of the Circular Manufacturing Center, which is designed to promote resource circulation in Europe. The new centre, based at the FUJIFILM Manufacturing Europe headquarters in the Netherlands, will collect used toner cartridges from printers and remanufacture them into new toner cartridges, for use within the European region. FUJIFILM Business Innovation plans to expand these remanufacturing processes to other products in the future, including remanufacturing spare parts for production printers. Additionally, FUJIFILM Manufacturing Europe headquarters supplies all of its electricity from a combination of on-site wind power generation and power from a purchased wind power generation company. According to Fujifilm, this use of wind power means that the newly established Circular Manufacturing Center can achieve virtually zero CO2 emissions from the electricity it uses. Fujifilm open manufacturing centre to recycle toner cartridges The site supplies all of its electricity from a combination of on- and off-site wind power
Unlock a world of vibrant and sustainable packaging solutions Photo: GLX-740+DU+2C+DU-A + Smart Color For more information, scan the QR-code: komori.eu Now with Komori Smart Color technology NEW In today’s packaging printing industry, customers demand fast-paced production of smaller batch sizes, often using special inks to achieve specific colors. In most cases, the need for special inks can now be eliminated with the Komori technology: Smart Color. With this extended palette, you’ll be able to plan your production to meet customer demands, while increasing uptime, profitability and reducing your environmental impact. So choose Komori Smart Color, and unlock a world of vibrant and sustainable possibilities.
18 email: news@printmonthly.co.uk November / December 2024 - Issue 351 PEOPLE / NEWS PrintMonthly printmonthly PrintMonthlyMagazine The Printing Charity has announced the appointment of Peter Ashcroft as its new director of services. The role has been newly created by the charity in order to ensure practical, emotional, and financial support from the charity remains “fit for the future” as the organisation approaches its 200th anniversary. Previously Ashcroft worked in the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund as head of Community Welfare Programmes where he oversaw several welfare services. New Director of services at The Printing Charity Reshuffle at Walstead Group Walstead Iberia and Walstead UK will now be managed together as a single west European division. Grzegorz Czech, previously chief executive officer of Walstead CE, will run the CE and Leykam businesses (Central and Eastern Europe) while Debbie Read, previously the chief executive officer of Walstead UK, will run the new Western European division. Walstead has also announced the appointment of Grant Murray as its new group chief financial officer. The British Coatings Federation (BCF) has celebrated its chief executive officer, Tom Bowtell, winning what it calls a “highly contested” award at the Memcom Excellence Awards in London. Bowtell received the CEO Leadership Award while the BCF also won the Highly Commended rank for sustainability and was shortlisted for Best Use of Video and Team of the Year. The BCF says that Bowtell has significantly increased the organisation's membership in his 12-year and has help it run successful awareness campaigns during his tenure. Tom Bowtell honoured with award Student outreach programme aims to inspire the next generation of print Paper and packaging company, Antalis, has announced the winners of a student design competition which it ran in collaboration with Norwich University of the Arts. Antalis partnered with Brief Cases, a mediator between academia and business for the Smart Luxury Packaging competition, doing so for a fourth consecutive year. The competition aims to raise students’ awareness of printed packaging and its applications. The competition forms part of the university’s BA (Hons) Graphic Design course, which aims to put the students’ skills to the test with a packaging-focused brief. This year, the students were tasked with creating luxury packaging for the fragrance sector using materials from Antalis’ paper and paperboard ranges. The brief required students to explore how to make the designs eye-catching, reflect luxury in packaging design, and communicate a message of sustainability through the packaging concept. The three projects that best met the brief were awarded gold, silver, and bronze from the submissions received. The competition was won by student Erin Lemon. The design, titled ‘Wash Brook’ was inspired by her great grandfather, who was the head herdsman of the largest milking Jersey cow herd in the British Isles. The packaging concept of ‘Wash Brook’ is for a scented bath soak containing daisy, clover, and Jersey cow’s milk. It is presented in a traditional glass milk bottle with a cork stopper and printed label. A postcard insert features a black and white photograph of Jersey cows on one side and a note handwritten by Erin’s grandmother on the other. Speaking of her experience working on the competition, Lemon comments: “The project has provided insight into working with a client and suiting its specific requirements. Antalis’ support and informative review of my designs pushed the outcome further, introducing me to a plethora of paper substrates.” The Smart Luxury Packaging competition aims to raise students’ awareness of printed packaging and its applications Strategic changes at Onlineprinters In line with international strategic realignment at the Onlineprinters Group, Simon Cooper has been named managing director of both Onlineprinters’ and Solopress’ online business. Cooper has been managing director of Solopress since 2019 and in his role, will now oversee both businesses in the Onlineprinters Group. Describing the move as the result of a “realigned joint focus”, Cooper says both businesses are now in a much better position to conquer the European market. “We will continue to produce locally in Germany, the UK, and Spain in order to be as close to our customers as possible.” By integrating its two online business models, Onlineprinters Group expects to leverage existing synergies more efficiently, and strategically boost international growth. The international management board now includes Cooper, Esben Mols Kabell, Tobias Volgmann, and Sascha Krines. Simon Cooper, managing director of Solopress since 2019, will now oversee both the Onlineprinters and Solopress online businesses By Jonathan Pert Durst appoints new global sales director software Chris Schowalter has been appointed as the new global sales director software at Durst Group. Bringing over 20 years of experience in print, primarily in inkjet, both in the US and Europe, Schowalter’s appointment is said to reinforce Durst Group’s “expanding software solutions” for the printing industry. In his new role, Schowalter will oversee the development and execution of Durst’s global sales strategy for the software division as well as support the company’s international sales teams. Other responsibilities include playing a key role in strengthening customer relationships, identifying customer needs, and driving efficiencies throughout the process following the company's ‘Pixel to Output’ strategy.
HEIDELBERG recently held its Digital Customer Day at Stockley Park, Uxbridge. The Digital Customer Day was created as a chance for HEIDELBERG to introduce its Digital Print Ecosystem to UK customers, demonstrating the full workflow of modern print jobs from pre-press through to finishing. Paul Chamberlain, head of software solutions at HEIDELBERG, opened the day by highlighting the top “pain points” printers are facing. According to research by the company, the top issues reported were a shortage of skilled workers alongside challenges like pricing and automation. Software solutions on the day included HEIDELBERG’s new Prinect Touch Free product, a production manager option for full automation in digital and offset printing. HEIDELBERG also demonstrated the colours achievable in its new Jetfire 50 (made in collaboration with Canon) during a live feed to colleagues in Germany. Overall, HEIDELBERG’s Digital Customer Day featured a range of different applications and expertise, complemented by an Oktoberfest style lunch, demonstrating HEIDELBERG’s dedication to diversification and efficiency in a typically German style. 22 email: news@printmonthly.co.uk November / December 2024 - Issue 351 EVENTS/ NEWS The day included demonstrations of the Versafire LV and LP The Printing Charity to hold 195th Luncheon The Printing Charity, a provider of practical, emotional, and financial support for the printing industry, has detailed this year’s 195th Annual Luncheon at the historic Stationers’ Hall in Central London. The event which takes place on November 14th, 2024, offers industry members the chance to network and reunite ahead of the Christmas period. This year’s guest speaker is Charity 2024 president, Baroness Nicky Morgan, the former secretary of state for both Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport in the former Conservative government. The event’s locations is known for several industry events due to its links to print and publishing and is in close proximity to where the charity was originally founded in 1827. The Luncheon will start with a drinks reception at midday before a three-course meal with wine, coffee, and petit fours. Speaking ahead of the event, Neil Novell, The Printing Charity chief executive officer, says: “The Luncheon is our annual event for the sector we proudly support. It’s a chance for us to share what we’ve been doing, for people to catch up with industry contacts, and hear from a keynote speaker. It’s often seen as a kick-off for the Christmas season, too. “This year we’re delighted to have our 2024 president, Baroness Nicky Morgan, speaking, so we can look forward to another insightful and entertaining address.” Two Sides and BPIF to hold 14th annual Power of Print seminar The Power of Print seminar is returning to Stationers’ Hall in London for its 14th edition where it will bring together print, paper, publishing, packaging, and media professionals to discuss the current challenges and opportunities in the industry. The event is organised by print and paper advocacy group Two Sides as well as the British Printing Industries Federation (BPIF) in partnership with manufacturers and groups such as Canon and Fedrigoni. Among those speaking is Keshini Dodhia, B2B sales manager of Tony’s Chocolonely. Dodhia will discuss how the company is utilising the power of personalised print in its branding as well as explaining the brand’s commitment to ending exploitation in cocoa farming. The seminar will also include a talk from Jonathon Porritt CBE, founder, and director of non-profit Forum for the Future and the Green Futures magazine. Porritt will aim to explain the economic consequences of the current environmental crisis, and how industries can get ahead of the disruptive transformation that the climate crisis will bring about. HEIDELBERG helps customers tackle industry pain points The Printing Charity has held 195 luncheons since its inception in 1827 By David Osgar By Jonathan Pert The event is taking place on November 5th at the Stationers’ Hall in London By David Osgar Easyfairs has released details for its Packaging Innovations & Empack event in February 2025. The trade show, taking place at the NEC Birmingham, caters to industry professionals seeking to know the latest trends and technologies in packaging. The event will feature three dedicated zones, each spotlighting key growth areas in the packaging sector. The areas are The Food Service area, The Smart Packaging area, and the Label & Print area. Speaking of the upcoming event, Naomi Stewart, marketing manager at Easyfairs UK comments: “Between the increasing emphasis on sustainability and new regulations, the challenges are plentiful, but so are the opportunities. By attending Packaging Innovations & Empack, businesses will be well-placed to take these opportunities." Packaging Innovations prepares for 2025 event
24 email: news@printmonthly.co.uk November / December 2024 - Issue 351 New innovations showcased at American exhibtions A range of printing focused trade shows have announced success this year, including PRINTING United and Labelexpo Americas. The events, which all took place in September, have reported increases in attendee numbers, strong sales, and positive feedback from exhibitors across the board. PRINTING United Expo 2024, which took place from September 10th to 12th, announced positive sales and feedback from a range of its exhibitors. Muller Martini presented the North American premiere of its new Hunkeler Starbook Sheetfolder, presented in line with its Vareo PRO binder. The company reported strong interest and a high quality of discussions. Andy Fetherman, president and chief executive officer of Muller Martini, said: “The positive response from visitors at our booth shows that we are on the right track to drive digital transformation in the printing industry.” Printing solutions provider, Graphco, also announced strong success at the Las Vegas trade show. The event reportedly generated significant sales for Graphco, as well as strong interest for its range of printing equipment. “The response at PRINTING United was nothing short of remarkable,” commented Chris Manley, president of Graphco. The event also included solutions from Inkcups, a supplier and manufacturer of digital equipment including pad printing equipment and laser platemakers. PRINTING United 2024 marked the global debut of Inkcups’ award-winning Nano Pin Curing technology. The technology enables printing on transparent cylindrical vessels such as Tritan containers, wine and spirit bottles, candle holders, and assorted glassware without the need to fill the vessel with a UV-blocking substance. Technology company Sharp announced several products at the show includings its new six-colour digital press, the BP-1200S. Launched in April, the press boasts speeds of up to 120ppm, with an expanded colour gamut including CMYK, gold, silver, and bright pink, as well as the ability to print up to six colours in one pass. In addition, Sharp presented its monochrome digital presses, launched in May. The 125ppm BP-1250M and 136ppm BP-1360M are powered by a Fiery NX One Print Server and include real-time image quality adjustments, with an output resolution of 2,400 x 2,400dpi. Another event that declared increased numbers was Labelexpo Americas 2024, which also took place from September 10th to 12th in Rosemont, Illinois. According to the organisers, a total of 12,215 attendees attended the three-day show. Attendees came from 73 countries and overall international attendance increased by 33% from the last edition. Labelexpo announced further attendee increases across the board, with more converters and almost double the number of brand owners and designers in attendance. The three-day event included a market debut from digital printing solutions company, Nilpeter. The company showcased its new flexible packaging and labels machine, the mid-web FA-26, which has now officially launched in the North American market. Digital imaging systems company, Durst Group, also showcased a range of solutions at this year’s Labelexpo. Returning to the exhibition for a second time was the Durst Tau RSCi. The inkjet label printer, designed for both short- and long-run jobs, prints at 1200 x 1200dpi with up to 95% pantone coverage. UV LED manufacturer GEW, a UK company with a subsidiary in the USA, introduced two new products at Labelexpo. AeroLED2 was launched as a successor to GEW’s air-cooled AeroLED UV curing system. The AeroLED2 is reported to deliver an increased power level when compared to the original AeroLED model, allowing for faster printing across more applications. Also introduced was the LeoLED2, a successor to the first LeoLED. It introduces two power level options to its water-cooled system. The regular power option offers modest gains over the original LeoLED, while maintaining backward compatibility. The high-power option, however, is said to bring sizeable increases in UV irradiance and dose over its predecessor. Overall, it is clear to see from the success of Labelexpo and PRINTING United that the US continues to grow as a hub for print innovation, especially following PRINTING United’s announced collaboration with drupa earlier in the year. [Above] PRINTING United featured over 800 exhibitors and included a number of product debuts. [Below] Labelexpo is the largest dedicated label and packaging print event in the Americas EVENTS/ NEWS By Jonathan Pert
UNDER THE HOOD / INTEC LC700 AND LF700 FRAME 29 www.printmonthly.co.uk November / December 2024 - Issue 351 There was a time when anyone in a planning office would have rolled their eyes when they picked up a job which needed to be cut and finished. This opens up all the issues of getting dies produced and tested, the issues of delayed production whilst the printed substrate sits waiting for the dies to turn up, and finally if you find the client wants a change, the whole merry go round takes another spin. How do you overcome this? Clients want labels. This is a perfectly sensible request and one that is becoming more mainstream as boutique shops and outlets are popping up all over the high street demanding bespoke and short run label production. Previously this would have been impossible to achieve as the costs would just have outweighed any commercial benefit of trying to produce them. But there is a machine that can change both the perception of the label product and will not take up space in the studio unless you want it to. But don't worry, all will become clear. Intec has a new digital label cutting machine which turns label production on its head. The LC700 is a ‘on demand’ kiss cut label cutting machine which in this form is a sheet fed device, but with the clever inclusion of the LF700 Frame with which you can upgrade the machine to the LCF700 reel fed label cutting machine. Cutting at Speed At the heart of the concept is the fact the machine needs no dies, so all those expensive set up costs are set to one side. Added to this is a digital machine so that each label can be independently cut regardless of size and shape. A further plus side to the LC700 is the fact it is designed to be used unattended, so once set and programmed, the machine trundles off on its own. The fundamental reason for the unattended flexibility is the LC700 is able to pick up all the information it needs from a QR code on the sheet it is feeding into the cutting area and this data is then used to set the kiss cutting heads to produce whichever shape is needed. The QR codes and SmartMarks are generated through the ColorCut Pro software which can be integrated with whichever origination software you are using such as Adobe, Illustrator, or CorelDRAW. Operation of the machine by the use of the QR codes means no real experience is needed by the operator. The QR codes have all the information needed and apart from setting the feeder up for the sheet size, once the start button is pressed and the sheet has the QR code read, the LC700 takes full control. The reading of the QR codes is completed by a Vision3 high resolution CCD vision system and is fully integrated into the operating system of the LC700. There are further aspects of the LC700 which enhances the control you have over production in the form of two modes of cutting files. Direct Mode allows you to have full control over the production on the LC700 by allowing you to make any changes you need on the fly. HELD Mode is the second option which captures all of the information for the production and can then be held on any storage device which the cutter can use. The need for the main PC system is negated, making repeat work simple and easy. The LC700 can handle sheets such as LABEL CUTTING PLUS Intec has a compact and clever label printing machine that can fit into the smallest part of the studio, with the unique benefit of being able to upsize to its bigger sibling the LCF700 reel-to-reel label cutting machine Max media size 300 x 750mm Min media size 150 x 190mm Media thickness 0.14 to 0.35mm Max speed 1060mm/s Cut accuracy +/-0.1mm Statistics
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjM0NDIxOA==