Let us help you get the most out of your business. Get in touch today. Improve efficiencies and open up new markets with leading Push to Stop technology The Speedmaster XL 106 Inpress Control 3 – up to 30% additional waste saving compared to previous systems AutoPlate XL3 – 55 seconds for all plate changes and a blanket wash Cutstar Reel to sheet device – optional Energy saving – standby function as standard Energy meters to monitor electricity usage – optional Intelliline LED-based navigation support & intelligent job changes with Intellistart 3 Issue 344 - September / October 2023 www.printmonthly.co.uk
3 News CONTENTS Issue 344 September / October 2023 Specials Q&A Matt Hanley, MTWO With 13 years of experience in recruitment, we pick the brains of MTWO founder Matt Hanley to find out what goes on behind the scenes of recruiting for print Under the Hood Fujifilm Revoria PC1120: Brian Sims highlights some of the features of the Revoria PC1120 toner press recently launched in the UK by Fujifilm Company Spotlight We speak to Andy Kent, general manager of Fujifilm UK about all the launches and developments going on at the company Event Spotlight The SMP Mail Performance Awards will be presented on September 28th with two new categories announced Hot Topics Recent research from Two Sides Europe has found that people perceive paper and pulp to have less impact on forests than other industries Under the Hood IGS Titanium 0912: Brian Sims takes a look at the eighth cutter to be offered from IGS, the Titanium 0912, and its benefits for short-run or prototypes Industry Tips Colin Sinclair McDermott highlights the benefits of a strong morning routine and how this can lead to more success in business Under the Hood Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 106: Brian Sims explores Heidelberg’s latest Speedmaster model and how it can take production to the next level Events All the details on recent and upcoming shows and conferences Kit & Media The latest in cutting-edge machines, materials, and installations People Appointments, promotions, and stories from across the industry Industry The latest ‘must-know’ news from across the world of print Business The lowdown on the latest deals, ventures, and growth in business 06 10 14 19 22 27 43 31 www.printmonthly.co.uk Issue 344 - September / October 2023 53 56 ISSN 2976-9213 35 39 47 Features Event Spotlight The Print Show Preview With the countdown on for The Print Show 2023, we take a look at some of the technologies and features you can expect to see Need to Know Being A Sustainable Business With sustainability moving from being just a buzzword to a serious focus, we take a look at some of the ways businesses are being greener Taste for Success Special Effects Used by retailers and brands to catch the attention of consumers, we look at some equipment available to produce special effects Back to Basics MIS Software Pt.2 In the second feature of our two-part series, Rob Fletcher takes a look at some of the developments in MIS systems and their benefits Focus On Digital Toner-based Presses With digital toner-based presses a core component of many businesses, we learn more about making the right choice when investing Market Trends Label Printing A diversified market, we highlight some of the key growth areas in labels and consider the equipment printers need to succeed Need to Know Packaging Materials Regarded as a core growth market, we take a look at the packaging market and pick out some key trends to be aware of Business Opportunities Marketing Your Business With digital marketing on the rise, printers not only face the challenge of keeping print relevant, but also how to tap into new markets 61 67 73 77 81 85 89 93
ISSUE 344September / October 2023 DATES FOR your Diary The Print Show September 19th - 21st at the NEC, Birmingham, UK Stationers' Company Innovation Excellence Awards September 25th at the Stationers' Hall, London, UK UK Graphic Awards October 4th at the Town Hall, Birmingham, UK Print Growth Roadshow October 24th at One Creechurch Lane, London, UK Publishing director Page Tuck Sales director Chris Davies Lead contributor Rob Fletcher Contributors Brian Sims, Colin Sinclair McDermott 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 Carys Evans carys@linkpublishing.co.uk Online editor David Osgar david@linkpublishing.co.uk Production Shaun Edwards shaun@linkpublishing.co.uk Sales Tim Hall tim@linkpublishing.co.uk Sales Luke Stoneham luke@linkpublishing.co.uk Accounts Kathryn Quinn kat@linkpublishing.co.uk Office therapist Skye MEET THE Team PrintMonthly printmonthly PrintMonthlyMagazine Printed on Sappi Magno Satin from EBB Paper CBP00015512002182040 Issue 344 - September / October 2023 4 email: news@printmonthly.co.uk PrintMonthly printmonthly PrintMonthlyMagazine t: 0117 980 5040 e: carys@linkpublishing.co.uk @printmonthlyed The Print Show Hello and welcome to our September/October issue of Print Monthly! What a jam-packed summer it’s been so far and the momentum doesn’t seem to be slowing. We have seen a number of events announced from awards celebrating the industry’s talent and achievements (P06 & P08), to the opening of a new showroom and a huge company milestone (P12). There has also been much to celebrate with companies winning massive tenders such as the production of the London Mayor ballot contract for May next year (P10), and securing a hefty £75,000 in R&D tax relief (P06). Over on P08 we celebrate a significant retirement as Ivor Jacobs winds down after a whopping 50 years in the print industry. Jacobs is marking the occasion by writing a book looking over his career. In other news, there have been a number of appointments in print with companies bringing in experienced talent to head up operations and a range of promotions from within demonstrating the commitment to retaining valuable skills in the industry (P18). We also take a look at what to expect from the much-anticipated Labelexpo Europe which is set to return this month after a four-year hiatus (P22). In our Specials we find out more about what goes on behind the scenes of recruitment agency for the industry MTWO (P31); hear some tips for a productive morning routine and how this can benefit business (P54); as well as find out more about the impact consumers think paper and pulp has on the environment (P81). I hope you enjoy and please do get in touch with any news you have to share! Carys EDITOR'S Note Business Ribbon cutting opens Hybrid’s showroom 12
INDUSTRY / NEWS 6 email: news@printmonthly.co.uk Issue 344 - September / October 2023 PrintMonthly printmonthly PrintMonthlyMagazine Stationers’ Company reveals shortlist The Stationers’ Company has unveiled a shortlist of 18 companies in the running for honours at this year’s edition of its annual awards. Now in its ninth year, the Stationers’ Company Innovation Excellence Awards pays tribute to innovation within the communications and content industries, with support from sponsors Picon and Mathys and Squire. Nominees are for honours across six categories this year, while one lucky company will go home with the ‘Overall Innovator of the Year Award’. Categories for the 2023 awards include Business Process, Communications Including Marketing, Customer Experience, Product Design, Service Development, and Start-up. Awards will be handed out to winners during a special luncheon event at the historic Stationers’ Hall in the City of London on September 25th. Tony Mash, master of the Stationers’ Company, comments: “The range and quality of innovations entered for the Awards is testimony to the resilience of our industries, especially given the additional challenges facing businesses over the last couple of years.” Winners will be announced at Stationers’ Hall in the City of London on September 25th InkTec announces new additions to its team Manufacturer of inkjet ink, JETRIX printers, and media, InkTec Europe has announced it has added to its senior team and made career progressions for others. The company has welcomed Julian Mennell to its team as national hardware sales manager with the news coinciding with a number of existing team members taking on new roles. Ian Windebank has moved to European technical sales and Scott Peaper has taken the role of JETRIX technical lead. Mennell brings with him significant experience in the wide-format printing sector having worked for both brands and print service providers in previous roles. In his new role with InkTec, Mennell will increase the company’s hardware business, specifically focusing on the JETRIX LED UV printers, by actively reaching out to resellers, and new and old customers, and identifying new prospects. Mennell says: “I have long been an admirer of JETRIX printers; partly down to the quality of the kit, what they can achieve, and even down to the feedback on the level of aftercare service. “Being part of the wide-format sector for so long, sometimes on the competitor side of JETRIX means I am excited to now have the opportunity to work at InkTec Europe and represent such a prestigious and widely recognised brand.” Windebank’s new role will see him have more of a focus on European sales. As a result, he will hand elements of his role over to Peaper over the next few months. Julian Mennell joins InkTec Europe as its new national hardware sales manager By Carys Evans £ 75,000 R&D tax relief secured by innovative Clinical Print Finishers Leicester-based print finishing company Clinical Print Finishers UK has secured £75,000 in R&D tax relief from the government after developing new machinery. The technology in question speeds up leaflet folding and gluing by 400%. Clinical Print came up with the idea while producing Z-cards, a process that previously required an experienced person to manually glue 100 cards an hour on average. The machinery needed to be able to operate two conveyor streams at once, with one containing the folded insert and the other holding the card it would be glued to. It also needed to deliver the glue at the right time onto a variety of materials. Jamie Court, managing director at Clinical Print Finishers UK, comments: “This was our first R&D claim, and the money we have had back is being reinvested into the business, letting us do even more research and development work. “Claiming for R&D is a minefield and very hard for the average business to navigate alone, and so we are very grateful for Catax’s help throughout the process.” [L to R] Jamie Court and Andy Joyce of Clinical Print Finishers UK By Rob Fletcher The Printing Charity to hold its 194th Annual Luncheon Celebrating its 194th year The Printing Charity is holding its annual Luncheon which has become a staple of the print industry’s yearly calendar. The event will include its keynote speaker, Michael Grade, the Printing Charity’s 2023 president and current chair of OFCOM. Prior to the pandemic, the Luncheon had been held almost every year since the charity was founded in 1827. Printing Charity chief executive officer, Neil Lovell, says: “At the charity we look forward each year to hosting the Annual Luncheon. It’s always a great occasion for old and new friends and colleagues to get together to mark another exciting year in our ever-evolving industry.” Taking place at the Stationers’ Hall in Central London, the event is £99.50 and includes reception drinks, canapés, a three-course meal with wine, as well as coffee and petit fours. The Printing Charity offers support to an estimated 98,000 workers in the industry
INDUSTRY / NEWS 8 email: news@printmonthly.co.uk Issue 344 - September / October 2023 PrintMonthly printmonthly PrintMonthlyMagazine Ivor Jacobs first cut his tooth in the print industry back in 1974 after starting his working life in brand management, systems analysis, and computer sales. A marketing manager of a progressive litho printer, Jacobs suggested opening a retail print store in Hampstead and Kwik-Kopy was born. The company developed well and became a franchise. Jacobs became UK managing director for PIP, the US franchise five years later, opening 40 stores. In 1997, Jacobs set up Ivor Solution as a web-to-print software developer trading as Card Corporation – said to be the UK’s first service of its kind concentrating on cloudbased technical development and sales with print being outsourced. Almost a decade later the white labelled software used mainly by larger print managers became the only UK print company combining its own IP with print. Branded as Cognitu, the hybrid offer was sold internationally with Ivor Solution often handling over 1,000 small orders a day in addition to web transactions outsourced to other suppliers. Ten years ago, Spencer Slee a corporate customer, bought into the business and became managing director and majority shareholder. The company rebranded to Print Evolved in 2016 and Jacobs retained shares in the business and is only retiring a decade later aged 78. With an extensive history in print, Jacobs was challenged by the company's financial controller to write a book on his adventures which is nearing completion – he shouldn’t find it difficult to find a printer! Print veteran Ivor Jacobs to retire after 50 years Ivor Jacobs is retiring after almost 50 years in the print industry Scottish print industry apprentices honoured [L to R] Fraser Galloway; Nathan Burns; Laura Macdonald; and Becky Young Print industry apprentices in Scotland have been honoured in the eighth annual Scottish Print Apprentice of the Year Awards. The Awards are organised by Print Scotland which provides training for Modern Apprentices through the Scottish Training Scheme. Nathan Burns of CCL Design won the Overall Apprentice of the Year Award; Becky Young of J Thomson Colour Printers won the Pre-Press Apprentice of the Year Award; Fraser Galloway of NSD Labels won the Press Apprentice of the Year Award; and Laura Macdonald of Bell and Bain won the Post-Press Apprentice of the Year Award. According to Garry Richmond, director of Print Scotland, the number of young people seeking life opportunities is growing all the time, and he predicts 2023 could be a record year for apprentices. The UK Graphic Awards is preparing for its fourth award ceremony which will take place in Birmingham on October 4th, 2023. In its latest update, the awards ceremony has revealed the finalists for its 14 categories including Branded Interiors, Retail, Events & Exhibitions, and more. Also at the ceremony is the Rising Star award which recognises an individual in the industry under 30 who has shown exceptional understanding and growth. The UK Graphic Awards says this category has seen the greatest increase in entries, demonstrating a hopeful change for the next generation of printers. Finalists include Hollywood Monster, MacroArt, Signbox, FaberExposize UK, Imageco, Grapefruit Graphics, and more. UK Graphic Awards announce 2023 shortlist Colin Sinclair McDermott AKA The Online Print Coach has launched ‘The Printerviews’, a podcast focusing on real discussions with professionals in the worlds of print, graphics, and signage. Having recently released its second episode, the podcast has been received extremely well by others in the industry and has already ranked highly in listening charts. The first episode features founder of Make it Happen Sam Armstrong and the second episode features Gareth Robertson from Print Pit who speaks about the trials and tribulations of running a print business and the advantages of selling print online. The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcast, and Google Podcast. The podcast is available on platforms such as Spotify, Apple Podcast, and Google Podcast The event will take place at a Gala Dinner at Birmingham Town Hall on October 4th The Online Print Coach releases new podcast Textile print-on-demand company, Prinfab, has launched an online service to create repeating patterns from a simple text description using artificial intelligence (AI). The solution is free to use and has generated over 10,000 images since its launch with the person generating the image retaining the copyright. AI has had several effects on the print industry, with a lot of automated technology already implemented into machines and software. Prinfab says customers on social media reacted to its new service with comments ranging from “fabulous” to “sad and surprised to see this from you”. Graphic designers and content creators have been amongst those who have criticised the use of AI over the past year. AI solution gets mixed response from customers Pattern generated by Prinfab AI using the prompt, "jungle print mixed with tiger texture" By Carys Evans
BUSINESS / NEWS 10 email: news@printmonthly.co.uk Issue 344 - September / October 2023 PrintMonthly printmonthly PrintMonthlyMagazine Yorkshire-based print company instantprint has celebrated reaching four years of being a Real Living Wage employer. Employees are paid £10.90ph or 4.5% more compared to the £10.42 national living wage and £10.18 minimum wage. The business also helps colleagues through a number of initiatives such as financial drop-in sessions, Westfield health schemes, and using mental health first aiders. The business has highlighted the decision to support staff more than ever due to rising costs and challenges for workers around the UK and the world. Instantprint supports team with higher wages Ricoh is praised by IDC MarketScape Ricoh Europe has been celebrating after a new report from IDC MarketScape named the company as a worldwide leader in high-speed inkjet solutions. Entitled ‘IDC MarketScape: Worldwide High-Speed Inkjet Press 2023 Vendor Assessment’, the report analyses Ricoh’s technological capabilities, product roadmap and R&D strategy, and support and services against the market and client needs. The report concluded that “all print service providers considering an investment in high-speed inkjet should put Ricoh on their vendor list”. Fedrigoni Group, a global manufacturer of speciality papers, premium labels, and self-adhesive materials has announced the launch of a new Innovation Center based in Verona, Italy. The centre, which is expected to be fully operational in Q1 of 2024, will reinforce Fedrigoni’s research and development (R&D) initiatives as well as continue the development and production of sustainable recycled and recyclable materials. The space will be 3,000sq m and is located next to Fedrigoni’s Verona-based office. Fedrigoni opens new Innovation Center Print and mailing company FDM has secured a contract worth £2m to produce the official ballot papers for the 2024 London Mayor and Assembly elections. Taking place on May 2nd next year, the election will decide who will lead London for the next four years. FDM will oversee the design, print, project management, and delivery of approximately 18 million ballot papers for the event. The awarding process was conducted by Transport for London (TfL) on behalf of the Greater London Authority (GLA). “We are delighted that the GLA has demonstrated its trust in us through our appointment as preferred supplier to the GLA ballot paper 2024 contract,” FDM sales director Ian Forster says. “As specialists in election services, it is a real privilege to be working on this landmark project. We are genuinely excited by the opportunity to deliver this highly complex, time-critical communication throughout London.” Alex Conway deputy Greater London returning officer, adds: “As would be expected, the tender process for this contract is detailed and rigorous. Its complexity and responsibility cannot be underestimated. “With the electoral experience that FDM has, alongside a proven track record of delivering against the strict parameters of such contracts, we are very pleased to announce that the company is our preferred partner.” FDM lands 2024 London Mayor ballot contract for May next year FDM will produce approximately 18 million ballot papers for the elections KBS Corporate has announced the sale of printing business Formara to boutique private investment firm Lifeboat Management. Founded in 1971, Formara operates as a printing specialist for commercial clients located in London and the Home Counties. The Southend-based company offers varied marketing and communications solutions to clients. KBS Corporate, which advised on the sale, did not disclose the financial terms of the deal. Fabio Rambelli, associate director at KBS Corporate, says: “It has been a pleasure working with all parties on this project. I wish Phil a very happy retirement and the Lifeboat team a successful and profitable future with Formara.” Formara bought by Lifeboat Management Bluprint UK, a supplier of consumables and parts for the printing industry is celebrating 20 years in business after navigating years of risks and challenges. The company started in 2003 when managing director Robb Harman moved from working in a busy industrial unit to setting up his own home office and converted outbuilding, dubbed the “International Distribution Centre”. Harman made the move in order to prioritise a better work-life balance and allow him to spend more time with his family while exploring new business opportunities. Harman says: "We are both grateful and humbled by what has been achieved from our modest beginnings. However, our mission has always extended beyond our own success.” The company has ensured it celebrates important milestones and a focus on colleague wellbeing by adopting a four-day workweek. Bluprint UK celebrates 20 years in business Bluprint created an expansive dealer network through Europe, Africa, and North/South America Financial details of the sale were not disclosed By Carys Evans
BUSINESS / NEWS 12 email: news@printmonthly.co.uk Issue 344 - September / October 2023 PrintMonthly printmonthly PrintMonthlyMagazine Ribbon cutting opens Hybrid’s showroom On Monday July 17th, Hybrid Services opened the doors to its newly refurbished showroom in Crewe, Cheshire. To commemorate the day, the UK distributor of Mimaki technology welcomed around 40 of its UK and Ireland resellers along with Hybrid co-founders Phil Thomas and Peter Mitchell, and the Mayor of Cheshire East, Cllr Rod Fletcher. Arjen Evertse, general manager of sales for Mimaki Europe; Mr Takahiro Hiraki, Mimaki Europe CEO; and Mina Maeda, senior sales manager for Mimaki Europe also made the journey from Amsterdam to be part of the day. The new, extended showroom houses a huge range of Mimaki hardware with a number of applications on display, as well as remodelled meeting areas and upgraded hospitality facilities. Richard Williams, showroom manager of Hybrid Servies has been with the company for a number of years and was instrumental in the design of the new showroom alongside managing director Brett Newman. Speaking at the opening event, Williams told Print Monthly about the inspiration behind the refurbishment: “I likened the environment in here to a shop that’s got that retail feel. People come into the showroom, and we are showing the products. In turn, these products will be used to create products that will ultimately sell a product, so it’s creating that environment.” Something Williams is keen to emphasise is the fact the showroom has been designed for Hybrid’s UK and Ireland resellers to use as if it was their own, with the venue housing such an extensive range of Mimaki kit. The Mayor of Cheshire East, Cllr Rod Fletcher was invited to the opening, signifying the connection Hybrid has with the wider community. Speaking at the ribbon cutting ceremony, the Mayor said: “The investment that Hybrid Services has made in this facility is a real vote of confidence in both the town of Crewe and of Cheshire East, as the borough’s Mayor, I thank them for their investment and wish them luck for the future with a facility such as this. Arjen Evertse, general manager of sales for Mimaki Europe also addressed attendees making a special mention to Hybrid Services for supporting Mimaki for almost three decades. Arjen Evertse, general manager of sales for Mimaki Europe [pictured far right] thanked Hybrid for 27 years of loyalty By Carys Evans Konica Minolta celebrates 150 years Whilst most of the big print technology manufacturers date back around 90 years, few have a history as longstanding as Konica Minolta which is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. The company was founded in 1873, three years before Alexander Graham Bell filed his patent for the telephone and six years before Thomas Edison invented the electric lightbulb. The company’s inception also coincided with the UK’s first chocolate Easter eggs from J. S. Fry & Sons, the first US postal card being issued, and the first prototype of a typing machine being sold. Konica Minolta’s story began when Rokusaburo Sugiura opened a small specialist shop for photographic and lithographic products in Tokyo named the Konica Corporation. In 1928 Nichi-Doku Shashinki Shoten was founded (later known as Minolta Co) and three decades later the first copier, the ‘Minolta Copymaster’ was completed. Two years later and the first images of the earth were taken from space using a Minolta Hi-Matic. With the turn of the 21st century, the world’s first polymerised toner with biomass, which reduces CO2 and NOx emissions by up to 40% was developed. In 2003, Konica and Minolta merged to form Konica Minolta with the company entering the production printing sector with the Konica Minolta bizhub Pro 1050 the next year. Following this move into production print, the company moved away from the camera market in 2007 and almost ten years later, Konica Minolta introduced its AccurioJet KM-1 B2+ UV inkjet printing system. In 2020, the company was named a worldwide leader for print transformation by IDC and most recently was named the best managed service provider and leading system house in Germany for the second time in a row. Fast forward to today, the company employs over 40,000 people globally. The manufacturer also has a total of 19,814 patents registered, 2 million customers worldwide, and is active in 51 countries throughout Europe. Sustainability remains a core focus with Konica Minolta actively contributing to the achievement of the UN sustainable development goals including 80% CO2 reduction by 2050, Net Zero in Scope 2 by 2050, and 100% renewable energy by the same year. Konica Minolta is celebrating a huge milestone as it sees in its 150th year in business By Carys Evans
KIT & MEDIA / NEWS 14 email: news@printmonthly.co.uk PrintMonthly printmonthly PrintMonthlyMagazine Issue 344 - September / October 2023 Loughborough University invests in VeloBlade Nexus Vivid Laminating Technologies has revealed Loughborough University has brought its production in-house with the purchase of a VeloBlade Nexus digital die-cutting system. Print, Post and Logistic Services is part of marketing and advancement at Loughborough and is an in-plant service that supports all teaching, research, and enterprise activity. In addition to this, the department offers services to commercial customers mainly consisting of students, community groups, staff, and alumni, and therefore needed an automated solution to bring its production in-house in order to save time and money. The University provides a managed MFD service to both the Loughborough and London campuses, offering services such as cut-sheet printing and finishing, large-format print, branded gifts and souvenirs, corporate workwear, and promotional goods. Helen Clarke, Print, Post and Logistic Services manager at Loughborough University, comments: “The decision to implement a Vivid system was easy. Ever since incorporating the VeloBlade Nexus, we have successfully brought previously outsourced services in-house, resulting in significant cost savings for our University and introducing numerous commercial benefits.” Loughborough University has invested in a Vivid VeloBlade Nexus to bring production in-house Dyer & Son boosts booklet production with Duplo Leatherhead-based familyrun business Dyer & Son has upgraded its DBM-120 hand-fed bookletmaker with a DBM-350 digital system from Duplo. The company had been on the lookout for a new solution that would allow it to speed up production and service more customers faster. Duplo’s DBM-350 allows collated work to be processed from multiple printers, enabling the user to produce booklets consistently with shorter makeready times. Jobs can be set up and recalled instantly with only minimal manual intervention. Dyer & Son director Chris Dyer, says: “It’s still early days but we feel that with the Duplo 350 Digital System we will be able to produce our booklets about four times quicker. “We are a big fan of the machine’s ability to crush each booklet before delivery. This means that the booklets come out much flatter and don’t spring open. It gives our work a much more professional look and I just know our customers are going to appreciate it.” Dyer & Son has been providing print to customers for more than 105 years Meliora Group bolsters finishing with Heidelberg purchase The Meliora Group has strengthened the finishing production setup at its Delga Press site with the addition of a new Diana Easy folder-gluer from Heidelberg. Delga Press operates as a printed packaging business, with gluing and folding forming a key part of the production of packaging items. The addition of the Heidelberg machine means Delga Press now has four dedicated glue lines for folding box board cartons, meaning it can leave certain lines set up in popular formats. As a result, the company expects to increase makeready speeds and to reduce the number of makereadies it needs to produce. “We chose the Diana in particular as it has the ability to produce smaller cartons than our existing equipment,” explains Sam Grist, commercial director at Delga Press, adding: “Diana has always had a very good reputation in the industry; so after looking at all the options available to us, we decided that this was the best suited to our business needs.” Meliora Group installed the machine at its Delga Press site Kyocera Document Solutions UK has unveiled the TASKalfa Pro 1500c/B, a mono inkjet production printer which is reported to use up to 70% less power than laser-based counterparts. The latest printer is a sister device to the colour TASKalfa Pro 15000c and is the latest addition to the TASKalfa Pro family, a range of printers that work in partnership with PrintReleaf and myclimate. The new printer is made for transactional printing and mailing. Kyocera announces new cut-sheet inkjet printer Sketches Int sets UK-first with KM Sketches Int has become the first printing business in the UK to invest in and install a new AccurioShine 3600 inkjet spot UV coater with iFoil One in-line hot foil stamping module from Konica Minolta. The Ruislip-based printing and design agency pushed ahead with the purchase to strengthen its offering to customers and widen its own capabilities. The investment means the company will save 30% on costs by taking embellishments in-house. The AccurioShine 3600 allows users to add 2D and 3D multiple coating and dimensional texture effects in a single pass, with a maximum supported paper size of B3+. The Astro Jet AJ140 and AJ160 printers recently launched by AMS Mailing Systems have been described as “revolutionising in-house variable data printing”. Combining the reliability of inkjet technology with a userfriendly touchscreen interface, the monochrome printers offer realtime monitoring capabilities and high-quality printed output. The size and design of these printers mean they are versatile for standalone use, integration with conveyor systems, or bend-end drop stackers. The machines are designed to mass customise mailings, including coding, names, messages, images, exclusive discounts, and addresses. Two new printers from AMS Mailing
PEOPLE / NEWS 19 September / October 2023 - Issue 344 www.printmonthly.co.uk A NUMBER OF NEW APPOINTMENTS IN PRINT First up and Walstead Group has appointed Neil Johnson as Group chief finance officer and board director following the departure of Julian Rothwell. The company, which is Europe’s largest web offset printing business, conducted an extensive search across Europe for the replacement role and was seeking a candidate with significant international experience. Johnson has over 30 years of experience in finance, operations, systems, and accounting and was Group CFO for Sparrows Offshore Services Group from 2014 to 2023. Senior management announcements have also been made by DS Smith, Precision Colour Printing, and James Cropper with all three companies appointing new managing directors. At packaging company DS Smith, Paul Clarke has been appointed as managing director within the UK and Ireland’s Packaging Division. Clarke was formerly operations director for the Packaging Division and will work to improve collaborative structures across DS Smith. In addition, Clarke will work closely with customers to develop changing solutions with bespoke packaging and product development. Nick Evans has moved from the role of commercial director to managing director of Precision Colour Printing (PCP). A passionate advocate of the company, Evans joined the company as commercial manager in 2014 and later took on the role of commercial director in 2016. “I am delighted to be appointed managing director of PCP,” Evans comments, adding: “Despite the challenging market conditions we’ve all faced in recent years, it’s great being able to continue serving our fantastic customer base while retaining the ethics of a family business, which we still are.” James Cropper has named Richard Bracewell as its new managing director for Paper Products with Bracewell responsible for the Creative Papers and Luxury Packaging sectors. Bracewell most recently served as the business transformation lead for Specialiy Paper at James Cropper where he was instrumental in repositioning the organisation to ensure long-term differentiation and market competitiveness. Over at Ricoh UK and the company has announced Glenn Griggs as its new chief executive officer. Griggs succeeds Phil Keoghan who was promoted to lead Ricoh Northern Europe in April last year. Griggs previously held the position of board director of sales, leading a team of 250 Ricoh sales employees across the UK. In this role, he played a pivotal part in steering the business’ transition to a digital services company across multiple divisions and service offerings. Reporting to Phil Keoghan, Ricoh Ireland will continue to be overseen by managing director Gary Hopwood. Moving onto sales roles now and Inkcups has announced the addition of a new direct salesperson in the UK and Ireland. The news further strengthens the company’s commitment to providing dedicated localised support in Europe as part of its growth. Nick Macfarlane has been named as the company’s new regional sales representative for UK and Ireland bringing with him years of print industry sales experience. This experience includes playing a key role in expanding the direct-to-garment business unit at Ricoh UK, and growing the existing UK customer base at Kornit Digital. In his new role, Macfarlane will be responsible for growing Inkcup’s UK and Ireland customer base as well as developing and supporting distributors in strategic regions. Over at Global Graphics Software (a Hybrid Software Group company) and Lawrence Geere has been named as the new OEM sales manager for EMEA. Geere brings with him over 30 years of industry experience and will work closely with the company’s OEM customers to enable them to maximise the potential of the rapidly evolving digital inkjet market. Geere will report to Justin Bailey, managing director of Global Graphics Software. Bailey says: “With his blend of technical and commercial background, Geere is the ideal person to help our OEM customers and prospects navigate the challenges they will face as the digital inkjet market expands into smart factories, where printing of variable data content at high speed has become increasingly important.” Next up is Domino Printing Sciences with the company having announced the appointment of Thomas Guerriero as the Group’s CSR (corporate social responsibility) customer manager. This is a new role that has been created to help customers achieve their sustainability goals. Guerriero will work alongside Domino’s customer base to identify CSR targets and set goals for reducing production waste and improving their environmental performance. “Organisations worldwide are feeling the pressure of becoming more CSR and sustainability orientated and this naturally includes a variety of topics such as doing more for our people and our society,” Guerriero says. A key focus of the new role will be working with Domino’s sales channels to ensure they are trained and have the resources they need to identify and develop sustainable growth opportunThere have been a number of appointments and promotions in recent months showing that the industry really doesn’t ever stand still. We highlight some of the new career moves in the print industry [1] Neil Johnson, Group chief finance officer and board director of Walstead Group [2] Paul Clarke, managing director of DS Smiths’ UK and Ireland Packaging Division [3] Nick Evans, managing director of Precision Colour Printing [4] Richard Bracewell, managing director for Paper Products at James Cropper [5] Nick Macfarlane, regional sales representative for UK and Ireland at Inkcups [6] Lawrence Geere, OEM sales manager for EMEA at Global Graphics Software [7] Thomas Guerriero, CSR customer manager of Domino Printing Sciences [8] Peter Clitheroe, elections project manager at FDM [9] Kathryn Scott, HR director of Canon
PEOPLE / NEWS PrintMonthly printmonthly PrintMonthlyMagazine 20 email: news@printmonthly.co.uk Issue 344 - September / October 2023 ities for the company and its customers. This includes progressing its EcoVadis and Sedex accreditation roadmaps. Peter Clitheroe has been appointed elections project manager at print and mail company, FDM having previously served as democratic services manager at Adare. As well as having over 25 years’ experience working for UK customer communications management companies, Clitheroe also holds the Association of Electoral Administrators (AEA) certificate in Electoral Administration. And finally, Canon has appointed Kathryn Scott as its new HR director responsible for driving forward the company’s people vision based on diversity and inclusion and helping the business realise its mid-term growth ambitions. Scott has built her experience across a number of sectors including telecoms, entertainment, and technology and has extensive experience partnering with CEOs and business leaders to support teams. Dedicated to delivering a range of people development programmes including DE&I initiatives, Scott has previously held roles at Cisco, Imimobile, Antenna International, and Sky and T-Mobile. In addition to this, Scott holds a MSc in Human Resource Management; is a Chartered Member of the Institute for Personnel & Development (MCIPD); and holds accreditations in coaching, counselling, and psychometric testing. 1 4 7 2 5 8 3 6 9
22 email: news@printmonthly.co.uk Issue 344 - September / October 2023 EVENTS / NEWS PrintMonthly printmonthly PrintMonthlyMagazine LABELEXPO EUROPE RETURNS AFTER FOUR YEARS Set to take place from April 26th to 29th, Labelexpo Europe was postponed to this September due to Covid-19, supply chain issues, and the war in Ukraine. However, the popular event is set to return with a bang with hundreds of exhibitors confirmed and a range of additional features planned. A brand new feature for 2023 will be a ‘Flex Pack Trail’ which will enable visitors to explore digital and conventional press technologies, flex pack material constructions, coating, laminating, ink, and curing requirements as well as in-line and nearline decoration options, QC, and migration testing. The Flex Pack Trail will demonstrate the opportunities for label converters looking to diversify their product offering in the flexible packaging market. Keynote exhibitors for this feature include SCREEN, Nilpeter, Fujifilm, Xeikon, and BOBST. The Label Academy will also host a flexible packaging masterclass in the form of a half-day session on Tuesday, September, 12th from 9.45am. This session will cover topics such as substrates, the creation of artwork and pre-press, printing processes, and inks, coatings, curing, and laminating. Other features within the educational show programme include the Flexible Packaging Masterclass, the Sustainable Labels and Packaging Masterclass, and the Wine Labeling Technology Masterclass. Hundreds Of Exhibitors With anticipation for the return of Labelexpo Europe high due to there being a longer-than-usual gap, exhibitors have been keen to highlight what they will be demonstrating at the show. SCREEN and Nilpeter are partnering to introduce a new in-line solution designed to meet the increasing demand in integrated digital printing and embellishment. In addition to this, SCREEN will be showcasing the prototype development of an in-line inkjet digital primer for its flagship label printing press. Also showcased by SCREEN will be the Truepress PAC 520P inkjet digital printing press for paper packaging. Another company known for its sustainable embellishment solutions is ACTEGA which will be showcasing its ECOLEAF metalisation technology and specialty inks and coatings. ECOLEAF is a sustainable alternative to traditional metallic decoration and the company will be offering live demonstrations on its stand at the show. In addition to this, ACTEGA will showcase its specialty inks and coatings for labels and flexible packaging such as its range of haptic and visual effect coatings designed for standout shelf appeal. Over in Hall 8 and Konica Minolta will be presenting its state-of-the-art software and service capabilities alongside its hardware solutions for the label converting and packaging industries. On show will be the AccurioLabel 400 single-pass digital toner press which launched only nine months ago and delivers a new level of enhanced print quality for converters. The Konica Minolta and MGI Digital Technology Industrial Print stand will showcase end-to-end Industry 5.0 Ecosystems with partners such as ePS, OneVision, IIJ, GM, and more. A state-of-the-art inkjet customisation project produced with partner Industrial Inkjet (IIJ) will also be demonstrated alongside MGI’s JETvarnish Web Compact and Octopus Web machines along with Konica Minolta’s PKG-1300 for corrugated manufacturers, converters, and printers. Also providing a host of software solutions will be eProductivity Software (ePS) with the company set to show the latest innovations in its Packaging Suite. This solution offers an end-to-end enterprise software ecosystem designed for label and flexible packaging production, especially those with multiple products and plants. Fujifilm will use its presence at Labelexpo Europe to showcase its range of analogue, digital, and sustainable print solutions for the labels and packaging industries. Included in the lineup will be the Jet Press FP790 digital flexible packaging press via a demonstration run from Fujifilm’s beta customer in the UK. Also on show will be the flagship toner-based production press in the Revoria range, the Revoria PC1120. Fujifilm will also demonstrate the Samba 42000 Printbar system which launched in 2021. Having been postponed last year due to Covid-19, the biennial Labelexpo Europe will return from September 11th – 14th in Brussels for the first time in four years. We take a look at what to expect from the event ▲Image: Lablexpo Europe 2019
27 www.printmonthly.co.uk September / October 2023 - Issue 344 Q & A / MATT HANLEY, MTWO MATCHING TALENT WITH OPPORTUNITY ▲ Matt Hanley founded MTWO three years ago and has 13 years of recruitment experience First up, tell me a bit about yourself... I’m a dad first and foremost to my three kids William, Louis, and Hugo. I’m also husband to Lyndsey who also works in MTWO, and am a huge football fan and season ticket holder at Manchester City. I have terrible taste in music and am ridiculously reliant upon coffee to function (probably the kids' fault). How did you come to be in the print industry yourself? Unlike most people, I chose to be in the print industry. Bonkers eh?! Before working in recruitment I worked as a business development manager for a purchasing club that sold the premise that bulk purchasing would mean lower prices. These had to be within social housing or independent private healthcare and one of the categories I looked after was print. I got on really well with the suppliers so took an interest. When I joined my first recruitment business, I was asked to build a ‘desk’ which means to focus on an industry and so for me it was print! Tell me about MTWO for anyone who isn’t aware of what the company does... Simply, we Match Talent With Opportunity (MTWO) specifically across the print, packaging, and signage sectors. From a client’s point of view, we will be an extension of your business when attracting industry talent for your business. We are proactive not just reactive relying on people to apply through an advert. We’ve been in this industry for many years so have a pretty extensive network! As a candidate, you know you’re dealing with a recruiter that knows the space. We know organisations that will fit with your aspirations, location, and drivers. More than this though, we do what we say we are going to do. We call, we follow up, we manage the process for you, and most importantly, we feed back. MTWO is in its third year with four of us working within the business. I am personally into my 13th year of recruitment within this sector so you can imagine the network of industry professionals we have. What does a typical day look like at MTWO? It’s recruitment, there isn’t a typical day. We try and keep to a structure the best we can but things happen and stuff shifts. Our typical day starts the night before where we plan and structure the day so we come in knowing what to focus on. The day is normally split into sourcing for two positions: one in the morning and one in the afternoon and then we plan for the next day. Sounds simple, but it’s not! What is your favourite thing about MTWO? My name above the door. I care about the recruitment process, those within it, the journey, the service we provide, and how we do it. For me, you do that (and do it well) and everything else will look after itself. We have lots of repeat business and we have solid relationships and that is a reflection of us providing an exceptional level of service. Can you give any examples of jobs that you have matched people up with recently? It literally spans across every level within the industry. The most recent placement was an Estimator role in Birmingham for a commercial print business and a Creative With the need to bring young people into the industry and difficulties finding skilled workers, we catch up with the man behind recruitment company MTWO to find out more about what the company does and how we can bring new talent into print
new opportunities. It’s rare that we bring talent into the industry from other areas, but we should. There are so many transferrable skills. This is an education piece. About youth though, I’d love to run, in partnership with anybody looking at bringing youth into the industry, maybe an open day which includes assessment-type activities. I haven’t done one yet but it’s on the horizon. With print being a skilled, manufacturing industry, are there any challenges with recruiting for a ‘niche’ industry? The challenges are the lack of skilled people at any one time. Be that production, studio, client services, or salespeople, there’s just not enough of them! For anyone wanting to chat to you to find out more about what MTWO can offer, how can people get in touch? I love a chat, so the best and easiest way is 0161 399 0804. If you would rather get an email across to me, that’s cool too matt@m-two. uk. In the event that you didn’t want a chat yet but prefer a mooch around the website, you can visit that here – www.m-two.uk. Project Manager in Surrey for a large-format and vehicle branding business. Outside of these two, we’ve placed everything and anything, as long as the business is in the industry, we will recruit the role you need. Do you find there are any specific roles that are in demand more than others? No, it’s a skilled industry and there’s always been (and will always be in my opinion) more opportunities than there are good skilled industry people. For a recruiter, this is tough as it takes time and patience to unearth the talent. That said, we’re 12 years in so we must be doing something right. The biggest thing for me is that people know I’m only a call away or am here when they are ready to look at the market. What are three tips you’d give to a company looking to hire new talent? Good people are hard to find so make sure you have a plan in place for the process. If you don’t have one, we will talk you through the best ones. The period between offering the job and the person starting with your business is vitally important, don’t forget that. If you are using a recruiter, don’t work with more than two as the benefits you think it will have working with loads of recruiters will actually be the opposite. What are three tips you’d give to a candidate looking for a new role in the industry? Clarity is huge. Be clear on your reasons for looking, clear on the reasons you want the new job, clear on your decision to leave, and not be persuaded to stay. Be flexible. Interviewing is tough, people are busy. Show willingness and commitment to the process to be flexible to requests. Make sure your CV is the best it can be. This opens the door, so make it punchy and leave enough questions for the hiring manager to want to chat with you. We’ve written a blog on this to help, just shout if you want a link for it. We hear a lot that there is an ageing workforce and a lack of young people in the industry. As a recruiter, what is your opinion on this and can we do more to bridge this gap? This is a fact. There’s so much good activity around this at the minute. You don’t have to look far to see the Next Generation with FESPA UK, or the Rising Star Awards with The Printing Charity, or any event now having Rising Star/Talent categories. We need to see more of it. For organisations hiring youth, MacroArt is a great example of how to do it directly with local schools and colleges. As a recruiter, my value is obviously finding experienced talent within the industry 28 email: news@printmonthly.co.uk September / October 2023 - Issue 344 Q & A / MATT HANLEY, MTWO ▲ MTWO finds roles for those in the print, graphics, and signage industries ► Hanley’s wife Lyndsey also works in MTWO
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