The 12th annual Canadian Printing Awards took place in Toronto with more than 80 awards handed out to recognize print innovation and industry achievement
14 World-class print
Detailing the production challenges and successes of the best in Canadian printing over the past year, as well as technological and environmental progress
20 Year in Review
Ranking the Top 30 moments in 2017, in terms of both technology and strategy, to have the most impact on shaping the near future of Canada’s printing landscape
DEPARTMENTS
GAMUT
5 News, Calendar, People, Installs, Globe, Archive
MARKETPLACE
25 Industry classifieds
SPOTLIGHT
26 Sean Springett, Chief Executive Officer of Manroland Sheetfed North America, discusses the direction of folding-carton work
COLUMNS
FROM THE EDITOR
4 Jon Robinson
Net and print neutrality
Debate over the so-called first amendment of the Internet reignites as the FCC moves to end protections forcing ISPs to treat data equally
CHRONICLE
9 Nick Howard
Running out of gunpowder
How a fateful day of hunting in 1802 led to the founding of one of the most influential chemical companies in DuPont and the role Canada played
Net and print neutrality
The ongoing debate over net neutrality was once again ignited in late November as Ajit Pai, Chairman of the United States’ Federal Communications Commission, ramped up a campaign to eliminate Obama-era policies promoting fairness in the access to the Internet – as outlined in a Telecommunications Act.
Every dollar that is spent on adult literacy, according to statistics from Kodak’s 2017 Print For Good program, provides society with a return of $7.14.
Pai, a 44-year-old Republican attorney, is spearheading the Trump administration’s regulatory rollback of net neutrality protections. As Olivia Solon of The Guardian explains, “Net neutrality, which some have described as the first amendment of the Internet, is the idea that Internet Service Providers [ISPs] treat everyone’s data equally – whether that’s an email from your mother, an episode of House of Cards on Netflix or a bank transfer. It means that cable ISPs such as Comcast, AT&T or Verizon don’t get to choose which data is sent more quickly and which sites get blocked or throttled based on which content providers pay a premium.”
Net neutrality is every bit as critical to the direction of an economy as free-trade agreements and monetary policies, arguably more so if you consider the World Wide Web to be its own border-less macroeconomic system impacting the growth of nations. There are all sorts of positive and negative externalities in eliminating the open Internet, but one of the most obvious is a danger many pundits have described as resulting in a deeper divide among peoples of the Information Age. Access to information can create an educational separation between the Haves and Have-nots.
In a November Wired.com article called Net Neutrality Is Not the Problem, Harvard professor Susan Crawford writes, “The real problem is a complete absence of leadership and policy aimed at making sure that low-priced, ubiquitous, world-class fibre optic services reach every home and business.” She argues the FCC can deal with the public outrage over losing net neutrality, calling it a shell game, because it is too hard to pin down its meaning down. “On the Hill, the public will be out-lobbied at every turn by the essentially unlimited resources of [telecom giants].” The Guardian reports AT&T, Comcast and Verizon collectively spent $11 million lobbying the U.S. government in the first quarter of 2017.
Considering instead Crawford’s concern over the real problem of Internet access, the availability of access to printed knowledge and educational literacy over the past several centuries had a major impact on the development of various regions of the world. This ana-
logue growth of knowledge among the masses happened at a much slower pace, of course, than what is already possible with today’s breakneck digital information speeds.
It is why Johannes Gutenberg’s automation of the printing press was so impactful from the 1450s onward, allowing mass reproduction of printed material to spread knowledge. Of course, access to that printed knowledge has never been never truly ubiquitous either. This impact of print on society was best described by the late American historian Elizabeth Eisenstein who focused on the transformation of media between the era of manuscript culture and that of print culture.
Describing Eisenstein’s seminal work, James Gleick wrote, “The Printing Press as an Agent of Change, a two-volume, 750page exploration of the effects of movable type printing on the literate elite of post-Gutenberg Western Europe… focuses on the printing press’ functions of dissemination, standardization, and preservation and the way these functions aided the progress of the Protestant Reformation, the Renaissance, and the Scientific Revolution. Eisenstein’s work brought historical method, rigour and clarity to earlier ideas of Marshall McLuhan and others, about the general social effects of such media transitions.”
Even today there are countries around the world with alarming rates of illiteracy and lack of access to books. Statistics relayed earlier this year from Kodak’s Print for Good program, for example, suggest that in middle-class communities there is an estimated 15 books per child. In underdeveloped areas, however, there is only one book per 300 children. Print for Good is a global initiative to support communities throughout America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East with book drives, donations, and the printing of materials in an effort to increase worldwide literacy.
“An investment in literacy is an investment in the future; and every dollar that’s spent on adult literacy provides society with a return of $7.14, enabling individuals to help themselves, their families and their communities,” said Brad Kruchten, President of Kodak Print Systems. “We feel that print is and will continue to be a critical piece of that solution.”
There is no way to understand how the loss of net neutrality can affect the prospects of print and business, but we have learned access to information might be more of a human right than a privilege.
Editor Jon Robinson jrobinson@annexweb.com
Contributing writers
Zac Bolan, Wayne Collins, David Fellman, Victoria Gaitskell, Martin Habekost, Nick Howard, Neva Murtha, Abhay Sharma
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We acknowledge the [financial] support of the Government of Canada.
Ryerson’s Graphic Communications Management program celebrated student achievement by handing out dozens of awards. Top Ryerson GCM students receive a large portion of their financial assistance from the Canadian Printing Industries Scholarship Trust Fund, which provided a total of $75,500 in scholarships to students across Canada for the current school year.
Spicers Canada, in a move to expand its product mix throughout Western Canada, acquired Shippers Supply. The acquisition gives Spicers Canada, a division of Central National Gottesman, a stronger position in the distribution of shipping, packaging and warehouse supplies. Founded in 1975 and headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, Shippers Supply operates nine locations throughout Western Canada. Shippers Supply will operate as an independent division of Spicers Canada.
Transcontinental, in a move to consolidate newspaper-printing activities in Québec into three plants, announced plans to close its Montréal-based Métropolitain facility by late January 2018. Métropolitain’s printing activities will be mainly transferred to the Transmag plant in Montréal, while de la Capitale in Québec City and Qualimax in Gatineau will also take in volume. Transcontinental stated its decision was based on a
decline in the newspaper printing market and the upcoming end of printing La Presse newspaper, which initially spurred the building of Métropolitain in 2003.
Graphic Packaging International agreed to acquire the assets of Seydaco Packaging Corp. and its affiliates National Carton and Groupe Ecco Boites Pliantes. Focusing on the foodservice, personal care and household goods markets, Seydaco converts approximately 20,000 tonnes of paperboard annually and operates three converting plants located in Mississauga, Ontario, St. Hyacinthe, Québec, and Xenia, Ohio. The group generated revenues of approximately $40 million over its most recent fiscal year.
Electronics For Imaging and Xeikon, a division of Flint Group, entered into partnership around the EFI Jetrion label and narrow web inkjet printing systems.
Xeikon will now service and supply the worldwide Jetrion customer base, and continue the direct sales of Jetrion systems, in addition to its portfolio of digital dry toner and UV inkjet presses for the self-adhesive label market.
Xeikon has more than 500 digital label presses installed worldwide. Its existing label press portfolio includes the Cheetah Series, entry-level 3000 Series, and the Panther Series of UV inkjet presses.
Fujifilm North America increased the prices of its offset printing plates beginning in December 2017 by up to eight percent. The move comes a month after Kodak announced similar plate price increases. Fujifilm explains the price increase is a result of raw material cost increases, most significantly aluminium, and shifting labour costs, as well as decreasing volumes in traditional plates.
CALENDAR
January 13-16, 2018
PIA Color Conference
Hyatt Regency Mission Bay, San Diego, CA
January 23-26, 2018
EFI Connect
The Wynn Las Vegas, NV
January 28-February 1, 2018
Electronic Imaging 2018 Symposium
Burlingame, CA
February 22-24, 2018
Graphics of the Americas Fort Lauderdale, FL
Transcontinental acquired Les Industries Flexipak, a 55-person packaging company located in the St. Laurent borough of Montréal. This is Transcontinental’s fifth North American packaging acquisition since 2014. Flexipak, makes packaging for consumer goods firms, food processors and retailers, specializing in flexography, lamination and bag and pouch making. Transcontinental also sold 21 of its publications to Icimédias Inc., led by President Renel Bouchard and Managing Director Marc-Noël Ouellette. In total, 140 employees of these various publications and 28 employees from TC Media’s production team are transferred to Icimédias. Transcontinental also signed a multi-year agreement for the printing and distribution of all of these publications. The company has now sold close to 50 percent of its Ontario and Québec regional newspapers.
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen of Germany released an update for the first half of its current fiscal year, April 1 to September 30, 2017, stating profitability improved significantly. The company’s operations resulted in a half-year net profit after taxes of €+0.3 million for the first time since its 2007/2008 financial year. Heidelberg explains it is well positioned for growth in digital printing based on its Gallus label presses and shipment of its Primefire inkjet-driven packaging press, scheduled to begin series production this January. As expected by the company, incoming orders in the post-drupa year of €1,234 million were below the previous year’s figure, €1,408 million.
March 10-12, 2018
South China International Exhibition on Printing
Import & Export Fair Complex, Pazhou, Guangzhou, China
March 22-24, 2018
Sign Expo 2018
Orlando Convention Center, FL
May 1-2, 2018
InPrint USA
Palmer House Hilton, Chicago, IL
May 15-18, 2018
FESPA 2018 Global Print Expo Messe Berlin, Germany
June 6, 2018
PrintForum Trade Show & Conference International Centre, Miss., ON
June 19-20, 2018
2018 Print & Packaging Legislative Summit Washington, DC
September 26-27, 2018
Label Expo
Donald E Stephens Convention Center, Chicago, IL
September 30-October 3, 2018
Graph Expo 2018
McCormick Place, Chicago, IL
October 18-20, 2018
SGIA Expo
Las Vegas Convention Center, NV
October 24-28, 2018
All in Print China
New International Expo Center, Shanghai, China
April 11-13, 2019
Graphics Canada International Centre, Miss., ON
June 16-26, 2020
Drupa 2020
Dusseldorf, Germany
Steven Gardner of Muller Martini presents an award to Clairine Mudita.
François Olivier, CEO, of TC Transcontinental.
Benoit Chatelard, President and CEO, Digital Solutions, Flint Group.
Cory Turner, President, Spicers Canada.
Klaus Schmidt , after more than 28 years as Director of Marketing and Corporate Communications at Koenig & Bauer AG, headquartered in Wurzburg, Germany, retired at the end of October. He is succeeded by Dagmar Ringel, who was most recently Director of Public Relations for ZEISS, after serving in a similar roles with HP for eight years. Schmidt represented the managerial staff on the supervisory board of Koenig & Bauer AG from 1993 to 2016. He was with Koenig & Bauer for more than 30 years.
John Cicchirillo becomes Bindery Supervisor with St. Joseph Communications, Print Group, based in Vaughan, Ontario. For almost three years, he previously served as Pressroom Supervisor for the Toronto Star. Cicchirillo has also worked with the card finishing firm Giesecke & Devrient after spending a majority of his career, just over 30 years, with TC Transcontinental, where he eventually became Pressroom Supervisor in that company’s Concord, Ontario, operation.
Lalita Zapata becomes iC3D Business Development Director, USA and Canada, for Creative Edge Software, which focuses on the development of packaging design software. She will be focused on rolling out recent iC3D product developments to clients like packaging designers, branding agencies, and similar firms that provide packaging production services. Zapata’s appointment coincides with what the company describes as the most significant iC3D version release in more than a year.
Scott Willock becomes an Account Director with C.J. Graphics Inc. located in Mississauga, Ontario. He previously held account executive positions with Bertie Printers Limited and Somerset Graphics. Educated at both George Brown College and Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology, Willock, in addition to his account responsabilities, also spent a majority of his career as managing information technology programs.
Larry Oberly is joining franchiser SpeedPro Imaging as President and CEO, taking his new position on November 6, 2017. SpeedPro has around 130 franchise locations across North America focusing on large-format printing. This includes more than 35 locations in Canada. He has more than 25 years of experience in franchising, including his leadership as a multi-unit franchisee. Oberly was most recently VP of Global Development at RE/MAX LLC where he had accountability for global development, field services, technology and training for over 3,800 offices and 50,000 agents.
INSTALLS
Imprimerie Bourg Royal based in Québec City, Quebec, installed a Standard Horizon CRF-362 creaser/ folder, as well as a Horizon SPF/ FC-200A booklet-maker with a VAC-1000 collator (pictured). Both systems were purchased from KBR Graphics, the exclusive Canadian distributor for Standard Horizon.
President Yves Paquet began integrating digital printing in 2009.
CJ Graphics continued to release details about equipment going into its 240,000-squarefoot facility in Mississauga, Ontario, which is to include two new wide-formatinkjet systems from Agfa Graphics in the Jeti Tauro H2500 with ABF and Jeti Ceres RTR3200 LED, driven by Asanti workflow.
Heather Roden becomes Strategic Account Manager for the Graphics & Packaging operations of Zünd America, the North American distributor of the Swiss company’s digital cutter and software portfolio. This is a newly created role from where she will be serving key accounts and seeking new partnerships with graphics and packaging providers. Based out of the Greater Chicago Area, Roden comes to Zund with extensive experience in printing, having held a variety of positions in prepress management, art direction, publishing and in-house marketing. Most recently she was a product manager for the wide-format portfolio with Fujifilm’s North American graphic arts division.
Mike Hartman becomes publisher of SBC Media Inc., a publishing arm focused on action sports and part of the C.J. Group of Companies. Hartman, returning to SBC, has more than 20 years of action sports and media experience. During his 11 years with SBC, he served as Circulation and Promotions Manager and Director of Digital before becoming Managing Director. For the past 2 1/2 years, he was Associate Publisher/Director of Operations at King Network Inc.
Cartonek has installed an Océ ProCut 16003XL, pictured with Lionel Bisson (left) and Raymond Brideau, to work with its Canon Océ Arizona flatbed printer. Packaging is the core of Cartonek’s operation, which also focuses on large-format applications like POP displays.
Direct CD’s upgrades Ricoh in Hertfordshire
Founded in Hertfordshire, U.K., more than 10 years ago, Direct CD’s specializes in CD and DVD duplication and printing services. Direct CD’s explains the history of CD production actually goes back as far as the 1950s, when Sony and Philips began to introduce competing technologies with a goal to replace vinyl and cassettes. The two media imaging giants, explains Direct CD’s, eventually opted to work in partnership to get the CD off the ground by the early 1980s.
Direct CD’s started out with one CD printing system and now runs seven, along with three UV varnishing machines. As CD and DVD production began to decline, however, the company expanded its printing services into areas like large-format posters, newsletters, flyers, user guides, workbooks, legal corners, business cards, letterheads, compliment slips and training manuals.
“Customers were asking us to take on additional digital print, which I thought would be a great opportunity to expand the business,” said Martin Crowson, Managing Director at Direct CD’s. The company is upgrading its existing Ricoh machine of five years, with a new 5-colour Ricoh Pro C 7100 with the ability to print white and spot UV varnish.
Koenig expansion in Charlotte
Classic Graphics of Charlotte, North Carolina, was scheduled to take delivery of a new 64-inch Koenig & Bauer Rapida 164 hybrid UV press in December 2017. This will be its first large-format printing press, aimed to complement its fulfillment and production departments in point-of-purchase signage, all of which is being moved into a newly constructed facility in the Concord Airport Business Park. Classic also operates a second facility in Research Triangle Park (Morrisville).
Founded in 1983 by David Pitts and Bill Gardner, Classic Graphics became part of the Imagine! Print Solutions family of companies in December 2013. Imagine! has been in operation for 28 years and today, encompassing four companies, employs 1,600 poeple in approximately 1.1 million square feet. Classic Graphic’s business operations encompass 385,000 square feet of space and 350 employees. Classic explains it has been growing its business exponentially by focusing on media innovation for its customer base of top national and international brands.
“This is a tremendous investment for us,” said David Pitts, President of Classic. “Our new 7-colour, 64-inch KBA Rapida 164 hybrid printing press will support our growing UV business with increased production speeds, fast makereadies, and precise in-line quality control. Not only are we acquiring our first large-format press but our facility expansion includes a full range of large-format finishing and kitting capabilities, enhanced design services, and triples the size of our current fulfillment center, increasing our secure storage options and boosting our digital print-on-demand capabilities.”
The KBA Rapida 64-inch press features an inline camera control system to evaluate each sheet without operator intervention. The maximum production speed of 15,000 sheets per hour on the new KBA Rapida 164, along with its larger size of 64-inches in contrast to the firm’s existing 40-inch presses, will expand the amount of work being produced on press.
Vogt-Schild adds ROTOMAN in Derendingen
Vogt-Schild Druck AG, based in Derendingen, Switzerland, celebrated the inauguration of its new ROTOMAN DirectDrive web offset press over two days with around 120 guests. The new press is being used to print work like magazines, placemats and business reports at Vogt-Schild Druck. It features Inline Control systems developed by press maker manroland web, which involves a paper feeder in the cellar rooms. The ROTOMAN DirectDrive prints 65,000 copies of a 16-page brochure in one hour. In order to avoid bottlenecks, Vogt-Schild Druck doubled the paper storage and equipped it with a semi-automatic unpacking station, as well as production preparation spaces.
Four printing units for the colours yellow, magenta, cyan and black are standard, but the new press includes a fifth special unit to print, for example, brand colours or scented coatings that can be rubbed. A 14-metre drying oven ultimately enables savings of 40,000 litres of heating oil per year. In the past, the waste energy vanished through a chimney, but a new heat-exchange system shared with a paint-shop neighbour reclaims substantial energy.
Located in Teutopolis, Illinois, Three Z Printing is one of the largest familyowned commercial web printers in the United States. The company recently added a Goss M-500, producing up to 40,000 impressions per hour. In its small town of 1,500 people, Three Z employs 400 people from the local community.
(Left to right) David Pitts, President of Classic, and John Hans, CEO of Imagine!, plan to have their new 7-colour KBA Rapida 164 hybrid printing press support Classic’s growing UV business.
(Left to right) Operations Director, Fuat Fuat at Direct CD’s, Martin Crowson, Managing Director at Direct CD’s, and Adrian Stark, Production Print Sales Specialist.
Guests at Vogt-Schild’s inauguration of the new ROTOMAN DirectDrive in Switzerland.
25 years ago
Canadian Stamp Produced in United States: Jim Cuttell is very annoyed that Canada’s historic hologram stamp –issued to commemorate the country’s accomplishments in space – was produced in the U.S. Cuttell is President of Cuttell Brothers, founded by his father, John, and uncle, Albert, in 1934. The firm bought a Gietz 72 foil-stamping press in May 1991 and is still the only Canadian company able to print holograms.
Earlier this year, Canada Post asked for quotes on producing the hologram stamp and Ashton Potter of Toronto, which produces many Canadian stamps, asked Cuttell Bros. for a quote on the holography. The job, however, was awarded to Canadian Bank Note Co. of Ottawa, which sourced Bridgeport Graphic Technology of Connecticut for the holography work.
“Canada Post’s main concern was that the stamps contain Canadian content, yet they were print at Canadian Bank Note and sent to the U.S. to have a hologram sticker applied,” said Cuttell. “I feel that a Canadian postage stamp should be produced in Canada, especially when the technology is available here.”
Jim Cuttell (right), President of Cuttell Bros. stamping and embossing, with press operator Dennis Sylvester.
$8.9K
For sale (1997 December classified): Digital colour copiers including Canon 350 with low miles, $5,900; Kodak 1525 (Canon 355) low miles and showroom condition, $6,000; and Xerox 1090 high-volume duplicator (90 copies per minute), $8,900.
20 years ago
CTP Goes Prime Time: No longer the domain of the big shops, direct-to-plate technology has finally entered the mainstream, as small- to mid-sized shops take on a digital workflow and migrate to CTP. Today’s buyers with their tighter budgets and variable jobs, require more flexibility, which vendors are providing in the form of different levels of automation, dual media capabilities and educational programs.
“Basically, it’s all about flexibility for the smaller printers,” says Alex Holowko, Director of Sales for Cymbolic Sciences. “Large printers who typically buy fully automated products are doing longer runs and don’t tend to change the jobs they have running too frequently. Offering modularity was also important for Vancouver-based Creo Products when it launched the Trendsetter platesetter line in 1996. Two years after the introduced of the fully automatic Platesetter 3244 in 1994, the company moved down market to the modular Trendsetter. Compared to the US$375,000 Platesetter 3244, the US$285,000 Trendsetter 3244F marked a significant savings for companies wanting to go direct to plate. Further automation can be added like automatic loading, plate rotating features, and even a proofing option, turning the platesetter into a multi-purprose machine.
Vancouver’s Broadway Printers installed this Cymbolic Sciences PlateJet for its ability to image film and plates.
15 years ago
Adobe Turns 20: Adobe Systems Inc. of California commemorated its 20th anniversary with a rare public reunion of its two founders and current CEO. Founded in 1982 by Xerox PARC scientists John Warnock and Charles Geschke, Adobe was instrumental in launching the desktop publishing revolution. “John and Chuck are key inventors of our time,” said Bruce Chizen, President and CEO of Adobe. “Their contribution to publishing with the invention of Postscript may be as impactful as Johannes Gutenberg’s development of the printing press in the 1450s. Just as Gutenberg made mass communication possible, John and Chuck helped bring electronic publishing to every desktop computer.
$78K
For sale (2002 December classified): 84 Heidelberg SORMZ 29”, 2 colour, 48M impressions. Royce Alcohol Barback damp. IR dryer, clean!! In excellent condition. $78,000.
John Warnock, Bruce Chizen and Charles Geschke at Adobe’s 20th anniversary.
$5K
For sale (1992 December classified): Dianippon P-617-GA 42 x 36 inch draw down, microwave light, 45,000 exposures. For film prints, bluelines, colour keys, etc. Excellent condition, $5,000. Also craftsmen line up light table 30 x 40 inches, motorized tilt, $700.
Running out of gunpowder
How a fateful day of hunting in 1802 led to the founding of DuPont and its rise as a dominating power
By Nick Howard
Pierre Samuel, a Frenchman, immigrated with his family to America in 1799. Before setting sail, he was warned that the French were rather unpopular in the now independent colonies. But tiring of French politics, America drew him like a magnet. Samuel was a printer and publisher in France and he would develop a close relationship to U.S. President Thomas Jefferson. He would return to France in 1802 and play a pivotal role in America’s purchase of the French territories.
This large swath of land along the Mississippi River Valley, south from the Gulf of Mexico northward, would make up 13 new American states. Samuel laid the groundwork for his family to settle in the state of Delaware. The original idea of business was the colonization of lands in Delaware. But this would prove difficult as did many other ideas he dreamed up. But he had sons – and in 1802 fortune would change by serendipity.
Let’s go and shoot something
Eleuthére Irénée was a son of Pierre Samuel.Young, energetic and resourceful Irénée went hunting one day with a French-born artillery officer. By mid-afternoon both men had run out of gunpowder so they stopped into a country store to purchase some. To both men’s disappointment they found the local gunpowder of poor quality and a very high price. Irénée had studied black powder in France under the chemist Antoine Lavoisier, and also held a position in the French central powder agency.
Adding to Irénée’s annoyance, he was told by the artilleryman that the only good powder was imported from England! Distressing indeed as tensions still remained high between the two countries and war always a probability. If any dispute arose it would mean the immediate cutting off of the one essential element of battle: gunpowder. It was on that day in 1802 that the E.I. du Pont de Nemours Company – today known simply as DuPont – would be formed on a 95-acre farm near Brandywine Creek in Delaware.
Irénée was now in the black powder business. The die was cast, and if by an enlightenment, Irénée went to work building his factories using novel construction techniques, such as being the first to build in a blast wall. Separating the mixing sheds helped improve safety by spreading out the manufacturing process. If one shed went up, the others might be spared. It would help him dodge most of the calamities that beset other powder makers.
The first 30 years brought no fortune to the DuPonts as Irénée had difficult partners. Even by the time America went to war with England in 1812 and his factory was supplying record amounts of black powder, the account books would show no profits. Irénée wrote to a friend: “I owe more than sixty thousand dollars, chiefly in notes at the banks, so that my debts amount to far more than my profits from the powder. The signatures that must be renewed every sixty days put me in exactly the situation of a prisoner on parole who must show himself to the police every month.”
After the war of 1812 things would get even direr when a huge explosion destroyed the Brandywine factory on March 19, 1819. Thirty-six men were killed and the force of the explosion even rattled windows in the capital of Wilmington –85,000 pounds of gunpowder sent shockwaves as far off as Pennsylvania. Irénée’s wife would be injured and never recover. But rebuild he did and by the time of his death in 1834 the Delaware factory was producing over a million pounds of black
DuPont has been one of the most influential printing technology companies for more than a century, as displayed by this collection of the company’s historic note.
powder annually. DuPont never looked back. By the time America entered the Great War (1917), DuPont was able to produce one million pounds in 24 hours.
Why not Canada?
During the closing days of America’s civil war DuPont scion - Lammot du Pont was called upon – this time by President Lincoln, to travel to England and negotiate for as much saltpeter as the English would sell. Saltpeter was a main ingredient of black powder. There was also a disruptive technology that emanated from the Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel. Dynamite made with nitroglycerin was a vast improvement on the old black blasting powder. Lammot pushed for the DuPont Company to get into what would be turn out to be a successor explosive. But he failed to win his case and instead moved to Canada to finance a Union army surgeon by the name of Thomas Brainerd.
In Canada they purchased the Hamilton Powder Company. As the decades passed, DuPont would eventually have a stake in what would be known as Canadian Industries Limited, or C.I.L. By 1880 DuPont-USA would finally acquiesce and manufacturer Dynamite. In fact by 1920 Dupont was the largest manufacturer of Dynamite. Remington Arms, the firearm manufacturer had DuPont investment from 1933 till it was sold off in 1993. Bullets need gunpowder. Meanwhile in the U.S., DuPont was just awakening to exciting industries and would put their indelible stamp on one – Print.
Turning toward the printer
In the early 1900s, Swiss chemist Jacques Brandenberger was hard at work trying to develop a protective cover for tablecloths. He experimented with a tree by-product: cellulose. By 1911 Brandenberger had fashioned a machine to produce this new material and decided to call it Cellophane.
Eleuthére Irénée founded E.I. du Pont de Nemours Company on a 95-acre farm located on the Brandywine Creek of Delaware to produce gunpowder.
DuPont quickly purchased the American rights and in 1924 the first American production rolled off the casting machine in Buffalo, N.Y. Cellophane proved to be a huge success. All sorts of uses were found – bread and candy wrappers to pastry boxes with windows, the list is endless. Of course, Cellulose also led to the rise of graphic arts film, which brought DuPont another revenue source in an industry that was growing.
NICK HOWARD, a partner in Howard Graphic Equipment and Howard Iron Works, is a printing historian, consultant and Certified Appraiser of capital equipment. nick@howardgraphicequipment.com
PrintAction’s 2017 Industry Achievement recipients:
CELEBRATING CANADIAN PRINT
More than 200 people from across the country attended the 12th annual Canadian Printing Awards gala on November 9 in Toronto. More than 80 Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards were handed out based on Printing, Technology and Environmental categories, as well as individual Industry Achievement
Printing Leader of the Year
Sean Murray, Pictou, Nova Scotia
President and CEO, Advocate Group of Companies
Taking control of Advocate (founded 1891) in 2004, Murray leads the largest independent printer in Atlantic Canada with more than 350 employees in four facilities in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, controlling 10 newspapers, 21 trade and regional magazines, a flyer distribution group, and a range of creative services. He led the 2016 purchase of Transcontinental’s commercial assets in Dartmouth. He currently serves as CPISTF Treasurer and helps lead The Bruce Murray Foundation and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Emerging Leader of the Year
James Rowley, Vancouver, British Columbia
General Manager, Glenmore Custom Print + Packaging
Rowley has helped establish Glenmore (founded 1981) as a one of Canada’s premier sheetfed printing operations with more than 130 employees producing some of the country’s most innovative work. Glenmore has also become one of Western Canada’s independent powers in folding-carton manufacturing, while tackling new initiatives in roll-label printing.
Sean Murray, James Rowley, John Hueston and Bob Cockerill.
Heidelberg Flexo.
Heidelberg Canada Graphic Equipment Limited is a supplier of a full range of consumables for the Flexo market. With a growing portfolio of state-of-the-art products from platemaking to the pressroom, it’s time to consider Heidelberg for your flexo needs. › heidelberg.com/ca
Heidelberg sells a wide range of consumables for the Flexo market.
Community Leader of the Year
John Hueston, Aylmer, Ontario
President, Aylmer Express Graphics Group
Involved in a range of Elgin County arts and business programs, Hueston founded the 3 Port Tour which has raised more than $70,000 in seven years. His efforts have served the Aylmer Kinsmen, Ontario Community Newspaper Association, Forest City Velodrome, St. Thomas Art Centre, Aylmer Chamber of Commerce, Fanshawe College and Forest City Velodrome. Aylmer Express (founded 1880, controlled by the family since 1947) has been one of Ontario’s fastest growing printers over the past decade.
John A. Young Lifetime Achievement Award
Bob Cockerill, Toronto, Ontario
Senior Vice President, SGK Inc., President & COO, Schawk Canada Inc. Retired in 2015, Cockerill continues to serve as Chairman of PACPackaging Consortium, helping to lead its world-class research and certification initiatives for production and environmental sustainability. He served on Ryerson’s Board of Governors from 2008 to 2011, helping to build GCM’s dedicated Heidelberg Centre, a leading source of talent for Canada’s printing industry. He is largely responsible for establishing the Canadian power of SGK, with its world-leading Anthem and Schawk! brand deployment and production operations.
PrintAction will share more about the influence and impact of our four 2017 Industry Achievement recipients in the coming year.
Veritiv’s Tom Deighton with Gord Griffiths of Lowe-Martin and Frits Kouwenhoven of Hemlock Printers.
Jim Stalford of Canon Canada, Brett Rogers of Komcan and Greg Running of Kodak Canada.
Frank Wheeldon of Schawk, Paul Nieuwenstein of Farnell Packaging, and Mike Bedrosian of Safety Seal.
Jamie Barberi of PDI, Les Smith of C.J. Graphics and Mike Collinge of Webcom.
Paul McCarthy of HP and Tony Valente of Canon receive awards for Most Environmentally Progressive Technology Company.
Christian Knapp of CMD Insight, Mike Bedrosian of Safety Seal and Jason Burlington of Pronto.
Jay Mandarino of C.J. Graphics, which swept the offset labels category.
Serge Loubier of Marquis, Rob Payne of Simpson Print and Michael Case of Lowe-Martin.
Ryan Hildebrand of Friesens receives the 2017 Best of Show Award.
Brett Hueston of Aylmer Express and Joe Kotler of Moveable.
Carla Johanns of Simpson Print, Marg Macleod of Friesens and Glenn Houston of PDI.
Paragraph’s Martin Lepine, Hemlock’s Doug Climie and Friesens’ Rob Tucci.
Ryerson GCM’s Alexandra Thurm, Jeremy Page, Deanna Krueger and Maria Gaitan.
Jason Burlington of Pronto, Les Smith of C.J. Graphics and Vinay Tewathia of New Era Print.
Scott Gray of Mitchell Press and Christian Morin of Impart Litho.
Artcraft’s Jessica Czaplinska, Sandro Mastromatteo, Artcraft’s Alain and Louise Paquette, and Michelle Paquette of TC Optium.
Shelf life has a major impact on the quality of your products and your profitability. Fortunately, SunBar® (Aerobloc) oxygen barrier coatings can help you improve that shelf life, while minimizing waste. These coatings are lightweight, can be water-resistant, and are third-party verified*. So, whether you want to buy precoated films or create your own, Sun Chemical can help you come up with an airtight plan that meets all of your needs.
Request your copy of our overview at sunchemical.com/locks_in or call 1-708-236-3798.
*Recipient of a 2016 Frost & Sullivan Best in Class award
WORLD-CLASS PRINTING
The 2017 Canadian Printing Awards program received the most entries in its 12-year history. A six-person judging panel determined Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards in each print category based on quality and technical production.
2017 Best of Show
Canada 150th Anniversary, Through Ottawa Friesens
Chosen from among all printing category entries, the 2017 Best of Show Award went to Friesens Corp. of Altona, Manitoba, for its production of the hardcover book Canada 150th Anniversary, Through Ottawa. The book was produced in a 10,000 piece run on a 4-colour, 50-inch Manroland (text) and 6-colour 40-inch Heidelberg (cover).
Self Promotion, printing company
Gold: Fou, Fou, Fou!
Silver: think4D Marketing Kit
Friesens
Bronze: Hemlock Holiday Wrap
Hemlock Printers
Self Promotion, technology supplier
Gold: Variety Canon Canada
Brochures & Booklets, offset
Gold: Cirque du Soleil: Luzia
Gold: Watson Soul, Walk on This
C.J. Graphics
Silver: Sun Towers, The Centre
Hemlock Printers
Bronze: 2017 BC Lions Season Pass Package
Glenmore Custom Print + Packaging
Books, hardcover offset
Gold: Canada 150th Anniversary
Friesens
Gold: Berlin Coffee Table Book
Simpson Print & Litho
Silver: Intercom on Starting Up
Hemlock Printers
Silver: Toronto Jazz Treasures
Alymer Express Graphics Group
Bronze: AB Scale Model Anniversary
MET Fine Printers
Books, softcover offset
Gold: Design Thinkers 2017 Program
MET Fine Printers
Silver: Horseshoe Bay Books
MET Fine Printers
Silver: Gaslight District Book
Simpson Print & Litho
Bronze: Brigus Mark Book
The Lowe-Martin Group
Bronze: Une ile d’Arbres
Marquis Book Printing
Books, digital
Gold: Mildred’s Temple
C.J. Graphics
Gold: Keys to Recovery
CBN Commercial Solutions
Silver: The Power to Create Change Book
PDI Inc.
Bronze: Close up and Marco
Photography by Robert Thompson Webcom
Brochures & Booklets, digital
Gold: Bradshaw Delicacies From the Sea
C.J. Graphics
Silver: Introducing Biolage R.A.W.
Impression Paragraph
Bronze: Premium Lobster
Advocate Printing & Publishing
Web Offset
Gold: Danica Studio Catalogue
Mitchell Press
Silver: LogiMonde
Impart Litho
Bronze: TASTE Magazine
Mitchell Press
Business & Annual Reports
Gold: The Heart of the City
Alymer Express Graphics Group
Silver: ATB 2017 Annual Report
CBN Commercial Solutions
Bronze: Tricon 2016 Annual Report
Moveable Inc.
Catalogues
Gold: ROCVALE Catalogue 2017
PDI Inc.
Silver: Bugaboos Eyewear, 2018
Ryders Catalogue
Hemlock Printers
Bronze: Polygon Realty Seven Peaks
MET Fine Printers
Rigid Packaging
Gold: Laura Secord Chocolates
Impression Paragraph
Silver: Norham Beverages Legends
Glenmore Custom Print + Packaging
Bronze: Vancouver Candle Co.
MET Fine Printers
Bronze: Canadian Club Premium
Original 1858
C.J. Graphics
Specialty Project
Gold: Alberni by Kengo Kuma
MET Fine Printers
Silver: Getting Started with OFEV
Alymer Express Graphics Group
Silver: USC Football Season Tickets
CBN Commercial Solutions
Bronze: Griffin Poetry Price
Moveable
Magazines
Direct Mail
Gold: IGA Holiday Promotion
PDI Inc.
Silver: Copperleaf Mailer
Hemlock Printers
Bronze: NBCC Alumni Association
Advocate Printing & Publishing
Labels, offset
Gold: Crown Royal Celebrates Canada
150
C.J. Graphics
Silver: Crown Royal World’s Greatest
Dad
C.J. Graphics
Bronze: Johnnie Walker Black Label
C.J. Graphics
Business Cards
Gold: Crisp Fine Foods Cards
Pronto Reproductions
Silver: Toyota Air Freshener Cards
C.J. Graphics
Bronze: New Era Cards
New Era Print Solutions
Gold: Audi Magazine
St. Joseph Print
Silver: Pure Luxury, 2017 March/April
The Lowe Martin Group
Silver: Mountain Life
Hemlock Printers
Bronze: Lush Magazine
C.J. Graphics
Labels, flexography or gravure
Gold: Monarch Late Harvest
Artcraft Label
Silver: Kacaba Susans Sauvignon
Artcraft Label
Bronze: Kacaba Pinot Gris
Artcraft Label
Stationery & Invitations
Gold: Deloitte Technology Fast 50
C.J. Graphics
Silver: Maple Lodge Zabiha Halal Kit
Simpson Print & Litho
Silver: C.J. Graphics Open House
C.J. Graphics
Bronze: Camp Brightworks 2017
Summer Party Invitation
C.J. Graphics
Specialty Effects
Gold: Flying Monkeys Hoptical Illusion
Schawk! and Safety Seal
Silver: PrintAction September 2017
Boss Logo
Bronze: Cling Promotion
Pronto Reproductions
Calendars
Gold: Daytimer
Simpson Print & Litho
Silver: Bombardier Desk Calendar
PDI Inc.
Bronze: Engagement Calendar Friesens
Flexography
Gold: Leap Popcorn Bags Schawk!
Silver: Big 8 Beverages
Farnell Packaging
Bronze: Beswick Schawk!
Finishing
Gold: Doctors of the Game
Friesens
Silver: GCM Grad Book
Ryerson University
Silver: Onboard Booklet, McMillan
The Lowe-Martin Group
Bronze: Auto House - Private
Automotive Galleries & Social Club
C.J. Graphics
ENVIRONMENTAL CATEGORY AWARDS
More information about the environmental achievements of the following Gold Award recipients will be presented in PrintAction’s January 2018 issue.
Most Environmentally Progressive Printing Project
YVR Sustainability Report
Hemlock Printers
Most Environmentally Progressive Printing Company
Gold: Hemlock Printers
Gold: The Lowe-Martin Group
Most Environmentally Progressive Technology Company
Gold: Canon Canada
Gold: HP Canada
CONGRATULATIONS
Technology Category Awards (Only Gold Presented)
Most Progressive Printing Technology, offset Multi-Cassette Unit Energy Savings and Footprint Reduction, by Kodak
Innovation: Kodak’s new Multi-Cassette Unit (MCU) uses up to 24 to 65 percent less space than competing MCU technologies, while allowing for automated loading and unloading of up to 480 plates. Current models of Trendsetter and Achieve platesetters with MCU use up to 80 percent less power than other MCUs. The system is also fully compatible with the growing Sonora Process Free Plates, now used by more than 3,000 printers around the world.
Most Progressive Printing Technology, digital NexPress White Opaque Dry Ink with Auto White Blend, by Kodak
Innovation: This technology enables presses to add white ink to a CMYK image by updating a job ticket, leveraging an algorithm within the DeviceLink profile. Once updated, the software places different levels of white ink in way that it appears to be placed first on the sheet. But the technology prints the white on the sheet last. Users do not need to switch between normal or special-effect substrates (metallic and transparent stocks) or create a separate file.
Most Progressive Printing Technology, inkjet Impremia IS29, by Komori
Innovation: The Impremia IS29 is a 29-inch (B2-size) sheetfed inkjet press with the sheet perfecting and durability of Komori offset press experience. Adapting digital imaging to offset travel provides front-to-back, single-pass perfection of the sheets. Its 1,200 x 1,200-dpi piezoelectric print heads produce multi-level droplets of UV ink down to four picoliters, allowing for sharp photos and text, as well as instant curing. It provides the ability to produce 6-up impositions of full-bleed documents.
Most Progressive Printing Technology, inkjet
Océ Colorado 1640 UVgel, by Canon
Innovation: The 64-inch, roll-to-roll Océ Colorado 1640 leverages Canon’s new UVgel technology, which combines a new UV curable ink, that instantly gels on contact with the media, and self-aware piezoelectric print heads. It uses a new LED-based UV system that cures without adding any damaging heat to the media and provides continuous nozzle monitoring and performance compensation. The system is rated for a top speed of 1,710 f2/h, while a setting for POPtype prints runs at 430 f2/h.
For more information about the Canadian Printing Awards program, as well as additional coverage of our 2017 winning projects and technologies, please visit www.CanadianPrintingAwards.com
PBI Expands Again, Announcing: Post Press Packaging.
n today’s Canadian print market, there are few companies that are growing organically.
But one particular company has quickly become a major force in the commercial segment. PBI, “Printing by Innovation”, is a full service printing company that takes pride in discovering new ways to grow their business. Not only do they provide a great customer experience, they also know the value of providing a quality product, with the fastest turnaround time, all at a fair market price.
PBI was not a print company originally, but they were a company based on Sales, focusing on direct mail services and brokering the print. Eventually, a tipping point was reached where it made sense to bring the print in-house and they have been growing ever since.
Over the last five years, PBI has doubled in size. The Company bought their first Heidelberg only 9 years ago, and now they boast a pressroom consisting of a Speedmaster XL 106-8P+L and an SX 74-8P along with smaller format equipment.
PBI’s most recent expansion has been in Postpress packaging equipment with the addition of an Easymatrix 106 CS Die-cutter and a Diana Smart 80 folder Gluer, both from Heidelberg. “The needs of direct mail services are increasing, and the ability to die-cut products in-house is a real advantage”, states Len Larose, President and CEO of PBI. “We are able to move all our die-cutting from a myriad of older equipment, and produce it all on one machine. Our operator was easily trained on the new machine, due to Heidelberg support and the “ease of use” of the Easymatrix, and he runs the machine at maximum efficiency.”
“Expanding into a packaging workflow with the Diana Smart 80 folder gluer positions us for market that is less traditional for the company,” explains Larose. “We recently ran a golf ball sleeve job at 100,000 pieces per hour, simply amazing! We are open for business in packaging products, which can also blend into direct mail services.”
PBI have put a lot of faith in Heidelberg equipment and services, as well as consumable supplies. There is almost no department in the Company where Heidelberg is not present.
“Heidelberg has proven itself over and over as a quality driven company and, most importantly to us, reliable” says Len. “When deadlines need
to be met, I know I can count on Heidelberg equipment, service and knowhow to help PBI achieve our goals. I feel this will be no different with our new Easymatrix and Diana Smart equipment.”
Growing strongly with 85 employees and two successful facilities, one wonders what the secret to PBI’s success is.
Len Larose believes that it is extremely important to “Always find a way to make it happen.” PBI recognizes that quality is a given in today’s market. Meeting timelines at an aggressive price is the way businesses must function today, and all of PBI’s decisions are based on whether an idea or concept will improve those two factors. Keeping the focus “sales” oriented is a differentiator one notices when touring the Ontario facility.
Case in point: PBI has launched an “augmented reality” program called “Print2Life.”
Bridging the gap between print and digital technology, the goal is to enhance a customer’s advertising campaign by strengthening
brand awareness. More can be learned about “Print2Life” at the PBI Website. http://www.pbiinc.ca/index.html
Furthermore, PBI values group success. Team achievement is a core concept amongst the company. Len believes it is important to reward the entire staff when specific targets and/or goals are reached. As well, PBI donates $1.00 for every order, big or small, to aid in the conservation of forests worldwide.
No wonder there is a feeling of youthful exuberance in the PBI facility. It is an organization that seems to have gotten the business model right: efficient equipment, happy employees, and, above all, satisfied customers. Stay tuned!
Len Larose
30 MOMENTS THAT SHAPED PRINT IN 2017
Thirty of the most-influential business developments from the past year to drive the direction of Canada’s printing industry, based on the following criteria: Impact on printers; impact on the Canadian industry as a whole or within a given region; and impact of technological or strategic innovation
By Jon Robinson
1. Transcon drops newspapers, grows packaging
A November deal to acquire Les Industries Flexipak Inc. is Transcontinental’s fifth North American packaging acquisition since 2014, as Canada’s largest printer pivots away from newspapers ownership. In April 2017, Transcontinental launched a process to sell all of its newspapers in Quebec and Ontario, involving 93 local and regional publications. Earlier in 2017, Transcontinental sold its publication portfolios in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, and New Brunswick (27 newspapers) in addition to a 13-newspaper sale in Saskatchewan in mid-2016 – giving rise to print-media players like SaltWire and Icimédias.
2. DATA CM consolidation
Generating revenues of $278.4 million in its most recent fiscal, DATA Communications Management of Brampton continued its consolidation path in 2017 with the February acquisitions of Eclipse Colour & Imaging and Thistle Printing. Later in 2017, DATA moved its Multiple Pakfold
DATA’s Michael Sifton and Greg Cochrane are reshapng a 58-year-old legacy company.
Jay Mandarino, CEO, C.J. Group of Companies.
operations into its primary 269,000-squarefoot Brampton plant. In November, DATA purchased BOLDER Graphics of Calgary, to be integrated into its existing nearby plant, growing with sheetfed, digital and wide-format. DATA began 2017 with a $2.1 million investment in Xerox presses, a year after investing $6.7 million with Xerox.
3. C.J. Graphics opens new plant
C.J. Group of Companies in October opened its new 240,000-square-foot facility in Mississauga, an expansion consolidating three facilities and the company explains with an additional technology investment of $25 million. The new facility saw the addition of a third 6-colour Heidelberg XL 106 (for Push To Stop printing), two new Agfa Jeti systems, and new Xerox presses. From a consolidation standpoint, C.J. Graphics in 2017 merged Annan & Sons after acquiring Clixx, one of the largest mailing facilities in Canada, from WestRock Company.
4. Xerox and Conduent separate Xerox began 2017 completing its separation into two publicly traded companies, including the print-tech entity maintaining the corporate name and Conduent, a Business Process Outsourcing company. With approximately $14 billion in 2015 revenue and 39,000 employees,
Xerox remains a Fortune 500-scale company, as does Conduent with $9 billion in 2015 revenue and 96,000 employees. Conduent touches two-thirds of all insured patients and more than half of all mobile phone subscribers in the U.S.
5. Passing of a print icon
In April, Dick Kouwenhoven, one of the icons of Canadian printing for more than four decades, passed away. Co-founder, Chairman and CEO of Hemlock Printers in Burnaby, BC, he developed one of the most highly revered commercial printing companies in world based on innovative, high-end sheetfed perfecting. Kouwenhoven, who immigrated to Canada from The Netherlands in 1961, also helped lead the world printing community into a critical era of environmental stewardship, proving such progressive investments are as sound for the planet as they are for business.
6. CCL acquires Innovia
CCL Industries, headquartered in Toronto, in 2017 acquires Innovia Group for approximately $1.2 billion. It is described by the company, which bills itself as the world’s largest label company, as another transformative acquisition. Innovia provides strength in the disruptive polymer banknote market and depth in materials science with proprietary BOPP films technology. CCL’s label production business contributes around 66 percent to its total sales. By leveraging expertise in consolidation, as described by Canadian Business, in the first quarter of 2016 alone, CCL revenue grew by 22.9 percent year-over-year to reach $866.8 million, while net income jumped 31 percent. Over the past five of years, CCL’s share price has shot up nearly 600 percent.
7. Canadian Bank Note retools
Canadian Bank Note (CBN) in May installed a new 12-colour, 41-inch Koenig & Bauer Rapida 106 press to produce secure identity products like passports, drivers’ licenses and identity documents
François Olivier, CEO, Transcontinental.
Hemlock’s print visionary Dick Kouwenhoven.
Xerox CEO Jeff Jacobson opens NYSE.
for customers in Canada and throughout the world. It was delivered in record time following a devastating fire in June 2016. Earlier that year, the company’s 45,000-squarefoot McAra Unicom facility in Calgary, following the purchase of Unicom Graphics in 2015, rebranded as CBN Commercial Solutions to build a larger presence in the commercial market. A year early, CBN won the coveted Banknote of theYear Award for its production of a New Zealand polymer note.
8. CPISTF provides $75,500
The Canadian Printing Industries Scholarship Trust Fund at the start of the 2017/18 school year provided $75,500 in scholarship funding to students pursuing a career in printing. A majority of the funds went to Ryerson GCM, which saw approximately 130 students graduate last year. Since its founding in 1971, CPISTF has provided more than $1 million in scholarship funding.
9. Mi5’s new Toronto plant
After a decade of aggressive M&A growth, Mi5 Print and Digital was putting the finishing touches on its new 180,000-squarefoot facility in Toronto. This includes the addition of a used Heidelberg M130 web press originally scheduled to be operational in mid-2017. In its short 14-year history, Mi5 has grown to become one of Canada’s largest privately owned commercial printing operations with more than 150 employees generating revenues of $29 million in its most recent fiscal year.
10. ICON adds commercial
In February, ICON Digital Productions Inc. acquired Toronto Trade Printing, a well-known 20,000-square-foot operation running two 40-inch sheetfed offset
presses. Its move into the litho market is unique based on ICON’s historic position as a large-format inkjet pioneer, services that occupy the majority of its 90,000-squarefoot facility in Markham. The TTP purchase came weeks after ICON Digital underwent a rebranding effort in December 2016 to create three distinct divisions: ICON Visual, ICON Media and ICON Print. In October, ICON acquired a controlling interest in Asterisk Media to add an ICON Motion division.
11. Landa starts S10 beta work
In April, Landa Group unveiled its 2017 beta customer lineup around its S10 Nanographic Printing Press. The first press began operating at Graphica Bezalel, an Israel folding carton and label convertor. North America’s first S10 was slated to reach U.S.-based Imagine! with more than 1,600 employees. German packaging giant Edelmann, with plants in nine countries and sales exceeding 300 million euros, is running Europe’s first S10 press.
12. Rise of B2B and Renaissance Printing
In March, Renaissance Printing became a new Toronto-area printer under the majority ownership of Annex Publishing & Printing. Running a five-unit Mitsubishi Diamond web press, Renaissance was formed after the purchase of the remaining primary assets from Web Offset Publications’ receiver. The new company focuses on printing for publishers and marketers primarily in Ontario, as well as New York State, Pennsylvania, Quebec
Mike Fredericks, CEO of Annex Publishing & Printing.
Canadian Bank Note CEO Ronald Arrands.
ICON’s Alex Alex Christopoulos, Jaun Lau and Peter Evens.
RS SuperiorSuperior Binder y Ser vices Inc.
2. SUPERIOR TECHNOLOGY — Die crease without a die, then fold and even glue all on the same machine, up to 30 pt.
3. INTEGRATED MODULAR UNITS — Combined in-line finishing: crease, fold, glue, tipping, envelope inserting, ink jetting (Duplex), clip seal (3 sides), mail prep.
4. SAVE ON POSTAGE COSTS —As a Certified Canada Post Direct Marketing Specialist, we get contract pricing reductions.
5. RETURN MAIL PRODUCTS — Customized “Return Mailers” created in-line with “U” or “BOX-shape” remoistenable glue, time perfed applications and envelope formation. 6. MINI-BOOKLETS — Saddle-stitch and trim 2-up booklets in-line to the size of a business card. No need to trim off-line, or do 2 passes.
7. HIGH SPEED EQUIPMENT — High speed Tipping, Folding, Saddle-stitching and soft folding ensuring on time delivery.
and New England. Annex is the parent of PrintAction and Canada’s largest B2B publisher – holding industry-leading CASL compliance.
Dion Weisler, President and CEO, HP Inc.
13. HP buys Samsung print business HP in November completed its purchase of Samsung Electronics’ printer business in a deal valued at $1.4 billion. The move was first announced in September 2016, when HP stated the acquisition – the third largest in its history – positions it to disrupt the $71 billion copier industry. The Samsung acquisition also strengthens HP’s position in A4 laser printing, in addition to providing intellectual property of more than 6,500 print patents and a workforce of nearly 1,300.
14. Springett becomes CEO of Manroland Sheetfed
Canadian Sean Springett begins 2017 as the Chief Executive Officer of Manroland Sheetfed GmbH’s North American subsidiaries, based in Chicago, Illinois, and Vaughan, Ontario. Springett, age 43, joined Manroland Sheetfed in 2008 and most recently served as its VP of Sales & Marketing. Manroland Sheetfed GmbH is a wholly owned subsidiary of the privately owned U.K. engineering group, Langley Holdings plc.
15.
Agfa Canada inkjet
The 116,000-square-foot Canadian manufacturing facility for Agfa Graphics’ Jeti platform remains a key piece of the Belgium company’s future. Beyond its formidable healthcare division, which attracted a CompuGroup conditional takeover offer in late 2016 that did not materialize, the company’s graphics growth is largely tied to wide-format-inkjet imaging, with more than 3,000 systems installed around the world. The Canada operation launched the Jeti Ceres RTR3200 LED at the beginning of 2017 and in December 2016 the Jeti Mira UV LED with 3D lens printing.
16. Hundsdörfer becomes CEO of Heidelberg Rainer Hundsdörfer became the CEO of the world’s largest press maker Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG in November 2016, while longtime board member Harald
Rainer Hundsdörfer, CEO, Heidelberg.
Weimer plans a mid-2017 departure. The executive shake-up comes as Heidelberg heavily promotes a restructuring focused on digital transformation.
“Heidelberg goes digital,” said Hundsdörfer in February 2017. “We are getting the company fit for the digital future.” In its final quarter of the financial year 2016/2017, Heidelberg records its best sales and result since 2008.
17. KBA celebrates 200 years and rebrands
More than 700 people from around world on September 21 gathered at the Vogel Convention Center in Würzburg, Germany, to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Koenig & Bauer. The world’s second-largest printing press manufacturer began its third century by introducing a new branding position leveraging its founder’s surnames, Koenig & Bauer. Thebranding includes a new logo and product design to be implemented immediately for new products.
Koenig & Bauer founders form a new identity for a third century.
18. Pollard acquires INNOVA
In August, Pollard Banknote of Winnipeg, Manitoba, moves to purchase all outstanding common shares of INNOVA Gaming Group Inc. based in Los Angeles for approximately $51 million. INNOVA’s primary product is its third generation Lucky Tab machine, an instant ticket vending machine that dispenses tickets while simultaneously displaying the results of each ticket on a video monitor. Pollard has been a world leading supplier of instant tickets for more than 30 years and serves over 60 lottery and charitable gaming organizations worldwide. Its business position is as unique as it is stable, with services like market research, validation expertise, algorithm development, lottery management services, licensed games, player loyalty clubs, Internet and mobile strategies, and retail development.
19. Corley to lead Xerox Canada
John Corley in February became President of Xerox Canada, returning home after recently serving as President of the company’s global Channel Partner Operations and as VP for Xerox Corp. in the United States. A 22year Xerox veteran, Corley has held a variety of executive positions including time as VP of Canadian Operations.
20. Hemlock Harling Distribution Printing powerhouse Hemlock Printers of Burnaby created a new entity called Hemlock Harling Distribution Inc., which is described as a company dedicated to providing data-driven marketing, postal and third-party distribution services to customers throughout North America. Hemlock Harling opened the doors of its 40,000-square-foot facility on February 1, 2017, coinciding with the acquisition of Kirk Marketing.
21. Ricoh acquires Avanti
In January, Ricoh announced its acquisition of Toronto-based Avanti Computer Systems, a leading developer of MIS dedicated to the printing industry for three decades. As the printing industry enters an era targetting Industry 4.0, IIoT, and frontend automation, Avanti’s Slingshot technology, built in 2013 from the ground up, positions the Toronto firm with key technology and the financial power of an imaging giant.
22. Heidelberg prepares for Primefire and digital future
Late 2017 saw shipments begin for Heidelberg’s Primefire digital packaging press, developed in partnership with Fujifilm print heads. Series production for these critical presses for the company is scheduled to start at the beginning of 2018.
The company states it is already fully booked in this area for two years. With a $72 million German state loan, Heidelberg in 2017 also focused on completing its new development centre. It will be home to 1,000 workers in what Heidelberg projects to become the world’s most state-ofthe-art research facility for printing.
23. Canadian print awards
More than 200 people from across the country, including the program’s largest-ever contingent from Quebec, attended the 12th annual Canadian Printing Awards in Toronto, organized by PrintAction . More than 80 Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards were presented to printers and technology suppliers, in what has become the country’s largest national celebration of print. The program allows printers to network and build a stronger sense of community.
24. Gala Gutenberg celebrates Quebec excellence
More than 350 people attended the 35th annual Gala Gutenberg at the ballroom of the Bonsecours Market in Montreal to celebrate excellence in print achievement. In total, 17 trophies, Technical Challenge and Innovation Challenge categories, were awarded to a range of printing industry companies from the province of Quebec, which remains as one of North America’s strongest printing markets in terms of innovation. (PHOTO PROVIDED BY GALA GUTENBERG.)
Richard Kouwenhoven, Hemlock.
Patrick Bolan, CEO, Avanti.
Advocate’s Sean Murray, Printing Leader of the Year.
John Corley, President, Xerox Canada.
Pazazz celebrates their win at the Gutenberg Awards in Montreal.
Heidelberg’s Stephan Plenz with Science Minister Theresia Bauer.
25. Burke acquires McCallum In May, the Burke Group of Companies acquired McCallum Printing Group, bringing together two of the leading print and media companies in the region. It creates an entity with a range of commercial printing services operating out of Edmonton, Alberta. Darren Pohl, McCallum Printing’s former President and CEO has committed to stay on in a senior management capacity to oversee sales and sales management.
26. Kruger investing $378M to diversify Québec mills
Kruger Inc. announced a $377.6 million transaction to diversify operations at four Quebec facilities, including mills in Brompton and Wayagamack that will focus on specialty niches, such as flexible food packaging, labelling and digital printing. The project, undertaken in partnership with the Government of Québec, will help to maintain more than 500 jobs in the Mauricie and Estrie regions. Kruger and the Government of Québec have formed a partnership by which Investissement Québec, acting as the government’s agent, will grant loans and a loan guarantee totalling $59.8 million.
27. Hampson National Sales Manager for Fujifilm Canada
Phil Hampson in January 2017 became the National Sales Manager, Canada, for the Graphic Systems division of Fujifilm North America. With more than 20 years in the graphics industry and extensive wide-formatinkjet expertise, he becomes a key piece of the company’s market position, managing the sale of all imaging and printing systems throughout Canada.
28. InterTech Awards
Fourteen technologies in July received the 2017 InterTech Award, a program of the Printing Industries of America that began in 1978 to recognize products expected to advance the performance of the printing industry The winners include: AMS
LED UV System by Baldwin’s AMS Spectral operation; ORIS Flex Pack / Web Visualizer by CGS Publishing; ColorAnt 4.0 by ColorLogic; XPS Crystal by Esko; Labelfire 340 by Gallus; Prinect Press Center XL 2 with Intellistart 2 by Heidelberg; PageWide Web Press T490HD by HP; PrintOS by HP; LED moduLight – Dual Illuminant D50/ D65 by JUST Normlicht; Impremia IS29 by Komori; AIS SmartScanner by MGI; Ultra Pro with Foil by Scodix; Truepress Jet 520HD by Screen Americas; and Image Test Labs – Image Grader by TechnologyWatch.
29. McCarthy to lead HP Indigo in Canada
In November, Paul McCarthy became Indigo Country Manager for HP Canada. The transition comes after he spent more than 18 years with Konica Minolta Business Solutions Canada, helping that company, most recently as Director of Print Production, develop a strong position with commercial printers. He also serves as a board member of the Digital Imaging Association.
30. Coke showcases the power of print
Based on a partnership that began back in 2013 as a unique Share a Coke label printing campaign, HP and The Coca-Cola Company have worked together in successive years to show the world the power of digital print. There is little doubt major brands around the world have paid close attention to the program. In 2014, Coca-Cola using HP Indigo and SmartStream Mosaic technology printed two million unique Diet Coke labels. In 2016, Coca-Cola inked another deal for the custom printing of Diet Coke bottles for a marketing campaign called It’s Mine. In July 2017, HP’s Monique Cohen told Packaging Europe that since the Share A Coke campaign began it has resulted in the printing of more than 500 billion labels worldwide and led to a four percent rise in sales across the markets where it appeared.
Ian Burke, CEO, Burke Group.
Phil Hampson, Fujifilm Canada.
Paul McCarthy, HP Canada.
HP led an unprecedented Coke campaign.
PERFECT BINDER OPERATORS
Perfect Binder Operators, required for expanding, growing East end bindery/ finishing house. Plant runs 5/24 and has day, afternoon and midnight shifts. Experience preferred but may train the right candidate(s) with aptitude.
Must work well under tight deadlines with minimal supervision. Salary commensurate with experience, only candidates being considered will be contacted. REFER to Perfect Binder Operator. Please forward resume.
The ideal candidates have a minimum of 3 years printing experience, strong technical experience of printing on unsupported materials (films and paper) and PS material, and strong technical experience of printing with UV and water based inks and coatings. Operators must be comfortable with shift work.
Email resume to: dana.hilleli@westrock-mps.com
FULL TIME SADDLE STITCHER OPERATOR
Seeking a Full Time Saddle Stitcher Operator Efficiently set-up and operate Muller Martini Bravo or Prima Saddle stitchers 6 to 8 pockets. Ensure top
quality production and exacting attention to detail Maintain plant in a clean and organized manner Other bindery duties as required Day and Afternoon shifts available
Email resume to: bdprinthr@gmail.com
PRESSMAN REQUIRED
Pressman required 3-4 days per week. Experience required to run Heidelberg Platen and Windmill.
Please call 647-545-7427. Email resume to: prestonsaccounts@hotmail.com
FOLDER OPERATOR REQUIRED
Full time. Day Shift, Monday through Friday. 5+ years of experience preferred with Stahl folders. Cutting and stitching experience an asset.
Must be able to read and interpret docket instructions, set up and operate bindery equipment efficiently, monitor work to ensure quality control
and troubleshoot. Attention to detai required. Markham location.
Email resume to: careers@parkerpad.com or fax to 905-294-9595.
TECHNICIAN – MECHANIC
The Service Technician – Mechanic
travels to customer locations to install, maintain, upgrade, troubleshoot, diagnose, and repair mechanical, pneumatic, and printing issues on KBA printing presses.
Sakurai: 1, 2 or 4 colours and any size (newer model)
Polar: any size/older or newer models (66/72/76/78/82/90/92/107/115)
Horizon-BQ: 220/240/260/440/460
Sean Springett / Chief Executive Officer/ Manroland Sheetfed North America / Toronto, ON, and Chicago, IL
One year ago Canadian Sean Springett became Chief Executive Officer of Manroland Sheetfed GmbH’s North American subsidiaries, based in Chicago, Illinois, and Vaughan, Ontario. Springett, age 43, joined Manroland Sheetfed in 2008 and served as VP of Sales & Marketing for both the U.S. and Canada before taking on his current position.
Manroland Sheetfed, a subsidiary of privately owned UK engineering group Langley Holdings plc., has been a leader in the paperboard sector of printing for decades. With the growing focus on carton work, because of its stability relative to some eroding commercial markets, Springett spoke with PrintAction about the direction of this sector and its domination by sheetfed offset technologies.
How can commercial printers enter carton?
SS: I would suggest using caution is prudent, especially since the landscape is evolving through consolidation in the packaging segment. I can only speak to how I have seen this transition occur in the past and, at best, the migration to package printing from commercial is a gradual event. A commercial printer must consider their existing niche served and what aptitude and skill-sets they already have that can be put to good work in making a leap, or dipping their proverbial toes in the packaging arena.
Major and medium players in packaging are highly skilled and tooled. If a commercial printer is attempting to compete in the volume business, they need to retool their factory, areas like sheeting, structural engineering, die cutting, gluing, and die making is typically more foreign to commercial applications, at least by scale.
Are commercial printers focused on packaging growth?
SS: I believe a stronger concept in the years prior; the trend was always about complimenting, be it packaging or any number of additional services. We see commercial printers furthering their niches, not often in packaging. I have been amazed at how talented many of the independent commercial operations have been in entrenching themselves with their customers. The evolution of many commercial printers into marketing firms has been a more successful trend in my opinion. The technology advances in IT, the ideology of print being a compliment versus the single primary export of a commercial printer, is intriguing. Many have evolved into a more savvy business model with multiple revenue streams. Couple this with the marriage of sheetfed offset and digital. Whereas digital has crept into what was considered traditional offset, the newest sheetfed
offset technology is creeping into what was always regarded as short-run digital.
What is the complexion of today’s short-run carton market?
2K
With potential top speeds of just over 2,500 feet per minute, today’s fastest inkjet packaging machines are challenged to cut into offset domination.
SS: The ideology of volume versus short run is almost dismissive in regards to larger packaging firms. Many of them, whether global, national or an independent viscerally defend the market space regardless of run specifics. The larger firms equip themselves to handle the shorter runs but often struggle with big business problems where some of the smaller independents shine in this arena. This is the space a smaller independent packaging house or a commercial printer can capitalize on.
What type of automation do you need to focus on short-run carton?
SS: It is less about the individual process of the equipment and more about the overall operation of a system. In today’s terms, it’s about transparent productivity. The ability to measure the performance of the asset, being a sheetfed offset press and determine how to optimize the performance... the ability to provide the information is less important compared to being able to disseminate it and help the printer improve productivity and fully utilize the asset.
What market activities are driving folding-carton work?
SS: Predominately food products for the folding-carton market, with increased demand for convenience-oriented products for the volume side of the business. Increased demand for bespoke-oriented products such as cosmetics and specialty products has caused the B1 format to see an increase in sales.
Are packaging press sales growing or is it more a decline in commercial press sales?
SS: When new offset high-performance equipment becomes operational, optioned and equipped to the highest automation level, I believe we will see a little more offset in the digital sphere. At the same token, new offset and new digital can do the work of two or three of its predecessors. By sheer economics, press sales will decline regardless; I favour the opinion that our market is far more variable in nature.
How far off is inkjet from making an impact on short-run carton?
SS: Speed is the Achilles’ heel of inkjet. In order for inkjet to gain a more mainstream focus, it will need to increase the sheets per hour and continue to economize the ink costs.
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