Technology and process trends in the Canadian printing industry
18 Interpack: Back after six years
Sustainability was top of mind for exhibitors and visitors at the trade show
DEPARTMENTS
GAMUT
5 News, People, Installs
8 Calendar
NEW PRODUCTS
23 Introducing new solutions from HP, Standard Finishing Systems, Canon, Zund, Agfa and Monadnock Paper Mills
SPOTLIGHT
26 Roy LaBuick, co-owner, Minuteman Press Moose Jaw
COLUMNS
FROM THE EDITOR
4 Nithya Caleb Takeaways from Graphics Canada Expo
MONEY SENSE
8 Bonny Koabel, CPA, CGA The CanExport Program
CHRONICLE
10 Nick Howard What’s in a name?
INSIDER
11 Bob Dale Industry insights
TECH REPORT
21 Angus Pady The colour of grey
Graphics Canada Expo
After four years, Graphics Canada Expo, the largest Canadian trade show for graphics communications and printing industries, was held mid-May at the International Centre in Mississauga, Ont. The three-day show featured nearly 100 exhibitors and had visitors from across Canada. This year’s edition was also the show’s 60th anniversary.
Highlights
$5k
Fujifilm Canada donated $5,000 to the Canadian Printing Industries Scholarship Trust Fund at Graphics Canada Expo.
The Graphics Canada Expo had a robust line up of educational sessions. Day one began with a keynote presentation on “Employee-Ownership as a Succession Option” by Chad Friesens, CEO, Friesens Corp. Friesens has been employee-owned in various forms since the 1950s. Chad made a strong case for employee-ownerships. He explained it would be the perfect solution for business owners with succession challenges or labour issues. Employee-owned businesses can also empower local communities and help close the growing wealth gap in society. He urged governments to offer tax incentives to enable more employee-ownerships in Canada. Connecting for Results held seminars on automation solutions, cybersecurity, talent management and shared the results of a recent industry survey. If you missed the show, you can view the survey results on page 8.
Fujifilm Canada donated $5,000 to the Canadian Printing Industries Scholarship Trust Fund. It had earlier announced its intention to make a donation to the Trust Fund every time a visitor badge was scanned at their booth.
Exhibitors
Print automation community Web Connect+ provided a turnkey, end-to-end automated print production experience at Graphics Canada. From designing a personalized product to pre-flighting, digital printing and finishing, attendees saw an entirely seamless workflow in action at the Web Connect+ booth. Web Connect+ consists of six partners, Infigo, Significans Automation, Enfocus, Ronik, Motionalysis and Elitron.
Konica Minolta Business Solutions displayed several industrial and production print offerings for the first time in Canada including AccurioLabel 400, AccurioWide 250 and AccurioShine 3600 digital embellishment press.
While SwissQprint presented its Nyala flatbed printer and neon UV inks at the show, Zund highlighted the Robot PortaTable 130, an automated picking-sorting-placing workflow solution.
At the Sydney Stone booth, visitors saw the Integra Digital Die Cutter by Valiani for the first time in Canada.
Fiery displayed a range of commercial, wide-format and specialty printing solutions at the show. Also, Fiery and Mimaki combined forces to show a complete solution for direct-to-film with Fiery’s Digital Factory v11 and the new Mimaki TxF150-75 DTF printer and ink.
Electronics For Imaging debuted its EFI Pro 30h hybrid LED production printer at Graphics Canada Expo. The printer handles rigid and flexible substrates for a range of applications.
Ultimate TechnoGraphics showcased their print imposition software, Ultimate Impostrip, print finishing software, Ultimate Bindery, and the new module for Ultimate Impostrip Scalable, Ultimate BetterPDF.
Baldwin Technology Company displayed its corona surface treatment systems, automated cylinder cleaning systems, LED-UV curing, roto-spray systems, and technologies for color management and defect detection.
At a 1,200-sf booth, MultiCam and Kongsberg PCS demonstrated the MultiCam APEX 1R router and the modular Kongsberg X24 table.
PrintAction also had a booth, which allowed me to meet many of you, readers, and to finally put faces to emails and phone calls.
Canadian Printing Awards
One more news: Registrations are open for the 17th annual Canadian Printing Awards. This year, we have more than 50 categories in Printing, Print Production, Technology and Environment. New this year are best regional projects and student project awards.We’re also accepting nominations for the Lifetime Achievement, Printing Leader of the Year, Emerging Leader of theYear, and Community Leader of the Year awards. For more information and to register, visit www.cpa. printaction.com.
NITHYA CALEB Editor
ncaleb@annexbusinessmedia.com
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The Kitchener-Waterloo branch of the FastSigns franchise network recently used Drytac Polar Smooth 150 matte white polymeric film to create a series of window graphics to promote a major development project in the local area.
The company was tasked with creating 32 window graphics each measuring approx. 3 x 6 ft. The main challenge was temperature, as the job was taking place in December. FastSigns Kitchener-Waterloo required a material that would adhere reliably in the cold weather and stand the test of time. After consultation with Drytac-approved distributor ND Graphics, the company opted for Drytac Polar Smooth 150, with all graphics printed onto the film in-house on an Epson SureColor SC-S60600.
Trico Packaging & Print
Solutions’ president and owner, Michael Hothi, buys Canadian Printing Resources. This is Hothi’s fifth acquisition in 14 months and expands his product offerings. Trico produces custom-manufactured business materials.
Aurelius acquires Agfa Offset Solutions from the Agfa-Gevaert Group, Mortsel/ Belgium. It renames the division as ECO3. Under Aurelius, the business will have the same organizational structure and customer-facing sales and service teams. ECO3 supplies prepress solutions, such as offset plates, graphic film, equipment, and services, as well as software and chemicals, to the offset printing industry.
The Mitchell Group and software firm Hypekraft Digital create a joint venture called Project28. This partnership will leverage the strengths of both companies to explore micro data.
Micro data analysis focuses on capturing and interpreting granular, detailed information about user behaviour. This methodology enables businesses to gain greater insights, make more informed decisions, and create tailored solutions for customers.
Heidelberg USA introduces two new courses designed to teach technicians to assess, fix, and
avoid press problems. Currently available for Speedmaster XL 105/106 and 145/162, Heidelberg’s Sheetfed Mechanical Maintenance and Sheetfed Electrical Maintenance courses. Participants will develop a baseline understanding of the multiple mechanical and mechatronic systems or electrical control systems throughout the press.
Canopy secures $60 million to commercially produce circular, low-carbon packaging solutions.
acquires Servicorp Industrial Supplies in Montreal, Solutions Sherby with presence in the Quebec markets of Granby, Magog and Trois-Rivières, and Action Paper & Packaging in Toronto.
CET Color partners with Gandy Digital. The partners will work together to bring a new production to life: the Dynasty UV printer specifically designed to meet CET Color specifications. This made-inCanada printer will feature American-made parts.
Canopy receives $60 million from the Audacious Project to catalyze the commercial production of low-impact and circular clothing, paper, and packaging solutions that don’t rely on pulp from ancient and endangered forests. These next-gen solutions are derived from what is usually landfilled (waste textile, waste food scraps), or burned (agricultural residues), to create new fabrics, paper, pulp, and packaging.
Trade bindery company Apak Systems has gone out of business. Apak Systems had assisted businesses of all sizes in the Pacific Northwest with their binding requirements for more than 35 years.
Imperial Dade, a distributor of foodservice packaging, printing papers and janitorial supplies,
Sydney Stone earns exclusive Canadian dealership rights for Matrix laminators, which is part of the Vivid Group. Matrix offers pneumatic, duplex, and standard models that are designed and built as specialist laminating systems.
Dylan Westgate, managing director at Sydney Stone, and Bruce Cozens, export director at Vivid Laminating Technologies.
Central National Gottesman’s Spicers Canada division acquires TG Graphics, a Canadian distributor of solutions for the sign industry. Founded in 1981, TG Graphics is headquartered in St. Laurent, Que., with additional facilities in Burlington, Ont., Saskatoon, Sask., and Calgary, Alta. The company provides solutions, service, and support for related businesses including the sale of printing and finishing equipment, media, substrates, and inks.
FastSigns Kitchener-Waterloo, Ont., uses Drytac Polar Smooth 150 matte white polymeric film to create a series of window graphics.
Aurelius rebrands Agfa Offset Solutions as ECO3.
Heidelberg’s training centre in Kennesaw, GA.
WLS, a ProMach product brand, appoints Randy Backich as regional sales manager for Northeastern United States and Quebec. Backich is responsible for bringing WLS’s labelling systems to pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, medical device, personal care, beverage and other manufacturers and contract packers throughout his region. Backich brings over 20 years of experience in pharmaceutical packaging equipment sales. He has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from West Virginia University and an MBA from Temple University.
Koenig & Bauer names Kevin Erbe as its new national sales manager for Canada and the U.S. Erbe has a long and distinguished career in the manufacturing sector with extensive knowledge of the packaging and corrugated markets. His most previous position was as vice-president of sales for an international manufacturer of corrugated machinery products.
Actega appoints Andrei Sotkeviciene as president of Actega North America. Sotkeviciene succeeds Mark Westwell, who is retiring after a long career with the company. Since joining Altana Group in 2014, Sotkeviciene has held key roles in Actega do Brasil, such as CFO and became managing director in 2019. Under his leadership, Actega’s business in Brazil has grown into one of the most successful regions within the division. Additionally, Sotkeviciene played a major role in combining the acquired businesses of Overlake and Premiata into Actega do Brasil.
Mitchell Press Group appoints Gregg Iftody as technical sales specialist for Pacific Bindery and Partner Trade Services. Iftody will share his 30 plus years of technical print industry experience to assist Mitchell’s trade partners with bindery, finishing, and now, with specialized print services.
INX International Ink hires Paul Edwards as the new vice-president of its digital division. Edwards joins INX after serving as VP of ink technology at EFI. He directed a team of more than 60 chemists while leading the product development effort and maximized innovation for several business units. He also managed the print-head technology and analysis group.
The HP Indigo 100K digital press is the latest addition to Hemlock Printers’ pressroom. It complements Hemlock’s existing line-up of Heidelberg XL UV offset and HP Indigo Series 3 digital presses.
Lamcom Technologies, a Quebec-based signage and digital print service provider, recently installed the first HP Latex 2700W in Canada.
McLean Packaging recently installed a Speedmaster XL 10610+LYYL from Heidelberg at its Moorestown, N.J., folding carton manufacturing facility.
June 4-8, 2023
IPMA 2023 Educational Conference
Bonita Springs, Fla.
June 5-7, 2023
Print Embellishment Conference Indianapolis, Ind.
June 6, 2023
Package Innovation Disruptors Summit Toronto
June 13, 2023
DIA Annual Golf Tournament Alliston, Ont.
June 12-14, 2023
Apparel Decoration Summit Nashville, Tenn.
June 14-15, 2023
LeadingPrint Summit Rosemont, Ill.
July 17-19, 2023
Think Ahead 2023
Boca Raton, Fla.
July 24-26, 2023
Wide-format Summit Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
The CanExport Program
Receive up to $50k in funding annually for developing
export markets
By Bonny Koabel, CPA, CGA
Now that the vast majority of COVID restrictions have ended, companies are once again thinking about participating in tradeshows or developing new markets outside of Canada. If your company is looking at these marketing opportunities, the CanExport program can assist you by providing financial assistance of up to 50 per cent of costs to a maximum of $50,000 per year.
Qualifications
Your company must:
• be a for-profit business with incorporated legal entity or a limited liability partnership;
The federal government offers businesses grants to develop export markets.
two employees:
• the cost of economy or premium economy plane tickets;
• a $400 daily allowance per person;
• costs for transportation;
• mandatory visa fees; and
• costs of hiring an interpreter.
B: Trade events
60
You must apply for CanExport funding 60 days before you travel.
The CanExport program provides financial assistance of up to 50 per cent of costs to a maximum of $50,000 per year.
• have a CRA Business Number (unless Indigenous-owned or led);
• have between five and 500 full-time equivalent employees; and
• sales for your last fiscal year must not be less than $100,000 and not over $100 million.
Your company also needs to be spending a minimum of $20,000 and no more than $100,000 per new market development activities.
Coverage details
CanExport funding covers several export market development-related activities.
A: Travel
For this activity, CanExport will cover the following expenses for
This includes the cost of registering and participating in international trade shows, seminars, forums or private exhibitions. Types of expenses for two employees covered are:
• space rentals, booth design and construction services, trade shows services (such as power and Wi-Fi) and AV equipment rentals; and
• shipping and handling costs of promotional materials and prototypes.
C: Internet and print marketing for export markets
Expenses covered includes:
• cost of producing or adapting marketing material; and
• cost of online advertising.
D: IP protection
Expenses covered includes:
• application fees for the pro-
tection of intellectual property including trademarks, patents, etc.;
• application fees related to required certifications;
• the cost of registering a product in the export market; and
• adaptation and translation of contractual agreement for the export market (e.g. sales contract, distribution agreement etc.).
Markets
Businesses may receive funding for no more than five countries per year. A business may continue to receive export funding until their sales in that export market hits 10 per cent of their annual sales.
Application deadline
You need to apply for CanExport funding 60 days before your scheduled departure.
Bonny Koabel, CPA, CGA, is president of AKR Consulting Canada that specializes in government grants, subsidies, tax credits, refunds and rebates since 2003. She can be reached at bonny@akrconsulting.com.
What’s in a name
From KBA to K & B
By Nick Howard
n 1817, Friedrich Koenig and his trusted partner Andreas Bauer started Koenig & Bauer (K & B) in the Bavarian town of Oberzell after returning from England.
IWhile in England, the partners designed and constructed a breakthrough printing press for the Times of London newspaper. This cylinder printing press produced in one day what a battery of hand presses took weeks to do. This technology ushered in a dramatic change that vaulted K & B to a leadership position.
K & B never looked back and went about designing and building ever more complex web presses while expanding into other print areas, such as sheetfed cylinder presses, offset machines, and security presses. Today, it has a firm footing in digital printing systems.
The Oberzell facility also employed a young Andreas Albert, first, as an apprentice, and then master craftsman. Albert eventually left K & B to work for Reichenbach Mashinenfabrik, which was started by Koenig’s nephew and continues today as M.A.N. (Manroland).
In 1861, Albert joined forces with a cast iron foundry run by Andreas Hamm. Hamm’s firm has been in business, notably casting bells for churches, since 1850. Today, it is known as Heidelberger Druckmaschinen (Heidelberg). It wasn’t long before stop-cylinder presses left the picturesque German town of Frankenthal with both names emblazoned on the side frames.
Frankenthal’s domination
However, all was not well with the partners. By 1873, Albert terminated the partnership with Hamm and set up his company, Schnellpressenfabrik Albert & Cie. Soon there were new machines and radically improved technologies under the Albert name. In short order, web-fed presses were
reaching customers all over Europe. K & B realized this young company was elbowing its way onto their home turf. As Albert grew more powerful, reaching over 1,200 employees and entering the gravure and offset business, the Frankenthal company became a threat to K & B and M.A.N.
In the 1920’s, Albert already had the world’s fastest web press, known as the “Red Devil.” By the early 1930s, Albert web presses with speeds of 30,000 revolutions were being installed in Europe. At that time, sheetfed letterpress business was dominant in Germany. But Albert held a whopping 60 per cent of the worldwide market of web presses, specifically rotogravure, by the late 1980s. Many web offset platforms designed by Albert during the 1970s and 1980s would become “Compacta” presses, a K & B trademark.
K & B decided to take action. In 1978, K & B orchestrated a purchase of 49 per cent of Albert from the owners, Rhineland Palatinate Ministry of Finance (local state government). In 1988, it increased its ownership to 74.99 per cent. When the 1990 unification of Germany
brought about new opportunities, K & B purchased the final shares of Albert and, in so doing, launched the trade moniker, “KBA.”
This is how things remained until 2017 when KBA celebrated its 200th anniversary. K & B’s senior management marked the anniversary by adding an arsenal of press designs to its conglomerate. The brand, “KBA,” was also retired. Albert was relegated to the past. K & B was deemed to be the brand name of the world’s oldest printing press company.
The Albert purchase by K & B is one of the most monumental print-related acquisitions of the 20th century. Sadly, Albert’s role in shaping our industry is not widely known and only a few of us remember when the “A” in KBA stood for much more than just Albert.
NICK HOWARD, a partner in Howard Graphic Equipment and Howard Iron Works, is a printing historian, consultant, and Certified Appraiser of capital equipment. He can be reached at nick@howardgraphic.com.
This medallion was affixed to Albert presses during Albert’s centenary year of 1961.
Majority upbeat about industry
A
recent survey found 78 per cent of respondents believe company performance is improving
By Bob Dale
Earlier this year, my company, Connecting for Results, conducted a survey of printers from across Canada to determine how business owners and managers are preparing for the economic challenges that have been mainstream news these days.
Participants were evenly distributed across small, medium, and large size printers.
The results were surprising. They were shared at the recently concluded Graphics Canada Expo, held May 11 to 13 in Mississauga, Ont. Below are the highlights.
How was 2022 for the industry?
For the last two quarters of 2022, most companies had positive improvements in most categories, including sales revenue, volume, operations, and staffing, compared to the same period a year earlier.
Note that 76 per cent of respondents increased product prices, over and above material price increases, in 2022.
This is important, for several reasons. Firstly, all companies faced cost increases apart from material price hikes. It is critical those costs are recovered or offset with expense reductions in other areas.
For some, the limited availability of paper and substrates made price negotiations easier with customers who were also facing challenges.
While it is no surprise that the availability of paper and other substrates improved, the biggest increase was the number of customers served!
Looking forward
Getting into the details, most respondents expect sales and production volumes to increase. Interesting to notice that production hours worked were not expected to increase
to the same degree. Productivity is improving, likely leading to improved profitability. Almost 50 per cent believe they will be able to increase prices, which will increase margins.
Other categories of business conditions do reveal where the respondents expect challenges in the next six months. While the positive trend is moderated for these business conditions, the number of customers served is projected to increase for the next six months. The ability to hire staff and a slight deterioration of general business conditions are expected to create challenges.
Most companies had positive improvements in sales revenue, volume, operations, and staffing, compared to the same period a year earlier.
Be positive
The leading question asked participants about overall company performance, and 78 per cent predicted that it’s getting better. Twenty per cent felt it is ‘not changing.’ The remaining two per cent believe company performance is decreasing. We can sum this up as, “Don’t worry, be happy!” While that may be an oversimplification of sentiment, the reality is that the printing business is challenging, and not everyone will fare as well as indicated in this survey. It takes good information to make smart, informed decisions, and hard work to stay on top. This is often best accomplished with teamwork. That can be from your internal team, personal contacts and family, industry peers and professional advisors. We wish you continued success and keep up the positive outlook.
Bob Dale is the co-founder of Connecting for Results, a recruitment and management consulting company focused on the graphics communications industry. He can be reached at b.dale@cfrincorporated.com.
Technology and process trends in the Canadian printing industry
By Nithya Caleb
The following snapshot of the Iron Index 2023 survey produced by PrintAction compares current production trends to a historical benchmark of capital investments made by Canadian printers. The facts presented throughout the article relate 2023 numbers to past survey statistics. The first iteration of the Iron Index was launched in 1996, when PrintAction published a short, but important, list of innovative commercial printers that were the first to install computer-to-plate (CTP) imaging systems. Now, 27 years later, the Iron Index tracks the production-technology investment trends of leading commercial printing companies across Canada. This includes tracking the offset (by model, number of units and format size), toner and inkjet press specifications of participants, as well as employee levels, revenue, frontend technologies and MIS. The following statistics provide insight into what is going on with the direction of production ratios. The key statistics
describe how the landscape is changing in terms of long and short runs, as well as the work of 29- and 40-in. printers, and how they are shaping their companies and Canadian printing. Based on the information provided by nearly 55 responding companies, it appears toner printing is continuing its upward trajectory, as 29.2 per cent of all printers surveyed this year say toner printing accounts for at least 40 per cent of their work, same as last year. Since this year has its own unique challenges, we also asked survey respondents about how their workflow has been impacted by inflation, rising interest rates, supply chain issues, and whether it has led them to change their business plans. More than 16 per cent of the respondents said the rising cost of skilled labour, which is in short supply as well as increased competition from a narrowing market are barriers to their company’s future competitiveness. To participate in next year’s Iron Index survey, please contact the editor Nithya Caleb at ncaleb@annexbusinessmedia.com.
Key statistics from the Iron Index describing technology advances in Canada
3726
Total number of employees represented in this year’s survey.
51.9%
Percentage of respondents with 15 or less employees.
16.7%
Percentage of respondents cite availability and rising cost of skilled labour as barriers to their company’s future competitiveness.
11.1%
Percentage of all printers surveyed in 2023 producing work with all three processes (offset, toner, and inkjet).
THE IRON INDEX METHODOLOGY
What do you see as the prime barrier to your company’s future competitiveness?
Rising cost of paper:
Availability of skilled labour:
Business acquisition/merger: Increased competition from a narrowing market:
is your company
or selling real estate or leasing premises:
For over 25 years, PrintAction has surveyed commercial printing companies across the country to track their production-technology investment and trends. Below is a sample of the survey questions respondents have answered to produce our results. This primarily includes tracking the offset (by model, number of units and format size), toner and inkjet press specifications of participants, as well as employee levels, revenue, front-end technologies and MIS.
Year of company founding:
Number of employees:
Offset presses:
• List up to four primary offset presses. Include press brand, press format size in inches and number of press units.
Toner/Digital Presses:
• List up to three primary toner/digital presses. Include press brand and model number.
Management Information System:
• Provide brand, type and version, if available.
Primary Frontend (Prepress) Software:
• Provide brand, type and version, if available
Primary Platesetter:
Provide brand and type, if available.
Primary Offset Plate Brand:
• Provide brand and type, if available.
Production Ratio:
• Provide approximate percentage of work done, in terms of total revenue generation, with Offset : Toner : Inkjet.
Wide-format Inkjet:
• List up to two primary wide-format inkjet machines. Include press brand and model number.
Production Inkjet:
• List up to two primary production inkjet machines. Include press brand and model number.
What do you see as the prime barrier to your company’s future competitiveness?
What is your best estimate at a dollar amount for how much printing technology, software and related services your company will purchase over the next three years?
What areas does your company plan to invest in over the next three years?
What are your plans for diversifying your capabilities?
In the next 12 to 18 months, which is most likely to happen at your company?
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40-inch printers
The following statistics apply to Canadian printing companies with at least one 40-inch sheetfed press, based on their participation in The Iron Index surveys.
Key 40-in. printer findings in 2023: The Iron Index indicates the number of commercial printers with full-size sheetfed presses focusing solely on offset work has dipped. Only around 22 per cent of printers with 40-in. presses produce 90 per cent or more of their work on offset. We are seeing an increasing adoption of inkjet printing.
29-inch printers
The following statistics apply to Canadian printing companies with at least one 29-in. offset press (or of smaller format) and no 40-in. presses, based on The Iron Index surveys.
Key 29-in. printer findings in 2023: The Iron Index survey finds that more than half of commercial printers surveyed in the 29-in. market have at least two toner presses. The number of surveyed printers producing more than 90 per cent of their revenue with offset has declined. Over 40 per cent of the surveyed respondents with small offset presses are producing more than 40 per cent of their revenue with toner production presses. Inkjet production work is quite minimal at this time.
The oldest company to participate in this year’s survey was founded in 1880.
10%
Percentage of 40-in. printers surveyed in 2023 producing at least some of their work with production-strength inkjet.
55.5% 75%
Percentage of 40-in. printers surveyed in 2023 with at least two toner printing systems.
Percentage of 40-in. printers surveyed in 2023 producing at least 70% of their work with offset.
1880 22.5%
Percentage of 40-in. printers surveyed in 2023 generating at least 20% of their revenues from toner.
Percentage of printers surveyed in 2023 were founded 50 or more years ago. 22%
44.4%
Percentage of 40-in. printers surveyed in 2023 producing at least 10% of their work with inkjet.
Complete Iron Index participants by year
The following percentages are derived from 80 Canadian printing companies who participated in The 2022 Iron Index survey.
Percentage of 29-in. (or smaller) printers that indicated they own at least one toner printing system.
37% 75%
Percentage of printers surveyed in 2023 that plan to invest in equipment, machinery or technology upgrades.
27.8%
Percentage of respondents owning a wide-format inkjet.
42.9%
Percentage of 29-in. printers surveyed in 2023 producing at least 30% of their work with toner.
14.3%
Percentage of 29-in. printers surveyed in 2023 producing at least 70% of their work with offset.
5.5%
Percentage of survey participants owning a production inkjet.
In the next 12 to 18 months, which is most likely to happen at your company?
Respondents are planning:
• software automation;
• expand to larger packaging markets;
• integrate offset, digital, wide format, and fulfillment services and create end-to-end workflow with supporting customer facing tools/resources;
• acquisitions;
• add sublimation products;
• changes in material and equipment driven by market need;
• market penetration;
• product development;
• retirement;
• buy label making equipment; and
• expand carton capabilities.
What are your plans for diversifying your capabilities? 8 10 1 3 1 2
Projected investments in printing technology, software and related services over the next three years.
Projected investment
Less than $99,999
$100,000 - $499,999
$500,000 - $999,999
$1,000,000 – $2,499,999
$2,500,000 – $4,999,999
More than $5 million
Number of respondents
PrintAction would like to thank all the companies that have participated in The Iron Index over its 27-year history, and in particular, those who responded to our 2023 edition, enabling these statistics to be generated. To participate in next year’s survey, please contact the editor Nithya Caleb at ncaleb@annexbusinessmedia.com.
Interpack, one of the largest trade shows for the packaging industry, was recently held in Düsseldorf, Germany.
INTERPACK, BACK AFTER SIX YEARS
Sustainability was top of mind for exhibitors and visitors at the trade show
By Martin Habekost
After a six-year pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Interpack, one of the world’s largest trade shows for the packaging industry, in Düsseldorf, Germany, opened its doors again to visitors from 155 countries.
More than 2800 exhibitors showcased their technologies and solutions from May 4 to 10, 2023. Approx. 143,000 visitors attended Interpack with two-thirds of them coming from abroad. The trade show focused on the four topics of circular economy, resource management, digital technologies, and product safety. There
were machines for filling containers, from glass and metal to hard and soft plastic. Fault detection solutions, ranging from leaks to metal detection in food, were also on display. Videojet, a well-known coding and marking solution provider, had a large booth at the show.
Clear labels
Sustainability and reduced energy consumption of processes was an important topic at Interpack. Many paper-based, and less- or no-plastic packaging solutions were exhibited at the show. CCL Labels showed the various embellishment solutions they offer on shrink sleeves for alcoholic
Awards Gala November 9, 2023 MORE THAN 50 CATEGORIES UNDER FOUR PROGRAM SECTIONS: Print Production, Printing, Technology and Environmental
beverages using premium foils and embossing. They also offer blow mould and in-mould labelling solutions. They had an interesting demonstration of clear labels for beer bottles. The adhesive is water-soluble, and the labels come off when the bottle is immersed in 70 C water. The label then sinks to the bottom of the hot water bath.
Paper-based solutions
Another exhibitor was Sappi Paper, who had on display their innovative (e.g. cellulose-based) solutions for paper-based flexible packaging. One
of the products they showed was heat-sealable paper. Of course, paper cannot be heat-sealed on its own. Sappi’s product has a coating, which is certified for food contact, on the inside of the packaging. This coating gives the heat seal properties. These paper packages are being sold commercially in the European market.
Many exhibiting companies were claiming to be sustainable. Most of the time, the sustainability claims stemmed from either using less energy or fewer materials than before. Some companies have moved away from petroleum-based raw materials. One such company is LEEF, which makes a variety of products, such as trays, plates, cutlery, and flip-flops, from dried and compressed palm leaves.
Spotlight
From top: Paper-based heat sealable flexible packaging; seaweed-based dishwasher tab wrapper; and LEEF produces trays, cutlery and plates from dried and compressed palm leaves.
A new feature of the show was the Interpack Spotlight. Every day, the spotlight was on a specific topic. Sustainability was spotlighted on day four. One of the talks on that day highlighted software that can help create more sustainable products. The company Recyda helps customers navigate laws and product labelling requirements so that a product can be recycled correctly in the market it is being offered in. Recyda is active in Europe and plans to expand into North America shortly.
doesn’t leave a residue. During the Interpack show, the innovators of this product also found that their materials can be marked with inkjet and laser engraved.
Another innovative product on display was resealable product bags made from 100 per cent paper by German company Weber Verpackungen. These bags allow consumers to see the product inside. Other companies showcased sustainable self-adhesive tapes to replace the plastic-based adhesive tapes for sealing shipping boxes. The adhesive is natural rubber-based, and some of the tapes are even compostable in an industrial composting facility. Elsewhere on the show floor, I saw kraft paper-based air pillows to protect products during shipping.
I also came across a company that developed a heat-sealing machine for packaging trays. Unfortunately, the transparent material used to provide heat-sealing capabilities is still petroleum-based. However, it is a question of time until someone develops a film based on sustainable material. The same company also offers pulp-based heat-sealable menu trays.
2807
Interpack 2023 had 2807 exhibitors.
During a presentation, the German Association of Machinery and Equipment Manufacturers (VDMA) said packaged food sales will increase to 5.3 billion tons in 2026, a 14 per cent increase from 2021. North America and Europe will see an increase of eight per cent until 2026. This also means an increase in the use of packaging materials, especially rigid and flexible plastic, by 14 and 21 per cent, respectively. If nothing gets done, there will be more plastic than fish in the oceans. Also, food loss based on spoilage during transport is quite immense. VDMA sees mechanical engineering as a key driver for sustainability. Retrofitting older machines with new control and drive systems can reduce power consumption by up to 30 per cent. Their booth showed many innovative solutions from German universities. One of the innovations was a seaweed-based film that can be transformed into trays and dishwasher tab wrappers. The wrapper dissolves in water and
Ricoh showed a very innovative marking solution. They developed a special coating that can be printed with a flexo press. The coating is semi-transparent and can be printed with a thermal printhead. They call it “On Demand Direct Packaging Printing” for marking prepacked fresh food. The special coating that can be marked with a thermal printhead has to be printed last. Due to the layer’s semi-transparent nature, the tray’s content is somewhat visible. This technology removes the need for labels that are often hard to remove from packaging as well as the need for ribbons used in thermal transfer printing. Currently, this solution is intended for packaging trays for cheese and cold cuts, fresh meat and fish as well as soft fruits and vegetables.
Overall, sustainability was at the forefront of the 2023 Interpack trade show. While several plastic-based packaging and wrapping solutions were on display, there were more recyclable options. It was, again, an exciting trade show for the packaging industry. The next Interpack will be held in Düsseldorf from May 7 to 13, 2026.
Grey: the foundation of colour
Grey patches are an effective tool to evaluate colour output
By Angus Pady
hen considering the development of a system for assessing colour and implementing quality control, we often overlook the significance and potential of the colour grey. Grey is more than a neutral achromatic colour that can’t decide if it’s black or white. Think of grey as the foundation of colour. It is the first thing to look at and is the most telling if things are going wrong.
My test images feature multiple four-colour grey balance images. One of the most difficult things to achieve is a linear greyscale. When creating a linear greyscale test image, always ensure your CMYK colour space is GRACoL (Figure 1). This ensures your CMYK values are correctly targeting your press.
What do I look for?
First is the blend. Do you see any
transition issues? Are there any areas where the scale is not linear? This is a sign that the conversion did not work properly, or you have made an error creating your ICC profile.
The grayscale should be neutral and smooth (Figure 2).
The second scale, as shown in Figure 3, has been exaggerated but displays big issues in mid-tones. It has a strong cyan cast and no highlights.
Grey balance and process control
A great advantage of utilizing grey balance for process control is its simplicity, practicality, and effectiveness. One method of evaluating grey balance on press is to place two grey patches side by side.
One patch should be composed of chromatic grey (C: 50 M: 40: Y: 40) and the second a true grey (K: 50).
The goal is to get the two patches to look the same.
G7 and grey balance
When it comes to achieving grey balance on press, your CTP plate curves play a major role. The G7 method was created to accomplish a nearly neutral appearance when printing four colour images. Grey balancing is not a new technique; it has been a standard practice in photography for many years. Having spent a significant amount of time working with a drum scanner, I fully appreciate the importance of grey balancing when it comes to enhancing the quality of an image.
Based on my experience calibrating hundreds of presses using the G7 methodology, I can confidently say it’s a reliable process. I’ve observed press-to-proof matches that are very close. The secret to its effectiveness
Figure 1: When creating a linear greyscale test image, ensure your CMYK colour space is GRACoL.
Gray Balanced Original Red Cast Green Cast Blue Cast Yellow Cast
Figure 4: It is easy to detect colour differences with grey. Notice the sweaters. They match the G7 grey balance colour wedge. Grey balance is the objective.
D50 tries to mimic a cloudy day at noon.
lies in creating individual curves for each press unit and keeping the CMYK colours within those units. The approach used here differs from the conventional dot gain TVI technique, as it employs distinct curve values for each colour instead of using the same values across the board. To achieve successful press calibration/fingerprinting, it’s essential to ensure the press is well-maintained and in a consistent condition.
As individuals, we have the ability to differentiate and assess colours that are placed alongside one another. Our sensitivity is particularly high when it comes to identifying variations within shades of grey.
Figure 4 demonstrates how simple it is to distinguish these differences in grey, as opposed to certain colours.
Improper grey balance will quickly identify if the “spread” or deviation between CMY colours is too great. It is well
known that with process inks in offset printing, inking and damping fluctuations show up more distinctly in 4C grey images than in coloured image areas. This is why grey balance patches in colour control bars have been instrumental in the indication of printing process disorders, if any.
Do not forget lighting also plays a huge role in how we perceive the colour grey. If you suspect lighting may be adding a colour cast to your images, take the sheet outside in daylight. 5000K or D50 tries to mimic a cloudy day at noon.
To summarize, if you are not using grey patches to evaluate colour, you are missing out on a valuable tool.
Angus Pady is a G7-certified expert that has helped customers resolve colour management challenges for over 30 years. He can be reached at angus.pady@fujifilm.com. A
Figure 2: An example of bad shadows.
Figure 3: The mid-tones are off in this example.
Showcasing the latest offerings from HP, Standard Finishing Systems, Canon, Zund, Agfa and
Monadnock Paper Mills
HP debuts the HP Indigo 200K digital press
HP unveils the new HP Indigo 200K digital press, a mid-web press designed for converters. The new press prints up to 56 m/min. Featuring gravure-matching colour quality based on the HP Indigo Liquid Electro Photography and OneShot Color technologies, the new press is designed to print high coverage packages with white on the majority of industrial substrates, both surface and reverse. Additional business opportunities include unique brand protection elements.
Zund presents Q-Line with BHS180
Zund expands its machine portfolio with the new Q-Line with BHS180 board handling system. It is specifically intended for the demands of highly automated, industrial finishing of printed boards for displays and packaging. The system has a board feeder with undercam, the new Q-Line cutter genera-
tion, and an off-load unit. Working together, the new machine components generate a speed of up to 2.8 m/s.
Standard launches new saddlestitcher
Standard Finishing Systems releases the Horizon Ice StitchLiner Mark IV Saddlestitcher, which combines scoring and folding, saddlestitching, and three-knife trimming into a single system. On the Mark IV,
The HP Indigo 200k digital press prints up to 56 m/min.
The Horizon Ice StitchLiner Mark IV Saddlestitcher from Standard Finishing Systems combines multiple features
stitch length, balance adjustment, and thickness settings can all be changed automatically from booklet to booklet during operation. The sheet-alignment section features four-directional jogging. It can run at speeds of up to 6,000 booklets per hour for A4 portrait applications and 5,300 booklets per hour for A4 landscape applications.
Monadnock launches new media
Monadnock Paper Mills introduces its newest wide format and signage materials, Boulevard and Pavilion PC 100. Boulevard is a moisture-resistant poster paper that is suitable for both indoor and short-term outdoor applications. Pavilion PC 100 is made with 100 per cent post-consumer recycled waste fibre, and suitable for indoor posters. It is bright white and has a matte coated surface. Pavilion is recyclable in the curbside mix paper waste bin. Boulevard and Pavilion PC 100, like all Monadnock printing, packaging, and display and wall graphics, are FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified.
Canon unveils new roll-to-roll printer
Canon Canada launches the Colorado M-series, a modular 64-in. roll-to-roll printer with two speed configurations and Canon UVgel white ink. The scalable series includes two base
models offering a choice of output speeds. With the addition of white UVgel ink and a new media detection sensor technology, the Colorado M-series customers can expand their typical product offering using heavy structured, transparent, coloured, reflective, and magnetic materials. Customers can also choose the FLXfinish+ option with their Colorado M-series printer, allowing them to add matte, gloss or mixed matte and gloss on the same print, without additional varnish.
Agfa rolls out new inkjet inks
Agfa develops new inks for its Onset and Avinci inkjet printers. The Onset 560 ink was developed in just six months. It uses Agfa’s patented Thin Ink Layer technology, which has a unique dispersion method. The Onset 560 ink has also obtained the GreenGuard Gold certification. Another new ink product from Agfa is the new Avinci 110 ink for the Avinci CX3200 dyesub textile printer. This ink set obtained the Oeko-Tex Eco passport, an independent certification system for chemicals, colourants, and auxiliaries used in the textile and leather industry. The passport states that the ink is free from any harmful substance and can be used to decorate fabrics that will be safe for both humans and the environment.
Monadnock’s Pavilion PC 100 is made with 100 per cent post-consumer recycled waste fibre.
Roy LaBuick / co-owner / Minuteman Press Moose Jaw
Roy LaBuick is the second-generation co-owner of the Minuteman Press franchise in Moose Jaw, Sask. It began operations in January 2014. Roy runs the business along with his wife Shannon, son Robert, and parents, John and Carol. The franchise does all kinds of printing, from signage and textile to promotional assets. A Moose Jaw resident since 1974, Roy looks after outside sales and manages the company’s sales staff. Shannon looks after clothing sales and accounting/bookkeeping. Robert runs the sign shop. Carol also does accounting/bookkeeping. John works on estimates, installs and equipment purchases for the shop. The franchise also has four full-time employees in its graphics, finishing and sign departments. The 52-yearold Roy offers a small-town perspective on the Canadian printing industry, which we rarely get to hear these days.
What is the state of the print industry today?
RL: I believe the state of the print industry is very strong and will only get stronger as the years go on, as there has been a large shift to supporting local in recent years. Businesses that were using online printing and marketing services are now partnering with locally owned operators, as they offer a better level of customer service than the e-commerce platforms.
What attracted both of you to the print industry?
RL: My father, John LaBuick, has been in the print industry since the 1960s. He and my mother, Carol, started a newspaper in Moose Jaw, Sask., in 1974. As a teenager, I spent lots of time at the shop after school, on weekends, and during my summer holidays. I worked in the different departments at the newspaper. I drove delivery trucks to drop papers off at carriers’ homes, worked in the production department learning how to paste up ads, making negatives and plates for the press, as well as worked in the editorial team. When I graduated high school, I moved into the sales department and loved being able to meet new people and helping customers with their needs.
How can the industry attract more
Russ Mirasty, Lt. Gov. of Saskatchewan, with Roy LaBuick, co-owner, Minuteman Press, Moose Jaw, Sask., at a ceremony where Roy was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal.
young people?
RL: We need to let the younger generation know that the print industry has many different avenues for professional growth. You can have a great career in sales, graphic design, or by owning your own printing company. The industry is not the same as it was 30 years ago. The technology is different now. The work environment is fast paced where you are constantly learning every day. It is a lot of fun helping a customer come up with an idea to help improve their business.
In such a competitive landscape, how can printers win more sales?
faster sale. If you can deliver the final product to the customer as quickly as possible, then they will start coming to you for other projects.
What are some of the biggest opportunities in the print industry?
RL: If you see a need in your market, then you may want to pursue. For instance, if customers are asking you for signs, stamps, clothing, and promotional items, and you are not doing them, you may want to get into those areas. Printing is not just on paper anymore.
The Minuteman Press franchise in Moose Jaw, Sask., was set up in 2014.
RL: While having an online presence is important, you need to have in-person chats with the businesses in your community to find out their needs and how you can help them. We have been on the street since day one talking to local businesses and finding out their needs. It is important to notice what your customer is using in their business, be it stamps, cheques, envelopes, forms, or marketing materials/ promotional items. We always are offering them quotes. The more quotes we get, the more sales it turns into. Getting the quotes to the customer within 24 hours will sometimes turn that prospect into a
What do you think is the most exciting thing about print today?
RL: There are a lot of exciting things in the print world today from the varied equipment that is out there now and what it can do to help your business grow to how customers are looking for ways to get you to help them promote their business so they can be more visible in the community. It is a very fun and rewarding industry to be in as every day is different from the next.
Roy LaBuick’s response was edited for length. For more Q&A Spotlight interviews, please visit www.printaction.com/profile.
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