The Ellis Group, headquartered in Pickering, invests $8 million over the past two years to prepare its printing and finishing platforms for the future
16 Flexible trends
Technology experts from Anderson & Vreeland, Williamson and Esko describe the growth and opportunity in Canada’s flexo market
20 Packaging for the brand
UK journalist Des King provides packaging insight for where the global market is heading as technology players prepare for drupa 2016 in Germany
Departments
GamUt
5 News, People, Calendar, Installs, Globe, Archive
teCH repOrt
26 Graph Expo 2015
marKetpLaCe
33 Industry classifieds
spOtLIGHt
34 Brad Kruchten, President, Kodak, Print Systems Division
COLUmns
FrOm tHe eDItOr
4 Jon robinson
Trudeau business impact
Will the new majority government stay true to its sweeping campaign promises
CHrOnICLe
10 nick Howard
The Bulldog
Remembering one of Canadian printing’s influential technology leaders
DeVeLOpment
11 Wayne Collins
Proving the power of wrap
A younger generation is learning to embrace the changing print market
Trudeau business impact
the Trudeau Liberals swept into a majority government in October with 39.5 percent of the popular vote, while the Conservatives, after three mandates led by Stephen Harper, are to form the Official Opposition taking 31.9 percent of the vote, followed by the NDP at 19.7 percent, Bloc Québécois’ 4.7 percent and the Green Party’s 3.5 percent.
three years to spur economic growth. In his article, Shmuel quotes Darren Sissons of Portfolio Management Corp., saying, “Longer term, more government debt will drag on the Canadian dollar and will make interest payments an increasingly large portion of the government budget. This will ultimately decrease policy flexibility in future years.”
Editor Jon Robinson jrobinson@annexweb.com 905-713-4302
Contributing writers
Zac Bolan, Wayne Collins, Peter Ebner, Victoria Gaitskell, Martin Habekost, Nick Howard, Angus Pady, Nicole Rycroft, Abhay Sharma, Trish Witkowski
11,445
Approximate number of days between Trudeau-led Canadian governments, as Justin Trudeau begins to carry the mantle his father, PierreElliot, built until June 1984.
As the Conservatives begin to look for a new leader to replace the departing Harper, Canadians, who may continue to question Trudeau’s readiness to lead, begin to ask themselves what this leadership change is going to mean. Most news reports on October 20, a day after the Federal election, pointed to Trudeau’s ambitious policy agenda, promising significant change in terms of tax overhaul, government spending, climate change, electoral reform and drug laws.
Trudeau, 43, and his team pledged to slash taxes for the middle class and to raise them for the wealthiest Canadians.
Emma Crawford Hampel and Jen St. Denis of Business in Vancouver (BIV), explain: “The Liberals’ platform includes the reduction of the small business tax rate from 11 to nine percent. The platform also includes the elimination of the Conservatives’ controversial income splitting program, and the Tax-Free Savings Account annual limit will revert back to $5,500 from $10,000.” BIV also points out that for income earners making more than $200,000 per year, a new 33 percent tax bracket is to be created, which will bump the top marginal tax rates to between 43 percent and 58.75 percent, depending on the province.
The Trudeau Liberals also pledged to begin an infrastructure plan – committed to spending $5 billion in each of the 2016/17 and 2017/18 fiscal years – that would put the country into three consecutive deficit budgets. The Financial Post’s John Shmuel reports that David Madani, an economist for Capital Economics, believes the increased government spending may be worth an extra 0.2 to 0.3 percentage points a year for Canada’s gross domestic product.
“At best, the stimulus would lift GDP growth by a bit more than 0.5 percent next year, so we would be leaning toward annual growth of closer to 2.5 percent in 2016 (versus our current call of just over two percent, and just 1.2 percent this year), assuming the proposed measures are fully implemented in the next budget,” wrote Doug Porter, Chief Economist at BMO Capital Markets, in his own report following the Liberal victory.
Shmuel notes the loonie could also see longer-term weakness, because of Trudeau’s plan to run a deficit for the next
The Financial Post article also points out government spending can take some of the pressure off the Bank of Canada to further lower interest rates, which are already extremely low. However, such economic stimulus can also have a long lasting negative economic affects when funding is pulled. Many economic pundits, particularly those working in free enterprise, will argue government involvement in the economy often only ends up making things worse. This is certainly the mindset Canada has been used to for more than a decade under the market-driven approach taken by the Harper government.
As Don Pittis of CBC News writes, “Simply put, the theory is that governments, for various reasons, just cannot spend money wisely. Critics say that whether through corruption, stupidity or a basic misunderstanding of how markets work, government spending distorts the marketplace. The theory does not necessarily say that businesspeople are smarter than people working in government, although they may be more careful with their pennies than a government will be with yours. It is not brains, but market discipline that keeps business spending on the straight and narrow.”
The Guardian points out it will not be long before Canada and the world takes note of Trudeau’s readiness to lead because of a full international agenda in November for Canada’s new leader, including a G20 meeting in Turkey, an Apec summit in the Philippines, a Commonwealth meeting in Malta, and the upcoming climate change summit in Paris.
Matthew Kupfer of CBC News described the first five major issues that the new government will tackle, according to campaign promises. 1: Taxes, including a middle-class tax cut to reduce the tax rate from 22.5 to 20 percent for individuals earning between $44,700 and $89,401 a year. 2: A new climate with premiers, relating to EI reform, a new health accord, national child-care framework, training programs, energy strategy and support for Prairie farmers. 3: Infrastructure money. 4: Call Obama. 5: Syrian refugees.
Publisher Paul Grossinger pgrossinger@annexweb.com 905-713-4387
Associate Publisher Stephen Longmire slongmire@annexweb.com 905-713-4300
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Cascades inaugurates its Greenpac Mill in Niagara Falls, NY, a partnership with Caisse de dépôt and Jamestown Container to produce recycled linerboard.
PrintAction magazine named its 2015 Industry Achievement recipients, who were celebrated at the 10th annual Canadian Printing Awards in November, for their impact on the domestic printing industry. The recipients include: Dick Kouwenhoven, Chairman of Hemlock Printers, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award; Jay Mandarino, President & CEO of C.J. Graphics, Printing Leader of the Year; Damian McDonald, President of ampersand, Emerging Leader of the Year; and Scott Gray, VP Branding of MET Fine Printers, Community Leader of the Year.
pazazz printing of Montreal becomes the first Canadian printer to achieve PANTONE Certified Printer status. Pazazz is leveraging a CxF colour exchange workflow and PantoneLIVE to build standard procedures across its operation. Founded in 1992, Pazazz provides offset printing, up to 56 inches, toner printing, labels, packaging and wide format. Pazazz is also a certified G7 Master Printer and is FSC certified.
marquis, a book manufacturer in Montmagny, Que., signed an
and a range of auxiliary machines such as eyeleters, cutters, and drills. Heggie plans to focus Grovetree in two directions: specialty products for offset print and packaging, and specialty coatings for digital print.
CaLenDar
December 4, 2015
mutoh software series, Flexi Mutoh, Los Angeles, CA
December 5-8, 2015
pIa Color 2015 Conference Hilton Squaw Peak, Phoenix, AZ
Dec 9-12, 2015 pamex 2015
Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai, India
January 6-9, 2016
agreement with SoBook, an operation in Roubaix, France, to create what the two companies describe as a transatlantic technology bridge. The new service called Marquis Express, which began in October, is to manage the printing in Europe of books from Canadian publishers and the printing in Canada of works from European publishers. The agreement grants Marquis exclusive use and the North American marketing of the digital print workflow solutions developed by SoBook, which was founded in 2009 by Thierry Ghesquières.
Canadian printing Industries scholarship trust Fund provided $56,000 in scholarships to 35 post-secondary students, enrolled in educational programs relating to the printing industry. A total of $38,000 was provided to 23 new students enrolled in their first year of study and $18,000 in scholarships was given to 12 continuing students in a program. Courtney Thompson, who began her program at the Nova Scotia Community College this September, received the $5,000 Warren Wilkins Prestige Scholarship
Grovetree press, a trade lamination company that has been serving the Greater Toronto Area since 1998, has been purchased by Mike Heggie. Grovetree runs eight lamination systems, two coaters,
Grimco Canada, a subsidiary of Grimco International, agreed to acquire Acme Neon & Plastic Sign Supplies based in Toronto, with additional locations in Montreal and Vancouver. Grimco Canada is based in Toronto, with more facilities in the Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal and Dartmouth markets. Acme Neon has been a national distributor since 1967.
Canon successfully resolved a patent infringement dispute against Zinyaw LLC, which does business under the name TonerPirate.com, concerning certain toner cartridges and photosensitive drum units sold for use in Canon and Hewlett-Packard laser beam printers. Zinyaw is now prohibited from making, using, selling and offering for sale the specified products.
safety seal plastic has agreed to buy the shrink sleeve business of Jones Packaging Inc. of London, Ont., according to Plasticnews.com. The Guelph Mercury also reports that, as a result of the purchase, Safety Seal plans to move the shrink sleeve operation to Guelph after purchasing a 50,000-squarefoot building in the Ontario city. Safety Seal operates eight printing presses, explains Plasticnews.com, as well as seaming machines, cutting machines and slitters to make shrink sleeves for customers in food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and consumer goods, among other industries.
Focus pre press of Surrey, BC, becomes an equipment dealer of Mimaki’s wide-format inkjet printers and cutters. Mimaki has been increasing its presence in North America over the past few years and reports it saw revenue growth of 8.4 percent in the second quarter of 2015 when compared to its second quarter of 2014. The company states this is the highest growth in Worldwide Large Format Printer Shipments as tracked by International Data Corporation (published August 24, 2015).
Consumer electronics show 2016 Various hotel locations Las Vegas, NV
January 19-22
eFI Connect Users’ Conference Wynn Las Vegas, NV
February 3-4, 2016 Cma, the Gathering Multiple locations, Banff, AB
February 18-20, 2016
Graphics of the americas Convention Center, Miami Beach, FL
March 8-11, 2016 Fespa Digital RAI Exhibition Center, Amsterdam
March 20-23, 2016 taGa technical Conference Sheraton Downtown, Memphis, TN
April 20-23, 2016 sign expo Orange County Convention Center Orlando, FL
May 31-June 10, 2016 drupa Düsseldorf Fairgrounds, Germany
June 22
printaction print Forum Mississauga Convention Centre, ON
September 14-16, 2016 sGIa expo Las Vegas Convention Center, NV
September 23-24, 2016 COnsaC International Centre, Mississauga, ON
September 25-28, 2016 Graph expo 2016 Orange County Center, Orlando, FL
November 19-21, 2016 print World Direct Energy Centre, Toronto, ON
April 7-8, 2017
Grafik’ art Place Bonaventure, Montreal, QC
Warren Werbitt, Founder, Pazazz Printing.
Don Gain, Chairman, CPISTF.
Mike Heggie, owner of Grovetree.
Dick Kouwenhoven, Chairman and CEO of Hemlock Printers.
InstaLLs
robert Gauvin, who led one of Quebec’s most historic family printing businesses since 1984, passed away in late-September after a long illness. Founded in 1892 by Georges Elzéar Gauvin, Gauvin Press is described as the first commercial printing shop in Hull, Quebec, which is now called Gatineau. Robert Gauvin, described as a pioneer craftsman of the printing trade, was a third-generation printer, taking over the management of Gauvin Press after his father’s death in 1984. Gauvin Press continues to drive forward under the management of André Gauvin and his team of more than 20 employees.
Harold Hoff (pictured) and Jason Roth are to lead the day-to-day operations of Heidelberg Canada, reporting directly to Juergen Grimm, President of Heidelberg Americas, who oversees operations in Canada, United States, Mexico and Brazil. With 30 years of experience in Heidelberg’s service organization, Hoff will assume the role of VP, Sales & Service for Heidelberg Canada. Roth, who began his career with Heidelberg in 1997, will continue in his role as VP, Finance & Operations, which he has held for the past two years. In September, Heidelberg Canada relocated to its new headquarters in Mississauga, Ont., which encompasses close to 50,000 square feet.
Yishai amir becomes CEO of Landa Corp. in Rehovot, Israel, and Benny Landa, founder of Landa Group, continues as Chairman. Amir, who also becomes Group Vice Chairman for Landa, has more than 20 years of experience in the printing industry. He held senior positions with HP, most recently serving as VP and GM, Graphics Solutions Business at HP Americas. Previously, Amir served as HP VP and GM, Indigo & Inkjet Solutions Business Americas, and Director, Worldwide Strategic Marketing, HP-Indigo.
Jeffrey ardo and Tyler York have been hired as sales personnel for SPGPrints America to expand its graphics business in the United States and Canada. Ardo becomes Graphic Sales Manager looking after SPGPrints’ DSI UVinkjet label press and rotary screen printing program. The announcement follows the sale of SPGPrints’ third DSI UVinkjet press in North America, to Elkhart, Indiana-based synthetic tile manufacturer Panel Solutions.
martina nast becomes Key Account Manager Flexographic Products for Flint Group, responsible for supporting major customers worldwide. Nast has been serving Flint Group and its predecessor companies for more than 20 years. Most recently, she led the Technical Service and Equipment Team in Stuttgart, Germany.
michael Weyermann becomes Area Sales Manager Northeast USA for MPS Systems, responsible for continuing to grow the company’s North America presence. Weyermann comes to MPS with more than 15 years of experience in the printing industry.
ryerson University’s school of Graphic Communications management in downtown Toronto adds a new GTI Graphiclite viewing system, pictured with Assistant Professor Chris Smyth and students Rebecca Stewart (middle) and Feliz Prollamante.
Kwik Kopy printing of Barrie, Ont., led by Susan and John Morton, installed a Ricoh Pro C7100x press, which is also integrated with Color-Logic software (purchased through GI Printing Equipment) to allow the company to produce metallic and decorative effects.
a+a Graphics Canada of Scarborough, Ont., led by President Ara Sahakian (far right), adds a 6-colour HP FB750 UV inkjet flatbed system, as well as a Colex Sharpcut cutter, purchased through Grimco Canada. The HP system allows for printing white ink, double-sided, matte/gloss and textured effects.
peOpLe
Number of Rotoflex finishing machines, including two high-speed inspection, slitting and rewinding systems, installed by Dutch printer Megaflex, a family-owned business that specializes in prime labels utilizing flexo and digital printing technologies.
orora stands out in australia
Orora is an international packaging company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange providing customers in North America, Australia and New Zealand with corrugated boxes, folding cartons, multi-wall bags and sacks, as well as range of recycling of products like paper, aluminium beverage cans and glass bottles. Its operation is spread over two continents and last year generated sales revenue of AUD$3.4 billion ($2.8 billion in Canadian funds).
The company operates two six-colour ROLAND 700 presses with double coaters (series 720 and 742) and has now ordered a new 7-colour ROLAND 700 with coating module, Inline ColorPilot and Integration Pilot Plus for a new Greenfield site. Orora will also install Manroland’s ColorPilot Smart and Integration Pilot Plus technologies to upgrade the company’s two existing 6-colour presses.
Orora, whose headquarters are in Melbourne, was recently awarded the Best Process Innovation in the 2015 BRW Most Innovative Companies contest. It also won 14 gold medals and five other awards at New Zealand’s Pride in Print Awards for 2015.
Accu-Decal adds continent’s first Mira
Accu-Decal Inc. of Philadelphia became the first printing location in North America to install the Agfa Jeti Mira flatbed UV inkjet system, specifically in a 6-colour plus white configuration with a dockable roll-to-roll option that enables printing on a range of flexible medias. Accu-Decal is a family-owned digital and custom screen-printing company that produces a range of work like decals, signage and point-of-purchase displays.
Manufactured in Agfa Canada’s facility in Mississauga, Ont., the Jeti Mira features a moving gantry and Print & Prepare technology to load one side of the table while the other side is printing. The system is available with a table depth of either 63 inches or 126 inches with a width of 105 inches.
German label deal largest in indigo history
The RAKO-GROUP, headquartered in Witzhave, Germany, has purchased two HP Indigo 20000 presses and nine Indigo WS6800 presses, making it the largest labels and packaging deal in HP Indigo history. “For more than a decade we have used HP Indigo digital printing technology to bring value to our customers, which include many of the world’s leading brands,” said Adrian Tippenhauer, Managing Director of RAKO.
The HP Indigo WS6800 is the flagship model of the Indigo WS6000 series, and features the new Color Automation Package, which is colour management technology that leverages an inline spectrophotometer to match brand spot colours. Other recently unveiled HP Indigo WS6800 features include a Fade Resistant ink set, the Michelman DP680 Primer for media versatility and new workflow and finishing integrations.
$1.6 billion
Global sales of French packaging giant Albéa Tubes, which employs 16,600 people operating out of 38 facilities in Europe, Asia and the Americas. The company, which produces plastic and laminate tubes for the beauty, personal care, oral care and pharma markets, recently installed a Durst Tau 330 UV inkjet press, which covers 90 percent of the PANTONE colour scale.
Dave Wilson, Operations Manager of Orora (l to r); Mark Hawkey, manroland Operations Manager; Nabil Askari, General Manager NZ of Orora; and Mark Anderssen, Orora Print Manager.
Accu-Decal’s Kevin Simmons, President (l to r); Molly Simmons, Treasurer/Office Manager; Christine Simmons, Art Director; and Kim Simmons-Dimpter, PrePress/ Production Manager.
RAKO-GROUP’s (l to r) Andreas Böhm; Roger Gehrke; Matthias Kurtz, Managing Director; and Jacob Steeger, Commercial Manager and Executive Board Member.
1985
Sale of 13 Miller units one of largest ever in Canada
Toronto’s Consumer Graphics Inc. has acquired 13 Miller TP104 28 X 40-inch printing units, spread among 6-colour, 5-colour and 2-colour presses. The $3.6 million investment almost doubles the printing capacity as Consumer Graphics revamps its operations, equipment and personnel.
Consumer Graphics is also instituting a no-premium weekend shift, a limousine service for after-hours press approvals, and is assigning client service support to each salesperson so that clients can always contact someone who knows about their job. These innovations are based on the results of a survey of ad agency print buyers, who indicated strong concern for improved customer service in the printing industry. (Mario and Frank Giorgio went on to form AIIM, one of Ontario’s most dynamic printing operations.)
1995
Large-format digital printers
Xerox has introduced its latest technology in large-format digital printers with increased speed and improved registration. The Xerox 8954 Series III printers produce colour prints at speeds of up to four inches per second. Registration has also improved from 0.016 inches to 0.004 inches. The large-format printers are available in three resolutions: 200, 300 and 400 dots per inch. The Series III printers produce full colour output up to 53.28 inches wide. The list price ranges from $89,000 for the 200-dpi model to $99,000 for the 400-dpi model.
2000
Just installed
Jean Bilodeau, President of Imprimerie Litho Chic in Quebec City, recently purchased a Heidelberg SM74-2 press to offer even more advanced services to his Quebec-based customers. The company also bought a Polar 78ES from Heidelberg Canada.
2010
Rob Ford, the printer mayor
Rob Ford, CFO and principal of Deco Labels and Tags, is set to become the 64th mayor of Toronto following a successful campaign that handed him a lead of 93,669 votes over his nearest competitor, former Ontario Health Minister, George Smitherman. Deco’s 250 staff members in Toronto, Chicago and New Jersey generate about $30 million in annual revenues.
During a speech at the recent Packaging Summit in Niagara, Ford cited the two most important rules he learned from his father: “Rule Number One is the customer is always right. Rule Number Two is reread Rule Number One.”
$625
Per tonne price of newsprint in 2005, which skyrocketed over the past three years, up from $435 per tonne in 2002.
Mario and Frank Giorgio, President and VP, of Toronto’s Consumer Graphics during the installation of their new Miller TP 104.
The Bulldog
the passing of a print legend who helped form the technology landscape of canadian printing
By Nick Howard
timothy Otway Upton passed away on October 8, 2015. I will not speak of him in a past tense – he is always with me and the hundreds of printing professionals around the world who were lucky enough to know him.
During World War II, Tim as a child, developed a severe dislike for carrots. However, rather unusually, Tim loves eating certain flowers and in the raw. This sparked plenty of laughter in later years, if a bouquet was slowly disappearing at a printing function. After the war, Tim, who came from a family with a rich history, entered the prestigious Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. The future King of Jordan, Hussein bin Talal, was a schoolmate.
Upon graduation Tim was given the rank of second lieutenant with the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards. He found himself in Egypt during the Suez crisis, specifically the British sector between Port Said and Port Taufiq. It was there in the evening of 1954, two years after Gamal Abdel Nasser had led the overthrow of the monarchy, that Tim was enjoying a glass of gin in the officer’s mess.
A roadblock was in place and a battered old car pulled up to the gate with a flat tire. Tim was called and discovered the inhabitant was none other than Nasser himself. “I ordered them locked up for their own protection,” Tim said. It was apparently the best way to safeguard Nasser. Meanwhile, the tire was repaired and apparently Nasser was grateful, but as Tim said, “I forget what he said but I know they didn’t pay for the tire.”
Printing growth
After the army, Tim decided to immigrate to Canada and headed to Vancouver. For a time, he also worked odd jobs, building swimming pools and even working at the famous Banff Springs Hotel. Vancouver proved to be a watershed for Tim. It was here that he would meet and marry Helen. They were perfect for each other and it proved to be an amazing union. Helen is
Tim Upton began his graphic arts career in Vancouver with Sears Ltd., before helping to establish Heidelberg Canada.
1984
The year Heidelberg Canada came into existence, in large part based on the work of Tim Upton. It went on to dominate Canada’s printing landscape for the next two decades.
a remarkable woman and together the Uptons raised three children – Julie, Anthony and Heather. It was also in Vancouver that Tim landed a job with Sears Ltd. Sears was a business started in 1925 in Toronto and Montreal. The company quickly expanded across Canada and sold an encyclopedia’s worth of machinery and supplies for the printing trades.
After a few years in Vancouver, Sears moved Tim to Edmonton where he continued in sales and eventually became sales manager for all of Alberta. The western printers took a real shine to Tim, as he worked hard to build the Sears name throughout the province.
London, Ont., was another important printing market and Sears transferred Tim again to the Forest City. In the early 1970s, Tim and his family made Oakville, Ont., their home when Tim was posted at Sears’ head office just outside of Toronto. These were interesting days. Sears had the mammoth Heidelberg agency by then and had become by far Canada’s largest supplier of equipment and supplies for the printing trades.
But that was to end. Sears Ltd., now a division of the larger Reichold Chemical group, had a dispute with Bill Sears – the scion of the Sears family. Out of this came Heidelberg Canada and Tim, long a key executive with Sears, found himself without work.
In 1983, months before Heidelberg Canada’s January 1984 launch, Tim was summoned to Germany to meet with Heidelberg management. The question
was asked: If Mr. Sears would take on say the Roland distributorship (now manroland) would Tim join Heidelberg or move with Bill Sears? Without hesitation, Tim said he would move wherever Mr. Sears went!
And so he did. Ensconced as the first Vice-President of Sales and, along with Manfred Bank as VP of Technical Support (another longtime Sears Ltd. employee), Tim did incredible things for Heidelberg and made a lot of Canadians well off in the process.
Changing of the guard
There was a changing of the guard in 1994, but Tim wasn’t finished quite yet. Lucky for me, he joined our small company and during the next 10 years became not only irreplaceable but a wonderful friend and father-figure to me. Everyone here loves Tim. We all knew Tim swam in the highest circles, dealt with some of the most important people in the industry, but he is so down to earth it is truly eye opening. In 1988, I was in Germany on business and had a spare day, so I arranged to visit the Heidelberg factory. For any of you who have not had the pleasure, it is absolutely amazing – leaps and bounds above any other, and I’ve been to most. On my return, Tim and I were talking and he asked who had taken me around the machine halls. When I told Tim who, he smiled and said “Oh! He used to be a bellhop at the King Eddy – a [King Edward Hotel in Toronto].” It was just so like Tim: Tell it like it is, no bull.
Tim is prompt: Do not ever be late, because he never is. Do not make silly excuses because Tim never does. Be honest, truthful – even if it hurts. I knew my place and it was firmly two steps back of Tim most of the time. Of all the salespeople I have known ,Tim was the best – bar none. Why? Because he was real. He never played games, sucked up to ownership or thought of anyone as being better than himself. Tim’s nickname The Bulldog is fitting. One might assume it came from his rugby days, but, no, Tim is just a selfless and tireless man, who, as Churchill once said, never gives up.
From the most junior pressman to the biggest CEO, Tim treated everyone the same and that is why now we pause to reflect on the amazing life of a Canadian graphic arts icon. I doubt we will see another like him.
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
Proving the power of wrap
a younger generation is learning to embrace the changing and dynamic print marketplace
By Wayne Collins
was fortunate enough to enter the graphic communications industry in a formal apprenticeship program through our local union. The primary skill I learned in my apprenticeship was how to seek out and acknowledge a good mentor. I have carried that lesson through every job I’ve had and it makes my teaching role much more enjoyable in my present role as Program Director at BCIT’s Graphic Communications Technology program.
I have had one particularly potent mentor for the last 30 years: Peter Madliger, Vice President of Prepress at Hemlock Printers in Burnaby, BC. We have worked together in various roles since I arrived in Vancouver in 1985. I called Peter last week to ask him to help pilot a colour management workshop I am developing for the BCPIA. His message to me in that session was surprisingly the same as it was when I was a pimple-faced 30 year old trying to do some dot etching on film separations in 1985.
“Probieren geht über studieren” is the mantra that has guided me through so many experimental trials, while adapting new technologies. They are Peter’s words, roughly translated, “Proving it is better than studying it!”
I have accomplished so much by remembering that phrase at key times when implementing new ideas. There is a time when one has to put down due diligence, and roll up your sleeves to see what works. What works always surprises and delights me. Our industry changes at warp speed and there are always new technologies to assess. That is what most of us love about our jobs in printing. I particularly appreciate when younger people embrace the philosophy. I roll out a theory – and my student says, “Looks good – now let’s just try this puppy and see what works.”
Our program at BCIT is changing and adapting to meet the needs of the businesses in British Columbia. We surveyed our business owners and they identified a common growth sector for their business-
Brandon and Vaughan Blancher, certified 3M installers, show BCIT students how to wrap a car, following a major commitment by 3M and other members of the Canadian printing industry.
es to be in large-format imaging. We had some equipment donated, did some major renovations to create training facilities, and reached out to the business community for help, guidance and resources.
The response was an incredible plethora of giving that has topped $6 million. Esko is our Platinum Sponsor with over $4 million provided in hardware, software, and resources that will flow into our program over the next five years. We are expanding our curriculum to blend our PDF, raster-based imaging training, with structural CAD graphics training.
school and deliver their series of installer workshops to our Graphic Communications Technology students. Stephanie devised a scholarship plan that gave the top half of each class full scholarships to proceed to the next level of 3M installer training. The goal would be to have six fully qualified installers from our graduating class each year. Michael Lee, Business Manager for 3M Graphics, now carries forward 3M’s relationship with BCIT’s large-format imaging centre.
We embarked on that training with the first 3M installer workshop two weeks ago, Brandon and Vaughan Blancher are brothers that have been fully licensed 3M installers for decades. Their father was an installer, and the brothers usually win international competitions in the trade. They are a dynamic duo as instructors because, not only do they finish each other’s sentences in the technical lectures, but they are grace personified when demonstrating perfect installation techniques. They capped the training session by pulling their rental car into our Graphics Lab, divided students into teams, and coached them with a hands-on session.
The Blanchers said it was the first time 3M had trained college students. Usually their workshop is full of veteran sign installers. These students were keen, coachable, and enthusiastic. They made the training fun for the instructors, but the passion the instructors injected into our students was life altering. Most of them are practising installations on our floor models daily, in preparation for the next level of 3M training in December.
1.2 billion
Number of vehicles on the worlds’ roads as of 2013, according to Navigant Research, with two billion expected by 2035 – pointing to a growing vehicle wrap market.
Students who signed up to learn how to run lithographic printing presses are already adapting. They are also now creating graphics for buildings and vehicles, imaging them, and learning the fine points of installing those graphics. The enthusiasm is through the roof, and I am deeply rewarded for engaging in these new imaging technologies.
Stephanie Neskas was the Marketing Director for 3M Canada when I called her to ask if she would make a contribution to our program at BCIT. I asked for cold hard cash, and Stephanie was diplomatic enough to not slam the door in my face. When I asked her what her biggest challenges were in marketing consumables for the large-format printing sector, she replied right away: “Fully qualified installers that know our materials, and how to apply them, are really hard to come by.” I asked if she could think of ways that we could help each other, and she came back with an amazingly creative proposal. She suggested that 3M trainers come into our
Stephanie Neskas germinated this brilliant idea. Brandon and Vaughan Blancher executed it. None of us knew what would work and what would flop. It was just an idea until Stephanie, and 3M signed a commitment contract to grow that idea in our school over the next five years. No one predicted the enthusiasm and passion of these students! I am heart warmed to my core to see young people engaging in something that has never been tried before. I am honoured to have industry partners like 3M, driven by innovators like Stephanie, Brandon and Vaughan mentoring these young apprentices in our industry.
I left a message in my former boss’s voice-mail: “Peter, I want you to know that Probieren geht über studieren is still alive and well in our industry, and propelling us through the 21st century.”
WaYne COLLIns is the program head of BCIT’s Graphic Communications Technology program and has more than 25 years of industry experience. wayne_collins@bcit.ca
Packaging Power
the ellis group of pickering embarked on an $8 million investment plan around two years ago to drive its printing quality and service into the future
By Jon Robinson
the Ellis Group, one of Canada’s most powerful independent packaging companies for more than three decades, has spent the past two years reinvesting approximately $8 million in its production platform. The family-run company, which operates three large facilities in the Ontario cities of Pickering, Mississauga and Guelph, is intent on increasing its throughput for the modern demands of the market, while maintaining its unique blend of quality and service
The Ellis Group collectively produces more than 500 million cartons per year with some 200 employees across its three plants. The company’s largest facility in Pickering, Ont., Ellis Packaging Ltd., contributes around 280 million cartons per year. Two months ago, the reinvest-
ment plan culminated with the installation of a new 40-inch, 8-colour Komori GLX press in Pickering, with both conventional UV and HUV capabilities, and a raft of automation features like automatic nonstop feed and delivery (with an integrated conveyor system), Komori PQA-S and PDC-SX systems for inline inspection and colour control, and an industry unique 36-inch raise. It is the first such press installed in North America.
The Pickering operation works with many Blue Chip companies and is the most diverse of the three Ellis plants, producing everything from automotive and cosmetics work to nutraceutical and pharmaceutical packaging. The Mississauga plant, Ellis Paper Box, while also becoming more diverse, primarily produces Over The Counter (OTC) pharmaceutical packaging. This facility installed a new 8-colour, 40-inch Komori GL UV
Ellis Packaging’s Yvan Roy, PrePress & Litho Manager (L to R), Glen Sterling, Operations Manager, Cathie Ellis, President, and Don Smart, Plant Manager.
press with coater at the end of 2014. The Guelph plant, Ellis Packaging West, installed a 6-colour Komori about three years ago to continue its focus on confectionary and grocery business.
The Komori in Guelph is not accounted for in the $8 million investment, which, over the past two years does, however, also include a 40-inch Brausse foil stamper and an inline cold foil system (Mississauga), as well as an Italworks carton-edging machine, tray former, die cutter and an automatic Bobst Carton Pack II added to one of the company’s gluers. The automation and consistency provided by the new equipment is now allowing Ellis to produce more cartons annually with the same number, or slightly fewer, employees. Generating around 30 percent of its revenue from the United States, the Canadian company is also proving its position as one of North America’s premium quality folding-carton producers, in an era when packaging has become one of the most-demanding print sectors.
PRESS PowER
“The market has changed a lot in the last year even.We have had a lot of mergers and acquisitions in the marketplace,” says Cathie Ellis, President of Ellis Packaging in Pickering. “We have become one of the largest in Canada as an independent folding-carton manufacturer, family owned, so that definitely separates us from other companies that now are owned and vertically integrated with mills. It has put us in a unique position as we are able to service and be proactive with our customers.”
Ellis explains the company remains very flexible in its ability to produce printing runs of anywhere from a couple of thousand to a few million cartons, which is one of the key reasons why the group invested in 40-inch presses instead of very large format machines that have been making headway in the packaging world. The new 40-inch presses provide run-length range by reaching speeds of up to 18,000 sheets per hour, which Ellis was hitting just weeks into production, and also allow the company to invest in other key pieces of equipment for value-add work like simultaneous matte and gloss coatings, cold foil and holography. “The [vertically integrated] convertors are all about feeding the mill and, at the end of the day, we are in it to make the best folding carton that we can.”
The new 8-colour GLX press in Pickering replaced an older-generation 6-colour Man Roland machine (a second 7-colour Roland remains on the floor) that ran at speeds of up to 15,000 sheets per hour and required Ellis to work with offline inspection. With the PQA-S Print Quality Assessment system on the GLX, Ellis becomes one of the only packaging printers in Canada operating a true inline inspection system, even though it is a popular automation feature in Europe.
“It is not that we are just getting tight [with tolerances], it’s that we are checking more sheets, because the camera consistently looks, whereas before we were at the mercy of the operator pulling out a sheet,” says Yvan Roy, Pre-Press & Litho Manager at Ellis Packaging, who has been with the company for 16 years and oversaw much of its new Komori installation with press distributor KOMCAN.
In addition to providing more consistent quality for Ellis, the PQA-S system in Pickering holds the potential for massive reductions in waste, which can be a profit killer in packaging. “Our board that we print is by far the largest component of the cost that goes into a carton,” says Smart, noting it can be substantially higher than the 40 percent paper cost of a typical commercial-print job, particularly when running smaller cartons that might be 12-up on a sheet. “We feel quite confident about being able to reduce our waste by at least 50 percent.”
APPLiCATion PowER
Cathie Ellis also relates consistency to the company’s service and quality over the years, even as the packaging market is shifting so dramatically with mill-integrated print producers and the growing interest among commercial printers trying to leverage the range of modern presses to win more packaging work.
“It is one thing to print a box, but then you have all of the finishing that goes along with it and that is where commercial printers struggle,” says Ellis. “We also have expertise in structural design. Commercial printers do not have the structural background in order to understand the different nuances of a folding carton.” She explains a poor carton structure, for example, can jam up the customer’s production lines and create bigger issues, while die-cutting and gluing proficiency are packaging necessities. “It is typically the bottleneck in your business if you are gluing the work.”
Ellis Group’s expertise in structural design was on full display at the Paperboard Packaging Council’s (PPC) Leadership Conference in mid-October, where the company picked up two prominent awards, including Paperboard Package of the Year for its Toblerone One by One project and the Eco Award for Cadbury Créme Eggs 3 Pack. “We won two of the six most-esteemed awards, so that was quite an honour,” says Ellis, “and being a Canadian company, too, it was really exciting to wave our flag.”
“We feel quite confident about being able to reduce our waste by at least 50 percent.” - Don Smart, Plant Manager, Ellis Packaging
Number of major PPC awards won by Ellis at the annual PPC convention, including Paperboard Package of the Year for Cadbury Eggs, beating out major carton producers from the United States.
Investing in the supped-up Komori presses, however, is largely about gaining throughput and speed-to-market to keep up with the rest of the packaging producers.
“The industry itself is highly competitive and over the past three or four years there has been so much margin erosion,” says Don Smart, Plant Manager at Ellis’ Pickering plant, who joined the company six years ago. “We were looking for substantial game-changing increases in productivity. And we will get it through run speed on the equipment, through shorter set-up or make-ready times.”
The new Komori allows Ellis to work with the press maker’s recently introduced K-Station software, which provides computer-driven presetting and scheduling of press work. Roy also points to the 36-inch raise on the GLX installation. “With 24-point or even 32-point board, you are not getting that many sheets on a skid,” he says. “It is not like 100-pound paper where you have 6,000 sheets and your pile is only 50-inches high.” The number of material skids, Roy explains, can wreck havoc on the floor of a busy packaging plant.
To leverage the 36-inch raise, which was chosen over an elevator approach, Ellis integrated a unique automatic continuous feed process, removing the need for an operator to meld two skids by inserting and pulling swords – a task that can sometimes trip a press. “Now the press does it by itself. Basically all of the swords come out and they retract under the feed-board so you are taking the human error out – the more continuous you can run a press the more consistent it will be.”
The Toblerone project, according to PPC’s jury, represents a radical departure from Toblerone’s previous designs, with arresting structures and angular planes that are right-sized to eliminate wasteful false bottoms or void fillers, and they are also optimized for efficient pallet configuration: “They do everything a carton should – drive sales and breathe new life into brands by way of innovative structures and exquisite graphics while providing supply chain efficiencies and waste reductions.”
The Cadbury Créme Eggs project, meanwhile, substitutes vacuum-formed plastic trays and plastic shrink sleeves with renewable, recyclable paperboard.
“Our customers know we always go the extra mile, which differentiates us from the larger companies that do not provide the same service. They cannot be as proactive or reactive as we are,” says Ellis. “I never shy away from anything and we will take on whatever challenges come along. We put a lot of money into this investment and we did it to be a formidable competitor.”
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Flexible Trends
technology experts from anderson & vreeland, Williamson and esko describe the growth and opportunities in canada’s flexographic market
By Victoria Gaitskell
We all know that the flexible packaging sector is growing dynamically. This common knowledge, however, doesn’t make it any easier for printers who are not participating in it already, especially smaller companies, to know how to enter this potentially lucrative sector. Printers with existing operations also want to know how they can grow their businesses in today’s market. No one seems better equipped with information about the latest trends and business-development strategies than the companies who help printers achieve their flexible packaging goals every day.
Sean Sawa, Director of Sales for An-
Shelf appeal and package functionality are two of the main trends in the packaging industry, as brands demand more resources from their printing suppliers.
derson & Vreeland Canada, says the Canadian flexible packaging market is changing because of a renewed interest in quality-control tools, best practices, and training. “The Coca-Colas, Nestles, and Unilevers of this world are becoming more demanding as they fight for shelf space. Printers are the beneficiaries because they are being driven to do better. Among the hundreds of variables in a package-printing job from start to finish, if any one variable deviates from standard metrics, you’re compromising consistency,” Sawa says, noting there is more investment in colour proofing and calibration to ensure that a run produces exactly the same PANTONE colour from start to finish – “Even five years ago it was not possible to calibrate everything in this way.”
Rick Schaus, General Manager of Williamson Printing Materials, agrees
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The growth in on-screen visualization technologies is decreasing the business of producing prototypes for packaging development.
A recent study by Fujifilm predicts that packaging printed on digital presses will grow by 2 to 3 percent annually over the next 10 years.
that these days the best technical investment for flexible packaging producers is new quality process controls to improve such factors as ink viscosity (and ink pH for waterbased presses), managing chemical inventories, cleaning, and quality control. “It’s amazing how many places we go into that still don’t have a densitometer to read colours and are relying instead on a pressman’s eyes,” he says.
Schaus explains that today’s lucrative business contracts between printers and major brand owners often specify not only detailed colour-matching requirements but even which measuring instrument the printer needs to buy to analyze colours and verify compliance with the brand owner’s specifications. Schaus also sees more printers investing in equipment that allows them to do a greater variety of work.
“For example, I’ve seen a roll-film printer increase profits by adding equipment for laminating and making bags and closures, because value-added is where the real money is at.” Schaus adds that the introduction of hybrid equipment with, say, the capacity for labels, gravure, screen, plus hot stamping, all in one press, enables printers to add further value to their products.
Schaus explains because of increased competition among brand owners, they are increasingly trying to use packaging as a selling tool by resorting to high-end embellishments. For example, water droplets printed on a flexible package will be embossed to make the droplets look and feel more like the real thing. In film printing, he says: “Ten years ago, flexo machinery was not capable of re-registering a web. Even five years ago, you never saw anybody overprint varnish on plastic bags. But now a couple of our customers print varnish over one or two colours and can register it – and the effect is gorgeous.”
FLExoGRAPhy oR DiGiTAL
When it comes to printing processes for flexible packaging, Julian Fernandez, Pre-Sales Product Specialist Flexo at Esko, says: “For quality, flexography is probably your best option. It can match any offset or gravure and is also cheaper, simpler, faster, and flexible enough to cover almost any need. You can print on a label or any plastic material.”
Sawa says a large narrow web flexo run in Canada would amount to 150,000 impressions and a wide web poly flexo run 50,000 to 100,000 impressions. “Digital presses are primarily used for shortrun jobs 20 to 24 inches wide,” he says. “Although their benefit is they don’t require all the makeready costs and time of flexography, they can’t even come close to competing with flexo speeds. It’s a gap the size of the Grand Canyon.”
Jeff Skolnik, Digital Sales Manager, U.S. & Canada, for Anderson & Vreeland, estimates that digital presses currently produce 15 percent of the market. “Whereas once [end users] would have purchased 200,000 flexo labels at a time, they know digital printing can now produce 10,000 labels of the same quality. The capacity for short runs also allows printers to take advantage of the current market diversification toward high-end niche work.”
Schaus comments: “In particular we see companies adding on digital labels to allow for short runs and variable data for clients such as small producers of one product line who do their own labelling. Some pretty big companies are still standing on the sidelines, waiting to see what happens before they purchase digital equipment; but still others have fully embraced it as part of their workflow. One Montreal company has split their business 50:50 between flexo and digital. Everything coming off the digital end has to be finished offline, so they also had to invest in dedicated die-cutting and finishing machines, but the resulting operation is very versatile and an incredible business.”
Fernandez says printers in the Americas view digital equipment not as a replacement for conventional presses but more like an extra service. In 10 years, he thinks it will be unlikely for package-printing companies not to have at least one digital press, citing a recent study by Fujifilm predicting that packaging on digital presses will grow by two to three percent annually for the next decade.
“Short-run jobs are forcing shops that print high-quality offset work and laminate it to liners to
convert to faster, high-quality, higher-end inkjet printers made by companies like Screen, HP, Agfa, and Durst,” says Skolnik, who explains printers are also looking for solutions to ensure their inks are flexible enough to hold up to finishing operations like scoring, bending, and folding without cracking.
“A lot of digital machinery is limited in the number of colours you can print,” says Schaus. “Either adding colours is expensive or you can’t do it. But in wide web flexo for printing paper, film, and foil you can add as many stations as want.”
Fernandez adds that digital presses also have further ink limitations: “In flexo you can use either solvent, water-based, or UV inks. But because of the nozzles used to dispense ink in the digital process, you can’t use the same range.”
MARkET PoSiTion
Sawa says one factor making it more difficult for smaller Canadian printers to purchase new technology is the low Canadian dollar, requiring the addition of 30 to 35 percent on top of an already pricey investment. “That’s why a lot of mergers and acquisitions are happening here in Canada,” he says. “In some cases where size does matter, smaller printers who are finding it hard to compete are opting to sell or merge and pool their client bases and resources.”
Schaus says that small printers who find a successful packaging niche but lack substantial investment capital may fare better just by staying put. The reason is that, besides footing the bill for new equipment and quality-control technology, the printer also faces a huge learning curve. Another factor that may prevent smaller printers from landing big accounts is quality-assurance audits requiring the printer to specify a recovery plan that enables the brand owner’s work to be up and running at a secondary location within 12 hours after a disaster at the printer’s main plant.
A trend Fernandez thinks packaging printers can exploit is packaging that acts not only as a container but also serves an additional use, such as informing or entertaining or functioning as a toy; for example, a children’s shampoo bottle shrinkwrapped to look like a movie character with a QR code opening onto a Web link where the character talks to you. “One area I would definitely suggest packaging printers expand into is supplying more services to help their customers come up with unique products with interactive labels.”
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Packaging For The brand
the drupa expert article series provides packaging insight leading up to the may 2016 drupa tradeshow in germany
By Des King
Looks count and first impressions matter. How products are judged by their many differing attributes will determine the extent to which they build market share on an ongoing basis. Prior to that, however, it will probably be a particular spot colour, a distinctive font, or the artful application of a metallic ink on the exterior of a pack that initiates a relationship between brand and consumer.
“Thanks to impressive print packaging, brands can seduce customers into a change of purchasing vote at the point of purchase,” says Superbrands founder Marcel Knobil. “We would end up with less brand and more bland were it not for the attention that the packaging attracts.”
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Today’s packaging trends are driven by longer supermarket opening hours, continually enhanced print technologies and capabilities and demand to protect brands and increase recognition. Not only surviving but attaining the status as the preferred choice under such highly testing conditions is one half of the brand owner’s greatest challenge. The other is to meet it at an affordable cost.
ConTRoLLinG quALiTy
With the high probability of colour variations occurring not only between different substrates, but also print processes – and indeed from one printer to another, not only in different locations but even when they are running presses made by the same manufacturer – main-
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40%
Percentage of the packaging sector’s most widely used printing process, flexography, in the current global printed packaging market, which accounts for a value worth approximately $340 billion per year.
taining consistency can be a complex undertaking.
The best way to meet it is to ensure that all the contributory links within the supply chain, which are engaged in steering the progress of a printed pack from hatch to dispatch are all able to interact via an open entry Web-based platform.
“Our vision is to connect the supply chain from the brand owner to the retailer and to make that flow broader and richer,” says Jef Stoffels, Esko Marketing Director. “We do this by adding greater functionality which meets the go-to-market and quality needs of CPG (consumer packaged goods) businesses and retailers. We also make it possible for the brand owner to ensure that the flow of data is secure and transparent, mistakes and errors can be picked up early or avoided altogether and the net result is to get products to market faster.”
Similarly Web-based colour management systems can extend the same degree of comfort and control to brand owners over how pre-determined colour parameters are then replicated accurately irrespective of substrate or supplier, ensuring a guaranteed consistency of colour reproduction that underpins brand authenticity and integrity. The X-Rite PantoneLIVE colour management solution is ideal for the brand owner as it has control over the pre-determined colour parameters, these are then stored in the cloud for use as and when required by his supply chain. This ensures accurate replications of the accredited brand image irrespective of substrate or supplier.
PRESSED To PERFoRM
Converters equipped with smarter production facilities can be more directly instrumental in achieving cost and performance benefits to brand owners. Using high-definition flexo plate and software technologies, it is now possible to meet the requirements of 85% of current flexo-printed, flexible packaging without detriment to the finished result
from CMYK + white rather than using special inks.
“Working out of a reduced colour palette means there are less plates and less waste ink. It ticks a lot of boxes,” says Ultimate Packaging Sales Director, Chris Tonge. “Whilst global players like Unilever and P&G have been specifying these solutions for the past 10 to 15 years, smaller brands are realizing there is a cost advantage in that you can control the colours a lot better if you set the right standards.”
It’s not just improvement at the frontend that is raising quality and performance standards in flexo, still the sector’s most widely used print process accounting for over 40 percent of a current global printed packaging market worth around an estimated €250 billion per annum, particularly for flexibles and corrugated board applications. Speed on the press and consistency across substrates are key.
What has sparked improvements in analogue press technology is the increasingly potent challenge posed by digital print; not least in meeting brand owner requirements for cost-efficient shorter run lengths and the ability to differentiate products on-shelf through customization. Whilst affordability utilizing variable data has always been part and parcel of the digital print proposition, it’s now clearly on the retail marketing radar following its successful adoption by high-profile retail marketing campaigns run by Coca Cola, Heineken, Nutella and a steadily growing band of global blue-chip brands.
“To take our brand off the packaging and replace it with something other than the Coca Cola script wasn’t easy to do within a structure like ours, where we operate according to very tight brand guidelines to protecting it,” says Coca Cola Packaging Innovator Greg Bentley. “The digital print capability enabled it to happen, but the marketing campaign is the really smart thing.”
“The combination of technological muscle and marketing inspiration is what
it takes to make customization fly,” says Paul Randall, HP Worldwide Brands Business Development Manager. “It’s breaking away from the mindset of packaging being the static bearer of logos and ingredients tables and using it as a media opportunity for consumer engagement to the benefit of the brand. The media landscape has changed. It is becoming increasingly fragmented between above the line spend [bought media], PR and below the line [earned media], and packaging [owned media] – with the latter two increasingly linked together... brand owners are now regular visitors to HP’s Graphics Experience Centre in Barcelona.”
Likewise Xeikon’s technology centre in Antwerp. “For brand owners attending our Xeikon Café program, it’s a two-track learning curve,” says Labels & Packaging Marketing Director, Filip Weymans. “First, understanding how the benefits of digital production can be translated into diversifying communication towards the audience they’re reaching out to and second, how the technology can address needs within their business model – notably, being faster to market and making better use of working capital.”
“While the adoption of digital is an accelerating trend, despite the buzz being created it’s still under-selling its potential,” says SAB Miller Global Packaging Manager, Doug Hutt. “The Top 10 brand owners in the world are generating over a quarter of a trillion dollars in sales. If just 10 to 20 percent of these were digitized with the balance going to analogue, that is still a very large potential revenue that converters haven’t yet grasped.”
FiniShinG AnD nEw FRonTiERS
Faster running inkjet technology looks poised to dictate the next chapter in the digital packaging print story.
Short-run, cost-effective special effects such as high gloss, glitter, metallic without recourse to hot-foil stamping and even Braille are also within the remit of next-generation digital post-press enhancement technology now establishing itself within the finishing sector. Also providing a more cost-effective means of achieving greater standout is the take-up of cold foiling using the analogue process – notably as an alternative to laminated or metalized substrates for labels and cartons. Meanwhile, at the higher end of the scale is the arresting 3D effect achieved through the use of Fresnel lens technology providing instant standout in retail duty-free for cartons containing the global gin brand Bombay Sapphire. “It’s obviously more expensive than a normal foil by about one-third, but you do get significantly greater impact. If you want something that is undeniably eye-catching and alluring then that’s what it takes,” says Dominic Burke, Webb deVlam, UK Managing Director.
“The adoption of online-oriented technologies is pointing the way towards next generation applications aimed at facilitating greater engagement between brand and consumer,” says Sun Branding Solu-
The key to our customers’ success lies in the perfect interplay between people,machines, materials, and processes. Heidelberg combine prepress, press and postpress expertise with consumables, services, and consulting. This integrated solution portfolio has already gained the company 40 percent of the global packaging printing market.
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“Working out of a reduced colour palette means there are less plates and less waste ink. It ticks a lot of boxes.”
– Chris Tonge, Ultimate Packaging Sales Director
tions Packaging Technology Director, Gillian Garside-Wight. “Who would have thought that the Apple watch would be available five years ago? Brand owners need to deliver what consumers want including smarter packs that integrate with a digitally driven smarter life-style.”
Quite a number of applications on the market bring into play mobile technology. For example, on-pack Augmented Reality (AR) applications pioneered by Blippar that allow users to simply look at an object through the camera on their smartphone to activate an instantaneous digital search and draw down information from the web.
In a recent campaign for Perrier, the invitation to consumers to shake their phone like a cocktail shaker to reveal a recipe was a typically innovative way to highlight the overall concept and add fun by using the technology to unique advantage.
Rather than position an icon on-pack to facilitate interaction, UK prepress specialist Reproflex3’s proprietary PackLinc
scanning technology embeds a hidden code within the ink itself, enabling the consumer to treat the entire pack as a portal. Debbie Waldron-Hoines, Director of the European Flexographic Industry Association, says, “Brand owners need a deeper understanding of the processes so that they can help make considered decisions on what is best suited for their brand. Both flexo and digital can work wonderfully together to enhance the brand.”
SECuRiTy AnD inTEGRiTy
Underpinning product security and thereby underpinning brand integrity is another obvious avenue being explored by smart technologies. A fully printed near-field communication sensor tag (NFC) developed by Thin Film Electronics for Diageo’s Johnnie Walker whisky doubles as a security and anti-counterfeiting device as well as interacting with smartphones to dispense product advice and information.
As a lot of the labeling and pre-printed information currently required to be displayed on-pack is gradually phased out, just imagine the potential for branding afforded by that freed-up real estate. Brands are currently getting maybe only 40 percent of the pack’s surface for its primary purpose. However, if one small interactive barcode resolves all the regulatory and
legal requirements 90 percent of the print surface could be released for marketing the product.
“Ironically, the most practical bridge linking brand and consumer might simply entail upgrading the humble linear barcode into a 2D format,” says Domino Printing Sciences Global Account Manager, Craig Stobie. “Brand owners are yet to fully realize the potential in having a machine-readable code that not only contains a lot more data but with the same footprint or smaller than a human-readable, but can also actually be cheaper.”
“Whether it be products that communicate with your tablet or temperature or time sensitive thermochromic inks that indicate when your lager is perfectly chilled or provide the re-assurance that pre-packaged meat is safe to eat, the facility for interactivity ticks all the right boxes for forward-looking brand owners,” says Eef de Ferrante, Director, Active & Intelligent Packaging Industry Association.
“Brand owners need to meet the challenges faced by counterfeiting, product security in the supply chain, consumer engagement and Big Data management. Brand protection and better marketing of their products are major starting points towards averting potential reputational damage and simply saving money.”
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For more information, talk to a Ricoh printing systems representative today. Expand your production printing horizons.
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Star Attractions
graph expo exhibitors describe what booth technologies received the most attention
kBR Graphics
Karl Belafi Jr., VP: “At the RYOBI MHI Graphic Technology booth, now called RMGT, a huge technology that was demonstrated was the SMART-RPC plate changer, on the RMGT 9 series LED-UV offset press, which was running live at the show. Smart-RPC allows you to greatly shorten plate-changing delays and significantly reduce operator workload, providing powerful support for frequent job changeovers and diverse smalllot printing. This technology won a Must See ‘Ems Award, Best in Category. Another great technology that was introduced at the Standard/Horizon booth was the SmartSlitter. This all-in-one smart sheet processing system can slit, gutter cut, edge trim, cross-cut, perforate, and crease all in one pass. Ideal for greeting cards, table tents, invitations, and business cards.”
Avanti
Stephen McWilliam, EVP: “This is my 12th Graph Expo since acquiring Avanti and it was by far our busiest. It would seem that the new functionality
that we added to Avanti Slingshot that won Must See ‘Em awards (Press Sheet Optimizer and Grand Format) really resonated with folks. When we look at the profile of people who visited our booth, the vast majority were hybrid printers who are offering their clients a one-stop shop, including offset, digital, large and grand format, mail, fulfillment and marketing services. They want a Print MIS platform that can handle all of those lines of business.”
CMD insight
Christian Knapp, President: “The digital revolution is starting to reach finishing where many of the critical process decisions lead printing companies to either thrive or fail. Two areas of differentiation with strong growth potential are value added textured print and Digital Foil launched by Scodix at GraphExpo 2015. Digital Foil is unique as it allows for substantial cost reductions whilst at the same time allowing printing companies to enter new and exciting markets.”
Epson
Larry Kaufman, Product Manager, Professional Imaging: “The new SureColor P7000 24-inch and P9000 44-inch printers attracted the most attention at Graph Expo. Leveraging Epson’s PrecisionCore TFP printhead and UltraChrome HDX 10-colour ink set, these printers are available in a Commercial Edition configuration featuring an allnew Violet ink targeting proofing applications with demanding spot-colour matching requirements.”
ultimate TechnoGraphics
Julie Watson, VP, Strategic Marketing: “Ultimate PrintSys, is the integration of both PrintSys online catalogue with powerful rules-based imposition automation from Impostrip Automation, allowing customers to get orders online and streamline them into production automatically. This solution is ideal for
commercial printers, and in-plant printers and is easy to implement.”
Featured companies
4over
Aleyant
Avanti
C.P. Bourg
CHILI Publish
Delphax
Duplo
Epson
GTI
Highcon
HP
KBA
KBR Graphics
Kodak
KOMCAN
Matik
Magnum Magnetics
Memjet
MGI
Mutoh
Printware
Ricoh
Roland
Rollem
SmartSoft
Standard Horizon
Sydney Stone
Ultimate Techno -
Graphics
Xerox
Zund
Magnum Magnetics
Jim Cirigliano, Marketing Manager: “Although Magnum launched several new products at Graph Expo this year, our new line of UV coatings drew substantial interest from booth visitors who know Magnum as their favourite source of printable magnetic media. Many visitors were not aware that Magnum now offers protective and aesthetic coatings that give digitally or offset-printed pieces an attractive finish. The coatings are a natural complement to the magnetic media that’s often used for promotional items, calendars, graphics, and other applications in which a quality finish helps the printed pieces last longer and look their best.”
ChiLi Publish
Bram Verniest, COO and Managing Partner: “Online Document Editing allows end-users of the solution to interact with a graphic arts document in a very intuitive way, and meanwhile protects the
The SureColor P9000 printer features UltraChrome HDX with Violet matches up to 99 percent of the PANTONE FORMULA GUIDE Solid Coated.
François Mitchell, President of Prisme Technologies, and Ultimate’s Julie Watson (centre and centre right).
Stephen McWilliam of Toronto’s Avanti.
Karl Belafi Jr. of KBR Graphics, which distributes the RYOBI press line in Canada.
Show organizers state Graph Expo 2015 had 17,941 verified attendees, defined as registered onsite show goers – both attendees and exhibitors – counted only once.
brand guidelines… More and more solutions are available in the Web-to-print market. But businesses are looking into offering a difference, and we can offer that by providing an intuitive and interactive experience in the document, online. Since this is our fourth Graph Expo in the existence of the company, we had a good mix of new prospects and existing customers wanting to see the progress we made.”
kodak
Todd Bigger, Director, Product Management, Print Systems Division:“A significant amount of attention at Graph Expo was dedicated to demonstrations of the new Electra Max Thermal Plate, the Trendsetter Q2400/Q3600 and our Sonora Process Free Plates, all of which deliver maximum performance and a sustainable approach to offset printing.”
hP
Mike Salfity, VP and GM, Graphics Solutions Business: “Our technology investments are driven by passion for our customers. We partner and innovate with them to pursue new opportunities and evolve their businesses; we grow with them. We have targeted platform advancements that help our customers overcome conventional limitations, break application boundaries with continued innovation and successfully enter new markets.”
The HP Latex 3500 inkjet printing system features over 70,000 nozzles that can produce 12-picoliter drops.
RS SuperiorSuperior Bindery Services Inc.
Your Superior choice for Print Finishing and Lettershop Services
Heavy boards, plastics, laminations or digitally printed works up to 30 pt can now die crease, fold and even glue in-line.
Attendees gather as Standard’s Bob Flinn demonstrates the capabilities of the new Horizon SmartSlitter, which was producing coupons with multiple perforations.
Standard horizon
Bob Flinn, Director of Business Development: “With a unique combination of Horizon automation and proven cutting and register technology, the SMSL-100 SmartSlitter is well positioned to fit the need in the marketplace for a highly productive and reliable sheet processing system.”
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.
MGi
Kevin Abergel, Vice President of Marketing & Sales: “The highlight at the MGI Graph Expo booth for attendees was the demonstration of our unique personalization feature of Variable Data Embossed Foiling with the JETvarnish 3D & iFOIL system. Each attendee who participated in a full demonstration had their names personalized on a packaging box sample that could be taken home as a souvenir. The impact on attendees of seeing their names rendered in luxurious gold foil on the fly was powerful and exciting.”
Printware
Tim Murphy, President: “Inkjet continues to be the technology that attracts the most visitors to Graph Expo. Inkjet devices have replaced many of the former toner-based printers and traditional offset presses as attention getters. Printware has further embraced the inkjet market with the announcement of the iJetColor 3.0 press. We have seen our
customers bring iJetColor inkjet technology to their shops adding increased productivity and profitability.”
Duplo
Si Nguyen, Vice President of Sales: “We saw inkjet printing systems exhibited in the Xerox and KMBS booths create a lot of attention at Graph Expo this year. A few years ago people were just talking about how inkjet is the next printing technology to bridge the gap between conventional offset and digital print for low cost per copy, increased productivity over digital presses and a low operating cost over traditional offset presses. Today, the inkjet technology is real and it’s here. The other attention grabber was specialty finishing bringing a 4-colour printed communication piece to an attractive 2D dimensional product that people can touch, feel and sniff.”
Memjet
Len Lauer, CEO: “This year, Memjet decided to do something different in order to attract visitors to the Memjet and Memjet partner booths by creating the Memjet trail for show visitors to follow. Given the recent growth of Memjet that now includes a diverse range of OEM solutions, we’re happy to see that the concept of the trail brought numerous visitors to the Memjet booth and those of our partners.”
MGI’s JETvarnish 3D & iFOIL system provides variable embossed foiling.
Colordyne Technologies 2600 Mini-Press, using Memjet technology, is targeted for label converters and brand owners looking for an out-of-thebox roll-to-roll digital printing solution.
Ricoh
Kurt Konow, Director, Vertical Marketing: “Many visitors to the Ricoh booth gravitated towards learning more about the capabilities of the Ricoh Pro C7100X, a beautiful cut-sheet printer that delivers a fifth station with clear and white toner options. In retrospect, this gravitation can be attributed to three factors: [the Fifth colour station]... our Fifth Color Station Kit that provides the tools, sample kits, talk tracks and more to help customers showcase what they can now deliver. And lastly, we tied both the printer and the kit together with our inaugural Fifth Color Station Contest. ”
Sydney Stone
Micheal Steele, Director: “The Vivid Matrix Laminator feeder offered an efficient, easy and cost effective add on to the Matrix line of laminators. All current and future matrix purchasers can add on the new Matrix Feeder to enhance the efficiency of the Matrix Laminating system. This feeder will now truly provide a fully automatic end to end
efficient laminating solution. Simply place the sheets in the feeder, run the machine and at the exit you will have fully laminated and separated sheets that are ready for the guillotine.”
SmartSoft
Tony Tarpey, COO: “The growth of Print MIS was more apparent at this year’s Graph Expo than ever before. Unlike prior years when visitors to our booth may have been asking ‘what is Print MIS?’, the questions this year were more focused on how they can incorporate it into their Print Shop. Print shop owners were looking for ways to streamline their workflow processes and increase their margins, and understood that a smart technology investment can make all the difference. The fact that our PressWise product is not only a full-featured MIS system, but also focuses heavily on time-saving workflow automation, is a great differentiator that helped to generate more traffic to our booth than any prior Graph Expo.”
The Vivid Matrix Laminator, designed for short to medium runs, is distributed in Canada by Sydney Stone.
Roland
Ralph Abdelhak, Director, Product Management: “Our inbooth demonstrations of the new Roland VersaUV LEJ-640FT UV flatbed printer attracted a lot of attention at Graph Expo. Attendees simply could not believe we had a printer capable of printing directly onto substrates up to six inches thick. That is, until they saw the LEJ-640FT in action. The things this innovative, industrial-strength UV inkjet can do are truly amazing, and it was a real show-stopper at this event.”
C.P. Bourg
James Tressler, VP of Sales: “I would have to say hands down it was our award-winning C.P. Bourg Perfect Binding family of products. We showcased two of the systems at Graph Expo which included the BB3102 PUR-c, off-line compact Polly Urethane Reactive Adhesive binder in the C.P. Bourg booth and the BB3202 EVA, inline traditional hot melt adhesive binder in the Canon Oce booth. Both solutions were extremely popular with show goers, in specific it was the level of automation built into the Binders that addresses the massive short run and book of one markets that drew attendees interest.”
Zund
Dan Cantrell, National Sales Manager: “The fully automated Zünd S3 M-800 cutter with robot was a clear winner again at GraphExpo. Besides just being fun to watch, the robot continually picking up and stacking cut pieces makes people realize the potential of integrating the latest technologies in their own production workflows. Because of their modularity and
open architecture, Zünd cutting systems help PSPs do just that –adopt exactly the level of automation that fits their production environments and become – and remain –as productive and successful as they want to be.”
koMCAn
Steve Ranson, President: “Komori made some major announcements in the digital arena. Komori will be the sole distributor of the Screen Truepress Jet HD520, a roll to roll inkjet device, and also announced that SG360 in Wheeling, Illinois will be the beta site for the Impremia IS29 sheetfed inkjet device. Komori showed that we are focused on the future of print. It is a very exciting time in our company.”
Delphax Technologies
Steve Hubbard, General Manager: “Delphax Technologies’ elan 500 was a hit at Graph Expo, making for a busy after-show follow up schedule. We were gratified by the number of requests for demos and quotes during the show. Graph Expo was a focal point for Delphax allowing us to meet our existing customers and new prospects alike, to discuss with them a way to provide a cost effective high performance cut sheet solution in the inkjet realm with elan. Having customer Steve Falk, President of Prime Data, with us at the booth was a major plus for our prospects, who were able to draw on Steve’s firsthand experience of using the elan 500 to grow his business.”
kBA
Eric Frank, Vice President of Marketing: “Offset, flexo, and digital solutions were all of keen interest at the KBA booth at Graph
The Impremia IS29 is a 29-inch inkjet press, which operates in perfecting or straight mode, does not require pre-coated paper and runs at speeds of 3,000 sheets per hour in straight mode.
Expo. The overwhelming attraction, though, was in our large format offset presses for the packaging industry. Printers sought answers to achieve greater productivity, faster running speeds, and higher quality to help differentiate themselves in the marketplace.”
4over
Preston Herrin, VP of Marketing & Sales: “At this year’s Graph Expo, customers were impressed with our entire display, but our new Majestic product line of cards is what generated the most buzz at the show. Customers and guests were particularly taken with the EDGE and the Suede Cards, both from the line. These cards come with luxurious stocks and finishes that never fail to grab attention, giving customers a really great way to elevate their brands.”
Matik
Steven Leibin, EVP: “The SEI
PAPERONE sheet-fed laser cutting/creasing machine was the hit of the show. Customers were excited to learn about the SEI PAPERONE sheet-fed digital finishing solution especially the performance & flexibility the PAPERONE offers.
GTi
Robert McCurdy, President: “GTI saw strong interest in our Soft View SOFV-1xiQ. The SOFV1xiQ is a viewing system that has been optimized for soft-proofing applications. With the use of GTI’s iQ sensor technology the user can match the brightness of the viewing system to the brightness of the monitor, this enables an accurate visual comparison between the image on the monitor and the proof or print. The SOFV-1xiQ removes the manual processes and guess work from soft proofing by establishing an automated streamlined process that provides repeatable accuracy and superior quality.”
WANTED URGENTLY
Heidelberg: K-Line/S-Line/Speedmaster/GTO/MO
Komori: 1, 2, 4 or 5 colours & any size
Adast: 714/715/724/725
Mitsubishi: Any model
Ryobi: 2800CD/3200CD-MCD/640K
Itek: 960/975/985
Hamada: 600/700/800/E47/RS34
Shinohara/Fuji: 66/65 1,2 or 4 colours
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
Aleyant shared a sneak preview of a product called PrintJobManager, which uses a new mobile, cloud-based approach to MIS that includes a fast means of generating market-driven pricing, job management, inventory control, planning and estimating.
xerox
Beth Ann Kilberg-Walsh, VP of Marketing Communications and Customer Engagement: “Traffic in the Xerox booth at Graph Expo 15 was phenomenal. We had a lot of excitement and interest with the Rialto 900 as well as the iGen 5 – both Graph Expo 15 Must See ‘Ems award winners. We were also pleased with the activity around our FreeFlow solutions – our theme was ‘Just Let the Work Flow’ and people were certainly flowing in.”
Aleyant
Greg Salzman, President: “At Grap Expo 2015, Aleyant previewed the latest version of its Aleyant Pressero Web-to-print system with show attendees. Version 6 is a complete overhaul of the software and a rewrite of the code. The benefits of rebuilding and rewriting software are that it runs faster and more efficiently. The new version also extends Aleyant’s interest in responsive design – automatically formatting web storefronts according to the specific device that is accessing the site – from the storefront side to the administrative side.”
Rollem
Kevin Corwin, Product Manager: “The Insignia line of rotary flexo-magnetic die cutters premiered by Rollem at Graph Expo 15, specifically the IS5 15 x 20-inch sheet size, and the largest in its class IS7 24 x 30-inch, garnered a massive audience throughout the show. So much so that gatherings were forming in the walkways several people deep, just to see a live demonstration. Reason for this interest is numerous, but in particular is the wide variety of applications offered on the widest variety of stock materials, including plastic. The Insignia line is ideal for short,
medium, and long run lengths because of high production speeds and fast job changeover.”
Mutoh
Brian Phipps, Vice President: “The biggest showstopper in our booth this year was our ValueJet 426UF tabletop UV-LED printer. The VJ426UF prints onto virtually any substrate up to 2.75 inches thick. We were demonstrating and handing out printed luggage tags, key chains and rulers. The printer won the 2015 ISA’s Best New Product Award and has been very popular in the signage, promotional, award and packaging prototype world.”
The ValueJet 426UF prints on to most substrates up to 2.75 inches.
highcon
Vic Stalam, President: “In fact what attracted the most attention at our booth was the paper artist Peter Dahmen demonstrating the unfettered design capabilities of the Highcon Euclid that had previously been impossible. That, together with Highcon Axis Web-to-pack software platform and the real life samples produced by our customers represented the genuine benefits of our digital cutting and creasing solution.”
COber, mULtIpLe HIres
Cober Evolving Solutions of Kitchener has the following openings available:
Shift Supervisor (afternoons) – Responsible for managing in house print production including planning, scheduling and monitoring the activities of staff in the Bindery, Press and Digital areas of production.
Press feeder (days) – Responsible for assisting the Press Operator in the production of all offset press projects in compliance with job specifications and in accordance with Company quality standards and procedures.
Cutter operator (afternoons/nights)
– Responsible for completing all cutting and trimming operations for press and digital-press in compliance with job specifications and company quality standards.
Folder operator (afternoons/nights) –Responsible for operating the folder to produce the folding requirements for print material to assist in completing projects in compliance with job specifications and company quality standards.
Wide Format operator (days) – Responsible operating a flatbed, rollfed printers and digital diecut table. The Operator will load files for output and will ensure the jobs are in compliance
estImatOr
with the docket job specifications. Detailed job descriptions are posted on Cobersolutions.com, careers.
press OperatOr anD FeeDer
High quality printer requires a Press Operator and feeder for an 11-colour, 40-inch Heidelberg perfector press. The ideal candidate will have a minimum 5 years experience operating a similar 40inch offset sheetfed Heidelberg. Shift work required. Mitsubishi 6-colour, 40inch experience an added bonus but not necessary. Fax or email resume to contact above.
Email resume to: carlo.manduca@colourinnovations.com
Plan and direct the daily print and converting operations for all production and assembly work in the plant. Meet or exceed customer expectations for print quality, product content integrity and deadline timelines.
Skills required:
• Supervisory experience,
• Mechanically inclined,
• Print experience in a Foil Hot Stamping environment,
• Good organizational skills,
• Good communication and
Summary of Responsibilities: As a member of the Estimating team, you are responsible for providing costs and plans for Commercial / Web printing, Direct Mail and related services using a computerized Estimating system.
Key functions of the estimator role include:
• Estimating labour and material costs of printing based on specifications outlined on sales orders or submitted by prospective customers.
• Using experience and knowledge to determine the most effective cost strategy.
• Conferring with department heads or production personnel to develop or confirm information regarding various production elements.
• Reviewing specifications and production requirements.
• Sourcing outside services and purchases, and review and analyze post-production cost summaries.
• Offering technical support to Sales and Sales support staff
• Estimate various lines of business
experience:
• Experience estimating for Web presses
• Experience estimating for Direct Mail
• Current experience in computerized estimating is preferred
• Strong background in production
• A comprehensive understanding of pricing strategies, competitive pricing models is an asset
• Demonstrated excellence in organization and attention to detail
interpersonal skills, written and verbal,
• Good computer skills, Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.,
• Problem solving and quick decision making capabilities required,
WIDe FOrmat DIGItaL OperatOr
Summary of Responsibilities: As a Digital Wide Format Operator, you will be required to operate a flatbed, rollfed and digital diecutter. You will be responsible to load files for output. You will be responsible to ensure that the jobs have been printed in accordance to the docket specifications and prepare and package the jobs for shipping.
experience:
• Previous operation of Digital Wide format flatbed printer (Acuity HS UV flatbed, preferably)
• Digital Wide Format rollfed printer (Epson) and a digital diecutter (Konsberg icut 24)
• Administrative/computer skills; data/timesheet entry into an electronic data system (such as Logic)
• Computer skills to process files for printing (Mac computer/Graphic Arts software-Indesign, Quark, etc.)
• Must have a minimum of 3 years experience operating digital wide format printers
• Graduation from a recognized Graphic Arts program is an asset
abilities:
• Effective communications skills (verbal/ written),fluent in English
• Self starter that can work with minimal super vision and able to work effectively with a team
• Able to work in a fast paced environment
• Multi-tasking is a must
• Able to do shift work
•
and
and
• Keen attention to detail. Email: recruiting@gunthermele.com
DIreCt maIL prOJeCt COOrDInatOr summary of responsibilities:
As Direct Mail Project Coordinator (DMPC) you will act as a liaison and source of information between Sales and Production, as well as the client. You are tasked with ensuring service excellence in all aspects of our dealings with our customers, and will provide advice to clients on Direct Marketing, fulfillment and printing expectations. This is role requires troubleshooting, problem solving and exceptional planning skills. The DMPC is involved in direct customer contact, order receipt, entry, tracking and reporting, coordinating schedules and deliveries, follow-up and communication both internally and externally to ensure high quality, on-time delivery, invoicing and inventory controls. This work is accomplished while ensuring adherence to ISO quality guidelines.
experience:
• A Strong background in Direct Mail is critical
• Lettershop Administration and Floor experience is essential
• Previous Customer Service experience is essential – preferably within the printing industry
• Knowledge of Pre-Press and Printing Processes is an asset
• Experience with LOGIC database is a definite asset
• Experience working in an ISO certified and 5S oriented company is considered an asset
Brad kruchten / President, Print Systems Division and Senior Vice President, Eastman kodak / Pittsford, new york
in December 2014, a little more than a year after one of the printing industry’s most significant and public restructuring efforts, Eastman Kodak announced it would rebuild around the printing industry. On January 1, 2015, Brad Kruchten was named as the executive to lead Kodak’s new Print Systems Division into the future.
Kruchten previously served as Kodak’s President of Graphics, Entertainment & Commercial Films and was also formerly President of the company’s Film, Photofinishing & Entertainment Group. In this capacity, he was responsible for the profit and loss of all silver halide products, expertise he can now leverage focusing on the company’s vital plate business. The Board of Directors elected him as a Senior Vice President in 2009.
Kruchten’s career at Kodak began in 1982 as a Quality Engineer. He has witnessed firsthand the changes at one of the printing world’s most powerful and historic technology providers. In September, Kruchten sat down with PrintAction to discuss Kodak’s plans to push printing forward.
How is Kodak print systems doing today?
bK: We have now had five consecutive quarters of year-over-year plate growth, so we are growing our business. The industry is certainly in a consolidation mode and for us to have five quarters in a row of plate growth [indicates] we are outperforming the industry... Also, for the first half of the year, our CTP sales were up year over year, as well as NexPress units, so across the board all of our products are doing very well. It has certainly been an up and down market, but we are happy with how we are progressing now.
What role has the sonora plate played in this growth?
bK: Sonora has been a huge gain for us. It has been our hero product for the last two years... It continues to grow with a number of new customers and then overall [for plates], 66 percent growth in the first half of the year, year over year.
Why has sonora done so well?
bK: Sustainability messaging resonates with our customers. You cannot grow at 66 percent and not have it clear that customers want to move to a sustainable portfolio. are more printers seeing profitability and sustainability can work together?
bK: Everybody for some reason wants to create an “or world”… who would have guessed I’d be paying for XM radio in my car... time and time again, everybody foretells that there always has to be a replacement. I believe it is all about how things are complimentary instead of thinking one is better than the other.
How does the new electra max plate fit?
bK: Electra Max is really the next piece. In
Millions of dollars invested by Kodak to update its plate manufacturing, including a new line in Columbus, Georgia, to produce Sonora Process Free Plates, currently being used by more than 2,700 printers around the world.
the industry, we can see UV is a continuing trend and that has really fueled our opinion by recognizing the packaging segment is continuing to grow. A lot of commercial print customers are looking at how they can have added capabilities and deliver packaging solutions for their customers.
66%
Worldwide plate growth in revenue for Kodak in the first half of its most recent fiscal, year over year.
Electra Max is a low-chem solution that has high chemical resistance, very high print quality – 450 lpi – and it has very good UV resistance – unbaked. [We] have tagged it as the no-compromise plate. Does electra max use a completely new emulsion?
bK: We are leveraging the Electra XD [technology], so that clearly had long run lengths, especially baked. We have made modifications to it. Will electra max be manufactured in north america?
bK: This particular product can run on the existing lines in Columbus, which is great for us. Sonora is a completely different technology and you cannot use the current line to manufacture it. So we are building around the world these new lines and also updating the lines we have. We have spent in total $28 million to build a new Columbus line. It is a massive investment that we are making, but when you have such growth... and the 66 percent was worldwide. In the
U.S., we are growing at nearly 90 percent. Why have you seen nexpress growth?
bK: We have really found some great applications that are working well for us. The fact that we now have a long sheet feeder… there are many applications for it like calendars and direct mail… a lot of unique, different applications. Second, the fifth station where we are able to [support] dimensional or spot colours, gold… We announced those two years ago almost and it has taken a long time for people to build those applications.
should printers focus more on inkjet or toner moving forward?
bK: We see that both inkjet and [toner] electrophotography are going to play. In the market, we see that electrophotography is bigger; and that inkjet and electrophotography are now growing at the same rate. That really says electrophotography is going to be bigger than inkjet probably for the next five years. Why should printers be encouraged about Kodak’s decision to rebuild itself around print?
bK: We are 100 percent focused on the print market. We want our printers to be successful and we know that our success is tied to theirs… We are really tied intimately to the print market.
Technology is changing the direction of print
As our industry has evolved, so have we. Our strong relationships with leading manufacturers ensure we help maximize your print productivity.
The MK 21060SERS offers increased efficiency through process integration. The world’s first and still unmatched design, it combines foil stamping, embossing, cutting, stripping and blanking separation process in one pass. Combining all these processes in-line can dramatically improve productivity. Alternatively, the press can be set-up to incorporate two foil-stamping processes with multiple rolls of foil. The machine is also capable of foil stamping in different directions (longitudinal and transverse) at the same time.
