65% of print jobs today have a run length of fewer than 2,000 sheets. The new Jetfire 50 B3 inkjet printing system, together with HEIDELBERG’s Versafire and Speedmaster presses, enables print shops to efficiently produce short, medium, and long runs, making hybrid printing more effective than ever. All of these processes are seamlessly integrated through Prinect, allowing for smooth transitions between digital and offset printing.
› heidelberg.com/jetfire50
ISSN 1481 9287. PrintAction is published 6 times per year by Annex Business Media. Canada Post
Factors to consider when deciding on the technology for short-run label printing
18 The future of Canada Post
Labour disputes complicate an already difficult postal ser vice
The technology has helped democratize the pr inting equipment market
DEPARTMENTS
GAMUT
5 News, People, Installs
8 Calendar
NEW PRODUCTS
22 A preview of the technologies on display at Printing United Expo 2025
SPOTLIGHT
26 Chelsea Gieschen, vice president, Royal Printers
COLUMNS
FROM THE EDITOR
4 Nithya Caleb
Automating hiring with AI
INSIDER
8 Bob Dale
AI: Canadian roots, but limited use in print
TECH REPORT
10 Alec Couckuyt
The transformation of direct mail into direct marketing
CHRONICLE
12 Nick Howard
Automating hiring with AI
HThe year BambooHR, one of the leading HR solutions provider, was founded.
appy Thanksgiving! I know some of you are entering the busiest time of the year, so sending you best wishes for a successful fall season. I’m also hoping that by the time you read this issue, operations have stabilized at Canada Post. Our national mail carrier needs to drastically change its business model to survive. In the ensuing pages, we offer several suggestions on how Canada Post can become a successful Crown corporation, serving the needs of Canadians coast to coast. I don’t want to dwell on those suggestions here. Instead, I want to expand on the Insider column you’ll read on Pg 8, where Bob Dale, VP of Connecting for Results, highlights some artificial intelligence-based applications that you can use. I want to focus on how AI can help human resources with recruitment.
AI in recruitment
As you may know, AI is being used by human resources teams to streamline tasks across the employee life cycle, from sourcing and screening candidates to scheduling interviews, analyzing engagement data, guiding performance evaluations, and informing decisions around promotions, compensation, and terminations. While these tools can offer speed and efficiency, it can also entrench and amplify bias.
In the early 2000s, companies began using applicant tracking systems (ATS) to sort and rank candidates. These systems typically scan for keywords matching the job description. If somebody’s resume didn’t have the keywords, then they would get ranked lower and potentially miss an interview call. ATS scanners have evolved in the last five years, thanks to AI.
“Jobseekers need to catch up and figure out what hiring managers are really looking for and how to tailor their materials,” said Heather Black, owner of Freely Connect Recruitment agency.
For example, instead of using a generic job title like producer, she advises including multiple titles like production manager, project manager, etc., to match the titles in the job description, thereby increasing the application’s visibility.
In the recruitment process, companies are using AI tools to build job descriptions and schedule interviews. Black likes using AI to prep for interviews. AI-enabled tools can highlight an
applicant’s strengths and weaknesses within minutes.
“It just helps me prepare more efficiently. I see areas that need to be explored a little bit further or gaps where deeper conversations are needed. It helps get me there faster. It saves a lot of time,” she added.
Biases can creep in
Despite the benefits, AI cannot be used without human oversight.
“AI can improve efficiency by automating administrative steps like scheduling or resume screening. But efficiency is not the same as equity. Without thoughtful design, AI tools can create impersonal, exclusionary, or discriminatory experiences, especially for candidates who do not reflect dominant norms in communication, education, or background. A human-first approach is essential to ensure the process is transparent, respectful, and fair,” stressed Dr. Sarah Saska, co-founder of Feminuity.
As we know, AI is trained on historical hiring data. So if the data is skewed, then the system just replicates it.
“If your company has a history of hiring mostly from the same schools, same background, same demographics, then AI is just going to keep recommending more of the same. That’s where a person has to step in. People can’t assume the technology is neutral just because it’s automated,” explained Black who encouraged printing companies to test AI-based technologies, as they can improve productivity.
Dr. Saska advised companies interested in AI-based tools to first start with critical questions: Who built this tool? What data was used to train it? Has it been tested for bias? How is it monitored over time? Does it align with company values?
“Tools must be transparent, explainable, and accountable. They should reflect diverse perspectives and include safeguards for consent, privacy, and recourse,” she explained.
The key is also finding a middle ground where AI tools can help without cutting corners or making the experience bitter for everybody.
NITHYA CALEB Editor ncaleb@annexbusinessmedia.com
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Canada Post recorded a loss before tax of $407 million in the second quarter of 2025 as Parcels results declined sharply due to labour uncertainty. The second-quarter loss of $407 million marked the Corporation’s largest loss before tax in a single quarter, with profitability deteriorating by $453 million compared to a profit before tax of $46 million in the same period a year earlier. Over 50 per cent of year-to-date losses occurred in June, when labour uncertainty was at its peak. While Transaction Mail improved in the second quarter largely due to one-time federal election mailings, Parcels results declined sharply as the strike activity and labour uncertainty drove customers to other carriers. Parcels revenue fell by nearly half a billion dollars in the first half of 2025.
ION Print & Promo, an Ontario-based printer with offices in Midland, Vaughan, and Barrie, acquires Barrie-based Gibson Digital. Gibson will also be relocating to a new facility later this year.
The British Columbia Court of Appeal recently dismissed a petition by Daniel Castilloux, former CEO and a minority shareholder at Mitchell Press, and upheld a lower court’s order dismissing Castilloux’s request to liquidate the nearly 100-year-old company under the Business Corporations Act
TC Transcontinental acquires two Canva Group businesses:
Mirazed (Saint-Hubert, Que.) and Intergraphics Decal in Winnipeg. This strategic transaction follows the acquisition of Middleton Group in June and expands TC Transcontinental’s presence in in-store marketing. Mirazed is recognized for its expertise in screen printing as well as large format digital printing, the production of promotional displays and point-of-purchase signage. Intergraphics specializes in industrial screen and digital printing.
Postpress equipment manufacturer Highcon has been sold for just NIS2.5 million ($1.02 million) to a group of investors led by Israeli businessmen Roy Ben Yami, a former board member of Highcon, and Ami Lustig, the owners of the LR Group, through a company they will set up in the U.S. This is a stunning reversal of fortunes for a company that held its IPO on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange for more than NIS500 million ($204.53 million) five years ago.
Paperboard and converting specialist Hammond Paper Company, Vaughan, Ont., acquires Paulymark of Rougemont, Que. Founded in 1973 as a family-owned business by Jean-Guy Marcil and Raoul Paulin, Paulymark specializes in converting recycled paperboards and offering specialty packaging solutions for the binding, rigid box, and sampling sectors. Marcil and his sister-cum-business partner Annie Marcil would continue to be involved in the business during the transition phase.
Canadian Printing Resources, Maracle Press close amid Trico bankruptcy fallout. When Trico Packaging and Print Solutions went bankrupt earlier this year, it created a domino effect. Oshawa, Ont.-based Maracle, which was owned by the same person, Michael Hothi, shut down in July. Toronto-based Canadian Printing Resources, which is under the same ownership, also closed its doors.
TC Transcontinental, Canadian Tire, IVADO Labs, and KPDI
Digital receive $1 million from Scale AI, Canada’s global innovation cluster in artificial intelligence, to work on a Flyer Production Automation project Producing flyer content currently involves dozens of employees, spans up to 12 weeks, and includes complex steps. In Phase 1, TC Transcontinental will deploy three AI tools to reduce production time and manual workload. The total project cost is $2.5 million. Scale AI is investing $1 million and the project partners are footing the rest of the bill.
Beatty Printing, North Bay, Ont., acquires Moyer Printing, also in North Bay. Founded in 1982, Moyer Printing’s owners Al and Louise Moyer decided to sell the company as they wanted to retire. According to media reports, Louise Moyer will continue working at Beatty during a transition period. Beatty, founded in 1958, has been part of Aylmer Express Graphics Group since 2021.
Cascades permanently closes its corrugated medium manufacturing facility in Niagara Falls, N.Y. The 38-year-old facility with 123 employees had an annual production capacity of 200,000 short tons. Closure costs are estimated to be approx. $5 million.
Lexmark CEO resigned soon after Xerox acquired the company. Allen Waugerman, who started his journey at Lexmark more than 30 years ago, was confident the merger with Xerox would “unlock new innovations” for the firm.
MBO America promotes Josh Romberg as president. Romberg joined MBO America in 2017 as regional sales manager and quickly advanced through the ranks, serving as sales director and executive VP, sales & marketing. Under his leadership, MBO America strengthened its sales team, broadened its product offerings, and deepened customer relationships in the print finishing sector. Before MBO, Romberg spent 18 years in the press industry, including as owner of Graphic Technology Marketing. He holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Miami University (Ohio). In his new capacity, Romberg will oversee MBO America’s U.S. and Canadian operations from the company’s Marlton, N.J., headquarters.
Vincent DeFranco, who was the editor of PrintAction from 1996 to 2001 and sales & marketing manager at Digital Won Imaging in Toronto, died on August 17, 2025. He is survived by his wife Olenka, sons Matthew, Alex, and Julian, parents Silvio and Josephine, and brother John. RIP, DeFranco.
Xerox’s president and COO, John Bruno, has decided to pursue a CEO opportunity outside of Xerox. Louie Pastor has been named president and COO. Bruno, who served as president and COO since 2022 and as a Xerox board member since 2024 will continue to be on the board. Prior to his promotion, Pastor was Xerox’s chief administrative officer and global head of operations.
Rotocon hires Francisco Soto as sales director for the Americas, covering Canada, U.S.A., Latin America, and the Caribbean. In this new role, Soto will support customers and grow business for Rotocon’s range of Ecoline and Chrome equipment, including flexo printing presses, finishing machines, and ancillary equipment serving the label and narrow-web industry. Soto has over 19 years of industry experience. Based in Toronto, he is fluent in English and Spanish.
Rosemont Technology Centre, Montreal, recently invested in a new Canon ImagePress digital production press to enhance their students’ learning experience.
Antonio Leone, program co-ordinator and department head, Rosemont Technology Centre, and Amine
Ingersoll Paper Box recently invested in a Koenig & Bauer Optima 106K die-cutter and Koenig & Bauer Rapida 106 seven-colour 41-in. fully automated printing press.
The Americas’ subsidiary of Honle Group appoints Corey Farrell to lead the sheet-fed sales activities for UV/LED/IR curing solutions. Farrell succeeds Jeff Woloshyn, who after a storied career with Honle, retired in Sept. 2025. Farrell brings more than 30 years of experience in the sheet-fed offset industry to the new role. Most recently, he served as a sales manager with Landa Digital Printing.
Groupe Produlith of Boucherville, Qué., purchases a new Komori GL540C press through Komcan to complement their Komori GLX press.
Sekkat, production specialist, Quebec, Canon Canada.
Ingersoll Paper Box’s president Sarah Skinner (centre) and her team.
MAXIMIZING PROFIT MARGINS WITH DIGITAL EMBELLISHMENT IN 2025
THE ACCELERATING SHIFT TOWARD PREMIUM PRINT
In today’s competitive print landscape, standing still means falling behind. Despite economic uncertainty, the smartest printers aren’t retreating they’re doubling down on specialty print to stay ahead. With demand for premium, personalized print products rising fast, digital embellishment is no longer a luxury: it’s moving from novelty to necessity. Konica Minolta’s advanced technology and deep industry expertise make it easier than ever to elevate your offerings, command higher margins, and unlock new revenue streams.
The opportunity is here, and industry players are already moving. As consumer demands change, recent NAPCO research shows the global embellishment market growing roughly 6–8% annually, with specialty print projected to reach about $45 billion by 2028. Demand is driven by one simple fact: tactile, embellished work commands attention—and clients are willing to pay for it. Our own research at Konica Minolta finds specialty print projects commonly deliver 20–30% higher profit margins than standard jobs, making digital embellishment one of the fastest ways for print shops to elevate revenue without endlessly chasing lower-cost volume work.
Demonstrations drive decisions.
HOW KONICA MINOLTA ENABLES YOUR SUCCESS — WHITE GLOVE SERVICE & SUPPORT
Investing in embellishment technology is one thing; realizing consistent margin gains requires strong implementation, workflow integration, and ongoing optimization. Konica Minolta’s White Glove Service, included with every embellishment press purchase, delivers end-to-end support so customers capture maximum value from their equipment:
• Seamless implementation—site surveys, shipping, worry-free installation, rigging and tailored operator training aligned to your specific workflows.
• Lifecycle support—from start-up and production ramp-up to performance optimization, including workflow training, color management, and production tuning.
• Change support—upgrade assistance, relocations and workflow re-mapping to scale with your business.
When buyers compare plain versus embellished samples, most choose the premium version. Sample kits and live demos trigger a psychological response—once clients see and feel the difference, perceived value skyrockets. Digital embellishment (raised UV, foil, spot UV, textured finishes) creates those “wow” moments at scale. It’s faster, more customizable, and cost-effective, making short runs and personalization profitable. Showing and sampling isn’t optional—it’s your best sales tool.
The market is already demanding and dictating new print applications. Brands, and their creative designers, constantly need to find ways to set themselves apart from competitors. Digital embellishment enables faster, easier customization and personalization—and it’s more scalable and cost-effective than traditional methods.
PRINT PANTHER DIRECT: FROM SPECIALTY INKS TO AWARD-WINNING EMBELLISHMENTS
Print Panther Direct is a clear example of how strategic investment in embellishment technologies creates new revenue streams. After installing a Konica Minolta MGI JETvarnish 3DS in 2016, Print Panther Direct recently upgraded to the MGI JETvarnish 3D Evolution increasing a more robust platform with a larger 29” × 47” sheet size and support for up to 800 GSM stock. That upgrade unlocked high-quality, short-run embellished work and opened creative possibilities for clients producing marketing material, packaging and specialty print. Empowering it to competitively deliver short-run, high quality, embellished print, this upgrade will position the company as a top print shop for digital embellishment in Canada.
“The press is one of the world’s most productive B2 digital embellishment solutions, complementing our existing line-up of digital presses and supporting our mission to provide customers with beautiful print and packaging.” said Christine Yardley, President, Print Panther Direct. results speak for themselves: multiple FSEA Gold Leaf awards, a Best of Show–Best Use of Digital Embellishment award by the Foil & Specialty Effects Association (FSEA) as part of its 31st Annual Gold Leaf Awards, and a growing pipeline of projects that command premium pricing. Panther Direct’s experience shows that the right equipment plus an effective demo-and-sample strategy turns embellishment from a niche add-on into a reliable profit center.
• Unparalleled service—secure remote support plus nationwide network of on-site technicians when needed.
ACT NOW – ELEVATE YOUR MARGINS
Our training packages equip sales, marketing, estimating, pricing, design, production workflow, quality control and post-production teams with everything needed to make digital embellishment a real profit centre. You’ll learn capabilities, customer benefits, supporting data, and practical applications, plus marketing and sales tactics, KPI tracking, estimating and pricing methods, and design best practices. By program end, you’ll have a clear, actionable
Contact your Konica Minolta representative to schedule a live demo or discuss our embellishment
SCAN TO LEARN MORE
Oct. 22-24, 2025
Printing United Expo
Orlando, Fla.
November 1-3, 2025
Book Manufacturers
Institute Fall Annual Conference
St. Augustine, Fla.
November 5-7, 2025
Paperboard Packaging Council 2025 Fall Meeting & Leadership Conference
Vancouver
November 6, 2025
Canadian Printing Awards
Toronto
November 10-12, 2025
Digital Packaging Summit
Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
AI: Canadian roots, but limited use in print
Examples of AI applications for print service providers
By Bob Dale
eoffrey Hinton, who is known as the godfather of AI, is professor emeritus at the University of Toronto. While everyone is aware of AI, a 2024 survey of Canadian printers indicated that less than 40 per cent are using the technology. Earlier this summer, the Canadian Printing Industries Association (CPIA) hosted a webinar on AI applications for the printing industry. Here are key takeaways from the webinar.
AI’s
AI should be used to streamline non-essential tasks and allow salespeople to focus on revenue-generating activities.
Gtechnology for print optimization in their scheduling module.
AI for prepress
role in sales
Sales trainer and consultant
Emily Yepes highlighted three key areas for sales leaders to consider when implementing AI:
• automating admin tasks;
• enhancing data-driven decision-making; and
• improving client engagement.
She also explained the benefits of conversational intelligence, such as automatically recording and analyzing sales calls, which can improve efficiency by eliminating the need for manual notetaking and CRM entry.
AI integration in ops
Rob Jolliffe, president of Sabre, emphasized the importance of identifying friction points in sales processes to determine where AI investments could be most beneficial.
He demonstrated the Sales Order Agent in Dynamics 365 Business Central, which helps customer service representatives process orders by interacting with incoming emails and providing inventory information. Rob also discussed the AP Invoice Agent and mentioned PrintVis’s work on using Copilot
Julie Watson, CEO of Ultimate Tech, highlighted that AI could increase productivity by 20-30 per cent and be particularly useful for tasks like creating internal knowledge bases, customer service, and image recognition.
Applications in pressroom
John O’Donnell from Heidelberg shared the company’s history with AI, emphasizing their use of data to drive automation and introduce tools like Performance Advisor and the Hybrid Customer Portal.
Success strategies
Mark Raad, CEO of Significans Automation, discussed AI and automation, defining it as creating touchless processes and using technology to simulate human thought processes. He presented a case study of Workhouse Signs, where an AI-powered app reduced file processing time from 18 weeks to six hours.
AI integration in processes
Jason Foubert, general manager
BOB
vice-president
of Marquis Book Printing in Toronto, discussed the use of AI in business processes, including data scanning, inventory tracking, and time sheet management. He highlighted the potential for AI to improve accuracy, reduce costs, and streamline operations. He also touched on the integration of AI with data collection systems, asset management, and scheduling, emphasizing the ability to provide real-time, data-driven recommendations.
The panel highlighted strategies for achieving positive benefits from investments in AI solutions, emphasizing the importance of training and proper implementation. They highlighted AI should be used to enhance existing processes rather than replace humans, with a focus on repurposing tasks rather than eliminating positions. The panelists agreed that setting realistic expectations, defining clear problems, and understanding the capabilities of different AI tools are crucial for success. They also discussed the need for continuous monitoring and adaptation of AI strategies.
The transformation of direct mail into direct marketing
The strategic reinvention of print
By Alec Couckuyt
For years, we called it direct mail. Today, we call it direct marketing.
That change in terminology is more than semantics; it reflects a fundamental shift in how print has evolved from a one-dimensional communication tool into a strategic, data-driven, multi-channel marketing engine.
Over the last three decades, what began as a simple way to put a customer’s name on a piece of mail has become a sophisticated, technology-driven industry that continues to reinvent itself to stay relevant.
Personalizing mails
In the 1990s, the big breakthrough came with technology. First, Scitex print heads were introduced, systems that could be mounted on web presses or finishing equipment. For the first time, it was possible to inject variable data directly into high-volume print. Shortly after, digital presses entered the market, fundamentally altering the landscape. Together, these innovations unlocked what we came to call mass personalization, the ability to deliver highly targeted messaging at scale.
At first, personalization meant no more than adding a name and address to a printed piece. But it quickly advanced. We began incorporating unique offers, tailored messages, and even images designed to match indi-
vidual profiles. Suddenly, print could speak directly to the recipient, and the impact was undeniable.
I had the opportunity to experience this transformation firsthand. When I took Yorkville from being a high-end commercial printer into becoming a leader in direct marketing printing, it wasn’t simply a matter of buying new equipment. It was about recognizing where the market was heading.
Direct marketing printing has become a complementary component in a multimedia toolkit designed to deliver cohesive campaigns across platforms.
Businesses wanted more than ink on paper; they wanted measurable results. By shifting Yorkville’s focus toward direct marketing and harnessing personalization technology, we positioned ourselves ahead of the curve. It was a bold move, but it paid off by giving clients what they truly valued: higher response rates and return on investment.
This shift is exactly why the old term, ‘direct mail,’ began to feel inadequate. What we were providing wasn’t just mail; it was strategy.
However, technology never stands still. As quickly as print per-
sonalization reshaped direct marketing, the internet emerged as another disruptive force. Suddenly, marketers could reach audiences through digital channels with unmatched targeting precision and immediacy. The rules of engagement changed again. Messaging strategies shifted toward narrower targeting, higher frequency, and interactivity. Direct marketing print was no longer the sole driver of campaigns; it became one piece of a larger, integrated multi-channel puzzle.
The challenges didn’t stop there. Rising postal costs and increasing delivery inefficiencies added pressure on print-based direct marketing. Marketers were forced to rethink the role of print within their strategies. Was it still cost-effective? Was it still impactful? The answer, as it turned out, was yes, but only when used strategically as part of a multi-channel communication plan.
A strategic shift
Direct mail evolved into a spectrum
of tools. On one end, unaddressed neighbourhood mail was used to drive awareness and foot traffic for local businesses or retail stores. On the other, highly embellished, fully personalized pieces were crafted to target well-defined markets with precision. Print alone was no longer enough; it had to integrate with digital touchpoints, data analytics, and customer engagement cycles.
This is where strategic positioning and convergence became critical. Just as we’ve seen in other areas of the printing industry, survival in direct marketing print hinged on adaptation. Stand-alone direct mail printers have largely disappeared. Today, most successful players operate as divisions within larger print and communications companies. These companies offer a broader portfolio: data services, digital campaigns, packaging, signage, and more because clients expect solutions, and not just products. Direct marketing printing has become a complementary component in a multimedia toolkit designed to deliver cohesive
The period when Scitex print heads were first introduced.
campaigns across platforms.
The companies that thrived were the ones that embraced this reality. They invested in new technology, retrained teams, and repositioned themselves not as printers, but as partners in communication. They understood that standing still is the fastest path to obsolescence.
I’ve often said that strategy is about seeing the bigger picture, not just reacting to the moment. Direct marketing print is a case study in this truth. Printers who believed their future rested solely on putting ink on paper found themselves overtaken by competitors who recognized the shift toward integrated marketing. Those who anticipated change, embraced convergence, and aligned themselves with evolving client needs not only survived, but also prospered.
Today, the conversation around direct mail isn’t about whether it has a place in the modern world. It surely does. The question is how it fits strategically within a broader marketing cycle. In many cases, a welltimed, tangible piece of personalized
print can break through the noise of digital clutter and create lasting impact. The key lies in understanding when, where, and how to use it as part of a coordinated strategy. And that brings us full circle: what once was direct mail is now direct marketing. The name itself reflects the industry’s evolution from creating delivery mechanisms to strategic engagement tools.
The lesson for all of us is clear: direct marketing print is not a relic of the past; it is a tool that continues to adapt and thrive. But its success has never been about the technology alone. It always depended on the ability of leaders and companies to anticipate change, make bold choices, and position themselves where the market is heading. Standing still is never an option.
ALEC COUCKUYT
ence. He can be reached at
Canada Post at a crossroad
The Crown corp. faces ones of its biggest challenges
By Nick Howard
Canada Post’s struggles may have reached their zenith. At the time of writing, labour troubles weren’t settled. Employing more than 55,000 workers, it is one of the nation’s largest Crown corporations. For centuries it was tasked with delivering mail to every address in Canada while also connecting to the world’s postal enterprises.
Oh, how the continued advances of the internet have ridden roughshod over physical mail! With a loss of $841 million in 2024 and projections for it to balloon to $1.7 billion in 2029, this negative trend appears unstoppable. But there is more to the story than dwindling mail deliveries.
Canada Post management lays much of the blame on the Canadian Union of Postal Workers for refusing to agree to part-time workers and weekend package deliveries. Private couriers deliver on weekends and don’t have to contend with high legacy costs such as pensions and health-care expenses. But even without the higher inputs, Canada Post is serving an ever-dwindling market. In 2006, 5.5 billion letters were delivered, a high-water mark. In 2023, this shrank to 2.2 billion. Letter delivery services were not the only ones that took a hit. The profitable parcel delivery business in 2020 showed Canada Post with a healthy 62 per cent market share, but three years later, it dwindled to 29 per cent. If Canada Post was a private business, it would be bankrupt.
Mail delivery is expensive
The world is changing faster than we thought. But it’s not just older generations that cling to receiving bank statements, bills or government cheques via the mail; it’s also the
printing industry. Without cheap third-class bulk mail being hand delivered, how would a large segment of printers get their products into mailboxes? Private corporations will charge higher prices.
Businesses relying on their message being printed will follow others who have already abandoned print, not because of the cost of production, but the high cost of delivery.
With revenues in 2024 of $11.69 billion, Canada Post generates substantial revenue and employs a large workforce. But as any small business owner knows, the government, Crown or not, is a lethargic manager often portrayed as living in a vacuum, and unable to manage a profitable enterprise. Both management and workforce have failed to appreciate the enormity of a devastating tsunami that is the internet. Instead of facing potential headwinds, the management paid no heed to necessary transitions and plodded on to where they find themselves today: a sloth in a cage full of cheetahs. These problems didn’t just happen in a single collective contract but over several past agreements.
Mandatory changes
The times we live in today demand vicious changes if we are to have a public postal service. Seven-day package delivery must be implemented. A reduction in delivery points must also be made, which the federal govt. has now made possible. Postal employees with restrictive layoff provisions must be flexible to allow for a more effective division of labour. Part-time employment should be allowed. Technologies like AI must be implemented as well as investments in smart sorting equipment to reduce touchpoints throughout the delivery process. Ultimately, fewer employees may be the result. With a staff of well over 55,000, Canada Post desperately needs to make some unpleasant changes soon. The country still depends on a national postal service.
NICK HOWARD, a partner in Howard Graphic Equipment and Howard Iron Works, is a printing historian, consultant, and certified appraiser of capital equipment. He can be reached at nick@howardgraphic.com
The loss suffered by Canada Post in 2024.
TECH OPTIONS FOR SHORT RUNS
Factors to consider when deciding on the technology for short-run label printing
By Treena Hein
Among the trends that emerged during COVID-19 is shortrun label printing, and indeed, run lengths continue to go down for various reasons.
But which combination of print and converting systems are best to invest in for small orders?
There are several critical guiding desires in this decision. One of them is speedy order completion, which is mostly a factor of your switchover and printing speeds. In short runs, you also want high workflow efficiency, reduced downtime and minimal waste.
“End users of labels will typically
value getting high-quality labels quickly and on time, and therefore, customers producing short-run labels will value delivering high-quality work quickly and on time,” notes Dave Medlar, VP of product line management at Mark Andy USA.
“Other factors are important to achieve operational excellence, but those should be secondary.”
Afinia Label marketing manager Kevin McHale has a slightly different take. The majority of their short-run customers prioritize fast switchover time, along with reduced waste.
“Increased output volume is generally less important for short-run customers,” McHale explains. “Most
care more about flexibility and quality than about running at maximum speeds. They often produce many SKUs in small batches, so the ability to switch jobs instantly without setup materials or plates is critical.”
Beyond these factors, Afinia’s short-run customers tend to highly value workflow efficiency, says McHale. They are leaning towards simple processes that don’t require a full-time press operator.
Fast order completion is often the top priority for Epson America’s short-run customers, says Mike Pruitt, product manager for professional imaging, but at the same time, he notes that all the aforementioned factors “are interconnected, and work together to drive a business’s performance and profitability.”
Whichever factors a customer values the most, the good news is that there are a multitude of label printing setups to choose from. Let’s first explore the flexo pool.
Flexography: New levels of automation
Discounted flexography is a good solution for short runs because of the automation now available and boosted integration with digital networks. The ease of use with flexo equipment and its strong reliability are also attractive aspects of this tech for shortrun label work, says Medlar.
Mark Andy has automated the flexo process through things like closed loop tension and register control, auto registry setup, faster flexo deck changeovers and features like ‘job save’ and ‘job recall,’ along with many analytics and productivity tracking tools.
There are also options with today’s flexo printers that allow users to avoid washdowns between jobs, thereby slashing switchover time. For example, Mark Andy has quick-change bearer-tooled print cylinders on presses up to 22-in. wide, and a quick-change sleeve option on machines 26-in. across.
Looking at these wider-web flexo machines, Medlar stresses they’re suitable for short runs, “especially when you consider the ability to gang up multiple SKUs across the web. As compared to similar width ‘central impression’ flexo machines, wideweb flexo machines give customers a lot more flexibility and ease of
changeover when going from one job to the next.”
Hybrid flexibility
2022
The year when Konica Minolta released the AccurioLabel
There’s also the option of hybrid systems (i.e. mounting digital print bars directly onto flexo presses so that digital and analog operate alongside one another). Douglas McLean, director of sales production & industrial print solutions (Eastern Canada) at Konica Minolta, explains these systems can use high-speed inkjet heads, often Kyocera or similar, to apply variable data, such as serial numbers, precisely and efficiently.
“Flexo and digital elements run simultaneously, allowing for seamless printing of static and variable content in one go,” he says. “Although each job requires plates, the digital print bars, unlike flexo, don’t require physical plates for each data variation.”
There are more hybrid arrangements to choose from. For example, Epson SurePress digital label presses do not have a ‘digital print bar,’ says Pruitt, but they can be integrated with a flexo press to the left or right to print the entire label while leveraging the finishing equipment from the flexo press. The integrated finishing options in this system enable flexibility, not just in printing variable data, but also printing digital varnish embellishments, depending on the customer’s workflow and production setup.
Mark Andy’s systems enable users to add single digital bars, but Medlar adds that if more than one digital colour is needed, you can include a W CMYK toner engine or add an eight-colour inkjet engine.
Digital: fast and flexible
Afinia Label specializes in digital label printing technology, and believes that for short runs, the speed and overall productivity of digital presses make them hands-down the best option.
“Digital printing is the most practical choice for short-run labels because it eliminates plate costs entirely, produces very little waste since there’s no setup material, handles variable data easily and it also allows true on-demand printing,” states McHale. “In addition, for small and mediumsized businesses—or larger companies managing frequent design changes—digital offers the lowest barrier to entry and the fastest path from artwork to finished labels.”
Mark Andy has been adding more automation and digital features to its flexo presses.
Short-run label printers want machines that help them offer customers fast turnarounds.
400 press.
He adds that digital presses have become much faster in recent years, making it economical for printing companies to produce many small batches in one run.
Pruitt also supports the use of digital alone for short runs. Most of the time, it’s easier and more efficient to simplify the print process, he says, which is what digital label presses are designed to do.
“Digital label presses can accomplish a great deal on their own,” he says. “With high-quality media and a reliable digital press with white ink, a short-run label provider should be able to create high-quality, professional labels without investing in costly additional flexo solutions.”
It’s now also feasible to add inline coating and finishing to the digital print engine. However, McHale says that many customers prefer keeping finishing offline to keep the press itself simpler and easier to maintain.
Is offline finishing the future?
In fact, McHale believes that standalone digital presses paired with offline finishing will remain the norm for short runs going forward.
As he said, there’s a simplicity to the use and maintenance of the press in this setup, and adding more automation is only going to make the case stronger for this printing approach. Barcode-driven job setup, digital die-cutting and laser finishing are among the automation options now available, making offline finishing workflows for short-run work quite practical.
Pruitt also believes that for years to come, the popularity of using digital presses and keeping finishing offline will remain high in tackling smaller label runs. He also highlights simpli-
city as a big factor.
“It’s essential to remember that when it comes to productivity, a solution’s ease of use and maintenance needs to play a critical role,”
Pruitt explains. “In hybrid or complex inline solutions, there’s more equipment to understand and accurately maintain to ensure its longevity. Operation and maintenance, when
PSPs producing short-run labels want high workflow efficiency, reduced downtime and minimal waste.
End users of labels will typically value getting high-quality labels quickly and on time, and therefore, customers producing short-run labels will value delivering high-quality work quickly and on time. – Dave Medlar
not performed correctly, can be a huge cost to print shop owners, both financially and professionally.”
At the same time, however, he acknowledges that the automated maintenance available in many systems today removes human error during various tasks, in addition to obviously saving time.
For McLean, speed is a factor in many printing companies keeping finishing offline, with one finisher being able to support the output for two or more digital presses.
In this case, converters can keep the digital press running continuously without waiting for setup or changeovers on finishing units.
“Offline finishing allows multiple jobs to be queued and processed independently, which is ideal for handling diverse SKUs or frequent design changes,” he says. “In addition, for smaller operations or those expanding gradually, standalone setups offer lower upfront investment and modular growth.”
However, looking to the future, Medlar believes it won’t be long before hybrid digital machines outpace roll-to-roll digital machines with offline finishing.
“As the integration of digital engines into flexo assets become more and more seamless and easy to use, more converters will choose hybrid due to the productivity gains, material waste savings and labour savings,” he says. “The economic gains by finishing the label in one pass are too high to ignore for the hybrid trend not to continue.”
Kyocera has been at the vanguard of the production print industry for decades, thanks to our outstanding inkjet technology and constant innovations.
THE FUTURE OF CANADA POST
Labour disputes complicate an already difficult postal service
By Olivia Parker
Mail remains a cornerstone of the graphic communications industry, but this year has been turbulent. A long and acrimonious contract negotiations (ongoing at the time of writing) between the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) and Canada Post have led to lost profits, client attrition, layoffs, and, most damaging, declining trust in mail and its delivery.
Prolonged bargaining has raised doubts about the reliability and future of mail delivery in Canada. I spoke with Dr. Ian Lee, associate professor
at Carleton University, and Patrick Bartlett, executive director of the National Association of Major Mail Users (NAMMU) who shared some insights into the challenges facing Canada Post, and what the options might be going forward.
Canada Post’s challenges
Although Canada Post has a robust delivery network enabling it to deliver to all Canadians coast to coast, letter volume has fallen 63 per cent since 2006. Dr. Lee estimates this is an annual decline of 2 to 8 per cent, largely driven by the adoption of digital communication. It is not just changing consumer
habits that pose a risk to Canada Post. Antiquated government mandates, as outlined in the Canadian Postal Service Charter and the Canada Post Corporation Act (1985), hindered cost saving and revenue generating solutions until now. Thankfully, in Sept. 2025, the federal government announced a series of measures to stabilize Canada Post and enable its modernization.
Prior to that, the following factors contributed to Canada Post’s existential crisis:
• vast physical infrastructure and a moratorium on closing rural post offices, which has now been lifted;
• large workforce relative to mail volume;
• expensive daily door-to-door delivery, which the govt. has now made optional ; and
• parcel competition.
The May 2025 report of the Industrial Inquiry Commission (IIC), which was established to review the issues in Canada Post’s collective bargaining dispute with CUPW, as well as the company’s broader business challenges, painted a grim picture. It described Canada Post to be “effectively insolvent or bankrupt.”
Printers & mail
While headlines focus on the decline of lettermail, little attention is given to the growing importance of direct mail. According to Bartlett, direct mail remains a highly popular marketing tactic due to its personalization capacity and sensory attributes.
In 2024, direct mail was double the volume of transaction mail; 4.1 billion versus 2 billion, with direct mail volume increasing by 102 million pieces (1.8 per cent) since last year.
As partners with Canada Post, mail providers have been able to maximize competitive direct mail rates, emphasize the trustworthiness and tangibility of mail compared to digital alternatives, and leverage data services to establish direct mail as a viable marketing channel. Dr. Lee acknowledges the growth of direct mail but warns, “the post office won’t maintain itself delivering flyers” alone. Although volumes are high, direct mail’s lower postage rates limits its share of corporate revenue to 15 per cent.
Canada Post: Public or private
Some pundits believe privatization
would give Canada Post the flexibility to manage pricing, boost efficiency, cut costs, and innovate, free from bureaucracy and politicization. This is not a novel concept as Royal Mail (U.K.), Deutsche Post (Germany), and Japan Post have been privatized, although results have varied.
Some private postal companies have been accused of declining services and price increases. However, there is a much bigger issue at play here in Canada—geography. Unlike other privatized postal networks serving densely populated urban areas, Canada is vast with low population density, making it logistically harder and more expensive to deliver to every household. Recognizing this, the federal government has said Canada Post can convert the remaining 4 million addresses to community mailboxes, saving close to $400 million annually.
Impact of salary negotiations
For mail providers, a reliable and affordable postal service is key. The prolonged labour disruption has forced many Canada Post clients to cancel, pause, or delay sending mailouts while public sentiment towards the Corporation soured.
“The labour tensions have hurt the mail industry and stopped it from moving forward and improving,” observes Bartlett, “We’ve got to make mail competitive because there is an alternative, and the alternative is digital.”
Future of Canada Post
Fundamentally, selling the post office may not even be an attractive investment for private companies.
Dr. Lee points out, “If people
The percentage of decline in letter volumes since 2006. 63%
aren’t writing letters, [then] privatize it to what end? It doesn’t matter who owns it; there is no business left.”
“All the issues currently facing Canada Post... What private company would want to get in on that?” remarks Patrick.
None of this diminishes the essential goal of Canada Post, which is to deliver to every Canadian. Even if mailers opt to use local, provincial or national couriers, the cost and potential unreliability of delivery services to rural areas make them a less attractive option and won’t work for mass marketing campaigns.
To improve economic sustainability and efficiency, Dr. Lee and Bartlett foresee a smaller post office; one that is flexible and implements many of the ICC’s recommendations, such as:
• switch to community mailboxes – to reduce costly door-todoor delivery;
• amend the Postal Charter to better reflect current mail volumes and eliminate outdated daily delivery requirements; and
• lift the moratorium on rural post office closures and allow closures in areas with nearby alternatives or low traffic.
The federal govt.’s Sept. 2025 announcement gives Canada Post the flexibility to stop door deliveries, close rural post offices, and move non-urgent mail by ground instead of air. The last step can save the Crown corp. more than $20 million per year. Canadians need a dependable, affordable, and universal postal service. Printers, mail providers, and their clients can adapt to new volumes, rising costs, and even digital competition—but not to an unreliable system.
INKJET, THE GREAT ENABLER
The technology has helped democratize the printing equipment market
By Ralf Schlözer
Our lives are changing and so are the prints we order and produce. Inkjet is unique not only in the breadth of print applications addressed, but also in the range of devices, from inexpensive entry-level solutions to high-end, lights-out production lines. This can take away the risk of moving into new print applications and allows exploring new business opportunities.
There are now more than eight billion people on this planet. We can travel and exchange data and information around the globe. Our communication habits have changed, so it
is not surprising that print is changing as well. While some traditional print applications are fading away, others are remarkably resilient and new application areas keep popping up.
Printers are adapting to this trend, as brands look for new ways to promote, publishers for distributing content and consumers to embellish their living. Demand can come from all kinds of customers, especially for small runs and quick turnaround times. Nowadays, a web presence makes it easy to showcase and promote new products, with recommendation algorithms aiming at upselling or presenting additional products.
One challenge remains: these new applications need to be produced. Sometimes a partnership with another print service supplier is the best option. In other cases, keeping production in-house makes more sense to be quick, flexible, and retain more of the value-adding processes. Equipment that can be used for a variety of applications or that offers a low investment point can be helpful to take advantage of new opportunities.
Diverse options
As a print technology analyst, I am still surprised to find inkjet at the heart of so many possibilities. Inkjet helped to democratize the printing equipment market because a supplier can choose and combine inkjet heads, inks, drying, and substrate support from a wide array of providers. More than 20 inkjet head manufacturers and a much larger number of inkjet ink manufacturers are active in the industry. Substrate transport can be sourced from many companies, and even old printing or finishing equipment can be repurposed. Further, there are inherent technological advantages in inkjet: it is a true non-impact process and can, at least theoretically, print on a wide range of substrates and shapes. Accordingly, solutions differ a lot and diverse markets are being addressed. Label printing has seen a great boom in recent years. Corrugated has gained traction too, with about a dozen single pass presses on offer currently. Folding carton and flexible packaging printing solutions have been slower to emerge, but several inkjet press models have recently entered or are about to launch in these markets. Printing on metal, either beverage cans or sheet metal, is growing as well. In all segments, fullblown production inkjet devices start to rival the productivity of conventional presses, although at price points that rival high-end presses.
There are lower-priced alternatives that allow printing on labels, cans, or pouches. These would be low five-figure investments. Scanning head large-format printers can be a cost-efficient alternative for flat packaging materials, also starting at similar low investment amounts. Although productivity is low and limitations in materials and quality exist, it is worth inquiring about the
market opportunities that could be addressed. An alternative for exploring new opportunities is inkjet presses that make it possible to branch out into additional applications like the B2 inkjet presses from Fujifilm, Konica Minolta, or Komori.
Sometimes the strength of inkjet lies in processes after the main packaging or commercial print has been performed. Unique effects can be created by layering clear inkjet ink to create raised, tactile surfaces. Duplo, MGI, Scodix, and Steinemann offer solutions for embellishing sheets. Koenig & Bauer Kammann expanded this to texture printing on spherical containers.
New opportunities
Beyond commercial and packaging print, there are several markets to explore. Decorative prints on flooring, panels, ceramics, glass, and many other surfaces are being addressed by inkjet. Full wallpaper factories that can turn custom designs into completely prepared rolls of wallpaper exist. Home decoration experienced a boom during the pandemic and with expanding technical possibilities more surfaces can and will be decorated. Also, inkjet is enjoying a rapid uptake in textiles and garment printing. From soft signage to interior textiles and fabrics for fashion or printing on complete pieces of garment, opportunities are manifold, and solutions exist for all application areas.
Not all substrates are flat, but inkjet solutions exist for printing on 3D objects. Roland DG and Mutoh have launched new presses to print on smaller objects and merchandise. The Monster Jet from Azonprinter can even print on objects up to 1 m
high. For bigger surfaces, direct-toshape printing with robot arms has been proposed already. Several projects exist, but most of them are in an early phase of commercialization. The possibilities with inkjet do not stop at the surface. 3D printing opens the door for additive manufacturing. Inkjet in 3D print can take advantage of the innovations developed for other markets and benefits from the scale of use in heads, inks, and control electronics. Even if a 3D-printed product is significantly different from a printed piece of paper, printing companies can have a competitive edge by weighing in their knowledge in data handling, colour management, customer contacts and logistics.
Finally, if you can’t find the right solution for a specific print requirement, inkjet integrators can help to tailor a solution. Companies like Bergstein, Cadis, Colordyne, or Neos offer the consulting and engineering services required to assemble a custom printer. Alternatively, users can set up their own solution by investing in a print bar, drives and electronics from suppliers like Domino, Fujifilm, HP, Kodak and others. Of course, building your own integrated printer is more complicated than just buying a print bar.
The beauty of inkjet is the simplicity of the process, resulting in devices with few moving parts. In some cases, operating a device is a push-button operation, making setup and operation easy—an advantage not to be underestimated in times of labour shortages. Obviously, highend printers can get complex and demanding. However, with inkjet, there is always the opportunity to start small and try out markets with manageable risk and investment and to grow when demand develops.
Finally, technology is not a means by itself. A business plan needs to come before any investment. Print is used in a lot more places than on plain sheets of paper. Creativity founded the printing industry, so get inspired by print applications produced at trade shows, open houses, seminars, or user group events.
RALF SCHLÖZER is a technology analyst for the printing industry. This article is part of the Drupa Essentials of Print series.
The number of inkjet label press models in the market.
Tech on display at Printing United Expo
The annual Printing United Expo will be held Oct. 22-24 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.
Here’ an overview of the some of the solutions and equipment that will be showcased at the event.
By PrintAction Staff
Durst to present smart factory portfolio
The Durst Group will present its new Open Software Initiative for the first time at Printing United Expo. The Open Software Initiative is a neutral, modular cloud-enabled software platform for print service providers, resellers, system integrators, and OEMs. The platform focuses on interoperability, open APIs, and integration readiness, clearly separated from Durst’s existing proprietary solutions for Durst hardware customers. It includes print-specific ecommerce solution for B2B/B2C, a cloud-based ERP system, an automated prepress solution for preflight and data preparation, including PDF editing, a RIP solution with advanced colour management, an AI-powered, data-driven solutions for smart production environments as well as dedicated modules for OEM partners, resellers, and system integrators. At booth 3156, visitors can see demos of Durst’s proprietary software solutions for full integration with Durst printing systems. In booth 2266, Durst will showcase of the Open Software Initiative.
Oct. 22-24
Printing United Expo will be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.
Xante to demo its largest UV flatbed press
Xante will showcase its largest UV flatbed printer, the Xante X-121, at the Printing United Expo.
The Xante X-121 has a 5x10-ft full-bleed imaging area. It supports up to 15 18x24-in. yard signs at once. At the core of the X-121 are dual or quad Epson i3200 four-channel printheads (CMYK and WWWW) that can print on a range of substrates
including wood, glass, stone, metal, acrylic, vinyl, coroplast, and paper. With a 3-in. maximum print head height, it can accommodate thicker media types. Debuting alongside the X-121 is iQueue 17, Xante’s most advanced version of iQueue workflow solution yet. The Xante X-121 will be showcased live at booth 1513.
Standard Finishing Systems to display Horizon, Hunkeler postpress equipment
Standard Finishing Systems, a supplier of postpress and paper handling solutions, will be showcasing their Horizon and Hunkeler finishing equipment at Printing United Expo. Standard’s 5,000-sf exhibit space will host over 20 individual postpress finishing solutions from partners, Horizon International and Hunkeler, with a focus on advanced automation in perfect binding and trimming, saddle-stitching and booklet-making, folding, die cutting, slitting and creasing, and roll-fed finishing. Standard will feature their newest solutions, like Horizon’s BQ-300 Perfect Binder and SPF-2000 booklet-maker, alongside popular solutions such as Horizon’s BQ-500 perfect binder, HT-300 three-side trimmer, HT-1000V threeknife trimmer, StitchLiner Mark IV saddle-stitcher, RD-N4055 die cutting system, AFV-566FKT folder, CRF-362 creaser/folder, smart slitter, and more. The BQ-500, capable of producing up to 800 books per hour even during variable production, will be equipped with case binding accessories at the show to demonstrate how print service providers can switch between perfect binding and
case binding preparation. Standard will also feature the roll-fed Hunkeler/Horizon roll-to-saddle stitch combination solution featuring the Hunkeler UW8 Unwinder and CS8 Cutter inline with Horizon’s StitchLiner Mark V saddle-stitcher. The roll-to-saddle stitch solution will include Horizon’s HSF-50 high-speed sheet feeder which switches from cut-sheet feeding up to 45,000 sheets per hour to bypass mode for roll-fed production. Finally, several Horizon solutions at the show will be connected to Ice Link, Horizon’s cloud-based bindery control system.
Standard will also be partnering with printer OEMs on a series of pre-printed roll-fed and cutsheet applications that will be running live during the show so that attendees can see how Hunkeler and Horizon finishing pair with digital print solutions and to highlight finishing’s role in the print production workflow. Standard Finishing Systems will be located in booth 3930.
Antaro Digital, GEN8 EVO to debut at Expo
The Muller Martini booth at the Printing United Expo 2025 will witness the North American premieres of the Antaro Digital perfect binder and the GEN8 EVO roll-tostack solution from Hunkeler.
The Antaro Digital can be used for perfect binding of digitally and conventionally printed products as well as for hybrid production. The motion control technology plays to its strengths here, allowing the various units to be precisely adjusted to the product parameters from book to book.
Eurolaser to present laser technology
From October 22 to 24, 2025,
Eurolaser will be showcasing its advanced CO 2 laser technology at Printing United (booth 2855, in collaboration with Trotec Laser). The focus is on digital finishing solutions for the large-format print and visual communications industry, including soft signage, printed textiles, acrylic displays, wood products, and customized promotional items.
The next edition of Printing United will take place Sept. 23-25, 2026, in Las Vegas.
Specializing in the contactless processing of non-metal materials, Eurolaser offers modular laser systems designed to meet the varied demands of advertising and print service providers. A key highlight is the Position+ professional camera
system, which scans the entire working area in seconds. It automatically detects registration marks, contours, and material patterns. Additionally, Eurolaser systems can be enhanced with mechanical tools from Zund. This allows further processing such as milling, creasing, or marking to be performed on the same system, suitable for hybrid applications or non-laserable materials. Eurolaser also enables laser engraving on acrylic, wood, or textiles.
EMT International to demo finishing solutions
EMT International will showcase at booth 2449 a new cutting technology solution as well as dynamic cross creasing, a heavy-duty perf technology and a vision inspection system.
Drytac to display its portfolio of films
Drytac will showcase a range of new solutions in its booth (1224) at Printing United 2025. Among the new products on display will be SpotOn Duo, a double-sided mounting adhesive, the SpotOn SynTac, a polypropylene film, which is available in clear and white options.
Attendees can also learn more about Polar Frost Air, a translucent
matte polymeric frost film with a subtle embossed finish. Also on display will be the new and improved Polar Chrome, a silver satin reflective polyester film suitable for retail displays, events, labels, and short-term indoor or outdoor signage. Also being featured at Printing United is Paper Fleece, a PVC-free, non-woven wallcovering print media.
Inkcups to spotlight direct-to-object UV, pad printing solutions
Inkcups will present key solutions from its product portfolio in booth 1530 at Printing United Expo 2025. Visitors to the Inkcups booth will see demonstrations of the recently announced updates to the Helix One including Auto File, an automation tool designed to make print on demand workflows possible, as well as barcode scanning capability, a new jettable primer to promote adhesion on powder-coated, metal and plastic products, and smaller diameter capability that expands the machine’s diameter range to 1.3 - 4.6 in.
First unveiled earlier this year, the X5-T High Throw technology will see its U.S. debut at the expo. The High Throw enhancement to the X5-T flatbed digital printer increases the ink throw distance between the printhead and the substrate.
Also on show at the Inkcups booth will be its award-winning Nano Pin Curing technology for the Helix range of cylindrical direct-to-object UV printers.
The patented technology enables
Digidelta Biond can be used for numerous applications, including interior decor.
printing on transparent cylindrical vessels such as glassware, clear plastic bottles, wine and spirit bottles, candle holders, and assorted drinkware without the need to first fill the vessel with a UV-blocking substance or stuffing agent.
The recently launched Cobalt Edge, Inkcups’ latest addition to its range of laser plate making machines, will also make its show debut.
Completing the equipment lineup in the Inkcups booth will be the B100 high-speed, one-colour tabletop pad printing machine, the 2200PS, a two-colour pad printing machine with pad slide.
Digidelta to showcase the Biond range
Digidelta, a specialist manufacturer of digital printing, decoration, visual communication, and textile materials, will display its Biond range of 85 per cent bio-based self-adhesive films for digital printing in booth #2435. Biond has been crafted from vegetable-based products. The Biond collection currently comprises three core ranges: printing films, decor films and protection films.
Tecnau gears up for live demos
Tecnau will feature the Revolution 50 Stack 5251L AutoSetup, the Stack 1212 with Kompac Phoenix 20 Coater, and the Sitma packaging solution in booth 2621. Additionally, Tecnau will collaborate with press manufacturers to showcase a variety of pre-printed roll-fed and sheet-fed applications.
SpencerMetrics to demo enhanced production analytics platform
SpencerMetrics, a provider of data-driven productivity solutions for printing, mailing, and packaging production operations, will demonstrate enhancements to their Connect platform. These updates include vendor-agnostic integrations, piecelevel tracking capabilities, and data visualization tools.
2025 CANADIAN PRINTING AWARDS
November 6, 2025 | Palais Royale, Toronto, ON
REGISTER NOW to attend the biggest night in print
Secure early bird pricing until October 6.
Chelsea Gieschen / vice president / Royal Printers
Chelsea Gieschen is the vice president of Royal Printers, a family-owned company with 93 years of history in New Westminster, B.C. As part of the fourth generation of leadership, Chelsea works alongside her brother, Bryce Gieschen, to carry forward their family’s legacy. Over the past 11 years, she’s gained hands-on experience in nearly every aspect of the business, with her primary focus now on operations and production.
What is the state of the print industry today, in your opinion?
CG: The print industry has always had periods of evolution, but the pace of change today is faster than ever. The rise of short-run digital, inkjet, and personalized printing has been well underway for years, and the surge in packaging, labels, and wide format is impossible to miss. Yet, the most transformative shift in the years ahead will come from advancements in technology, particularly AI and automation.
What attracted you to the print industry?
CG: Royal Printers was founded by my great grandfather, so print has always been part of my life. Some of my earliest memories are of me riding around the shop on a pallet jack. My background is in biology with a focus on conservation. I thought my future would be in research but eventually realized that wasn’t the path for me. At Royal, we began integrating agricultural fibre paper into our business—and something clicked. The work felt like a natural fit; a place where creativity, sustainability, and business could come together in a tangible way. Like so many others in the industry, I was hooked once I fully stepped in. The pace of learning, the collaborations, and the constant challenge to do things better than the day before keeps me motivated.
How can the industry attract more young people?
CG: Printing is not a dated or fading industry—it’s creative, fast-paced, and deeply connected to technology. For many youngsters, purpose is a deciding factor in where they choose to work, and our industry offers that in abundance: from driving sustainability initiatives and bringing bold design concepts to life to collaborating with local organizations that matter to you. There is
Royal Printers was founded 93 years ago in 1932.
truly something here for everyone. We must do a better job of reaching younger audiences where they are already engaged, whether through schools, social media, or community programs, so they can see the print industry as a vibrant and rewarding career path.
In such a competitive landscape, how can printers win more sales?
The pace of learning, the collaborations, and the constant challenge to do things better than the day before keeps me motivated.
CG: Winning business today is not just about being the lowest bidder. The key is positioning yourself as a partner your customers can’t imagine doing business without. That means taking the time to understand their goals, anticipating challenges before they arise, and building solutions that are tailored specifically to them. When customers know they can count on you, you move from being a supplier to an essential part of their business
What are some of the biggest opportunities in the print industry?
CG: The print industry today offers more possibilities than we’ve seen in years, but capitalizing on them means challenging the status quo, embracing innovation, and taking calculated risks. The leaders will be those who don’t just follow trends but get creative in their pursuit for growth. Some areas that
seem to have promise are sustainable print, smart/interactive packaging, and high-quality books to name a few. These offerings can command higher margins and foster stronger customer engagement. Success will come to those who are strategic and develop a diverse portfolio of products and services that not only meet evolving market demands, but also set them apart in an increasingly competitive landscape.
What do you think is the most exciting thing about print today?
CG: The pace of change. Twenty years ago, print looked very different from the way it does today. It’s faster, smarter, more creative, and closely linked with the digital world than ever before. Despite what some might believe, the reality is that more money is being spent on print now than in the recent past. Personally, I find it exciting to be at a point in my career where I have decades to explore this industry. There are so many possible directions to take, and every day brings a chance to decide which path to explore next.
Chelsea Gieschen’s response was edited for length. For more Q&A Spotlight interviews, please visit www. printaction.com/profile.
BUYERS GUIDE 2025/2026
Directory of services and technologies for Canada’s printing and imaging industries
PRODUCTION SERVICES
BOSTON INDUSTRIAL SOLUTIONS, INC.
781-281-2558 bostonindustrialsolutions.com
1ST FORMS INC
416-989-3415 1stforms.com
A
ALLEGRA MARKETING PRINT MAIL
NORTH YORK 416-445-9600 allegranorthyork.com
ARIVA, A DIVISION OF DOMTAR
905-670-6065 ariva.ca
See our ad on page 38
ARROW SYSTEMS, INC 716-285-2974 arrsys.com
B
BARCODES PRO 905-895-0175 barcodespro.com
BCT CANADA 613-745-2539 bctottawa.com
See our ad on page 43
BECK BINDERY SERVICE LTD.
705-653-3086 beckbindery.ca BLAKE ENVELOPES
866-474-0707 blake-envelopes.com
BOSWELL GRAPHICS LTD.
905-315-7201 boswellgraphics.com
C
CANADIAN MAILING MACHINES
514-945-8504 epc-cmm.com
CANADIAN PRINTING EQUIPMENT LTD
204-781-8685 canprintequip.ca
CANADIAN PRINTING RESOURCES INC.
416-740-3388 canadianprintingresources.com
CANAGLOBE ADVERTISING
647-853-8858 canaglobe.ca
CANPAK TRADE PRINT&SERVICE INC.
905-886-6339 canpaktradeprint.ca
See our ad on page 51
COLOUR INNOVATIONS INC.
416-663-6703 colourinnovations.com
CONNECTING FOR RESULTS 416-413-9554 connectingforresults.com
CUSTOM T-SHIRT PRINTING SERVICES
971-547-6634 custompatches.ae/t-shirt-printing
D
DALIM SOFTWARE GMBH +49 7851 91 96 0 dalim.com
DELPHAX SOLUTIONS INC. 289-633-2130 delphaxsolutions.com
DIGITAL IMAGING ASSOCIATION 416-254-4941 digitalimagingassociation.com
DPI GRAPHICS GROUP INC 905-795-9025 dpigraphicsgroup.com
DURST IMAGE TECHNOLOGY 585-486-0340 durstus.com
E
EAST COAST SWAG 302-469-6969 eastcoastswag.com
EAST VAN GRAPHICS 604-710-2185 evg.ca
ELECTRONICS FOR IMAGING (EFI) 416-889-2736 efi.com
