Image Reports – June July 2022

Actively investigating and supporting the wide-format print sector

ISSUE 3 • VOLUME 30 • JUNE / JULY 2022

LET’S ACT TOGETHER FOR MORE SUSTAINABLE VISUAL COMMUNICATION! Antalis extends their range of eco-responsible substrates

Using your intelligence How software developments and integrations can help you get more from your data On the road to recovery Are PSPs getting better at recovering used large-format print for recycling?

No-code tools Why using them is a no-brainer

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BE BUOYED By the time you read this Fespa Global 2022 will have been and gone. Did

Editor: Lesley Simpson lesley.simpson@imagereportsmag.co.uk

you make the trip, and if so, did you see anything that opened your eyes

Production / Design: Alex Gold

to new opportunities - and/or efficiencies? The next obvious question

Publisher: Wayne Darroch wayned@sjpbusinessmedia.com

is, if so, can you afford the investment, or maybe more to the point, can you afford not to make it? For those of you thinking you could do with a

Advertising Manager: Carl Archer carl.archer@imagereportsmag.co.uk Tel: 07723 079928

helping hand on the finance front can I suggest you read what Compass Business Finance director David Bunker has to say in this month’s Talking Point interview. You may well be buoyed by his comments.

SJP Business Media, 2nd Floor, 123 Cannon Street, London, EC4N 5AU www.imagereportsmag.co.uk

Here’s hoping you’re also getting a lift by what’s happening in terms of software developments and integrations that mean large-format PSPs

For circulation enquiries contact: SJP Business Media Email: subscriptions@sjpbusinessmedia.com

have more opportunity than ever to gather and analyse data from across the whole of their operations - and to use that intelligence to become

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more efficient and profitable. Turn to p14 for a feature that delves into the situation. And while we’re talking software, the Zietgeist feature this issue focusses on no-code tools - what they are and how their use could

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benefit your business. They seem a no brainer!

Printed in Great Britain.

No part of this publication may be ­reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any means without the Publisher’s permission.

The editorial content does not ­necessarily reflect the views of the Publisher. The Publisher accepts no r­ esponsibility for any errors ­c ontained within the publication.

As always, environmental issues get an airing too. Given the volume of ‘eco’ consumables hitting the wide-format print market it’s easy to think that ‘green’ considerations are all that are on the inks and media R+D agenda. But is that the case? You can read what the suppliers have to say starting on p18. Then you can get MacroArt MD Michael Green’s take on PSPs recovering used print for recycling, and read what MediaCo operations director Stephen Arthur has to say about being a truly sustainable print provider.

In a sector that never stands still, here’s to a summer of happy activity.

From Top: Lesley Simpson Alex Gold Wayne Darroch Carl Archer

Editor LESLEY SIMPSON LESLEY.SIMPSON@IMAGEREPORTSMAG.CO.UK TEL: 01932 707173

2 | June / July 2022

Contents

CONTENTS JUNE / JULY 2022

REGULARS: p5 News Keeping you abreast of all the latest news in relation to digital wide-format print.

p8 Cover Story Advertorial Antalis extends their range of eco-responsible substrates.

p27 Think Bigger Gallery showing off the creativity and complexity of largeformat inkjet print.

p28 Forum Digging below the surface with Industry Mole; Out and About events diary; Legal Eagle advice; Over to You for a PSP’s perspective.

p30 Zeitgeist

18 SECTIONS:

Why using no-code tools is a no brainer.

Business p10 Talking Point Compass Business Finance director David Bunker discusses funding in the large-format print sector.

Technical p14 What to Watch I: Using your intelligence A look at systems that can help you make better use of all your data.

p18 What to Watch II: Is green the only colour?

Are eco developments the only focus of inks and media R+D?

27

Environment p23 On the road to recovery Yes, PSPs are getting better at recovering used largeformat print for recycling says print chief.

NEWS AND VIEWS ONLINE Go to www.imagereportsmag.co.uk for all the wideformat sector’s industry news, updated regularly online. Image Reports can also send a twice weekly

p25 Becoming eco sure How the new MediaCo Ecosure programme reflects the company’s sustainability ethos.

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News

swissQprint launches 10-colour flatbed printer and glass print system swissQprint has unveiled a 10-colour, 3.2m x 2m UV LED Kudu flatbed printer at Fespa Global, where it is also showed a new glass printing solution.

The Kudu is the first swissQprint printer to feature ten colour channels. Users configure the channels according to their needs and can adapt the configuration at any time later. The

newly developed universal ink (Greenguard Gold certified) is available in CMYK, light cyan, light magenta, light black, white, effect varnish and primer as well as the spot colours orange and neon yellow and pink.

The printer has a top speed of 300m2/hr and offers an addressable resolution of up to

Fespa Global sees three Canon European premieres

Fujifilm makes first foray into the high-end hybrid market

Canon Europe used Fespa Global for the European premieres of its fastest Arizona flatbed printer, a UVgel special finish feature, and a wide-format workflow software.

The new Arizona 6100 Mark II has a print speed of up to 220m²/hr to service print environments with volumes of 20,000m2 - 300,000m2 per year. There are two models - the Arizona 6100 XTS Mark II and Arizona 6100 XTHF Mark II. The first offers independent control of vacuum zones so users can simultaneously handle multiple boards, unusually shaped substrates and staged/ staggered jobs for continuous printing. The Arizona 6100 XTHF Mark II, is supported by Arizona HighFlow technology, and has been created for PSPs specialising in packaging and/or needing to print on the likes of porous corrugated cardboard or severely warped substrates like plywood that may not adequately seal the vacuum area. The HighFlow technology pulls down and holds the difficult media with a suction power 15 times stronger than the pressure exerted by the vacuum of the Arizona XTS model.

The printers use APIs for accounting and automation, allowing for easy integration with third-party systems such as MIS and for robotisation.

Also new is FLXfinish+ for the roll-to-roll Colorado series. It allows users to print a mixed matte and gloss finish in one print, at the click of a button. It will now feature as standard on all Colorado 1650s and be optional on all Colorado 1630s. It is available as an upgrade for existing 1630s and 1650s.

Completing the trio of premieres is the Prisma XL Suite. This includes Prismaguide XL, a design and job automation software application.

The software stores the file settings in a recipe, enabling future jobs to be prepared more quickly and easily time after time.

Also included is the Prisma remote app so that Colorado users can monitor jobs and be notified of any actions required to keep them running. Plus, there is Prismaservice, a new cloud-based platform that provides faster customer support for Arizona and Colorado printers, and which is also available for partners who look after the servicing and maintenance of machines in the field.

Fujifilm has made its entry into the high-end hybrid market with the 3.3m Acuity Ultra Hybrid LED. The company has also introduced the Acuity Prime L. The Acuity Ultra Hybrid LED - which will be commercially available from the autumn - runs at speeds of up to 218m2/hr and offers print resolution of up to 1200 x 1200dpi.

It uses a new Uvijet UH inkset designed to adhere to a broad range of rigid and flexible substrates, with six colours available as standard and an optional white.

The printer has a dimpled table surface to support all media types while allowing easy media positioning. A catch mechanism protects against accidental damage, and there’s secure locking for media feed accuracy.

The GUI is of the same design as that on

1350dpi. It features a Tip Switch vacuum that is divided into 260 zones. The printer is expandable with a roll-to-roll option.

Meanwhile, swissQprint has also introduced a new system for UV flatbed printing on glass, comprising a mechanical solution supplemented by an inkset for optimum adhesion.

the Acuity Ultra R2 and includes additional functionality to handle rigid media production – up to six sheets simultaneously. An intelligent vacuum control system automatically turns on the correct vacuum zones needed for any print job based on the width of the media, and the vacuum motor power constantly adjusts to maintain optimal media hold down. Two media rolls of different diameters (each up to 36cm) can run at the same time.

Moving on to the new Acuity Prime L flatbed - which will be commercially available in late 2022 - this has a maximum print area of 3200mm x 2000mm and a top print speed of 202m2/hr. It has six vacuum zones and 16 media location pins, as well as the ability to print side-by-side jobs.

Durst Group showcases superwide P5 500 Durst has expanded its P5 printer offering with the superwide 5.25m P5 500.

The new LED printer uses Ricoh printheads and the overall system is designed for efficient and unattended production. In addition to CMYK, another four color channels are available.

Media rolls can be processed in single, dual and triple mode - in dual mode even asymmetrically.

Double-sided printing is possible via front and back registration and there are various finishing options, including knives for horizontal and vertical cutting.

“With the Durst P5 500, Durst once again demonstrates its full focus on the reliability of

its own printing systems for unattended production processes. With the integration of Durst Workflow Software and the introduction of new functionalities, we are also achieving a significant increase in efficiency,” said Andrea Riccardi, head of product management, Durst.

In parallel, the company is boosting the productivity of the existing P5 UV-LED series to a new performance level with new Double 4 technology. The option provides a second CMYK printhead row on the P5 350/HS or P5 210/HS. At Fespa Durst also showed new Vanguard VR6DHS and VK300D-HS mid-range printers.

Mutoh EMEA celebrates anniversaries with product launches Mutoh premiered two machines at Fespa Global this year as it marks the 70th anniversary of Mutoh Japan, the 50th for Mutoh Deutschlandand 30th for Mutoh Europe.

The show saw the EMEA premiere of the XpertJet 1682SR Pro, which has two AccuFine 3200 nozzle printheads making it up to 180% faster than the existing XpertJet 1682SR 8-colour printer model.

In line with the XpertJet 1341SR Pro and 1641SR Pro models released in Q1 of 2022, the new XPJ1682SR Pro features I-Screen weaving, Mutoh’s fourth generation intelligent interweaving technology

adapted to a staggered twin-head printer and Mutoh’s VerteLith Rip software.

The latest machine can be set up in 2xCMYK as well as in CMYK, Lc, Lm, Lk, Or, and it is compatible with Mutoh’s existing MS41 Greenguard Gold certified inks. It also runs with a new Mutoh MS51 quick-dry CMYK ink set called MS-51.

Fespa Global visitors also got to see the EMEA premiere of the 127cm (54in) wide XpertJet 1341WR Pro dye-sublimation printer compatible with Mutoh’s DS3-series HC dye-sub inks. The XPJ1341WR Pro is said to run at sellable production speeds up to 29.2m²/h.

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News

GO TO WWW.IMAGEREPORTSMAG.CO.UK FOR THE FULL STORY…

Fujifilm invests $28m in new inkjet pigment dispersions facility

zP FI Group makes Grafenia acquisition zP apergraphics joins Roland DG dealer channel z Antalis brings out new fibre-based display boards z S un Chemical launches ElvaJet Topaz SC sublimation ink z F olex shows new media at Fespa Global zH P launches The Print Hub for Latex users z WTTB launches artworking service zM etsa Board opens excellence centre z F ujifilm in push to find new markets for the Acuity Prime zP aragon acquires Dean Packaging

Fujifilm Imaging Colorants Inc. is spending $28m on a new facility for the production of aqueous inkjet dispersions at its Delaware facility. The investment will double Fujifilm’s production capacity of pigment dispersions in the US to cater to a fast-growing demand for inkjet printing globally.

The new facility - which adds more than 1020m2 to the Delaware plant - is expected to be

operational by the summer of 2023.

Fujifilm supplies aqueous inks to digital printer OEMs and RxD pigment dispersions to ink formulators. Last year, it announced the construction of its first dispersion manufacturing facility in the US, to supplement its existing Europe-based production. The second facility brings Fujifilm’s total investment to more than $47m in new production capacity at the Delaware site.

zX aar opens its technology centre in Sweden zR A Smart demo centre opens its doors z S creen Europe boosts sales team zD rytac helps revamp Ricoh customer experience centre zM acroArt’s produces Gruffalo Discovery Land graphics z F aberExposize UK/Northern Flags invest in Agfa Jeti Tauro H3300 zX aar appoints Graham Tweedale as COO z2 021-22 best ever year for Fujifilm Jet Press sales z s wissQprint takes over direct sales in Switzerland z S pandex refreshes branding

EFI Vutek FabriVU 340i+ makes UK debut at CMYUK open house EFI’s new Vutek FabriVU 340i+ made its UK debut at CMYUK’s Printer Production Open House in May. The machine, which builds on the EFI Vutek 340i, has eight Kyocera printheads rather than four, doubling resolution from 300dpi to 600dpi, and increases POP speeds by 48%.

There’s a redesigned heating plate for improved

temperature uniformity, less outgassing but with the same colour intensity, and overall faster system reaction. A new flag ink removal kit allows the system to manage high ink volumes without touching the loaded material. An optional vacuum plate for transfer paper that is field upgradable will be available soon.

z Agfa takes on new sales manager for the north z WOO reveals new audience measurement guidelines z Avery Dennison expands facilities z S iegwerk joins ‘With Women in Leadership’ initiative z E nfocus releases PitStop 2022 zP yramid extends its eco media offering zC olor-Logic releases Pattern-FX Volume 6 z Two new directors for ITL z S teve Stokes joins CMYUK z Two Sides celebrates anti-greenwash campaign success zN azdar appoints new VP quality and continuous improvement for manufacturing zB CF chief to head-up World Coatings Council zB ig eco claims for new Kavalan Moonlight River z Antalis raises money for Mind zN utec offers Nubis bulk ink system z F ujifilm forms strategic partnership with MCA Digital

Astra Signs/ADXBA merger creates northern powerhouse Manchester-based Astra Signs has merged with local digital signage company ADXBA to become a ‘northern powerhouse’ delivering both traditional and digital signage solutions.

The companies will ultimately operate under one brand, whilst maintaining their existing identities and premises for the foreseeable future.

Astra Signs prides itself on its in-house design and manufacturing capabilities. ADXBA provides digital signage solutions to DOOH advertisers, transports hubs, and stadia. The company’s turnkey service covers the entire AV integration process, providing bespoke solutions as well as

24/7 monitoring and maintenance. Following a diversification programme, ADXBA has enjoyed a period of unprecedented growth in the last 18 months, recent noteworthy projects including work with BT for its Street Hubs and with Manchester Airport on its £1bn transformation of Terminal 2.

The new combined business will retain all current staff and be led by ADXBA’s managing director, Jim Kerr, while Astra Signs MD David Derbyshire will take time out to travel and explore other interests. Astra Signs will retain the family business legacy through his brother, Joe, who will continue in his role as operations director.

previously held the role of sales director at Soyang Europe, has been appointed to the new role of product development director.

Mashiter said of the takeover: “From Soyang’s perspective, the acquisition of Josero provides us with a quick and proven entry into the print hardware market. We already have a strong reputation with regards to the provision of wideand superwide-format media, and plan to build on this expertise within the hardware space with support from Josero’s specialist team.”

Delor added: “Through many years of hard work, we’ve developed Josero into one of the key players within the UK wide-format print industry. The integration of the Josero business into Soyang Europe makes complete sense -

Soyang will drive Josero’s growth plans, while Josero provides Soyang with the diversification and expertise needed for the hardware segment. It’s a match made in heaven.

“On a personal level, the Soyang management team have very similar backgrounds to the Josero team, and we share common business values.

I am delighted with the agreement and look forward to supporting the group continue on its successful business journey.”

Soyang Europe has also appointed a new finance director, Daniel Dimambro.

Soyang Europe has also appointed a new finance director, Daniel Dimambro, who Mashiter said “will be a core part of this growth strategy moving forward.”

Soyang Europe acquires Josero Soyang Europe has acquired Josero. The deal, completed on Friday, 27 May 2022, follows hot on the heels of the announcement that Fujifilm has agreed a deal with Soyang to sell the Acuity Ultra R2 in the UK market.

Under the buyout agreement - exact terms of which remain undisclosed - Mark Mashiter will remain managing director of Soyang Europe, while Sarah Winterbottom, formerly managing director of Josero, will assume the role of group sales director for the Soyang/Josero partnership.

Loic Delor, the former director/owner of Josero, will assume the role of operations manager of Josero Ltd. and remain within the business for the foreseeable future to ensure a smooth transition. Andrew Simmons, who

6 | June / July 2022

News

Agfa to acquire Inca Digital Printers Agfa-Gevaert is to acquire Inca Digital Printers from Screen Graphics Solutions. Cambridge-based Inca Digital Printers is seen by Agfa as bringing a complementary portfolio of printing solutions and a strong technological platform to launch singlepass printers for the packaging market.

The acquisition encompasses the Inca portfolio of high-speed multi-pass printers as well as a newly designed line of single-pass printers for packaging, and a joint development of a customised inline print engine in collaboration with corrugator manufacturer BHS Corrugated.

“The Inca acquisition is a major step in Agfa’s

transformation. Digital printing is a profitable growth engine for the group, with a tremendous potential that will be further accelerated by the addition of Inca,” said Pascal Juéry, president and CEO of Agfa-Gevaert.

Inca Digital was formed as a spin out from Cambridge Consultants Ltd (CCL) in May 2000 and since 2005 has been part of the Screen Group. Inca developed the Truepress Jet W3200UV printer for Screen GP, and the SpyderX which is sold by Inca Digital through its global reseller network. In 2007 it launched the Onset series, leading to the launch of the Onset X Series in 2015, sold exclusively by Fujifilm.

EFI announces IQ cloud service

3A Composites buys stake in Swedboard

EFI has announced EFI IQ suite of cloud and mobile applications to enable EFI Vutek and Nozomi inkjet printer users monitor production and printer utilisation in real time from anywhere.

The IQ suite’s EFI Go component helps to ensure that managers receive urgent updates wherever they are, meaning “print business owners gain the Industry 4.0 advantage they need for more streamlined, efficient and profitable print business management,” said Todd Zimmerman, vice president and general manager of display graphics, EFI Inkjet.

New EFI wide- and superwide-format UV LED printers will include a one-year subscription to EFI IQ, while other supported device users can subscribe.

3A Composites has bought a 25% stake in Swedboard International with the possibility of taking over the remaining 75% from mid-2024.

The move strengthens 3A’s display board product portfolio via Swedboard’s natural fibre board production. Based in Katrineholm, Sweden, Swedboard manufactures three main categories of boards: SB Fibre, a FSC certified, CO2 negative,

Dufaylite introduces new design services Paper honeycomb manufacturer Dufaylite has launched a free design lab service for customers using its packaging products. The company has also developed a dedicated website for printers, offering technical help in the form of production ready, downloadable designs and cutting files which can be recreated with ease using its paper honeycomb board Ultra Board. The current designs are suitable POS, exhibitions and home offices.

Dufaylite MD Ashley Moscrop, said: “Whilst Covid affected the world, industry and our business, we used the time to find new ways to add value to our customers, by innovating both our products and services. The launch of the Design Lab and Dufaylite Designs website, will really put our 65 years of experience manufacturing paper honeycomb board to great use. It will enable us to produce sustainable solutions in an innovative and engaging way.”

Following Agfa’s announcement, David Burton, marketing director, Fujifilm wide-format inkjet systems, said: “Fujifilm and Inca Digital have enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship for more than two decades. We’re immensely proud of all we’ve achieved working with them in pioneering the development of UV wide-format inkjet systems, powered by Fujifilm inkjet technology and Fujifilm UV inkjet ink.

“Our ‘new blueprint for wide-format’ concept announced in 2021 is the result of a strategy shift. We remain committed to supporting our existing Onset customers.”

rigid paperboard that comes in a number of variations; SB Composite, a lightweight foam board; and SB Solid Premium, a food compliant, white paperboard.

The environmentally-friendly position of Swedboard slots nicely into 3A’s eco offering and fits with the company’s recently launched Five-Dotsustainability programme.

OOH ad spend showing startling recovery shows new report OOH advertising spend increased 16.7% in 2021 over the previous year, with a 37.4% jump in the last quarter according to a new report from the Out of Home Advertising Association of America.

It states that total OOH spend in 2021 was $7.1bn, led by digital OOH with the segment jumping 22.7% compared to 2020. Fourth quarter DOOH grew 49.6 % over the same period the previous year.

In 2021, all top ten industry product categories increased and eight grew by double digits.

Reflecting the overall strength of OOH, the largest category - local services and amusements, which represents over a quarter of total OOH spend increased by 20.9%, second only in growth to the media and advertising category increase of 21.3%.

79% of the top 100 OOH advertisers increased their OOH spend from 2020.

Star Cutouts invests in trend analysis software and AI A manufacturer of life-size cardboard cut-outs of celebrities and film characters is anticipating gamechanging growth after investing in trend analysis software and AI. With the help of Made Smarter’s North West adoption programme, Ashton-under-Lynebased Star Cutouts is investing £30,000 in software that will enable it to monitor media to help improve its speed and accuracy in reacting to trends, such as the South Korean survival drama Squid Game.

Supported by a £324,000 investment in new automation machinery, MD Ian Ravey, forecasts the business can increase sales and turnover fivefold to £10m within the next five years, as well as create a new digital role in the business and upskill its marketing and design team.

“Big data and analytics offer a huge and exciting opportunity for us to not just be quicker to react to trends, but to influence them,” said

Ravey. “The increased accuracy of our product launches will save a considerable amount of time and resources, making much better use of our talented design team. We will be able to use that efficiency to focus on growth.

“Our strategy is to combine the latest digital tools to understand our customers and increase production through new machinery and continuously improve processes. This is a major first step.

“We predict the impact of our strategy will be huge and we are grateful to Made Smarter for supporting and accelerating the opportunity.”

The new software will monitor a huge archive of characters, as well as identify new trends and analyse other metrics including geography. This business intelligence will be fed to the management and design team via a bespoke platform to support decision making on product development.

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Cover Story

NEW PVC ALTERNATIVES FROM ANTALIS New PVC-free digital substrates are helping to meet customer demand for environmentally friendly substitutes for traditional plastics.

WE AIM TO GIVE CUSTOMERS AN EVEN GREATER CHOICE WHEN MAKING PRODUCT SELECTIONS THAT WILL HELP THEM TO REDUCE THEIR IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT

8 | June / July 2022

Antalis has increased its portfolio of PVC-free materials to help customers use visual communication products that are kinder to the environment.

In 2021, Antalis outlined its sustainability commitment that aims for 75% of all visual communications products sold to be rated Green Star 3 or higher by 2030. Antalis’ Green Star System™ makes it easy to identify sustainable products and helps clients to move towards easier-to-recycle and ultimately recycled materials. The system considers two key factors – raw materials used, and recyclability at end of life, attributing a rating from zero to the most sustainable options achieving five stars.

The ‘raw material’ element of the framework categorises products by their origin into either fossil fuels (hydrocarbons that are not derived from plant sources) at the lower end of the scale, to renewable

and biosourced materials (plant-based), through to recycled materials at the top end of the framework. The ‘life cycle’ axis then classifies whether products are unable to be recycled due to their composition, through to products that have high recyclability such as single material polymers like polypropylene.

New PVC-free alternative products with a Green Star rating of 3, or higher, recently added to the Antalis digital range include: Exten Opaque Polypropylene (Green Star rating: 3) is a PVC-free alternative for the production of POS and display, cards, tags, labels, stationery and much more. 35% lighter than PVC equivalents, it is 100% recyclable and at end of life can be burnt without risk of toxic emissions. The products are coated in a unique primer that extends shelf life beyond that of standard corona treated polypropylene; it also offers

Cover Story

IMPROVING OUR RANGE OF SIGN AND DISPLAY MATERIALS WITH A GREEN STAR SYSTEM™ RATING OF 3 OR MORE IS A KEY FOCUS FOR US

significantly greater opacity, making it suitable for two-sided printing using UV Offset, Digital and Screen print machines. It is available in two large format sheet variants: • Exten Opaque 99 - gloss and satin, sheets from 400 to 850 microns • Exten Opaque 100 - satin, has a black core for 100% block-out in a thickness of 220 microns Mondo PET-GAG (Green Star rating: 4) is a range of high quality, clear polyester sheets, that offer an environmentally friendly alternative to thin-gauge PVC. The sheet is made up of three layers: two G-PET outer layers and an 85% post-consumer waste recycled PET inner layer. It is 100% recyclable and chemically inert.

The premium surface of Mondo PET-GAG is ideal for UV Offset, Digital and Screen printing; die-cutting; and finishing. Available in sheets from 200 to 600 microns, it is suitable for a range of POS and display applications.

These new products are in addition to Antalis’ existing Triaprint range (Green Star rating: 3) which is a cost effective and environmentally friendly and recyclable alternative to the use of PVC and PUR foam boards for POS and exhibition work. The strong and durable polypropylene sheet has a cell structured core and smooth corona treated top and bottom layers that provide excellent print results. Suitable for indoor and outdoor applications, the sheet has a fire-retardant additive and has high strength and rigidity whilst being extremely lightweight.

Product Manager for Visual Communications at Antalis, Paul Neale, comments: “At Antalis we aim to give customers an even greater choice when making product selections that will help them to reduce their impact on the environment, without compromising performance or quality. Improving our range of sign and display materials with a Green Star System™ rating of 3 or more is a key focus for us and we have a clear strategy for developing our portfolio of recyclable materials.

Our polypropylene materials now extend to five variants inclusive of many grades of Priplak, Exten Opaque, Correx, Biprint and Triaprint. These materials can all be recycled in the same waste stream and as the use of these products increases, the more economical it becomes to offer recycling. We are looking forward to announcing more additions to our range over the coming months”. www.antalis.co.uk

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Business | Talking Point

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talks to...

David Bunker, Earlier this year British Business Investments announced an additional £15m commitment to Compass Business Finance, taking its total commitment to £30m - the intention being to increase the flow of funding for asset finance products into UK-based smaller businesses operating in the print, packaging and manufacturing sectors. So who is asking for the money, are they getting it, and is this conversation more, or less, likely to make you apply too?

David, can I first ask you to give us some idea of how much Compass Business Finance lends to the print industry on an annual basis? To what extent did the Covid pandemic impact that?

Compass is the largest independent finance company specialising in the print sector and we currently lend around £100m-plus per year to print companies either from our own funds or by utilising funding from other finance houses or banks that we have funding agreements with.

At the beginning of lockdown, we were one of a small number of lenders approved to disperse British Business Bank funding through the Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) Scheme, which morphed into the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS). It meant we were immediately able to help support businesses within our sectors. As you would expect, borrowing within the industry increased considerably, with the initial requirement being for immediate cashflow support. Then businesses started re-evaluating their cost base. The sentiment was that business levels would not return to pre-pandemic levels, so it was imperative to remove direct costs, such as headcount, despite furlough support being available. Many then saw the need to review their machinery efficiency and started to make strategic investments in their production processes.

Are you seeing/predicting much change in 2022, and why do you think that’s the case?

At the beginning of the year, businesses were being extremely cautious in their decision making - many were choosing to delay investment plans, which really was unsurprising in the face of all of the uncertainties in the market and economy, such as, energy price hikes, paper and substrate costs and the war in Ukraine. But we’re now seeing an increase in the requirement for funding across the sector.

10 | June / July 2022

Businesses have started to re-evaluate their needs and are actively seeking the funding to improve efficiency and create greater capacity. This has been fuelled in part by the return of much of the pre-pandemic volumes.

Interestingly, many SMEs are choosing not to take on all the work being offered but are being selective in terms of margin and risk of concentration levels.

What has been noticeable is the levels to which some businesses are passing on the cost of energy and raw materials as a surcharge. Others may feel too vulnerable to do this, but from my view the message is that without passing on the costs the margins will be too low or negative to survive.

My readers are owners/directors of large-format print companies in the large-format digital inkjet space.

Many of them fall into that SME bracket which the additional British Business Investments funding is supposed to help. Are you noticing much increased activity from this sector specifically?

We’re seeing an increased amount of investment in this sector, much of which is being driven by the return of the high street and exhibitions etc. We’re also seeing customers demanding more sustainable products, and in turn we’re starting to see companies looking at more sustainable production processes. There’s also an ongoing drive towards smarter and more efficient processes. It’s hard to recruit the right people, so businesses are looking to technology and automation to help bridge this gap.

Despite a growing appetite for investment, there are still supply chain issues and longer than normal wait times on receiving new equipment.

What is this sector most wanting the funding for?

It’s a real mix as you can imagine. All businesses are being faced with additional challenges and having to

Business | Talking Point

director, Compass Business Finance look at the way they manage their cashflow. We’re having conversations with most of our customers around how they restructure their outgoings, looking at options for refinancing existing agreements or restructuring elements of their business.

But, as we’ve discussed, businesses in this sector are investing, and looking to the future, they have a vision for what they need to achieve and are actively seeking the funding required to make their next steps.

Do you still have funds in the pot and, if so, what do print businesses need to do to get part of it?

Compass has been well funded for many years and this has stood us in good stead to continue to service our customers through Covid and for the post pandemic needs. The funding from BBI will support our lending in conjunction with funding from other traditional sources.

Essentially, we will continue to lend in the same way as normal, with the funding from the BBI and schemes provided by the BBB enabling us to lend to a wider range of businesses than we normally would. For example, the impact of the pandemic has left many businesses with a much weaker set of accounts for the past two years than they would have had in normal times, guarantees provided by the BBB mean that we can continue to offer funding in situations where the answer may otherwise have had to be ‘no’.

The Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS) is currently the key enabler, although it is due to finish at the end of June, and we’re yet to have any knowledge of what it might be replaced by.

Basically, we’re very well-funded and have a healthy availability to meet the needs of the market.

Are there any noticeable ‘gaps’ in funding availability/ meeting demand, and how is that likely to be addressed, or not, in the foreseeable future?

One noticeable change in the market is the increasing absence of commercial loans that don’t require personal guarantees. During the pandemic CBILS enabled funders to lend without this type of security, however, without that scheme in operation, pre-pandemic requirements are being re-established.

I would say another ‘gap’ is support for sustainability investments and initiatives, although we expect to see this improve with the rollout of the #GreentoGrow campaign from the BBB and expect there may also be funding support initiatives from the government to follow.

High street banks are still cautious, and this is reflected in the number of applications being made to non-bank lenders such as ourselves.

What’s your message to market about accessing finance in the current climate?

For the right business case there are some very good funding options available.

There is a great deal of interest to support investment in technology, for increased efficiency and working towards a ‘net zero’ economy.

One has to also remember that businesses still need support for working capital as they navigate the post pandemic world, noting too the huge pressures on energy from the Ukraine issue. As we’ve discussed, unsecured loans are in strong decline but there are several alternative ways of raising capital from your business to consider. We’re still very busy with this area of funding so it’s important to remember that for many businesses is getting the balance right.

And last of all, a reminder that the Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS) comes to a close on 30 June this year, so if you do have any investment requirements, please raise them prior to this date to ensure you have the best chance of getting what you need at the lowest possible rate.

FOR THE RIGHT BUSINESS CASE THERE ARE SOME VERY GOOD FUNDING OPTIONS AVAILABLE

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Sponsored Feature

GROW, SCALE, SUCCEED THERE HAS NEVER BEEN MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR PRINT BUSINESS OWNERS AND MANAGERS TO SEIZE WITH A VARIETY OF GROWTH MARKETS THAT CAN BE TAPPED TO STRENGTHEN AND DIVERSIFY REVENUE STREAMS. THE KEY CHALLENGE IN DOING SO IS HARNESSING THE POTENTIAL OF YOUR TEAMS’ SKILLS, TECHNOLOGY AND RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR CUSTOMERS. AND IT IS THAT VERY CHALLENGE WHICH PRINTIQ HAS DEVELOPED TECHNOLOGY TO SOLVE – SO YOU CAN EMBRACE NEW OPPORTUNITIES. to customers’ needs, whilst feeding back to their developers in research and development to make sure they deliver a best-in-class product.

With its head office in Manchester, the UK arm of printIQ has been growing steadily and has a highly skilled team in place that have been involved in many sectors of the printing industry. Listening and understanding a customers’ needs is a major part of what printIQ does, so that they can build a plan that grows with them.

Paul continues: “There are so many costs that a business must incorporate into their calculations, and with materials and utility markets remaining volatile, having a handle on it is critical. Consumables, electricity, heating, paper, logistics and staffing levels are just a few areas that must be adjusted for quickly and easily so that a prospective customer receives an accurate quotation and profit margins are kept healthy.”

THERE ARE SO MANY COSTS THAT A BUSINESS MUST INCORPORATE INTO THEIR CALCULATIONS, AND WITH MATERIALS AND UTILITY MARKETS REMAINING VOLATILE, HAVING A HANDLE ON IT IS CRITICAL

“Business in the UK has soared over the last two years, and we have seen incredible demand for our endto-end solutions,” emphasises EAMER Sales Manager Paul Bromley, who continues: “This trend continued at our first ‘in person’ UK trade show during March at Sign and Digital UK, which was extremely busy for us. At a time when print management software needs to keep up with changing markets, having an active research and development program in place has been key to the company’s success.”

The ability for your customers to jump online and accurately quote, in real time, with customers –whilst keeping healthy profit margins – is now a necessity, not a luxury. Another fundamental concern for print business should also be ensuring they are fully visible online and offering a storefront for re-ordering. This not only works to attract new business and enables revenue diversification, but it is also significantly increasing customer engagement and loyalty. Why? Because you are making their working lives that much easier and more efficient.

TRIED AND TESTED With a unique position as a global supplier with a deep knowledge of the print industry, printIQ is uniquely positioned to help customers achieve these goals. It provides a complete 360-degree view of their business costs with its cloud-based MIS technology.

With more than 50 new UK installations in the last two years, the team at printIQ has been kept incredibly busy – but have always listened

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FUEL FOR YOUR BUSINESS With its easy-to-use interfaces, team members at all levels can interact with the system and track jobs throughout their production cycle from quotation through to dispatch. Accurate costings can be reflected in the quotation system helping to maintain profitability and advise the most efficient production process to use.

With its unique links to OEM systems such as webto-print, it can also provide new revenue streams and customers that a business had not reached before.

Further to this, printIQ offers a storefront system so that existing customers can re-order products simply and quickly via a web-based browser – guaranteeing that customers return time and again.

Paul concludes: “printIQ not only helps you manage your business more efficiently by reducing manual touch points and duplicated effort, we also introduce more business and revenue streams into your company. Our goal is very simple, we want to grow our customers businesses and ensure their success – as we can then grow with them.” www.printiq.com

Cover Story

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Technology | What to Watch

USING YOUR INTELLIGENCE BE CLEVER AND THINK SMART. SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENTS AND INTEGRATIONS MEAN LARGE-FORMAT PSPS HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITY THAN EVER TO GATHER AND ANALYSE DATA FROM ACROSS THE WHOLE OF THEIR OPERATIONS, AND TO USE THAT INTELLIGENCE TO MAKE THEM MORE EFFICIENT AND PROFITABLE. You know it - the better you gather, analyse and apply your business data intelligence, the better off you’ll be.

And the good news is that the wide-format sector is now getting a proper share of the software attention that has for so long been focussed on more mainstream - and less problematic - areas of print.

As Nick Benkovich, VP portfolio product management, eProductivity Software, points out: “Now more than ever, with rising materials and labour costs, labour shortages, the continued decrease in run length at the same time as increase in product complexity, it is critical that a

14 | June / July 2022

business understand and analyse their operation from order acquisition to shipping.

“The challenge for many PSP’s is their deep knowledge and legacy years of experience in a largely stable market that allowed them to often make gut or instinctive decisions. Today with the changing landscape we are seeing more and more businesses with the need to analyse everything.

“Often PSP’s can instinctively tell you who the largest revenue customers are or what is the greatest volume by product types produced. This is just the start. What a business needs to understand through collection and analysis of data is what are the most profitable product and customers. This needs to include everything - from order acquisition costs (online, email, portal, salesperson), to job management costs (estimating, planning, customer service, scheduling) as well as true, not estimated manufacturing costs.

“This is where a solid BI [business intelligence] tool

Technology | What to Watch

comes to the front. Slicing and dicing the data to see what the most profitable product lines and customers are, and how that has changed over the past months, quarters and years. So where do you start? A fully integrated endto-end system with centralised source of truth data for every touch, step and operation of a customer interaction or job allows a deeper, truer picture of where the real profits are and where adjustments need to be made. ePS provides a fully integrated suite of solutions from order acquisition to shipping, capturing time, materials and subsequently costs to really understand where you as a business need to focus your time and energy to maximise profits and grow.”

Tharstern’s chief business development officer Lee Ward points out that actually, many a MIS system holds an incredible amount of useful data, but that the majority of users are not making the most of it. “It’s often assumed that an MIS only holds data from estimating and sales, but as technology has advanced, the systems now hold data from every area from the initial marketing all the way through to delivery, but it’s often not used correctly.

“Our customers are encouraged to use a business intelligence platform, whether that’s provided by us, or through a third-party AI tool such as Power BI or Qlik.

These sorts of tools pull in data from multiple software applications and give a full view of how your business is performing. A lot of PSPs collect data, but they have no idea what the numbers are showing or what they can do with it. With software like Power BI you can really drill down into numbers.”

Ward adds: “The one piece of analysis we’ve really tried to push our customers to carry out this past couple of years, is to create a BCG matrix using the historical order data from their MIS, so they can see which of their products and target sectors are making them the most profit. Often the results of this analysis will have changed because of the pandemic, so it’s more important than ever to carry this out and reassess sales and business strategies based on the results.

“When we speak to new contacts, becoming more profitable and efficient are two of the top things they want to achieve with an MIS. We’ve developed some specific features that will really benefit the large-format market.

“Our Sheet Optimisation tool with Insoft IMP was developed a few years ago, but the ability to create complex, production-ready layouts for variable-sized rectangular shapes and non-rectangular shapes from within the estimating area of your MIS has proved very popular. The interaction with IMP means efficient layouts can be created, even for the most complex shapes.”

The company has also developed a few new features more recently: Distribution Uploader allows users to manage the distribution of complex multi-location print campaigns by importing customer-provided CSV files into the MIS; Smart Shipping automatically calculates the transit time for each location and identify the required ‘ship by’ date in order to meet the customer’s due date; Autopacking creates packing groups per location and works out how many of each product are needed in each group.

At printIQ UK marketing manager David McGuiness says the company is constantly working to meet changing user demand, and releases about 15 new features to its cloud-based system per quarter.

IT IS CRITICAL THAT A BUSINESS UNDERSTAND AND ANALYSE THEIR OPERATION FROM ORDER ACQUISITION TO SHIPPING Nick Benkovich, eProductivity Software

“Our development team is part of what you buy into given that software moves at such a pace’ he stresses, and points out: “Our R&D is focused on OEM integration to expand system capability. For example, Zaikio is currently being developed as a connection.”

Some of the most important features introduced in recent months include: Live Pricing, which links to major Web-to-print systems like Infigo and feeds pricing to its interface in real time; Shipping integration, which provides automatic updates on when and where the product is; Linear usage in m2 that provides accurate calculations of material used; Carbon Quota, which allows estimations on the best way to produce a job; and Link, which integrates Print IQ to numerous websites - allowing print management sites to place orders, and also allowing two print companies to work together if they have different needs or equipment.

“Many of these features are part of our V44 update and because we almost develop in real time there are many other enhancements coming, usually small features that improve our connectivity or user experience,” says McGuiness.

He acknowledges that a reduction in staff levels through the Covid-19 pandemic has created a need for systems that allow staff to interact efficiently and cover more roles within a business. “In short companies need to do more with less people. Print IQ lends itself to this requirement with some of the best GUI’s in the industry which are intuitive and simple to understand.”

McGuiness continues: “Accurate reporting about the business costs and what is happening within that chain of events must be easily accessible. Annuities management also become crucial to incorporate, as has the increasing cost of consumables, utilities, fuel for vehicles and labour costs given the rises we are seeing. Print IQ allows a business to update these costs by adjusting the square footage cost, hourly labour rates and even factory costs.”

“Even before the pandemic, printing business owners were facing multiple difficulties: how to increase the efficiency of their operations by doing more, faster and at lower cost; how to keep key customers up to date on the status of their jobs in real time; how to ensure that jobs are delivered as promised. Then Covid piled on the pressure even more, making remote tracking of job and equipment status even more valuable, and making labour availability much more variable and unpredictable, says Martin Bailey, distinguished technologist at Global Graphics Software, part of the Hybrid Software Group, which developed the SmartDFE which adds print to the fully automated Smart Factory.

“A complete solution to all of these problems obviously requires investment in a wide variety of software and equipment, and restructuring workflows to increase automation with a careful balance of minimising touch points, while retaining enough to ensure good process control,” Bailey continues. “And a key part of any automation, or at least automation that works, is to ensure that there is good feedback from every step of every process. You can’t react to something that you don’t know about.

“From the point of view of the DFE on a printing device, that feedback can include a huge range of information, such as: a prediction of how long a job will take, both

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Technology | What to Watch

Four Pees will help Durst implement its ‘pixel to output’ strategy and integrate its software solutions

in preparation (Ripping, colour management, halftone screening) and how long the press will need to run for. It can also be used to educate customers who repeatedly send inefficiently constructed PDF files; reports from preflighting in support of failing early, with minimal wastage in terms of time and materials, if the job is going to fail at all (eg. because a font is not available); a report of the amount of ink and media that will be used to print each job, in support of more accurate pricing and invoicing; feedback from inline and nearline inspection systems, in support of identifying print issues as early as possible and of reporting to buyers around colour reproduction tolerances etc.; reporting on issues that stop production on a press, such as maintenance, substrate breakage, insufficient ink etc. All of these can feed into a system that will alert production management if current plans need to change and provide account managers with the information they need to ensure that customers are happy.”

At Fespa Global 2022 Dataline Solutions was showcsing the latest in its MultiPress offering, having said that generic project management software, accounting packages or other ‘island’ solutions do not meet the specific requirements of the large-format print sector.

Dataline has around 80 certified links with partners and is constantly adding to that number. At Fespa it was highlighting a number of interfaces for this market, including a new link with Caldera PrimeCenter.

In May Enfocus released an ‘Invest small, print big’ Switch-based workflow automation package that integrates with existing workflows in the wide-format sector. The adapted Switch solution connects MIS, proofing, Web-to-print, PDF preflighting, customer approval and production preparation processes.

Switch product manager Davy Verstaen said of the development: “Removing repetitive and manual tasks and visualising workload comes from a data-driven workflow. Having the ability to build a solution that connects everything and remains scalable is exactly what Enfocus Switch is designed to do. Our Switch-based solution enables printers to make people, processes and equipment more efficient and effective.”

The move to smarter working is, increasingly,

16 | June / July 2022

OUR CUSTOMERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO USE A BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE PLATFORM, WHETHER THAT’S PROVIDED BY US, OR THROUGH A THIRD-PARTY AI TOOL Lee Ward, Tharstern

prompting printer manufacturers to partner software specialists if not build their own internal teams. Just a couple of months back Four Pees became an integration partner for the Durst software and solutions division. It means Four Pees will help Durst implement its ‘pixel to output’ strategy and integrate its software solutions such as Durst Workflow or Durst Smart Shop at its clients.

Durst Group founded its software and solutions division in 2019 with a team of over 60 people to provide intelligent and straightforward software solutions to streamline the complete print process. The range comprises: Durst Lift ERP, a cloud-based ERP/MIS system; Durst Smart Shop, an e-commerce solution for customisable print products; and Durst Workflow, a solution for fully automated management of prepress and production tasks. The solutions are tailored for digital printing and are optimised for a mixed-vendor production environment.

Michael Deflorian, business unit manager, Durst software and solutions, says: “Durst is known for quality, both in hardware and in the area of print automation software. We wanted to serve our customers even better in consultancy and integration and make our product portfolio easily accessible. We started looking for an experienced integration partner in Europe, and Four Pees quickly appeared on our radar.

They have a proven track record in delivering complex automation projects. When we started talking to each other, we found that we were very complementary to each other in the way we work.”

At Fujifilm Europe, workflow product manager John Davies, points out its partnership with Tilia Labs. “The new Acuity range of wide-format presses, announced in 2021 as a ‘new blueprint’ for wide-format, is built to offer exceptional ROI, and being able to offer the right workflow tools to maximise its potential, is vital. tilia Griffin, developed by Tilia Labs, helps wide-format print businesses to improve their workflow efficiency by enabling jobs to be planned or scheduled, based on the user’s requirements, prioritising speed, cost or media utilisation depending on the individual job requirements.

Ultimately, it can help print service providers to keep their productivity up, and labour costs and waste down.”

As a commitment to driving software innovation, HP recently announced the opening of a new Centre of Excellence in Valencia, focused on software development. Oscar Vidal, global director, large-format, HP says: “While our hardware will continue to play an essential role, we are continuing to invest in software-led digital services to help PSPs gain greater visibility and control over their operations.

“Solutions such as HP PrintOS have proved indispensable by helping customers stay on top of production wherever they are, while also enabling them to make better, data-driven decisions. But remote access software is not enough as a standalone tool - intelligent automation is also key. In this regard, the HP Applications Centre is helping customers to easily integrate a suite of design apps into their own websites, enabling automated production and order management. Elsewhere, the HP Configuration Centre allows for customised substrate settings, such as colour configurations, across an entire fleet.”

Technology | What to Watch

IS GREEN THE ONLY COLOUR? THE VOLUME OF ‘ECO’ CONSUMABLES HITTING THE WIDE-FORMAT PRINT MARKET IS IMPRESSIVE. BUT THOUGH THE MOST VISIBLE, IS THE ENVIRONMENT ALL THAT’S ON THE INKS AND MEDIA R+D SPECTRUM? We know only too well what a wide swathe of issue can impact the print consumables we buy and use pricing, supply, technical capability, legal restrictions, all of these are of great concern to PSPs, yet it’s the greening-up of media and inks that grabs all the marketing attention. Given we’re all clamouring for more environmentally products it’s easy to see why. But are there other developmental considerations we should be aware of? The following is what came back from providers posed the question: ‘Is all R+D in large-format printing inks and media now about the environment?’

For Neil McCarthy, marketing lead at Pyramid Display Materials (and Popai sustainability council member), the answer “is a resounding yes!”.

“The focus has been almost exclusively on environmentally friendly products over the past 10 years.

Currently our product R&D is based on replacing general plastic products (the public perception is ‘plastic is

18 | June / July 2022

plastic’ even if that plastic is a non PVC polypropylene or polyester) with card-based products that are fit for purpose in the end application across the POS and signage markets.”

To that end McCarthy flags up new product launches to be expected in the second half of this year. These include XL Impact, an easily recyclable, high density fibrous card (available in 3mm and 5mm thicknesses) that is a replacement for Foam PVC in indoor applications. He says R&D is currently being undertaken “on the weatherability of the product for outdoor applications, with initial tests looking very positive”.

Also due to market are: XL Elements, a recyclable, thin double-sided card product used for short-term exterior signage; XL Noir, a card replacement for black plastic product used in POS and signage applications; and XL White Centered - a card replacement for white plastic in similar applications.

Technology | What to Watch

Products introduced to Pyramid’s offering earlier this year also reflect the company’s eco focus. These include the PVC-free Swedboard materials (see news pages regarding 3A Composites’ investment in this Swedish company), Dispa Outdoor, a 100% recyclable product manufactured by 3A, and Green Samba made by Berger Textiles using yarn from recycled PET plastic bottles.

Taya, manufacturer of the Kavalan range of ‘eco’ materials, has an average annual R+D spend of $2.5m.

Head of marketing, Nova Abbott, says “the R+D focus is on our customers’ end applications, ensuring their expectations are met while achieving the least impact to the planet.”

She adds: “Work on developing the greenest PVCfree coating on the market started more than a decade ago and continues today along with corresponding developments on resource consumption, and environmental and human health impact reductions of our base fabric materials.

“Our research teams are working to further reduce the impact of Kavalan’s carbon emissions during the production process and then to quantify these reductions when compared with traditional materials and their manufacturing processes.

“Furthermore, evolutionary changes to Kavalan’s production of its PVC-free coating has resulted in a significant reduction of water resources when compared to traditional PVC and textile materials. With ongoing revolutionary changes to our polyester yarn production processes we are now beginning to prototype materials whose impact on the planet is even less than so called ‘100% recycled content’ signage banners, but with all the physical characteristics associated with traditional PVC and textile materials.”

According to Abbot, Taya is working on several alternative substrates. “The first, is the one used on the newly released Moonlight River textile replacement, where the polyester yarn production process has eliminated the entire freshwater intensive dying and washing stages and reduces its overall freshwater use by 67% when compared to its textile counterpart. This makes the yarn even greener than so called 100% rPET yarns, without compromising the strength and coating adhesion properties associated with Kavalan.

“Another approach our teams in Shanghai and Tainan (Taiwan) have taken is to make the entire banner biodegradable, and for this we’re very excited to announce the future release of Sunlight ZeRo, a fully biodegradable signage banner which has Kavalan’s PVC-free coating and a fully biodegradable base substrate - and of course eco credentials supported by a certified LCA.” She adds: “For some mesh applications, liners are essential, and these have typically been PVC-based.

However, Kavalan will soon release a PVC-free liner to complement its Spiderweb 300 mesh banners. The PVCfree liner is another industry first and apart from being more eco-friendly - it is lighter and it also helps overcome some of the technical difficulties that signage and printing companies might encounter when printing on PVC mesh banners using Latex printers.”

Chris Green, director of visual communications, Antalis confirms that when it comes to R+D, “sustainability has been the biggest catalyst for this

over the past ten years and is likely to continue to be the driver over the next ten years and beyond as our market responds to a consumer population that is becoming more aware of the products and services they are purchasing. We back-up new sustainable product introductions with initiatives the Antalis’ Green Star System, which helps with sustainable media selection, and with our carbon offsetting schemes.

“R&D also plays a key role in ensuring we can support our customers when trading and business challenges are significant. We have seen global raw material shortages, rising cost of raw materials, rising cost of energy, shortages in the labour market, increased complexity of moving goods into the UK and the costs of global shipping, all of which can have real impacts on the choice of products for customers. Through our R&D programme we have been proactive in developing cost-effective solutions and alternative products, particularly on our sustainable ranges, which can provide not only an environmental solution but one that is commercially advantageous, for example, Triaprint vs the use of Foam PVC.

SEEING RED If you were one of those whose blood pressure shot up at the thought of all the hoops you were going to have to jump through come 15 June, relax. Government ministers have agreed to revoke the Misuse Of Drugs (Amendment) Regulations 2021 without replacing them immediately, meaning that PSPs (and other organisations in the print supply chain) will not now require a licence for substances containing GBL (such as some printing inks) as would otherwise have been the case from that June 2022 date.

The change follows extensive representation to the Home Office carried out by the members of the Graphic, Paper and Media Association (GPMA whose members include the BPIF, IPIA, Picon, and British Coatings Federation) together with the wider chemicals supply chain, notably the Chemicals Business Association and the Alliance of Chemical Associations.

Charles Jarrold, chair of the GPMA and chief executive of the BPIF, says of the development: “We are relieved that the proposed legislation has been withdrawn, and that a full consultation will now be carried out to determine the best way forward. We were particularly encouraged by, and appreciative of, the support that the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy gave us in this process, and the level of engagement from the Home Office. Not only did we coordinate through the GPMA across the entire print supply chain, but we worked closely with the wider chemicals supply chain throughout this process”.

Tom Bowtell, chief executive of the BCF and chair of the Alliance of Chemical Associations, adds: “We welcome that Government has listened to the concerns of industry and agreed to redraft the required regulations. This creates space for proper consultation with businesses as new legislation is drafted over the coming months. We hope these discussions will lead to a more proportionate and effective law, one which delivers on the Government’s aims but which does not unduly penalise legitimate users of these substances across the chemical supply chain, nor in the manufacturing or other sectors.”

The Home Office will now conduct a public consultation on how best to achieve the intended outcome of preventing the sale of bogus industrial products intended for illicit use. Subject to consultation and ministerial agreement, their intention is to seek views on the introduction of a licensing requirement which may contain some exemptions. Existing applicants for a licence will be contacted by the Home Office’s Drugs and Firearms Licensing to explain the next steps in relation to their application, with a view to new legislation coming into force in March 2023.

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ISN’T HEAD

Technology | What to Watch

“R&D for a merchant is about ensuring you are a relevant partner to your customers, helping them to overcome their challenges and meet their own directional objectives. R&D is working with ink manufacturers, OEM hardware companies, tooling companies and independent testing companies to ensure we have market leading, high performing products. R&D is the work we do with our customer base or with industry bodies such as POPAI, which gives insight and education on key topics.”

At Guandong Italy, its president Eduardo Elmi points out that its “green vocation began in 2010, when the Green Life brand was registered. The aim was to create more ecofriendly product ranges, by developing new, increasingly more recyclable and environmentally friendly supports as you can see in our Green Revolution Manifesto.”

The company produces and distributes what Elmi refers to as “synthetic media” for all types of printing, and he says that in his opinion: “In the super-large-format (over 180cm) sector and, in general, the market invests little in researching new solutions. Large investments are however made in researching new solutions for materials on rolls, in the intermediate widths between 90cm and 160cm, and even larger ones for those in sheet-format. This research has focused on the creation of environmentally friendly multiplayer products using recycled raw materials, and surfaces made with polymers, copolymers, coatings and compounds that permit a high

20 | June / July 2022

level of printability with the various technologies, using both toners and the various types of inks for inkjet and offset printing. The inside of these new products is made with 60-80% recycled materials, and the surfaces with materials that are 100% recyclable.”

During the past two years or so of the Covid pandemic, Guandong invested more than 4% of its turnover in applied R+D. Elmi points out that: “Thanks to our R+D investments, we have developed several truly innovative products, many of which are designed for specific applications.”

The newest media from Guandong, presented at Print4All in Milan in May, is Bassel Trio, a recycled crystalline polyester inside and compounded PP outside, suitable for any kind of printing technology on both sides (available in rolls and sheets).

InkTec MD Joey Kim says that “the majority of our new consumables products are environmentally focused, largely driven by the market demand. This is why, as a business, we are continuing to strive to research and develop products that meet this demand and focus our attentions on achieving the various environmental accreditations that add to the quality and credibility of the products.”

Overall, South Korea-based InkTec, probably best known for its Jetrix printers, invests around 5% of its annual turnover in R+D. Kim says that “at the moment, R+D is focused on various types of UV curable inks. This is

Technology | What to Watch

centred on various ranges of printheads including Epson, Ricoh, Toshiba and for a range of Konica printheads.

This focus on inks for other large-format printing manufacturers is combined with also developing the UV inks for our own Jetrix LED UV printers.

“The critical reasons are because the market is moving from solvent to either latex or UV curable, driven by the cost of materials and also that no VOCs are produced while printing. At InkTec, we have a great understanding of the dispersion process and have been developing our own UV curable ink for our own UV printer for the last 15 years. As a result, we are using this expertise and knowledge to extend it into custom developments for other brands.

“From InkTec’s perspective the environmental aspect is imperative in our consumables product development.

That is why we are focused on achieving accreditations such as the Reach regulation and Oeko-Tex Eco Passport for our products. Practically, there are various types of regulations in Europe - all focused on addressing environmental concerns to reduce carbon footprint, reduce waste and energy consumption.

“Beside digital printing ink, we also produce substrates and our own range of non-PVC based media is 100% recyclable due to it being only PP and PET based material.”

Mark Mashiter, managing director of Soyang Europe says the group has spent in excess of $10m in new plant and machinery to process non-PVC materials and textile coating of yarns made from PET bottle waste. This is in conjunction with green production using solar energy, wind turbines and natural gas energy to reduce the company’s own carbon footprint.

“We have developed our Solar range of non-PVC banner, mesh and blockout materials as viable alternatives to PVC. Alongside these we also have the SoTex R range of textiles produced from recycled polyester textile or PET bottle waste reclaimed from the oceans. These ranges are made up to 5m wide maximum and Soyang has the OEKO-TEX certification, Reach and Global Recycling Standard.” Both ranges were developed during lockdowns and brought to market late 2021.

Joel Willcock, commercial director materials, CMYUK, which distributes a number of consumables products for the wide-format print sector, points out that “CMYUK has a desire to sculpt the range of materials being used in our industry to be as environmentally-friendly as possible at the point of manufacturing, to install and at end of life.” Its portfolio includes the Kavalan range (already discussed by its maker Taya), UFabrik dye-sub materials, and Pongs media.

Sebastian Tens, junior head of sales at the latter says its R+D is currently focussing on products suitable for pigment inks and the growing home decor market, and on recyclable fabrics. Those new for 2022 include: Softimage Contrast Whiteback, a double-side printable fabric; and Softimage Creaseless Premium Recycled for display applications.

At EFI, spokesperson David Lindsey says the company spends around 15-20% of revenue on R+D, and that its ink research - done in conjunction with the development of new hardware platforms - is focused on giving customers new application opportunities, greater versatility as well as improved sustainability.

“EFI helped expand customers’ digital print

THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECT IS IMPERATIVE IN OUR CONSUMABLES PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

opportunities into new markets and applications several years ago with its patented digital inks for deep-draw thermoforming applications. That ink technology has been a proven success as a significantly faster, cost-effective, alternative to manual processes used to print formed 3D products. One of EFI’s next ink launches will be an enhanced, new version of those award-winning inks, and they will deliver exceptional versatility and opportunity for current customers.

“EFI have also developed a new offering for its roll-toroll printers - an enhanced clear ink offering even better protective qualities.”

At Hybrid Services, Mimaki’s exclusive distributor for the UK and Ireland, managing director Brett Newman refers to the manufacturer’s core goal of delivering ‘something new, something different’ and says its R+D continues to focus on key areas where it can make a tangible difference, with consideration not just for environmental factors.

“Firstly, Mimaki has considered where it can help drive efficiencies for the end user. An excellent example is the recently released 330 Series, offered as a solvent printer and integrated printer/cutter, with both featuring a built in XY cutter. This additional functionality is labour saving, reduces waste, and is a cost-effective finishing solution for print businesses.

“Secondly, Mimaki has evaluated where it can adapt and improve its technology to open up other avenues.

This is well demonstrated by how it delivered new and profitable applications from existing hardware and inks, such as its LED UV ink utilised by flatbeds like the JFX200-2513EX to create 2.5D tactile print.

“Lastly, we have very recently seen how by using existing technology to open new marketplaces, whole new product lines can be born. By employing similar ink technology found on the UJF direct-to-object printers to engineer the new 3D printer range, Mimaki created the world’s first full colour 3D printer.”

Duncan Smith, country director, production printing products, Canon UK and Ireland stresses its corporate vision to operate according to the philosophy of kyosei living and working together for the common good. “It is therefore very important that inks as well as our printers support the circular economy, so we carry out extensive R+D and work closely with sustainable commercial and academic partners.

“Our UV and UVgel inks, formulated without the use of HAPs and VOCs, have been awarded the UL Greenguard Gold certificate. Compared to other ink technologies, such as latex or eco-solvent inks, UV and UVgel inks require considerably less ink to build up the same image quality and colour intensity, allowing for up to 50% less ink to be consumed.

Phil McMullin, head of sales commercial and industrial printing, Epson (UK), points out that: “Despite the pandemic, Epson continues to spend an average of $1.2m per day on R+D across all its business divisions. It’s fair to say that wide-format is a significant growth area and therefore allocated a substantial portion of this funding.

“Over the last few years we have seen the launch of new inksets in aqueous, eco-solvent, resin, UV, dye-sub, DTG and direct to fabric. So the market can expect to see further advances from Epson in these areas.”

www.imagereportsmag.co.uk | 21

Environment

ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY CAN WE GET BETTER ANY TIME SOON AT RECOVERING USED LARGE-FORMAT PRINT FOR RECYCLING? MACROART MD MICHAEL GREEN TACKLES THE QUESTIONS OF HOW REALISTIC THAT IS, AND WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING IT HAPPEN. At the risk of providing an oversimplified response to the question of whether we can recover print once it’s gone out into the big wide world, the clear answer is that the recovery of materials and exhibition collateral for recycling efficiently is eminently realistic. The efforts that MacroArt and many firms within our industry are making in establishing effective material recycling as an integral part of agreements with clients is a promising indication of true intent, and one which will assuredly gain momentum However, the cold hard truth behind this statement is that for the effective recycling of large-format print to be globally realistic, every single player in every single sector within our industry must work together, in a constant drive for recyclability and sustainability at scale. And thus, it needs to be a universal responsibility that must be embraced by us all. And we need to start now.

THE KEY ELEMENTS Indeed, at MacroArt, our journey has already begun in earnest to embrace core elements of the sustainability equation. Firstly, the use of sustainable materials that do not require recycling; secondly, the use of materials that are truly recyclable; thirdly, the identification of certifiable, robust and quantifiable recycling waste streams, into which these recycled materials can be fed.

To encourage this, the team at MacroArt has, for some time, been providing clients with proposals that promote engagement in one or more of these three elements. We offer the choice of multi-use frameworks and hoardings, easily recyclable materials options, and an at-cost recycling element included in our proposals.

This last option provides for MacroArt to de-rig, transport all materials from site, and sort them, before ensuring they are introduced into certified waste recycling streams. In this way, clients can be assured that everything possible is being done to minimise (and already in some cases) eliminate waste.

It is encouraging to see more and more clients engaging in this particular option, and whilst it does not necessarily lead to them immediately creating their own effective closed-loop waste recycling, the increased awareness of its importance is a positive contribution to progress in this area.

A FOURTH ELEMENT All of these first three elements are within our control, and we are making strong, positive and measurable progress in our drive towards true carbon neutrality, by informing clients and making it easier for them to embrace managed waste solutions.

However, in the world of exhibition venues, the ability to ensure effective recycling is more complex and often presents a considerable challenge. The hundreds of exhibitors participating engage a host of different agencies, print firms, stand builders, installers and fabricators - all of which are at different stages in their sustainability journeys.

During the break-down of their stands, exhibitors are often provided with limited recycling options, with nothing other than conventional waste skips. Addressing this urgently, together and as an industry, so as to facilitate wider recycling is an absolute imperative.

PROGRESS Clearly, for our industry to make serious progress in the development of sustainability across our sector, a number of key issues must be addressed, and broader, more collaborative initiatives explored and developed.

The issue, as we all know, is complex and not currently without additional costs, but the move towards true sustainability is no longer an option but a necessity, for both our industry and the wider world.

And as sustainability becomes increasingly embedded in the structure of commercial operations as an essential, everyday part of each and every project, the premiums currently incurred will diminish to the point where cost is no longer an issue.

RECYCLING WILL BECOME AS MUCH AN INTEGRAL PART OF DAILY COMMERCE AS PRICING, PRINTING AND INSTALLATION

THE FUTURE? Fortunately, organisations like Essa, Fespa and isla are already delivering strong advisory support, enabling collaboration, and working on practical initiatives - such as the development of stronger, more accessible certified waste recycling streams - and providing advice on the sourcing of recyclable materials across the industry. MacroArt is a member, and staunch supporter, of all three.

Furthermore, an increasing number of brands are becoming more vocal in demanding sustainable solutions, and it is only through an industry-wide collaboration that real progress can be made in the creation of robust, accessible and cost-effective recycling streams. Once these are established, recycling will become as much an integral part of daily commerce as pricing, printing and installation.

MAJOR ECO PROJECT A CINCH FOR MACROART A multi-site festivals signage and graphics project has highlighted MacroArt’s eco-capabilities, with 1,500m2 of PVC-free materials used for the events, all of which was recovered afterwards for recycling.

MacroArt was commissioned by Creation Live for its client, Cinch, to handle graphics at the Creamfields, TRNSMT and Isle of Wight Festivals last summer. As the main sponsor of all three events, Cinch made a greatly reduced carbon footprint key to the brief. MacroArt collaborated with experiential expert Creation Live, in partnership with festival structures firm The Halo Group, to design and produce a multi-level activation space from scratch in just over a fortnight, using PVC-free materials throughout, which it estimates delivered a carbon saving of 69% over conventional materials.

www.imagereportsmag.co.uk | 23

Environment

BECOMING ECO SURE MANCHESTER-BASED MEDIACO HAS BEEN ‘GREENING-UP’ ITS OPERATIONS FOR YEARS AND RECENTLY INTRODUCED A NEW CARBON REDUCTION PROGRAMME CALLED ECOSURE THAT IS SUPPORTED BY INVESTMENT IN TWO HP LATEX 3600 PRINTERS AND A HP STITCH S1000. SO WHAT IS THE COMPANY’S ECO ETHOS? HERE’S WHAT GROUP OPERATIONS DIRECTOR STEPHEN ARTHUR HAS TO SAY. MediaCo deserves to be applauded for its sustainability initiatives and achievements yet, when we last spoke, you told me “I’m not a sustainability evangelist, I am a business realist.” Can you explain what you mean by that in terms of MediaCo’s eco strategy?

From a manufacturing perspective, building a sustainable graphics business means considering all aspects of compliance, and as a leading provider we feel it’s also our duty to ensure we are at the forefront of sustainable manufacturing practice.

We now have a history of setting example. We achieved ISO 14001 back in 2008 and have since got ISO 19001, ISO 18001, ISO 45001. We followed EU Reach regulations from 2008 to 2018, and in 2015, as part of our sustainability development we invited the Carbon Trust to report on our business and we’ve implemented a lot of their recommendations. Right back in 2001 we started getting involved in carbon offsetting as a proactive commitment to improving the environment. And, recently, we completed the Eco Vardis sustainability assessment, at the request of a major client. The reality is they are increasingly looking at our credentials and at the depth and range of sustainability measures.

I raise these points because we aim to provide the client with the most up-to-date sustainable choice of product and be the most sustainable type of business they can choose. We are looking to reduce energy, water, ink use, waste etc. The reality is that sustainability and productivity co-exist.

The company has worked hard on its sustainability standing as you’ve outlined, MediaCo Ecosure being the latest initiative. Can you tell us more about the programme, and what part the recent investment in HP Latex and Stich printers has to play in that?

We created MediaCo Ecosure to show clients what we can deliver from an environmental perspective. The HP investment is very relevant because we’ve spent the last two years working with suppliers to make sure we know about all the latest eco media, inks, equipment etc. but it’s important to be able to talk about the whole print cycle.

We want to be very transparent and so Ecosure shows clients samples of product and provides them with data sheets, and we also provide our own sustainability cycle, which covers everything

I’M NOT A SUSTAINABILITY EVANGELIST, I AM A BUSINESS REALIST

from raw material sourcing, through all the stages of manufacturing, to post print and recovery of waste and opportunities to recycle.

If you want to understand the MediaCo sustainability model let me give you some examples. In 2008 the factory used 95% solvent ink-based technologies. Today, with the HP Latex and Stich machines - and there’s another Stitch on the horizon - we have 65% water-based print production and 30% UV-based and just 5% solventbased - so you can see the sea change.

Also, since we’ve invested in this technology, the HP Stitch has completed 103,000m2 of print, and it’s had a technical downtime of 3% - quite incredible. So, the performance and consistency is excellent. The two Latex machines, between them, have produced 70,000m2 and they have a similar technical downtime. I bring this up, because when you’re looking at this from an environmental perspective you think about the benefits of the water-based technology. But, the other, less obvious winner, it that these machines are incredibly reliable.

The colour is incredibly consistent. It means that from a manufacturing point of view we are by default reducing generational waste and improving productivity.

If you put all that together, we feel we have a very credible sustainability business model.

For so long, so many printers have told me that when it comes to environmental concerns, customers are only interested in recycled materials and related cost. Do you think that’s finally changing, and how imperative is it that you are involved in having that wider conversation?

It’s totally changing, and unavoidable. And we have to recognise that it’s complex. It’s not just about the technologies, inks and materials etc., it’s about the whole cycle and all of those involved in it.

Customers are now more discerning, and the reason we created the Ecosure programme is that, at a glance, people should be able to say ‘Ah, this company understands all aspects of the sustainability model’, right through to what we call on-trend investment.

On-trend investment means that you’d naturally expect that if you’re keeping up to date with technology, you’re getting improved productivity, lower energy consumption, reduced waste through better colour consistency etc. That, in conjunction with our other practices, make us a more sustainable company. The story has moved on and so have our clients.

www.imagereportsmag.co.uk | 25

Think Bigger | Gallery

a. ‘Peeing’ billboard tackles taboos

OOH specialist Kinetic worked with creative agency Don’t Cry Wolf to deliver a billboard ad that ‘urinates’ on those passing by. The 6m poster for the femtech brand Elvie is part of a campaign to tackle the taboos around female incontinence.

Elvie launched its campaign weeks after TikTok banned a video on the brand’s profile that showed a weightlifting influencer leaking urine while weightlifting. The new ad shows 28-year-old mum Megan Burns, who suffers incontinence and associated taboos, lifting weights while real water leaks from between her legs and down the billboard. The tagline reads ‘Leaks Happen’.

a. b.

b. Fit for a queen WTTB (wherethetradebuys) produced a range of customised street-party products to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubliee. It included a ‘sitee’ - a to scale, waist up, cardboard cut-out of Her Majesty.

c. The king of cut-outs Ashton-under-Lyne based Star Cutouts has invested in trend analysis software, AI and new automation machinery to help it deliver what MD Ian Ravey forecasts could be a fivefold increase in turnover within the next five years.

c.

d. Turners turns up the heat Barnsley-based family-run sign-making business Turner Signs used PVC-free Drytac Polar Street FX to create this striking exterior wall graphic for new local Mexican restaurant ICO.

e. Hollywood Monster plays a blinder Hollywood Monster delivered this incredible Peaky Blinders public art display on Hill Street, Birmingham.

For every picture used on social media using #Brum4BCH and @CastleGalleries, £1 was be donated to Birmingham Children's Hospital and Charity. Nice!

d.

f. KGKGenix drinks it in KGKGenix completed a job for Beavertown Brewery which was seeking to create a two-storey craft bar from a container in Hatch, Manchester. Using images supplied from Beavertown’s creative director, the PSP brought the bar to life by installing graphics to the outside of the container, and large-format wallpaper inside, on the windows and on the tabletops. It also painted the stairs to the craft bar theatre.

e.

f. www.imagereportsmag.co.uk | 27

Forum

DIGGING BELOW THE SURFACE WITH INDUSTRY MOLE ‘Five ways SMEs can save money’ said the email heading. Always interested in ways of economising - it’s in the Mole DNA - I opened it but stopped reading after the second tip: ‘Utilise your workforce’. In other words, make sure your workers are actually doing some work. After that devastating insight, I hit ’delete’ as fast as I could.

One way that Mole Graphics has saved money is by not going to Fespa. I’ve been to Berlin twice and always found it a bit gloomy.

That wasn’t the main reason for giving it a miss this year. Like almost everyone I know in the business, I’m keeping my powder dry until it becomes clearer whether we’re heading for a micro-recession, a mini-recession or the biggest economic meltdown since the 2008 credit crunch.

My money is one of the first two. Not because I believe this government knows how to run an economy but because, as far as I’m aware, the banks haven’t been wagering stupid money on mortgages that are never going to be repaid.

Comments please to industrymole@imagereportsmag.co.uk

THE PRINT SHOW

FUTUREPRINT SUMMIT

SIGN AND DIGITAL UK

DRUPA

When?

20 - 22 September, 2022

When?

29 - 30 June, 2022

When?

21 - 23 March, 2023

When?

28 May - 7June, 2024

Where?

NEC, Birmingham

Where?

Geneva, Switzerland

Where?

NEC, Birmingham

Where?

Messe Dusseldorf, Germany

Cost?

TBD

Cost? £1,000

Cost?

Free

Cost?

TBD

Who will be there?

This is a ‘general’ print exhibition so you’ll find a smattering of exhibitors from across the whole spectrum.

Who will be there?

The first day is at the Palexpo Congress Centre with keynote presentations, panels, and talks from leaders from outside as well as inside the print sector. The second day, at nearby Villa Sarasin, has a round-table discussion format, covering topics such as the supply chain crises, bottlenecks, localisation, net-zero targets, skills shortages, technology development and integration.

Who will be there?

Expect an array of exhibitors from across the the sign and digital print space.

Who will be there?

It’s so far ahead of the event that it’s pointless looking at the exhibitor list yet but, suffice to say, you can expect most of the major players to get involved.

Should you go?

If you want a UK-based overview of what’s out there.

Should you go?

Sounds a thought-provoking meeting of minds.

Should you go?

If you want to network in the Midlands.

Should you go?

Decide closer to the time, but it’s worth noting the dates.

EVENTS 28 | June / July 2022

Even so, given the general air of nervousness among Mole Graphics’ customers this would be a strange time to splash out on new kit.

The printers we bought a couple of years ago are running pretty well, are kinder to the environment than most, and I haven’t seen or heard of a technological breakthrough large enough to give Mole Graphics a distinct competitive edge.

One of the most irritating clichés in business is that if your company is standing still it’s falling behind. I blame Shakespeare - all that tide in the affairs of men stuff. I’ve never believed that probably because, over the years, I’ve seen too many print service providers boldly going forward before scrambling to find reverse. There are periods in business, as in life, when the best thing you can do is mark time. I’m not interested in doubling the size of the business if it puts the company at risk. My grandfather used to say - I think he heard it from an American comedian - that stupidity can get you into messes, but it can’t get you out of them.

Rating

5/10

Rating

8/10

Rating

6/10

Rating

8/10

Forum

LEGAL EAGLE LEGAL EAGLE

MANAGING GROSS MISCONDUCT FROM MENZIES LAW

Menzies Law has seen enough gross misconduct cases to know that matters are not always clear-cut. Here we share our experience of such cases and our collective learnings from these.

• I f as an employer you want to make employees realise how important it is to follow a rule, make sure it is written down. It is certainly correct that ‘gross misconduct’ lists in staff handbooks are examples only.

However, if your business has some very clear rules about things, then make sure they’re clearly stated somewhere.

• J ust because you have acted one way in the past it doesn’t mean you have to exactly follow that path again. Whilst consistency is a benchmark in employment law cases, there is always room for some flexibility if circumstances dictate. Someone could be guilty of gross misconduct for shouting obscenities at their supervisor. However, a long-serving employee who happens to be going through a very difficult bereavement for example, could be still be guilty of gross misconduct but given a final written warning instead. This does not create a ‘precedent’.

•K eep an open mind during investigations.

Too often we see investigations whose only purpose seems to be prove misconduct rather than a genuine fact-finding exploration. Closed

or ‘cross examination’ style questions to the witnesses are the big give-away here.

• F ew employers relish sacking an employee for gross misconduct. That being said, we have known employers who just want to get rid of someone, trying to come up with a case that will stick.

•D on’t jump on any misconduct just because you are trying to dismiss someone. We often receive calls from employers believing they have ‘got’ someone - only for us to advise that we don’t see a case of gross misconduct being made out. If you really want someone to leave your organisation have a grownup discussion or a protected conversation instead.

•M ake sure your employee is aware of the evidence against him or her. You do not necessarily have to hand over everything, particularly in a sensitive case or where confidentiality is an issue. However, if you make your findings on information you have seen but your employee hasn’t, there is a clear path to a finding of unfair dismissal.

• T he ACAS Code is excellent - but it is not an instruction manual. It is right to be mindful of the Code because failure to adhere to it can see an uplift in compensation, but it does provide for flexibility. If it is fair and

reasonable to follow a particular route, make sure you let the employee know why you are doing it.

•B e prepared to be flexible during hearings.

We’ve seen cases lost where an employer has refused a short adjournment to an employee. We know that can be felt to be a delaying tactic but being as flexible as you can will be helpful if you end up defending an Employment Tribunal claim.

•Y ou can short-circuit your processes if the employee has less than two years’ service.

But do so with care. Yes, they cannot bring a claim for unfair dismissal due to lack of service. But, do you want to have a two-tier organisation where only those with sufficient service get a ‘fair hearing’? Also without due process you might miss other ‘day one’ claims that might be lurking discrimination, whistleblowing, health and safety detriment.

•A ‘breakdown in trust and confidence’ will not always equal gross misconduct.

Employment Tribunals have ‘wised up’ to the employers who use this catch all phrase to justify a gross misconduct dismissal. You may no longer trust your employee because they messed up a sales pitch, but again - how about a grown up chat or protected conversation instead?

www.imagereportsmag.co.uk | 29

Zeitgeist

No-code a no brainer COLIN MCMAHON - SENIOR MARKET RESEARCH ANALYST AT PTC FOCUSED ON UNDERSTANDING HOW DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION EMPOWER ORGANISATIONS, PROCESSES, AND PEOPLE - OUTLINES THE VALUE OF NO-CODE SOFTWARE TOOLS. - users without specialised coding experience can still take advantage of WordPress while professionals use the presets as jumping off points and to save valuable time.

Remember the 3D printing craze of the 2010s? With prices coming down, consumers were eager to get their hands on their own 3D printers. Marketers helped, of course, by stirring up the hype: “Create whatever you can think of!” This statement sparked imagination and was technically accurate. With only a 3D printer and the right materials, users could make anything they wanted…provided they knew how to create 3D designs with CAD or another programming tool. But just like that, the adoption of consumer 3D printing hit a wall it has yet to scale. With a programming barrier, not everyone could expect to actually use their 3D printer the way they wanted. In fact, the technology became locked behind requirements in education, restricting its user base and reducing its total market penetration.

If you can understand why companies would want to avoid this situation, then congratulations - you see the inherent value in no-code tools.

SO WHAT EXACTLY ARE NO-CODE TOOLS? In software, no-code tools are, as their name suggests, tools, platforms, and applications that can be created without any knowledge of, or training in, computer programming. These tools have existed for some time but they’ve been gaining in popularity as more people shift their lives and businesses to the digital space.

If you’ve ever heard an advertisement for Squarespace or WordPress, these are both no-code tools that enable any user to build a functioning website. The goal of nocode tools is to replicate the capabilities of computer coding without requiring the knowledge.

Of course, being no-code doesn’t mean being strictly no-code. To go back to WordPress - many website developers use the platform because, while it has numerous templates, settings, and no-code features, it also enables the educated user to supplement and advance what has already been provided. In a sense, it becomes the best of both worlds

30 | June / July 2022

THERE IS SIMPLY TOO MUCH DEPENDENCE ON THE DIGITAL LANDSCAPE AND NOT ENOUGH SPECIALISED KNOWLEDGE TO GO ALONG WITH IT

THE ADDED VALUE OF NO-CODE TOOLS By understanding what no-code tools are, their value becomes apparent. No-code tools allow organisations to expand their product reach without waiting for the knowledge-base of the market to mature. It even goes so far as to create new business models that take advantage of that lack of specialised knowledge. By selling a subscription to a nocode toolset, companies create recurring revenue that can be easily maintained and expanded upon. Again, think of WordPress, which operates as a software as a service (SaaS) provider charging clients annual fees in addition to other costs surrounding premium features.

In today’s business world, IT knowledge is at a premium.

IT departments are stressed from not only maintaining existing operations, but frequently being asked to expand into new programs, platforms, and initiatives. Remember too that many of these IT groups are also ensuring their respective companies have adequate remote infrastructure to empower hybrid work, while working to maintain cybersecurity in this new operational model.

Using no-code tools allows for some of the pressure to be lifted from IT responsibility, or at least reduce the oversight needed. This makes no-code tools powerful options for marketing departments and sales teams (Hubspot CMS and Marketing Hub are no-code tools, as are MailChimp and Google Analytics). Whether it’s building a website, an online database, or an app, no-code tools are empowering the average worker without adding additional strain to IT resources.

HOW NO-CODE TOOLS CAN HELP PRINT When it comes to the print industry, no-code tools are already being used in a variety of ways. To go back to Hubspot, many print providers are constructing more comprehensive sales databases to help streamline customer experience and improve retention. Marketers can use no-code augmented reality (AR) solutions to add additional depth to printed marketing campaigns (which can also be managed online through additional no-code tools).

Organisations, such as Xerox, are even building their own no-code solutions. Xerox Workflow Central is, at the end of the day, a collection of specialised print-centric applications designed to let users access advanced features and functionalities of document management without programming their own in-house solutions. This no-code toolset is available, you guessed it, solely through SaaS, giving Xerox recurring revenue in exchange for continued product support and improvement.

Whether they’re being utilised for internal optimisation or for external revenue growth, no-code tools are increasingly common and here to stay. There is simply too much dependence on the digital landscape and not enough specialised knowledge to go along with it.

Weblook | Inks / Hardware

Josero is specialised in new and used wide format equipment sales and maintenance.

We are an authorised Agfa, Mimaki & Ricoh reseller as well as exclusive distributors for Triangle inks, Bubble Free applicators and Comagrav cutters.

For expert wide format advice call the team on 01954 232 564 or visit our Cambridge showroom.

www.josero.com

Landor Phototex Self-Adhesive Fabric Peel and Stick Recyclable and Repositionable.

Phototex is the no stretch, no tear, no residue, no surface damaging fabric that is easy to apply and reapply again and again and again. See for yourself - contact for a sample.

01252 624411 - info@landorUK.com

www.landoruk.com

YPS specialise in wide format printing solutions, finishing equipment and print software. We are authorised resellers for Mimaki, Roland, Epson, Easymount and Flexa.

We provide OEM inks and consumables and supply a wide range of digital print media including Drytac and Metamark.

Our dedicated service team offer installation, technical support and training, maintenance and extended warranty packages.

Call the team on 0191 256 6889 for more info or visit:

www.yourprintspecialists.co.uk

Spandex supplies materials and equipment to the graphics industry. Our portfolio includes Avery Dennison, 3M, ImagePerfect, Arlon, Orafol, HP, Epson, Roland and more.

Online store – training – next day delivery

www.spandex.co.uk

Enhance, Protect and extend the life of inkjet Prints with Landor Liquid Lamination Easy to apply by handroller, brush or spray, Landor coatings ensure the longevity and durability of prints.

Anti-Graffiti – Vehicles – Wallcoverings – Truck sides – Anti-Microbial 01252 624411 - info@landorUK.com

www.landoruk.com

Airplac® foam board is made in the UK. The lightweight panels come in all formats up to 3050x1524mm. The polystyrene foamboards are rigid, white and extra light. A new 100% recyclable XPS panel Airplac®PRINTFOAM is perfect for environmentally responsible campaigns.

www.airplac.co.uk

Drytac has been a leading international manufacturer of adhesive-coated products, digital print media and protection films for the graphics Drytac has been a leading international manufacturer and industrial markets for over 40 years.

of adhesive-coated products, digital print media and www.drytac.com protection films for the graphics and industrial markets for over 40 years.

www.drytac.com