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CONTENTS
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REGULARS:
6 NEWS
Keeping you abreast of all the latest news in relation to digital wide-format print.
8 COVER STORY ADVERTORIAL
Canon maximises sustainability with the new Colorado M-Series and Arizona 1300 series with FLOW technology
24 FORUM
Digging below the surface with Industry Mole; Out and About events diary; Over to You interview; Vital stats.
26 ZEITGEIST
The BPIF calls on you to get involved in its new Schools Engagement Programme
SECTIONS:
TECHNICAL
10 Know the newcomers
A look at the product introductions made in the first half of the year.
BUSINESS
15 Exclusivity: making the most of it
How to establish and market your niche capabilities.
16 Top Tips
How to ensure your company is truly inclusive.
19 Help the IPIA help print
Why you should make your voice heard.
20 Talking Point
…on CSR issues with Data Image founder and CEO Rob Farfort
ENVIRONMENT
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 enews bulletin straight to your inbox – register at: www.imagereportsmag.co.uk/ newsletter
23 Cleaning up z For Fespa Global launches see feature p10 z Brett Martin brings out Foamalux Light Bio z Kao Chimigraf launches eco-friendly Acqua ink z KGK Genix names youth placement competition winners z BPIF calls for apprenticeship standards input z Ast secures PAS 2060 carbon neutral status z SDUK 2024 dates confirmed z Kyocera shows new Forearth textile printer z Onyx shows next major software update z ICScolor updates Remote Director proofing offering z YPS to resell iEcho cutting tables z UFabrik opens production facility to service US market z Consumer attitudes towards paper is shifting z Atlantic appointed SignRacer reseller z swissQprint reaches 100 UK installations z ISA-UK announces David Allen as new president z Optimum Signs becomes printIQ’s first V46 customer z Fujifilm joins Brett Martin partner programme z UK Graphic Awards 2023 calls for entries z Color-Logic certifies Fluid Color UV-curable inkjet printers z Antalis to acquire Integart visual communication group z Fiery and Mimaki join forces to show DTF solution z Amethyst A50-RIG inks get Greenguard Gold status z Keypoint publishes Worldwide Digital Textile Forecast z Steve Billow becomes CEO of Fujifilm Dimatrix z John Alden appointed printIQ CEO z ArtSystems joins ISA-UK as a commercial partner z Mutoh MS51 inks get VOC emissions thumbs up z Durst UK/Ireland appoints business development manager z Konica Minolta launches AccurioWide 250 z New Dispare from 3A Composites z MacroArt handles major print waste exercise z Berger Textiles bolsters its US operations z Xaar donates £37,220 to Break charity z Zund Q 32-32 D wins Red Dot award z Michael Grade becomes Printing Charity president z OKI Europe appoints new MD z elix Schoeller introduces new DTF z IPIA announces Spring Networking Lunch date z Flint confirms commitment to SBTi initiative z Apogee set to acquire Argon Business Systems z Hybrid sees financial uplift z Compass Business finance appoints new specialist z Case studies from Agfa, CMYUK, Drytac, Fujifilm, HP, Ricoh, RSR, swissQprint
Should you be joining RMC, Hollywood Monster and Octink in offering Clean Air?
BPIF survey shows UK print industry contracted in Q1
The first quarter of 2023 turned out to be significantly more challenging than expected for the UK’s printing/packaging industry according to the latest Printing Outlook survey from the BPIF. Output and orders both suffered declines in Q1 as high costs, higher prices, and subdued demand all combined to restrain production. However, the outlook for Q2 was much more positive.
The survey revealed that 33% of printers managed to increase their output levels in Q1 and a further 29% were able to hold output steady. However, the remaining 38% experienced a decline in levels. The resulting balance (the difference between the ups and the downs) was -5, below the +4 in Q4 2022, and well below the Q1 forecast (+11). This ends the seven consecutive quarter of positive output growth that the industry has experienced as part of the recovery from the impacts of Covid and comes just as it looks as though cost increases are balancing out.
A significantly more positive output balance was expected for Q2 with output growth forecast to increase for 43% of companies, with 48% predicting that they would be able to hold output levels steady in Q2.
Unlike orders and output, confidence in Q1 continued to closely track expectations - and
eProductivity acquires Tharstern
US-based eProductivity Software (ePS) has acquired UK MIS developer Tharstern. ePS said the move solidifies its position in the SMB print segment and will help drive geographical diversification of the business while adding new technologies to its portfolio.
“We are excited to welcome Tharstern’s customers and talented employees to the ePS family,” said Gaby Matsliach, CEO of ePS. “We will continue to support Tharstern’s existing customers with the same enthusiasm they have come to expect, and we look forward to providing them with additional value by leveraging ePS’ global presence, industry knowhow, and rich product portfolio.”
WOO sets up OOH sustainability task force
The World Out of Home Organization (WOO) has set up a Sustainability Task Force in its mission to green-up out-of-home (OOH) advertising. It will be led by BlowUP Media’s Katrin Robertson and a panel of 11 other members - which are JCDecaux chief sustainability and quality officer Lénaïc Pineau, Clear Channel UK CMO Martin Corke, Annina B. Bleek, senior VP Solutions Studio, Stroer Media Solutions, Evolve OOH’s Danielle Austin, Omnicom Media Group’s head of sustainable solutions Stephanie Helen Scheller, Adam Green of remained negative. However, confidence was expected to be boosted throughout Q2.
Broadsign Reach, in Canada, Dentsu Global Head of OOH Ben Milne, the US OAAA’s Jeff Jan, Primedia Outdoor in South Africa’s Jorja Wilkins, Judd Guthmiller of Daktronics, and Kai-Marcus Thasler from Germany’s OOH trade association.
The intention is to share ways to maximise the positive impact of OOH platforms and minimise their OOH carbon footprint. The aim is to support WOO members to sharply reduce emissions and make a positive contribution to achieving global targets for greenhouse gas reduction.
Energy costs remained the top business concern for PSPs, having been the number one concern since April 2022. Energy costs were selected by 68%, down from 75% in January, and 83% in October. Competitor pricing levels - or rather the perception that some competitors are pricing below cost - was the second highest ranking concern, selected by 54% or respondents in April, the same proportion as in January.
The third ranking concern was wage pressures, selected by 50%. This is down from 51% in January but has entered the top three ranked concerns primarily due to a significant drop-off in the proportion of companies selecting substrate costs as one of their top concerns. Substrate costs has now fallen outside the top five ranking of concerns for the first time since January 2021.
Charles Jarrold, BPIF chief executive, said: “Prospects for later in the year still depend upon the UK navigating a smooth path through a period of continued high energy costs, stubborn inflation, and economic instability. Whilst there is no shortage of pressures for companies to deal with, inflation is still expected to fall sharply as we progress further through 2023, and energy costs are expected to settle further.”
MediaCo takes delivery of UK’s first swissQprint Kudu
Large-format print, display and graphics PSP MediaCo has taken delivery of the UK’s first swissQprint Kudu. The 3.2×2m flatbed machine has been installed at the company’s manufacturing site in Trafford Park, Manchester.
The 10-colour (CMYKLcLm, white, neon yellow and pink, varnish) printer has three rows of printheads to deliver a print resolution of 1350dpi and an output of up to 304m2/hr. Roll-to-roll and dual roll options mean that films, banner, mesh and other roll stock up to 180kg can be handled, as well as boards and sheet materials.
MediaCo MD Stephen Arthur said: “The flexibility, productivity and energy efficiency offered by the Kudu made it the perfect fit in support of our commitment to deliver innovation as part of our net zero, carbon reduction plan.”
As the approved beMatrix UK print partner, MediaCo will now showcase the Kudu’s latest creative and sustainable print as an integral part of the beMatrix display system for the exhibition, retail and live events sectors.
Arthur added: “Outstanding print quality, application of neon inks, and amazing 3D images on acrylic are just some of the innovative options we can now provide for the beMatrix system and will help revolutionise both the impact and sustainability of display graphics.”
Dominion Print invests another £500,000 in kit
Bradford-based Dominion Print is continuing its investment run with the commissioning of a Vutek Q5r super-wide reel-to-reel printer along with a fully automatic rolling machine and its second Zund G3 XL cutting system. The printer will double Dominion’s output speeds to 672m2 per hour.
The latest spend follows a recent £1m investment by the 40-year-old company in a Durst Rho 2500 UV flatbed printer, inline welding and sewing, and an eyeleting machine as it targets growth in its core markets, including entertainment, retail, events and construction.
Dominion Print director Verity Fox said: “Back in 1997 my father, Dominic Clark, invested in the Vutek UltraVu 5300 which, at the time, was state-of-the-art wide-format digital technology. Twenty-six years later, we’ve come full circle.
“The Vutek Q5r takes Dominion’s strength in large- and super-large-formats to the next level, raising the bar even further for our ability to provide high-end printing at lightning speeds.
“Just prior to the Vutek’s arrival we also invested in a second Zund G3 XL to ensure that our cutting and finishing capabilities were in step with our increased printing capacity. No other cutting or routing machine is as adaptable. It will operate alongside our original Zund G3 XL and other finishing kit, including a cutter for aluminium profiles and a Blackman and White blade and laser CAD system, which gives us the largest single bed cutting facility in Europe.”
Sign and Wrap Awards announced for 2024
The Sign Awards is to be expanded to include a number of wrap focussed categories for the 2024 competition, and the event will become the Sign and Wrap Awards.
The awards founder, Dan Tyler of Vism, said: “We added a printed vehicle wrap to sister event the UK Graphic Awards last year, collaborating with the guys at Amari Adapt to do so. Having looked at the make-up of the entrants at both events, we’ve decided it makes sense to bring the wrap community together to celebrate their achievements with the signmakers since there’s lot of crossover there”
The 2023 contest saw over 100 submissions to 11 categories. The next iteration will include five new categories, covering individual printed vehicle wraps of both traditional vehicles and those more out of the ordinary, fleet work, full colour changes and architectural film projects. The event will return to Birmingham for its 2024 edition, with a date to be announced later this year.
