Widthwise 2023

Welcome to Widthwise 2023

This spring - for the 16th consecutive year - we at Image Reports once again asked the UK’s wide-format digital inkjet print company chiefs to undertake the annual Widthwise Survey and provide us with business data that we could analyse and compile into this independent report. We were not disappointed - a massive thank you to the 176 companies that did just that, enabling us to deliver what is a grassroots data based overview of the sector.

Within this Widthwise Report 2023 you’ll find graphics depicting the data gathered, plus analysis of, and commentary on, all the findings. You’ll also find editorial features relating to key issues identified by those findings.

You can also find this full report online, where its free to download, at www.imagereportsmag.co.uk/widthwise.

Lesley Simpson Editor, Image Reports magazine lesley.simpson@imagereportsmag.co.uk

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

Design: Rob Castles

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

Tel: 020 7933 8976

Fax: 020 7933 8998 www.imagereportsmag.co.uk

The future is bright E

nergy bills and the state of the UK economy continue to worry so many of you running large-format print businesses according to the 2023 Widthwise survey. A massive 91.48% of the 176 print chiefs who provided their insider sector knowledge said energy costs were one of their biggest concerns , and 80.68% cited the general state of the economy. The cost of supplies was also flagged up by a significant 63.07%, with 65.34% having experienced supply chain disruption over the last year too. None of that is good, but this is - 91.48% of respondents said they were optimistic about their business over the next two years. Over half (52.84%) said they were ‘very’ optimistic. Only one company said they were ‘mildly’ pessimistic - and none were very pessimistic.

There’s good reason for the optimism. Almost two-thirds (63.64%) have seen turnover grow since the start of last year, and for 44.89% turnover was up by more than 10%, though we have to recognise that 11.93% saw a fall. Crucially, profit margins were also up for a large number - 47.16% had seen an increase since the start of 2022, with another 34.66% reporting theirs had remained stable. What’s more, 61.93% said they expected the UK wide-format market to grow over next two years, with only 2.27% expecting it to shrink.

The data, collected this spring, comes from a cross-section of UK-based large-format inkjet orientated PSPs. The full dataset is analysed within this report, but here's an easily digestible overview. Let’s start with priorities for business development in the short-term. Nearly half of the print bosses polled said growing turnover was their top ‘must-do’, with almost a quarter of the sample (23.30%) putting ‘entering new markets’ as their key priority. That sits comfortably with responses to questions regarding strategic changes implemented - or expected to be implemented - within the PSPs polled.

Although 44.32% said they’d not made any strategic changes across their business in 2022, a very significant 23.30% said they had restructured. And, looking ahead to the next two years, while 27.27% said they had no plans to make strategic change, the majority do. Of those, 22.73% said they would be restructuring. Part of that plan for many is to

Q2. Number of employees in your company

Q3. What is your company’s total turnover?

offer new services to new markets.

Of the total research base, 34.66% said they had researched new markets over the last year and 28.41% aim to over the next two years. 10.23% said they’d offered new print applications during 2022 and 22.73% are working towards doing so.

Asked ‘what wide-format print application will be most important to you in the coming two years?’ almost a quarter (24.43%) listed ‘other’ when it came to the options given, their deeper dive responses on the whole being that all applications were pretty much even, begging the question of whether largeformat PSPs are increasingly ‘generalist’ rather than ‘specialist’ in the print they provide?

Looking at things from a production capability standpoint, many appear confident that they have what they need to deliver the solutions they sell. Two thirds (66.48%) expect to spend less on hardware/software across the business this year than they did in 2022. Asked how much they expected to spend on wide-format technology specifically over the next two years, almost four out of five (78.41%) said under £20,000. Almost two-thirds (65.91) do not expect to buy a new wide-format printer in that timeframe.

There was something of an anomaly when it came investment across software spend and in finishing kit in the next couple of years, as 79.99% said they would not be buying.

And there’s still realatively little interest in the Internet of Things, with 6.82% having said they would be investing in such areas. Yet, half (50.00%) of all those polled said improving workflow was on the cards.

The environment also continues to be a confused picture. Focussing on sustainable practices came out bottom of the list of priorities - 1.14% put it top - perhaps because they believe they’ve already taken the low-hanging fruit and don’t know how to reach any higher, but it seems odd when 77.27% said it is now more important to be seen as environmentally friendly than it was two years ago. Then again, asked about their clients’ main priorities, environmental issues came way down the list - only 0.57% said that was their clients’ top priority. Over half (59.09%) said ‘few’ clients ask to see environmental policies - though about the same proportion (57.39%) said they are using more recycled/recyclable print materials than they were a year ago.

Asked ‘what are your three top environmental priorities over the next two years?’ over half (52.87%) put reducing energy consumption top - but is this about being green or due to the cost of energy, a worry for so many?

It appears that cost cutting while business building is the name of the game as we head into what's considered to be a bright future.

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Think Inkjet. Think Agfa.

"Strategic growth. Sustainable success."

This was Agfa’s theme for this year’s Fespa edition in Munich, Germany. Visitors to Agfa’s booth were able to attend demos of the following printing innovations:

1 Onset X3 HS

The Onset X3 HS made its debut at an European trade show. This extremely high-speed page-wide flatbed inkjet printer, running on new Agfa inks, and driven by Agfa’s Asanti workflow software, is capable of 24/7 printing on a wide variety of

substrates at speeds of up to 1450 m²/h. Its impressive uptime is due to its 30-second job setup using robotics and various automated features, making it a true game-changer. At FESPA, the printer was demonstrated with a ¾ automation setup, featuring a lay table and an unloading robot.

Agfa UK’s Onset X3 HS

2 Jeti Tauro H3300 UHS LED

The Jeti Tauro H3300 UHS LED is designed for reliable 24/7 print production of outstanding quality and features multiple automation options. The printer has recently been upgraded with a varnish printing option that allows producers of corrugated cardboard displays to enhance their prints by adding a layer of high-gloss or satin varnish. The varnish can be applied to the entire surface (flood varnish) or selectively (spot varnish).

Print service providers can benefit from increased flexibility with the Flex RTR module, which does not need undocking when transitioning from rolls to boards or sheets. This improves printer uptime and maximizes print production efficiency. The module marks the next step in the Tauro’s automation story, focusing on the optimal utilization of this hybrid printing solution’s versatility. The Flex RTR was developed to match the one-pass printing mode on the Tauro H3300 UHS LED, up to a printing speed of 905 m²/h. It has a compact footprint and is ergonomic and userfriendly. With the simple press of a button, the dancer rolls controlling media tension move upward, enabling quick and effortless loading of the media by a single operator.

With the ability to handle both single- and dual-roll printing, the Flex RTR module can accommodate widths of up to 3.3 m and 1.6 m. Switching from single- to dual-roll printing and back is a quick and straightforward process that can be accomplished by a single operator. The

dancer rolls do not need to be removed or reinstalled but can remain in place during the changeover.

To ensure accurate double-sided printing, the integrated camera system reads QR codes generated by the printer’s user interface to pinpoint the exact image location and adjust the print position at the start of each job.

3Avinci CX3200

Agfa’s dye-sub printer, the 3.2 m Avinci CX3200, produces consistently vibrant high-quality prints on a wide range of polyester-based fabrics for indoor or outdoor soft signage, interior decoration, and fashion items. It prints both directly to fabric – which is easy and fast, and ideal for applications such as see-through flags –and to transfer paper, perfect for obtaining super-sharp backlit applications with deep blacks, as well as for handling stretchy fabrics.

The new Avinci 110 printer inks have received the OEKO-TEX® ECO Passport, indicating that they are free of any hazardous components and can be utilized for ecofriendly textile manufacturing.

4 Oberon RTR3300

The Oberon RTR3300, a robust roll-to-roll UV LED wide-format inkjet printer that boasts exceptional print quality and high productivity, while consuming minimal ink .It can handle even the most heat-sensitive materials and excels at printing white on

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translucent media for window decor. Its dual-roll feature allows for efficient printing on two smaller media rolls.

5 Workflow Software Asanti

Streamlining operations for the highest efficiency and consistency with Agfa’s workflow software Asanti, which seamlessly interlinks the entire print production flow, thus minimizing manual interventions and errors. Its browser-based Production Dashboard monitors production time, as well as ink and media consumption, and interfaces with MIS/ERP systems to optimize quotes and post-calculations. The latest version (v6.0), powered by the latest Adobe PDF Print Engine (APPE), includes automation features like job ganging and packaging production-specific tools to improve efficiency.

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• skilled and up-to-date staff

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Agfa UK’s Inkjet Experience Center

Data analysis: Business outlook A

re you OK?”. If Holly Willoughby had put this question to the UK’s wide-format printers, rather than to viewers of scandal-plagued daytime TV show This Morning, the answer would have been a resounding “Yes - and thanks for asking”. That, at least, is the most striking finding of the 2023 Image Reports Widthwise poll, in which almost two out of three (63.64%) respondents said they had increased their turnover and 47.16% had improved their profit margins over the past year. No wonder 91.48% of print service providers felt ‘optimistic’ about their business and 52.84% declared themselves ‘very optimistic’.

Given that, over the past year, the UK economy has been buffeted by more storms than ITV’s (in)famous daytime TV programme, these survey results are so astounding as to suggest either a deluded Micawberish confidence in the future or sheer relief at having survived Covid, lockdowns, illiterate economic policies (which prompted financiers to charge what they call a “moron risk premium” when lending money to the British government to finance its debts), soaring energy prices (caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine) and the cost of living crisis.

If you look a bit deeper at the results of the poll, the 16th of its kind, it is easy to acquit wide-format printers of myopic Micawberism - 91.48% identified energy costs as a pressing concern, 80.68% were worried about the state of the economy while 63.07% were anxious about the cost of supplies (with a slightly higher proportion, 65.35% experiencing supply chain disruption in the past year.) And, most grounding of all, almost four out of ten - 39.77% - were concerned about cashflow. Even so, their mood echoes that of the general printing industry with the BPIF reporting growth in seven out of the past eight quarters (the exception being the first quarter of 2023)

Q4. How has your total turnover changed since the start of 2022?

Q5. How have your large-format print margins changed since the start of 2022?

Q6. Which of these sectors is now the biggest provider of revenue for your business?

and predicting output to bounce back over the rest of 2023.

In other words, having taken stock of all the facts, the industry’s leaders have concluded that this might well be a good year for the business after all. (Although 11.93% of respondents reported falling sales, only one identified their mood as ‘pessimistic’ and even they were only ‘mildly’ so.) In part, such bullishness reflects a belief that the worst is probably over.

Although repeatedly flirting with recession since the start of 2022, the British economy has not definitively sunk into it. Energy prices have stabilised and may even

fall. Inflation is responding, albeit slowly, to interest rate rises. More importantly, the survey shows considerable confidence in the future of wide-format print, with more than six out of ten (61.93%) providers expecting the market to expand in the next two years and only 2.27% believing it will shrink.

The next economic crisis - these days there always seems to be one lurking in the wings - may come in 2024 when British homeowners unlucky enough to need to remortgage may find their repayments rising by around £240 a month, a peril that is already being hailed as “a ticking time-bomb

under middle-class Britain” by the media’s professional alarmists. This is a threat that print business leaders can do nothing about, other than proceed with a certain fiscal prudence. In the meantime, 48.30% of companies in the Widthwise survey say their priority is to grow turnover, while 23.30% are looking to enter new markets (with almost one in ten - 9.66% - keen to find new customers) and a cautious 13.64% indicating that their overriding goal is to reduce costs. A small proportion - 3.98%are focusing on mergers and acquisitions. The quest for new markets - 34.66% of printers have been researching different

Q7. How do you feel about your business over the next two years?

Textile

Q8. What type of wide-format print are you currently involved in?

Q9. What wide-format print applications will be most important to you in the coming two years?

Textile

Billboard/outdoor advertising

Textile printing for banner/flags

sectors over the past year and 28.41% will do so in the year ahead - has been a constant theme since the very first Widthwise survey back in 2007. That said, the bread and butter jobs for the wide-format industry have remained remarkably consistent over that period. In 2023, the most popular market is general banners, flags and signage (in which 85.23% of respondents are involved), followed by posters (78.98%) and exhibition displays and graphics (64.20%). Window graphics, billboards/outdoor advertising, retail POS and POP, building hoards/wraps and transport graphics are all favoured by more than three out of

Q10. What is the order of your priorities for the next year?(Rank 1-6, 1 being the most important)

ten companies and there has been a slight uptick in interest in textile printing with 19.33% involved in different aspects of that. The multiplicity of applications gives a slightly misleading impression. Retail has long been - and remains - the biggest driver of demand for wide-format print, with 38.07% of printers identifying this as their most important customer-base. Coming well behind that were manufacturing (15.91%) and events (13.64%). A surprisingly high proportion - 7.95% - said their most important customers were local authorities.

As more than 75,000 stores have closed

in the UK in the past five years, wide-format’s reliance on the retail sector may become a cause for concern in the medium to long-term. Despite some high-profile casualties, the scale of retrenchment has slowed down significantly in the first half of 2023 although few industry analysts expect the overall decline to be reversed. The blow might be softened if the government decided - either before the next general election or, more likely, after - to do something to revive, revitalise or rescue the nation’s town centres, many of which are in a state of decay and disrepair, a policy that could stimulate renewed demand for signage,

Graph shows number 1 ranking

POP and POS.

There was much less consensus among print service providers about which applications would be most important between now and 2025. Less than one in five cited either general banners, flags and signage or exhibition displays and graphics, whereas 13.07% said that every market was important, suggesting that they’ll take their business where they can find it. Among the outlying markets identified were kites, stickers and wrapping paper. When you pore over the fine print in these answers, the fact that a handful of printers - 2.84% - are planning to retire, or actively considering it, does suggest something of a changing of the

guard over the next two years.

As we explore in more detail in the technology section of this report, for the vast majority of companies the search for new markets will be based on existing resources rather than massive capital investment (65.91% do not expect to buy a new wide-format printer in the next two years.) It could be that many feel that, having put their house in order, they are on a stronger footing to diversify without further spending: 23.30% of respondents say they have restructured their business in the past year, while a roughly comparable number (22.73%) will do so in the year ahead.

The sense that Britain’s wide-format print

sector is not content to rest on its laurels is reinforced by the finding that roughly one in ten companies have invested in e-commerce, offered new print applications and made their workflow more efficient. Two of these priorities will be nearer the top of the industry’s agenda over the next year, with 50.00% of respondents aiming to improve workflows and 22.73% keen to launch new applications. Here again, there is a bit of a paradox as relatively few businesses - just 6.82% - plan to invest in workflow software.

What do the industry’s clients want?

Print service providers say the key customer priorities are quality (identified by 31.82% of respondents), price (29.55%) and

Q11. Have you made any of these strategic changes within the past year?

Researched new markets

Q12. Do you plan to make any of these strategic changes within the next two years?

Q13. Over the next two years do you expect the UK’s wide-format print market to…

Q14. What do you think your clients’ main priorities are? (rank 1-7, 1 being the most important)

Q15. What are your three biggest concerns for the business in 2022 and beyond?

Q16. Have you experienced supply chain disruption to your business over the last year?

speed of turnaround (28.98%).

The rise of what you might call the Freddie Mercury print buyer (‘I want it all and I want it now’) is an inevitable consequence of the depth of uncertainty experienced by the whole of British business. This shift might also reflect the wholesale loss of experienced (i.e. expensive) buyers with an innate sense of the practicalities of print production.

Ironically, there is a risk - let’s put it no higher than that - that an industry that owes its very existence to digital technology may be left behind by it. With only a

small cohort of wide-format digital inkjet print providers investing in the Internet of Things (6.82%) and Web-to-print software (3.98%), the sector's players may be perceived as lagging behind the digital revolution by their customers. To be fair, the interest in IoT is greater than in previous years but you do wonder if the sector is acting quickly enough.

In closing, if we return to the Holly Willoughby question, it is clear that the UK’s wide-format printing industry is doing more than OK. In a time when the national economy has been virtually stag-

nant - accountancy firm PwC is predicting 0.1% growth in GDP this year, 1.0% in 2024 and 1.6% in 2025 - eight out of ten print service providers have either maintained or improved their margins while more than six out of ten have grown their turnover. In a period of unprecedented instability - in the past year, we have had two monarchs, three prime ministers and four chancellors of the exchequer - that is no mean feat. If something resembling normality ever returns to British business - and the question is ‘if’, not ‘when’ - then the digital printing industry is in a good place to profit.

Graph shows number 1 ranking

HP Latex 2700 Printer series

The high-performance, cost-effective wide format printers with a sustainable edge.

Figuring out the future

Standing still isn’t an option, so where do you go from here?

Our business was a ‘typical’ signage and display graphics manufacturing one employing 25 staff pre-Covid. I had become increasingly concerned about the rising cost of overhead, primarily in staffing, a number of stressful projects were causing friction in the team, and there was a sense of lethargy within the company. But we had a proven track record of software development in systems and artwork processing, and pre-Covid we had established the brand Graphic Warehouse - a trade only service offering large-format print for banners, posters, direct to board and some fabric products. Covid gave us the confidence to focus our energies on items we could commoditise, manufacture efficiently but still sustain a margin that meant we were able to operate profitably.

As if our stars came into alignment, the customer-base we had been building pre-

large scale projects - for example, we have no installation crews or vehicle running now.

The issue is that growth comes with its own challenges. Our growth in the past two years has well surpassed our expectations and we have outgrown our premises, require additional training and need additional staff in production and our customer service departments.

building for a ‘getting to know you’ session and to seek out those who demonstrate the most potential. However, I am brutally honest and tell them “If you can’t arrive on time, can’t follow instruction and work safely, we don’t want you here”.

One takeaway from Print Scotland is that many businesses have no succession or training budget. I found this particularly interesting, as we did not have one either! We have been guilty of recruiting under a firefighting approach but we are now planning two years in advance of the team we want and expect to have. It takes a bit of confidence to spend money on what you don’t need right now, but it has worked for us.

Covid offered us the ability to reduce the amount of installation led projects to a ‘print, pack and dispatch’ model - one that would service many customers, with a lower average transaction value but many transactions.

Post-Covid we are now almost all trade, with the exception of some legacy/loyal customers that we have felt obliged to support. The model we have adopted has allowed us to grow sustainably, without having to manage

As vice president and board member of Print Scotland, I am privy to some information across the print landscape in Scotland and I am certain it is similar throughout the whole of the UK - staffing is becoming almost impossible. Our preferred method of recruitment is to repeat the process where we have experienced the most success. We want to focus on young people that we can grow and develop into highly skilled team members - ones we can train in our own systems and processes. However, we must compete with supermarkets and warehouses, which do not offer career pathways into industry but can pay good rates for what is unskilled labour.

I recently approached local schools and supplied the careers officers with posters and sandwich boards advertising an open day at out factory. I have found this a great way to get groups of eight young people into our

Moving on from our people planning, we need to move. We are out of space and have nothing left we can do with a rented property. We are also planning on replacing some of our printers and a new cutting table to support wider widths. This then leads on to funding. I suspect that investment in our industry may stagnate with capital allowances having been reduced and interest rates increasing. Since watching the independent documentary with Noel Edmonds and banks foreclosing on businesses after 2008, I have been concerned about having too much dependence on the banks for growth - I don’t trust them, and I do not want them having control over our business. Business owners should watch this: https://vimeo.com/542074145.

I have been researching methods to raise funds to allow the business to grow. Many businesses will use SIP pensions to fund the purchase of their business operating property, but many will not be aware of SSAS pensions. These were hugely popular in the 1980’s before HMRC realise that unscrupulous people were using them to defraud the Government of income tax payable on withdrawal. Unlike SIP pensions, a SSAS can be used to invest in many types of opportunities (property, loans, plant) if they meet the strict criteria that HMRC both govern and stipulate. Interestingly, there can be more than one member of the SSAS, allowing investors to pool their funds. It’s something we’re investigating as we look to expand.

Two of the sector’s print chiefs provide some insight as to their destination and talk about their journey so far.

Richard McCombe, Managing director, Matic Media

I have been concerned about having too much dependence on the banks for growth - I don’t trust them, and I do not want them having control over our business

Due to the Covid pandemic we found ourselves in a very difficult position financially at Oasis. In fact it was excruciating - the future looked exceptionally cloudy. I’ve been the owner of Oasis for well over 35 years, so I felt that I wanted to put up a fight - after all, we had lovely clients, great staff and our output and service has always been at a very high level. It was all too much to throw away. To survive however, we needed to make a big reset. Some difficult decisions were made and we lived through a good 12 months of extreme hardship. However, there were three fundamental things we never lost - our amazingly loyal clients, our brilliant suppliers and our outstanding staff - these three are a big reason why we’re still here today.

Fast-forward to 2023 and we’re happy to say we’re in a good place. The pandemic forced us to diversify in a big way, so not only did we retain clients but we’ve gained a lot of new ones in new markets, including interiors and art reproduction - markets less affected by lockdowns. Because of this we’ve very recently invested in a SwissQprint Nyala 4, which has been revolutionary for us in so many ways. We’re now able to offer our clients even more, not only in terms of bespoke wallcoverings but we now work in new areas producing print in challenging new ways, including pushing boundaries in art reproduction.

In a way, I almost feel thankful for the reset. Although we were in uncomfortable, uncharted territory, it helped us to focus on who we really wanted to be. Oasis had grown and grown over the years and I’d got carried away with the idea of it being a large company with almost an agency philosophy. But that’s not Oasis - Oasis in the past was known for quality, service and a willingness to accept a challenge - a supplier to rely on, a supplier who cares. This is again where we are today, back to the old Oasis - 14 like-minded individuals who want the best for their clients.

Simon Osborne, Managing director, Oasis

Going back to our staff, most of them have been with us a really long time, but this doesn’t make us old and dusty - they all have passion and with the arrival of the Nyala 4 I saw excitement from every single one of them. Two things were very significant with this purchase. Firstly, print quality and time would improve, and secondly, it showed staff that we are going places. I think it sent out a powerful message - that we’re excited to invest in new technology and we plan to be around for a while longer yet!

It's been fantastic to enter into new markets. We’re working with interior designers and artists, assisting with tactile and 3D print, including droptix, relief, layering and gloss varnish. Our retail clients have also continued to grow and it’s so satisfying to be able to give them even

better quality and colour now for their displays.

In terms of where we’re going, there’s no official plan though we know where and with who we work best. Oasis continues to work hard to offer new processes and techniques to our clients and achieves great feedback all of the time. Our main areas of expertise lie in retail, workplaces, events, exhibition, interiors and now art reproduction - there’s plenty to keep us busy there.

The big lesson learned over the last three years is the importance of security, and also to expect the unexpected. My main aim in the medium-term is to have a fall-back regarding funds - I want Oasis to have a nest egg. The pandemic caught us out and left us exposed, plus there are still aftershocks. Our busy times of the year have moved, which we’re getting used to now, but I’ve learned that nothing is certain so I want to be ready for any changes or disruption. Having that financial cushion will give Oasis the security it needs for anything that comes its way, from recession to investment.

Looking to the future, we’ve got a new lease of life and everyone here is excited to see what develops. I have great admiration for Oasis staff and our excellent clients and I feel thankful and positive about the future having them along for the adventure.

I almost feel thankful for the reset.

Although we were in uncomfortable, uncharted territory, it helped us to focus on who we really wanted to be

Papergraphics: Where Passion Meets Print Technology

Papergraphics: industry leaders, trendsetters and risk takers. But what else are they hiding?

In 1984, when Madonna was vying with Prince for the top spot, John Selby, a band promoter booking the likes of The Cure, took his rock and roll skills to a new industry and Papergraphics was born. A passion for the alternative and for pushing boundaries, Selby is both entrepreneurial and fiercely independent. Today, no one has been in the large format print business for longer, Papergraphics is still privately owned and is still doing things on its own terms.

When you think of Papergraphics what comes to mind? Most probably for being digital pioneers of the wallcovering sector, or maybe for providing specialist solutions for the large format print industry. But, did you know they have created a one-of-akind Experience Centre that is unparalleled

within the large format print industry.

From the outside this 3½ acre site near Gatwick in Sussex could easily be any industrial unit up and down the country. A grey building that gives no hint to what’s inside. But CEO and founder, Selby, isn’t just any entrepreneur, he’s 40 years deep into a love affair with the digital print industry and this development was never going to be dull.

In fact, a cool million-pound+ has been invested in the creation of Selby’s new venture, helping to bring the whole site to life. Crack open the doors and you’ll see the heart of Papergraphics. Exploring the Experience Centre is akin to entering the Willy Wonka factory, in fact this was a reference point for Selby in the initial plans, a sensory assault that leaves you nowhere to go but fully immersed. Showcasing an ‘anything

is possible’ attitude that runs through the Papergraphics business as a whole.

Selby and his team began the creation of the Experience Centre with a clear focus and a tick box of objectives: to create a destination where people can come to learn, engage, explore equipment and the Papergraphics product offerings, plus test and train with industry experts. The team’s vision in developing this space was to help customers push boundaries, expand and grow and take their business to the next level. Prepare to be inspired, in fact prepare yourself for visual fireworks. You would even be forgiven for thinking you were in an art gallery, so stunning and impactful are the displays.

After a digital check-in under a vast illuminating ceiling light box, it’s time to explore. The space flows, a seamless journey through the joys of digital print media. A range of roll to roll and flatbed printers up to 3.2m from the likes of HP, Epson, Jetrix, Roland and Canon are placed masterfully, as well as finishing kit including CWT application tables, Summa and Flexa cutters and laminators. Striking individual pods highlight Papergraphics’ own well established brands including StickyPrints and StickyBits self-adhesive vinyl and laminates, Expanse banners, Ultra View window films, Soft Stuff display fabrics and Digimura wallcoverings. Every need is met.

The centre is fully interactive, it seems every surface offers potential for learning. There are training and application areas, a back wall of floor-to-ceiling windows ready for the next glass film application, walls primed for coverings and inspiration

all around. With everything on rollers, handmade to meet the needs of the space, displays can be constantly updated, interchanged and moved around, and are wonderfully user friendly.

The facilities unique training area is complete with curved seating for 30, and boasts even more application opportunities. The overall joy of this space seems to come in its mission to teach. Whether you want to talk colour management, how to get the best out of your hardware or find the right product solution, industry experts are on hand. Graham De Kock and his specialist team offer technical product and printer demonstrations, whilst Barry Dellow has unprecedented industry knowledge on wallcoverings. That mixed with the Papergraphics product offering, which is

used in all on-site displays, creates a unique combination.

And just when you think the space can offer no more, you turn a corner and are met with a fully stocked bar, not your average workplace find. This slice of cool metal divides the areas, the perfect place to grab a coffee, talk through ideas, take a moment to absorb your learnings, or maybe just drink in your surroundings.

Each element of the Experience Centre has been carefully considered, it shows in the details, and Selby is a details man. Cohesive design elements, styling and fixtures that create a seamless flow through this 17,000sqft facility. Built for the customer and the sector as a whole to inspire, motivate and encourage out-ofthe-box thinking, the Experience Centre, can hold up to 250 people seated and many more standing, and has already been used in some of the ways that Selby envisioned. Top high-street and industry clients, brands and franchises have utilised the unique space to run training days, demonstrations and exciting product launches.

Selby’s hope was that people would leave the Experience Centre with so much more than they expected. To be inspired, to learn something new and to take forward the energy and innovation of this place. There is no doubt that this vision has been met.

Data analysis: Technological outlook

When it is not necessary to spend, it is necessary not to spend. That is the approach to capital investment

which the UK’s wide-format printers are taking over the next two years, according to

the 2023 Image Reports Widthwise survey. More than half of print service providers - 56.25% - do not expect to invest in any equipment. Period. Almost eight out of ten - 79.55% - do not plan to splash out on software or finishing, 66.48% say they will spend less this year than last, and 65.91% don’t intend to buy a wide-format printer.

Even the minority of PSPs that are in the mood to purchase are hardly pushing the boat out: 78.41% plan to spend £20,000 or less while 10.80% say they will invest between £20,000 and £75,000. In this respect, print companies are bucking the prevailing trend: across the UK as a whole last year, business investment

Q17. What type of wide-format equipment do you own?

Solvent printer (inc. eco solvent)

UV curable roll-to-roll printer

Finishing – laminator

Finishing – contour cutter

UV curable hybrid printer

Finishing – straight line cutter

Dye-sublimation

Q18. How much are you expecting to invest in new hardware/ software across your business in 2023 compared to 2022?

Q19. In total, how much do you expect to invest in wide-format technology over the next 2 years?

Less than £20,000

£20,000 - £74,999

£250,000 - £1m

£75,000 - £149,999

£150 - £249,999

Q20. Do you expect to buy a new digital wide-format printer in the next 2 years?

Q21. If yes, which type of digital wide-format printer do you expect to buy?

UV curable flatbed printer

Latex printer

Solvent printer (inc. eco solvent) UV curable hybrid printer

curable roll-to-roll printer Print and cut roll-fed printer

rose by 9.9% and, by the end of 2022, had almost climbed back to pre-pandemic levels. This cautious attitude is particularly striking given that the wide-format sector owes its very existence to new technology. It may be that, given the survey has also found that many PSPs remain nervous about the British economy - and interest rates are yet to plateau - most have decided it is wiser to keep their powder dry until 2024 when growth, though still modest by pre-pandemic standards, is expected to accelerate.

Ironically, it may be that the wideformat industry’s suppliers are too good for their own good - more than one in four

respondents - 26.70% - reported that they were not experiencing any major technical issues at all. As in previous years, there is also a sense among many PSPs that, despite a flurry of activity by suppliers at Fespa Global in May, there are no major technological breakthroughs on the horizon that will deliver a strong sustainable competitive advantage.

So, what are the UK’s wide-format printers investing in exactly? And why? The three most popular motives for investment are to improve efficiency (14.20%), move into new markets and/or offer new print applications (13.09%) and increase capacity (11.93%). Those last two priorities explain

why the main item on the industry’s shopping list is, predictably enough, a wideformat printer (21.02%). That said, 6.82% plan to invest in workflow software and the Internet of Things. That latter finding - up from 5.97% in 2022 - does suggest that the industry is finally dipping its toe into IoT, a development predicted for many years by industry analysts.

The interest in workflow software, also slightly higher than in last year’s survey, suggests some print businesses are walking the walk when it comes to efficiency. Much of the R&D among suppliers of software, printers and finishing equipment is focusing on workflow and integration but there is, as

Q25. What is the biggest technological issue you face in wide-format?

and media)

Q26.

yet, no easy, fits-all, off the shelf package for the wide-format sector.

Although almost one in five respondents - 19.89% - identified workflow/integration issues as a concern, many companies may be holding back on investment because they recognise that integration is, at present, challenging, complex and time-consuming. This does suggest there is already a lot of pent-up demand for innovations that promise a breakthrough on this issue.

Design software (5.68%) and Web-toprint software (3.98%) are of interest to a small minority. This is some shift - a few years ago, design was the go-to investment for print service providers looking to diversify their portfolio for clients.

The fact that only 3.41% of respondents will invest in management information software reflects, as much as anything, the recognition by many printers that they have barely begun to exploit the systems they already have.

Investment in Web-to-print remains stubbornly low, and surprisingly so, given that many PSPs say their customers are demanding faster turnaround. With more orders, less time and shorter runs, the set-up

process inevitably forms a larger proportion of the cost and anything that can automate or speed up this part of the operation would surely boost productivity and profitability.

When it comes to printers, the workhorse of the wide-format sector remains the same: 56.25% of respondents own solvent printers (including eco-solvent). The next most popular printers are UV curable flatbeds (28.41%), latex (25.57%), aqueous (25.00%) and UV curable roll-to-roll models (23.30%). Not surprisingly, the most widely installed item of finishing equipment is a contour cutter (15.34%).

UV technology remains popular with many print companies: 32.43% of those looking to buy say they intend to purchase a UV curable flatbed printer, compared to 24.32% for latex printers and 21.62% for solvent printers. In this instance, the difference in the respective percentages is not that significant because only about a fifth of those polled - 21.02% - definitely plan to purchase a new printer, while 13.07% haven’t made their minds up yet.

The biggest technical challenge facing the wide-format sector is the reliability of consumables (ink and media), an issue

for 27.84% of respondents, followed by workflow/integration (as previously discussed) and the reliability of printers (16.48%). That said, it is worth reiterating that more than one in four companies reported no technical problems at all.

Although the UK’s wide-format print chiefs are reasonably cheerful about the prospects for their own businesses, that faith in the future is not - for the fourth year in a row - reflected in their investment plans. This may reflect the fact that the competitive pressure from new entrants is not felt as keenly as it once was - only 1.14% saw this as a concern in the 2023 survey. It may also be the case that two successive years of significant, if not spectacular, growth in the British economy are required for print service providers to be convinced they will see a return on investment on new printers, software or finishing equipment.

After a turbulent and tumultuous few years, the wide-format sector’s prevailing attitude to technology could be summed up in the famous line from Douglas Adams’ Hitchhikers’ Guide To The Galaxy: “The more things change, the more they stay the same.”

Do you intend to invest in the Internet of Things (eg. automation, AI, remote diagnostics) in the year ahead?

FESPA 2023 marked a new phase for Fujifilm’s new blueprint for wide format

A new blueprint

In 2021 Fujifilm announced a new blueprint for wide format, developed at Fujifilm’s Global Wide Format Inkjet Systems Headquarters in Broadstairs, UK. From this site, Fujifilm has played an integral part in the development of UV inkjet technology from the very beginning, and this depth of experience has given the company a keen sense of what the market really needs and how it is likely to change in the future.

Key to the strategy behind the development of the new range was the desire for more control. In the past, though Fujifilm had contributed valuable technology and expertise (and of course the UV inkjet inks) to the original Acuity wide format range, it had lacked the full autonomy needed to make design changes

based on customer feedback.

In 2021, that all changed and in 2022, this new blueprint was displayed for the first time at Fujifilm’s show-stopping FESPA stand for thousands of visitors to see for themselves.

Six printers were on display that year in Berlin. All of them built to precise and unique, new Fujifilm specifications: three flatbed machines – the Acuity Prime 20, Acuity Prime 30 and the double bed-sized Acuity Prime L – and alongside them, the Acuity Ultra R2 (5m and 3.2m models) and the Acuity Ultra Hybrid LED.

Fujifilm’s new blueprint for wide format represented something new – but built on years of inkjet technology expertise, a long, intensive customer listening exercise and extensive market research.

A new milestone

FESPA 2023 marked another milestone in the new blueprint journey. The printers have now moved well beyond the concept stage and are proven in real production environments. In the case of the Acuity Prime, there are now around 200 units of the three models installed globally. The

Acuity Ultra R2 has also enjoyed strong sales success, while the Acuity Ultra Hybrid LED has completed a successful beta trial in the UK and is now commercially available.

Following the show, those sales numbers are rising rapidly, with multiple sales orders with sign and display print businesses from all around the world agreed during the exhibition.

But it’s not just about the sales; it’s also about what those customers are saying. The feedback Fujifilm has received on the value for money, ease of use and ROI of the printers has been overwhelmingly positive and has fully vindicated the strategy to rethink the range from the ground up.

Fujifilm has also demonstrated its commitment to the continual development of the range, using FESPA 2023 to unveil a number of significant additions and improvements. The most notable of these new announcements was the launch of a brand new printer in the line-up, the Acuity Prime Hybrid.

But developments to the range did not stop there. Fujifilm also announced a significant speed increase to the Acuity Ultra R2, achieved through combined software and hardware improvements. The 5 metre model can now print up to 65% faster, while the 3.2 metre model is 39% faster. The Acuity Ultra Hybrid LED, meanwhile, has moved from pre-beta stage to full commercial availability with a number of enhancements made along the way.

Sustainable savings

With LED curing available as standard in the Acuity flatbed and hybrid models and as an option with the roll-to-roll machines, the potential energy savings are huge. At FESPA 2023, Fujifilm was confident enough in the energy credentials of the range to fit each of the machines on the stand with an energy meter to show, in real time, the actual energy use when printing.

The move followed recent Fujifilm announcements made about the sustainability initiatives being implemented at its Fujifilm’s new UK headquarters in Bedford and its Broadstairs ink manufacturing and inkjet development site.

Fujifilm also used FESPA 2023 to demonstrate on the Acuity Prime how printing CMYK only, instead of using six colours, can save up to 25% in ink volumes on most jobs without compromising on

Acuity Prime Hybrid

Bringing yet more versatility to the range, the Acuity Prime Hybrid can print on substrates up to 2m in width when used as a flatbed machine. It can also print on multiple sheets of rigid media simultaneously and features registration pins for highly precise, edge to edge printing. It can produce print at production quality at 92m2 per hour, making it an extraordinarily productive machine at its price point.

The printer also features front and back handling tables to support all media types and facilitate easy media positioning.

The roll-fed configuration can be loaded with two rolls up to 0.9m wide, and its GREENGUARD Gold certified ink makes it suitable for wallpaper production as well as a huge range of other applications.

The Acuity Prime Hybrid is set to meet the needs of print service providers who use a wide range of media, such as Dibond, foamboard, acrylic, polyester and more, across a variety of applications.

The machine is available with four colours (CMYK) as standard and uses the same highly pigmented inks that have been used so successfully in the Acuity Prime. Small ink droplet sizes and pinpoint placement ensure exceptional quality, with no loss of colour, even when printing at high speeds.

speed or quality. This can add up to huge savings in ink, cost and time.

Beyond the blueprint

Fujifilm’s new blueprint for wide format is setting new standards in ROI and ease of use across the sector – and it doesn’t stop there.

FESPA 2023 was also an opportunity to update visitors on developments in Fujifilm’s partnership with Barberán, a world leader in high-end, high productivity industrial presses for the corrugated market.

This partnership combines Barberán’s manufacturing expertise in designing and building single pass inkjet presses for that sector, with Fujifilm’s unrivalled knowledge of inkjet integration, ink chemistry and its extensive experience in the sign and display market. The new press, the HS6000, prints with a new, bespoke Fujifilm ink and primer, which make it suitable for use on a range of typical sign and display substrates.

At 30 metres in length and with a

powerful, high spec, print engine built-in, the HS6000 prints up to a width of 1.6 metres at speeds in excess of 4,500 square metres per hour.

With a number of globally significant wide format companies scheduled for demonstrations at Barberán’s Barcelona facility in the coming months, an update on the commercial availability of the new press will follow later in the year.

All bases covered

No two sign and display print businesses are the same. Some need speed above all else; others need exceptional quality. Some provide a highly specialist service; others need to adapt and adjust to a huge range of customer requests. But all are looking for value for money. All are looking for an investment that will deliver a strong return, and all are looking for equipment that’s reliable and easy to use, backed up by a support network that won’t let them down.

In the growing Fujifilm wide format range, there is something for all of them.

One in ten PSPs said they had ‘improved workflow efficiencies’ over the last year, and one in two expect to do so over the next two years. Where do you think the biggest efficiencies are still to be had - and what can large-fromat PSPs expect from you in that arena?

Vendors’ voices Q1 Q2

Energy costs and the state of the UK economy are the biggest concerns for large-format PSPs, but the cost of print supplies came next. What’s your expectation on that front?

Among the biggest efficiencies are the continuing move to highly automated systems that are flexible and are aligned with modern requirements, as well as providing training needs and in-depth market knowledge. With labour shortages across the board, we see a greater use of robotics in the future for flexible and efficiencies in production cycles. Training also remains crucial to attracting and retaining staff, which we fully support.

PSPs can continue to see us developing market-leading solutions from pixel to output. Digital large format printing remains our core competence and our success with our P5 printing systems illustrates this. However, under a motto of ‘360° Production Excellence’, Durst has evolved from a pure press manufacturer to a systems provider that combines all aspects of digital production such as automation, flexibility, speed, software, services and sustainability.

The adoption of performance improving software is where we think more operations could make significant change. Epson’s cloud solution PORT helps enhance output and increase uptime, through more efficient production planning and support. It also allows anytime updates on how printers are running via mobile phones and tablets. Systems across several sites, or several solutions on one site, can be monitored remotely or from the production floor. Free of charge with Epson production printers, PORT is the conduit for remote servicing aiding improved up time.

Financial efficiencies can be aided as well with Epson’s ink cost calculator. It provides a cost estimation function that helps with calculations. These solutions and others are being continually reviewed and improved to ensure they are responding accurately to today’s market demands.

We appreciate that cost of power has increased dramatically and is a consideration in the total cost of ownership (TCO). We hope to see this continuing to reduce throughout the year. Use of LED technology plays significant part in reducing power consumption.”

There is no getting away from the challenges presented by high energy costs and raw material prices. But this is where digital print can provide a more flexible and responsive service that can help customers print just what is needed when it is needed. This allows greater control over costs and supports intelligent budgeting and ordering. Software can also help with planning and ganging to minimise waste and maximise production capacity. Uptime can be optimised too, with bulk ink solutions reducing interruptions.

Peter Bray, Managing director, Durst UK and Ireland

Phil McMullin, Head of sales for commercial and industrial, Epson UK

The data collected in the 2023 Widthwise poll of PSPs raised some interesting questions, including a number we posed to four of the sector’s manufacturers. Here’s what they had to say…

Practically, it is more likely to be myriad different efficiencies being made, which then amalgamate into an overall noticeable impact and improvement. Largely influenced by external factors, the biggest efficiency which is probably going to have a long-term impact must therefore be energy consumption. No doubt this has accelerated the overall shift to LED UV technology over the last few years and InkTec as developers and manufacturers of the Jetrix printer brand are no different in actively embracing this technology. Requiring no warm-up time, generating no heat and, ultimately in some instances, using up to 35% less energy than older traditional printers. Increasing this even more, is a key focus for us moving forwards.

Investing in the right software will be key to improving workflow efficiencies for all PSPs. With Rip softwares, such as VersaWorks 6 from Roland DG, offering features job assist, hot folders, configurable queues, and auto spot colour generation, there are so many workflow efficiencies to be achieved through software.

Roland DG is also constantly working to improve the functionality of our DGConnect software, which is also important for those looking to implement unattended printing and remote monitoring, as well as offering machine ‘health’ visibility as it helps PSPs implement planned maintenance to help avoid breakdowns.

For this to work successfully, it is important that PSPs choose software that works in harmony with the hardware they use. This is something Roland DG do well as we develop our software (and inks) in-house to offer users optimal performance.

Without a doubt the cost of raw materials has been spiraling upwards, which in turn has influenced the price of print supplies. In the UK market, this has been further exacerbated by the impact of Brexit and import charges. However, at InkTec we worked hard post the pandemic to limit the impact on manufacturing costs due to the increased cost of base materials. Our focus was to look at ways to improve our facilities to increase efficiency and increase production capability. This enabled us to produce larger volumes than before, which in turn enabled us to keep our costs down and limit price increases. More recently, across the economy we have seen more stability - and while that is no guarantee, it does feel like we have entered a period of less unpredictability. Alongside this is the news that the International Monetary Fund has upgraded the UK’s outlook. This suggests that contrary to previous predictions the UK will no longer fall into recession and may in fact grow. While this is unlikely to cause prices to fall, it does mean that hopefully prices will stabilise.

Ensuring a business remains profitable will always be a top priority and people will always want running costs to be as low as possible however at the same time people want to offer quality productsrarely can you do both!

For me, it’s important PSPs focus on machine efficiency and optimised performance for a balance between production cost and quality output. Assessing the whole cost of ownership and not just the price of individual components, such as ink cartridges is arguably more important. By having a reliable machine and efficient workflow which guarantees getting the job done right the first time, and avoiding costly re-prints etc, PSPs may be able to make more cost savings in the long run.

Joey Kim, Managing director, InkTec

Rob Goleniowski, Head of sales, UK and Ireland, Roland DG

Vendors’ voices cont.

Peter Bray, Managing director, Durst UK and Ireland

Q3Supply chain issues are stabilising, and the good news is that lead times for machine orders have now gone back to pre-pandemic levels. We see that situation continuing to improve moving towards 2024.

While there were undoubtedly some challenges in supply chains as a result of the pandemic, and a number of other contributory factors, the situation has greatly eased and today our customers are experiencing near normal delivery times. On demand also helps to eliminate the threat by being able to deliver what is needed when it is needed.

Supply chain disruption continues to cause problems, with almost one in three (65.34%) saying they have experienced issues over the last year. From your perspective, is the situation easing or escalating?

The slow-down in investment decisions across the LF sector over the past few years is now reversing. PSPs wanting to expand and grow their market share have to become more efficient in order to grow. Part of that strategy will be investing or reinvesting in new digital technology, software and services. We recognise that part of our job is to advise them of the benefits. We believe that our solutions will help our customers to sustainably increase profitability through efficiency and state-of-the-art production technology.

Investment levels remain relatively low, with only one in five (21.02%) saying they will buy a new digital wide-format printer in the next two years. Four in five (79.55%) have no intention of buying finishing kit, nor software (including workflow packages, MIS, W2P, design etc). Do you expect to be able to convince them otherwise?

Sustainability and software are key technological drivers. Customers increasingly demand sustainable products, which we provide. Durst’s ability to provide a complete solution covering hardware, service and software - from pixel to output - is crucial. Our core technology is inkjet, but we are in so many sectors such as ceramics, label and flexible packaging, textiles and corrugated.

Of those that are investing in new technology, improving efficiency is the priority. To help the company move into new markets is a close second.

What do you think are key technological drivers here?

Durst has invested heavily in software development in recent years and now offers a 360° portfolio for all aspects of the printing process. This also includes preventive maintenance measures. Our software solutions are modular in design and offer customers a wide range of entry and expansion options, right up to fully integrated smart factories.

The four out of five that are not planning to buy new digital wide format printers in the next two years have the expectation that their existing device will see them through this period without fail. Longevity and reliability are what people are more commonly looking for today, and Epson is striving to build technologies that last. Epson also likes to be able to support operations with all their needs whether that is today or in the future. Part of that is the ability to offer support, advice, and guidance when it is needed. Central to that is the fact we develop all our own software, printheads and hardware which enables us to deliver a very customer focused portfolio. We can then explore the most effective options to provide a more convincing approach to investment.

Ease of use is crucial for both operational efficiency and the ability to move into new markets. Simple and fast set up via user-friendly touchscreen ensures operator confidence and quick throughput to maintain agile and responsive production. These are key convincers for businesses considering their next steps towards successful growth. Important too, is working with carefully selected Epson resellers that deliver expertise in both the print hardware and the finishing kit. It is key to giving PSPs a comprehensive understanding of how to maximise efficiency throughout the whole workflow. It also inspires them to confidently explore fresh opportunities that introducing different substrates or investing in a more flexible portfolio can tap into.

Phil McMullin, Head of sales for commercial and industrial, Epson UK

Joey Kim, Managing director, InkTec

It does now feel like the supply chain disruption we were seeing is easing. Equally, this may be down to many businesses exploring alternative or more efficient routes which offer them greater stability. We were certainly no different and consequently opened a mainland European fulfilment operation in the Netherlands in order to help our customers reduce their import duty costs. This has streamlined the process, given more assurance and reduced the level of disruption which was outside of our control. Whatever the reasons, there is more confidence now in all supply chains.

Rob Goleniowski, Head of sales, UK and Ireland, Roland DG

The situation with supply chain issues has certainly improved, however, it is always important to be aware that unforeseen events can happen, so we can’t say that we will never have an issue as sometimes circumstances outside of our control can impact the supply chain at a global level.

For Roland, our priority is keeping our customers running. So that means inks and spares readily available on the shelf for when customers are in need. Thanks to the support network we offer our customers, we work hard to ensure there we have the resources to put things right when they do go wrong. We are also fortunate to have a strong network of dealers across the country, who also work hard to keep a steady supply of inks and spares available.

Well of course, which is why we are continuing to innovate the Jetrix printer series. Our focus is centred around key ‘hero’ printers which push the boundaries in terms of their capabilities, energy consumption and reducing wastage. In addition, recognising that a number of small-format printers are looking to enter the large-format arena, rather than outsourcing these jobs we are seeing our ‘entry-level’ printers are proving to be very attractive.

At InkTec we are also proud of not having any hidden costs. This is a big appeal for customers as they have the opportunity to take advantage of three/four year warranties with the lowest service cost during the warranty period, which gives assured reliability and minimise downtime. In addition, we focus heavily on our level of service from the dedicated UK based Jetrix engineers. They work closely with the printers prior and during installation, sharing with them their extensive knowledge and expertise. They are also on-hand afterwards either remotely or on-site. This extent of after care is also a very appealing proposition to new customers.

Through our Roland Academy and Creative Centre, we hope to help customers develop new markets to support their investment and growth. It is our job to show print professionals why they need to upgrade and how doing so will benefit their business, whether this be improved efficiency, new opportunities or reducing the cost of ownership. For us, it’s not about selling to people but helping them buy and there is a big difference; if we can show people how they can save money or make money by spending then it is easier to justify why people should not be scared to invest.

PSPs want kit to be quickly learned, relatively easy to use, and rapidly producing jobs. This must drive how technology is developed. This is also why the Jetrix GUI has been developed specifically with the operator in mind - to easily create efficiencies. From being able to set the lamp power, to slowing down or pausing the printing process, so it can be restarted from the same point without losing quality or discarding the job or material. Every area and step should focus on how efficiencies can be made, ultimately resulting in cost savings. So, by being able to make best use of the media by mapping, moving and nesting images, all these functions result in a more efficient use of the printing space.

However, the key is to constantly be looking at the next ‘thing’. This is why having our engineers constantly out in the field, talking and listening to printers, they are in the perfect position to pick up this knowledge and share it with InkTec’s research and development team for future developments.

Improving efficiencies is true for everyone, in both our personal and professional lives. Everyone is always looking to understand how we best use the resources we have to maximum effect. Personally, I think the biggest factor which drives people to look for efficiency improvements is time. Making the best use of your time is key factor in success. That means looking for the technology, (machine or software) that can drive efficiencies but also working smarter with them.

10 Tips for a Successful, Sustainable Print Business

We are more aware of the environment than ever. Motivated consumers are actively seeking out and championing brands and products with a proven track record of social responsibility, and they’re increasingly choosing to do business with those who can demonstrate values that are more closely aligned with their own.

1 Build a sustainable supply chain.

To build a sustainable print business, you need a supply chain that shares your values. You’ll often find that, simply by choosing the right partners, a lot of the work has already been done for you. Suppliers with a proven track record in sustainability can guide you through processes such as waste disposal and energy provision. A knowledgeable supply chain can also recommend more eco-conscious media and inks. You do not need to do everything yourself; use the expertise of your partners to fast-track your journey towards a more sustainable future.

2 Neutralise your carbon footprint!

You can quickly start neutralizing the carbon footprint of your business by signing up for initiatives, many of them government-backed, to plant trees in sufficient numbers so you can begin to offset, or even entirely neutralise, your carbon use.

3 Make your business zero-landfill

Be mindful to consider the end-of-life strategy when purchasing your print equipment and consumables. What happens to your ink cartridges when they’re spent? What about your substrates? What about the printer itself? Collaborate with a specialist who can take your used printed materials and equipment and either recycle or repurpose them for second use or energy recovery. By looking at the end-to-end process, you can massively boost your environmental credentials and work towards making your business zerolandfill. HP offers since 1991 the HP Planet Partners programme which is available in 76 countries and territories around the world. The programme allows HP users to recycle HP ink and HP ink printheads via an easy process. Simply store your cartridges in an HP Planet Partners box, which, when full, is collected and sent away

to be recycled and repurposed. Not only is this an efficient way to dispose of your ink cartridges and print heads sustainably, but it is also completely free. HP uses state-ofthe-art recycling facilities to process each return through a multi-phase recycling process. No HP print cartridges returned and recycled through Planet Partners are sent to landfill.

4 Invest in renewable energy

Consider solar and wind power for your business premises. With grants available, it’s a great time to invest, and the advantages are not purely environmental as future utility bill savings will also be financially beneficial to your business. If you are not yet ready to invest in new energy technology, many energy providers are now able to guarantee the provision of a 100% renewable energy supply.

5 Buy local

Shorten your supply chain by sourcing more of the materials you use from local manufacturers and suppliers. By doing so, the supply chain becomes more efficient and reduces product miles, thus lowering emissions.

6 Go PVC-free

Reduce, or perhaps even consider eliminating, your reliance on PVC-based materials. The current challenge with recycling some plastics is the limited access to available recovery and recycling possibilities, and as a result, many PVC products are instead sent to landfills. Replace such products with more environmentally friendly alternatives, and whenever possible insist that the packaging of those materials is also recyclable or compostable.

7 Embrace water-based inks

Use water-based inks—such as the latest HP latex ink, containing 70% water—to reduce the release of solvent fumes and Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) into the air. This can help create a healthier working environment for your staff. Our inks have been designed to perform both indoors and outdoors and withstand physical and chemical damage. But don’t just take our word for it: HP Latex Inks have been independently certified by industry-leading labs to deliver outstanding health, safety, and environmental performance. Also note that while water-based inks are key to a more sustainable print future, it is crucial to look at the whole print process to ensure you achieve the results, versatility, and environmental credentials demanded by your customers.

8 Don’t believe the hype and double-check your credentials

As your journey develops, remember to always stay hypefree. Make sure every claim stands up to scrutiny. The brands you work with may demand proof of your claims, because the reputation and credibility of their own supply chains are increasingly vital. Under-promise and over-deliver is almost always good advice. Working with business partners with clearly stated

SHARPEN YOUR SUSTAINABLE EDGE WITH HP LATEX SUSTAINABLE PRINTING

environmental and health credentials is always a good call. There are plenty of widely-recognized schemes—such as GREENGUARD Gold and UL ECOLOGO ink standards and FSC-certified sustainable media—which guarantee businesses are meeting stringent health and environmental criteria in the manufacture of their products. To learn more about HP Latex’s environmental certifications, visit our Sustainable printing page.

9 Don’t just be profit-driven; Be purpose-driven too

Enjoy the fact that your business now has a purpose beyond just profit. Purpose-driven companies are typically more ambitious; they attract the best talent, inspire richer innovation, make faster decisions, are more trusted, create greater customer loyalty, and attract more investment. Staff

education and training is also important. You should ensure your staff understand your business’s goals so they can play their part. Little things such as leaving lights on, inefficient operations, and simple mistakes all add to emissions and waste.

10 It’s a marathon, not a sprint

Finally, don’t put unrealistic deadlines on achieving an improved environmental outcome. Set realistic targets and then fine tune them. Remember it is an evolving process—a marathon not a sprint—and a single decisive step in the right direction every day is good progress.

Whether you’re concerned about regulations, your customers are becoming more green-sensitive, or you care about your operators, you may be interested in the environmental advantages of HP Latex against eco-solvent technology. As part of one of the most sustainable companies in the world, HP Latex continues to lead the change in sustainable signage printing

HP’s newest Latex Technology carries a broad set of credentials addressing the full spectrum of environmental concerns; from ink chemistry and indoor air quality—for both print production and display—to lifecycle considerations, earning recognition for products as environmentally preferred overall.

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Data analysis: Environmental outlook

You remember net zero don’t you? If you track the phrase on Google Trends in the UK, it was most widely used in November 2021, not coincidentally around the same time as Glasgow hosted the COP 26 climate change summit, and the target of achieving this target by 2050 was officially set. Less than two years later, searches for the term have fallen by 26%. That sense of momentum slipping away, of an emergency that many organisations have chosen to shelve as ‘too difficult’, is reflected in Image Reports’ 2023 Widthwise survey.

Arguably the poll’s most startling finding is that more than two-thirds of print service providers - 67.04% - said their clients never or rarely ask about their environmental policies. This is particularly paradoxical as 77.27% of the poll respondents said it is more important to be seen as environmentally friendly than it was two years ago.

One of the great difficulties posed by climate change is our innate tendency to look for a single solution, a silver bullet - be that carbon capture, electric cars, or organic farming. As Francois Gemenne, the French

environmental expert, puts it: “Climate change is not a risk, it is a matrix of risks, which will transform all the key issues we face this century.”

That is exactly why, many campaigners argue, this crisis cannot be solved by a single innovation but by a host of innovations - some large, some small. Electric vehicles can certainly be part of the solution. Although studies show that, at present, manufacturing one generates more CO2 than making a petrol-based car, it has been estimated that, even taking that into account, a wholesale switch to EVs would reduce the UK’s emissions by 12%. Many PSPs have already switched to EVs or are starting to do so.

Smaller sector specific initiatives can also make a difference. At the time of writing, three wide-format printers - Hollywood Monster, Octink and RMC Digital - are using a spray on outdoor prints which clears the air of the worst pollutants. So far this year, MacroArt has launched a banner rental service for events and Rocket Graphics joined the small cohort of wideformat printers offering to recycle clients’ printed waste. The latter scheme, though, remains a minority interest - only 2.84%

of respondents identified this as a top environmental priority. This disinterest is mirrored by PSPs’ mysterious reluctance to take advantage of the free recycling schemes offered by such suppliers as HP. All that said, it is possible - let’s put it no more emphatically than that - that such initiatives will have a drip, drip effect that transforms industry practices in the years ahead.

Sometimes, the best spur to action is enlightened self-interest. Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, which disrupted the world’s energy market and sent oil and gas prices soaring, made it vividly clear to Europe’s leaders that their economies were hooked on Russian supplies, a dependency which reportedly cost the continent’s taxpayers around £90bn a year. Quite unintentionally, Putin has done the environmental cause a great service, as this recognition has driven global investments in clean energy, which are predicted to reach $1.7trn this year, a 70% jump over the past five years.

That shift is reflected, in a small but significant way, in the British wide-format sector’s environmental priorities over the next two years. Almost nine out of ten companies (89.02%) aim to reduce energy

change?

Q28.

Q29. How important is it for your company to be seen as environmentally friendly?

Q30. Do clients ask for your environmental credentials/policies?

Q31. Over the last year has your use of recycled/recyclable print materials…

consumption, which will be good for the bottom line as well as for the environment. That said, only a minority - as little as 5.11% - are thinking more ambitiously by investing in generating their own energy, installing solar panels and such. The fact that 26.70% of respondents will focus on upselling recyclable print solutions to customers is more heartening. That said, the fact that only 3.41% of printers say that most clients ask them about their environmental credentials suggests that buyers need an even bigger wake-up call.

The fact that 59.09% of printers aim to measure or reduce their carbon footprint and 64.20% are using recyclable materials is encouraging - some action is better than no action - yet also a tad depressing on two counts. Firstly, shouldn’t those percentages be higher by now? And secondly, those figures suggest that much of the industry is still stuck in a rut on environmental issues.

In fairness, the blame does not fall exclusively on the country’s print

companies. The British Government’s approach to net zero has been criticised, even by some of its own MPs, for “inconsistent policies”, “lack of coherence” across government and a “stop-start” attitude to initiatives and, in particular, funding schemes for business.

A recent independent review by Chris Skidmore - the MP who enshrined Britain’s net zero pledge in law - criticised the Government for failing to implement the recommendations of its own Green Jobs taskforce, called for the Treasury to review how, and indeed if, it incentivises green investment through the tax system and capital allowances, and proposed a public information campaign to inform and advise SMEs, the kind of company most prevalent in the wide-format print sector.

Above all, the review urged the Government to develop a long-term financing strategy so that investors and businesses can have clarity about the duration and scale of funding. Few business

leaders want to invest in, for example, solar energy if the incentives, loans and/or grants are withdrawn halfway through the project. Skidmore may be right but, given that the British Government’s record on long-term planning is about as impressive as former US president Donald Trump’s record for telling the truth, don’t hold your breath.

Since Trump’s defeat in 2020, there has been a noticeable decline in scepticism about climate change (well, certainly outside Rupert Murdoch’s media empire). Even in the US, climate change deniers are increasingly regarded as a lunatic fringe. In the UK, global warming is broadly accepted as a scientific fact, not an ideological belief. To that end, probably the most encouraging environmental finding in the 2023 Widthwise survey is that 41.14% of print companies believe we can still avert catastrophic climate (although a slightly higher proportion - 44.57% - said they don’t know if we can or not). Let’s hope the 41.14% are right.

Drytac, A ‘Stand-out’ Product Helping Brands to Stand Out

Drytac has been producing high-quality adhesive-coated products since 1976 and is now a trusted international brand. Stocked by Premier, the award-winning, UK manufactured Drytac range is now available from branches across the UK and through GPMI in Ireland

For graphics applications to windows, walls or floors, indoors or outdoors, whatever the surface, whatever the project, there is a Drytac solution.

Drytac’s “adhesive science” has been built on technical expertise, knowledge and cutting-edge product development. With brands like SpotOn, ReTac and ViziPrint, Drytac’s strategy has been to produce material for the market that is easy to print and easy to install. Furthermore, this range of wide-

format printable graphic material and lamination film is also complemented by a specialist product offering that includes industrial adhesives, high performance tapes and durable labels.

Thousands of ICC profiles have been developed with OEMs and software developers for Drytac products and are available from www.drytac.com ensuring printers achieve a consistent colour and print quality on Drytac products, each and every time.

The Drytac technical team also offers bespoke solutions for even more

demanding applications or to meet customers specific requirements. From custom profiling, fire rating, slip rating and FDA certification, through to specialist coatings and bespoke product development, the UK based Drytac Technical Team are here to help. Whatever product, whatever the surface, whatever the application, Drytac have got it covered.

Case Study - The Mirage in Las Vegas

When the Mirage in Las Vegas sought to open a new restaurant, Diablo’s Cantina, an appropriate media was needed to produce an incredible, eye catching mural.

Las Vegas grand format print and installation company Screaming Images chose ReTac Textures, a range of embossed polymeric PVC films, due to the range’s long-term suitability, depth and visual appeal; resulting in a vibrant wall graphic with a Mexican-inspired fiery skeleton

design.

Drytac ReTac Texture can be removed and repositioned without leaving behind a residue, and is available in embossed canvas, sand, linen, and a woodgrain-like finish.

Case Study – London Fashion Week

At his Autumn/Winter 2023 runway show, part of this year’s London Fashion Week, renowned fashion designer Richard Quinn dazzled guests with yet another display of the colourful vibrance and environmentally conscious application of digital textile printing in fashion. Quinn has won wide acclaim for using dye-sublimation to bring his designs to life, and his design skills have brought him such recognition as the H&M Design Award and the inaugural Queen Elizabeth II Award for Design, presented by her late majesty the Queen in 2018.

Quinn’s Autumn/Winter 2023 collection didn’t fail in exemplifying dye-sublimation’s role in fashion and was brought to life with the runway’s extravagant secret gardeninspired decor. But digital inkjet printing played another, more subtle, but equally critical role in this show’s success, namely the floor graphics.

Providing the first layer of the runway’s decorative theme onto an otherwise plain surface was a black and white diamond floor, made from Drytac Polar PET 170

This marks the second consecutive year that digital textile and signage printing have helped bring to life Quinn’s fashion collection and catwalk themes respectively, with his Autumn/Winter 2022 collection setting a particularly high bar for printing capabilities in fashion.

Case Study – AMC The Grove Graphic installation and project management company Applied Graphics & Signs selected Drytac SpotOn Clear Gloss media, to produce an eye-catching set of window graphics, promoting the Hollywood blockbuster film ‘Babylon’ at the

developed to support and educate users on the best print and installation processes and techniques.

Delivered by Experts

The Drytac range is now available from stock across the UK and Ireland through Premier and GPMI. So, Drytac is readily available wherever it is being printed and installed.

Premier has always offered choice to customers and now Drytac is stocked and is available from branches across the UK and Ireland. The whole Drytac range is housed at Premier’s Display Graphics hub in Wellingborough, together with product ranges such as Plexiglas, Foamalux, eTEC ACM, Marlon FSX and many more specifically stocked for the wide-format print and the display sectors.

polyester floor graphics media, printed onto using water-based resin inks. The scuff and tear-resistant PVC-free polyester floor graphics, which contain 40% recycled material, were provided by adhesive-coated products manufacturer Drytac, were printed onto using an Epson SureColor SC-R5000 resin printer and were installed by print solutions specialist, Max Media Prints. The Epson resin printer uses waterbased inks that not only offer a durable solution for the catwalk but render the substrate recyclable and free from any environmentally harmful substance.

Los Angeles based AMC The Grove.

The application space measured 559” wide x 220” high and required 54 panels to be flood coated with white for opacity and trimmed to fit each glass panel of the cinema’s giant windows.

With image quality and reliable adhesion both of paramount importance, Drytac SpotOn media was the perfect choice; the monomeric PVC film has been specifically developed for the creation of vibrant graphics requiring a quick, easy and bubble-free application and removal.

Drytac Academy

For what is potentially a very technically advanced product range, Drytac work hard and invest in resources so that customers can make simple but informed product choices based on information and support. A library of videos and guides are instantly available together with access to The Drytac Academy.

First launched in the Fishponds area of Bristol in early 2019, the Drytac Academy is an interactive training centre that showcases the full Drytac product range and demonstrates how each product can be used with the latest and most popular wideformat printing and finishing equipment from the world’s leading OEMs.

All of these resources have been specially

The Wellingborough hub also offers a bespoke conversion service on much of the product range. The recent and significant investment of state-of-the art conversion equipment including a Schelling FK6 plastic and composite panel saw, a Cauhe GH 366 heavy-duty guillotine and a wall mounted Streibig Saw, allows Premier to provide a conversion service to meet customers’ specific requirements; investments that further improved Premier’s ability to facilitate customer orders, cutting products such as Plexiglas, Foamalux, ACM, Marlon FSX and many more, to customer requirements; all from a centralised location.

Premier’s investment also extends to a fleet of 130 specialist delivery vehicles that enable sheet and roll products to be delivered securely and efficiently by a specially trained logistics team, who care about the products that they supply and the customers that they serve.

In January this year, Premier announced the acquisition of GPMI, a strong and established company in the Irish market supplying both the commercial print and sign & display sectors. With the GPMI acquisition and the organic growth that Premier has achieved through its investments, it is now one of the leading suppliers to the sign and display graphics sector across the UK and Ireland.

Drytac products are easy to print and easy to install and now, with the addition of the Drytac range to the Premier stock portfolio, easily accessible and available to Drytac customers across the UK and Ireland; delivered by experts.

Think Print. Think Agfa.

Ready for the next step(s)?

Interested in investing in wide-format? Choose a solution that allows you to produce best-in-class quality at the lowest ink costs on every copy, for every job, every time. Agfa is known as a solution provider – combining all offerings: software, press and ink. With their research and development teams, together with their customers, Agfa always aims to adapt their products to the needs of the markets. The product portfolio offers a perfect range of possibilities, allowing you to choose the model that best fits your needs.

Dye sublimation roll-to-roll printer

Agfa’s dedicated dye sublimation roll-toroll printer will enable you to create vibrant high-quality prints on polyester-based fabrics up to 3.2 m wide, including a broad range of in- and outdoor soft signage applications, as well as interior decoration. The Avinci CX3200 is a highly reliable and convenient soft signage printer that is able to print directly to fabrics, as well as onto transfer paper - – for the widest application scope. It uses an off-line calender unit to ensure perfect fixation.

• Being able to print directly to fabric is easy and ideal for fast handling and for

special applications such as flags, where print-though is needed.

• Transfer paper allows for super sharp prints, eliminates any set-off, and limits media waste to a minimum. In addition, it extends the application scope to sportswear and fashion garments, as well as home décor prints on noncoated polyester fabrics.

Avinci can print a wide variety of polyester-based soft signage applications such as backlit point-of-sales displays, indoor wall graphics, outdoor advertising, block-outs, backdrops, flags, or retail store décor elements. In addition, it can also be

used to print polyester-based sportswear or fashion garments. The Avinci 110 inks obtained the OEKO-TEX® ECO PASSPORT that states that the Avinci 110 inks can be used to produce human-ecological optimized textiles.

Customer quotes

Richard Haslett, Print Manager at Very Displays: “We were very diligent in our research for a new dye-sub machine and Agfa had lots to offer, but what stood out most was their overall openness and honesty when providing information throughout all stages of the selling process.

It was refreshing and it convinced us to make the switch. We are very happy with our decision.”

Kirsty Corcoran, Marketing Manager at Very Displays; “As we all drive to reduce our carbon footprint, this investment from Agfa helps us on our sustainable journey as a business. The machine itself is more energy efficient than the two it is replacing, and it is helping us to expand our range of fabric products, especially tubular fabrics which is a growing area of our business. These tubular textiles pull over the aluminium framework and can be washed and reused at lots of events. It is certainly a big growth area for us and is helping us offer a more environmentally conscious solution for our clients.”

Save the date:

14 September 2023

Embark on a journey with us on the day prior to the event – Wednesday, 13 September 2023 – to uncover the culinary delights of Antwerp. This preevent experience will also provide you with the chance to engage in informal discussions with fellow participants and industry experts.

Updated software features: Jeti Tauro H3300

The latest update of our Tauro H3300 inkjet printer software not only includes maintenance work throughout the codebase, but also introduces some new features that streamline and enhance your print production process. Scan the QR code for an overview.

Powerful software: Asanti

You need streamlined, automated print production processes that deliver nothing less than sublime prints and peace of mind. Streamline your workflow with Asanti and you’ll minimize manual interventions,

avoid errors, obtain better print quality, limit printer idle time, and reduce waste. Asanti is a complete, automated Sign & Display production hub featuring Agfa’s award-winning color management technology, powered by the latest version of Adobe PDF Print Engine (APPE). It boasts fast, automatic PDF pre-flighting and advanced functionalities (e.g. nesting and tiling) for various applications (e.g. banners, displays, see-through prints).

Asanti comes in three different subscription models, with a predictable flat fee, immediate access to all software updates, and guaranteed smooth operations at any time. Choose the appropriate plan according to your needs, and complement it with dedicated options.

Curious? Agfa UK’s Inkjet Experience Centre in Rugby, Warwickshire is fully open. To book your demo visit www.agfa. co.uk/inkjet, email icc.gb@agfa.com or call 020 8231 4027.

Or join us for an exciting exploration of our state-of-the-art inkjet technologies in the Agfa head offices in Antwerp, Belgium and discover our comprehensive wide-format solutions, including live demonstrations of all our printing systems and our innovative workflow software.

14 September 2023

L-R: Richard Haslett Print Manager & Simon Boswell MD at Very Displays with Wesley Small from Agfa

The Asanti software

Brand yourself better

Fakes get found out, so work out what you’re about - then you can start shouting about who you are.

What is a brand? Asked at a recent workshop, senior executives at a multinational luxury goods group variously suggested it was a logo, the company name, products and an advertising campaign. None of these answers were completely wrong - or completely right. As Bob Sheard, founder and co-owner of the Fresh Britain, explains, in some ways it is easier to explain what a brand isn’t: “One thing that a brand certainly isn’t is pretending to be something you’re not.” A brand, he argues, is truth, which he defines as a “core substance that gives the brand - and the organisation - its authority.” A brand doesn’t start with a logo or a new website, it starts with the business examining itself and defining what makes it different.

Even for print service providers that don’t have a lot of money to invest in their brand, that is a good question to ask. The answer could shape your strategy, your culture and your marketing. And, despite some cynicism that branding is all a lot of smoke and mirrors, Sheard estimates that it accounts for 25% of the value of manufacturing companies and around a third for companies in the service sector. That’s quite a dividend for companies which get their brand right - even if, as Sheard says, that will take time to accomplish.

And the fact is, no matter how small your business, your staff or your customerbase, your brand already exists - it’s just a question as to whether you control it. The look of your website, the graphics on your delivery vans, the feel of your office, the way you invoice and a host of other factors combine to define how you are perceived in the marketplace. This is often overlooked because leaders in all sectors of businessnot just wide-format print - are notoriously

bad at seeing themselves as the rest of the world sees them. Your image of your business is likely to be coloured by wish fulfilment, complacency, a multitude of biases, the last nice thing a customer said to

you and, to be honest, your ego. Often, when businesses encounter difficulties, the blame game will pinpoint a particular employee, department, even a piece of machinery. Yet, in reality the problem is unlikely to be that specific - or that simple. One issue may be that your existing customers - let alone potential ones - don’t really know what you stand for, or have pigeonholed you as only doing ‘x’ when you could also quite easily provide ‘y’ and ‘z’ if asked. You can try and change such perceptions in small waysredesigning the website, tweaking a logo, an email campaign etc - but these will only be effective and, most importantly, create long-term value for the business if they are underpinned by that truth, what Sheard calls the core substance that gives you your authority. If you don’t know what that substance is, with competition as fierce as it is in the wide-format sector in the UK, now would be a good time to find out.

Your image of your business is likely to be coloured by wish fulfilment, complacency, a multitude of biases, the last nice thing a customer said to you and, to be honest, your ego

Up to 1449 m²/h

Inca Onset X range

Extremely high-speed flatbed printers

Up to 905 m²/h

Jeti Tauro range

High-speed hybrid printers

Up to 250 m²/h

Avinci

Dye-sub textile printing – direct or on transfer paper

Up to 248 m²/h

Jeti Mira

High-end flatbed printer with dockable RTR

Up to 224 m²/h

Oberon

High-speed roll printer

Up to 129 m²/h

Anapurna range

Medium-speed flatbed, roll and hybrid printers

Complete solutions for all your print produc tion needs

When building inkjet printing solutions, we tune all elements to each other: printer, inks, media, applications, and worklow processes. That’s why you can count on outstanding and consistent print quality, 24/7 reliability, and sustainable operations. On top of that, we deliver impeccable service & support across the globe.

Asanti software

• Workflow & color management

• Prepress automation

• Intuitive operation & overview

• Powered by Adobe PDF print engine

Inks

• UV & dye-sub

• Rigid & flexible applications

• Thin Ink L ayer limits ink use

• GREENGUARD Gold certified