FEATURE
The need to enhance print for engagement With the changing distribution model for printers comes the need for print to be enhanced. So, where are the greatest areas of opportunity?
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onsumers are wanting print to be more engaging, with the increase of omni-channel communications, it’s more important than ever that the printed piece plays a major role to engage with consumers in a targeted, meaningful and measurable way. This enables businesses to pivot from traditional markets and bring greater value to what was once a static piece, according to HP Indigo Australia country manager Craig Walmsley. HP’s Indigo portfolio is focused on three main market segments globally, including the following: • Commercial – including the introduction of the new HP Indigo 100K Digital Press, a 6000 impression per hour B2 four-colour unit along with the HP Indigo 15K and HP Indigo 7K Digital Presses • Labels & flexible packaging – which includes the HP Indigo 25K and 6K Digital Presses • Packaging – which includes the HP Indigo 35K Digital Press “The HP Indigo market in Australia is extensive. If you look across those market segments, we’re by far the market leader in the industry, mainly driven by flexibility of the product portfolio,” Walmsley said. “We are making presses as productive as possible through automation, with less input and waste. The new HP Indigo 100K Digital Press, for example, drives up to 50 per cent more productivity.” Labels and packaging has been a significant growth area for the business over the last few years, with Walmsley saying that HP has been able to build new market segments in flexible packaging and high value labels applications. “We are constantly striving to meet the needs of the market; our clients are
looking to ultimately differentiate and diversify their product offerings. So, what HP Indigo does, which is unique, is being able to cater for that existing commoditytype work but also allow them to move into different segments and adding value to speciality applications to make it more engaging,” he said. This is achieved through a combination of the ink portfolio with the special effects and additional features such as security.” Walmsley identified how the newest HP Indigo technology has transformed operations for a local business. Queensland-based Allclear Print + Signs has been a long-time user of HP Indigo technology and recently installed the first HP Indigo 12000 HD B2 Digital Press in Australia. The press superseded an HP Indigo 10000 that the business ran for about seven years. “They’ve been using HP Indigo technology since 2012. They’ve now got a B2 high-definition press, which allows them to differentiate and continue on their quality journey,” Walmsley said. “They’ve been able to offer more than just a four-colour printed piece – with the HD technology, they’ve been able to lift the quality and feel of that document.” The presses were supplied by HP’s local distributor Currie Group. Walmsley said Currie Group has been instrumental in HP Indigo’s reach into Australia and that the company has supported and educated clients on the HP Indigo platform. “Currie Group is our exclusive channel partner for HP Indigo and it is one of our oldest and strongest HP Indigo channel partners globally,” he said. “The business’ experience comes into offering end-to-end solutions and it has been a fantastic partnership.” Walmsley added that worldwide user group Dscoop also plays a role in bringing together the HP Indigo network globally.
24 | AUSTRALIAN PRINTER NOVEMBER 2020
Craig Walmsley shares some insights from his 25 years of working in the print industry and his current role with HP as the country manager for HP Indigo in A/NZ
“Dscoop is a genuine user group that has more than 8000 members around the world. That allows them to connect and collaborate with each other through virtual conversations and get insights into what’s happening on a global level and take that to a local level,” he said. In terms of moving forward as an industry, Walmsley advised that businesses need to evolve from being in the commodity space to expanding their reach into value added applications and diversify where possible. “We are seeing traditional commercial printers move into packaging, labels and in some cases flexible packaging which is exciting to witness the journey and evolution,” he said. “We’re an industry that goes through constant transformation and change is the only constant.”
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