Australian Printer March 2021 by The Intermedia Group

MARCH 2O21

LEADING THE INDUSTRY FOR 70 YEARS IN PRINT | SPRINTER.COM.AU

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How to outsmart competitors with your label printing business

COVER: Being agile and ahead with Xeikon

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Raquel Todd (Sista Girl) on Women in Print

The history of printing training in Victoria

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CONTENTS

WOMEN IN PRINT: RAQUEL TODD

25-61

16-18

XEIKON ENABLES CUSTOMERS TO BE AGILE AND GET AHEAD WITH ITS NEW SOLUTIONS

March 2021 6-14

NEWS: AUSTRALIAN PRINTER’S COMPREHENSIVE INDUSTRY NEWS

16-18

BEING AGILE AND AHEAD WITH XEIKON: HAVING A GREATER FOCUS ON OVERALL EQUIPMENT EFFECTIVENESS

WOMEN IN PRINT: RAQUEL TODD

22-23

THE HISTORY OF PRINTING TRAINING IN VICTORIA: SPANNING FROM 1899 TO 2020

62-68

POST-PRESS FEATURE: THOUGHT LEADERSHIP AROUND THE TOPIC OF POST-PRESS  62 CURRIE GROUP  63 GRAFFICA  64 GRAPH-PAK  65 HEIDELBERG  66 KONICA MINOLTA  67 MULLER MARTINI AUSTRALIA  68 TRIMATT SYSTEMS

PRINT DIARY: ALL THE UPCOMING EVENTS

Advertiser’s Index

VIC’S PRINTING TRAINING HISTORY

PRINT LEADERS FORUM: THOUGHT LEADERSHIP FOR 2021 AND BEYOND  26 CURRIE GROUP  28 DURST  30 JETMARK  32 PRINTIQ  34 SCREEN  36 SOLIMAR SYSTEMS  37 ACTIVE DISPLAY GROUP  38 ADS AUSTRALIA  39 BRIGHT PRINT GROUP  40 BSI GLOBAL (REACON GROUP)  41 CACTUS IMAGING  42 CENTRUM PRINTING  43 CLARK & MACKAY  44 IMAGINATION GRAPHICS  45 IVE  46 MEZOGRAPHIC  47 OMNIGRAPHICS AUSTRALIA  48 PRINTGRAPHICS PRINTGREEN  49 QUALITY PRESS  50 TAYLOR’D PRESS  51 AI GROUP  52 LIA  53 NSSN  54 PVCA  55 TRMC  56 VDMA  57 VISUAL CONNECTIONS  58 DAVE FELLMAN  59 DEBORAH CORN  60 FM FUTURE  61 MEQA SMITH

To advertise call Carmen on 0410 582 450 or carmen@intermedia.com.au

Admag �� 73 All Clever Stuff �� 78 All Work Crane Services �� 80 Allkotes �� 9 Böttcher Australia �� 69 Centrum Printing �� 71 Clever Fridge Magnets �� 70 CTI Colour Printer �� 72 Currie Group �� 27 Cyber (Aust) ��OBC D & D Mailing �� 21 Dataflow Business Systems �� IBC Dockets and Forms Australia �� 70 Durst Oceania �� 29 EH Manufacturing & Alltab �� 78 FUJIFILM Australia �� 7 Gecko Sticker Signage �� 77 Giga Print Silverwater �� 79 Graffica �� 81

4 | AUSTRALIAN PRINTER MARCH 2021

Graphfix Trade Solutions �� 82 Graph-Pak �� 13 Guru Labels �� 75,76 Hero Print ��IFC, 3 J W Graphics �� 72 Jetmark �� 31 Labelline �� 78 Lifhart �� 70 Mister Magnets �� 74,75 MT Envelopes �� 80 Muller Martini Australia �� 9 National Auctions �� 80 Nettl Australia �� 15 PacPrint �� 5 Periodical Press �� 74 printIQ �� 33 Screen GP (Aust) �� 35 Trimatt Systems �� 11 Xeikon �� OFC, 19

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NEWS

Editor’s Comment

Ovato revenues down 28.2 per cent in COVID-hit half By Sheree Young

It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, it’s a new life, and the industry is feeling good. That is the general consensus from thought leaders around the possibilities that this year can bring and what the industry can expect moving forward. 2020 was clearly a trying year but companies had the opportunity to reflect on their businesses and develop new areas of play. They faced adversaries head on, enabling them with the chance to prepare themselves for similar setbacks – basically, futureproofing their businesses. What this means is that they now can make more informed decisions ahead of time and have alternate plans in place. The arrival of vaccinations has also given the industry much needed hope for a ‘new normal’ and that people can, once again, conduct business in person and attend trade events. It’s too early to say what the future holds but renewed optimism is the first step in recovery.

Ovato, has posted a $9.7 million net loss for the first half of 2021, compared to a $58.3 million loss for the prior corresponding period. Sales revenue was down 28.2 per cent, or $92.8 million, to $236.2 million while EBITDA before significant items was at $22.3 million, compared to $25 million in the period prior. This EBITDA figure included $18.3 million in JobKeeper payments in Australia and $1.6 million in wage subsidies from New Zealand. Ovato CEO Kevin Slaven said, “To put this in context, sales in the eight months to February 2020 (pre COVID-19) were down 9.3 per cent pcp and at the peak of COVID-19 in the month of April 2020 sales were down 57.9 per cent pcp.” The company reported that the Retail Distribution and Book Printing divisions have improved with Marketing Services remaining steady. But the company said its Print and Residential Distribution businesses were impacted heavily by the pandemic resulting in the need

Ovato’s Kevin Slaven said its Print and Residential Distribution businesses were heavily impacted by the effects of COVID-19

to undertake a restructure and recapitalisation strategy during the first half of 2021. This process included gaining court and creditor approval to forgive $11 million debts, liquidate certain companies and close down its Melbourne manufacturing site in Clayton, Victoria. Slaven said with that process now in place, Ovato has been able to “reset its manufacturing and fixed cost base to better reflect expected future volumes and de-leverage its balance sheet”. It also included raising $40 million in new equity,

Managing Director James Wells 02 8586 6101 james@intermedia.com.au

Editor Hafizah Osman 0431 466 140 hosman@intermedia.com.au

National Sales Manager Carmen Ciappara 0410 582 450 carmen@proprint.com.au

Subscriptions (02) 9660 2113 subscriptions@intermedia.com.au Subscription rate (6 issues) Australia $79

Printed by Hero Print Alexandria, NSW, 2015

Mailed by D&D Mailing Services Wetherill Park, NSW, 2164

which has been used to pay trade creditors, transaction fees, repay the $7 million ANZ overdraft facility and improve liquidity. “Following the schemes of arrangement, the company has made payments as required to the scheme administrator and is re-establishing trade terms with its key suppliers to the print business,” Slaven said. Net debt as at 31 December 2020 was $34.7 million, down from $72.9 million at June 2020 and $90.4 million at December 2019. Cash and equivalents as at 31 December 2020 were $39 million.

Design and Production Manager Carrie Tong 02 8586 6195 carrie@i-grafix.com

Australian Printer is published bi-monthly by Printer Media Group, registered in Australia ABN 47 628 473 334. This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form in whole or in part without the written permission of the publishers. While every care has been taken in the preparation of this magazine, it is a condition of distribution that the publisher does not assume any responsibility or liability for any loss or damage which may result from any inaccuracy or omission in the publication.

6 | AUSTRALIAN PRINTER MARCH 2021

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NEWS

Phillip Rennell exits Currie Group By Hafizah Osman After playing a key role in many landmark moments across 20 years of dedicated service, Currie Group sales and marketing director, Phillip Rennell, and Currie Group have agreed to part ways. The move follows newly appointed Currie Group CEO Rob Mesaros’ announcement of a development in the company’s business model. Part of this business model is a new organisational plan. Rennell’s role as sales and marketing director will no longer carry forward.

Phillip Rennell and Currie Group have agreed to part ways after 20 years

Consequently, sales and customer management of the commercial segment will fold into the broader responsibility of Bernie Robinson, in his

capacity as managing director of the commercial division. “Changes continuously happen around us – in society, personally and in business.

Changing industry dynamics also require an ongoing change necessary for the success and benefit of our customers," Mesaros said. He also thanked Rennell for his immeasurable service to the business and wished him the best in his endeavours. “I’ve had an incredible journey for the last 20 plus years. I have shared many great memories with customers and suppliers alike. I could not have imagined the strong relationships forged along the way and take many of them with me on the next phase of my career,” Rennell added.

Former Kornit APAC MD Andy Yarrow joins Twine Solutions By Hafizah Osman Two industry heavyweights that used to work for competitors are now working alongside each other at digital thread dyeing company Twine Solutions. The company has hired former Kornit Digital Asia Pacific managing director and president Andy Yarrow as its Asia Pacific regional sales manager, and has named Alon Bar-Shany as its active chairman of the board. The news follows Kornit Digital’s hire of Ilan Elad late last year as its incoming president of Asia-Pacific as the business expands into the region. “Kornit has taken a different direction in its approach in Asia – it wanted to focus more on Japan and that left me with a need to find a role which suited my experience,” Yarrow said. “Having worked in the Asia Pacific for the past seven years, I have built a fantastic network, so was always confident the right opportunity would present

Andy Yarrow is now Twine's Asia Pacific regional sales manager

Alon Bar-Shany is now Twine's active chairman of the board

itself and thankfully one of my former colleagues put me in touch with Twine. “Having been in this analog to digital transition business for 20-something years, working at Twine excites me as I’m involved with brandnew technology that I believe has huge potential, especially when you consider we are backed by investors such as HP, Landa and COATS.” Still based in Hong Kong, Yarrow joins Twine after two years at Kornit and will now oversee Twine’s launch in Asia.

“My role is to start Twine’s business in Asia Pacific. We’re in the process of finalising our first dealers and partners for the region and as the business scales up, I believe that Twine has enormous potential to grow quickly,” he said. Yarrow started his career in print and visual communications in 1999 – prior to Kornit, he was at EFI in a number of roles for more than 12 years. He was most recently its Asia Pacific director – a role he held for about two years after being

8 | AUSTRALIAN PRINTER MARCH 2021

promoted from director of channel sales. He has also previously worked at Océ in its display graphics business. “I’ve worked in commercial print, moved to display graphics, then got exposure in the ceramics, corrugated and textiles spaces. All of these markets allowed me to work on different types of technologies and I can translate my experience from these industries into those at Twine,” he added. Twine Solutions has also appointed Alon Bar-Shany as its active chairman of the board. Bar-Shany also serves as the chairman of Highcon. Bar-Shany said, “Twine has all the ingredients to become another Indigo in the textile industry based on a unique technology and the rapidly changing industry needs and potential for digital disruption. I am especially excited at the ability to help the company scale by helping its customers to grow and at the sustainability impact Twine brings to the market.”

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NEWS

Vivad works around the clock for Australian Open By Sheree Young

Vivad, has succeeded in helping make a locked down Rod Laver Arena at Melbourne Park seem a little less empty. The opportunity came up when Vivad owner Ewen Donaldson answered a phone call from Ben Morris of Peak Installations – a subcontractor to Tennis Australia – who needed to find a quick way to cover all of the empty seats with graphics after a COVID outbreak caused a snap lockdown in Melbourne. The options of whether to use vinyl or fabric were discussed and due to stringent fire requirements, ease of installation and overall look,

Vivad prints graphics for seats at Rod Laver Arena after COVID lockdown

fabric was selected. The request was last-minute in nature and huge in scale, and required Donaldson to ensure his staff were available to work across the weekend to get the job done and also make sure he had enough ink and fabric in stock. With the support

of his team and suppliers, and his Durst Rhotex 325 dye-sublimation printer, Donaldson was able to commit to getting the job done. The installation of the fabric at Rod Laver Arena was completed by Peak Installations with the process beginning on a Sunday

night and going through until Monday night. “This has been the biggest single installation in terms of square metres that we have done and in the shortest time,” Donaldson said. “But we decided we could do it, and did. I’ve got an amazing team that wanted to be involved, so we started printing through the night on Saturday, all through Sunday, split into two teams and did 12 hour shifts to get it done.” Durst Oceania managing director Matt Ashman said, “We supported him with ink out of hours, which is what we do for all of our customers. Ewen has just done an amazing job”.

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AUSTRALIAN PRINTER MARCH 2021 | 9

NEWS

ASGA & FESPA HP 2020 award for excellence winners revealed By Hafizah Osman ASGA, FESPA and HP have jointly revealed the winners of the ASGA & FESPA HP 2020 award for excellence winners. Below is the list of winners: Winning Entries: Albert Smith Signs, Angel Signs, Atomic Signs, Blackdog Ink, Brisbane Signs & Engraving, Cactus Imaging, Cunneen Signs, CV Media & Signage, Danthonia Designs, Ecept, Forte Signs (Australia), Graphic Effects, Image Box, Insigns, Kingman Visual, Kustom Design Studio NZ, Liberty Signs, Momo Visual, Neon Signs Australia, Next Printing, Rhino Signmakers, Sign Here Signs, Signco Manufacturing, Signs & Lines, Signs By Knight, SS Signs, Status Signs, T-1 Print, Thomas Creative, Vicon Transfers, Visual Advertising Solutions, and Visual Exposure. Young Star Awards: Alex Christofidelis – Brisbane Signs & Engraving, Jake Lambourne – SS Signs, Dylan Norris – Liberty Signs, Adam Watts – CV Media & Signage, Doreen Shirky – Impression Markings, and Dylan Noble – Macarthur Signs. ASGA president Julie Rochester said, “The winners have been provided with digital badges to promote that they are 2020 Awards’ winners, but they won’t know how many awards they have won or whether they have won any of the Highly Commended Awards until the full details are announced at the prestigious Awards dinner in September.”

FXA’s name change – what does it mean for suppliers? By Hafizah Osman

Fuji Xerox Australia (FXA) is due to change its name to Fujifilm Business Innovation Australia as of April 1 and operating as a Fujifilm company going forward. The company recently issued a statement to its suppliers, outlining this change and what it means for them. “Firstly, if you are an existing active supplier, nothing changes in terms of our commitment to you,” the company said. “Our ABN and CAN numbers are not changing, so there is no formal change to our contract with you. Upon renewal of future contracts, we will ensure the name change is reflected. If we transact with you via our Purchase Order Terms and conditions, our Purchase Orders from April 1, we will reflect our new company name.” The company has also asked suppliers to change its business name record in systems to state “Fujifilm Business Innovation Australia Pty Ltd” and to ensure invoices raised after April 1 are re-addressed in this business name. In addition, it has requested for correspondence to be addressed to the new company name.

Fuji Xerox Australia will soon be known as Fujifilm Business Innovation Australia

“Over time, you will notice the name change in our marketing material, brochures, signage, multifunction device and printer badges and advertising,” the company added. FXA’s business name change comes as its parent company Fuji Xerox Co. determined not to renew its technology agreement with Xerox Corporation, ending March 31. “Fuji Xerox is well-positioned to continue developing and manufacturing its original products using its own, unique technologies after the expiration of the technology agreement with Xerox Corporation,” it said.

The Print Department wins top Fuji Xerox award in Asia By Sheree Young A Digital Print Guide that was created during the COVID lockdown has ended up winning Melbourne’s The Print Department the “Best of the Best” award across Asia at Fuji Xerox’s renamed Innovation Print Awards. The Print Department business and marketing manager Diana Pezzano said, “We’ve been working on this project through COVID so we decided to enter it. We have taken out the number one award so we are thrilled.” Pezzano said the guide, which was created using a Fuji

10 | AUSTRALIAN PRINTER MARCH 2021

The Print Department wins the award for its Digital Print Guide

Xerox Iridesse Production Press, has been welcomed by customers who use the book to help them decide on what types of stocks, print and other features they would like included in their campaigns.

Fuji Xerox Australia has also released the full list of winners for the 2020 awards. Other Australian printers to win at the awards include Snap Circular Quay and Digital Print Australia.

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NEWS

Canva and Snap Print join forces By Hafizah Osman Canva and Snap Print and Design have teamed up in Australia in the transformation of the digital design-to-print experience. This solution aims to help individuals, businesses and community organisations streamline their marketing efforts and create professionally printed materials. This collaboration, the first of its kind in Australia, is said to combine the simplicity of Canva’s drag and drop design interface with Snap Print and Design’s expertise in print and speed of production, to enable individuals and businesses across the country to embrace professionally designed and printed materials. The partnership is backed by Canva’s extensive content library, featuring millions of images, video and creative templates and Snap Print and Design’s print team which offers Australia’s business community a home for all their creative and marketing needs. Snap Print and Design chief growth officer Sonia Shwabsky said, “As the Snap business moves closer towards providing a comprehensive e-commerce solution for its printing services, the collaboration with Canva supercharges the design phase, delivering a seamless digital design experience for our entire online community.” Canva global partnerships lead Aaron Day said, “We’re thrilled to bring the power and simplicity of Canva to Snap Print and Design customers across Australia.”

Clever Trade Products rebrands following business sale By Hafizah Osman Clever Trade Products has rebranded itself into All Clever Stuff following the sale of its fridge magnet manufacturing unit. The division was sold in August last year by its owner Maggie Thomas, who was instrumental in building the business to what it is today. Thomas started the company in October 1994 as Clever Fridge Magnets (with Clever Trade Products as its wholesale name) when she was pregnant, needed some income and couldn’t work. The business then took on a few other units, having expanded into areas such as stickers, promotional products, name badges and magnetic car signs. It grew to house 11 business names that it traded under.

Owner Maggie Thomas leads the newly rebranded All Clever Stuff

“I was expecting our first child when I decided to start the business, and I’ve been with the company for over 26 years now,” she said. “We’re a local employer that supports the local community. Family values run strong in our business as it was built around flexibility for our kids, which is why a lot of our staff are young mums. But as magnets were heavy, required

importing, and were labour intensive, we decided to sell that division and focus on the other segments of the business. “We’re still operating from Seven Hills, NSW, and following the sale of that business, we decided to rebrand ourselves as All Clever Stuff.” All Clever Stuff includes Clever Wholesale, which provides wholesale products to the industry. It now owns about 16 machines – four of which are printers, while the rest are supporting technologies. Thomas said there will be no changes to the products but will expand on its stickers and name badge range. “We'll be pushing more into this space. We’re looking to grow it to include more colour variations and sizes,” she said.

Coates Group provides Ampol with national signage fitout By Hafizah Osman

Digital signage company Coates Group has inked a partnership with Ampol Australia to provide the latter with external signage. The deal follows Ampol Australia’s rebrand, which will require its external signage changed nationally across a network of approximately 1,900 locations. The project is said to require over 30 signage variations – including main identity signs, price boards, shopfront fascias, and other applications for the Ampol marks and logos. Both companies said the partnership marks a momentous occasion for Ampol and Coates alike, with the rollout taking place

12 | AUSTRALIAN PRINTER MARCH 2021

The deal will require Ampol’s external signage changed nationally

Australia wide and being the largest that the country’s fuel and convenience industry has seen to date. “For Coates to work with Ampol, an iconic brand, as it re-emerges into the spotlight is something that we’re incredibly proud of and excited

about,” Coates president of A/NZ and international markets Marcus Coates said. “We’re always thrilled to return to our roots and deliver our forward-looking, refined suite of signage products,” Coates Group CEO Leo Coates said.

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A TRUE GUIDE & GRIP REGISTER A TRUE GUIDE & GRIPSHEET-TO-SHEET REGISTER SYSTEM ENSURE SYSTEM ENSURE SHEET-TO-SHEET AACCURACY. TRUE GUIDE & GRIP REGISTER SIDE PULL GUIDE IS ACCURACY. SIDE PULL GUIDE IS SYSTEM ENSURE SHEET-TO-SHEET OF PULLING ACAPABLE TRUE GUIDE & GRIPEITHER REGISTER CAPABLE OF ENSURE PULLING EITHER ACCURACY. SIDETOPULL GUIDE IS LEFT OR RIGHT MATCH PRESS SYSTEM SHEET-TO-SHEET LEFTCAPABLE OR RIGHT TO MATCH PRESS PULLING REGISTEROFEDGES. ACCURACY. SIDE PULL EITHER GUIDE IS REGISTER LEFT OREDGES. RIGHT TO MATCH PRESS CAPABLE OF PULLING EITHER REGISTER EDGES.TO MATCH PRESS LEFT OR RIGHT REGISTER EDGES. A TOP SUCTION AIR FEEDER A TOP SUCTION AIR IS POWERED VIAFEEDER A BUILT IS POWERED VIA A BUILT AINTOP SUCTION AIRINFEEDER BLOWER PUMP THE IN BLOWER PUMP INAIR IS POWERED ATHE BUILT ANVIA OPERATOR CAN AMACHINE. TOP SUCTION FEEDER MACHINE. AN OPERATOR CAN IN BLOWER PUMP THE INDEPENDENTLY IS POWERED VIA ADJUST AINBUILT INDEPENDENTLY ADJUST MACHINE. ANPUMP OPERATOR VOLUMES BOTH & IN BLOWEROF INBLOW THECAN VOLUMES OF BOTH BLOW & CAN INDEPENDENTLY ADJUST SUCTION TOANADJUST FOR THE MACHINE. OPERATOR SUCTION TORANGE ADJUST FOR THE & VOLUMES OF BOTH BLOW WIDEST OFADJUST MATERIALS INDEPENDENTLY WIDEST RANGE OF MATERIALS SUCTION ADJUST FOR THE POSSIBLE.TOOF INDEPENDENT VOLUMES BOTH BLOW & POSSIBLE. WIDEST RANGE OF SUCKERINDEPENDENT HEADS CANMATERIALS BE SUCTION TO ADJUST FOR THE SUCKER HEADS CAN POSSIBLE. INDEPENDENT ADJUSTED TO SHEET SIZE. WIDEST RANGE OFBEMATERIALS ADJUSTED TO SHEET SIZE.BE SUCKER CAN POSSIBLE.HEADS INDEPENDENT ADJUSTED TO SHEET SIZE. SUCKER HEADS CAN BE ADJUSTED TO SHEET SIZE.

A RECESSED SCRIBE LINE ON A RECESSED SCRIBE LINE ON SINGLE MAGNETIC MACHINES SINGLE MAGNETIC MACHINES AALLOW RECESSED SCRIBE LINE ON FOR FAST, CONSISTENT ALLOW FOR FAST, CONSISTENT SINGLE MAGNETIC MACHINES DIE MOUNTING & ENSURES A RECESSED SCRIBE LINE ONDIE DIE ALLOW MOUNTING &FAST, ENSURES DIE & FOR CONSISTENT TOOLS ARE HUNG PARALLEL SINGLE MAGNETIC MACHINES TOOLS ARE HUNG PARALLEL & DIE DIE MOUNTING ENSURES CENTERED. ALLOW FOR FAST,& CONSISTENT CENTERED. TOOLS ARE HUNG& PARALLEL & DIE MOUNTING ENSURES DIE CENTERED. TOOLS ARE HUNG PARALLEL & CENTERED. A PIN MOUNT SYSTEM ON DUAL A PINMAGNETIC MOUNT SYSTEM ON ENSURE DUAL MACHINES MAGNETIC MACHINES ENSURE ATHEPINALIGNMENT MOUNT SYSTEM DUAL OF THEONPAIRED THEMAGNETIC ALIGNMENT OFSYSTEM THECYLINDERS PAIRED ENSURE DIEMACHINES TOOLS. ASET PINOFMOUNT ON DUAL SET THE OF DIE TOOLS. CYLINDERS ALIGNMENT OF THE PAIRED ALSO HAVE BUILT-IN MICROMAGNETIC MACHINES ENSURE ALSOSET HAVE BUILT-IN MICROOF DIE TOOLS. ADJUSTMENT CAPABILITIES TO THE ALIGNMENT OFCYLINDERS THE PAIRED ADJUSTMENT CAPABILITIES TO ALSO BUILT-IN MICROENSURE MATING. SET OFHAVE DIE TOOLS. CYLINDERS ENSURE ADJUSTMENT CAPABILITIES ALSOMATING. HAVE BUILT-IN MICRO-TO ENSURE MATING. ADJUSTMENT CAPABILITIES TO ENSURE MATING. HYDRAULIC PRESSURE HYDRAULIC PRESSURE ASSEMBLIES ARE ADJUSTED EASILY ASSEMBLIES AREPRESSURE ADJUSTED EASILY HYDRAULIC VIA THE BLACK WHEEL. INFINITELY VIA ASSEMBLIES THE BLACK WHEEL. INFINITELY ARETOADJUSTED ADJUSTABLEPRESSURE UP 3,000 PSIEASILY OF HYDRAULIC ADJUSTABLE UP TO 3,000 OFEASILY VIA THE BLACK INFINITELY CUTTING PRESSURE IS PSI AVAILABLE. ASSEMBLIES AREWHEEL. ADJUSTED CUTTING PRESSURE ISOPERATOR AVAILABLE. ADJUSTABLE UPWHEEL. TO 3,000 PSITOOF GAUGES ENABLE VIA THE BLACK INFINITELY GAUGES ENABLE OPERATOR TOPSI OF CUTTING PRESSURE IS AVAILABLE. DETERMINE MINIMUM PRESSURES ADJUSTABLE UP TO 3,000 DETERMINE MINIMUM PRESSURES GAUGES ENABLE OPERATOR TO TO EXTEND DIE LIFE. CUTTING PRESSURE IS AVAILABLE. TO EXTEND DIE LIFE. DETERMINE MINIMUM PRESSURES GAUGES ENABLE OPERATOR TO TO EXTEND DIE LIFE. PRESSURES DETERMINE MINIMUM TO EXTEND DIE LIFE.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT OUR HEAD OFFICE

Specialising in Capital Equipment PLEASE Sales, Service, Engineering FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT OUR HEAD OFFICE Specialising in Capital Equipment Sales, Service, Engineering Solutions and Consumables. Solutions and Consumables. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE HEAD OFFICE Head Office: 1/44 President Avenue Caringbah, NSW,CONTACT 2229, email:OUR info@graph-pak.com.au info@graph-pak.com.au SpecialisingEnquiries: in Capital Equipment Sales, Service, Engineering Enquiries: info@graph-pak.com.au FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT OUR HEAD OFFICE Solutions and Consumables. Specialising in Capital Equipment Sales, Service, Engineering

Unit 1G, 1-3 Endeavour Road, Caringbah NSW 2229, email: info@graph-pak.com.au Unit 1G, 1-3 Endeavour Road, Caringbah NSW 2229, email: info@graph-pak.com.au Toll Free: 1300 885 550 NSW www.graph-pak.com.au Unit Toll 1G, 1-3 Endeavour Road, Caringbah 2229, email: info@graph-pak.com.au Free: 1300 885 550 www.graph-pak.com.au Enquiries: info@graph-pak.com.au Solutions and Consumables. Unit 1G, 1-3 Endeavour Road, Caringbah NSW 2229, email: info@graph-pak.com.au

NEWS: BUSINESS

PRINT STOCK WATCH: JAN 01 - MAR 01

ASX (AUD$)

Price

Change

Amcor

14.34

0.07  16.50

IVE

Year High

Year Low 9.87

1.54 0.07  1.99

News Corp

28.80

oOh!media

1.78

Ovato

0.006

0.24

0.40  30.26

13.10

0.035  2.48

0.55

0.00 – 0.024 0.0027

Redbubble 5.12 0.39  7.35 2.0

0.40

2.5

1.5

2.0

1.0

1.5

0.5

1.0

0.0

MARCH 2020

MARCH 2021

0.5

MARCH 2020

IVE

MARCH 2021

IVE’s Matt Aitken said the performance reflects its value proposition

OOH!MEDIA

NYSE (US$)

Price

Change

Year High

Year Low

Adobe

459.16 17.46  536.88

255.13

Apple

120.99 4.36  145.09

53.15

Canon

22.11 0.21  25.86

15.46

Fujifilm

58.76

1.13  63.09

News Corp

22.65

0.59  24.11

7.88

Xerox

25.35 0.03  37.12

14.22

600

200

500

150

400

100

300

200

MARCH 2020

MARCH 2021

MARCH 2020

ADOBE

DAX (EURO) Agfa

36.60

MARCH 2021

APPLE

Price

Change

Year High

Year Low

3.78 0.13  4.20

2.90

Heidelberg 1.23 0.01  1.54

0.47

Koenig & Bauer 24.94

0.14  27.46

14.42

Metsa Board

0.02  9.93

UPM

9.32

32.40 0.16  33.33

4.5

4.0

3.5

3.0

2.5

IVE posts $23m HY net profit, reinstates dividend

MARCH 2020

MARCH 2021

AGFA

MARCH 2020

4.47 20.31

MARCH 2021

KOENIG & BAUER

14 | AUSTRALIAN PRINTER MARCH 2021

By Sheree Young IVE Group has posted a $23 million half year net profit after tax (including JobKeeper) and has offered shareholders a $0.07 fully franked interim dividend. With JobKeeper out of the equation, IVE was also still in the black with a $12.7 million half year NPATA recorded, down 28.6 per cent on the prior corresponding period. Revenue slid 3.2 per cent to $340.8 million compared to the same time last year. IVE also added $16.5 million into the balance sheet through the sale of IVE Telefundraising, formerly Pareto Phone, during the half. IVE chief executive officer Matt Aitken said the performance reflects the depth and breadth of the company’s value proposition. “Our first half performance reflects the depth and breadth of our client relationships, the diversity of the value proposition we take to market, and the commitment of our staff. IVE remains wellplaced to grow our market share across the sectors we operate in as we emerge from COVID-19,” Aitken said. IVE executive chairman Geoff Selig attributed the strong half year result to

the strength of IVE’s client relationships, cost base flexibility and the company’s capacity to respond to the impacts of COVID-19. Strong cashflow also resulted in high liquidity for the business and there was also a meaningful reduction in debt with that now sitting at $90.1 million, a reduction of $47 million from 30 June 2020. “The impacts of COVID-19 have varied across our business, our clients, supply chain and the sector more broadly,” Selig said. “Under the circumstances, the board is very pleased with the first half performance and the significant reduction of $89 million in net debt since the end of March 2020.” Selig said the company’s share buyback instituted in November 2020 was also a representation of efficient capital management. “The share buyback announced on 12 November 2020 represents a flexible and efficient capital management initiative that benefits shareholders and reflects the confidence in the company’s ongoing performance. The board’s focus continues to be on maintaining our strong financial position and sound strategic roadmap,” he said.

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Xeikon vice-president of marketing Filip Weymans says today’s investments need to deliver results

Being agile and ahead with Xeikon With today’s printing investments needing to deliver on results, printing speeds are just as important a factor as overall equipment effectiveness to meet the value that printers and label converters are looking for

elivering on overall equipment effectiveness is the driving force behind Xeikon’s solution range, offering the gold standard in improving manufacturing productivity. And Xeikon has designed new and improved products to reflect just that as it paves its way deeper into the labels space. Xeikon vice-president of marketing Filip Weymans said today’s investments need to deliver results. He mentioned that printing speed is an important factor, but combining that with a low overall equipment effectiveness would not deliver the value that printers and label converters are looking for.

16 | AUSTRALIAN PRINTER MARCH 2021

As such, part of the Xeikon strategy going forward is to ensure that every label printer and converter is given the maximum choice when it comes to purchasing a Xeikon press, which can help them drive business growth. “A successful and cost-effective investment in a digital production solution works best when it is based on expected, realistic print volumes,” he said. “With Xeikon’s long standing expertise, we have developed the deeper understanding that can help label printers and converters with all aspects of running a successful digital business, from choice of equipment (10 label presses) and choice of technology (dry toner and UV inkjet), to workflow integration and expert colour

management services. We are recognised as a leading go-to trusted advisor and solutions provider. “Xeikon wants to help the label printer and converter transform his label manufacturing into a digital label manufacturing – not just digitising the printing aspect but also the other aspects of the manufacturing processes inspired by digital printing.” In line with its updated strategy, the company has added two new entry-level presses to its label printing portfolio – the Xeikon CX30 and Xeikon CX50 – which are both built on its sixth-generation platform and are based on CHEETAH 2.0 technology with new generation interfaces and cloud connection. CHEETAH 2.0 technology is based on Xeikon’s scalable press architecture that includes five print stations and a full rotary process with a variable repeat length. Each station utilises Xeikon’s dry toner process and a variety of print widths up to 512mm (20.3-inch) using an LED imaging head operating at 1200x3600 dpi and delivering offset/gravure image quality. The Xeikon CX30 and Xeikon CX50 are also both driven by Xeikon’s powerful and intelligent X-800 digital front end for efficiency and full automation.

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COVER FEATURE Xeikon’s Digital Front End (DFE) workflow can be integrated with common ERP and MIS systems. In addition, Xeikon’s X-800 workflow holds variable data capabilities, allowing the label printer and converter to explore a variety of high value applications with a basic press investment. Accuracy of colour reproduction over time and between presses is also guaranteed by an integrated on-press inline spectrometer. The two new presses use Xeikon’s QB dry toner based on CHEETAH 2.0 technology, which excels in the digital print landscape by offering superior colour consistency across the web and ensuring the highest volume of output with reduced waste. The toner is available in CMYK, red, blue, green, orange, extra magenta (gamut extension colours), super black, and technical colours such as one-pass opaque white, UV and reflective clear, as well as colours produced at the customer’s request. The QB-I toner aims to achieve quality results on a broad range of standard flexo substrates. The pigments used in the QB toner are of the highest grade and food safe, and also offer the highest levels of ‘light fastness’ in the market, meaning that the labels shine not only after printing but also for a long time afterwards. The Xeikon CX30 and Xeikon CX50 fit in the business’ portfolio between the Xeikon 3030 REX and Xeikon 3050 REX entry-level presses and the higher-end Xeikon CX300 and Xeikon CX500. Xeikon said it has designed and developed the CX30 and Xeikon CX50 presses to suit any label printer operating on ‘middle capacity’ – that is, 20,000 to 40,000sqm or 30,000 to 55,000 MSI in all end-use segments, but excelling in the pharmaceutical, food, and wine and spirit label sectors. “With the introduction of the Xeikon CX30 and Xeikon CX50, we continue to build and structure our comprehensive portfolio so that our customers can find everything they need with Xeikon,” Weymans said. “Xeikon’s CHEETAH 2.0 series offers competitive running costs and enables printers with the opportunity to successfully expand the capabilities of their press (by upgrading either in speed or width, or both). “The Xeikon CX30 and Xeikon CX50 are an appropriate choice for printers and converters looking at digital for the first time with future plans to expand and grow their operation – also for online

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label printers who are seeing their business explode,” he said. Both the Xeikon CX30 and Xeikon CX50 have the capacity to be upgraded on site – for higher speeds, both the Xeikon CX30 and Xeikon CX50 can be upgraded from 20mpm (65ft/min) to 30mpm (98ft/min) with the Xeikon CX300 or Xeikon CX500. For greater width, the Xeikon CX30 (330mm or 13-inch) can be upgraded to the Xeikon CX50 (520mm or 20.47-inch) or the Xeikon CX500. The Xeikon CX300 and CX500 are digital label presses based on a new generation dry toner platform that is designed around intuitive operator interactivity, consistent quality, reliable and best-in-class uptime, and high levels of productivity.

A comprehensive offering from Xeikon In the inkjet space, Xeikon recently introduced a high-end label press to its Panther portfolio to meet a need in the market and extend the company’s comprehensive offering, broadening the application reach. Weymans said the addition of this high-end, digital production label press is an important step in the Xeikon strategy as adding the Xeikon PX30000 to the portfolio enhances its existing offering. “Label printing companies can now opt for a dry toner press or an inkjet press, for an entry-level solution or a fully geared high-end production press, from a fivecolour engine up to a seven-colour engine,” Weymans said. “We are convinced that the appropriate and ideal choice a printing customer makes depends on their business strategy and their choice of end-use applications.” Weymans added that the addition of the Xeikon PX30000 high-end label press to its portfolio also gives the company a broader reach into various verticals. “We are committed to our vision of a digital future for labels and packaging. We are the only company dedicated to a true consultative approach, offering both dry toner and inkjet technologies and therefore the most comprehensive choice of digital solutions,” he said. The Xeikon PX30000 UV inkjet press offers a cost-effective and fast time-tomarket solution for short to medium run flexo jobs. It provides the label printer with opportunities to produce the widest range of digitally printed labels with a glossy tactile look, optimum durability and high

The Xeikon CX30 is a sixth-generation platform based on CHEETAH 2.0 technology

The Xeikon CX50 boasts new generation interfaces and cloud connection

The Xeikon CX300 is a digital label press based on a new generation dry toner platform

The Xeikon CX500 is designed around intuitive operator interactivity, consistent quality, reliable uptime, and high productivity

levels of resistance against scuffing and scratching. The press is designed to appeal to label printers working in the high-end markets of health and beauty, chemicals and premium beers. It also enables label printers looking for faster turnaround times, reduced production costs and lower complexity to explore new business possibilities offered by digital printing. Providing high productivity levels, the Xeikon PX30000 is equipped with eight printing stations, two of which are used to achieve high opaque white layers at maximum speed. This UV inkjet label press is driven by Xeikon’s X-800 digital front end, all geared to maximise digital print manufacturing.

AUSTRALIAN PRINTER MARCH 2021 | 17

COVER FEATURE

For flexibility and a wider range of applications, the press has extended colour gamut capability – it comes with a choice of two configurations – six or seven colour – and full colour management controls. With a maximum speed of 70m/min and using opaque white, the press is designed for maximum efficiency and productivity. This roll-to-roll, full rotary press prints on substrate widths up to 340mm. “An investment in the Xeikon PX30000 high-end label press with high productivity and extended colour gamut will ensure an amazing opportunity for label printers working with high-end products to provide brand owners with unique, creative and durable, high-quality labels,” Weymans said. “Working with Xeikon means ease of mind, knowing not only that we can provide the widest range of digital equipment, but that we will also advise on the best choice of product for specific business needs. It’s not just about finding the right digital equipment; it’s about working with a trusted partner who can offer the appropriate digital solution for any business model. We will continue to be on hand at all times to give confidence and continued support to our customers on their digital journey.” To transform your label printing business, visit: https://transform.xeikon.com/ or contact your local Xeikon executive Trevor Crowley.

(l-r) Xeikon’s Jeroen Van Bauwel and Trevor Crowley with the Xeikon PX3000

The addition of the Xeikon PX30000 high-end label press to the Panther portfolio enhances Xeikon’s offerings and gives the company a broader reach into various verticals

Xeikon’s SIRIUS technology Xeikon also recently took the wraps off its new generation dry toner technology which aims to deliver higher speeds, reduce the cost of ownership, and further improve quality. The Xeikon SX30000 press is a single-pass duplex machine, powered by Xeikon’s new SIRIUS technology, able to run at a printing width of 20-inches (or 508 mm) on a broad range of substrates at 30 m/min. Some of the core components that enable SIRIUS to set a new standard include: toner development, imaging technology, fusing technology and media conditioning, resulting in more than 400 design changes and developments compared to the previous generation. “The water cooled LDAs, with 1200x3600 dpi technology and the single pass duplex, full rotary concept, have remained unchanged, as well as the 5/5

18 | AUSTRALIAN PRINTER MARCH 2021

The Xeikon SX30000 comes equipped with the Xeikon SIRIUS technology print station setup. Almost everything else has been re-engineered,” Xeikon market segment director Dimitri Van Gaever said. “One of the things that really sets the SIRIUS technology apart is its ability to print on heavy substrates at high speeds. An important step to bring SIRIUS technology to a new era of productivity is

realised thanks to Xeikon’s new EkoFuse technology: a new fuser and a patented new crossflow cooling system add up to achieve superior print quality levels at market leading speeds. We believe this platform will lead the way towards a profitable business for our existing and future customers.”

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on transform.xeikon.com

How to outsmart competitors with your label printing busines

transform.xeikon.com

Get personal label printing advice

WOMEN IN PRINT

A purpose bigger than products:

Raquel Todd

Raquel Todd is the director of Sista Girl Sign & Print, which aims to improve the lives of Aboriginal people through employment at the business

ista Girl Sign & Print is a business like no other. Launched in early 2020, the business is a joint venture between Jason Signmakers and Raquel Todd, an Aboriginal woman who specialises in keeping people at work safe through worksite safety signs, equipment and high quality HSE printed resources. The business also provides Australian and Main Roads WA compliant road signs and accessories, as well as business signage and printed collateral. “I am an Aboriginal woman from the Pilbara region of Western Australia. I was born and raised in Port Hedland before moving to Perth at age 13,” Todd said. “The entrepreneurial spirit runs in my blood, with many family members including my parents owning and operating their own businesses. This is something that inspired me from the beginning.” Before starting her own adventure with Sista Girl Sign & Print, Todd gained invaluable experience as a community ambassador with North West Alliance (a part of the global Veolia company). Sista Girl Sign & Print then came about from Todd’s longstanding relationship with John Mancini, the managing director of Jason Signmakers. “I first met and worked alongside John in 2013. Since then, we had been looking for an opportunity to create a business together – one with a purpose bigger than products, one that can help to improve the lives of Aboriginal people,” Todd said. “My goal is to create a business that can provide long-term career opportunities to Aboriginal people, in particular, women. Print is not an industry that attracts a lot of women, and I love that I am in a unique position to help change this. Sista Girl Sign & Print opened this opportunity. The business, which we launched in early 2020, has a fantastic purpose, strong capabilities in signs, safety and print, and a determination to do great things.” When creating Sista Girl, Todd stayed true to her three pillars of aboriginal engagement: providing opportunities for Aboriginal people, bringing Aboriginal businesses into the supply chain, and working with local communities to give back where it matters most. “My co-founder was always supportive of this and encouraged me to pursue the idea of ‘more than just signs and print’. The other managers from the Jason Group provided training and advice along the way, as I learnt the ins and outs of the industry,” she said. However, print and signage was a completely new world for Todd as she did not have a background of working in the industry.

20 | AUSTRALIAN PRINTER MARCH 2021

Having just completed her first year in the industry, she had to start at the beginning when she co-launched the company. “I had to learn what vinyls and substrates were, educate myself on terms like ‘print-ready’, learn about machinery, and what is involved in turning artwork into actual printed collateral,’’ she said. ‘‘But I love helping clients see their ideas come to life. I get to help businesses grow with highly effective signage and printed collateral, which communicates their brand and message. No job is the same and I am always learning something new.’’ In the one year that she has been with the industry, Todd was nominated as an Emerging Businesswoman of the Year at the Indigenous Emerging Business Forum. “I featured in the West Australian business news section and had the opportunity to tell my business journey alongside some of the most established and well represented Aboriginal businesses throughout WA,” she said. Aside from the push for more women working in the print and sign industry, Todd expects to give back to the industry by being more vocal and active in the community. “I use my social media channels to promote the work we do and always take the opportunity to ‘shout out’ about the amazing jobs done by women,” she mentioned. “I also aim to bring in other Aboriginal business, especially those run by women, into my supply chain. For example, Tamara Bin Amat from Impact Media designed my branding and website. Impact Media is a Karratha based supply chain registered business. “She also directs a lot of her clients designs to Sista Girl to be printed, creating a circular economy for Aboriginal businesses.” Todd looks to the wider Jason Group for inspiration as she said many of the women within the business are experts in their field. “For example, Helen Kearsley, who runs the small format printer at Expo Group has been in the industry for over 20 years. When scoping what is possible for my customers, women like Helen are able to provide real life advice (and inspiration) about processes, substrates and finishing,” she mentioned. “The Jason Group has been actively pushing to increase women in the workplace and can proudly say it is nearly 30 per cent represented by women. This is across all areas including jobs that were more traditionally done by men, like spray painting.” Sista Girl Sign & Print is currently on the lookout for staff as it is recruiting for a traineeship position.

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PRINT TRAINING

The history of print training in Victoria Industry veteran Robert James takes a walk down memory lane, addressing the deep history of print training in Victoria spanning from 1899 to 2020

he Printing Industry in Victoria recognised the benefits of supplementary training for its apprentices. During 1894, the Melbourne Printers Overseers’ Association made an application to the Council of the Working Men’s College (now RMIT) to commence printing classes, but the proposal was denied on the basis of restricting specific student’s access to the classes. The Melbourne Printers Overseers’ Association met with the Victorian Master Printers’ Association on 28 April 1898, to discuss the prospect of conducting printing classes. A joint committee was formed and honorary instructors were appointed to conduct the classes in composing and (printing) machining. A room in the Athenaeum Hall was rented for one evening a week, which enabled composing classes and machining classes to be held on alternate weeks. In March 1899, the joint committee wrote to the Government for assistance, to enable classes to be conducted on a permanent basis. Following discussions with the Secretary of Education, the committee was notified that the Working Men’s College would take over the classes. Printing classes started at the Working Men’s College in June 1899, with a total

enrolment of 54 students. By 1902, the training equipment which was being purchased on time payment had eventually been bought outright. By 1905, class numbers had increased to the point that additional staff and plant were required. At this stage, all classes had been conducted in the evenings. It wasn’t until the latter part of the 1914-18 war, that day classes were offered, but only to newspaper apprentices. The name of the Working Men’s College was changed in 1934, to the Melbourne Technical College. In 1935 enrolments in composing and machining had increased to 444 students, further stretching the training resources. By 1939, most 18-year-old apprentices had joined the armed forces, which temporarily gave relief to the situation and the teaching staff produced correspondence courses for those apprentices. After the 1939-45 war, every effort was made to extend facilities for printing classes at the Working Men’s College. By 1943, it had become apparent that improvements were needed to the existing facilities. After further negotiations with the government and others responsible for technical education, it was decided that a monopurpose technical school be established to provide essential training and education in all printing trades.

The old State School 307 building in Queensberry Street, North Melbourne 1950

MCPGA/RMIT Printing building in Dawson Street, Brunswick 1993

22 | AUSTRALIAN PRINTER MARCH 2021

Melbourne Printing Trades School

On 21 October 1947, the Governor in Council proclaimed the Melbourne Printing Trades School to train apprentices in lithography, photoengraving and bookbinding trades, while the Melbourne Technical College would continue the training of letterpress apprentices. The Melbourne Printing Trades School was renamed the Melbourne School of Printing and Graphic Arts, in July 1950. Discussions took place during 1950 regarding the construction of a new building at the rear of the existing structure. Initially a four-storey building was proposed, but to reduce costs, a two-storey compromise was reluctantly accepted by the School Council. In July 1954, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, conferred the title “Royal” upon the Melbourne Technical College. By 1957, all printing classes were conducted in the new facilities at North Melbourne and enrolment in the following year exceeded 800 apprentices during the day and almost 400 attended evening classes. During this time, the training facility was one of the most modern and complete institution of its type within the British Commonwealth.

Overcrowded facilities

Before long it was realised that the existing two-storey building was inadequate, as student enrolments had more than doubled since 1956. Plans were drawn up for an additional three floors to be built on the recently completed building. During 1960, the title of the Royal Melbourne Technical College was altered to Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. Constructions of an additional three floors had commenced in 1964 and were completed by October 1966, providing a total floor space of 72,000 square feet. Further equipment

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PRINT TRAINING

Reunited with RMIT

Print training was, and still remains, of key focus in Victoria, with its deep and rich history running for more than 120 years

was purchased for around $240,000. In March 1971, the Melbourne School of Printing and Graphic Arts was renamed the Melbourne College of Printing and Graphic Arts. On 27 October 1978, the Graphic Arts Award was reduced from some 24 trades into – composition, graphic reproduction, stereotyping/electroplating, printing machining, screen printing, binding and finishing. In 1980, a record 530 first-year apprentices were enrolled, but only 420 could be accommodated at the college. On 30 September 1981, the Melbourne College of Printing and Graphic Arts separated from the Education Department, to become one of sixteen colleges responsible to the T.A.F.E. Board. A new site for the Melbourne College of Printing and Graphic Arts was sought during 1982. Additional buildings were leased during 1985 and 1986, to alleviate the congested accommodation at the Queensberry Street site. By 1987, plans for a new building in Brunswick were being instigated. Classes commenced at the Dryburgh Street annexe in October 1987. In May 1988, a master plan and concept proposal for the Brunswick campus was put to the Commonwealth Government for approval and funding. Bookbinding classes were relocated and commenced in the Millers Ropeworks building at Dawson Street, Brunswick in February 1989. The Minister of Education and Training laid the Foundation Stone at a special ceremony on 3 December 1991 at the Dawson Street site in Brunswick. A new era in printing training had begun. The new three-storey training facility was constructed during 1992 at a cost of $10.6 million, with a total floor area of 4,600 square metres. Equipment in the new building was valued at $3.7 million. The site was to be shared with the Melbourne Institute of Textiles.

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On 1 January 1995, the Melbourne College of Printing and Graphic Arts merged with the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, once again returning to its foster parent after 45 years of independence. As part of the restructuring of RMIT during 1997, the School of Design and Printing was rationalised with the two former departments being amalgamated. In February 1997, $4.6 million of funding had been approved for the final stage of development for RMIT Printing. Plans were initiated for a two-storey structure to accommodate the remaining sections of the school. However, discussions were held with various printing associations during 1998 for a third storey to be added, at a further cost of $1.7 million to accommodate a printing museum, to be known as the National Printing Museum of Lasting Impressions. Preparations for the site began early in 1999, with the demolition of the last of the original Millers Ropeworks buildings, which had accommodated the Bookbinding classes since 1989. Construction was scheduled to commence in April, with a proposed completion in December 1999. After 13 years of separation, all of the printing training sections were reunited onto the same campus, following the relocation of classes from the North Melbourne sites. At the completion of the project, the Dawson Street site became a national leader for the delivery of training to the Printing and Graphic Arts Industries. Unfortunately, with a rapid decline in printing apprentice enrolments, the first-year Printing Machining workshop was closed and consequently in 2010, the second-year Printing Machining workshop also closed. Apprentice enrolments across most areas, except flexographic, gravure and label printing had rapidly declined in recent years. Following a further reduction of enrolments in printing

machining, the flexographic and label printing departments were amalgamated with a refurbished lithographic printing workshop in 2011.

The future

Originally in the 1970s, all apprentices attended the Victorian print training facility for 960 hours, over the three years of their ‘off-the job’ training. This was later reduced to 880 hours. In recent years, apprentices attended ICGT for a total of 520 hours. The remainder of apprentice training has been assessed ‘onthe-job’ by ICGT training staff. On 18 July 2012, RMIT announced that it had entered into an arrangement with a private training provider, CLB Training and Development (now Spectra Training), to establish and takeover the printing and graphic arts training in Victoria and Tasmania. Under this agreement, RMIT closed the ICGT training facility in Brunswick within the next 18 months. Moves were taken by the Printing Industries Association of Australia (PIAA) to purchase ‘Intech Australia’ a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) operating out of Queensland. Joan Grace, previously CEO of Print NZ had been appointed by PIAA, as general manager of education, employment and training, to ensure that printing industry training in Victoria was maintained. But by the end of 2014, Grace had left the PIAA after two years of managing ‘Future Print’. With the support of ‘Future Print’ and ‘Intech Australia’ failing to get Victorian Government support, alternative RTO options were explored, resulting in the Holmesglen Institute registering the Print Apprenticeship Programs. In 2016, the Certificate III Printing and Binding /Finishing Apprentice training was introduced at Holmesglen Institute in Chadstone. Apprenticeship training is provided both on and off the job. A Certificate II Pre-Apprenticeship course in Printing and Graphic Arts is also provided.

Robert James is an industry veteran who has been in the printing industry for over 57 years. He joined the printing industry as an apprentice in 1963 and became a qualified printer in 1967. James was a recipient of The Collie Trust Scholarship Award in 1973, became a trade instructor at the Melbourne College of Printing in 1974 and was head of the printing, binding and finishing departments at RMIT, until he retired in 2001.

AUSTRALIAN PRINTER MARCH 2021 | 23

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PRINT 2021 LEADERS FORUM S

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Adapt and lead

THE CHARGE

LEADERS FORUM 2021

Rob Mesaros CEO, Currie Group

020 was a year filled with unprecedented circumstances and challenges. Specifically, in print, we’ve seen a full spectrum of outcomes. Companies have been busy figuring out how to survive, how to adjust, and most importantly shift their business models in response to the opportunities and challenges presented by COVID. Innovative organisations repositioned their capabilities to address current day opportunities – for example, in COVIDrelated signage and 3D printed PPE. As for Currie Group, we presented a series of interactive group webinars to support and up-skill our customers’ sales practices during the COVID-19 downtime. This was an opportunity for them to learn about the latest updates from our partners and share the business tools available to them. We adapted to having no physical presence at trade shows by exhibiting with our many partner brands in a range of segments in virtual environments. There has been no shortage of educational forums and virtual trade shows, however, there will always be a need to connect live as we are a tactile and physically orientated industry. There is no substitute for personalised engagement – it’s about getting the mix right. Currie Group also moved our open house events to a safer ‘by appointment’ environment through the changing face

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of COVID to enable our customers to continue to innovate. 2020 was a great time to be reflective. Focusing on efficiency and productivity in a business is always a great idea, particularly looking at order to cash cycles and processes as they often present opportunities to improve. Whilst it’s important to keep costs down, it is vital that businesses continue to drive new innovation and ideas to their audience. As we find ourselves moving towards a more stable (local) environment, businesses are investing in new technology that offers not only enhanced capabilities but also more automation. However, this is a journey that needs planning. Another area of focus is driving a culture of change. Businesses need to ensure that they stay ahead of the game, or at least, respond quickly to the mega trends that shape economies. Communication and engagement methodologies have shifted too, resulting in brands and consumers demanding a different customer journey and overall experience. Organisations that have adapted and led the charge have been rewarded substantially. With brands wanting to reach customers in new and innovative ways, hyper personalisation, high value-added work, and being creative will continue to pay dividends. The race to the bottom with price as a key differentiator is a

short-lived strategy. Rich and complex communication pieces are booming. This is particularly evident in packaging, which requires a more agile supply chain. Flexible packaging has been one of the fastest growing packaging sectors over the past 10 years, and thanks to increased consumer focus on convenience and sustainability, this is another area where opportunities lie. We have also seen a shift in market segments, as what were traditionally commercial PSPs, now moving towards new revenue stream opportunities such as pressure sensitive labels and folding carton applications. There is no doubt that this trend will continue over the coming years. At Currie Group, our aim is to continue to provide world-class equipment and professional services to our customer base. With the addition of new partners such as HP 3D and EFI wide format, much of the focus will be on bedding these down, so expect to see some exciting announcements in the coming months. PacPrint is around the corner too, and we are excited to showcase new technology offerings at the trade show. Moving forward, we expect a more stable ‘new normal’ that is ultimately better than what we had before. Specifically, for our industry, I’m optimistic that we will see a bounce back, but undeniably the work and applications will shift.

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Plan to

SUCCEED LEADERS FORUM 2021

Matt Ashman Managing Director, Durst Oceania

020 was the year when we all learned how to run our businesses with compassion and caution, with lead boots on! None of us have ever experienced a global pandemic of this scale, which turned everything we knew upside down. But, out of chaos came calm and clarity. The industry did what it does best – which is to innovate, evolve and survive. For example, some of the projects that our clients initiated showed such creativity in the face of adversity; I found it very inspiring. Using Durst’s solutions, they created products that were in demand and of urgent requirement globally because of the pandemic. This included face masks and safety signage for social distancing – our customers targeted the needs quickly and fulfilled them. On the back end, Durst as a global organisation created ideas and products for our customers – such as developing the material for the filter membrane used in masks and launching air purification devices – to adopt to the changing needs of the world. We shared the designs, intellectual property, safety data, as well as the raw materials to manufacture the masks in house free of charge to our customers, while also ensuring that they met medical standards to protect against the virus. We also created an online shop to sell

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and customise these face masks. Looking forward, businesses need to plan to succeed. 2020 provided us with the opportunity to look internally at production process bottlenecks and market trends. We were able to question what is happening out in the community and the markets we all work in and determine what we can do as a business now and in the future to better serve the market. So, if you haven’t already, this is a good time to closely look at your business to make it into an efficient machine. Ask yourselves ‘Where do I need to add people? Where do I need to change technology to win more business?’. Maybe software can enhance your route to market and make your production process ‘hands off’. All these areas should be considered as areas to review, and in all of these areas, Durst has a solution to assist in making a business into a Digital Factory. I have a good feeling about the prospects of 2021. The domestic market is holding its own well, and it’s even winning back business that may have gone overseas. To bring more production back to Australia is such a great bonus for the country and for our industry. We have the technology, we have the know-how, we have the innovation, so, let’s build on the recovery of Australia. During the pandemic, the labels and

packaging sector saw strong and sustained growth. Labelling and packaging is a clear essential service, and thus with the boom in retail, take away food, online deliveries and new chemical and sanitisation products, the demand was and remains huge. Wine and beverage labelling was and continues to grow as well. As for Durst, we are looking to bring more new and innovative technologies to our customers – from AI software to ground-breaking hardware that offers real world versatility and flexibility. Technology and innovation have not stopped regardless of the postponement or cancellations of trade shows. It is a shame that so many trade shows have been postponed as the industry does trade shows so well. Drupa and Fespa have also been an integral part of a business’ planning, budgeting and purchasing roadmap, in addition to being a great opportunity to network and compare notes with global peers. As such, we have had to find new ways to inform and share ideas and innovations. But these trade shows will return and we will all come back stronger and more invigorated. So, forge ahead with a development plan, never stand still, and see what you can do better. This will enable you to sustainably grow and maintain the level of customer service and quality our industry is known for.

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Innovate, OR DIE LEADERS FORUM 2021

Marshall Crick Head of Sales, Jetmark

020 could be looked upon as a disaster of a year for the printing industry, as a lot of print is especially involved in the events space, and COVID-19 heavily impacted that industry. The events space in 2020 was mostly non-existent – whether that was in retail shopping centres or public events – with many of these events cancelled. However, if you were innovative or keen to get business, you had to pivot your ways towards more lucrative areas of play. A few businesses very quickly worked out what equipment they had, and what else they could do or change to keep their businesses running. The government provided subsidies for every business; however, you couldn’t survive just relying on those subsidies and it forced you to think outside of the box. At Jetmark, we looked at our strengths, what areas we could scale and pivot in, what products and services worked for the shrinking market, and played to our strengths. That was the silver lining in the cloud for us during COVID. We also worked out that where we may have printed products before, that we could now offer a full trade print, cut or manufacture – we had to make sure that our service to the trade market was relevant to the areas we were strong at. For example, we print a lot of flat coreflute products which are now used

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in temporary stands. One of the things that was necessary during COVID was temporary stands for sanitisers, warning signals, and floor stickers, so we had a lot of demand from that opportunity. There is a quote – ‘innovate or die’. Following the ‘new normal’, businesses of today have to innovate and keep innovating. Innovation is not just in products – innovation can be in services, or the ‘why’ you service your clients. These are the things that you’ve got to look at and take action on in 2021. The market’s looking more buoyant this year already; however, you’ve got to hope for the best and be prepared for the worst. Looking back 12 months ago, no one could have foreseen that businesses will have to change and adjust to the extent that they had to. There are still so many unknowns now, so you’ve got to be strong and provide direction and leadership, and go after goals rather than sit in the fear of the unknown. People within an industry are the ones innovating. Once someone comes out with a great, new product, the market will catch up and that period gets shorter. Within trade printing, there are market sectors that you can verge into or merge into – you just have to ensure that you know what’s in the printing game and where trends lie so that you keep yourself ahead of the game. If you’re relying solely on

trade shows to get your innovation, you’re going to struggle in business. Within businesses, management teams should be focusing their efforts on building team morale. At Jetmark, we recently had a Team Day where we ensured that our staff are aligned to the goals and visions of our directors. Reaching where you want to be as a business is a lot easier with staff alignment. Role clarity is also of utmost importance for staff satisfaction. In terms of trends, environmentally sustainable products are in demand regardless of the sector. Many industries are asking for such products, which is a good challenge to the industry. Customers are also asking for Australian made products. This is due to delays with international shipping and freight. This is key in bringing manufacturing percentages higher in Australia and getting our local businesses to rely on each other. In 2021, Jetmark will be focused on developing products and putting in more capacity. We are doing these things to make our service better to the market – that’s what makes customers come back. We are proving the benefits of it already. We’ve already started by hiring more staff, putting extra capacity in print, and directing more resources towards innovation. Doing what you’ve always done will mean getting what you’ve got; we aim to go beyond the status quo.

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PRINT LEADERS FORUM

Navigating the best way

FORWARD LEADERS FORUM 2021

Adrian Fleming and Mick Rowan Directors, printIQ

obody could have forseen the impacts of COVID-19 in 2020. It brought the world to a halt, but the impacts themselves varied depending on which segment of the market you operated in. From a printIQ perspective, it appeared that labels and packaging segments seemed to gain momentum as the year progressed as customer buying patterns changed and e-Commerce became a more common sight. However, the wide format and signage businesses faced a tougher road as events halted, and demand for these products decreased. To keep relevant in what was a rapidly changing environment, the print and visual communications industry had to pivot like never before, without a lot of information to guide them through the initial stages of the pandemic. This situation improved as 2020 progressed, with associations and the federal and local governments providing the necessary support needed to guide businesses in the right direction. But, although this aid was very much needed, running a business on that support alone was (and still is) not sufficient. The result was that many companies had to take a closer look at their businesses, understand what worked or didn’t, and adjust their offerings in the form of new products, services, and solutions.

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Many had to branch out into new areas of opportunity, and where products were in demand – masks, PPE and other COVIDrelated signage were some of the more obvious areas of need – our industry didn’t waste any time in delivering on supply where demand was required. Within printIQ , we understood that many of our customers could potentially be impacted by the effects of COVID-19, so one of the first things that we did within our business was to work out a deferred payment plan so that our customers that required help could better manage their cash flow. Having seen and experienced the changes brought about by the pandemic, the industry has to be prepared for more disruptions now and into the future. There is some renewed hope that businesses will be able to adjust to a ‘new normal’ following the rollout of vaccinations – this will provide businesses with some confidence. However, we will also have to plan and work together as an industry to navigate the best way forward as the future is uncertain. Regardless of the changes brought on by COVID, innovation is still forging ahead, keeping businesses relevant. Even though many tradeshows have been postponed or switched to a virtual format, the industry is still getting the innovation it needs to grow (although finding the right source might be hard for some).

Generally, we find that most customers already do the bulk of their research well before attending a tradeshow, so the meet and greet at a show is more there to work out a deal. In 2021, with the Federal Government pumping close to $1.5 billion into Australia’s manufacturing sector, we sincerely hope to see local productions increase overall with new local supply chains coming into play. Businesses themselves should be putting their efforts into making their businesses more accessible for customers and staff. We’re all moving towards a world in which 24-hour access will be the norm. The ability to work from anywhere, via cloud-based options, will also continue to grow. As such, our approaches to market and the way we service customers should also change to reflect that. Our predictions for 2021 depends on the geographic region in which you are conducting your business. For Australia in general, we believe that companies will be optimistically cautious. At printIQ , we will continue to innovate our offerings, service our customers, and support the industry with offerings that work well in a world where people need to work remotely. By understanding their businesses and processes well, companies can understand what they do well and focus their energies on what will return the best results.

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PRINT LEADERS FORUM

Looking outside

OF THE BOX LEADERS FORUM 2021

Peter Scott Managing Director, Screen GP Australia

ike everyone, our business faced challenges in 2020. For the industry in general, it was a painful year with too many closures and redundancies, but fortunately, the labels side of the packaging industry performed well during COVID, driven by the demand for FMCG and sanitation products. To keep relevant in the industry, adaptation was key – wide format printers started making PPE products, masks, sanitation stations, and others, for example life-size cutouts of footy supporters in the absence of crowds! Some label printers went into alert stickers for COVID distancing. Associations such as Visual Connections worked with governments to communicate access to grants and stimulus initiatives – the latest of which is the 50 per cent subsidy for exhibitors’ costs at PacPrint in September. For our part, at Screen, we were able to keep equipment serviced and running without exception, with a combination of physical visits and Zoom-type conferencing. Our engineers have risen to this challenge magnificently. It has actually been quite remarkable to also see how ink volumes through our Truepress L350 series presses have grown. The industry is already well-prepared for the end of lockdowns and resumption of ‘new normal’ business. The hardest

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part will be finding or replacing the skills that may have been lost during COVID. Finding good people is extra hard in a jobcompetitive environment where demand exceeds supply. The key is to be flexible and diversify into growth areas that may seem foreign to some printers. In 2021, businesses should be looking to short-run packaging and labels. Wide format displays will also grow with the resurgence of retail and exhibitions. Functional print items, where the product can be decorated and value-added, is another. We all need to look outside of the box these days. Firstly, businesses need to understand and reinforce their customer base. Reassurance is a good thing – take nothing for granted. This means frequent touch-points and CRM, website and e-commerce refreshes and exploring new partnerships that may have been unthinkable pre-COVID. Secondly, look at your workflow and technology and automate wherever possible. Anything that reduces timeto-market and is responsive in smaller quantities will appeal to businesses. Innovations have continued uninterrupted and businesses should leverage that to the best of their capabilities – take Screen’s upcoming Truepress Pac830F flexible packaging press for example, and our L350UV SAI label press, now installed at Jet

Technologies’ Sydney showroom. The only difference is that the timing of the launches has changed. Many companies used to time their new releases around drupa in Germany, which have been disrupted as a result of COVID. The virtual events are good, but are no substitute for face-to-face exhibitions of this nature. As such, it is great to see PacPrint 2021 well underway for September. It should be a good shotin-the-arm for the industry, along with COVID jabs, of course. For Screen GP Australia, our goals are to further support our customers, successfully introduce new technologies and continue to become a fully-sustainable company by 2023. For us, customers come first. Screen and our partners Jet Technologies, Fujifilm and Ferag are very support-focused. Once travel resumes fully, customers will be seeing a lot more of us. The fortunate position Australia and New Zealand finds itself in re: COVID will mean our recovery will come sooner and more completely. Planning ahead for the future is vital. My advice would be for businesses to make use of information, stay close to customers, and be alert for changes in the supply/demand mix. Remember, there is no ‘Status Quo’ as change is now the only constant that is guaranteed because the old ‘normal’ will never return.

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PRINT LEADERS FORUM

Creating a blueprint for

SUCCESS LEADERS FORUM 2021

Mary-Ann Rowan Chief Experience Officer, Solimar Systems

he print industry is rapidly changing. Economic pressures, new working requirements and changes in print buyer demands are reshaping the space in which print providers operate. Among the many trends, I’d like to highlight three big ones. First, PDF asserts its place as the de facto printing standard across application types and workflows. No longer is PDF just for commercial print or electronic statement delivery. The flexibility of PDF – its rich palette of features including colour control – makes PDF irresistibly attractive even for transactional output. The second is, JDF gains traction. As devices become PDF-only, specifying finishing, tracking production and collecting accounting data drive connectivity from LPR and watched folder handshakes to full-fledged, bi-directional JMF/JDF dialogues. Third, dashboards and mobile apps make the work floor much more visible. Tracking service level commitments; getting accurate and timely approvals; and resolving operational issues become easier. Additionally, I see another step-change will be the way in which software is rolled out in a print shop environment. We see many people looking at virtualised environments with both private and hybrid cloud implementations. In 2021, more companies will be looking at how they

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can make the best use of cloud services while keeping the necessary server-side for security and performance. Live job tracking and reporting will be crucial to service providers. The ability to track jobs or individual pieces from anywhere at any time provides the accountability that matters for 2021 and beyond. Data security is an extremely hot topic for print providers too. Since 2016 and the adoption of GDPR in the EU, we have seen increasing regulations around the globe. These changes require more careful and precise handling of data that may be used to identify a person. As a consequence, more printers are taking aggressive steps to track Personally and Identifiable Information (PII). This reality drives the need for updated processes and technology that will secure data while being stored or as it moves through print or digital production processes. Workflow management software can help in this respect. The right solution will offer highly secure print file transfer capabilities as well as data redaction, obfuscation, and appropriate levels of encryption from the print management solution to the printer itself. From conversations with our global network, it’s clear that the idea of workflow is only increasing in relevance. From our customers’ perspective, the change in how work is being brought into

their print and digital communications delivery environments continues to evolve. There is also a clear trend toward increased personalisation in jobs. This trend impacts print providers by creating shorter runs, or more job-of-one work, that can strain current processes especially if they are still completed manually by production staff. When looking at a production environment, it is critical to understand where bottlenecks are happening as it may challenge on-time delivery of current work and limit the opportunity to take on additional work that boosts profits. We also see print providers looking to make changes to their environments, whether that is from mergers and acquisitions, expansion into new markets or upgrades to current hardware and software within their facilities. As we look ahead, there is no doubt that print and digital content providers will have the opportunity to accept outsourced work from large brands and organisations, see an uptick in demand for personalised content and be asked to deliver work both physically in print and across electronic distribution channels. These trends shine a positive light on the available opportunities in 2021. My best advice to print providers is to ensure that they are positioned to take advantage of these opportunities.

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PRINT LEADERS FORUM

Being nimble and

ADAPTABLE LEADERS FORUM 2021

Stuart Gittus General Manager of Print, Active Display Group

ver the last 30 years, we’ve grown used to the print industry transforming in both prosperous and challenging times. Business innovation has been key in keeping ahead of retail marketing changes. These transitional times have always pushed printing businesses to evolve, and evolve fast! Our part of the retail marketing operation needs to be fluid. Enter COVID-19, and these skills of being nimble and adaptable learned in the last three decades have served us well. We have all felt the unprecedented challenges of 2020, the fast and changing restrictions on people movements along with the IR rules. Add the challenges that our clients, suppliers and our employees personally face, it has been tough for all. However, the inherit adaptable skills of the print industry have kept us on our toes, connected, and in a position to support our people and print community. At the end of the day, all printers are in the business of visual communication, but I speak specifically from a retail marketing viewpoint. More than ever, brands needed to connect with consumers, and we have played a strong role supporting below the line marketing activities. As COVID-19 lockdowns hit in the initial stages with mass stores going into

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a physical sales hiatus, everyone was questioning “where to next?” for instore marketing. But the second half of 2020 saw retailers fight for new ways to create impact instore. We blended innovative creative ideas together with missed seasonal campaigns for our retail and brand manufacturer clients. New occasions were born, and we pivoted our offer to create fast and local solutions that best accommodated a reactive and transitional market. At Active Display Group, our aim was to focus on the bigger picture in the retail marketing industry, whilst supporting our people and clients. Printing collaborations on many levels were key to supporting industry. We kept in more frequent contact with suppliers, offering support and assistance in all areas. In the new year, print leaders need to be nimble, fast moving, cost effective and innovative. Automation and streamlining workflow are the essential ingredients to create the tools for 2021. This is because increased profitability equates to investments in innovation and new technologies delivering the best outcomes for clients. As innovation stops for no one, technology advancements will continue to push forward. The challenge for manufacturers of printing equipment, and more particularly the investors, will be assessing the tech

innovation options available. Investors in equipment need to touch, feel and run equipment either at demo sites and mostly likely locally for the foreseeable future. Our focus today (and has always been), to play on our strengths, improve them and grow on them. ‘Efficiency’ is the ‘it’ word for printers and retail marketers in 2021; and being smart enough to do more with less. This is way of business for 2021 and beyond. This year, I expect the short-term pivoting to subside as it was a COVID-19 survival tactic. As many printers get back to what we do best, sadly there may be more rationalisation of the industry, leaving those that have strong foundations and plans to prosper. If anything is to be learned from 2020, we know that not everything will be done as it has in the past. We are yet to fully understand retailers’ learnings of the last year, but we do know that this year will create a series of unknown changes in the traditional promotional calendar. Historically we know that “the bigger the fall, the bigger the bounce back”. Post GFC, some of the biggest opportunities came after the hardship. It’s imperative that we are set up to be quick enough to adjust to the changes, taking up the new opportunities, and working alongside clients keen to activate their new plans and initiatives.

AUSTRALIAN PRINTER MARCH 2021 | 37

PRINT LEADERS FORUM

Continue to

DIVERSIFY LEADERS FORUM 2021

Dean Wright Managing Director, ADS Australia

020 was a tough and challenging year for all involved in our industry. Many companies had to improvise, set up new systems, and survive on shoestring budgets – just as we did. We had to work smarter and create a leaner manufacturing process. Many of us found ways to get through the tough period but it’s still a long road ahead. Businesses in 2020 were very quick to develop products that were relevant to the current climate. Whether they had used those substrates before or not, they chose to diversify to keep their businesses in operation and their employees in jobs. Many businesses had never used social media platforms before but during the lockdown period it become a popular marketing tool. Marketing during the lockdown period was huge – businesses were able to update their clients and the industry on the current products they were developing, thank those who continued to support them and to remind those around that they were still relevant. To remain relevant in the future, businesses need to continue to diversify throughout 2021. If businesses are not open to doing this, then they will be left behind. They need to prepare for the

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unexpected as the current pandemic isn’t going to change overnight. We experienced many ups and downs during 2020 and our working environment will never be the same. We need to continue to be open to the waves, but keep focused on streamlining procedures, improving manufacturing systems and setting up a strong system that will allow for change. This year, businesses should focus on working on a smarter and leaner manufacturing process. I believe this is a key factor. Throughout last year and moving into 2021, we need to continue to be aware of how we are producing our clients’ orders, whether it be costs of substrates, production timings or pre-press setups. Not only does this benefit our businesses, but the cost savings are passed onto the client as well. As we move into 2021, we continue to remain positive and we do see a light at the end of the tunnel but on that journey, we will see a lot of pain throughout the industry in 2021. We believe businesses who adapt to the current climate and streamline their processes will come out successful on the other side. If we continue to support one another and openly discuss new ideas within our businesses, we can learn a little from one

another, which hopefully, will help us take a step forward. As for ADS Australia, we will be on the front foot in order to gain greater exposure in the marketplace. We have recently purchased a new facility in Somerton which is approximately twice the size of our current premises, so we will be setting up the premises as a start of the art printing and manufacturing business. We look forward to the future as we continue to plan for our growth. The tradeshows planned for 2021, which are now mostly coming to us in virtual formats, will also present us with the opportunity to learn and innovate. Having a virtual format in the current climate is better than none at all. Even though we won’t have the same touch and feel experience with what we have possible in our industry across the globe, tradeshows are not only about networking and marketing, but also about innovation and creation to keep the industry moving ahead. Moving forward, if businesses continue to work smarter and keep lean manufacturing processes, it will allow businesses to then plan for growth – whether it be new machinery, employing professionals, scaling up their production or developing new products. By working smarter, any plan can be made possible.

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PRINT LEADERS FORUM

Taking calculated

RISKS LEADERS FORUM 2021

Debbie Burgess Joint Managing Director, Bright Print Group

e would all concur that 2020 was an extraordinary year that presented many challenges none of us have faced before. It required business owners to be extremely adaptable, making and adopting policy on the fly. It required individuals and the industry to find a new resilience and to look for opportunities in an otherwise fastchanging and extraordinary operating environment. The industry however, has emerged at the end of 2020, battered and bruised, as has most of the globe. Businesses needed to examine their capabilities very closely and try to align them with the current market requirements. Some were clever and innovative enough to repurpose equipment for the manufacture of face masks and pop-up desks. Others created their own blue ocean opportunities with cardboard cut-outs at stadiums. These examples showcased a determination to take control and look outside the square ensures continued success. In 2020, the Bright Print Group purchased machinery as a result of the sudden liquidation of Sydney Binding. The Acoro Perfect Binder we purchased provided essential finishing services to not only our own business, but other Sydney printing companies. To not have access

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to this equipment would have prevented us from completing work for a number of our major clients. The clients of Sydney Binding would also have been greatly impacted. In addition, we purchased a new platesetter during the downturn as installation and disruption to our business was minimal due to our reduced workload. This supported a long-term supply partner of ours, Screen. In the new year, as an industry, we need to continue to push the importance of printed media and to align itself with organisations such as TRMC and PVCA. Education and marketing continue to remain important tools to ensure our industry remains relevant and front of mind. The penetration of digital has increased exponentially with the COVID lockdowns and this has further weakened the printed media’s position as a preferred method of communication. With newspaper and magazine consumption slashed, the industry needs to continue to consolidate and reinvent itself as a provider of innovative brand experiences. Businesses can never become complacent, regardless of where they are situated in the market or the external environment situation. An important consideration has always been to continually assess capabilities and to grow and capitalise on existing knowledge. Now more than ever, we need to call upon

diverse thinking and challenge the status quo. Areas of growth will come from looking outside the current situation and being open to taking calculated risks. Within the business, it is mandatory for the welfare of employees to take precedence. HR and IR issues may become more heightened this year as employees grapple with changed working conditions, shortened hours, reduced colleague contact, working from home, or the uncertainty of the job market. Loss of productivity due to poorly motivated or mentally strained employees could have serious financial implications for any business. A company needs to have a solid foundation to survive in any environment. A sound knowledge of the markets in which it operates, and strong financial capabilities are paramount. Companies need to know their end game – why are they in business and what do they want to achieve from their business? If you don’t know why you are in business then you cannot plan. The priority of BPG in 2021 will be to keep a close eye on our balance sheet and to ensure we are making the most of any opportunity that may arise. We will be remaining vigilant and careful. Prudence mixed with courage should allow us to make the most of whatever 2021 delivers.

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PRINT LEADERS FORUM

A bottom-up

APPROACH LEADERS FORUM 2021

Jahangir Khan CEO, Reacon Group

rands are forever looking to find a voice in the noise that is the connected world today. These brands are constantly looking for partners that can help them stand out in the crowd and vie for the limited attention of their target customers in competition with their peers. These brands have been sold services from print, point of sale marketing, direct mail, to digital marketing, out of home and on and on it goes. We keep on shoving services down the throats of brands and organisations that are simply looking for outcomes. That is the reason why we have decided to rebrand Bridgestone Group as Reacon Group. The main brand and group entity that was Bridgestone Group will henceforth be known as Reacon Group, in addition to some branding changes across our business arms. This includes Horizon Print Management and corporate clients of Digitalpress and Paragon to be renamed to Reacon Australia. Reech Marketing Services and Code Crowd have also amalgamated to become Connekta Holdings, which includes all of the business’ technology assets. At Reacon, we decided that this mindset needed to change, and it required us to adopt a bottom-up approach to question everything we knew.

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Our unrelenting focus on outcomes when offering our services, has shaped our approach and services mix forever. We found that we were constantly asking ourselves ‘what are our marketing objectives?’, which often led to one answer – ‘more customers’ – at lowest cost per customer as possible. This conclusion turned to what would become a defining moment in our evolution, a question to which we had no clear answer – who can help us achieve this? As we dove further and further into the rabbit hole our research uncovered no clear leader in this domain. In fact, we found that there were many service providers that helped shape the design or content of marketing communications for brands also helped rational costs, however very few that executed and distributed these messages to their target customers. In this way, our services have been poised to answer this very question, using a wealth of execution expertise, geographic breadth across Asia, an exclusive supplier network, leading edge technology and a growing number of distribution channels at our disposal we are answering this question one brand at a time. As a result, we created Reacon – a business that combines ‘reach’ and ‘connect’ to provide endless possibilities, in addition to better outcomes. Reacon is a marketing execution company with a heritage in print

management and production. Over the years, we have acquired brands to better serve our customers in achieving their desired marketing outcomes. Each brand within our portfolio has been carefully chosen to complete our service offering and operate seamlessly within our eco-system. Through our acquisition of companies that share our vision, values and ethos, coupled with organic business incubation, we are building a marketing eco-system with customer activation, acquisition and retention at its core. Our unwavering commitment to enable the brands we assist to connect with their consumers has been weaved into every activity we undertake, and this is the ethos of our company and principles by which we abide. Our vision is to ‘help brands find, acquire and retain customers’. In this way, we are ‘outcome’ and not ‘services’ focused, by selling CPm and CPa outcomes not bits and pieces services. In so doing we have aligned our service offerings to the marketing campaign workflow, providing a process to identify, create, produce, distribute and analyse each campaign or project. Our highlyexperienced professionals strive to push the envelope through innovation, integration and transparency – with a focus on operational excellence, cost-savings and ultimately access to more customers.

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PRINT LEADERS FORUM

Light at the end of the

TUNNEL LEADERS FORUM 2021

Keith Ferrel General Manager of Operations, Cactus Imaging

he year 2020 can be described in one word – challenging. A large number of print service providers (PSPs) went through extremely tough times while others boomed, especially in the labels and packaging area. And companies that had diversified offerings and had automated certain areas of their operations fared better than most. With many of 2020’s tradeshows getting postponed/switched to a virtual format, it has been very difficult to replace the face-to-face opportunities that usually present themselves. To be able to see many different makes, models and new innovations on a tradeshow floor is impossible to replace. And even though the innovations are still there, very few PSPs are in a situation to invest. But, it is true to say that the print industry is very resilient and already in uncertain times, many companies are bouncing back and beginning to reinvest. In the earlier days of 2020, there were opportunities brought about in COVIDrelated safety signage. Most companies looked to do things better and more efficiently – these traits are also still benefitting them in the future. It was also necessary to get closer to a client’s base and work with them through difficult times. Many companies, through necessity, downsized to meet market conditions,

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reduced costs, reduced employee numbers and some even merged to expand their offerings. Locally, the print associations did a great job supporting the industry. Many offered webinars on relevant subjects, while others were constantly ringing their members to see how they were going, both physically and mentally. It is the tough times that often bring the best out of people and organisations and the print industry can be very thankful that we have the strength, compassion and expertise of our associations. I have seen enough to think that the outlook for 2021 is generally positive. Unfortunately, when the Government assistance comes to an end, companies that haven’t taken steps to adapt will find things very difficult, but those that have will survive and can look forward to future growth. From March onwards, some businesses will have to make hard decisions on whether to continue in their current form. Others will be taking advantage of the boom in certain sectors and will continue to invest. Some will look at merging and others will look at getting out of the business altogether. Many others (and hopefully the majority) will have already taken the opportunity to restructure to meet the needs of the current market situation. There is light at the end of the tunnel and for the companies that have had a good

look at the way they operate and in some cases, made the tough decisions, will do very well. Certain sectors of the industry have seen incredible growth over the last 12 months, others have struggled, and some have just marked time. There are some great opportunities but companies may need to diversify to take advantage. Labels and packaging will continue to thrive, while large format is growing and the outdoor industry is on its way back and looking positive. Interior decorating business have also seen constant growth over the last 12 months and many other sectors are on their way back. At Cactus Imaging, we will continue to invest and take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves. We see a number of opportunities for growth in 2021. As such, my top three tips for companies to plan ahead for the future of their businesses are: 1. Making the necessary changes (if required) to their businesses to plan for increased or no growth, business restructure, investment, staff expertise/ training, and diversification as a result of COVID. 2. Work with your staff and stay close to your clients, because if you don’t someone else will. 3. Take advantage of most circumstances thrown at you.

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PRINT LEADERS FORUM

Staying current in an ever-changing

WORLD LEADERS FORUM 2021

Sandra Duarte CEO, Centrum Printing

020 was a challenging year for most and one like no other. However, Centrum remained positive in its approach to business and remained in complete operation throughout. We ploughed through the obstacles and came out stronger, wiser and ready to embrace a new year. In our industry, we can never become complacent. We need to keep evolving and innovating to stay current in an ever-changing world. During 2020, we had to ensure we maintained all personnel throughout. This was a priority to ensure we didn’t have to make any cutbacks resulting in people losing their jobs. We had to balance a decline in sales versus cost cutting. Centrum innovated, designed and manufactured a ‘No Touch Hand Sanitiser’ unit which was made from recyclable materials and provided it complimentary to local businesses, retailers, schools, and communities. This also kept our personnel busy during quieter production times. The launch of the sanitiser unit also led to increased sales with the promotion and awareness of Australian print manufacturing and a means to support local suppliers. We were also able to support fellow printers who needed assistance due to their temporary limitations or setbacks. With

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our unique advantage in press technology, we were able to provide much needed local support to clients who had previously sourced work overseas. I believe 2020 was a year that allowed many businesses to review and reassess how they currently operated. It was also an opportunity to learn and adapt to new working environments. I don’t believe anyone was quite prepared for 2020 and its challenges, yet when you know better, you do better! The best preparation for 2021 is to remain positive, hopeful and flexible in our approach. With still so much uncertainty, it is difficult to remain set and rigid in one direction. Remaining flexible allows us to change with the outcomes and to meet client needs as they are also changing. There are many paths for business growth and it can be difficult to decide where to begin as each has its own needs. However, I find there are a few that are always necessary such as improving customer communications and experience. Happy customers lead to ongoing business and referrals. It is important to understand clients’ needs especially as they may have changed over the past 12 months. A successful company is also built on the strength of its people. Ensuring the mental health of your team is positive and they feel supported not only as professionals but as individuals

is paramount. Upskilling and ensuring employees’ performance is at its best is vital to the success of the business. Also, improve and review your brand to ensure you are targeting the right market and not missing opportunities. Businesses need purpose and goals need to be realistic in 2021. Focus on the positive and what you can do and what you’re good at, as opposed to what you can’t. Research new markets to expand your customer base and sales. Business acquisitions where possible can strengthen and support an industry. Businesses will also have to rethink team working arrangements and what that means post pandemic, resulting in the Cloud and data security becoming more important. COVID-19 is here to stay for a while, so, we must continue to move forward optimistically – business flexibility is key. Centrum celebrated its 20th birthday at the end of 2020, so it’s an exciting time to apply the lessons we have learnt over the past 12 months. We will be doing more of what we do, better. Taking on high school student traineeships and providing student site tours of Centrum is one of our goals to promote our industry and provide career opportunities to the next generation. We will also continue to provide support to our industry and hope that more businesses see the benefit in collaborating with each other to provide a better product and service.

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PRINT LEADERS FORUM

Good business is good

PLANNING LEADERS FORUM 2021

Jason Smith Managing Director, Clark & Mackay

ast year was a strange one for a lot of industries, where it seemed to be either a feast or famine with nothing in-between. The print industry was no different, and I know of a number of companies that slowed considerably – especially with lockdowns and the increasing working from home situations – whilst others seemingly boomed. Innovation was necessary for companies to survive. But the whole of 2020 was, in fact, a huge year for us. We finalised a major negotiation that saw us purchasing a 92-year-old Brisbane-based printing company, Clark & Mackay. Despite the wider economic situation, we knew what we wanted: to keep the Clark & Mackay legacy alive. Moreover, we saw a massive spike in self and independently published books through our sister company, Ocean Reeve Publishing, which saw high volumes of books hitting the presses. With many people in and out of lockdown, there has been a shift towards packaging, and the packaging print portion of the industry. Similarly, we’ve seen large spikes in self and independently published books reaching the market, particularly through print-on-demand methods. Looking at those few items shows that there’s a shift away from larger supply chains to more boutique, service oriented products.

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For 2021, focus should be on good business and good planning. In addition, keeping purpose, connection, and resilience as the underpinnings of the year ahead is a good point. Realigning both the leadership and the entire team with the purpose of the company is the best place to start. With everyone knowing why they are part of the team and what they want to achieve as a team is paramount. Rekindling connections within the team, as well as with suppliers and clients will also be very important as lockdowns ease and people want to return to something more like normal life. And of course, resilience. Business has always been about that don’t-give-up sort of attitude, and if nothing else, 2020 reminded us all of that. Leaders need to keep that at the forefront of their mind heading into the new year. And, spend time in reconnaissance to see how buying habits have changed and will continue to do so as we leave lockdowns and head into the brave new world. Internally, businesses should be focusing primarily on connection and support with their team. With such disruptions to the normalcy of working life and the threats of economic slow-downs, many people really want to know that life will go on after COVID. And more

than that, they want to know what that means to their company and their team. I feel very positive about this year, though saying that, I felt positive about 2020 as well! All in all, from an emotional level, I think much of the general population is ready to leave the word COVID behind and get on with their lives. We know it’s here, and that it is still affecting us, but I think many are ready to just move on and accept that it’s part of normality – for now. From a fiscal point of view, and due largely to the mindset of the population leaving 2020, I think we will see changes in spending habits. I think the money will still be there, it will just be in different places, for different services, and different products. With our recent purchase of Clark & Mackay, we will be spending 2021 focusing on the team, our processes, and ensuring the culture stays positive, especially as we bring two existing businesses together. Of course, we’re also looking to build on the Clark & Mackay legacy, but first and foremost it’s about our team. On another front, we’re also looking towards some expansion for Ocean Reeve Publishing. The business has grown swiftly over the past few years and we want to ride the wave of what is to come as best we can. Watch this space!

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PRINT LEADERS FORUM

Keeping a finger on the

PULSE LEADERS FORUM 2021

Emmanuel Buhagiar Owner, Imagination Graphics

s with most industries, 2020 was a very tumultuous time. The trade was directly hit by the decrease in demand for most printing services, with other industries (and customers) also suffering. Unfortunately, this meant that many printers were forced to retire or close. Imagination Graphics particularly had a very interesting year, characterised by a huge flood ceasing production then COVID-19 affecting many of the usual jobs and methods of production. In the early stages of COVID-19, many businesses in the industry began to panic; however, those who were entrepreneurial managed to turn the difficult times into profitable ones. To remain relevant, a shift in mindset was necessary, with new products being at the forefront. For example, Imagination Graphics was able to create face masks, COVIDsafe reception screens, ear savers and signage as a direct response to the crisis. To survive whatever 2021 throws at us, the industry must keep its finger on the pulse. Businesses must continue to effectively advertise and communicate with clients so that they know we are still here and appreciate their support. This can range from sending out email campaigns to consistently informing clients of new

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products and services. Businesses also need to learn how to adapt within itself in regards to new technologies and machinery in order to progress in the new year. I believe that businesses should surround themselves with good suppliers and help each other. We should all focus our efforts on collectively rebuilding the industry and moving forward with technological development rather than stagnating. I also think businesses should focus their efforts on gaining as many new clients as possible and consistently offering new or improved products and services. With many tradeshows getting postponed or getting switched to a virtual format, but at the same time doing the best they can to keep up with the industry’s progressions, I would encourage printers and designers to keep viewing them in order to stay informed. Even though I believe that there is nothing better than a live trade show to view and test new products (I also believe that in the future they will return), ultimately, new technology and machinery is the key to survival, so any format of tradeshow is beneficial, even if unusual. The areas of growth that businesses should consider in 2021 are definitely in the digital printing and signage areas. The fact that digital printing is outstanding at the moment is a key selling point. Imagination Graphics has taken on all

signage opportunities, from corflutes to outdoor multi-storey buildings and flags which has proven to be very fruitful. Imagination Graphics will also continue to explore new markets and position itself in front of all its customers. We will likely invest in some more new equipment to remain relevant and to assist in streamlining our finishing department. We will continue to grow with the industry and work with new clients. I predict that 2021 will be significantly better than last year. Once events and venues slowly begin to open up, the printing industry will thrive, seeing growth as companies start advertising their services again. This is why planning ahead is extremely important. Companies must identify and understand the changing needs of their customers (and the industry) and respond with new strategies and equipment. This can be done through consistent conversation with clients and fellow industry members. It is important to plan for the future with staff in mind as they are an integral part of all companies (without them, you have nothing). Conversely, sometimes it is necessary for companies to take positive risks in order to move forward, especially alongside rapid technological development. Companies shouldn’t be scared to make changes, even if it is inconsistent with certain plans.

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PRINT LEADERS FORUM

Remaining resilient through

A PANDEMIC LEADERS FORUM 2021

Darryl Meyer CEO Print – Web Offset, IVE

anaging the turmoils we faced in 2020 was no easy feat. During the peak COVID-19 impact, retail catalogue and travel industry printing contracted significantly. The introduction of JobKeeper and JobSeeker, plus limited holiday opportunities, saw increased consumer spending, driving some retailers to reduce their marketing spend in print as consumers flocked to their doors. During this time, face-to-face meetings with customers quickly evolved to online and this provided an opportunity for businesses to continue to engage with customers in a different way. Fortunately, our diversification strategy deployed over many years, cushioned the impact of COVID across the IVE Group. Core to the sustainability of the business has been the value-added services we bring to our customers across a range of product offerings outside of web offset printing, which includes point of sale, data-driven communications, and the launch of ivolve (our successful move into PPE and hygiene solutions). Most importantly, our staff showed tremendous resilience throughout the pandemic whilst working through workplace restrictions, stand downs and reduced hours. Although 2021 remains uncertain, the ground work for preparation

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should be complete. Many businesses should have adapted in 2020 and are currently operating at sustainable levels, but it is important to remain nimble enough to scale up as demand returns. We are cognisant that retail and travel print sectors remain key marketing elements to effectively engage the consumer and as the macro environment in retail softens and border restrictions ease, I would anticipate that the print industry will benefit from increased demand by late 2021. As we move further into 2021, the year will continue to be defined by how the print industry can adapt to whatever the ‘new normal’ looks like. This will be guided by the macro economic environment, but I expect further consolidation in the small offset sector as businesses look to grow revenue through acquisition or further expansion in wide format and digital print related services. We can’t ignore the ongoing impact of the digital transformation experienced during COVID-19. It is important for both traditional and digital platforms to coexist with one enhancing the experience of the other. In 2019, IVE launched Nexus, an online catalogue and product brochure experience that has shown positive growth results throughout the pandemic. Many of our clients are experiencing difficult times

and as printers, we need to consistently look at innovative ways for them to communicate with their customers. We need to listen to their needs, understand what we can do to make them successful, be nimble, and be prepared to adapt. This could come in the form embracing or branching out into new technology, being creative and bringing customers unique solutions, or extending a product offering and value added services. At IVE, we will continue to transform our business to provide an improved customer experience. Central to this is having reliable business information and data insights. We will also remain invested in developing internal MIS systems and client facing tools that ensure customer engagement is more seamless and transparent than ever before. A key element to IVE having a prosperous 2021 is a great team that builds on the strong relationships with our clients by bringing in new ideas and products to IVE’s already expansive and integrated offering. Similarly, it just as important for businesses and industry leaders to seek new ways to create alternative revenue streams or adopt new technology to deliver on operational efficiency and build on the strengths of our industry.

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PRINT LEADERS FORUM

Meeting future

DEMANDS LEADERS FORUM 2021

Frank Mezo Director, Mezographic

here was so much uncertainty at the start of the pandemic in 2020 as to what was considered an essential industry that needed to continue operations. For about a 24-hour period, we had to cease operations as government officials deliberated the verdict, costing not only us but others in the industry as well. The initial days of the pandemic were rocky, as we saw so many standing orders get cancelled. However, as we progressed through the pandemic, some branches of opportunities emerged with the need for COVID-related signage and other materials. At Mezographic, we produced a huge volume of floor decals in 2020. The latter half of the year was much better as businesses followed through after having implemented strategies around the ‘new normal’, even though we were subject to the second lockdown in Victoria. As retail restrictions lifted, point of sale returned. It was an upside that a lot of the work that we do is for Australia-wide use. We also took the opportunity of the downtime that COVID offered to do some staff training in areas such as digital marketing as well as occupational health and safety. We also took the time to research some alternative technologies and MIS systems that we are looking to implement later this year. We continued delivering our best and supported the

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industry through the hardship. We paid our bills – and we paid them on time. We did not alter how we paid our suppliers as well. I think keeping business confidence high through such situations has been and is critical. Going into 2021, we need to be conscious of the so called ‘zombie businesses’ that have continued to trade with the changes to insolvency laws and government support. We also need to be conscious of disruptions to international supply chains that have blown lead times on materials – this is now weeks longer than what was once normal. We have to ensure that we do our due diligence in keeping stock on the floor, and forecasting use has become far more critical than it once was. Even the ink market has seemingly become effected. If 2020 has shown us anything, it was that having a diverse offering can help in bad times and allow businesses to pivot more readily. Packaging was the exception as it seemingly was unaffected by the pandemic and became a major area of growth in Australia. Businesses should also be focusing their efforts at reducing costs and waste and diversifying their offerings to meet the challenges of global warming with green energy and the reduction of plastics where possible. I believe 2021 will also see retail and event figures lift as the COVID threat

diminishes with vaccinations imminent and confidence growing. I think the jump in retail figures in Victoria – after the two lockdowns – bear out the want for people to experience the traditional marketplace experience. I think it’s human nature for customers to want to look, touch, and feel what they purchase. And I expect to see a bounce back once people consider it safe to do so. This will also trickle into the events space for our industry as nothing is ever as good as the ‘touch and feel’ experience with machinery. To see it perform in all of its glory is the greatest advantage of a trade show over a virtual experience. Having said that, the virtual events that we saw in 2020 have, at least, kept ideas flowing and innovation up to date. I am especially looking forward to PacPrint in Australia this year and can’t wait to get back overseas to the FESPA shows, in particular, once international travel becomes viable. At Mezographic, 2021 will see us increase our finishing output and exploring new areas of print technology. We also hope to implement a new MIS system and are currently looking at market alternatives. The key for success moving forward is for businesses to streamline processes and reduce inefficiency to enable greater growth. Look to world and domestic trends to steer yourself to meet future demands.

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PRINT LEADERS FORUM

Positive signs on the

HORIZON LEADERS FORUM 2021

Nathan Sable CEO, Omnigraphics Australia

he impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns and closures of most businesses seriously affected many sectors within our industry, and other associated categories in 2020. Industry leaders met to discuss the ramifications for businesses and individual employees, customers and stakeholders. Whereas there was enormous confidence in the measures that were put in place to mitigate the impact of the restrictions, a pandemic is an incredibly stressful phenomenon, and we were particularly mindful of the very real and personal costs that these circumstances had and continue to have for so many within our industry and beyond. Having said that, there were a lot of lessons to be learnt, and it is already becoming apparent that we as an industry, have the ability to bounce back stronger, with more empathy and compassion. To keep relevant, Omnigraphics, MMT and BMG printed large volumes of signage particularly to increase awareness of COVID safety, as well as displays on public transport, social distancing images and floor decals. We also supported supermarkets and government organisations with signage to help reinforce the COVID-safe protocols. Being fortunate enough to be classified

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as an essential business allowed us to continue trading throughout the lockdown periods albeit at a reduced capacity and with new measures put in place. As anticipated, there has been an enormous and sudden return to business with huge demand for our services. Whilst our priority is to support clients, it is important that we take a measured approach and be prepared for the possibility of further waves of COVID in 2021, as has been the case in Europe and the US towards the end of 2020. With the possibility of opening borders to international visitors in 2021, the coronavirus may once again rear its ugly head in Australia. If this should happen, we need to be better prepared this time around and respond accordingly. Aside from this, I believe that most industries are determined to make amends for the lost business during the pandemic and will forge ahead into 2021 with huge demand for large format print. Omnigraphics, MMT and BMG will continue our mantra towards product diversity to ensure our expansion in various fields. That coupled with an increase in capacity in our core areas will ensure that we continue on our path of success in 2021. Internally it is important that businesses focus on key staff retention, controlled growth, teamwork and health

and well-being of employees. It has been a tough and testing year in 2020 and with the challenges that everyone has faced, the personal relationships and support required have never been more important. The same applies for our industry peers. It will be integral for us to show strength with a united front so that any further challenges can be tackled by supporting one another. 2020 has also taught us that staff have the ability to work well from home without compromising the function of their roles. Although this step was initiated because of the pandemic, I believe the future of businesses will incorporate this method somewhat going forward. The sudden need and ease of Zoom calls has also made us realise that we can achieve results without having to travel as much as previously. This is another area that will be incorporated into the postCOVID era of business. And regardless of the fact that many tradeshows are getting postponed or switched to a virtual format, innovation will continue, regardless of the format – there’s no choice. We now have to accept that there is a new way of living for the short- to medium-term at least, and this means researching new technology virtually and online rather than in person. I believe that there are positive signs on the horizon for 2021 for both our business and the industry as a whole.

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PRINT LEADERS FORUM

An approach with renewed

OPTIMISM LEADERS FORUM 2021

Nigel Quirk Director, Printgraphics Printgreen

year like no other, 2020 was the most turbulent globally since the post-war generation. And as we know, the print industry is a great thermometer of social activity and economy as it touches most sectors, but with massive drops in activity following COVID-19, it left most printers stranded on JobKeeper. But 2020 also gave us some much needed time to think about how and why we work, and to contemplate about a larger digital economy as COVID seemingly has placed our invertible march towards online into a sprint. At Printgraphics Printgreen, the focus in 2020 was to keep connected to our colleagues, clients and our competitors as well as we felt unsure about the situation and the future, and the connections we have and can maintain was our solace. At the start of the lockdown, we reached out to other printers within the industry to initiate a program where as a group, we could share the reduced workload, allowing some to hibernate and others to produce. While this did not proceed due to more print than expected, the networking opportunity was brilliant. As we start 2021, it is with renewed optimism. This year will be the year where printers come together and instead of competing with each other, realise that

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the actual competition is to stay relevant, understand and promote our point of difference, and spell out to younger generations that print is a critical part of any communication strategy. 2021 will be a year of doing things differently and innovating in terms of how print can be utilised. Opportunities tend to arise in the most unexpected places for the most prepared, and businesses that went into a COVID-19 ‘fit’ will be able to best understand opportunities and actually act on them. The industry will remain on a path of consolidation in 2021, and this will present both opportunities and risks as suppliers also consolidate, driving down competition and services that can affect our clients. Less paper choices and shipping delays and extra costs have emerged already in what we fear will be a pattern of unwelcome pressures. Companies planning ahead not just for 2021 but into the future simply need to understand the basic benefits of product – we cannot assume the market is the same as it once was or assume that the understanding of our products remain the same. We need to explain the benefits again and again; paper is one of the few truly sustainable products if done correctly, and consumers still prefer paper-based communication as electronic communication has a very real negative environmental impact.

We all understand that the human attention span has diminished with the coming of the ‘screen age’. We surf the web on our laptop, message someone on our phones, all possibly even with the TV in the background. A digital consumer tends not to stop and read an ad, a blog or an article. So, they just skim and move on to the next. Print is effective in this regard because people slow down when they have a magazine or catalogue in their hands. They not only read the articles but also look at the ads as well. The print medium not only entices the consumer, but also demands their complete attention. Print has an edge over digital because of its longevity. While print ads may not elicit a potentially quick response as compared to digital advertising, it makes up for it in longevity. Print does not encourage us to multitask when we read a magazine or a catalogue, so we need to take pride in a sustainable product that allows the humans to slow down. In addition, a very important concept to think about is, as digital marketing becomes more sophisticated in looking and feeling personalised, the more aware we will become that no matter how personalised it appears, it is becoming even more removed from human-to-human contact. Most people have put a higher value to human contact through COVID.

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PRINT LEADERS FORUM

Rising up to

CHALLENGES LEADERS FORUM 2021

Atish Shah Managing Director, Quality Press

020 was definitely a challenging year for the industry as a whole in Australia, as it was for the rest of the world. Facing the challenges brought on by COVID-19, some sectors did do well, especially within the packaging and labels sector, as consumer spending habits changed. After the initial slump in late March, we felt some support come through for general commercial print as well slowly as the year progressed, as the buy and support local message reverberated in the market. Overall, it was the toughest year in my 24 years in the print industry. Aid came in the form of fiscal support from our governments, of which many would struggled to survive without. To keep relevant post the initial lock down at the end of March, businesses looked to reduce direct costs by negotiating some reprieve and cost reductions with some suppliers – for example, with landlords, subscription providers like software and SEO, and so on. The next step was to arrange shift patterns for all the staff. That not only aided in social distancing but also suited the workflow at that time. This is what we practiced at Quality Press as well. In addition, we also kept in touch with all our clients, making sure that we were supporting them with their print needs. Quality Press also maintained

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employment for all our staff throughout 2020. Where possible, we supported our local suppliers rather than overseas ones for all of our inputs. We also invested in a new e-commerce platform and a new large format printer in 2020 to keep our business relevant and to meet the needs of our clients. With 2020 delivering a spectrum of changes, our industry needs to prepare itself for more change this year and in the coming years. Apart from looking at diversification to growth areas of print, players in the industry must: · Maintain their margins where input costs are going up – for example in areas such as raw materials, freight, and others · Engage in further rationalisation as players who are not keen to invest new or replacement technologies must explore exit strategies as there is still overcapacity in the industry. The pandemic has also sped up the uptake of e-commerce by consumers. As such, printers need to look at how they can partner with e-commerce companies for their printing, packaging, targeted marketing and label needs. Australian printers should also take the lead in offering more environmentally sustainable printed products as many countries are now re-focusing their

efforts on improving the environment. Technology is only expected to continue and the industry needs to keep up with the innovations, or be left behind. In my opinion, trade shows and direct contact with suppliers and industry colleagues and peers is essential for businesses to innovate. Having participated in a few virtual events and demonstrations over the past few months, the exchange of ideas, touch and feel, and meaningful discussions were noticeably missing. As such, we look forward to being able to attend trade shows in person. I see 2021 as a year of recovery. As vaccinations get rolled out across the globe, I forsee government and consumer confidence to start to return slowly. This will, in turn, revive subdued sectors such as travel, tourism and education, and fuel growth in the economy. At Quality Press, we will be looking to strengthen all our departments this year, by cross training staff in different parts of the business. In addition, we will also be looking into ways in which we can have better and more efficient shift patterns and investing in new equipment where required. For the future of their businesses and the print and visual communications industry as a whole, constant innovation is necessary. And to make the most of innovation, the first step lies in being flexible and adaptable to change.

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PRINT LEADERS FORUM

Rebuilding confidence and STRUCTURE LEADERS FORUM 2021

Kirsten Taylor Creative Print Director, Taylor’d Press

020 was a year for realisation and a year to move anyone out of their comfort zones. It was a year to stand up and lead with a very different approach, one of empathy, honesty and accountability. It challenged complacency, it derailed any regular plan in which a business was heading and it made us really look at how we can help and uplift everyone around us. Businesses had to learn to diversify, stand solid to their niche or face reality of hard times. But it also helped us close the gap between competitiveness and learn to collaborate more. There were many ways in which businesses diversified – moving into areas such as hand sanitisers, dispensers, PPE for healthcare workers, and creating cardboard crowds to fill stadiums. Signage and information were vital and businesses in these areas flourished. Ideas were aplenty and celebrated the way in which our industry is creative and can flourish in times of need. Taylor’d Press’ business is very small so our ability to diversify into other things was not possible. I was however thrilled to be invited to participate in the first episode of the Ball and Doggett Reset Series which was an initiative to keep our industry connected in times of isolation. These interviews were a great way to chat about what’s happening in business from

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and a great way to enhance enthusiasm. There was work with Women in Print too, rebuilding the organisation with a new outlook of community, knowledge, networking and support. Going into the new year, businesses can’t be complacent. We still need to be accountable for a year that has been challenging for many in the industry and that keeping our eye on trends, budgets and the economy is very vital. Challenging offshore print and attracting new talent into our industry should be a priority. Our willingness to learn from others and share our experiences and continue to support one another is paramount. As an example, Visual Connections did a marvelous job of using the online platform to attract businesses to innovation. Though the trade show format has looked very different, those who are in a position to expand or diversify will still find ways of doing this. But, the kind of business done when connecting with others personally can’t be replicated online and I look forward to having PacPrint in Melbourne kick off a great trade show later in 2021. In 2021, businesses will be more about rebuilding as well. When I say that, I mean in confidence, structure and thinking about what 2020 was about and what they learnt of themselves and their customers, as well as how they

can continue to build on those areas of diversity and change. Look at what leadership is, and to challenge that it now requires something different. People will still be wary of what 2021 has in store. There has be a sense of optimism to push past this and we have to show strength for an industry that is so talented and creative. Taylor’d Press is grateful to have a diverse client base which keeps us busy. We have a very niche business and we will stick to what we do. We do it with passion, dedication and honesty and are huge on craftsmanship and our business is based around that. In the new year, we would love to become more involved with education about the industry and share our knowledge at all levels of secondary and tertiary studies. I’ll continue to dedicate my time to the Women in Print community and to collaborate with our industry for PacPrint Melbourne. The biggest investment you can make is in yourself. Mindset is the biggest driver of change. Having a positive mindset and ensuring that you are not only taking care of business but that too of your mental well-being is absolutely vital to what you can bring to the business. Being open to opportunities, contributing to the industry, learning from others and sharing your value and knowledge will enhance your ability to grow and make positive change.

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PRINT LEADERS FORUM

Build business resilience and INNOVATION LEADERS FORUM 2021

Jenny Berry Senior membership executive, Ai Group

nsurprisingly, most businesses reported negative impacts as a result of COVID-19 in every month from March to November in 2020, according to the Ai Group Business Experiences in 2020 and Outlook for 2021 report. The print, packaging and associated industries did not escape the negative impacts; however, some businesses quickly and effectively adapted to the new conditions by taking advantage of situations such as the urgent demand for COVID-safe (social distancing) signage – a particular requirement in areas of large gatherings. The report also identified that many businesses saw an increase in demand early in the year due to consumer panic buying and businesses customers brought orders forward, concerned about future supplies of materials and stock. Bright spots were seen in food-related manufacturing, distribution and retail, thereby providing some much-needed revenue to the printing and packaging sector. Keeping relevant to the customer was a key focus during 2020. Many businesses quickly adopted online ordering systems, negating the need for face-to-face interaction. COVID-safe practices were at the front of mind, not only to protect staff but to instil confidence in customers that they were treating the pandemic seriously.

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The Ai Group has been very active in the industrial relations arena during 2020. Of significance is the decision by the High Court of Australia to clarify the personal/ carer’s leave in section 96 of the Fair Work Act. As a result, all employees are entitled to two weeks of personal/carers leave per year and that businesses are not unfairly burdened by excess leave entitlements – particularly those who have 12-hour shifts built into their production schedule. Many challenges are still ahead, especially the cessation of JobKeeper entitlements during Q1 2021. An upside to this is that discouraged jobseekers will become more active in seeking work again, thereby providing much needed labour. Businesses should be looking to capitalise on any gains achieved during 2021, for example – leaner and more efficient production schedules, new or improved product output. And they should take advantage of the ‘thinking outside the box’ mentality. It is predicted that COVID-19 will be with us for some years to come, therefore a primary effort should be to maintain COVID-safe practices – within the business and externally. Where possible, investment in technology, equipment, skills are three key areas businesses should be focusing their efforts. I expect most businesses to continue to be challenged by the pandemic restrictions

– border issues; global geopolitical concerns with China and a lack of consumer confidence – in 2021. Supply chains will continue to be disrupted too. 2021 will see many businesses further develop customer and supplier marketing and communication strategies. Some businesses will continue to focus on their use of technology and invest in cyber security measures. During 2021, Ai Group will continue to provide assistance, information and advice to businesses experiencing activity restrictions, adjustments to workplaces and work practices, and reduced demand and incomes due to COVID-19. A dedicated Coronavirus Advice and Resources hub is available to help navigate the pandemic and beyond. The public policy team will continue to work for the community by providing submissions on a wide range of areas to parliamentary committees, independent bodies, commissions and to government. A series of budget recommendations have been made to Federal and State Governments as well. Included in the Ai Group recommendations are: measures to stimulate demand and the economy; measures to lift employment skills and employability, allocate funding to maximise the benefits of the current IR reform process and measures to build business resilience and innovation.

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PRINT LEADERS FORUM

New areas of

FOCUS LEADERS FORUM 2021

Mel Ireland Federal President, Lithographic Institute of Australia (LIA)

he year 2020 for the printing industry was no different to any other industry. There was panic, stressors like nothing we’ve had to deal with before, and in some cases a complete overhaul of how businesses managed their staff and clients in order to remain profitable. In some cases, it was not even about remaining profitable, but operating to stay afloat with the long tail goal of coming out the other side of this global crisis. To keep relevant, there were numerous print, packaging and signage businesses that pivoted to start to produce PPE and COVID testing equipment needed in the early days. We have seen some great examples of businesses rapidly digitalising their processes, which have allowed them to be more responsive to their client base. A lot of the LIA’s committee members were dealing with their own set of challenges. We consoled some of our apprentices that reached out to us early in 2020 to inform us that their employment status had changed due to the impact of COVID on their employer. We have continued to keep them involved in the industry by way of connections and reaching out to check in. It would be a great disservice to the industry to lose apprentices at the start of their careers. To prepare in the new year, businesses need to be open minded to new business

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models. Business needs to start, if they haven’t already, adopting more digital strategies to enhance their customers’ experience and improve business processes. Business leaders need to also focus on their staff – the skills that their existing staff have and identifying those staff that are willing and wanting to upskill and contribute to the business. One of the difficulties that businesses are and will continue to face is that of lack of required and appropriately skilled staff. They need to also focus on automation opportunities and digitisation. Innovation comes from a need for change, overcoming adversity or solving a problem. This year, innovation will have the main stage. Going to a show and seeing how a piece of equipment may be producing or automating a process can be beneficial, and this will always be of relevance. But the equipment and software, or the likes, are just the tools to which turns innovation into a profitable part of a business. The key is to know your clients, know your staff, have a vision and a goal and most importantly have a solid business plan – and stick to it. Be prepared to ask for help – it is sometimes more valuable to bring in a professional ‘outsider’ to look at your business to assist in identifying areas of need and gaps in your processes than trying to do it all. More broadly, business should be looking at the upstream

and downstream sectors of the industry like R&D, design, and sales/customer after-service. There is higher value in these streams and more opportunity to secure clients when this part of the process is of high quality. Australian businesses are in a remarkably well-placed position to claw back some of the employment losses and industry confidence in 2021. The industry will benefit from the ‘buy Australian Made’ resurgence that has come from the awareness of our reliance on global supply chains. We, as consumers, will also become more aware of the origins of our raw materials and products and we will continue to see ‘COVID spot-fires’ of community transmission and lockdowns. We will need to remain calm and consistent in an ambiguous climate. In 2021, LIA will need to have a look at its operating model moving forward as it is an almost 60-year-old association that has relied heavily on industry support and sponsorships to promote the opportunities to the next generation and educating a broader audience about the sector. The financial pressures that have been experienced over the past 12 months will have an impact on this. Most of our fundraising and support events are faceto-face events, and this is something we are hoping to be able to continue.

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PRINT LEADERS FORUM

Translate technology between

INDUSTRIES LEADERS FORUM 2021

Dr Donald McCallum Development manager, NSSN

he industry showed great resilience to get through 2020, so well done everyone. We began 2020 with high energy prices for printers being a key area where we thought we could bring innovation. We ended the year looking into printing anti-viral face shield coatings, and investigating to assist coding and marking businesses swamped with orders driven by increased compliance and regulation in medical related fields. Within the NSW Smart Sensing Network (NSSN), our key research and commercialisation project on label removal required a significant reframing as the impacts of COVID took their toll, but this was done with limited impact on the headline value of the project, amounting to $1.5 million, and with all industry partners intact in the project. Some financial risks that were taken by our small business partners early in the pandemic were rewarded with cash inflows toward the end of the year. To support the industry, NSSN continued to bring attention to research opportunities that were coming on-board and demonstrate that there is support, via grants and advocacy, for innovation in the industry. The NSSN continued its project management of the key research project into label and HDPE recycling.

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Moving into 2021, we will be pushing hard on the CRC-P Grants (Cooperative Research Centre Projects funded by the Commonwealth Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources). Due in the first half of 2021, these grants have a focus on supporting projects that align with the National Manufacturing Priorities, and require the participation of an SME, which should be of interest to many in the print industry. To prepare itself for the new year, the industry should remain to be agile, be reliable, and keep an eye out for opportunities. Groups like the NSSN and consultancies like PEGRAS can help businesses innovate and adopt new technologies. Although many international tradeshows were cancelled or postponed, we have benefited from an enormous growth in locally hosted virtual innovation forums and workshops. The NSSN, a consortium of eight universities, hosted several successful virtual workshops, events and forums in 2020 that brought together industry and government stakeholders to solve complex challenges faced by our nation using smart sensing technology. Some areas of growth that businesses should be looking to in 2021 include glass, ceramics, décor, 3D printing, direct-toshape, and product printing. Packaging, labelling, coding and marking are key

areas as well. The move towards a circular economy and increased recyclability will drive this, particularly as more regulation comes in. COVID will also drive more compliance, regulation and traceability around medical items and food. Tracking medical items with hightech tags at very fine granularity is on the horizon and will need to be done locally. RFID and other smart sensing technology means that more items will become part of the Internet of Things. Clever printing technology allows this tagging to be done as fast as labels are produced. Fresh food, meat and seafood are likely to be drivers, but tracking for health compliance will be the frontrunner. Analysis also predict courier and logistics to continue as a growth area, so print businesses with reach into those parts of their operations have a beacon. Home improvement and decoration is likely to remain strong, so those printing in these sectors, such as ceramics, flooring and décor might have opportunity. So, the industry should be keeping an eye on other industries. Smart cities, the Internet of Things and Industry 4.0 will throw up more real, proven success stories to inspire traditional industries. Groups like the NSSN that are working across sectors like mining, manufacturing, health, and agriculture can help translate technology between industries.

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PRINT LEADERS FORUM

A year of reinventing and REBUILDING LEADERS FORUM 2021

Andrew Macaulay CEO, Print and Visual Communications Association (PVCA)

020 was the year no-one planned for. A buoyant economic outlook in January rapidly turned to COVID-19 shutdowns of presses across the country. Government responses were not initially coherent, nor were they aligned between states, so rumours spread further confusion. Industry participants used JobKeeper to sustain dramatic downturns in turnover. Sadly, some sections of our industry, particularly those that serviced the tourism and hospitality sectors were shutdown. Packaging and labelling bounced in many sectors, in response to consumer changes of habit and demand. Despite this, we have seen some long-term players either exit the industry, or restructure. 2020 also saw printers in all states manufacture PPE and hand sanitisers. Australian printers were the first source of PPE when stocks disappeared. Printers who had not previously been in the packaging and labelling space also pivoted sales and production in that direction. PVCA delivered considerable clarity to our industry, for instance in ensuring that there was a clear definition of essential services, ensuring that print and packaging was included in business categories allowed to continue operation, and running weekly industry webinars keeping industry abreast of the latest facts, assistance and risks.

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Running over 30 webinars, we saw nearly 2000 individuals register. We were in constant dialogue with state and federal authorities, ensuring that employer issues were understood. To measureable success, 2020 saw innovation from Visual Connections and PVCA both delivering events and tradeshows virtually. The reach for Visual Impact, PICA, the National Print Awards and Print2Parliament! was a multiple of 10 times the normal ‘real’ events. This is an example of innovating and overcoming problems, and the solution reached will enhance the traditional ‘real’ events and tradeshows. Additionally, the webinars provided by PVCA in 2020 will continue in 2021. These are a forum for sharing of information, for networking, and an incubator of innovation. 2021 will be a year of reinventing and rebuilding. Printers learned to adapt rapidly in 2020, and we will see businesses continue to learn and develop from those experiences. Critical skills are managing distributed workforces, with those who can working remotely, whilst ensuring that performance optimisation and teamwork is maintained. However, the end of JobKeeper is going to see some businesses need to make hard decisions prior to end June. The need to rapidly adapt sales, operations and production patterns is going to see

some printers thrive, and others struggle. There will also be ongoing pressure on the catalogue sector. Businesses that are able to work remotely and outsource production will be able to manage business continuity and government ineptitude. Developing partnerships with printers in other states or regions, so to avoid shutdowns and ensure business continuity is important. Within market segments, packaging and labelling will continue to grow. Seamless integration of traditional print marketing across digital platforms will grow too, and is an opportunity for printers to be the primary creative partner rather than a supplier of one component of the campaign. Communication services will be key. The industry needs to be curious about emerging technology and social patterns, embrace change, understand their customers, make these customers their partners, and evolve to be the single shop complete solution for them. In 2021, PVCA will still continue to be the voice of our industry, ensuring that printers are heard by policy makers and regulators. PVCA will continue to provide the essential IR/HR advice that employers need. PVCA will also deliver an enhanced SGP certification, and will facilitate the wonderful showcase of our industry excellence which is the PICA, NPA, Print2Parliament! series of events.

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PRINT LEADERS FORUM

The future is

NOW LEADERS FORUM 2021

Kellie Northwood CEO, The Real Media Collective

ith each new year that breaks, we face the same crystal ball questions exploring the best future forecasts from across the industry. However, if we have learnt anything from 2020, no year can be predicted with certainty and each year brings change, demands agility and favours the brave.

Embracing change

COVID has demonstrated that organisations that could not flex to changing conditions, bend to customer’s new demands, respond to varying staff levels, workflow supply chain distribution cycles and more are those less likely to have navigated a stable pathway through the pandemic year. The forced nature of the COVID crisis has the opportunity to make our businesses stronger than they were. I know of members who completely changed their clients across the period, began producing masks, promotional sanitiser and more to mitigate reduced volumes in other areas of their business. The systems, processes and training for their staff across these changes has now built a stronger team, a new client base and insight into how to diversify their businesses for future opportunities. Our industry customers will also change

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as many retailers have disappointingly announced a shift away from print to digital, despite research demonstrating the significant loss of customer engagement and loyalty to such decisions. Digital is not the one and only solution and customers have taken their money and demonstrated this. As an industry, we must develop the story of the wonderful marriage between print and digital; demonstrate more than a QR code, move to AI technologies and added value exploration from print to customer engagement, data collection and customised printing solutions that unite the traceability of digital solutions. Print and digital offering differ, yet when united, are powerful strengths that do not compete with each other. Printers will need to connect the dots for their customers to ensure print is part of the ongoing journey.

The demands of agility

TRMC has never worked so collaboratively with other industry associations throughout the pandemic and we look forward to the year ahead to continue those working relationships and expand on the projects that we have started to develop. Associations, businesses and customers will be more agile and open-minded to working together. Mergers, consolidation,

strong supply partnerships and more will be a strong trend to keep our recovery momentum throughout 2021. Associations must represent more for members than legacy manufacturing outcomes, we must assist the new wave ahead as printers move from a 100 per cent manufacturing mindset to one that delivers connectivity to digital channels, changing mindsets to sales approach and new supply chain partners entering the market. Training, expertise, research and case studies will be key in this regard.

Courage and vision

Those with a focussed determination to brave the new world will be those we will see explore new product ranges, services, workflow solutions, customer engagement strategies, research and sales pitches. The courage to embrace change, remain agile and flex to a post-crisis era will drive passion and optimism, not only our customers, but also our future success. The 2021 year ahead will retain an air of recovery, a dedicated focus on connecting digital marketing solutions with print to drive increased return on investment for our customers, relevance for the physical characteristics of print that are unmatched by any other channel and the courage to drive a new vision across our businesses in a manner we only began to journey through in 2020.

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PRINT LEADERS FORUM

The year of

CHANGE LEADERS FORUM 2021

Dr. Markus Heering Managing Director, VDMA

he year 2020 will go down in history as the year the world changed because governments around the globe took extraordinary measures to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Travel restrictions, shutdown of entire industries, and strict quarantine regulations continue to define our daily lives today. The indispensability of our industry during the crisis is seen by the fact that it is considered systemically important because of the high hygiene requirements. Without us, no goods or services could be shipped or packaged. Many have now become aware of the great importance of printing and paper technology in societal life. The past year has not only brought societal change, but also underlined the importance of digitalisation. If there is one thing we can learn from 2020, it’s that our industry is already doing well in terms of digitalisation. The pace of innovation is increasing rapidly, it is now proving to be a great advantage that our industry has focused on digitalisation and networking prior to the pandemic. Remote services make it possible to keep customers’ machines running, especially when service technicians are unable to travel, in many cases we can still provide guidance for repair.

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For users of print and paper processing technology who consistently automate and connect their machines, this investment has paid off during the crisis: quarantinerelated staff absences hit them less hard – and they benefited from lower downtimes. Digitalisation is ensuring even faster innovation cycles, and the COVID crisis is acting as an additional catalyst. In some cases, companies are driving their research and development even more intensively than before. Digitalisation is also leaving its mark on trade fairs. Hybrid concepts that combine face-to-face events with additional virtual offerings will increase. The COVID crisis has accelerated this trend. For the first time in its 70-year history, drupa will be held as a virtual event that will amaze visitors. In addition to exciting technical presentations by top speakers or the drupa matchmaking, international visitors can look forward to product highlights and innovations. At virtual.drupa (April 20 - 23), we will see new developments that will be an integral part of the printing industry’s process chains and business operations in just a few years’ time. Digitalisation is the leitmotif of our time and will therefore be omnipresent at drupa. The four megatrends at the trade fair (artificial intelligence, connected customer,

platform economy, and circular economy) will have a lasting impact on the future of printing and paper technology. The circular economy, in particular, is currently dominating the political agenda. In almost all countries environmental requirements for sustainable climate protection are increasing. In Europe, this is regulated by the European Green Deal. The EU has set itself the goal of becoming the first climateneutral continent by 2050. Machinery and plant engineers provide the technological foundation for this ambitious goal. This includes designing durable and resource-efficient products (design to recycle) and optimising their own production sites and processes. In the drupa year 2021, the continuous digitalisation of business processes and printing will continue to be at the top of the agenda for all companies. Nevertheless, after months of social distancing, web meetings and having to work from home offices, there is a great need for meeting in vivo, for real conversations and human interaction. Surely, visiting trade fairs will continue to be part of this world in the future; drupa has always stood for visions, ideas, and the future – especially under the effects of the COVID pandemic, this has earned even more significance!

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PRINT LEADERS FORUM

Keeping a finger on the

PULSE LEADERS FORUM 2021

Peter Harper CEO, Visual Connections

t was a uniquely challenging year in 2020, with the bushfire crisis, pandemic and economic uncertainties that were created. We’ve been acutely aware of the impact of these events on our members and the wider industry, as well as on our own operations. While some areas like packaging and labels are quite resistant to economic shock, others were hit harder as businesses looked for ways cut back on expenses across the board. 2020 was the year when the buzz words ‘agility’ and ‘responsiveness’ got real. Businesses had to be more creative to survive. Business shifted from the physical to the virtual – like our own virtual trade show – and we saw industry businesses pivot to produce everything from socialdistancing floor decals and signage, to sanitiser stations and sneeze screens. With international supply chains disrupted, some print did come back to Australia and hopefully the reminder of the quality, service and reliability of ‘buying local’ will see some of that remain onshore. Over 2020, Visual Connections invested over $400,000 in sponsorships and grants for everything from education and networking to the recognition of excellence. We created the industry’s first ever virtual trade show; participated in important lobbying and industry

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promotion efforts, and progressed initiatives to attract new talent to our sector and ensure access to training. We also acted as a hub for connecting industry businesses to the support of their suppliers through the challenges of bushfires and the pandemic. It was a tough year in 2020, but it was great to see how the industry embraced the virtual trade show, with thousands of visits, hundreds of sales leads and a slew of sales proving the appetite for innovation is still there. Having said that, I know many will agree that nothing really beats the ‘in-person’ experience and we’re in a fortunate position in this region, with PacPrint in Melbourne in September looking like the first reliable option globally to get together for an on-site expo. To prepare itself this year, the industry needs to keep a finger on the pulse of this evolving market, identify new opportunities, and find a way to deliver on the new requirements of a new world. 2020 demonstrated how resourceful and innovative we can be, and I truly believe that could work to our advantage as we look to expand our horizons in 2021 and beyond. Businesses in our sector are generally already very good at adapting to change and planning ahead. It’s also always valuable to take time to work ‘on’ the business as well as ‘in’ the business. There’s probably never been

a more important time to review what’s happening, rebuild or replace things which are no longer working, and reconnect with your market so that you can set a clear direction for success. Things will pick up quite noticeably this year, but it’s going to take time and some sectors will take longer to recover than others. It’s going to be more of a marathon than a sprint, and I think we need to be realistic as we move forward. For Visual Connections, we’ll continue to focus on our mandate to support the ongoing strength and sustainability of our industry through education and training, exhibitions and networking opportunities, sponsorships and grants, lobbying and talent acquisition. We have a lot of exciting plans for 2021 which we’ll look forward to sharing in due course, but chief among those will be events like PacPrint, which will help businesses equip themselves for success in what is a very different, very dynamic market. We know from experience that these events provide an unrivalled opportunity to see new technologies and services, connect with the experts, and network with others. Co-locating with the Visual Impact sign and display show and the Label & Packaging Expo, it’s the perfect place for all industry businesses to gather the ideas, information and inspiration they need, and to invest in their future success.

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PRINT LEADERS FORUM

Make 2021 a year of

ENGAGEMENT LEADERS FORUM 2021

Dave Fellman President, David Fellman & Associates

ngage is an interesting word. You can engage in war, or in horseplay. You can engage a clutch. You can be engaged to be married. In each application, the word means something different. As it applies to your business, though, here is the definition I would like us to use. Engage: to cause someone to be interested or involved in an activity. What activity? It depends, on which of the three critical constituencies we are talking about, your customers, your employees, or your suppliers. I hope you will agree that these are the three groups which are most important to your business. The “customer activity” is pretty straightforward. You want them to buy from you. But please consider, there is a difference between customers and notyet-customers. So let me rephrase, the “customer activity” is to continue to buy from you. The “not-yet-customer activity” is to give serious consideration to joining your customer ranks. In both cases, your best strategy is a level of communication that probably goes beyond the status quo. I would ask you this question: Do you have happy and loyal customers? Assuming a positive answer, I would follow up with this: Do you know that, think that, or merely hope that? As many printers have learned the hard way, thinking and hoping are not good customer retention strategies.

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The point is, you must know, and the key is to really engage on the subject of customer satisfaction. I might suggest that you begin the engagement with this question: Is there anything about our current relationship that you would change if you could? Be prepared to prompt a deeper discussion, because the deeper the engagement, the more likely it is that you identify little things that make big differences. How about your not-yet-customers? Ask the same question, but in this case, about their current supplier. Your prospect is someone else’s customer, right? If they are completely happy with that supplier, you have little chance of success. But if you can identify some level of dissatisfaction, it gives you leverage. You can make the argument that they (the current supplier) may be very good, but you are even better. Please compare that to a less engaged, but more common approach, where the salesperson merely presents the perceived benefits of doing business with his or her company. Sure, that works sometimes, but a more engaged strategy will likely work more often. With your employees, the key issue is how engaged they are right now. Where would you place each one in a range from ‘showing up to earn a paycheck’ to ‘understanding and sharing your values and working with you to reach your goals’?

Again, this is a situation where you must know. It is an opportunity that begins with a question – or several! Do you feel like you understand our values? Do you feel like you understand our goals? Do you feel like you have a voice in all of this? What could I/we do to make you feel more engaged? The benefit of an engaged workforce can be significant. A study by The Hay Group suggests a 31 per cent improvement in productivity. Pie in the sky? Maybe. But I would ask this, how about a 10 per cent improvement in productivity? Would that be worth some investment in engaging with your team? Finally, please consider the value of suppliers who are true partners, as opposed to people/companies who simply sell. My question is, do you take full advantage of your suppliers’ expertise? Do you ask them to help you (a) solve immediate problems, (b) identify future opportunities and (c) maximise each other’s profitability? I might suggest starting a supplier engagement conversation in this way: I’d like to talk about what I want from you, what you want from me, and beyond that, what you think you can do for me that I might not be thinking about. Bringing this full circle, if you were invited to have that conversation by one of your customers, would you welcome that opportunity? If so, you see the value of real engagement!

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PRINT LEADERS FORUM

F%CK OFF

2020! LEADERS FORUM 2021

Deborah Corn Intergalactic Ambassador, Print Media Centr

omeone had to say it, in print! Not just grumbling in conversations or topics that allude to f%cking off. I mean a big, long, scream it from the rooftops – F%%%%%%%%%CK OFF 2020! Okay, now I feel a little better. But just a little. It’s the start of the year but doesn’t feel like it here in the States. The social and political unrest leading the evening news and marching through our streets make it feel more like 2020.1 to me, with .1 representing the first quarter. Still, we need to carry on and the release of the vaccine and shifting political power now illuminates a teeny tiny flickering light of hope down the 2021 tunnel. Yoda said, “When you look back, lose your place on the path, you do”. With all due respect to the Jedi Master, a little refection is what is currently needed right now. Let’s look back at just a few things 2020 threw at us and embrace the longterm lessons for 2021, and beyond: A diverse customer base that covers many industry sectors, including those they did not have a traditional play in, with varying marketing budgets and print needs kept many print businesses nimble and profitable amidst a pandemic.

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In 2021, fully take on this strategy and make new alliances no matter the order size. Also, learn about verticals you don’t serve and start serving them. A diverse array of equipment helped many printers quickly fulfill the needs of pandemic printing, invent new applications, and continue to innovate, pivot and profit. In 2021, take a look at the things you are really good at, the things you learned to be good at in 2020, and the anticipated post-COVID needs of the marketplace and invest in your print shop. There is no more holding it together day-by-day. Find partners who can help you say YES to every client if you aren’t in a purchasing position, just keep in mind the OEMs and vendors who provide automation solutions are still very open to negotiating deals and helping you divorce your current equipment marriages. You should start a conversation with all of them, now. A diverse mindset and ability to meet the ever-changing needs of the marketplace by ‘whatever means necessary’ is what separated the haves from have-nots last year. In 2021, that attitude needs to be magnified and expanded to include the space for generating new business

opportunities through digital marketing; SEO matters. People visiting your website, matter. What they are looking at or looking for, matters too. Following up with them with print and digital advertising not only matters, but it’s also the key to staying top of mind and being the answer when a print need is being searched. Better yet, once you see bottom-line results for your business you can monetize the service for your customers. There are plenty of digital marketing people out there to help with some cool tools designed for printers. Reach out to others within the industry if you need help or an introduction. I keep this handy as it truly exemplifies where I think we are with regards to COVID and the vaccine getting approved and rolling out. The wisdom also crosses over to many of the challenges and obstacles we faced in 2020 – that was the beginning (it happened) and it’s over now. What we do with what we learned, how we apply it, how we adapt and modify, how we educate and engage in 2021 and beyond is what comes nexx. I am cautiously optimistic, but after 2020 I think the odds are in our favour that 2021 will bring some sense of normalcy back to the world, and for our businesses.

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PRINT LEADERS FORUM

A vision of the (near)

FUTURE LEADERS FORUM 2021

Marcus Timson and Frazer Chesterman Co-Founders, FM Future

n order to look forward, we must reflect on where we have been. When contemplating the year that was 2020, a myriad of exceptional and novel challenges come to mind. To state the obvious, 2020 was a super challenging year. However, examining the previous months through an optimistic lens, there are a number of positives to be found as well, especially by the way of new markets and unexpected opportunities for print businesses. For many client-facing businesses within the print industry, the inability to support customers onsite and carry out smooth and successful installations has been a significant obstacle. Many have been innovative, finding new ways to interact with and serve their customers, but there is a general consensus that it is not a substitute for face-to-face meetings and in-person support. The positives may be difficult to focus on during challenging times, but there have been some glimmers of light amongst the darkness. Many print businesses made significant changes in 2020, whether that was diversifying and moving into new areas due to necessity as major clients saw their own trade decline or consolidating and merging with like-minded partners. Boons for print included the new markets presented by the pandemic, such as COVID-related health and safety

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signage, hand sanitiser, and personal protective equipment (PPE), and many print businesses pivoted production almost from the start. This year, it was expected that drupa and interpack would have offered a clear vision of the ‘Future of The Print and Packaging Industry’ for the next few years, but with the cancellation of the shows for 2020 and 2021, many in the industry are looking for a sense of direction. The fact is that the key driver for value is always technology, innovation and collaboration. It always will be. Automation and Industry 4.0 have been growing in print for a number of years, as businesses aim to increase efficiencies, minimise human error and optimise all aspects of production. In 2020, order book declines gave many businesses the opportunity to take a step back, take stock of their processes and assess the ways in which they could be boosting efficiency through increased and better automation. COVID had changed but not stopped many investment plans, and businesses are now looking for technology that solves new problems. We think more than ever before, we need to be visible, to push ourselves towards new markets, to challenge and to share and to connect where possible. So when the virus finally reaches a

manageable level and it becomes safe to connect in person, then we will all reap the rewards of providing value during this difficult time. Many crises are the catalyst for change, and unfortunately, failure to evolve and adapt can be the difference between the life and death of a business when the chips are down. During October 2020’s FuturePrint Virtual Summit, evolution was a common theme among a number of print industry analysts and experts that presented, exploring why businesses need to adapt, where the opportunities are, and how to get started. A diverse portfolio will continue to be a significant advantage in 2021 as the opportunity for reinvention reaches beyond new investments and new markets. As much as optimism for the year ahead is welcome, it’s important to remain pragmatic. 2021, in many locations, is off to a sober start but uncertainty still abounds. For now, we will continue to create opportunities to connect, stay informed, inspired and empowered through what will be another challenging, but hopefully brighter second half of the year. The dark tunnel may stretch before us for longer than we anticipated, but it remains a realistic ambition that in 2021 we will begin to recover, rebuild, and reunite as an industry.

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PRINT LEADERS FORUM

Return on

REACTIONSHIP

LEADERS FORUM 2021

Meqa Smith Strategist, The Unforgettable Agency

s we begin another year under unprecedented local and global conditions what, if anything, can business owners, executives and managers do to give themselves the best chance of success? Where should limited resources be invested to generate the greatest returns in such uncertain times? When things are changing as rapidly as they are at the moment, it can feel like nothing is constant. But on closer inspection it becomes clear that one thing has stayed the same for thousands of years – human nature – or what I call the Human iOS. In a non-scientific nutshell, the way our brains are hard-wired hasn’t changed at all, which means that the same primitive chemical reactions are still triggered by certain emotions. This is great news for business! Why? Because most businesses rely heavily on the human beings working there to do the work they do to deliver value to customers and generate the profits that the owner or shareholders need to justify keeping the business going. As the saying goes – you can’t control what happens to you but you can control how you respond. Understanding just the following two simple things about the Human iOS will give business owners, executives and managers an edge they can use to respond

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to things differently to create better working relationships and better business outcomes under any conditions. 1. We are programmed to fear rejection from the tribe in the same way we fear death because it used to mean death if we were ejected from the tribe – as surviving alone wasn’t possible – you needed a tribe. 2. We are hard-wired for connection and belonging to a tribe where every individual in the group has an equally important and vital role to play in the survival of the group. This way each person is needed and as such is safe from death. These things still apply today but of course we don’t live in tribes and we can survive alone so they play out differently. In decades gone by we were getting our psychological needs met at home and within our communities. Now that society has changed so dramatically, we’re not getting what we need at home anymore, so we’re out in the world looking for these things wherever we can get them. Our collective human craving for psychological safety is driving us towards brands and experiences that help us to feel like we are desirable, valuable and special. Tribes no longer look the same as they did and we aren’t valuable to others because we can hunt down a deer, sew a skin into clothes or build a weatherproof

shelter. The currencies we trade in are different but the desired outcome is the same. One of the greatest opportunities for businesses who ‘get it’ is to offer their employees that sense of belonging and psychological safety. To ensure they feel needed and valued. To achieve this, businesses can focus on each manager creating a healthy relationship with each employee where they feel: 1. Known, they are ‘seen’, understood and appreciated as an individual 2. Relevant, they know who their job matters to and why 3. Can measure their contribution or progress in some way The Gallup organisation found that managers account for at least 70 per cent of the variance in employee engagement scores across business units. That’s significant as it also found that disengaged employees cost 34 per cent of their annual salary due to lost productivity. Truly engaged employees are on average 21 per cent more profitable and deliver 10 per cent better customer ratings. It’s never too late to create healthier and more profitable relationships with your employees, but the very best way to ensure you’ve got the right people on the team who are the best fit for the role in your business is to hire the right people in the right way.

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POST-PRESS

Automation alleviates

CHALLENGES

Innovative hardware and software alike are necessary when building a robust post-press production line

By Currie Group managing director Bernie Robinson

orizon is a leading global provider of high-quality finishing solutions for the graphic arts and print-on-demand markets. The product line includes collators, booklet makers, perfect binders, folders, paper cutters, and a growing family of in-line and near-line finishing products that are custom-tailored for the print-ondemand marketplace. Horizon’s focus is to minimise touch points on the finishing side with products transitioning to an offset or digital web or sheet feed model. It includes features such as mobile tracker carriers for paper movement directly into a press. It then goes from the offset machine to either a folder or perfect binder, then to a three knife trimmer unit before being moved directly onto the mobile tracker carrier to the despatch area for a courier to pick up. But machines aren’t the only technologies that need to be depended on. Software such as iCE LiNK, which is a cloud-based workflow management system can manage multiple finishing devices and optimise production to create a new work environment and a higher level of efficiency. The iCE product series is a new product line-up which is designed to provide added value to our customers, enable a more integrated operation, and advanced automation to provide increased efficiency and productivity.

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When it comes to challenges, one of the problems that printers face when folding digital print is the cracking of the spines of books. The Horizon CRF-362 impact creaser and folder with two-fold knives is designed to handle heavier sheets in one pass without cracking. A workhorse for commercial printers, it’s suitable for creasing covers, restaurant menus, shop cards, invitations and laminated sheets. It can also be used to prepare high quality perfect bound book covers with spine, hinge and flap creases properly produced by selecting up or down creasing. It’s a very popular item that doubles as a perforator. We sell two to three a month. It’s also pretty quick, up to three thousand sheets per hour. Another popular investment for printers addressing the book market is the Horizon BQ-280PUR binder. PUR is polyurethane adhesive that has become popular due to its superior binding strength and lay-flat qualities when a book is pressed open. It’s ideal for educational booklets, cookbooks, and photo books. Unaffected by ink, PUR has almost entirely displaced the alternative hot-melt EVA glue due to its lower application temperature and better environmental outcomes in terms of recycling. The BQ-280 is a single clamp perfect binder that is a favourite with commercial printers. It can produce three hundred and fifty books per hour. We sell it with Kleibert glue and recommend a warming unit so that there are two cartridges ready to be used at any time. We also have the larger machine, the Horizon BQ-500 with four clamps that can turn out eight hundred books an hour. The Horizon SmartSlitter is versatile sheet processing system that can slit, perforate, and score all in one pass.

Ideal for coupons, tickets and business reply cards the system can deliver multiple up greeting cards with or without creasing. Accordion fold applications or perfect bound books with up and down creasing can also be performed in one pass. It’s becoming more common for printers to output standard size business cards 21-up on a sheet. With the SmartSlitter print registration marks adjust for image shift from sheet to sheet. It’s a very easy machine to operate, even for non-skilled operators. The colour touch screen has a simple user interface that lets a job be set-up using a barcode. There are a number of features that Horizon has introduced, including the ability to run partial perforations both across and along the sheet to create tear out coupons for example. Currie Group also supplies a wide range of Horizon folders, suitable for every size and speciality of printing enterprise. We have models from 560 to 760 wide, all equipped with intelligent automation. The operator can adjust the settings by inputting the paper size and fold pattern on the colour touch screen. It takes only a couple of minutes to finish a changeover from 16-page B-1 format signatures to 16-page B-2 format signatures. Every document finishing line also requires a collator to arrange pages in proper order. Horizon collators have a reputation for being fast and accurate. They can operate as a stand-alone piece of equipment or can link to Horizon stitcher/trimmers for automated feeding of uncollated sets. Year after year they have maintained their popularity, whether 10-bin rotary feed VAC-1000 or the 15bin friction feed SAC-150. It’s important that collators are able to be part of an automated finishing line no matter how many towers are used.

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POST-PRESS

Post-press takes

CENTRE STAGE Semi-auto die cutters have and will be replacing other outdated machines, but still retain the advantage of being able to process cartonboard corrugated and plastics

By Graffica director Neil Southerington

or printers looking at getting into the booming packaging marketplace, the printing part is the easy bit! Just like display, packaging design and concept is becoming extremely important as it now impacts a customer’s decision-making process. Good packaging design is one of the keys to defining a brand identity. Most customers of today expect packaging to elicit the right emotions and have an impact on them. However, this part is often out of a printer’s hands, but what they have to know – just by looking at the layout – is what finishing is required. Is it a simple die-cut and straight line glued carton? If so, most post-press carton finishing companies can do this competitively if it turns out to be a 4/6 corner glued job as the outsourcing options reduce and the cost gets higher. Depending on the complexity of the design, the die forme cost could potentially vary significantly. Then, there is stripping; if a carton is printed 16 up, with windows that need pushing out, and it is die cut without stripping in-line, there could be many hours of manual labour to do this at a high cost. All these facets of post-press finishing need to be taken into account before even quoting the job.

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Cylinders and clam shell die cutters are old school, very slow without stripping abilities and the latter dangerous for the untrained hand. On the other hand, modern die cutters are fast, safe, and easy to operate and are able to strip in-line. We find that our Century semi-auto die cutters in the 1300 / 1450 / 1650 / 1850 / 2100mm sizes are proving very popular with five machines installed in Melbourne and Sydney, one on the way and two currently being installed. These machines have and will be replacing other outdated machines, but still retain the added advantage of being able to process cartonboard corrugated and plastics. The updated Century semi-auto die cutters are suitable for both display and packaging work. One of these machines with a person operating it will do the work of four clam shell cutters with four people and many

PRINTERS HAVE TO BE AWARE OF WHAT THE POST-PRESS JOB REQUIRES FOR IT TO BE FINISHED PROPERLY, AND IN A COST-EFFECTIVE MANNER. GETTING THE EXPERTISE OF A SPECIALIST FINISHER COULD BE THE WAY FORWARD...

cutting tables. As such, this is one lucrative area of business within the industry with relatively low entry costs and a fast ROI. Printers have to be aware of what the post-press job requires for it to be finished properly, and in a cost-effective manner. They have to question themselves, for example, if the stock needs to go through a folder gluer with cold glue. Getting the expertise of a specialist finisher could be the way forward for a business new to this space, at least initially. In addition, the speed of delivery is important and outsourcing all over the place is fraught with danger. Businesses either need to stick with a finishing supplier that can do all that’s required in house, or buy their own equipment and stick within the range of that equipment. When looking to move forward and future proof, businesses need to be aware that minimum orders and long lead times are no longer acceptable, especially as run lengths undoubtedly continue to fall and the box buyer wants the products on time, and doesn’t want to waste his own space storing boxes they are not ready to use. In the corrugated carton area, this is already available as we sell a range of fully-automated box makers with a set time of under a minute and tool less, and glued in-line. Jobs of five, 50 or even 500 have now become a reality. Century products are supplied in Australia by Graffica and include a range of flatbed die cutters for carton boards and corrugated – from 800mm wide through to 2100mm. The larger 1650, 1850 and 2100mm machines do not use gripper prongs, so a wide variety of stock can be processed. The Century machines are available in full auto and semi auto.

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POST-PRESS

Investing in

QUALITY EQUIPMENT

People under value post-press and sometimes make mistakes such as going for the cheapest rather than the best that delivers on ROI

By Graph-Pak managing director Tom Ralph

ost-press is more important than pre-press or printing as no matter how you look at it, without postpress the rest of it is basically sitting around waiting for the next mover. Some people under-value the nature of post-press and sometimes make mistakes such as going for the cheapest option rather than the best. They do not even look at any other section of a quotation except for the price and not looking at the technical specs such as the output and capabilities as they are more important, they determine return on investment. In the last two decades, I have seen many customers simply walk away from my projects because they were only looking at price. I have also seen a very large percentage come back in the short future after buying something cheap, only to find out that the decision they had made is actually costing them a lot more than my original proposal, that offered a higher capacity solution, thus a better return on investment. It is a fact that waiting to consider post-press production until a print job is complete can result in a disaster. This is because careful planning of your post-press needs to be done before you accept a print job. On so many occasions, mistakes are made and people can easily lose money on jobs because they have not quoted it correctly through their post-press.

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For example, a job needs to be banded in fives, yet no one has considered how that is going to happen and how much labour it would involve to band the job. I am sure that anyone who is reading would agree that these are easy mistakes, but costly ones. My tip is to “measure twice, and cut once”. There have been a dozen or so outstanding new technologies that have come through in the last decade within the post-press space. One that is becoming more and more an information request from customers, is rotary die cutting. Even though it has been around for a long time, technology breakthroughs separate the men from the boys. Rotary die cutting competes with flatbed die cutting and platen systems, however has gone to a whole new level with the introduction of mag cylinder plate applications, and make ready in minutes as opposed to hours. At Graph-Pak, there is demand for the Rollem Insignia Rotary Die Cutter. This machine features outstanding new technology and this die cutter can also be coupled to a folder gluer for inline processing of packaging and stationery products, giving the end user a really good return on investment. Normally the companies who buy these machines make their minds up fairly fast when they see everything stacking up, such as automation, high output, fast make readies, flexibility and versatility, minimal labour all equals a great ROI. Such machines are necessary for printers who are looking beyond the next six months, which is something you have to do if you are in a business. Printers need to be more focused on not being boxed in on one particular segment of the market.

Owning an Insignia Die Cutting machine allows you to be capable of a lot of versatility such as, perforating, kiss cutting, scoring and embossing, all in a single pass. Insignia systems eliminate sending out profitable work as well as allow for infinite expansion into new markets, such as door hangers, parking passes, shaped invitations, unique mailing pieces, folding cartons, kiss cut stickers, ID cards and more. With consumers expecting products quicker, printers need to stay in the loop, talking to suppliers and not just waiting for something to happen. They also need to ask as many questions as they need, because the world and technology is constantly changing. If you don’t ask questions you will be left behind. I believe higher quality finishing equipment is ultimately the future and that the industry should be heading in that direction when considering post-press.

SOME PEOPLE UNDERVALUE THE NATURE OF POST-PRESS AND SOMETIMES MAKE THE MISTAKE OF GOING FOR THE CHEAPEST OPTION RATHER THAN THE BEST.

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POST-PRESS

Plan post-press from the

BEGINNING

Every process in print production is equally important as they are inter-dependent in achieving the best quality on time

By Heidelberg Australia and NZ managing director Savas Mystakidis

rinting is like a triathlon; a three-in-one race, all against time. Every process in a print production is equally important as they are inter-dependent in achieving the best quality on time. But, post-press may involve different processes on different equipment. For example, producing a greeting card with hot foil stamping, embossed and diecut before folding can be challenging. As the last process in print production, compensating delays or flaws from prepress and press if any, yet producing and ensuring the print product is at its finest quality with the least waste and delivered on time all happens in post-press. It can be a real disaster if post-press production is not properly planned in the beginning. In the commercial space, Stahl’s folder pallet feeder allows the printed stack to be fed directly while the PFX feeds the substrate into the folding machine in shingled mode. Furthermore, camera systems that scan the barcode on the sheets has made Push-to-Stop a reality in folding. The peak performance Stahl folder, TH82-P, capable to achieve 15,000 signatures/hours, is well accepted by the market and is proving to be a real benchmark in the industry. Not only does the TH82-P match the performance of XL 106 sheetfed for mid to long run jobs, Push-to-Stop has broadened the job scope to short run also. The professional

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packaging houses love the stability as well as the user-friendly operation. In the packaging segment, Masterset is an optical registration system that aligns the sheets perfectly before hot foil stamping or embossing and die-cutting; while the inline inspection on the selected Diana series folder gluer allows the blanks to be inspected before being folded and glued into carton or envelopes for greeting cards in this case. Masterset saves tremendous time and waste sheets, as it ensures every sheet is aligned perfectly, even if the sheets have to go through the Promatrix multiple times for different processes. For professional packaging houses, both Promatrix series and Diana Easy are among the preferred models in the region. The Promatrix 106 FC comes with hot foil stamping and die-cutting while the Promatrix 106 CSB processes the sheets directly into blanks. Diana Easy is famous for wide range of applications, not only in traditional box designs up to four and six corners and double wall, but also for commercial jobs such as CD sleeves and envelopes. The Digiset improves the setup times by 10 to 15 minutes. All Heidelberg/ MK equipment are GS certified. Some areas of play within post-press that are lucrative for printers include embellishments such as deep embossing on wine or whisky cases, hot foil stamping on cosmetic packing and holograms on pharmaceutical and product cases that set to fight counterfeiting are lucrative as they are adding high value to the printing and branding, thus leaving a good impression to the consumer market. But there are some challenges that printers should be aware of in the postpress space. The most common is printshop digital workflows that stops at press. Collecting accurate production data from

different types and brands of post-press machines can be extremely challenging, especially the analogue way. This is what we are seeing today in most of the print houses. Subsequently, avoiding data manipulation as well as typos during data input is again, difficult. The cost of the whole exercise becomes significantly high, especially with the risk of making poor business decisions out of inaccurate data. Printers can alleviate these challenges by using fully integrated printshop digital workflows. Heidelberg has Prinect Postpress Manager and Postpress Data Ready to simplify production planning through digital data acquisition from post-press. The former is a complete digital workflow from Heidelberg, that is ready for autonomous production on Stahl automated folders while the latter focuses on production data reporting. The nonproprietary Data Ready allows the data collection from MK Packaging equipment in XML for analysis. Data Ready is set to be open for more post-press in the market, regardless of brands. In the coming years, post-press in the post-pandemic economy is set to be equipped with more automation that is not only labour saving, but also more hygienic as it involves less human touch points. Besides, by combining different processes into a single platform, it will ensure greater efficiency in post-press production that meets both quality and quicker delivery expectations. Integration will occur via Prinect Postpress Manager and Postpress Data Ready that will allow complete transparency in post-press production. This will expand widely in the future thus connecting post-press equipment brands that are willing to work together, to major MIS systems available in the market.

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POST-PRESS

A focus on digital

EMBELLISHMENT In line with the trend to shift from offset print technology to digital print technology, many printing businesses are looking to ‘finish’ print jobs digitally

By Konica Minolta technical sales specialist James Rolland

dding value to the printing processes is vital to achieving repeat business and improved profit on print. And innovations in pre-press solutions allow print providers to get jobs to press faster, therefore reducing costs. As such, manufacturers need to produce cutting-edge press technology, which will allow print to be run faster and cheaper than before. However, post-press is where a print provider can add value to print. Printers that offer only basic services find themselves losing jobs or cutting prices to stay competitive with larger volume competitors. Post-press solutions are a good way for print providers to look to be unique and create a niche for themselves in the market. The best way to achieve a higher profit and create repeat clients within the post-press space is with digital print embellishment. The largest market for digital embellishment today is spot varnish and foil. Digital spot varnishing and foil stamping work across large quantities as well as single printing jobs, providing print providers with an opportunity to reach out to a variety of businesses across multiple verticals. Because the method is digital, the finish is sharp and high quality. By adding spot varnishing or foil stamping

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to a print product, the print provider is able to considerably enhance the visual aesthetic for a client’s product. Digital embellishment has made luxury finishes more affordable and simpler, by removing the need for consumable items such as screens and dies, and shorter print runs can be achieved easily and with very good margin. Processes that were traditionally applied by skilled trades people, can now be done easily without the need for specialist operators thanks to the simplicity of digital print as well. At Konica Minolta, we have a digital embellishment solution for every level of print provider – from a simple desktop SRA3 foiling device to a B1 inkjet press with digital spot UV and foil all applied in a single pass. Konica Minolta’s full range of MGI JetVarnish equipment is a leading force globally in the digital embellishment revolution and in building our embellishment portfolio, we are happy to announce that a new entry level device – the MGI JetVarnish 3DOne – will be launching early in 2021. The MGI JetVarnish 3DOne will become the entry point to the JetVarnish range, allowing business requiring a lower cost or smaller footprint the ability to offer new products in their portfolio and drive increased revenue on their existing print volumes by adding value to print. In 2D/flat mode, the solution is able to print up to 2,077 A3 sheets per hour (with 21μm) and in 3D/raised mode, it prints up to 1,260 A3 sheets per hour (with 51μm) and up to 547 A3 sheets per hour (with 116 micron). Depending on your file, the inks used and the type of surface of your sheet, the coating thickness can vary. On laminated and aqueous coating, the coating thickness

is between 21 μm and 116 μm for 3D raised effects and tactile finishes. On toner and coated paper, it is between 30 μm and 116 μm for 3D raised effects and a tactile finish. Some of its other features include: coating directly onto most digital prints with no lamination or coating required, varnish delivered with a 10-litre tank capacity, single pass printing, flexible and scalable printing architecture, as well as MGI’s exclusive inkjet engine technology. Adding services such as digital spot varnish to a printer’s portfolio will allow print businesses to better align with their customer’s needs, driving many repeat orders from print purchases. In today’s market of shorter turnaround times and reducing print quantities it’s important for print providers to find ways to do more with less print. Post-press equipment will have a big hand to play in the solution, and digital embellishment is leading the way. Konica Minolta looks forward to bringing more digital post-press solutions to the market and supporting our customers to add value to print.

KONICA MINOLTA LOOKS FORWARD TO BRINGING MORE DIGITAL POST-PRESS SOLUTIONS TO THE MARKET AND SUPPORTING OUR CUSTOMERS...

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POST-PRESS

Considering the WHOLE PROCESS Print service providers need to consider the whole process, otherwise the result of pre-press or press stages can be a waste of time and resources

By Muller Martini Australia sales manager Roman Beeler

ost-press is just as important as the pre-press and press stages as it is post-press that ultimately shapes how the final product will look and feel like. Even though it is one of the last stages of a press cycle, it is the first thing that customers notice. Poor quality finishing will often put customers away as when they open a book, magazine, brochure, or any other printed material, the first thing that they notice is any uneven cutting, bad binding, or any other post-press related finishings. Waiting to consider post-press production until your print job is complete is a recipe for disaster. The finishing of any printed product needs to be planned as much as the printing itself. Poor planning can result in expensive re-prints. The finishing process also requires know how and the correct equipment. The most logical thing for print service providers to do is to consider the whole process; otherwise the result of pre-press or press stages can easily be a waste of time and resources in the post-press area. By considering the whole process from the very beginning to the end, one can ensure smooth and efficient production with minimised waste. This is most obvious in the digital space, where our solutions such as the Sigma lines actually generate the pagination and sends it back to the digital printer. In the market, new equipment

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is increasingly becoming automated and machines can self-adjust without manual intervention. Also, we have noticed that shorter set-up times are becoming more or as important as equipment speed, with most factories facing shorter run lengths. Machines are also becoming increasingly equipped with barcode readers, which reduces errors and waste. Digital solutions allow for better control over the process and customers can easily view and analyse their production data thanks to analytics software (such as Muller Martini’s ConnexInfo) which helps in identifying and fixing problems. Some of the most popular post-press machines at Muller Martini is as follows: · Muller Martini Vareo and Infinitrim – which allow for a variance of sizes and thickness all the way down to ‘Bookof-One’ (where every book is different) · Muller Martini Alegro – a midperformance (7k/h) range binder for the conventional market with quick set-up times, minimising down-time · Muller Martini Primera PRO – a mid-performance (14k/h) range saddle stitcher for the conventional market with quick set-up times, minimising down-time Such machines are necessary for printers because of automation – meaning quicker setups, quality control – resulting in less waste and higher production speeds. This is because with pressure on prices and margins, printers need to constantly improve on their efficiency to stay competitive and profitable. Investment in both automation and process digitalisation can help secure this. There are still many older post-press machines in the market that are used for daily commercial production. However, with technological progress on new equipment and the changes to

shorter run-length, these machines are not competitive. Many that move into digital printing are doing this with smaller, conventional post-press equipment, which entails a lot of manual work and tracking. This is fine when volumes are small, but difficult to manage and inefficient when volumes increase. There is not necessarily an imbalance between quality and quick delivery in the market, but more so a question of what the print factory is set up for in terms of equipment and systems. Factories, especially, that have been set up for fewer orders of traditional long runs of standard products are now are facing the challenge of more shorter run-length orders. At this stage, equipment with automatic adjustment features and barcode type tracking is required, no matter if we are talking inline solutions after the digital press or near-line/off-line solutions. It can, at times, be difficult to justify investments in new lines, but instead of replacing post-press equipment such as stitchers and perfect binders one-for-one, we do see customers replacing two old lines with one new and still achieving the same output. Obviously, it still requires some level of investment, but it also reduces the ongoing operational costs to man-power. For example, the hard-cover book technology now allows for ‘first book sellable’, meaning that even small runs over hardcover books is feasible. This is probably more of a niche opening than a ‘bandwagon’ issue, but could be a profitable segment. Going into the future, we expect digital and digital-ready equipment to become more popular. This will require an increased integration between printers’ MIS systems and down-stream equipments, allowing for smoother production planning.

AUSTRALIAN PRINTER MARCH 2021 | 67

POST-PRESS

Addressing specific

MARKET NEEDS Simple printing today isn’t enough to satisfy the market’s needs and for printers to have a point of difference

By Trimatt Systems owner and CEO Matt Johnson

ost-press equipment is just as important as any process – in fact, it helps get a finished printed product to the end user in a highquality finished format. Quality postpress equipment will ensure that waste is reduced and that profitability maintained throughout the job. Post-press is a specialist process within a printing business. Ignoring the importance of this process inevitably ends in tears, with heavy waste and poor quality finished media as the result. Respecting the post-press process is critical to a successful print job. Technology has created many areas for the print finisher to capitalise on. These can include process automation to reduce labour and improve quality. An example would be the camera systems that businesses now deploy on ‘saddle stitchers’ to ensure book section collation is perfect. By using these cameras and software, errors in going to market are eliminated. Trimatt Systems builds finishing equipment in Melbourne. Our machinery provides solutions to printers for capturing critical data printed on to documents (in areas such as security, membership, financials and others). We build machines for feeding, gluing and folding, and many of these applications involve integrating a plastic card into a mail piece for distribution. We have built machinery to automate

68 | AUSTRALIAN PRINTER MARCH 2021

the process of attaching labels to media, and in printing barcodes at high speeds for traceability. Our solutions are tailored to help printers add value to their printed media. Simple printing today isn’t enough to satisfy the market’s needs and for printers to have a point of difference. Trimatt solutions give printers an edge and added capabilities where margins can be collected in additional finishing tasks. An area of lucrative play is Trimatt’s solution for gluing, folding and attaching. This machinery helps printers to capture downstream tasks where they’re adding value to existing printed media. We have the popular CardLine 7000 series and FoldLine 9000 range of finishing machines, which have become very popular in Australia for both printers and mailers alike. We can add inkjet machinery to print variable QR codes for example, or we can add labelling machinery and folding to give printers the ability to finish their products in line with minimal labour. All these systems are designed by the team at Trimatt in Melbourne.

POST-PRESS WILL CONTINUE TO EVOLVE AND THE NEEDS OF PRINTING COMPANIES WILL BECOME MORE AND MORE SPECIALISED.

Some of the challenges that printers might face is finding a machine that has different capabilities that will suit the unique needs of their business. Often, we are found building unique machinery to cater for the exact requirements of our client. Through consultation and clearly understanding their requirements, we can create solutions that meet the challenges of each individual printer. This could be the materials that they are operating with, it could be the customers that they have, or the various requirements of their customers. Printers can only alleviate their challenges by having a clear understanding of the requirements of their business and the requirements of their customers’ business. Trimatt offers an obligation free consultation process to work with the client to determine the best solution, and we often customise our solutions to meet this objective. With consumers expecting products quicker, printers deliver on this but also provide quality products by investing in post-press finishing equipment that provide an extremely high degree of versatility and flexibility. Investing in equipment that has a clear upgrade path to add additional devices in the future – as in, when the requirements of your customers change – is also necessary. I would advise printers to regularly meet with industry experts to understand trends and capabilities within hardware and technology. In the coming years, post-press will continue to evolve and the needs of printing companies will become more and more specialised. As digital media and the various marketing methods continue, the printer and their finishing capabilities will need to be ever more flexible for them to stay relevant.

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PRINT DIARY

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drupa 2021 April 20-23, 2021 Virtual event drupa.com

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Fespa Eurasia December 2-5, 2021 Istanbul, Turkey fespaeurasia.com.tr

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indoprint, indopack and indoplas 2021 August 11-14, 2021 Jakarta, Indonesia indoprintpackplas.com

Labelexpo Southeast Asia 2022 May 12-14, 2022 Bangkok, Thailand labelexpo-seasia.com

Systems  Printing

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AUSTRALIAN PRINTER MARCH 2021 | 69

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BY WORKING TOGETHER WE CAN POOL OUR RESOURCES AND DELIVER A GREATER RANGE OF PRODUCTS TO 0UR CLIENTS. “Businesses need to be flexible and realistic during 2021, and adapt to a changing and volatile market. Our ability to design, print and manufacture in-house along with our diverse range of exciting and innovative technologies, means that by collaborating, we can all benefit and grow our businesses together. We firmly believe in maintaining a healthy & sustainable Australian manufacturing industry, in supporting trade clients and resellers and in promoting opportunities for the next generation of Australians.”

Sandra Duarte, CEO, Centrum

Call us on 1300 663 860 or email sales@centrumprinting.com.au and find out how we can build our businesses together. centrumprinting.com.au

JW GRAPHIC ENGINEERING

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74 | AUSTRALIAN PRINTER MARCH 2021

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North Sydney NSW Tullamarine VIC Lonsdale SA Brisbane QLD Victoria Park WA

(02) 9191 9894 (03) 9344 1325 (08) 6365 4366 (07) 3123 6141 (08) 6365 4366 SPRINTER.COM.AU

We specialise in:

Stickers

Name Badges

DIE CUTTING CASE MADE BOXES CASE MADE BINDERS WOBBLERS DOUBLE SIDED TAPE

RIVETTING/ EYELITTING PERFECT BINDING

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WIRE BINDING PLASTICOIL BINDING SHRINKWRAPPING COLLATING PADDING & DRILLING DIVIDERS POLY PROP PRODUCTS MOUNTING STRINGING

4 Lewis Street, Coburg VIC 3058

Phone: (03) 9350 4266

Fax: (03) 9354 1104 Email: sales@ehstat.com.au

www.ehstat.com.au 78 | AUSTRALIAN PRINTER MARCH 2021

25mm x 76mm Step 2: Choose a holder colour

EH Manufacturing and Alltab pick-ups and deliveries from 3 McDonald Street, Coburg

MENU COVERS

> Full colour > Frameless > White or black frame > Pin, magnet, pin & clip > Free display board - 1st order > Metallic gold, silver, any colour Step 1: Choose a size

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Wholesale

> Gloss, Matt, Clear, Hi Tack > On sheets or singles (same price)

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> www.cleverwholesale.com.au > sales@allcleverstuff.com.au

PRINTED & BLANK Labels on ROLLS & SHEETS Ideal for all your customers RUNS SMALfrLom bels 500 la

P +61 3 9729 9511 Toll free 1800 000 612 E info@labelline.com www.labelline.com.au SPRINTER.COM.AU

ALL PRINTING & BINDERY MACHINES, CASH PAID

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URGENTLY WANTED HEIDELBERG SM52, 74 & 102 MACHINES KOMORI 26, 28 & 40 MULTI COLOUR RYOBI & ROLAND 4,5 & 6 COLOUR POLAR, ITOH, WOHLENBERG & SCHNEIDER MULLER MARTINI 335, 321, 235, 1509 & PRIMA STITCHERS HEIDELBERG & STAHL FOLDERS, CYLINDERS ALL HORIZON FINISHING EQUIPMENT & BINDERS

VALUATIONS: PRINTING VALUATIONS FOR INSURANCE & SALE OF BUSINESS CONDUCTED AUSTRALIA WIDE 2010 POLAR 78X GUILLOTINE

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Please call Peter Brand on 0417 908 907 or email: peterbrand@nationalauctions.com.au

MT Envelopes Established 7 years. Serving a wide range of customers we pride ourselves on punctuality, reliability and customer satisfaction.

 Short to medium run

Providing a full rage of services including: 3 Machinery handling 3 General crane hire 3 Forklift hire and transport 3 Packing and unpacking of containers

Complete factory relocations:

Specialising in a wide range of machinery from Engineering, Metal Work, Printing & Packaging All aspects of printing machinery

E: ben@allworkcranes.com.au 80 | AUSTRALIAN PRINTER MARCH 2021

specialists  Banker, wallet, pocket & card envelopes  White & coloured  Square envelopes  Special business envelopes  Special window sizes & positions

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PACKAGING AND DISPLAY EQUIPMENT CENTURY LARGE FORMAT DIE CUTTERS

• 1050/1300/1450/1650/1850/2100 – and now a NEW size for POS/POP a whopping big 2,300mm x 1,520mm. 2,500 sheets per hour. Does the work of FIVE Clam shell hand fed cutters or cutting tables with one operative! • Flute and sold fibre • Corflute polypropylene etc • Full and Semi Auto – Various feeding options – Top sheet suction feed. Lead edge feeder. Lead edge suction feed and semi auto. • Non stripping. Double action stripping, triple action stripping. Grip edge removal.

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• Folding Box gluers. Straight line / crash lock /4/6 point. • Litho Laminating machines. To 1650. • Corrutec Asia 22-25 September. Bangkok. To be confirmed.

Graffica Pty Ltd Phone +61 477 200 854 I Email grafficapl@bigpond.com I Visit Us www.graffica.com.au

A.C.N. 134 989

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989 343

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160 Lakes Road, Hazelmere W.A. 6055 P.O. Box Tel: (08) 9376 78, Guildford W.A. 9600 Email: mail@rega Fax: (08) 9376 9666 ltransport.com.au www.regaltransport.c Sender om.au

Charge Sen

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Your Reference

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Exchange

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Terms: Strictly

IBILITY

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Subject to the terms and conditions of Rates and OF Services, if applicable, endorsed and incorporated A DIVISION overleaf and please accept the goods the described above carrier’s Proposa for delivery. 390 Consignor’s A.C.N. 007 544 (Sender’s) Signature ...................... printed on reve Carriage ...................... Date Conditions of ...................... Please read ................... ............. / ............. / .............

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NOT C WE ARE Conditio n Please read

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THE WAY

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A 2 4 2 0 3 8

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NON RETUR NED CHEP & LOSCAM PALLE WILL BE CHARG TS ED AT $75.00 EACH.

AND HAZARDO

CLASS / RISK

Cust. Collect

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Deliver

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AME:

T NOT E

PLE *A24SAM20 38*

Express

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BE DECLARED

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PM 25/02/16 3:25

The machine that will change the way you think about your print!

FREE DIE with all new orders

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INTEGRATED Cards and Labels Consignment Note Books & Sets

LONG RUN

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WE ALSO SPECIALISE IN... l NCR, Continuous Forms & Laser Forms (Large Runs are our Speciality) l Numbered Products including Multi-position & Complex Numbering l Continuous Cheques l Stationery & Business Forms l Security Printing l Laser Cheques

T: (08) 9240 6244 E: reception@dataflowsystems.com.au W: dataflowsystems.com.au

ON/OFF instant light source switching

* 91％

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A1-Size 8-Colour Offset Press with LED-UV and Perfecting Device

1,050mm Format 8-Colour Offset Press with LED-UV

NEW! LED-UV now available to all 2021 ushers in a new chapter to LED-UV dry-to-dry printing system. It is now made available to all makes and models of offset printing machines. Starting from $90,000, come join the LED-UV revolution.

Why LED-UV ? No odor No Ozone No spray powder No set-off No loss time

• Instant dry • Instant ON/OFF irradiation

Reduce CO2 emission No large peripheral equipment No need for overprint varnishing Reduce electrical consumption

• Up to 91%

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Energy-Saving & Environmentally-Friendly LED-UV dry-to-dry printing system. Pioneering success, first introduced in Drupa 2008. Ryobi single-handedly led the industry in LED-UV printing. This revolutionary, award winning printing system offers impressive cost-savings by greatly reducing replacement frequency, power consumption, installation space and peripheral equipment space, while eliminating the odor of UV printing. The defecto standard for small lot on-demand printing today, it is an important strategic advantage in being able to provide high-quality, small lot on-demand printing at low cost. Now, 13 years later, Cyber is applying our wealth of expertise as an LED-UV pioneer to provide the printing industry with innovative solutions that meet your needs. Rediscover the joy of printing… Specifications

Operating Temperature

25°C

Lifespan

15,000 hours

Additional Printing substrate

Yupo, foil, plastic and film

• Up to 15 times

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Applications

Ink and varnish

Printing on film and cardboard Just like your conventional offset press ...without the cons.

Start-up time

0 seconds

Press size

52cm - 162cm

Shut down time

0 seconds

Printing Speed

18,000 sph

Sydney

Sydney - Rob Crough 0423 337 788 Melbourne - Greg Knight 0411 338 855 Brisbane - Peter Erskine 0432 663 322 Perth - Alan Strugnell 0418 955 512 New Zealand - Paul Hilleard (64) 21 191 6548 Malaysia - Tel: (60) 3 7955 1668 (Kuala Lumpur) Indonesia - Tel: (62) 21 2555 8924 Tel: (60) 7 598 0771/2 (Senai, Johor) Vietnam - Tel: (84) 9 0938 9468

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