New Zealand Printer October 2023

in association with

New Zealand Printer

October 2023

Presents the 2024

Labelexpo review

Nominate Now Nominations are now open for the New Zealand Printer 2024 People In Print Awards in association with PrintNZ. Don’t delay, nominate today!

Go here for the Nomination Page newzealandprinter.co.nz/2024nominations

Growing Ellar Graphics Working with government Get into your community

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COVER STORY

People In Print Awards 2024 open for nominations Awards presentation event set for March 2024

More than 100 print professionals joined New Zealand Printer magazine and PrintNZ in recognising Kiwi people in print

T

he New Zealand Printer Magazine 2024 People In Print Awards in association with PrintNZ are now open for nominations, and will close at 5pm on Friday, January 5, 2024. Early nominations are recommended.

Brian Moore, publisher of New Zealand Printer, says, “Print is powered not only by machines and technologies, but, and especially, by its people. Our industry makes positive, sustainable, and valuable contributions to the New Zealand economy and to society, and we should not only be very proud of this, but we should recognise outstanding individuals for the work they do.”

Since their inception, the Awards have had the invaluable support of PrintNZ. Ruth Cobb, chief executive, PrintNZ, says, “The New Zealand Printer People In Print Awards and with them, the Rising Stars Of Print Awards, present opportunities to recognise the outstanding achievements

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of our people, both in the industry and in the community.

such as prepress, offset, digital, finishing, design, labels, packaging and signage.

“These people are our innovators, influencers and those who inspire others to achieve, and the Rising Stars are our leaders of tomorrow.

Together with the Pride In Print Awards and Women In Print, the People In Print Awards have become an important part of our industry’s annual calendar.

The Awards can also recognise individuals for their service to and work within the community or their contribution to sustainability and the environment. In nominating their peers, industry members are also welcome to suggest other areas of achievement.

“We are delighted to join with New Zealand Printer magazine once again in promoting the People In Print Awards and we look forward to co-hosting the live presentation event in Auckland during March 2024, where we will recognise and celebrate excellence, and enjoy networking with our peers.”

New blood

The People In Print Awards recognise industry members for achieving excellence over the past 12 months, in any number of areas including their work in a particular field of the industry,

The process for making nominations for the Rising Stars Of Print Awards is the same as for the People In Print Awards. Rising Star nominees do not have to be apprentices or at the beginning of their training.

Of increasing importance, the Rising Stars Of Print Awards acknowledge the industry’s newcomers and emerging talent. The industry needs a constant stream of new blood from energetic newcomers to power and refresh it.

October 2023

newzealandprinter.co.nz

COVER STORY Bruce Craig, editor of New Zealand Printer magazine, says, “With the pandemic now well behind us, it is time to reflect on the amazing industry we work in and to recognise the outstanding people who make it happen every day.

“I urge all readers to look around and nominate someone for the great job they are doing. Every year, innovative and creative print industry professionals help to make Aotearoa New Zealand a better place to work and live in. Let’s acknowledge these people.

in association with

“When making your nominations online, think about how you want to describe your nominee’s recent achievements, whether professional or personal. Consider their contributions to the industry, their innovations, their craft, their leadership, or their significance as part of a team.”

The process Nominations are invited across the gamut of the printing industry, from owners and managers as well as those working at the coalface of print. Suppliers and their customers are also welcome to make nominations. Nominees must have been working in print production during 2023.

Each nominee will be contacted and asked if they accept their nomination. Upon acceptance, nominees will be asked for a recent profile photograph suitable for publication, and their nomination will proceed to the next round for judging.

Award winners will not be ranked but will be announced in alphabetical order during the presentation ceremony next March.

Brian Moore, says, “At this early stage, we’re delighted to confirm that Cyber, Konica Minolta and Wholesale Print have shown their support for and investment in the New Zealand printing industry, having signed on as sponsors of the awards once again.

“Sponsors are recognised and acknowledged with valuable exposure in print and online in the lead-up to, during and after the Awards presentation event. I welcome further sponsorship enquiries on +61 410 578 876 or email brian@newzealandprinter.co.nz ” Awards night The New Zealand Printer 2024 People In Print Awards and Rising Stars Of Print Awards presentation evening will make its welcome return to Auckland in early March 2024.

Craig says, “The live event in Auckland will give everyone a chance to celebrate award winners with family and friends.

It’s also a great time in the early part of the year to bring industry professionals together for a night of networking and fellowship.”

Nominate Now Nominations are now open for the New Zealand Printer 2024 People In Print Awards in association with PrintNZ. Don’t delay, nominate today!

Go here for the Nomination Page newzealandprinter.co.nz/2024nominations

To nominate somebody for the awards (you can nominate more than one person), scan the QR code in the Awards advertisement opposite or go to newzealandprinter.co.nz/2024nominations.

If you have questions about nominating somebody or for assistance, please contact Bruce Craig or 021 631 559 or email bruce@newzealandprinter.co.nz . Nominations close Friday, January 5, 2024.

Winners and their profiles will be published in the big April 2024 pre-Drupa edition of New Zealand Printer magazine.

newzealandprinter.co.nz

October 2023

Sponsors

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October 2023

CONTENTS Cover Story p2-3

2-3 People In Print Awards: In March, more than 100 print professionals joined New Zealand Printer and PrintNZ for the People In Print Awards, which are returning in 2024 Features p9-18

9 Fujifilm NZ: Caxton Press’s new Screen CTP system is helping the Christchurch-based company keep its offset printing on course 14 Fujifilm Business Innovation: Orangebox has installed a Revoria PC1120 Press 16 Konica Minolta: Waikato-based Glu Group’s AccurioPress C4070 is exactly what the company needs for its digital printing 18 Think Laterally: Becoming a part of your community benefits you and your business as well as the people in your community, says Mick Rowan

PrintNZ p10-13

Advertiser’s Index

10-12 Helping Hand: Ellar Graphics has evolved from a simple backyard startup to a leader in its field, says Iain MacIntyre 13 Comment: Ruth Cobb reminds us about the important part of the elections: dealing with the elected government Wide Format Plus p35-41

36 Aarque Group: APC Innovate loves its Epson SureColor S80660L printers so much, it has three of them 38 NZSDA Update: While planning for next year is in full swing at the NZSDA, Signee NZ goes from strength to strength 40 NZSDA President’s Corner: As we approach the end of the year, Shae Goom says that students could be of help in your business

Aarque Group 5,37 APM 5 BOBST 33 Currie Group 5, 29 Cyber 44 Durst Oceania 19 Eamar Plastics 42 Fujifilm Business Innovation 15 Fujifilm NZ Onsert GLC 7 Konica Minolta Business Solutions 17 NZSDA 39 People In Print Awards 1,2-3 Pride In Print Awards 43 PrintNZ 9 Think Laterally 42 Wholesale Print 41

Labels & Packaging p20-34

20-21 Durst: A new automated print quality inspection system and UV ink series were key highlights from Durst’s customer event held at the company’s Brixen HQ 22-34 Labelexpo Review: Europe’s major labels and packaging show delivered all the latest technology and solutions to an appreciative audience of visitors from across the globe. New Zealand Printer was there to report back on the major label show Fred Soar (l), co-managing director at SCG with Simon Teagle, general manager at Go Media – page 6

NEW ZEALAND PRINTER

ISSN 1171 7912 2021

Official Media Sponsor

PO Box 32-395, Devonport, Auckland 0744 EDITORIAL: 021 631 559 Bruce Craig, Editor - bruce@newzealandprinter.co.nz

packaging and graphic communications industry in New Zealand 11 times a year, February-December.

CONTRIBUTORS: Ruth Cobb, Melissa Coutts, Shae Goom, Laura McConchie, Iain MacIntyre, Mick Rowan, Adrian Tippetts

New Zealand Printer is a member of the

CIRCULATION: brian@newzealandprinter.co.nz

New Zealand: New Zealand Printer Asia Pacific: ProPack.pro Australia: Australian Printer, ProPrint

DISPLAY ADVERTISING SALES & SERVICE: Brian Moore - brian@newzealandprinter.co.nz +61 410 578 876 CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING: Brian Moore - brian@newzealandprinter.co.nz DESIGN & PRODUCTION: Sarah Vella - sarahvelladesigns@gmail.com New Zealand Printer is mailed to members of the printing,

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Printer Media Group

MANAGING DIRECTOR: James Wells - james@intermedia.com.au GROUP PUBLISHER: Brian Moore - brian@newzealandprinter.co.nz © Copyright 2023: Contents of this magazine are subject to copyright and cannot be reproduced without written permission of the publisher.

DISCLAIMER This publication is published by The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd (the “Publisher”).

Materials in this publication have been created by a variety of different entities and, to the extent permitted by law, the Publisher accepts no liability for materials created by others. All materials should be considered protected by Australian and international intellectual property laws. Unless you are authorised by law or the copyright owner to do so, you may not copy any of the materials. The mention of a product or service, person or company in this publication does not indicate the Publisher’s endorsement.

The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Publisher, its agents, company officers or employees. Any use of the information contained in this publication is at the sole risk of the person using that information.

The user should make independent enquiries as to the accuracy of the information before relying on that information. All express or implied terms, conditions, warranties, statements, assurances and representations in relation to the Publisher, its publications and its services are expressly excluded save for those conditions and warranties which must be implied under the laws of any State of Australia or the provisions of Division 2 of Part V of the Trade Practices Act 1974 and any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof. To the extent permitted by law, the Publisher will not be liable for any damages including special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages (including but not limited to economic loss or loss of profit or revenue or loss of opportunity) or indirect loss or damage of any kind arising in contract, tort or otherwise, even if advised of the possibility of such loss of profits or damages. While we use our best endeavours to ensure accuracy of the materials we create, to the extent permitted by law, the Publisher excludes all liability for loss resulting from any inaccuracies or false or misleading statements that may appear in this publication.

Copyright © 2023 — Charted Media Group Pty Ltd

October 2023

newzealandprinter.co.nz

organised by the Label Academy on digital embellishment and self-adhesive materials.

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September 20-22, 2022 4A/157 Stoddard Road, Mount Ro Wayzgoose 2022 Auckland - PM September 17, 2022 The country’s largest food manufacturing, - PM Napier packaging and processing technology Labelexpo Americas PrintNZ Golf Day Labelexpo Americas trade show brings industry professionals Please resp The Association of Handcraft Printers and decision13-15, makers together providing September 13-15, 2022 November 10,programme 2023 | Palmerston has a full day includingNorth Golf Club September 2022 awho forum for education, discussion, visits to Imprimo in Havelockcommemorates North and Chicago, USA This annual golf tournament printer Reg DixonChicago, gave his life in saving fellow as well USA as sharing knowledge and expertise.

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You can register as individual Apart from from the the latest latest technology technology and and Apart meet; as a barbecue playersasorwell a whole team. dinner at the www.foodtech.packtech.co.nz solutions, Labelexpo Americas Americas this this solutions, Labelexpo Napier RSA. This is a must attend event for www.printnz.co.nz year features features aa full full two-day two-day conference conference year all interested in letterpress and the craft. programme andChina two masterclasses masterclasses All in Print programme and two www.inkianapress.co.nz organised by by the the Label Label Academy on digital organised National Wayzgoose October 11-15, 2022 Academy on digital embellishment and and self-adhesive self-adhesive materials. materials. admin@contactlabels.co.nz embellishment November 24-26, 2023 | Wellington Shanghai www.labelexpo-americas.com Foodtech Packtech www.contactlabels.co.nz Head to Wellington for a range of Wayzgoose events includingwww.labelexpo-americas.com visitsthan to the National Library, - PMS 308 More 1300 exhibitors willTe Papa Craig Paul 027 655 4267 September 2022 Tongarewa,20-22, the Wayzgoose dinner, workshops and the Swap Meet, where you can buy, sellacross and swap demonstrate their solutions the Mount Roskill, Auckland 1041.

- PMS BLACK 4A/157 Stoddard Road, sales@curriegroup.co.nz Wayzgoose 2022 all things relating to book crafts, letterpress printing, bookbinding and calligraphy.

Wayzgoose 2022 of show space Auckland 120,000 square metres - PMS 308 Please respect legend colours in September 17, 2022 2022 at the Shanghai New International Expo email: graham@inkianapress.co.nz September 17, The country’s largest food manufacturing, - PMS BLACK Centre. Organisers expect more than packaging and processing technology Napier Napier 160,000 visitors from all over the globe trade show brings industry Please respect legend colours integrity Labelexpo Asia 2023professionals The Association of“Oriental Handcraft Printersof The Association Handcraft Printers as they open theof Window and decision makers together providing has a full full day day programme including has a programme including December 5-8, 2023 | Shanghai New International Expo Centre the World Printing Industry”. a forum for education, discussion, as well visits to to Imprimo Imprimo in in Havelock Havelock North North and Celebrating its 20th anniversary, this year’s show will welcomevisits over 350 exhibitors.

Along with liveand as sharing knowledge and expertise. www.allinprint.com Neighbour’s Press in in Hastings; aa swap swap Neighbour’s Press demonstrations of the latest label and package printing technology, organisers haveHastings; programmed a meet; as as well well as as aa barbecue barbecue dinner at at the www.foodtech.packtech.co.nz meet; dedicated forum on RFID Smart Label innovation and several Label Academy Masterclassesdinner to give the Napier RSA. This This is is aa must must attend attend event event for for • Consulting and Machine Recommendations Letterheads Napier RSA. converters insight into industry trends and practice. all interested interested in in letterpress letterpress and and the the craft. craft.

Sourcing all All in Print China October 21-23, 2022 www.labelexpoasia.com • Export/Import Sales www.inkianapress.co.nz www.inkianapress.co.nz October 11-15, 2022 Sign Foundry, Wellington • Machinery Inspections & Valuations • Plant Relocation Shanghai The call has gone out for all signees to APPEX and Auspack Foodtech Packtech Foodtech Packtech grab their brushes and head to Lower Hutt- PMS 308 More 1300 exhibitors will Convention and Exhibition Marchthan 12-15, 2024 | Melbourne Centre C Craig Paul 027 655 4267 OFFICE: 09 8367577, ALEX MOB. 021 975 477 September 20-22, 2022 event. This for the annual Letterheads September 20-22, 2022 demonstrate their solutions across thethe Australasian Processing - PMS BLACK sales@apm.co.nz Auspack has transitioned into APPEX, and Packaging Expo.

Organisers aim 4A/157 Stoddard Road, Mount Ro s sales@curriegroup.co.nz 4A/157 Stoddard Road, Mount Ro year’s theme is ‘Red and Blue’. Your hosts 120,000 square metres of show space Auckland PM Auckland Please respect legend colours integrity www.apm.co.nz to truly represent all sectors of the industry: machinery, ancillary materials -- PM thisequipment, year are Lydia Reeveand andpackaging, Duncan at theprocessing, Shanghai New International ExpoIt will provide a comprehensive The country’s largest food manufacturing, food and industry services. range of all processing and The country’s largest food manufacturing, Rourke.

PM Centre. Organisers expect more than -- PM packaging and and processing processing technology technology packaging equipment and services under one roof. packaging 160,000 visitors from all over the globe www.letterheads.co.nz trade show brings brings industry industry professionals professionals Please resp trade show Please resp www.appex.com.au as they open the “Oriental Window of and decision decision makers makers together together providing providing and the World Printing Industry”. aaInterpack forum for education, discussion, as well forum for education, discussion, as well l Printing People In Print Awards as sharing sharing knowledge and and expertise. expertise. www.allinprint.com as l Import / May 4-10, knowledge 2023 March, 2023 | Auckland l Plant Va www.foodtech.packtech.co.nz www.foodtech.packtech.co.nz Düsseldorf, Germany Consulting and Machine Recommendations Nominations will soon open for the People In Print •Awards and Rising Stars of Print Awards. Do you Letterheads The global packaging industry willyou meet Sourcing know someone who is consistently achieving excellence in their work this industry?

Of course October 21-23, 2022 All in inPrint Print China in China in Düsseldorf with focus onrecognition packaging • Export/Import Sales do, so when the time comes, put their name forward for theseAll awards so they cana receive Consid Sign Foundry, Wellington October 11-15, 2022 materials, packaging machines and related October 11-15, 2022 • Machinery Inspections & Valuations for their efforts. process technology for the food, beverage, • Plant Relocation The call has gone out for all signees to Shanghai Shanghai www.newzealandprinter.co.nz confectionery, bakery, pharmaceutical, grab their brushes and head to Lower Hutt Craig Paul Paul 027 027 655 655 4267 4267 PMS 308 308 Co More than non-food 1300 exhibitors will975 477 OFFICE: More 09 8367577, ALEX MOB. 021 -- PMS Craig Paul 027 655 4267 than 1300 exhibitors will cosmetics, and industrial Craig for the annual Letterheads event. This demonstrate their solutions solutions across across the the - PMS PMS BLACK BLACKE: sales@apm.co.nz demonstrate their drupa goods sectors. sales@curriegroup.co.nz year’s theme is ‘Red and Blue’. Your hosts sales@curriegroup.co.nz Please respect legend colours 120,000 square metres metres of of show show space space www.apm.co.nz 120,000 square in Please respect legend colours in Mayyear 28-June 7, 2024 | Dusseldorf, Germany this are Lydia Reeve and Duncan www.interpack.com at the the Shanghai Shanghai New New International International Expo Expo at Rourke.

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Organiserstoexpect expect more than than Centre.

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•• Export/Import Sales Considering Cashing materials, packaging machines and related Sign Foundry, Foundry, Wellington Wellington Sign Machinery Inspections Inspections & & Valuations Valuations •• Machinery process technology for the food, beverage, Plant Relocation Relocation The call call has has gone gone out out for for all all signees signees to to •• Plant The confectionery, bakery, pharmaceutical, grab their their brushes and head to Lower Lower Hutt Hutt Craig Paul 027and 655 4267 Contact: John Lunt Ph:MOB. +64021 21 975 817 grab brushes head to C OFFICE: 09 8367577, 8367577, ALEX MOB. 021 975 455 477 cosmetics, non-food and industrial C OFFICE: 09 ALEX 477 for the the annual annual Letterheads Letterheads event. event. This This for sales@apm.co.nz sales@curriegroup.co.nz E: sales@gmnz.co.nz W: www.gmnz.co.nz goods sectors. sales@apm.co.nz s year’s theme theme is is ‘Red ‘Red and and Blue’.

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May 4-10, 4-10, 2023 2023 May Düsseldorf, Germany Germany Düsseldorf, The global global packaging packaging industry industry will will meet meet The in Düsseldorf Düsseldorf with with aa focus focus on on packaging packaging in materials, packaging packaging machines machines and and related related materials, process technology technology for for the the food, food, beverage, beverage, process confectionery, bakery, bakery, pharmaceutical, pharmaceutical, confectionery, cosmetics, non-food non-food and and industrial industrial cosmetics, goods sectors. sectors. goods

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October 2023

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NEWS IN BRIEF XSYS has launched nyloprint WS Pro Digital, a newly developed water-washable, steel-based letterpress plate ideal for the printing of plastic tubes and cups, and metal cans and aerosols. Optimised for LED inline exposure and brush washout, the new plate provides superior printing quality independent of the processing equipment, according to XSYS. It adds that the high stability of the steel used with the nyloprint materials, is less prone to kinks and irreversible bending.

KODAK has launched Kodak Ektacolor inks and Kodak Optimax primers, which optimise high-speed continuous inkjet technologies and enhance the benefits of both technologies in all applications.

According to the company, Kodak Ektacolor inks used in Stream inkjet technology are formulated to create brighter, clearer, punchier prints at speeds faster than any other commercial inkjet system on the market. The inks are available for pigment and dyebased applications, allowing maximum customer versatility.

KOMORI Corporation celebrates its 100th anniversary this month. Japanese brothers Zenshichi and Yoshikazu Komori founded the company after the Great Kanto Earthquake. Initially focusing on manufacturing manual lithographic presses, the company developed its first sheetfed offset press in 1928. From this first press to the introduction of the Lithrone GX40/G40 advance series of offset presses announced in 2020, offset printing presses have remained Komori’s core business, although it acquired finishing equipment manufacturer MBO in 1920.

SCG and Go Media look to net carbon zero Go Media and SCG have teamed up to offer Net Carbon Zero for large format printing.

SCG will be the first out of home print supplier in New Zealand to offer Net Carbon Zero print services for large format print and Go Media will be first company to implement this. Go Media will also offset the carbon of the printed products, which will include static billboards and bus advertising.

The companies have developed New Zealand’s first carbon calculator for large format print products. This includes outdoor banners

Fiery unveils FS600 Pro platform A new digital front end (DFE) from Fiery enables print companies to simplify and automate job preparation and processing while ensuring print production runs smoothly and at maximum capacity, according to its maker.

The Fiery FS600 Pro platform targets the extensive line-up of new digital presses coming for commercial, quick print, inplant, packaging, office, and industrial segments. Fiery

and vehicle vinyl. Fred Soar, managing director at SCG, says, “We have known for a long time how to offset carbon for print.

Now we have worked out how to do that for our large format products. Toitū Envirocare has ratified the carbon calculator that we developed.”

Independently New Zealand-owned, SCG and Go Media support the newly launched AdNetZero initiative,

an industry-wide response to the climate emergency.

In 2009, SCG’s commitment to reduce its environmental impact saw it become a carbon zero certified company. Two years later, it started offering carbon zero paper product services. Soar adds, “Our next step in this journey is to offer carbon zero certified large format printing services. We are so pleased to have reached this milestone and offer Go Media this service for all their banners and outdoor media products.”

Simon Teagle, general manager at Go Media, says, “While paying for offsets isn’t our end game, it’s the best solution available right now. Paying for the offsets motivates us to keep the pressure on our supply chain to develop more sustainable print materials that can perform the function we need of them.”

will make the FS600 Probased DFEs available with the next-generation digital printers and presses from many of the world’s leading manufacturers.

John Henze, vice president, sales and marketing, Fiery “As print providers face rising operational costs, labour storages, and decreased margins, they need intelligent automation tools designed to increase both employee and print system efficiency.

“The Fiery FS600 Pro platform does just that by automating prepress, makeready, and colour management into one step workflows, making it easier for less experienced operators

to print the highest-quality product the first time. With Fiery doing the heavy lifting, print business owners have the tools and analytics to maximize production throughput, save time, and reduce errors, resulting in increased profitability.”

Fiery says its DFEs sit at the centre of a print environment driving press performance and job workflows across all Fiery Driven presses, shifts, and locations. It claims that, where proprietary DFEs can be restrictive, Fiery’s independent DFEs are flexible allowing customers to tailor their print solutions to their specific needs.

Fred Soar (l), co-managing director at SCG with Simon Teagle, general manager at Go Media

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October 2023

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NEWS drupa 2024 opens registrations The drupa ticket shop has opened for tickets sales to next year’s giant show: drupa 2024.

The show will run in Düsseldorf from May 28 to June 7, 2024.

Under the heading “we create the future,” organisers say visitors will learn to make their current business even more successful and secure a competitive edge. Around 1400 exhibitors will present their products and services at the Düsseldorf Exhibition Centre.

Key players will launch new technology and solutions.

Messe Düsseldorf, which runs the show, has created an exhibitor and product database. This provides an overview of the exhibitors, their innovations and contact options for making appointments. The database offers product categorisation, modern and coherent design as well as the option of filtering content by personal interest.

This helps you to gain an overview before the trade fair kicks off. Constantly updated with new information and

KOENIG & BAUER has unveiled its XD Pro CI Flexo next generation press designed to meet just-in-time market demands for short-run production agility for addedvalue sustainable flexible packaging. Its main targets are in flexible packaging, as well as synthetics and fibre-based packaging applications. It covers printing widths from 1,000mm to 1,400mm, using solvent and water-based inks at speeds of up to 500 metres per minute.

Additional downstream units can provide coating, laminating or patterned lacquering.

Start planning your drupa visits now to make the most of your time in Düsseldorf products, the database eases trade fair planning. Another valuable tool for preparing the visit is the Interactive Hall Plan.

Another innovation, the MyOrganizer App, enables you to prepare your personal itinerary in a few steps. You can use it after registering in the ticket shop with a personal login without registration.

Messe Düsseldorf recommends you start

Epson invests in conductive textiles Epson has invested in conductive textiles manufacturer AI Silk.

Used as materials for automotive parts and wearable devices in applications such as biological measurement, conductive textiles have issues in terms of manufacturing cost and durability, which Epson says AI Silk has solved. Among its products are Lead Skin and Lead Silk.

AI Silk has succeeded in making a variety of materials conductive, including silk, polyester, nonwoven fabrics, and suede. The company achieved this by dramatically improving the manufacturing process. It adopted a proprietary conductive polymer coating technology based on technology invented at Tohoku University in Japan. This technology

newzealandprinter.co.nz

IN BRIEF

improves sensing accuracy by reducing conductive resistance. In addition, it improves the feel, texture, comfort, and durability of the textile while also reducing manufacturing costs.

AI Silk intends to use its third-party allotment of shares to expand volume production of Lead Skin. The company plans to expand beyond Japan and to sell Lead Silk as a material to meet the growing global demand for automotive parts and wearable devices such as electrical muscle stimulation products. Also, it is considering expanding into the medical field.

Epson says it invested in AI Silk because it sees Lead Skin as an interface technology for converting biological data captured through daily life into new value.

October 2023

planning your trip early.

New Zealand visitors can contact local company Messe Reps for travel enquiries.

Managing director Robert Laing is well known in the New Zealand print industry.

Contact Robert by email: robert@messereps.co.nz or phone 021 682 300.

RICOH has received a top 35 per cent ranking as one of Time magazine’s top global companies. The ranking lists 750 top-performing companies globally based on three primary dimensions: employee satisfaction, revenue growth and sustainability. The research study evaluated companies on their revenue, environmental, social, and governance criteria.

Ricoh says it will continue to align sustainability and business growth by resolving social issues through business.

THERMAL LAMINATING • MATT & GLOSS • SPECIALTY FILMS • ADHESIVE LAMINATING • HOT FOIL STAMPING & EMBOSSING • ENCAPSULATION & WIDE FORMAT • METALLISED FILMS • SCRATCH OFF INKS SPOT & OVERALL UV FINISHES • SPECIALISED COATINGS • INDEX TABBING • NEW LAMINATES • SCRATCH RESISTANT MATT • VELVET FEEL • SLURPEX SOFT CLOTH & CHAMOIS PRODUCTS

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PREPRESS

Progressive Christchurch printer upgrades with Screen PlateRite Caxton moves to processless plates with a Screen Thermal CTP from Fujifilm reduction of chemical usage and waste which is much better for the environment.

“There was not a steep learning curve.

Our prepress specialist that runs the plates has found that the system is very user-friendly, and it walks you through errors or issues that you may have.

“Going with Fujifilm made the transition quite easy. We have used all Fujifilm equipment before so very little else needed to change.”

Caxton prepress specialists, Katie Maniego (left) Jan McClelland with the new Screen PlateRite PTR8600NII-S Thermal platesetter

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ollowing its significant recent investment in digital printing, Christchurch printer, Caxton, has upgraded its prepress and added processless plates with a Screen PlateRite PTR8600NII-S Thermal CTP system, supplied by Fujifilm New Zealand.

The PlateRite replaced a Fujifilm Luxel V Series, violet platesetter.

Janice Page, general manager, says, “We put in our order for the PlateRite in November 2022. At that time there was an approximate nine-month timeframe for delivery.

“The CTP arrived in June and was installed from Thursday and over the weekend. We had a few small issues with installation but nothing that the technicians from Fujifilm could not manage to deal with and we had working and useable plates within a week.

“We have worked with Fujifilm for a very long time and have always found their service to be fantastic. Our account manager Scotty Martin keeps us up to date with developments and I believe we did receive the CTP before the original target date.

“Fujifilm also accommodated us with installation over the weekend to ensure as little downtime as possible. The plate profiles were started by Malcolm and Peter on the Tuesday, and we were up and going a few days later.”

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Caxton has worked with Fujifilm for decades, though it had not worked directly with Screen in the past. It did consider alternative solutions before settling on the PlateRite.

Page says, “Being as big an investment as the CTP is for our business, we made sure to do our due diligence and did seriously consider another supplier.

In the end we felt that the actual technology and machinery was on par.

“Our final decision to go with Fujifilm came down to a very loyal working relationship with the people from Fujifilm and the ends to which they will go to keep us up and running over the years.

“Our main criterion was for future proofing and making sure to choose something that will enable this.

“Our previous platesetter was getting to that point where parts were going to be hard to track down if we had a breakdown, so we needed a replacement.

At a time when some other print firms have stopped investing in offset production, Caxton is bucking the trend.

Page says, “We are very fortunate that we have quite a diverse range of equipment and can cover all aspects of printing.

“Offset is still our most productive with digital creeping ever closer as well as wideformat options that we have available. It will be a long time yet before our digital gets to a similar output to offset but we are certainly up for the challenge.”

Looking ahead, Page says, “There have been a busy few years of investment at Caxton and we are happy with some of the new pieces of equipment we have purchased.

“We are going to drupa and looking forward to hopefully a busy show with a lot to see and learn for future opportunities.”

Stephen Hodson, director and general manager of Fujifilm New Zealand, says, “We appreciate our longstanding partnership with Caxton, a company that continues to invest in the future of our industry. The new Screen PlateRite PTR8600NII-S CTP system offers massive productivity and environmental benefits for all modern pressrooms.”

“In 2022, at the last Pacprint, we got a good look at the Thermal platesetter, and we immediately knew that was the direction we wanted to go in. The opportunity to have a processless platesetter was key.

“The plate output is a little faster, but I think the increased productivity is the true selling feature. We save plenty of time in the prepress stage as well as the

Offset is still Caxton’s most productive print process

October 2023

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WORKING FOR OUR INDUSTRY AND OUR MEMBERS EVERY DAY

helping hand

Ellar Graphics: from basement startup to award winner A field leader in point of sale, graphics and applications.

Ellar Graphics earned a Pride in Print Awards gold medal for this 17-metre internal wall wrap at the Viaduct Events Centre

IAIN MACINTYRE

F

rom its inception as a basement startup, Ellar Graphics has risen to become a contemporary, large format digital print house with strident ambitions for the future.

Based in East Tamaki, Auckland, the business has grown to nine staff and established a valued customer base that largely services the retail and cosmetics sectors with point-of-sale displays, graphics and applications.

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Last year, Ellar Graphics celebrated its 50th anniversary. Jeremy Gibson, general manager at Ellar Graphics, says, “The late Harry Roos started Ellar Graphics in the basement of his home as a photo lithography studio. Now we provide frequent nationwide activations, as well as producing and managing brand launches exclusive to our clients on a weekly basis.”

As well as serving the New Zealand market, the business maintains several large, overseas-based clients.

He continues, “We have established amazing relationships without actually meeting many of these people in person.

This has been built upon over the years with marketing and brand managers reaching out to us on a regular basis and entrenching us strongly with our loyal client base.”

Jeremy Gibson (l), general manager at Ellar Graphics with the company’s production manager Daniel Roos

October 2023

newzealandprinter.co.nz

helping hand

From its East Tamaki base, the Ellar Graphics team largely services the retail and cosmetics sectors installed the latest in HP Latex roll to roll technology, the HP Latex 800W printer.

We also run the latest HP flatbed print technology, the HP Latex R1000+ Series printer. We have complemented those solutions with the Summa F1612 digital die cutting system alongside a suite of software tools to increase our efficiencies.

Innovative: creating this giant perfume bottle involved acrylic fabrication and working with 3D components “Over the years, Ellar Graphics has delivered many interesting projects.

This includes a 100 per cent-accuratelyscaled, three-dimensional perfume bottle involving acrylic fabrication and 20-plus hours of three-dimensional-printed components for a one-off show piece.

“We also earned a Pride in Print Awards gold medal for a large internal wall wrap completed at the Viaduct Events Centre.

It was 17 metres wide with an art build of over 40 hours.”

He points out that the company has predicated delivering its vision of providing cutting edge services on focused investment in the latest equipment. He says, “Ellar Graphics has

newzealandprinter.co.nz

October 2023

“With Latex inks, we can print onto a very broad range of media from polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PET)-based products, to 100 per cent recyclable rigids with photo quality results.”

“Since the advent of wide-format digital printing from the late 1990s and early 2000s, Ellar Graphics has actively engaged with our suppliers on the latest and greatest printing equipment available.

Living up to high environmental standards is an important focus for the business. He explains, “Ellar Graphics has agreements with many of our retailbased clients where we remove and recycle expired backlit graphics through our Zero Waste Initiative with Total Supply and Future Post.

“Over that time, we have invested in multiple printing systems from dye sublimation to water-based inks, ultra-violet (UV) flatbeds to eco-solventbased machines.”

“On our clients’ behalf, we absorb the recycling costs to thoughtfully extend the lifespan of old print campaigns by repurposing printed PP and PET media into fence posts and outdoor furniture.

Having owned and operated on “almost all ink options available”, he says the business now believes the technology that best suits its client base and workflow is the HP Latex fleet of printers.

“To date, we have recycled close to a tonne of printed backlit film alone and diverted this waste from just ending up in the landfill, to having a second life on a farm, garden or reserve.”

He says, “From the second-generation HP26500 latex printer to the impressive HP570, Ellar Graphics now relies on our HP800W and HP R Series machines.

Jeremy and the team at Ellar Graphics take great pride in being named 2023 Innovation Champion at the New Zealand Sign and Display Association Awards in July this year. He says, “This was an amazing accolade that will stick with us for a long time to come.”

“The investment in these machines is a must have to fully embrace a greener ink option in comparison to eco-solvent and UV ink technologies. This sets us apart from competing businesses our size, as we truly want to make a difference in the way we produce the work for our customers, and how our customers manage their campaigns when their launches have expired.

Earlier this year, Ellar Graphics acquired the full-service creative agency Production Partners. Marking another notable milestone for the company.

Jeremy says, “Production Partners is a high end, product sourcing and print procurement business which, as we are

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helping hand

Ellar Graphics invests in HP Latex technology “to fully embrace a greener ink option” learning, has almost no boundaries when it comes to making things happen.

“Deeply entrenched in the advertising agency world, the team at Production Partners are the go-to crew for helping their varied client base determine what’s possible to create in always tight timeframes.

“Leading the team, Olivia Duthie has a wealth of product and print knowledge that is as astonishing as her multi-tasking abilities. Learning her trade from the previous owner, and a well-respected figure in the printing industry, is colleague Lee Shaw.

“Lee and Production Partners have been a long-standing client and friend of ours over the years. Some of the emails that have come through often require two or three readings to digest what they were hoping to achieve. But between the creative minds of Production Partners, and the can-do attitude of Ellar Graphics, many of those head-scratching ideas have come to fruition and that’s where the synergy between the two companies has always been strong.”

He emphasises that Production Partners runs as an independent operation to enable the business to maintain “the great relationships with other print and finishing businesses that have played a large part in the company’s success”.

He adds, “We have always kept those suppliers in our best interests to be business as usual and deal with the experts particular to their fields.

“We hope to increase the capacity to offer more service to the clients of Production

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Partners and, in turn, progress our thought process as a print production house at Ellar Graphics to become more dynamic with other businesses that can support us.”

The business has enjoyed “amazing success” with equipment investment and client retention since Danny Roos and Jeremy took ownership of Ellar Graphics in 2019.

“Along with the obvious challenges from the start of the 2020s, we have seen some incredible surges in the printing industry.

Although, also with some other tough times, such as simply securing media and stock to service our clients during the pandemic.

“One thing we take away is that we weren’t alone, and we weren’t the only business facing those difficulties.

Clients and suppliers alike were all very supportive of the situation we all faced, and it helped us get through those periods.

“With the recent election, along with interest rate rises for many homeowners, we could be looking at another tough period leading up to Christmas and through to the first quarter of the New Year.”

He feels proud about his involvement in the New Zealand print sector and says, “It offers the kinds of challenges that often require collaborations with likeminded companies, or businesses completely out of the industry.

“I think over the next six to 12 months, this is going to be a key thought process on how as printing businesses, can we

integrate our services with others to create new niches and opportunities for us and others.

“Perhaps this could be technology itself that will help businesses strive in the coming months to increase efficiency and accuracy to reduce costs and increase margins.”

In this regard, he says Ellar Graphics is now embracing and utilising artificial intelligence (AI) “as best as we can”.

“I promise I haven’t used AI for this article! But we have incorporated the use of generative AI for our clients’ work where supplied artwork hasn’t quite worked or extra imagery is needed to fill a certain space.

“The amazement and time saved for our clients has been a revelation and this is a tool that we will want to further integrate into our day-to-day use in the studio.

“Over the years, technology has been advancing quicker than a lot of us can comprehend and those that can harness both the hardware and software capabilities that are out there will likely see the benefits of becoming adopters before and during potentially challenging times ahead.”

Understanding where such tools can benefit a business and cementing a path to the future is key, he adds.

“That, I think, is where Ellar Graphics is heading with growth via acquisition, capacity through technology, and service through a great team culture that we are known for with our clients and suppliers.

All of which we need wholeheartedly to be as successful as we are today.”

October 2023

newzealandprinter.co.nz

PRINTNZ COMMENT

The people have spoken and now it’s our turn Like it or not, we have to work with the government of the day.

Submissions

Orange Guy has done his bit and no matter who is in government, let’s just get on with it

There have been many Bills and Consultation Documents in circulation over the last 18 months as Labour have taken advantage of being the sole party in power. These all require review for potential impact, discussion with members, discussion with other like groups, preparation of submissions and appearing before select committees in order to put across further points.

Collaborating with other groups

RUTH COBB

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s I write this, the election has not yet taken place, but as you read it, it has.

At this point, it is difficult to pick who will win, how many parties will have a stake in the make-up of the government and what they are promising for their first 100 days.

One thing that is certain is that whether we like who gets in or not, we have to work with the government of the day and continue to make our voice heard. Working with them is essential for maintaining transparency and accountability as they propose changes to meet the promises they made during the election.

Lobbying is one of the unseen tasks that PrintNZ undertakes on behalf of the industry, and it can be difficult to articulate the benefit of this in dollars and cents to our members (and non-members, who also reap the benefits). While you may feel it does not have a direct impact on your business, there are often hidden impacts and unintended consequences that we are looking to avoid.

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October 2023

Acting as the voice of industry is an important part of every industry association’s role. We act to represent the overarching view of what will be good for our industry and what is likely to make things difficult, and we do this in consultation with members so that we understand the issues and how they might be impacted. The Board of PrintNZ act as a great sounding board for some of the bigger issues and the stance we might take on those.

PrintNZ spends substantial time in this space, and it takes a number of forms and pathways. While getting in front of MPs is important, there is much work to be done behind the scenes as well which can include the following: Working with policymakers Sometimes working inside the system with the policymakers allows your voice to be heard where it matters. We do this by participating in government working groups or committees. It allows PrintNZ to be recognised as the industry voice and will often result in us being sought out by other government departments when different issues arise. Over the Covid-19 pandemic, I spent many hours on Zoom meetings with government departments making sure we were part of the conversation and that let us put our opinion forward, get fast access to information and develop useful contacts for the future.

Most of the issues we are dealing with are not specific to print and we have a network of other industry associations and like-minded groups that we work with and lobby collectively. The benefit of this is that it becomes a much larger representative voice with more chance of being heard. This includes issues as widespread as employment law, consumer law, business compliance, waste, sustainability, health and safety etc.

Every one of these affects more than just our industry, but it is important not to just leave it to others to do the work.

Campaigns While some see it as marketing, promoting the effectiveness and sustainability of print is, in itself, a form of lobbying. In this case we are lobbying print buyers and the general public to understand the important role that print plays. But this same information needs to be kept front of mind for officials as well so that they understand the why.

Campaigns such as Printed In New Zealand, Two Sides and the Value of Paper and Print which are part of your PrintNZ membership are key to getting the right messages out there. And the role you play in these campaigns is just as important as the role we play.

We may not take out a front-page advertisement in the paper to make our views public but know that we are working very hard on behalf of the industry to represent you. Please remember that when we talk to you about how valuable a membership of PrintNZ can be.

Whoever is elected government, let’s get on with it.

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DIGITAL

Orangebox adds Revoria Press PC1120 to its digital operation Fujifilm Business Innovation continues long standing partnership with Orangebox.

Outputting prints at a high speed of 120 pages per minute, the Revoria Press PC1120 achieves high definition, high resolution prints of 2400 dpi. It uses Super EA-Eco toner, which boasts the smallest toner particle size in the industry. At the front end, the Revoria Flow PC11high performance print server performs RIP processing at 1200 × 1200 dpi and 10 bits per colour (1024 gradations), generating high quality image data.

As one of New Zealand’s largest Direct Marketing companies, Orangebox uses the Revoria Press PC1120 to create personalised packaging, Direct Mail and booklets. Thomas says, “We also opted for the bookletmaker, which is simple and completely automated.”

Long-term partnerships From left: Stephen Bennett, co-owner Orangebox; David Jupe, managing director FBNZ; James Pugh, digital print operator, Orangebox; and Ryan Stevens, Central Regional manager FBNZ

C

elebrating its 20th anniversary this year has given Orangebox owners and co-founders Stephen Bennett and Thomas Subritzky a chance to appreciate how they have grown the enterprise over the past two decades.

for colour quality and consistency. “After the installation, our operators needed just a few hours of training and they were ready to go. The Revoria Press PC1120 operating system is not that different to the ones we were using.”

Now employing 30 staff across two branches in Wellington, where it was founded, and Auckland, the company’s capabilities range from data programming and variable data personalisation to award winning digital printing and mailhouse processing as well as fulfilment, warehousing, logistics, and distribution.

Revoria innovations

Thomas says, “The majority of our print is personalised and uses variable data, as it always has. However, we have also grown the generic print side of our business as digital colour has closed the gap with traditional offset.”

Recently, Orangebox installed a Revoria Press PC1120, supplied through Fujifilm Business Innovation New Zealand (FBNZ).

Thomas says, “It is an upgrade from our two iGen 5 and C1000 digital presses, as well as various black and white equipment.

We chose the Revoria Press PC1120 for its ease of use for operators, which is a key feature. Along with that, we were looking

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The Revoria Press PC1120 offers a range of innovations, starting with its air suction feeder and static removal.

These features provide highly stable paper feeding for a wide variety of paper including paper containing concentrated amounts of paper dust, cohesive coated paper, and film.

Its feeder system handles paper of different thicknesses ranging from thin paper at 52gsm to 400gsm.

The paper trays offer compatibility with various paper sizes for printing, from small sized paper of 98mm x 148mm to long paper of 330mm x 1200mm in simplex mode and up to 330mm x 729mm for duplex printing. In addition, a static eliminator enables printing on a variety of substrates such as films, metallic, and transparent media without them sticking together.

Solid relationships with clients and suppliers are an important part of Orangebox’s success. Thomas says, “We have worked with the team at FBNZ for about 12 years.

“We have known Ryan Stevens almost as long as we have been operating, and well before we put any Fuji gear in. It’s the relationships we have with the likes of Ryan and David Jupe that are a big part of why we continue our relationship with them.”

Among the big challenges Orangebox faces currently are the increasing cost of postage for Direct Mail and in the digital communications age, predicting the future. Thomas and Stephen share a pragmatic approach to dealing with these challenges. Thomas says, “You need to see change as an opportunity. You don’t necessarily need to be the pioneer, but you need to be a fast follower.”

He agrees that the future looks good for print. He says, “Yes, of course print has a bright future and from a comms perspective, it offers an even better return on investment when combined with digital channels. At Orangebox, we ensure that we are able to deliver data driven communications across a variety of physical and digital channels.

He concludes, “After 20 years, it is still satisfying when we see our clients and our staff succeed.”

October 2023

newzealandprinter.co.nz

Discover the power of orange in breathtaking detail.

From Specialty Dry Ink in the revolutionary Revoria PC1120 Press. Make neons and pastels pop with electrifying Pink Dry Ink that reproduces the colour gamut in crisp, vivid dimensions.

Disocover a wondrous realm of possibilities.

To find out more, head over to fujifilm.com/fbnz

DIGITAL

Glu Group increases margins with AccurioPress C4070 Konica Minolta partners with Glu Group for an innovative digital print solution Michael says “We are 100 per cent happy with the print quality. Colour management is much better with the AccurioPress C4070. The consistency is excellent and definitely a step up from what we had. Everything is automatic; it checks the colour consistency as the job goes through the machine. Inline calibration and auto duplex also make a real difference to production.

“As a design studio, we aren’t really into high volume production. That is why we got this machine as opposed to the larger AccurioPress C14000. The work does not come in a constant flow. We have days when it only does a couple of jobs and other days when it never stops. So, it is an ideal machine for our needs.”

Teagan Gorman, lead designer and Michael Emett with the Konica Minolta AccurioPress C4070 at Glu Group

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rom its Waikato base, Glu Group provides design, marketing, and printing expertise that makes its clients stand out.

Owner Michael Emett bought the company in 2006, when it was called Print Stop. He says, “We have a dedicated and expert team who can design for both print and web. Since 2006, we have evolved the business and recently we rebranded to Glu Group, which reflects our design-based approach.

range of media with weights from 62 to 360 gsm.

Michael says, “By having this machine, we are increasing our offering to our clients. The AccurioPress C4070 is light production, but it prints at much faster speeds than our old printer. This allows us to deliver a faster turnaround for our clients and we have more control in house. It has increased our margins too.”

Increased automation

“As part of the printing.com franchise operation, we offer a complete range of printing products to our clients.

The ability to offer a full range of options for our customers is important. Our offering includes branding and marketing; designing and printing whatever they need, such as signage and business cards; you name it, we do it. Being a one stop shop for our clients means they can concentrate on other parts of their business.”

Glu Group no longer has a requirement to outsource its digital finishing. He says, “We used to lose out on jobs; people will shop around. Having the finishing inline with the AccurioPress C4070 has improved the workflow. Inline creasing is so much faster than having to adjust every crease, and the bookletmaker gives us three-edge trimming. We also use the inline business card cutter a fair bit.

Recently, Glu Group installed an AccurioPress C4070, which has enabled the company to diversify its offering and increase profit margins. Printing at up to 71 pages per minute in colour and black and white, the AccurioPress delivers 3600 x 2400 dpi print resolution with eight-bit processing and high-speed dual colour scanning at up to 280ipm. It handles a

The IQ-501 Integrated Colour Care Unit, Konica Minolta’s closed-loop quality management tool, performs automatic density correction and front-to-back registration prior to printing. It inspects colour density and registration accuracy on a sheet-by-sheet basis throughout the print run taking remedial action if it detects any deviation.

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Learning new tricks The AccurioPress C4070 is Glu Group’s first machine from Konica Minolta.

Michael says, “We are enjoying a good relationship with the Konica Minolta team. If we have an issue, the technical specialists arrive here quickly, and they help out where we need follow-up training.

“We had a fair amount of learning to do when the AccurioPress C4070 arrived, and our operators are learning new tricks all the time. It is about learning the little secrets of the machine.

“Everything is running how it is supposed to run and that helps us to keep our clients happy. Having great relationships with clients and suppliers is a priority for us, and the key to that is having great staff. Our team of five is dedicated and always improving.”

Glu Group runs regular training seminars for its clients. He says, “We usually get between five to seven people at them. We market it through social media. The clients have returned for marketing campaigns, and we have picked up a few websites.

Educating them about what we can do for them helps everyone in the long run.”

He concludes, “We are happy with the return on our investment in the AccurioPress C4070. Since installing it, our profit margins have increased by about 18 per cent, and we have not really promoted it yet. We will push it a lot more in the future.”

October 2023

newzealandprinter.co.nz

WITH THE ACCURIOPRESS C4080/C4070 Introducing the AccurioPress C4080/C4070 - incredibly versatile digital print systems that can help your business succeed. With exceptional output quality, enhanced media capability, compact footprint and expanded finishing options you can build a configuration to suit your requirements and say yes to more opportunities to grow your business.

To rethink versatility, simply visit: konicaminolta.co.nz/AccurioPressC4080series

THINK LATERALLY

Engage with your community to press play on growth Harnessing community connections for success Building networks In times of economic downturn or crisis, and I think we all know what that looks like, a loyal and supportive local customer base can be a lifeline for your business.

Customers who feel a strong connection to your brand and its community involvement are more likely to stand by you when times get tough. This support can provide much-needed stability and resilience during challenging periods.

MICK ROWAN

I

n an era where corporate social responsibility is increasingly under the spotlight, community involvement is not just a commendable endeavour; it’s a strategic move that can bring significant advantages to your business. In Australasia’s vibrant business landscape, engaging with your local community can be a game-changer, fostering goodwill, customer loyalty, and growth.

Building a stellar reputation is a cornerstone of any successful business, and community involvement offers a direct path to this goal. When your company actively participates in local events, sponsors community activities, or supports charitable causes, you send a powerful message: you care about more than just profits. This genuine concern for the community can elevate your brand’s image and make it more appealing to customers and stakeholders.

Relationship building Loyalty is the holy grail of customer relationships. When customers perceive your business as a caring member of their community, they’re more likely to return for repeat business. In Australasia’s competitive market, fostering customer loyalty can be a game-changer. Your clients will not only appreciate the quality of your services but also the fact that they are supporting a business that gives back to their local community.

Word of mouth referrals are like gold in the business world. When community members experience the positive impact of your involvement, they become natural advocates for your business. They will share their favourable experiences with friends, family, and colleagues (and if you’re lucky on Google, too), effectively becoming your unofficial marketing team. Positive word of mouth referrals can significantly expand your reach and customer base.

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Caring about your community will contribute to your success Creating connections In a crowded marketplace, standing out is essential. Community involvement can be your unique selling point (USP).

When prospective clients see that you’re not just another company but a socially responsible one, they are more likely to choose your services over competitors who lack that community connection.

Differentiation can lead to increased market share and revenue.

Engaging with your local community can open doors to valuable relationships.

Building connections with residents, other businesses, and local organisations can lead to collaborations and partnerships that benefit everyone involved. These relationships can be instrumental in driving growth and expanding your influence within your community.

Participating in community events and gatherings provides an opportunity to gain insights into your target audience’s needs, preferences, and concerns. Understanding your local market better can inform your business decisions, help you tailor your services, and refine your marketing strategies for maximum impact.

Your employees are your most valuable assets. Engaging in community activities can boost their morale and job satisfaction. When your staff sees that your business actively contributes to the community, it fosters a sense of pride and purpose in their work. Happy employees are more motivated, productive, and likely to stay with your company.

Community involvement often leads to networking opportunities with other local businesses and influential community members. These connections can be invaluable for growth, partnerships, and collaboration.

Networking within your local community can open doors to new ventures and business development.

A strong presence in your local community can contribute to the long-term sustainability of your business. Building a positive legacy and enduring goodwill creates a foundation for continued growth and success.

Community involvement becomes a part of your business’s identity, reinforcing its value over time.

Community involvement is not merely a philanthropic endeavour; it’s a strategic investment in the future of your business.

In the dynamic business landscape of Australasia, fostering a strong connection with your local community can set you apart, enhance your brand reputation, and create a loyal customer base. It’s a win-win scenario where your business thrives, and your community benefits from your support. So, as you look to the future, consider the resounding benefits of community involvement and make it an integral part of your business strategy.

In a world where quality and customer service reign supreme, being a company that cares about its community can be the key to enduring success in a competitive market. Plus, you will feel proud of your positive impact – a true win-win.

Mick has spent the past decade building printIQ into one of the most recognised software brands in the printing industry, and with over four decades of experience, Mick truly has ink in his veins.

October 2023

newzealandprinter.co.nz

P5 TM

VOC FREE HEAVY METAL FREE REACH COMPLIANT

PRODUCTION EXCELLENCE

P5 350 HSR High speed 3.5 m roll to roll LED printing system.

Up to 670 sqm/h

Automated mesh printing system

For more information, please visit durst-group.com/p5350hsr

Vertical and horizontal cutting system

Multiroll features

LABELS & PACKAGING

Durst Beyond event envisions the future of digital print A new automated print quality inspection system and UV ink series were key highlights from Durst’s customer event held at the company’s Brixen HQ.

By Adrian Tippetts from Labels and Labelling

a challenge,” Durst global sales director for labels and flexible packaging Thomas Macina said. “How do we find people, train them, keep them motivated, how to retain them? How to ideally depend on fewer stakeholders who can take decisions and train machines to perform.”

Thomas Macina, global sales manager, speaks at the Durst Beyond event

UV ink developments The digital press is only one element of a productive, reliable digital workflow.

Efficient data handling, colour matching, ink certification and performance, quality control systems and training are also vital elements of the workflow. Durst manufactures its inks and software for its presses, these are the essential cornerstones of a high-performance printing system, and the focus of innovation.

D

urst used its recent open-house and conference event to introduce a radical new automated quality control system called Hawk Eye, which was officially launched at Labelexpo Europe 2023.

Durst Hawk Eye uses camera vision systems to automate print quality onthe-fly, resulting in significantly reduced waste and overall improved print quality, according to Martin Leitner, product manager, labels and flexible packaging at Durst. The technology will be standard on all new presses and retrofittable on all RSC presses installed since 2018.

Leitner commented, “Durst is seeking to drive performance of its Tau RSC presses further with a new technology that automates quality on-the-fly, bringing the possibility of waste and setup reduction and operator time savings.”

Held at its headquarters in Brixen, Italy, the three-day Durst Beyond event showcased the company’s latest printing,

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ink and software technologies, including both Hawk Eye and a new generation of UV inkjet inks. Additionally, roundtable discussions and presentations provided insight to help label and packaging printers succeed when faced with rapid technological and demographic change, in an increasingly regulated supply chain where sustainability, speed and quality matter.

Process automation has been a dominant industry topic for perhaps a generation.

Generally, the benefits of this have been framed in terms of waste reduction and repeatable quality, but now digitization is seen as essential for long-term corporate survival. Demographic changes will mean chronic labour shortages, so label and packaging converters must start planning to reduce human intervention and rely more on computerized technologies.

With that in mind, people and planet were the two defining issues of the conference.

“People are critical for our industry, yet human resources are increasingly

Durst Group executive vice president of inks and fluids Stefan Kappaun highlighted the strong growth prospects for UV inks in the label printing market of between eight to ten per cent a year, given their versatility, light-fastness, fast curing, chemical and temperature resistance, and compatibility with different substrates and analogue pre/post-treatments.

Kappaun announced the latest developments in Durst’s UV inkjet ink program, with new environmental and safety certifications as well as a dedicated low-migration inks range for indirect food contact applications.

Durst’s Tau RSC UV ink portfolio for its RSC label and packaging printing platforms comprises two sets: the “standard” Tau RSC UV ink and the Tau RSC LM (low migration) Ink. The standard Tau RSC UV ink, available in CMYK, and optionally orange, violet, green and white, is suited for automotive, electronics, industrial, commercial printing, chemicals and personal care.

The low migration ink, in CMYK and optional orange, blue and white, is designed for food, beverages, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and toiletries. Covering 95 per cent of the Pantone range with seven colours, both have Swiss Ordnance compliance while the LM inks are also compliant with the Nestlé exclusion list.

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LABELS & PACKAGING The inks are REACH, Toy Standard and Greenguard certified. Durst has also gained certification from the Association of Plastic Recyclers for its inks when used on pressure sensitive labels with HDPE or PET containers, showing that this ink and substrate combination works in the recycling process.

Durst’s software is optimized for integration with third-party ERP systems, such as commonly used platforms from Sage or Cerm.

Workflow analytics is a machine-related software, standard with the press. It provides live and historical performance

Agnoli said. “For the reuse part, we are trying to cut usage of plastic by 25 percent by the end 2024. With recycle, we are trying to achieve a transition to fully recycled materials by the end of 2024.

Our partners and suppliers are working in that direction, developing solutions in terms of film that is easy to handle in different countries.”

Mayr is the point of contact for Dr Schär’s printing suppliers around the world. He highlighted the difficulty of complying with global environmental regulations that often differ from country to country and change frequently. This means there is an ever-present risk of scrapping printed stock.

Mayr’s solution is more product regionalization, and lower minimum order quantities. Switching from gravure or flexo to digital process for some products would make this possible.

Durst hosted visitors to its HQ in Brixen, Italy Software solutions simplify workflow Durst software and solutions business unit manager Michael Deflorian explained Durst’s heavy investment in developing software technology to streamline the process from pixel to output. The Durst software and solutions business unit has more than 70 people dedicated to software, developing products in e-commerce, prepress and automation groups.

“At the heart of the Durst offering is the press, the production environment.

But automation is the key to feeding it efficiently,” Deflorian said. “If you digitalize processes and customer touch points, then you get a lot of data. Data is key to understanding how to feed the machine in the most efficient way, and how to optimize processes.”

The range of software includes Durst Smart Shop and Smart Editor software to support the development of an e-commerce business model, and Durst Workflow Label which automates prepress tasks and ripping; The Save Ink feature within DWL makes it easy to remove excess flood colour areas outside the dieline of the label file, for example, with the potential to dramatically reduce the cost to print. The software provides estimates for ink consumption and ink cost, per colour, for any file.

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data, helping the user stay informed about productivity, ink consumption, output levels and job status.

Additionally, with remote access, Durst service teams can monitor the performance of the customer’s machine for early problem detection, such as the need to replace a filter.

Panel discussion highlights sustainability During the Durst Beyond event, a panel discussion looked at changing business models with digital printing, emphasizing the challenges of meeting sustainability targets.

The brand perspective was provided by two representatives from Dr Schär, an international food and dietary supplements business headquartered in South Tyrol, Alexander Mayr, who leads the packaging artwork studio, and Davide Agnoli, global packaging project manager.

Agnoli noted that sustainability has broadened to include targets for sustainable packaging, CO2 footprint, and diversity and inclusion at Dr Schär.

“With sustainable packaging, we focus on three aspects: reduce, reuse, recycle,”

TLF Graphics president Robert McJury, a label converter based in Rochester, New York, noted that brands are pushing suppliers for more sustainable packaging.

But while surveys repeatedly reveal consumer concern about plastic packaging, switching to “eco- friendlier” alternatives does not always result in increased sales.

An organic tomato grower customer of TLF switched to kraft board, for example, but it proved less popular as the product was not visible.

McJury explained how adopting digital printing has helped TLF on its sustainability journey. Its two 13in Durst presses were installed in 2015 and 2018 and now account for 55 per cent of the company’s revenue.

“We’ve printed about 37,000 orders on our Durst presses. And while the obvious benefits like reduction of waste, labour and power consumption spring to mind, one of the interesting things is that we’ve eliminated 151,000 printing plates from going into the landfill,” McJury said.

With substrate waste between jobs limited to approximately two linear metres, the digital presses give TLF the agility to meet customer demands for shorter runs, increasingly on a just-intime basis – although the company is regularly running jobs up to 90,000 linear feet (27,432m).

McJury commented: “Without a doubt, we see the proliferation of SKUs, shorter lead times and the demand to eliminate obsolescence and inventory. By going digital, we’ve been able to reduce finished inventory from USD 1M to under USD 700,000 and print on demand from e-commerce sites.”

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LABELS & PACKAGING

Labelexpo Europe 2023 hits the high notes on its Brussels return Europe’s major labels and packaging show delivered all the latest technology and solutions to an appreciative audience of visitors from across the globe. constructions, coating, laminating, ink and curing requirements, in-line and near-line decoration options, QC and migration testing.

The Dieline Forum, a two-day design conference, explored the latest trends and innovations shaping tomorrow’s brands, focusing on sustainable branding.

An unprecedented heatwave in Brussels did not deter 637 exhibitors and 35,889 visitors from 138 countries attending Label Expo Europe 2023 in Brussels, Belgium

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pread across nine halls, Labelexpo Europe returned to Brussels with 637 exhibitors, welcoming 35,889 visitors from 138 countries.

solution uses camera vision systems to automate print quality, resulting in significantly reduced waste and improved print quality.

The four-day event covered 36,588 square metres of floor space and saw over 250 product launches focused particularly on flexible packaging, digitisation, and automation. An unprecedented heatwave in Brussels did not deter visitors.

Germany, France and Italy sent large visitor delegations and a 40 strong New Zealand and Australian and New Zealand delegation made the most of their time at the show.

Numerous highlights

Equipment manufacturers announced multiple sales and organisers report a 96 per cent exhibitor rebook rate for Labelexpo Europe 2025.

As Labelexpo Europe evolves into a package printing show, visitors saw plenty of digital printing on paper-based flexible packaging materials with the likes of Screen showing its Truepress Pac520P. HP launched The HP Indigo 200K Digital Press, the successor to the HP Indigo 20000. The company also ran a digital pouch factory ecosystem demonstrating pouch manufacture and finishing of other unsupported films, including shrink sleeve labels.

Durst Group set a new benchmark with its Durst Hawk Eye technology. This

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Flexo made a significant comeback at this show, with manufacturers such as Bobst demonstrating printing for flexible packaging and unsupported label film materials. Omet highlighted its KFlex modular flexo platform, and Mark Andy launched the Pro Series flexo press.

Among the show’s numerous highlights, the new Flexo’s Future – ECG comprised a series of presentations and guided tours on Expanded Colour Gamut (ECG) printing with daily presentations by ECG expert Dr Kai Lankinen who examined all aspects of fixed palette printing, where up to seven inks (CMYK+OGV) are used to reproduce spot colours.

Cerm, Esko, Xeikon, Kurz, Grafotronic and Fedrigoni Self-Adhesives combined to present the Automation Arena, which featured a full lights out production workflow, from file creation to turret rewind, with automated inspection and MIS integration without any manual intervention.

Jade Grace, managing director for Labelexpo Global Series, said, “We have just delivered Labelexpo Europe 2023 after a four-year break. What a show it has been. The volume of exhibitors participating at this year’s show has been truly incredible, not only in the number of returning companies but also the number of new exhibitors joining us for the first time.”

“We promised visitors an exciting show across nine halls where they could see a burst of new technology and products, everything from pre-press to materials, eco and sustainable products and digital and conventional print and converting technology.

“Add to this a world-leading series of educational events, our focus on automation, flexible packaging, sustainability and expanded colour gamut for label converters, and you have an unmissable Labelexpo experience.”

Digital print manufacturers also proved that the last four years were filled with intense research and development to showcase a wide array of innovations.

They filled the Brussels Expo show floor with digital machines offering higher print resolution and higher opaque whites printed inline.

There was a definite trend for digital varnish and embellishment. We have seen high-build digital varnish, digital metallization and significant amount of laser die-cutting, with highly developed automation, running with speeds of up to 160 metres per minute.

Scan the code to see the full gallery of familiar faces we found at Labelexpo Europe 2023.

The show also offered the Flex Pack Trail, where visitors could learn about digital and conventional press technologies, flexible packaging material

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LABELS & PACKAGING operator safety, ease, and comfort during operation. It can reach speeds of up to 120 metres per minute. In terms of performance, it delivers what ABG calls “the best tension control”, making it highly reliable for various applications.

Scan the code to watch Mark Hyde, sales manager at ABG explaining ABG Connect at Labelexpo.

Matt Burton, global sales director for ABG, says “Key to ABG’s leadership in the print finishing market is our ability to create solutions for the market as the market evolves. With the addition of ABG’s non-stop winding technology, label printers can maximise the potential of the HP Indigo V12 Digital Press.”

Among many highlights, ABG showcased the Digicon Series 3 INNOVATION ON SHOW A B Graphic International (ABG) A B Graphic International (ABG) showed its biggest presence yet at this year’s Labelexpo Europe 2023. The company unveiled its automation technology and highlighted 13 of its finishing machines.

Currie Group supplies ABG in New Zealand and Australia.

ABG also displayed its latest product innovations, including advancements in non-stop winding technology and the new turret rewinder model.

monochrome inkjet; shrink sleeve seaming; doctoring solutions; and an entry-level SRI. ABG’s stand also featured a booklet module and its partner Maan Engineering’s module for laminate and linerless label solutions.

To complete its presence at the show, ABG collaborated with HP to demonstrate its non-stop unwind and rewind system.

It integrates into the HP Indigo V12 Digital Press production line as a single platform. Guarding measures ensure

Asahi Photoproducts Asahi Photoproducts promoted a variety of ways that the future of sustainable label and flexible packaging production is available today and how the company can work with flexo operations to help converters along their road to Solvent Zero.

Printing with expanded gamut process colours allows for a broader colour gamut and typically includes CMYK plus orange, green and violet. By adding these three additional base inks into the process, producers can achieve a much closer match to traditional formulated spot ink colours as well as eliminate the need to wash up the press between jobs.

A few days after celebrating the milestone of 2,500 sold units of its Vectra turret rewinder, ABG formally introduced the next generation of highly automated machines. It has made these models available in hot melt glue (Vectra G) and glueless (Vectra) variants.

Visitors saw Converter, a new fully modular converting line with higher speeds, new flexo technology and a smaller footprint.

Scan the code to see Mark Daws from Currie Group demonstrating the ABG Digicon Series 3 with DigiLase and DigiJet at Labelexpo Other products on show included a Digicon with screen and Ecoleaf unit for sustainable foiling; DigiLase 4.0; DigiJet 330; DigiLite; SRI3 430 with

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Asahi Photoproducts showed visitors how to switch to water-wash plates

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LABELS & PACKAGING Minimising or eliminating solvent use in the plate production process is a key step for many flexo operations in reducing their carbon footprint and offering a more sustainable flexo operation and a cleaner, more enjoyable working environment.

Scan the code to watch Jet Technologies product manager for print and finishing Darryl Wilson speaking about Asahi’s road towards Solvent Zero print environment The company showcased its Asahi AWP CleanPrint plates, which are water-washable, supporting the company’s Solvent Zero approach to product development.

The AWP-DEW plates are already certified Carbon Neutral in collaboration with the Carbon Trust and the AWPCleanFlat plates are currently in the final stages of the Carbon Neutral approval program. Both plates are designed with sustainability in mind.

Scan the code to watch Asahi Photoproducts general manager of sales and marketing Takumi Saito speaking about the new AWP Loop technology Asahi Photoproducts introduced its updated AWP wastewater recycling unit for use with AWP plate processing systems. The unit features proprietary filtering technology developed by Asahi Kasei that reduces wastewater by 75 per cent and detergent usage by 40 per cent.

In a standard 10-hour-per-day plate processing operation, the system can process plates up to 38 square metres.

Under the motto ‘Simplifying label production’ Bobst demonstrated its innovation in labels and flexible packaging production Europe 2023, we aim to demonstrate how Bobst has the most compelling solutions to narrow web challenges not just for today, but for the future.

“Our technology is strategically designed to combine automation, digitalization, and connectivity with the sustainabilitydriven needs of an ever-evolving market.

“By leading innovation across these four key pillars, Bobst is simplifying label production and empowering converters to unlock greater possibilities.”

Following a surge in installations, Bobst has added more than 100 narrow-midweb presses for labels and packaging to its installed base over the last 12 months.

The company showcased the Digital Master Series, which features a built-in digital front end (DFE) connected to a fully automated printing module to independently handle calibration and cleaning routines. It connects to flexo modules equipped with features such as automated pressure and register settings.

For finishing, Bobst showcased the latest automated and easy-to-operate cutting solutions.

Based on Bobst Accucheck technology, the new quality control system ensures meticulous label inspection, from colour stability to print errors. If any mistakes are detected, the machines’ prompt action minimises waste.

Jet Technologies is the regional Asahi Photoproducts distributor.

Bobst In line with its industry vision based on the four key pillars – connectivity, digitalization, automation, and sustainability – Bobst has demonstrated its dedicated approach to label innovation, addressing the need for precision at full production speed with cutting-edge solutions. These included a digital label press and an inkjet module for rapid, high-opacity white printing.

The company has also highlighted the importance of industry collaborations as a critical driver for growth.

Bobst head of narrow mid-web printing and converting product line Matteo Cardinotti said, “With our large presence at Labelexpo

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Durst featured three primary themes: more applications, more automation and less waste

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LABELS & PACKAGING According to the company, the Bobst M6 press also showcased at Labelexpo, is the most automated in-line flexo press on the market. A key feature is the entirely automatic flexo job changeover possible thanks to the patented Bobst V-Flower technology.

In combination with DigiFlexo registration, pressure adjustment, and Bobst oneECG colour management, changing a job can be performed in under one minute with minimal ink, material and electricity waste, making it the most sustainable conventional solution.

In addition to Bobst gravure and CI flexo presses, the Master M6 is suitable for mainstream short-to mid-run flexible packaging and shrink sleeve applications.

Bobst also showcased various sustainable options at its booth, including AD LinrSave solution, new substrates, most waste and energy-efficient conventional printing solutions, quality control systems like Accucheck and automation systems like DigiFlexo.

Durst At Labelexpo Europe, Durst Group set the benchmark in digital printing with the introduction of its Durst Hawk Eye technology. This innovative technology utilises camera vision systems with the aim of automating print quality, resulting in significantly reduced waste and overall improved print quality.

The Durst Hawk Eye is not only an inspection system – it goes one step further as it is correcting print mistakes, such as missing nozzles, inline and in real-time, without any setup needed and without any operator intervention.

and provide exclusive information during Labelexpo.”

Scan the code to watch Durst Group product manager Martin Leitner discussing Durst Hawk Eye at Labelexpo Durst Group also unveiled the next generation of the Tau RSC UV ink set at Labelexpo. This new ink set, available in the colours CMYK OVG and white, will meet the latest regulatory requirements and expands the converters’ application range even further.

On the showfloor, alongside a new digital printing press, the successful Tau 510 RSCi was showcased. This press demonstrated its capabilities in real-time, printing at a remarkable speed of 80 metres per minute at a printing width of 510mm, leading to productivity of over 3,000 square metres per hour.

The Tau 510 RSCi brings powerful advantages to production: material and application versatility and excellent print quality even at highest productivity and extremely aggressive TCO. These are a few reasons why label converters are using the Tau 510 RSCi to switch their flexo production to digital.

Durst has equipped the Tau 510 RSCi with new automation features, making the life of the operator easier and increasing the overall high efficiency of the machine. The press on the showfloor will be equipped with the powerful double white feature, allowing to print white ink at excellent opacity levels.

Epson Epson showcased the L-4733AW, a major upgrade to the SurePress 4000 series, which made its first appearance at a trade show in Europe.

According to Epson, building on the renowned success of its industry-leading predecessor, the SurePress L-4733AW short-run label press offers a combination of quality, consistency, repeatability, and higher speed print modes.

Scan the code to watch the Epson SurePress L-4733AW demonstration y Epson product manager, labels and packaging solutions for print production EMEAR, Trish Jones Using Epson’s newly improved AQ4 ink-set (CMYK with green, orange, and white), it delivers a wider colour gamut and precise colour matching on a greater variety of substrates.

It also offers simplified, automated maintenance features designed to maximise uptime with minimal operator intervention to offer faster, more efficient, reliable workflow and shorter turnaround times.

Labelexpo visitors could also experience the SurePress L-6534VW in combination with an in-line GM DC330 Mini all-inone compact label finisher. The press delivers print speeds of up to 50 metres per minute for high-volume production.

Being able to finish in-line offers a complete end-to-end, high-quality solution which can reduce overall production time on longer runs.

Scan the code to watch Durst Oceania managing director Matt Ashman talking about Durst innovations at Labelexpo Europe 2023 Additionally, it aims to significantly reduce setup time and waste, resulting in enhanced efficiency and an even more competitive total cost of ownership (TCO) for the Tau RSC platform printers.

“The Durst Hawk Eye is a game-changer for the digital printing industry,” Durst Group product manager Martin Leitner said.

“This technology will greatly increase productivity and efficiency, but more importantly, it will reduce waste and the carbon footprint of our customers.

We are thrilled to introduce this innovative solution to the market

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Epson debuted its recently extended range of SurePress label presses

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LABELS & PACKAGING Also debuting at Labelexpo were Epson’s new cloud enabled ColorWorks label printers. This follows a partnership announcement between Epson and Loftware, the world’s largest cloudbased enterprise labelling and artwork management provider. By connecting to the systems of enterprise businesses across multiple locations, cloud enabled ColorWorks printers are meeting the rise in demand for high-productivity colour labelling solutions in the chemical, pharmaceutical, electronics, automotive, aerospace and retail sectors.

Epson demonstrated an automated labelling application using two ColorWorks printers, a smart camera, and an Epson robot. It showcases a medical industry application requiring bespoke labelling of different size drug containers. The automated process eliminates human handling, which is necessary for certain medications and any potential human labelling errors.

Scan to watch a video of Trish Jones demonstrating the Epson SurePress L-6534VW at Labelexpo Other stand highlights included a demonstration of Epson’s new prototype RFID printer. The first of its kind, the printer produces colour, on-demand RFID labels which offer significant benefits over black and white counterparts, such as easy differentiation between products and the ability to clearly highlight information.

Esko Esko and X-Rite Pantone have partnered to showcase how an ecosystem of automated workflow, colour management, flexo platemaking, digital printing, and print inspection tools can deliver consistent performance and accelerate business growth.

Esko showcased one connected workflow across the label and packaging supply chain The company also brought its latest Esko Software version to Brussels. It delivers a combination of prepress editing and cloudbased workflow automation solutions, now more integrated and connected throughout the entire prepress workflow.

X-Rite joined in Brussels with its eXact 2, a connected and easy-to-use handheld spectrophotometer that can measure colour across various substrates, including flexible film and paper, in a single device while verifying customer standards.

Scan the code to watch Jet Technologies product manager for print and finishing Darryl Wilson talk about Esko’s ecosystem

Coupled with X-Rite ColorCert Suite, the eXact 2, which works with Esko WebCenter and AVT’s Spectralab, provides printers with an overall view of print quality and colour performance in a single number score to confirm compliance with brand specifications.

Visitors saw Pantone digital colour libraries for the creation and sharing of accurate brand colour standards that are achievable across various printing technologies and substrates.

Esko says it is essential that today’s label and packaging companies invest in digital workflow technology that enables them to boost efficiency, reduce costs and improve their overall productivity.

Esko products are available in the region via Jet Technologies.

The stand highlights included Phoenix, Esko’s AI-based tool that unlocks planning and imposition productivity improvements, with a seamless interface between pre-press data and production data in Esko applications.

Esko also showcased the award-winning CDI Crystal XPS 4835, utilizing UV main and back exposure to produce highly consistent digital flexo plates while minimising waste.

AVT Helios System, demonstrated at the show, automatically inspects printed labels or packages for defects and imperfections, delivering quality results and eliminating customer rejections.

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Fujifilm demonstrated its growing range of analogue, digital and sustainable print solutions

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LABELS & PACKAGING Fujifilm Fujifilm highlighted the Jet Press FP790 digital flexible packaging press via a live demonstration from Fujifilm’s beta customer in the UK. The press features water-based inkjet technology, making it suitable for food packaging production.

The company has developed the Jet Press FP790 as a digital alternative to flexo production for mainstream applications and print runs and to help packaging businesses deal with a widening variety of products, resulting in a proliferation of SKUs, and shorter delivery times.

Fujifilm also took the opportunity to showcase its flagship toner-based production press in the Revoria range, the Revoria PC1120. Progressively launched throughout Europe over the past two years, it features an advanced print engine with ten colours, including gold, silver, white, pink, clear, easily configurable in six before and after CMYK stations.

Fujifilm describes the Revoria PC1120 as a press that delivers industry leading print quality, incredible media and finishing versatility, and the largest colour gamut on the market.

The press uses Super EA-Eco Toner, with micro scale particles which are Scan the code to watch Fujifilm Europe category manager for digital packaging Raynald Barillot speak about the company’s message for Labelexpo Europe 20 per cent smaller and have a 20 per cent lower melting temperature than typical alternatives. This lets it print a broader range of media including plastics and synthetics, offering access to the packaging and labelling markets.

stand to demonstrate the speed with which these water-wash plates can be made. Utilising a Luscher XPose! 330L platesetter and C-Touch processor, Flenex FW plates have been developed to provide the highest print quality and productivity, while significantly lowering the cost in use compared to thermal, solvent or other water-wash plate technologies, with total platemaking time under 40 minutes.

Gallus Heidelberg and Gallus used Labelexpo Europe 2023 to emphasise their commitment to smart, connected printing by introducing a trio of systems addressing the shortage of skilled labour, increasing productivity and reducing waste.

Ludwin Monz, chief executive at Heidelberg, commented, “The new solutions that Heidelberg and Gallus have developed together address the most important challenges that stakeholders market-wide are facing every day, such as the shortage of skilled labour and the demand for more productivity.”

Labelexpo marked the European trade show debut of the new Gallus One digital label press.

The companies launched the Gallus One in August 2022, saying that they designed the press to remove the total cost of ownership barrier for adopting reel to reel digital labels with the highest level of automation and cloud-based technologies.

They say that for the first time, there is a press aiming to provide brands with access to cost-effective, sustainable, and high-quality digital labels.

Further optimising the total cost of ownership benefits, Gallus recently launched the Gallus One with Converting bringing the entire production inline, featuring a digital printer with an in-line flexo station; a semi-rotary die-cutter that can change a job within one minute and process up to 70 metres per minute; as well as vision inspection systems to ensure the highest level of quality and minimise waste.

Labelexpo visitors could also see how to turn a Gallus ECS 340 into a hybrid system with the help of the newly available digital printing unit (DPU). Launched this year as part of the inaugural Gallus Experience Days, the DPU transforms a traditional Gallus ECS 340 into a Gallus Labelfire 340 hybrid press without the additional platform investment.

The trade show also provided a platform to showcase the new Heidelberg Customer Portal (HCP), which was recently unveiled at the opening of the Gallus Group’s landmark new industry facility – the Gallus Experience Centre – and which automates almost every customer touchpoint.

The future iterations of the HCP will also provide predictive capabilities utilising artificial intelligence to provide recommendations to drive productivity, reduce maintenance, and boost profitability.

The companies expect the new platform to save customers, on average, up to 35 per cent in both time and money.

For high volume applications, experts from Heidelberg also showcased a complete production workflow for inmould label production.

Labelexpo visitors also saw the single pass 42K Printbar System on the Fujifilm stand. The company has built it to the desired print width by using as many Fujifilm Samba printheads as needed to meet production needs.

The system’s flexible print width enables customers to print anywhere they desire across the press web. As a result, there is no need to reposition individual printbars or manage stitch zones as jobs change.

The 42K imprinting bar system is suitable for folding carton, corrugated packaging and other industrial applications.

Among numerous product launches and technology demonstrations, Fujifilm also promoted its Flenex FW live on the

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Gallus showcased its Gallus One digital label press

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LABELS & PACKAGING HP Indigo HP took to Labelexpo Europe 2023 to demonstrate how to achieve outstanding efficiency and substantial business growth.

Currie Group supplies HP Indigo in New Zealand and Australia.

At the show, HP ran the LEPx-based HP Indigo V12 Digital Press and HP Indigo 200K Digital Press for the first time in Europe.

In addition, it demonstrated the wellestablished HP Indigo 6K Digital Press.

HP says the HP Indigo suite of presses target every need of converters and brands in labels and flexible packaging.

The company’s commitment to the market includes a complete portfolio that allows converters to shift the majority of their label jobs to these presses.

Scan the code to watch Currie Group director for labels and packaging in ANZ Mark Daws presenting HP Indigo V12 Digital Press during Labelexpo Europe 2023 HP Indigo holds 65 per cent of the worldwide digital label and packaging market value. With more than 2,600 active presses in the field, the company aims to enable converters to become future ready for changing market needs.

Noam Zilbershtain, vice president and general manager for HP Indigo and Scitex, says, “Traditionally, flexo had been the label industry’s default printing equipment, with digital focus on high value jobs. But with HP Indigo’s new press portfolio, and especially with the HP Indigo V12 Digital Press, converters can shift to an ‘Indigo first’ mindset.

This leads to optimal efficiency, sustainability, and return on investment across a versatile portfolio of print jobs.

Now it is Indigo first, flexo second.”

For greater productivity, ABG has developed a non-stop winding solution specifically to run with the HP Indigo V12 Digital Press. This also ran on the stand.

The HP Indigo 6K Digital Press demonstrated E2E complete order to label automation with the Web2Pack e-commerce solutions for small brands.

This combines the ABG Digicon Series 3 – a fully digital line with no setup; the Storefront solution from HP Indigo; and digital embellishment and laser diecutting finishing from ABG. HP has made PrintOS Spot Master available on the HP Indigo 6K and 200K digital presses. It says this enables converters to reach spot colours in minutes. In addition, it helps to keep them consistent throughout the run, and to share the results with their brands.

After completing a beta phase, the HP Indigo 200K Digital Press is now commercially available. HP Indigo says the mid-web solution for flexible packaging print will suit seasoned industry players as well as label converters who wish to diversify their business to include FP, increase their label productivity or print wider format labels and shrink sleeves.

The company says the HP Indigo 200K Digital Press drives on-demand delivery with no minimum orders, enabling press enables spectacular variable designs, and minimal waste vs conventional printing processes. It is the heart of the Digital Pouch Factory, which offers a complete lamination, slitting, and pouch-making production line.

Two HP Indigo 200K Digital Press beta partners spoke at the show about their positive experiences with the technology.

Mark Alaball, chief operating officer at Europe-based Enplater, says, “We are proud to be the first owner of the

HP Indigo 200K Digital Press in the EMEA region.

Scan the code to watch HP industrial print general manager APJ Arnon Goldman introducing the new Indigo 200K Digital Press at Labelexpo “We were impressed to see that software and hardware improvements across the board have made a dramatic difference in the productivity and performance of the new press. We look forward to producing great work with it.”

Also from Europe, Carl Joachim, chief managing officer at ePac Flexible Packaging, says, “The flexible packaging market is changing. Brands of all sizes are discovering the benefits of digital print. Today, ePac serves thousands of customers across the globe. We enable them to go to market faster and more sustainably with great packaging. We offer an unlimited number of SKUs with low minimum order: it is a new ballgame.”

Printing live at the booth, HP Indigo and partners demonstrated how to help meet brand sustainability expectations.

They printed on a full range of HPrecommended sustainable media, which included compostable, recycled and FSC certified paper as well as a recyclable paper pouch.

They demonstrated the circular economy approach at the dedicated sustainability station. This featured daily Happy Hour events with Tony Beer wash-off labels.

These allow easy and complete label removal for smooth recycling.

HP Indigo also showed a newly designed Carbon Footprint Calculator which helps converters and brands to assess the carbon footprint of a printed job.

The company points to successful HP Indigo V12 Digital Press beta site installations around the world. US-based Brook+Whittle runs an HP V12 Digital Press at its Ohio plant Jeremy Latterman, vice president of operations and supply chain at Brook+Whittle, says, “We believe two V12 digital presses can replace eight flexo presses and completely transform our business.

“Converting more pages to digital, the HP Indigo V12 Digital Press brings the agility of digital printing to high volume label jobs currently printed conventionally, and meets brand demands for more personalisation, fast change of art, lower waste, less inventory, and on-demand delivery.”

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The HP Indigo V12 Digital Ppress drew massive crowds when it made its debut at Labelexpo Europe 2023

October 2023

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www.curriegro up.co.nz

LABELS & PACKAGING Karlville Converting Karlville partnered with HP to showcase the Digital Pouch Factory, which impressed visitors who saw product printing, laminating, slitting, and pouching, all within 45 minutes.

The company uses the latest generation of the top selling compact KS-SUP-400 pouch machine, utilising thermal lamination technology for high strength bonds without cure time, as no adhesive is required.

Karlville says the machine has the fastest setup in the industry, with little startup scraps and high production speed, resulting in the best pouch machine fit for both minimum pouch quantity and long-run production orders. Showcased for the first time at Labelexpo Europe 2023, it featured manufacturing of shortrun custom-shaped pouches with an innovative toolless system.

Scan the code to watch Karlville director of global sales Ben Cunningham demonstrating the K3

Karlville says it wants to redraw the perimeters of sustainability in the pouch production process with a machine that offers low operating costs and consumption; a limited footprint; and low material dispersion.

For shrink sleeves, Karlville Converting displayed its latest seamer and inspection combination. The third generation Plus series seamer, K3 Plus, operates at 500 metres per minute and manufactures the sleeves via an automatic adjustable

Karlville presented the third generation of seamers forming section. The main advantage of the technology is that is does not have forming figures, thus no friction.

Karlville says the machine has the fastest setup in the industry with an auto-lay flat correction loop and recipes.

The company also demonstrated its most advanced high speed inspection machine.

Equipped with E+L edge guides on both unwind and rewind, it offers an easy adjustment for the amount and type of oscillation via the MMI. Currie Group supplies Karlville solutions in New Zealand and Australia.

Konica Minolta Konica Minolta teamed up with a Denmark-based finishing equipment expert Grafisk Maskinfabrik (GM) to showcase the full production workflow for the label converting and packaging industry.

The company, which shared its stand with its longstanding partner MGI Digital Technology, was running live demonstrations of five systems.

Konica Minolta presented the AccurioLabel 400 single-pass digital press to a broad, global audience at Labelexpo for the first time. Launched last year, it delivers a new level of enhanced print quality for converters, as well as benefits such as running cost reductions and the ability to expand applications with white toner. The toner press offers improved productivity with speeds of up to 40 metres per minute and is available in 4- and 5-colour configurations.

Konica Minolta and MGI showcased end-to-end Industry 5.0 Ecosystems with several partners, including ePS, OneVision, IIJ, GM and more.

To enable customers to produce variable data printing with high visual impact labels, Konica Minolta combined pre-and post-press solutions provided as turnkey offerings.

The second machine on show was the toner-based entry-level AccurioLabel 230 press being configured with GM’s DC330Mini, connected in-line with the label press. This exhibit also includes an innovative art inkjet customisation project in combination with partner Industrial Inkjet Ltd (IIJ).

The equipment line up completed MGI’s JETvarnish 3D Web Compact, Octopus Web machine and Konica Minolta’s PKG-1300, designed for corrugated manufacturers, converters, printers and brand owners looking for short-run digital inkjet box printing.

Konica Minolta ran live demonstrations of five systems

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As part of showcasing the full label production cycle, Konica Minolta’s also promoted comprehensive software

October 2023

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LABELS & PACKAGING suites, including Accurio Pro Flex and Accurio Pro Dashboard, as well as service capabilities together with partner solutions on large screens.

Scan the code to watch an interview with Konica Minolta head of industrial printing Sasha-Vittorio Paolucci at Labelexpo Kocher+Beck Kocher+Beck showcased its GapMaster EM and TecScreen processing units. The interactive stand, built using sustainable materials, will be reused over several shows in a bid to reduce the company’s carbon footprint.

The GapMaster EM (Electronic Move) was one of the highlighted technologies at Kocher+Beck’s stand. The company showcased a servo-driven system, the only system on the market to offer both adjustments by a rotary dial and digital input with haptic feedback for the operator.

OMET brought XJet and KFlex machines to Brussels Kocher+Beck products are available in the region via Jet Technologies.

OMET

From TecScreen, advancements have been made to the ever-popular processing unit, which now offer functionality to store and recycle water, another example of the company’s strides towards sustainability.

OMET demonstrated new machinery and solutions for the global labels and packaging market. Celebrating 60 years in the market, OMET serves customers across one hundred countries.

For flexible dies, a new generation of antistick coating provides a revolutionary non-stick result with less adhesive residue on the cutting edges. The new coating is certified in all applications such as pharma/medical applications (FDACertified) and is environmentally compliant.

Currie Group supplies OMET in New Zealand and Australia.

Kocher+Beck also featured advancements in die-cutting with a new Industry 4.0-ready digital KMS Pressure Gauge System equipped with a variety of sensors and offering higher stability under changes of load.

Further highlights at the stand included the Quick-Change die-cutting station with magnetic cylinders pre-mounted during the current job and can easily swapped in seconds.

The company has partnered with Inspired Print Solutions (IPS) to create its stand for Labelexpo 2023 using sustainable materials. The stand will be reused over several shows in a bid to reduce the carbon footprint of the company. At Labelexpo all materials on the Kocher+Beck stand are either FSC forestry accredited, recyclable, or manufactured from recyclable content.

Fixtures that are not manufactured from sustainable materials will be repurposed for 2025 and 2027.

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October 2023

Scan the code to watch Omet CEO Antonio Bartesaghi talking about the company’s 60th anniversary At the show, OMET ran demonstrations of its XJet and KFlex machines. The modular platform KFlex flexo printer handles substrates from 12 microns up to aluminium lidding and light carton board. It comes in two web widths, 40cm and 50cm. It boasts a maximum print speed of 200 metres per minute.

End use applications include food and beverage, industrial, household, healthcare, cosmetics and wine and spirits. The press can handle a range of jobs such as wraparound, shrink sleeve labels, lids, self-adhesive labels, wet glue, and multi-layer.

Scan the code to watch Currie Group technical product manager for labels and packaging Jon Murray presenting the new KFlex press

OMET showed optimised solutions in the areas of flexo, digital, offset and gravure printing technologies. It showed the capability to provide all these printing technologies in single pass combination printing solutions.

In addition, OMET presented its ability to print from 12 microns mono films such as PET, PVC/PET shrink, BOPP, IML and foils to 600 microns paper-based packaging such as cartons, paper cups and liquid packaging, covering the widest gamut of packaging materials on the market.

Pulse Roll Label Products Visitors to the Pulse booth could learn more about the benefits of using a single anilox volume for their print jobs, made possible thanks to Pulse’s PureTone ink range.

Since its launch last October, Monolox Fixed Anilox Printing has been helping converters worldwide to maximise their uptime and reduce ink consumption by standardising the flexographic process.

Pulse also showcased the new, highperformance ink, PureTone DC, which can be cured with UV LED lamps, using just a fraction of the power of traditional UV lamps.

Pulse MD Gary Seward said, “Being fully Food Packaging Compliant, new PureTone DC is suitable for label converters supplying industry sectors that require compliance to food packaging regulations and guidelines. What’s more, the range also includes CMYK+OGV for extended colour gamut printing.”

LED lamps used with PureTone DC can deliver a more stable light, ensuring

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LABELS & PACKAGING 350UV SAI technology with Nilpeter’s state-of-the-art FA-Line flexo platform.

The Truepress LABEL 350UV SAI S unit offers up to seven digital colours, enabling expanded gamut and high-performance white printing.

Integrated with Nilpeter’s platform-based FA-Line and embellishment solutions, the in-line solution facilitates the efficient production of value-added labels.

Screen also announced the prototype development of an in-line inkjet digital primer for its flagship label printing press, the Truepress LABEL 350UV SAI. It was on display as a world first during Labelexpo Europe 2023.

This feature addresses one of the biggest challenges in UV inkjet digital printing, including poor ink adhesion on specific substrates.

Ink specialist Pulse showcases its Monolox Fixed Anilox Printing and PureTone DC dual cure inks consistency of curing and print. Unlike traditional UV lights, they can also be switched on and off instantly.

PureTone DC’s dual-cure formulation means printers can use just one set of inks with both UV and LED curing presses, delivering further efficiency gains by avoiding unnecessary inventory and ink management complexity, as well as being able to convert across press by press.

The new ink also matches the impressive strength of others in the Pulse range, making it easy to compare and match colours as necessary.

Screen Screen and Nilpeter introduced an innovative in-line solution to meet the increasing demand for integrated digital printing and embellishment. Showcasing the latest generation technology, the two companies partnered up to meet the requirements of the label and packaging industry with stable and high-quality combination printing.

The new digital integrated solution combines Screen’s new Truepress LABEL

Screen’s development eliminates extra steps by incorporating an in-line digital primer directly inside its Truepress LABEL 350UV SAI digital printing press.

This innovative technology saves time and resources and can potentially deliver improved ink adhesion on a wide range of substrates and better print quality.

Finally, Screen showcased its innovative Truepress PAC 520P inkjet digital printing press for paper packaging. It is a highspeed, water-based inkjet digital press for paper-based packaging substrates with a much lower environmental impact than conventional printing.

Pulse Roll Label Products technologies are distributed by Jet Technologies in the region.

Schobertechnologies Specialist rotary die cutting machine manufacturer Schobertechnologies demonstrated a Twin Spider Set-up for its RSM410 IML/MX. Specially designed for the high-speed die cutting and stacking of in mould labels, this high-performance solution combines acceleration, velocity, and precision at a continuous web speed.

The company says the innovative drive technology of the RSSM410 IML/MX combines continuous and vector rotary die cutting technology in re-registration mode, offering format-independent solutions.

Currie Group supplies Schobertechnologies in New Zealand and Australia.

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Screen partnered with Nilpeter to showcase new hybrid solution

October 2023

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LABELS & PACKAGING Scan the code to watch Screen Australia managing director Peter Scott demonstrating the Screen and Nilpeter hybrid solution The Truepress PAC 520P uses newly developed proprietary water-based pigment inks that comply with appropriate food-safety regulations.

It offers label converters a seamless entry into the flexible packaging market.

Screen products are available via Fujifilm and Jet Technologies.

Xeikon The company launched Xeikon LX3000, a new highly productive and highly automated dry toner press aimed specifically at volume label printing with the highest quality. Affectionately known as The Lion, it was presented at Labelexpo for the first time.

Built for a web width of 330mm, the Xeikon Lion LX3000 is a 5-colour dry toner press developed as the answer to customer demands for higher productivity and more cost-effective solutions for mass production of highquality digital labels.

Visitors to the trade show could experience first-hand its cutting-edge 42 metres per minute operation. This represents a 40 per cent speed increase

from Xeikon’s current 30 metres per minute capability.

Its automated, precise quality control ensures that the final product meets the highest standards without manual intervention.

The Xeikon LX3000 features Xeikon’s innovative Cruise Control System, which utilises advanced vision technology and artificial intelligence to continuously monitor and automatically adjust print production settings.

Effectiveness (OEE), helping printers to optimise their production workflows even further.

The company has also taken its Cheetah technology to new heights, with the introduction of version 3.0 representing a significant step toward sustainable production.

According to Xeikon, it is poised to revolutionise the manufacturing of labels and packaging, playing a pivotal role in minimising the industry’s carbon footprint.

Scan the code to watch Xeikon general manager of sales Trevor Crowley demonstrating the Xeikon Lion Cruise Control checks, adjusts, and reports on five key settings to ensure precise colour registration, print station densities, and consistency with the set colour reference, as production quality is depending on external and internal factors.

If the quality does not meet customer expectations, an automatic notification is generated and printed alongside the print. This physical marking can drive next actions in the following steps of the manufacturing processes.

Additionally, it provides quantitative data for monitoring Overall Equipment

Scan the code to watch Trevor Crowley demonstrating the Xeikon PX3300

The new Xeikon Eco toner is formulated with over 60 per cent high-grade recycled PET to meet the sustainability demand and ensure compliance with the increasingly stringent regulations governing packaging components and recyclability.

Eco toner will be available for the Xeikon CX300 and Xeikon CX500.

Xeikon also showcased the recently developed Quality Measurement Module (QMM), which can be fitted on all Cheetah 3.0 CX Series presses as an option.

The QMM will be responsible for the quality assurance of the printed output, closely monitoring the density and registration throughout the print run.

Xeikon has also devised a new Sustainability Scorecard to offer more transparency in proving compliance with various regulations and help brand owners with their sustainability goals.

The Scorecard will analyse the carbon footprint of each Xeikon press, right down to the individual components of the consumables. It will identify food compliance, VOCs emissions, recyclability and energy use to give a complete overview.

Xeikon also used Labelexpo Europe 2023 for the European premiere of its new Titon toner technology. It has been developed to meet market demands for paper-based flexible packaging applications, such as stand-up pouches and sachets.

Xeikon brought a host of new technologies to Labelexpo Europe 2023

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The first press presented with Titon technology is the Xeikon TX-500, which prints in up to five colours at 30 metres per minute in a resolution of 1200 dpi.

October 2023

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APC Innovate retains quality with Epson printers Aarque Group supplies Epson solutions for long standing partner :

Planning for success l Signee scholarships l Student workers

WIDE FORMAT

APC Innovate retains quality with Epson SureColor printers Epson SureColor S80660L printers meet requirements for consistent colour and high print quality.

“Operator-free operation frees up our staff for other jobs. You can basically plug them in and off they go. The print speed is also good, although that is not a major factor in why we chose them. They are all round good and reliable machines.

“We use all three machines as general purpose printers, covering a range of work such as vinyls and self-adhesives as well as day to day graphics such as wall and floor graphics.

Tim Houlden, chief executive at APC Innovate, with an Epson SureColor S80660L printer, supplied through Aarque Group

A

ward winning APC Innovate leads the market in providing innovative solutions for merchandising displays and in-store promotional communications.

Customer categories include health care, wine, food and beverage, confectionery, cosmetics, technology and fast moving consumer goods. Employing just over a hundred staff, APC Innovate provides a comprehensive range of print requirements and uses a range of technology and solutions to achieve its goals.

The company was so pleased with the performance and print quality that its Epson SureColor S80660L printer, it recently installed two more of them as updates for other models. Supplied through Aarque Group, the Epson SureColor S80660L printers fulfil its requirements for quality and consistent colour reproduction.

Tim Houlden, chief executive at APC Innovate, spoke to New Zealand Printer about the decision to install the Epson 1.6m printers. He says, “From our point of view, print quality and colour consistency are key factors in helping us deliver the best products to our customers. The Epson SureColor S80660L printers tick all the boxes for colour and quality, and we are pleased with the choice we have made.”

The Epson SureColor S80660L printers deliver high performance wide format production based on a number of

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innovations that include Epson dual printheads; a 15-litre continuous ink supply system; high capacity maintenance system; high-capacity roll loading; high precision Auto Take Up; and a blower style print drying system. They also offer remote status monitoring and job reporting.

Epson’s latest PrecisionCore print heads use Variable Sized Dot Technology (VSDT) to enable smooth colour gradation with optimum ink application.

Instead of using heat to form droplets, Epson employs a patented MicroPiezo operation that is more precise and kinder on the ink, enabling superior colour accuracy and consistency.

Epson Precision Dot Technology drives the printheads with an advanced LUT and Half-Tone Module for images with high colour accuracy, enhanced contrast and reduced grain. Epson says the advanced micro-weave patterns enable output with outstanding uniformity and reduced banding at lower pass rates.

The latest Epson UltraChrome GS3 ink enables prints with high gloss, high dMax, and an enhanced gamut. The base 9c ink set expands the colour range to 98 per cent Pantone, while there is an additional channel for optional operation with White or Metallic ink.

Epson Edge Dashboard software enables remote management and provides access to an extensive library of downloadable print and media profile settings. Tim says,

“In any week, we will have two of them running 14 hours per day for six days per week. We also installed the bulk ink systems and heater units, which enables us to give our prints an even higher quality finish.

Reliable partner Supplying wide format solutions nationwide, Aarque, like APC Innovate, has built a strong reputation for solid service and support to its customers. Tim says, “Aarque has been a reliable partner for around 20 years. We understand what they can do. They enjoy a strong reputation in the industry for good reasons, their service and support are excellent.”

The company has carved out an impressive record at the Pride In Print Awards. Having won more than one hundred gold medals, the company is a member of the Pride In Print Awards Gold Club. Tim says, “He adds, “For years, we tried to stay under the radar, but it was inevitable that at some point, APC Innovate would become more prominent.

“I am really proud of the business, our staff, and everything we have achieved.

We have great clients and great staff.

Taking the Pride In Print Awards seriously is reflected in our success there.”

The company celebrates 50 years in business next year. Its owner, Rangatira, a Wellington-based private investment company, is over 65 per cent owned by a range of charities. Tim says, “It feels good that the company is 100 per cent New Zealand owned. Rangatira has owned APC Innovate since 1999. It has a broad investment base and producing dividends that go to charity is something we are also proud of.”

October 2023

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Quality, Speed and Low Production Cost

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• Fast media loading with automatic set-up and skew correction • Fast media loading with automatic set-up and skew correction • Self cleaning Print Heads and Advanced Auto Tension Control • Self cleaning Print Heads and Advanced Auto Tension Control • Outstanding resolution, gloss, brightness, and gamut, with • Outstanding resolution, gloss, brightness, and gamut, with up to 98% PANTONE* up to 98% PANTONE* • Efficient production with same-day print and lamination • Efficient production with same-day print and lamination • Reliability guaranteed with service packages up to 5 years • Reliability guaranteed with service packages up to 5 years • Ships complete with Epson Edge Print Software • Ships complete with Epson Edge Print Software

*SureColor SC-S80600 certified at 98.2% PANTONE® coverage at 1440x1440dpi, 36 passes, on ILFORD Nano Solvent Premium Photo Paper Gloss media. *SureColor SC-S80600 at 98.2% at 1440x1440dpi, 36 passes, ILFORD Nano trademarks Solvent Premium Paper media.

Results on other models,certified in different printPANTONE® modes & oncoverage other media may vary. PANTONE® andonother Pantone are thePhoto property of Gloss Pantone LLC. Results on other models, in different print modes & on other media may vary. PANTONE® and other Pantone trademarks are the property of Pantone LLC.

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NZSDA UPDATE

Planning for success sparks fresh ideas at NZSDA Sign makers can attend a range of meetings, workshops and site visits. engage, and empower with others, then this conference is one not to be missed.

Furthermore, we will hold our first seminar series workshops with the Safety Charter in Christchurch on November 7. The workshops will take place every three months in Christchurch, Wellington, and Auckland.

We will also video record all our seminar series workshops. The recordings will form part of our online resources for Health and Safety. All our members can access these.

Front of mind: NZSDA is busy with planning and forecasting

In addition, all the series seminars will be specific to the sign industry. The first session will cover topics such as the importance of having a Health and Safety Rep in your workplace. Participants will learn what they need to know for onsite compliance, and how safe work practices can save a business.

Signee Insight MELISSA COUTTS Secretary NZSDA

S

pring has finally arrived and along with the improvement in the weather, spring also brings opportunities for new beginnings. For the NZSDA, as well as sign and print businesses across the country, leaving the winter blues behind for a fresh spring start means that planning and forecasting are front of mind.

At the New Zealand Sign and Display Association, we are making preparations to set our visions and goals for 2024. As we grasp a hold of the strengths of our new team on the board, we have come to realise the importance of engaging to empower. The board plans to ignite the spark back into our thriving and creative industry with fresh ideas, grass roots leadership, support, and a clear vision.

Engage to Empower is the Sign Makers Conference theme for 2024 and will be held in Napier 12-14 June. So, if you are ready for the challenge of change, want to connect,

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LAURA MCCONCHIE Training & Communication Officer NZSDA

Signee is excited to announce the first ever Māori and Pasifika scholarship.

This is a fully funded scholarship with co-sponsorship provided by Computaleta and PSP. The scholarship will allow one trainee to complete the industry endorsed Signee five-week prevocational programme that provides online modules in sign making, work experience along with Site Safe and First Aid certifications.

With this scholarship, we are providing further support with the offer of career support and mentoring to the successful applicant. Applications have closed.

However, we aim to offer further scholarships in the future.

Over the past few months, we have seen an increase in enrolments to the

We have also begun planning for member visits and regional meetings, with visits to the South Island, Manawatu, and Hawkes Bay Members to be conducted before December.

On October 27, we hosted a regional meeting in Christchurch. Signtech the Signmasters generously offered their premises as the venue. Celebrating their 30-year anniversary of being in the industry, Signtech the Signmasters will welcome local and out of town sign makers to join them at their workplace where they will conduct a site tour followed by a few tipples and eats.

NZSDA will release a schedule of events in 2024. We will have the dates for the regional meetings in Bay of Plenty (Tauranga), Auckland (North Shore), Taranaki (New Plymouth), Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin.

Signee programme with a spread across the country including two trainees in Auckland. Logan, one of the trainees in New Plymouth enjoyed his experience and is seeking to gain employment in the industry. Thanks to Future Grafix in New Plymouth for hosting Logan for the four weeks and sharing photos of his work experience.

Signee has been working alongside Hanga Aro Rau, the Workforce Development Council, which represents the sign making industry. It leads the development of industry qualifications, sets industry standards and the quality assured training provisions against these industry standards. Working with Hanga Aro Rau, Signee has identified a need for micro credentials, the bite sized qualifications which people entering, or already working within, the industry can use as a stepping stone into a career pathway.

The micro credentials will touch on all aspects of the industry, including design, manufacturing, application, installation, illumination, and traditional sign making techniques.

Hanga Aro Rau has recently sought feedback from industry professionals on their thoughts on the interest in micro credentials.

October 2023

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NZSDA PRESIDENT’S CORNER

Getting busier? Why not take on some young helpers Offering opportunities to students is good for business and the industry. to experience what our industry is all about. With the added workload that we experience at this time of year, students can experience a wider variety of different aspects to the industry. They will also provide a valuable added set of hands to help get some jobs done, and to support the existing team members.

These opportunities can really open the door into the New Year for some creative or hands on students leaving school to give some serious consideration to joining our industry. This goes a long way to ensuring we have skilled people in our industry, now and into the future.

Signee success

We are approaching that time of year when high school students will have some time to work in your business same time every year, it always seems to generate that rush, and urgency, almost like it is happening for the first time.

SHAE GOOM President NZSDA

W

ho can believe the speed at which the year has passed us by, as we enter the countdown to summer, daylight savings, the Christmas and the New Year break, and all the regional anniversary days that are placed before or after Waitangi Day from September to April.

Staffing levels These next few months offer us an opportunity to look at staffing levels, and maybe even consider offering some opportunities to high school aged people

We are really starting to get some great traction with the Signee Programme, and we are always looking for sign businesses, large and small to offer placements and to help show off all aspects of our industry to new people thinking about joining us in our trade.

We are so grateful to have the support of companies with great team cultures and real forward-thinking mentalities.

This enables us to ensure we have done our best to have a great inflow of new staff with a great work ethic. That creative, think outside the box attitude is so important for what we do. Finding information is easy, through our website, www.signee.nz or for direct contact reach out to Laura McConchie at signee@nzsda. org.nz

All these public events got me thinking about making the most of the next few months especially and the importance to plan for these public holidays days before they arrive.

I am sure that most businesses will be like mine, in that the workload between now and the third week of December is probably the highest of the year. Add to that the upcoming deadline called Christmas. Even though it arrives at the

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Another set of hands might make a valuable difference to your workload before the busy end of year work period

October 2023

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