Printing News - April 2018

April 2018

The h Resource for f Commercial, C i l Sign i & Digital Di i l Printing Pi i

• Industrial Printing 101 • Serving Today's "Just-In-Time" Market • Paper Makes It Possible • Prisma: A MultiMillion Dollar Business

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Table of Contents

April 2018

On the Cover It’s that time of year again where we take a hard look at your favorite printing franchises and how they’re faring.

10 14 Advances in Technology Spur Growth in Digital Printing As new inks, coatings, and inkjet printing are developed, a new expansion of applications advance.

By Joann Whitcher

16 Tracking Success and Growth: A Look at Prisma’s Multi-Million Dollar Business The company, founded in 1980, hit record sales for this year at $39 million.

By Howard Riell

Columns

18 Trends in Digital and Offset Papers

06 Editor’s Note

While offset is still the dominant print platform for commercial applications, demand for digital printing continues to swell.

By Laurie Weller

An Industry for the Ages

By Rebecca Flores

19 Association Insights eLearning the Right Way

By Joe Marin

20 Digital Original Inexpensive Solutions to Help Your Bottom Line

Departments 07 Printing Pulse 22 New Products 26 Classifieds/

By John Giles

21 Sales Clinic Applying Successful Training Solutions

By Joe Rickard

Supplier Directory

27 Ad Index

Search for us...

@PrintingNews

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SOCIAL MEDIA & ONLINE CONTENT PrintingNews com

April 2018

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In the Know

PrintingNews.com Social Media

Featured Publication April 2018

Events:

Printing News

The Resource Th R for f Commercial, C i l Sign Si & Digital Di i l Printing Pi i

FR ANCHISE

PIA Continuous Improvement Conference The 2018 Continuous Improvement Conference is an industry event focused on helping printing and converting companies achieve operational excellence by using the concepts of lean manufacturing and other management and quality systems.

April 8-11, Chicago, IL

@PrintingNews

• Serving Today's "Just-In-Time" Market • Paper Makes It Possible • Prisma: A MultiMillion Dollar Business

PrintingNews.com Printing News

Pure Digital Pure Digital provides a focal point for print companies to improve and ignite their true potential, while educating the creative industry to demand higher value digital print production with new applications.

April 17-19, Amsterdam, Netherlands InPrint Conference The InPrint Industrial Inkjet Conference provides insight into the full spectrum of production possibilities being realized with industrial inkjet technology within the manufacturing sector.

May 1-2, Chicago, IL

Review

• Industrial Printing 101

PaperSpecs.com | Paper Inspiration #327: Alex Joseph Clothing PrintingNews.com/12383645

S Published by SouthComm Business Media, Inc. PO Box 803 • 1233 Janesville Ave Fort Atkinson WI 53538 920-563-6388 • 800-547-7377

ince 1928, Printing News has focused on improving efficiency and increasing sales and profits in the print shop. Industry experts share their ideas and technical knowledge on ways to improve operations.

Sister Publications

Vol. 41, No. 7 Group Publisher Focusing on Production Inkjet's Next Frontier

Kelley Holmes Kelley@PrintingNews.com | 800-616-2252 x8511

Exclusive Section

Editor Rebecca Flores Rebecca@PrintingNews.com | 800-616-2252 x8506

Associate Editor

PrintingNews.com

Amanda Santiago Amanda@PrintingNews.com | 800-616-2252 x2739

Contributing Writers Tom Crouser David Fellman John Giles Joe Rickard

Debra Thompson Howard Riell Jeffrey Steele Heidi Tolliver-Walker

Laurie Weller Patrick Whalen Joann Whitcher Joe Marin

Account Executives

60-Second Super-Cool Fold of the Week #409 PrintingNews.com/12380206

Inkjet’s Age focuses on the issues surrounding inkjet printing

Barbara Pineiro BPineiro@ SouthComm.com | 800-616-2252 x6316

representing content from Printing News,

Circulation

Wide-Format & Signage, and Inkjet’s Age—is

Jackie Dandoy JDandoy@SouthComm.com | 800-547-7377 x1711 For change of address or subscription information, call 877/382-9187, fax 920/563-1704, or circ.MyPrintResource@Omeda.com

multimedia content on a daily basis.

Software and Front Ends

Production Manager Art Director

devoted to delivering you timely news and

WHAT TO BUY AND WHEN TO BUY IT

Paul Zimmerman Paul@PrintingNews.com | 800-616.2252 x8515

Connie Wolf CWolf@SouthComm.com | 800-616-2252 x1679

PrintingNews.com—the web portal

Inkjet Options:

PR REPPR PRE R SS:

technology. It covers the industry news, trends, products, services, and management issues that will help printers grow business using this technology.

SOUTHCOMM, INC Printing News (ISSN 0191-4588) (USPS 500-850) Volume 41, Number 7 is published ten times per year in January, April, April, May, June, August, September, October, November and December by SouthComm Business Media, LLC, at 1233 Janesville Avenue, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538. Periodicals postage paid at Fort Atkinson, WI 53538 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Printing News, PO Box 3257, Northbrook, IL 60065-3257. Canada Post PM40612608. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Printing News, PO Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2. Subscriptions: Individual subscriptions are available without charge in the U.S. to qualified subscribers. Publisher reserves the right to reject non-qualified subscriptions. Subscription prices: U.S. $47 per year, $91 two year; Canada/Mexico $69 per year, $128 two year. All other countries $101 per year, $191 two year. All subscriptions payable in U.S. funds, drawn on U.S. bank. Canadian GST#842773848. Back issue $10 prepaid, if available. Printed in the USA. Copyright 2018 SouthComm Business Media, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recordings or any information storage or retrieval system, without permission from the publisher. SouthComm Business Media, LLC does not assume and herby disclaims any liability to any person or company for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions in the material herein, regardless of whether such errors result from negligence, accident or any other cause whatsoever. The views and opinions in the articles herein are not to be taken as official expressions of the publishers, unless so stated. The publishers do not warrant, either expressly or by implication, the factual accuracy of the articles herein, nor do they so warrant any views or opinions offered by the authors of said articles.

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April 2018

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April 2018

The Premier Source for the Visual Communications Industry

FASTSIGNS Project of the Year AwardS FASTSIGNS Franchisee Karrie Brock Surpasses Limitations with City Egg How to Succeed in the Vehicle Graphics Business • A Look at Today's Solvent Printers

Miami Trolleys | Armani Exchange at Art Basel PrintingNews.com/12385345

Wide-Format & Signage is the business and technology resource for corporate and senior management focusing on issues across the wide-format and grand-format markets.

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Editor’s Note

Printing Opportunities in Progress We’re bringing you the resources you need to take your business to the next level.

D

uring the EFI Press Conference at ISA Expo, Vice President of Inkjet Marketing Ken Hanulec mentioned that one of his clients in Germany has an average of 2 hours from when they receive an order online to when it’s expected to ship. That’s 120 minutes to fulfi ll an entire job. In today’s on-

demand market, consumers aren’t willing to wait and neither is the market. It’s either keep up or get left behind. Business fossils like Toys ‘R’ Us, Claire’s, and even this website that once boasted 75.9 million users called MySpace all point to why increasing speed, resourcefulness, and efficiency is absolutely essential, but that doesn’t mean you have to lose your mind (or your employees) doing so.

For entrepreneurs exploring new investment opportunities, we’re taking a look at how your favorite Printing News franchises are faring on page 10. You’re also invited to take a few cues from Prisma, a print service provider in Phoenix, Arizona that has grown into

Rebecca Flores

a multi-million dollar operation without sacrificing sustainability on page 16.

Managing Editor

Th is month’s Association Insights Rebecca Flores is an editorial professional with more than 7 years experience in content management, corporate communications, and leadership. With a demonstrated history of success in writing and editing, in addition to a keen insight for current trends, she brings an energized approach to coverage of the print and graphics industry. Email Rebecca at rebecca@printingnews.com.

to the next level. And that’s what we’re all

contributor Joe Marin, Vice President

about—shaping new possibilities in the

of Education and Training at Printing

print industry together.

Industries of America, shows us that eLearning is at everyone’s fi ngertips. It only takes a bit of intentionality to get an edge over the competition.

We’re excited to bring you the resources you need to help you take your business

Advances in Technology Spur Growth in Digital Printing Industrial print is projected to grow to become the largest print market. As new inks, coatings, and inkjet printing are developed, a new expansion of applications advance.

Contributor Joann Whitcher explains how how your business stands to benefit from these technological advances on page 14.

Find this article at PrintingNews.com/12404371

6

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April 2018

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Printing Pulse iC3D Teams Up with How Design Live to Launch Luxury Packaging Design Contest Creative Edge Software has challenged packaging designers to embrace total creative freedom powered by iC3D in a “no-holds barred” competition to design a premium beauty package. The winning entry will be announced and awarded during The Dieline Conference event in Boston (April 30

Xante Employees Worldwide Receive Bonuses Following Tax Cuts

– May 1).

With the top prize of a year’s subscription to iC3D including personalized web tutoring (valued at $15,500), the competition requires entrants to design packaging for a limited-edition perfume, make-up item, or nail lacquer intended as a VIP gift by a luxury beauty brand. Using a download-

All Xante employees in the US and worldwide offices employed for more than one year received a $1200 bonus as a byproduct of the corporate tax rate reductions in the tax reform bill signed into law

by President Donald Trump in December, 2017.

PrintingNews.com/12399476

able iC3D trial license, designers have free rein on styling, naming, form, function, and the materials to be used. Entries will be judged on their degree of innovation, aesthetic qualities, material choices, special effects and how well they have met the “client” brief. The winning design will be selected by a panel of How Design Live judges and displayed at the Conference alongside other entries.

the dedicated website: http://www.creativeedgesoftware.

PrintReleaf Helps Graphic Designers Be Environmentally Responsible

com/competition/

Graphic designers producing their designs at a PrintRe-

PrintingNews.com/12401160

leaf-certified printer can use any type, or grade of paper

The iC3D How Design Live competition is open to any member of a company attending this year’s conference. Designs must be submitted no later than April 12th 2018 via

they desire. PrintReleaf printers verify the amount of paper

Xerox Prioritized for Authorization from U.S. Government for Cloud-based Managed Print Services

used, and PrintReleaf certifies that an equivalent number of

Federal Government agencies can soon hire Xerox knowing

fered significant tree loss.

trees have been planted on behalf of the print client. Print customers can even choose the tree-planting location from seven projects around the world at locations that have suf-

its Managed Print Ser-

“Until now, graphic designers have been constrained by

vices solutions have

the limited number of chain-of-custody-verified papers

been carefully pre-vet-

available,” said PrintReleaf CEO and Founder Jordan Dar-

ted and approved. Xerox has achieved in-process status for the

ragh. “By choosing to have their job produced at a PrintRe-

U.S. government’s Federal Risk and Authorization Management

leaf printer, those designers can use any paper they choose,

Program (FedRAMP). This process signals that Xerox is FedRAMP

knowing that an equivalent number of trees will be planted

ready and has been prioritized by the Joint Advisory Board – the

in the appropriate location of their choice. To make the pro-

last step before full FedRAMP authorization. The move by the gov-

cess even simpler, any printer can become PrintReleaf-qual-

ernment reinforces Xerox’s leadership in cloud-based MPS securi-

ified at no cost.”

ty and workflow automation.

PrintingNews.com/12396670

PrintingNews.com/12399555

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April 2018

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7

Printing Pulse Printing Industries of America Launches Print Powers America, a Major Industry-Wide Advocacy Initiative Printing Industries of America launched Print Powers America, a major industry-wide initiative committed to collectively voicing the tremendous economic influence, consumer impact, and environmental stewardship made possible by print and packaging companies across the country. Spearheaded by PIA, this multi-faceted advocacy initiative combines lobbying, grassroots action, and public affairs to promote and protect the printing and graphic communications industry.

PrintingNews.com/12401416

Rags of Honor Creates GoFundMe Campaign to Provide Job Support to Veterans Rags of Honor is currently in the midst of a fundraiser that the company hopes will enable them to provide good jobs and a living wage to even more homeless and jobless veterans.

At no time in American

On International Women’s Day, HP Invited Girls Everywhere to Tell Their Stories

ulation. That small proportion of men and women risk—and sometimes give—

In celebration of International Women’s Day, HP

er of homeless veterans in the country.

released “Paro,” a short film shot in Kolkata, In-

PrintingNews.com/12402260

history has the burden of war been borne equally, but over the last two decades of conflict the sacrifice has been confined to one-half of one percent of the poptheir lives in service to this country. And some come back with physical and emotional wounds most of us can’t begin to imagine.

In providing 71 jobs to veterans, Rags of Honor has become the largest employ-

dia that follows a girl’s journey as she discovers her passion for storytelling. Alongside the film, HP is introducing a range of social impact programs, rooted in the belief that technology can be a democratizing force in telling and sharing

3M Appoints New CEO

stories that matter.

“At HP we are celebrating the women who drive us forward and empowering the next generation of female leaders,” said Dion Weisler, President and CEO, HP Inc. “Together we must take action and propel the industry forward through diversity and inclusion. This is more than a week to celebrate women, it’s an ongoing movement.”

3M has appointed new Chief Executive Officer, Michael F. Roman, who will take over the position effective July 1.

Roman succeeds current CEO Inge G. Thulin, who will become executive chairman of the board – a newly created position.

“After a thorough and thoughtful succession planning process, Mike is the clear choice to lead 3M into the future as CEO,” said Thulin. “He is an accomplished, results-oriented and high-integrity leader, with an excellent track record of growing sales, improving operational efficiency and increasing value

PrintingNews.com/12402265

across a wide range of global businesses.”

PrintingNews.com/12401515

8

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April 2018

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Direct Mail Insights:

PAPER MAKES IT POSSIBLE

Advancements in color digital inkjet paper are adapting to today’s offline communication needs successfully.

By Karen Weil

J

ohannes Gutenberg is often credited with inventing one of humanity’s most essential tools—the movable type press. But there’s another invention that is often overlooked in the influence it’s had over a changing world: Paper.

Paper was invented in China around 105 AD, and its staying power can be attributed to how we have continually adapted this resource and capitalized on its remarkable versatility. Fast forward 2,000+ years and it’s clear that history is repeating itself, as advancements in color digital inkjet paper adapt to today’s offline communication needs.

Digital Inkjet Innovations Expand Paper Stock Opportunities The most exciting opportunities for digital inkjet paper might not be paper advancements. New equipment technologies and ink products are being designed to make the most of the current paper stocks. For example, some production inkjet equipment can run conventional papers along with inkjet treated stocks. This provides a distinct advantage for marketing campaigns that include a combination of conventional offset and digital work.

Similar categories of paper exist for both inkjet treated and conventional stocks (book and cover weights, coated, and uncoated). Paper is often referred to as “the fift h color,” and that becomes a key factor for inkjet production, depending on the equipment used.

Make the Most of Your Paper Stock Choices by Considering Your Printer Ironically, it’s paper—the element that secured Gutenberg’s press a place in

PrintingNews com

history—that acted as a barrier to the adoption of the transformative technology of continuous digital inkjet printing.

Generally speaking, there are fewer concerns about paper stock with offset printing. Offset presses can accommodate a wide range of stocks, both coated and uncoated more readily.

They can also handle all types of paper finishes without running into challenges—which cannot be said about digital presses.

Choosing paper stock for digital printing is a bit more complicated. All paper choices must be individually qualified and profiled. Digital presses have different capabilities, which means multiple variables should be considered before choosing the paper. Most inkjet devices require paper stocks that are treated to better support the type of ink being used (pigment-based vs. dye-based).

And you’ll typically want to avoid coated paper stocks unless the inkjet device uses UV-curable ink.

Choosing the right paper stocks requires an assessment of several variables: • Determining the paper stock early on in the project, and understanding the processes that will happen after the initial printing (i.e. digital personalization, cutting, folding, embossing, inserting, etc.).

• Understanding color requirements, environmental objectives, and the expected shelf life of the product.

• Keeping stock thickness in mind,

especially when evaluating things like USPS mailing requirements for postcards, or reply cards. Other considerations are ink, machine capabilities, and whether the paper will be printed on one or two sides.

There’s no universal answer to which paper is best, and choosing the right paper stock can be a challenging process. Some products are more readily available than others which is important to consider when selecting paper—especially when using color digital inkjet technology.

Another important factor is the ink coverage. There may be a range to consider, so the substrate may need to accommodate all of them. And don’t forget to take into account the processes the paper will go through after printing.

Digital Inkjet Considerations As more inkjet papers have become available, meeting expectations for color gamut and quality has gotten easier. There were only a few basis weights available for inkjet papers when the technology fi rst emerged.

Now, most mills producing digital paper offer a fuller range of basis weights within their treated grades.

Perhaps most exciting for many who have hesitated to make the transition to the color digital inkjet platform is that there are more options available to run coated papers.

As the market continues to evolve, expect to see more conventional stocks being utilized on digital presses, along with new devices entering the market that allow for a broader range of stock thicknesses, and better image quality.

April 2018

Printing News

9

By Rebecca Flores

I

f you’ve never been introduced to a franchise, you might find the whole concept intimidating. Franchises have made an impact on every segment of our society, from where you buy your coffee (Dunkin’ Donuts) to where you buy your lunch (Firehouse Subs), and even the gym membership you swore you were going to use this year (Planet Fitness). Almost our entire lived experience in the United States is run by franchises and the printing market is no different.

Entrepreneurs often find franchise organizations less intimidating than beginning their own business because of the structure and support network they provide. Corporations offer the framework for their launch from the

10

Printing News

get-go, providing standard operation manuals, ongoing training, as well as any necessary technology.

Besides the support and proven framework for success, franchises offer brand recognition while still providing

April 2018

a franchisee with the independence, flexibility, and benefits of an independently-owned business.

Whether a business owner fares better through a franchise or an individually owned enterprise is inconclusive, but we know that when franchise owners feel supported and equipped with the proper tools, they are more likely to succeed in the marketplace because they believe in the value of the services they’re providing. According to Rick Grossmann, author of Franchise Bible: How to Buy a Franchise or Franchise Your Own Business, this confidence results in higher

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productivity, increased consumer engagement, and better customer service.

With printing being a $785.0 billion dollar printing industry that is only expected to swell to $814.5 billion by 2022 according to a case study conducted by Smithers Pira, the idea of investing in a printing franchise might be on your mind as you consider how to secure a piece of this gigantic market.

Printing News has done the research for you with our annual look into how the top printing franchises are faring these days.

that the largest growth is still digital print, with signs coming in second. In discussing how AlphaGraphics changed in 2017 compared to 2016, the franchise brand had a large increase in signs (as a percentage of growth) due to their focus on support and training within the market segment.

AlphaGraphics’ network of like-minded business owners actively share resources and connect to their community by providing print, marketing, and signage fulfillment services. Their global reach is impossible to ignore with a median gross sales that averages over $900,000 and locations across the

Globally, 42% of printers described their business in a ‘good’ economic condition in 2016.

Prospects for 2017 are even better.

Source: The 4th drupa Global Trends report.

There are five companies that run the game in the printing franchise world: • Alliance Franchise Brands (comprised of Allegra, American Speedy Printing, Insty Prints, KKP Canada, Speedy Printing, and Zippy Print); • AlphaGraphics; • Franchise Services Inc. (which includes PIP, Sir Speedy, Multicopy, Signal Graphics, and EastNet Print); • Fortusis, previously ICED (comprised of Kwik Kopy Printing, Kwik Kopy Business Centers, The Ink Well, Franklin’s Printing, and American Wholesale Thermography); and • Minuteman Press International.

These five franchise brands combined had a total of $662,017,420 in sales over 2017. We reported last year that average sales per shop are on the rise, and that trend continues.

Ryan Farris, President, COO, and CTO of AlphaGraphics maintains For more information, visit PrintingNews.com/10005400

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April 2018

Printing News

11

NUMBER OF SHOPS Number of shops in System (12/31/2017)

Number of FranchiseeOwned Shops (12/31/2017)

Number of shops in System (12/31/2016)

Number of FranchiseeOwned Shops (12/31/2016)

AlphaGraphics, Inc.

279

279

281

256

Alliance Franchise Brands

306

303

303

315

Minuteman Press

956

956

959

777

Fortusis, LLC

60

59

60

71

Franchise Services

337

337

340

340

Franchise Name

ESTIMATED SALES PER SHOP Total Investment Required 2017

Estimated Sales per Shop 2017

Estimated System-Wide Sales 2017

Estimated North American Sales 2017

AlphaGraphics, Inc.

Varies

$964,000

$305,000,000

$275,000,000

Alliance Franchise Brands

$250,000

$713,855

$178,000,000

$174,500,000

Undisclosed

Undisclosed

Undisclosed

Undisclosed

Minuteman Press

$108,748164,498

$593,000

$490,000,000

$386,000,000

Franchise Services

$227,891

$1,017,420

$286,787,000

$243,295,000

Franchise Name

Fortusis, LLC

AVERAGE SALES PER SHOP Total in 2017

$1,784,891

Total in 2016

$792,000

Total in 2015

$740,000

Total in 2014

$665,665

We asked these top 5 printing franchises what distinguishes their print franchise business from the alternatives in the market. Here’s what they said: AlphaGraphics, Inc. Ryan Farris, President, COO and CTO

Full range of capabilities, continued investment in tech, expert resources, combined with strong owners in our network.

Alliance Franchise Brands Mike Cline, Vice President, Franchise Development

Brand size and scope, global footprint, powerful purchasing power allowing for competitive pricing with desired margins.

Fortusis, LLC Jay M. Groot, Vice President

We are smaller and more agile; able to try new things quickly.

Minuteman Press Bob Titus, President and CEO

The mass purchasing power we provide to our owners and ongoing local support.

Franchise Services Richard Lowe, President and CEO

50-year-old brands, our synergy, and unmatched best practices. We compete as marketing service providers.

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Printing News

April 2018

United States, Brazil, China, Cyprus, Hong Kong, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom.

Richard Lowe, President and CEO at Franchise Services, Inc. (FSI) also attributes signage for growing their business 25% in the last year alone.

With their wide array of brands, FSI has been helping entrepreneurs establish their vision of independence for over 40 years. This commitment to serving their franchisee network with the latest leadership tools and resources resulted in over 240 million in sales in 2017.

For those unfamiliar with the franchise process, an individual can buy into the franchise by investing anywhere between thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of dollars, to run an individual franchise entity.

The franchisee pays an ongoing franchise royalty fee out of its sales to the corporation and keeps the rest of the profit.

A franchisor’s brand is its most valuable asset because consumers decide which business to frequent based on the quality they’re used to receiving.

Fortusis, known as the ICED printing franchise umbrella until their adoption into the Fortusis brand in October, has a 50-year-old legacy that began with the Hadfield family and continues today under the leadership of CEO Curtis Cheney. The Fortusis brand includes Kwik Kopy Printing, The Ink Well, Franklin’s Printing, Kwik Kopy Business Centers, and American Wholesale Thermographers.

Consistent execution is expected across locations in any franchise and CEO Curtis Cheney brings that

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knowledge with him into the C-suite as he was previously General Manager of the award-winning Kwik Kopy Business Center in Salt Lake City.

Minuteman Press is another franchise brand with a rich history. Their customer service driven business model provides digital print, design, and promotional services to businesses. The brand has been recognized by Entrepeneur Magazine for the quality of their marketing and printing services for over 26 years.

“What sets Minuteman Press apart from other franchises is the mass purchasing power that we can provide to our franchise owners getting them the best prices in the industry. The ongoing local support that we provide to our owners is unmatched and most importantly the cap we have on the royalties that they pay,” said Bob Titus, President and CEO at Minuteman Press.

Alliance Franchise Brand’s Marketing

and Print Division reports $10.9 million in new system-wide sales in 2017. This growth is led by a strategy of strategic acquisitions. They also boast over 600 locations between North America and the United Kingdom.

Mike Cline, Vice President of Franchise Development at Alliance Franchise Brands, attributes new technology for providing opportunities that weren’t possible before. “Brand size and scope, multi country footprint, powerful purchasing power also allows for competitive pricing with desired margins,” he explained.

Jay M. Groot, Vice President at Fortusis, similarly attributes emerging developments in digital printing of all sizes and categories to their growth this year.

In planning to grow the business in 2017, Farris from AlphaGraphics said they will continue to build and grow sales culture with an emphasis on

market leadership.

Another major trend leaders at these franchise brands are looking at is a continued investment in human capital. Unanimously, our survey presented that hiring, training, and retaining employees is among the most important concerns for each franchise brand. Commoditization is also a high priority, while sustainability practices had mixed replies with 20% responding it is “not important” for them to increase sustainability in 2018.

Although taxes did not appear high on the list of the important factors in business for 2018, health insurance costs and maintaining competitive wages were. It appears that (as we reported in last month’s issue) human capital is among the most valuable asset these companies have, matched only by delivering satisfaction to customers across the world.

π

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13

The first nanodiamond enhanced filaments for 3D printing with a 100 percent increase in tensile strength, photo courtesy of Carbodeon and Tiamet 3D.

In The Future of Functional and Industrial Print to 2022, Smithers Pira values the current market at $76.9 billion, up from $37.2 billion in 2012, with a growth forecast of $114.8 billion by 2022.

Industrial Printing At a Glance:

By Joann Whitcher

1. The US market is a key market for industrial print. By 2020, manufacturing output will overtake China due to a steep rise in advanced manufacturing.

2. Industrial print is projected to grow to become the largest of all print markets.

3. The focal point for technological innovation within industrial printing technology is inkjet and screen printing.

4. Industrial inkjet is adding productivity and flexibility into manufacturing through mass customization.

5. Screen printing is the most widely used and flexible of processes in industrial print and is the oldest printing process of all.

Source: 20 Facts About Industrial Printing, Marcus Timson, InPrint Industrial Printing Blog

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Printing News

Advances in Technology Spur Growth in Industrial Printing

I

ndustrial printing utilizes print technology for renderings of industrial items during the manufacturing process to foster its growth trajectory. As new inks, coatings, and inkjet printing are developed, a new expansion of applications advance. In The Future of Functional and Industrial Print to 2022, Smithers Pira values the current market at $76.9 billion, up from $37.2 billion in 2012, with a growth forecast of $114.8 billion by 2022. Industrial printing is unique in its variety because it can be used for décor and laminates, ceramics, electronics, glass, aerospace and automotive, biomedical, promotional items, 3D printing, and inkjet printed textiles.

“Our customers are way out there, printing anything from caulk tubes to drinking glasses, golf balls to soccer balls, metal trays to metal signs, beverage cans to water bottles, saw blades to Teflon strips, and drumsticks to wood flooring,” said Jim Lambert, VP and GM of INX International Ink Co. According to David J. Murphy, WW Director of Marketing & Business Development at HP PageWide Industrial, the advancement of inkjet digital technology is a major contributor to the expansion of the industrial printing market. Industrial print will continue to push high-volume inkjet production solutions forward.

“Production inkjet is now appealing to more customers across a growing

April 2018

range of applications, from publishing, production mail, and general commercial print to corrugated packaging and industrial printing,” said Murphy.

“Many PSPs have invested in inkjet with the original intention of focusing on one application—maybe transaction statements or books. A large number of HP PageWide customers, however, have expanded to an ever-widening range of applications, such as industrial print.”

“A manufacturer producing serial number plates for lawnmowers would have previously screened or pad printed the basic design, and add details later on—such as the serial number, production year or batch number,” explained Michael Maxwell, Senior Manager at Mimaki.

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LEF-300 applications produced by Roland technology.

“Digitally this can all be done in one step, removing costly supply chain management and logistics while opening the door to further customization, such as using different languages or different imagery for different customer groups or product lines,” he explained.

Creating Value Through Customization “The ability to customize is the biggest game-changer in industrial printing,” said Jay Roberts, UV Printer Product Manager at Roland DGA. It’s the differ-

30

Projected in 3D Printing, 2017-2021

25 Market in billions, US dollars

“It’s materially independent,” explained Roberts. “It doesn’t matter if the fi xtures are a one-off or part of a larger scheme, whether or not the article is a 3D object, tin, box, mouse pad, or keyboard, if it can be secured into the fi xture – the jig – it can be identified as a printable object for whatever purpose possible.”

Printing on the flatbed with jigs “can utilize redundancy, consistency, and repeatability,” he added.

Each object can also be customized by setting up a template for variable-da-

26.5

Inks and Coatings Provide Advanced Flexibility, Adhesion, and Durability

20 15 10

8.8

5

1.6

0 2017

2019

2021

“Global 3D Printing Software & Services Market - Analysis and Forecast (2017 to 2021)”.

The title for the graph should be “Projected in 3D Printing, 2017-2021”

ence between printing a massive number of objects that become commodity, and producing a higher value, customized and personalized object.

The UV flatbed printer allows for this level of customization. Through the use of jigs PSPs can move from printing one type of object to the next—in less than a minute.

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“There is no limitation to the range of products one could take on and it is relatively easy to ramp up an industrial customer base while still keeping your machines running at capacity with your existing customer base,” he noted.

Mimaki is one of several vendors offering UV curable inks in its case from rigid to 350% flexible, and manufactured to ensure users can optimize their production for the widest range of applications. Additionally, Mimaki jettable primers allow for better adhesion to difficult materials, but only where it’s needed, so translucence and other material properties remain unaffected.

ta printing, the same way you would set up printing a non-3D object.

“We have seen everything from displays for household appliances to children’s toys and promotional gadgets all come out of the same factory which only had one [Mimaki] UJF (large-format UV-LED flatbed) machine running,” said Maxwell.

“Advances in ink quality, adhesion, LED, and cooler curing have significantly expanded the variety of substrates available to industrial print,” according to Dan Johansen, Marketing Manager of Wide Format Solutions & Commercial and Industrial Printing Business Group at Ricoh USA. UV inks are able to cure faster, while maintaining good adhesion, and great abrasion resistance.

“LED curing has made printing to very thin and certain plastics a possibility where it previously wasn’t,” said Johansen. “Other older, hotter curing methods would melt these thin and plastic substrates, so you’d have to go another route. With today’s technology, you can print to almost anything.”

April 2018

Continued on page 25

Printing News

15

Tracking Success and Growth:

A Look at Prisma’s Multi-Million Dollar Business Prisma is a full-service marketing solutions provider and commercial printer specializing in online marketing supply chains. The company, founded in 1980, hit record sales for this year at $39 million.

By Howard Riell

P

risma, a full-service marketing solutions provider and commercial printer specializes in online marketing supply chains and logistics. Based in Phoenix , Arizona, they’ve spent decades refining their craft—and they’re looking to expand capabilities in 2018. Founded in 1980, their team hit record sales this year at a whopping $39 million.

Prisma offers products and services that include web-to-print, sheet-fed and variable data printing, grand format, packaging, data analytics, warehousing and fulfillment, and complete in-house mailing. Clients are provided with full-service marketing agency experience, complete with creative, design, branding, content writing, logos, and field marketing execution. Their client

Marketing collateral Prisma fulfilled for the Phoenix Suns.

industries range from hospitality and technology to finance, healthcare and retail, and according to CEO Robert Anderson, Prisma is “always looking to expand our market.”

Panorama of Prisma’s bindery center.

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Printing News

April 2018

With 220 full-time employees, 2017 has been an explosive growth year for Prisma. “The company has developed and redefined a lot of technology implementations in order to improve the speed of delivery while maintaining the quality of products,” said Anderson.

A huge factor of their success is that their legacy is not contingent upon business conditions. “We stay focused on sales, growth and our vision to offer our clients the best practices available in printing, logistics and supply chain execution. Businesses need more help, not less, during a down economy and we work with them to examine how to get more

PrintingNews com

value out of their marketing efforts,” continued Anderson.

Onward & Upward Prisma reached a new monthly record of online sales and delivery this year. In a single month, more than 10,000 orders were placed online, resulting in 30,000 packages being fulfilled from dokshop orders. In addition, 75% of all jobs were auto-billed. It was also a period in which the company focused heavily on developing internal automation.

Prisma installed an HP 12000 printer, a 29-inch digital press capable of printing up to 4,600 sheets per hour, with an impressive range of commercial capabilities in November. They also increased data security and became AUP and SOC 2 certified. Prisma’s newest eight-color H-UV press is — they maintain—an “engineering marvel,” and offers faster print runs with ink that dries instantly. This allows projects to be completed in less time than ever before.

Indeed, Prisma purchased several key pieces of equipment over the last couple of years, each of which has expanded its capabilities. They include: • An HP Indigo 12000, which Anderson said, “delivers one of the widest commercial digital application ranges, with superior print quality, high productivity and wide versatility. This machine is able to print up to 4,600 sheets per hour with full variable content.”

• A Heidelberg 106 CSB Die Cutter, a high-performance, high-speed die cutter with full auto stripping and blanking capabilities.

• A BB700 Inserter, a high-speed jumbo intelligent inserter with credit/ID card applications.

“All of these additions,” Anderson said, “have helped create a faster and more efficient workflow automation for Prisma.”

Sustainability in Practice Prisma’s management prioritizes sustainability an area of emphasis, pledging that the company’s mission is to continually integrate environmental mindfulness by focusing on three key objectives: • Offering green-alternative products and services to customers.

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Employees look at an order printed on an EFI Vutek GS3250LX Pro.

• Implementing sustainable business practices and making print processes more efficient.

• Encouraging employees and the community to support environmental stewardship.

“All people from all different educational backgrounds are what contribute to the success of this company. It’s not about the machines but rather the people behind them.”

their commitment to the environment by installing air-conditioning units and a custom ventilation system that uses 15% less energy than standard systems, and using a special web press dryer that releases 100% clean air and reduces natural gas consumption by 30% over other dryers.

Looking Ahead

Although executives say they are proud of the practices the firm has implemented to protect natural resources, they recognize that “these are initial steps in a journey to becoming an industry leader in environmental stewardship.”

Prisma is a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified printer, and encourages customers to use FSC paper, which is produced, harvested and sold to support environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of the world’s forests.

The company uses specially formulated vegetable-based and low-VOC inks during the printing process.

They also recycle nearly 1,700 tons of paper, cardboard, and other materials each year. Prisma has also increased

Prisma executives continue to work closely with their clients, and seek to network with new ones. They’re also looking to expand the business by opening an East Coast distribution and digital center for print-on-demand and distribution.

While there were no corporate acquisitions this year, Anderson discussed plans to open a center in either Tennessee or Kentucky.

Prisma, Anderson said, would also like to expand its retail packaging division. “The company is looking toward statement/transaction printing. Since Prisma has increased security, working with this type of market could further expand business.”

Other goals for 2018 including educating the internal workforce in order to improve all stages of fulfillment and delivery, and recruiting people from outside the printing industry in order to improve automation. Anderson concluded, “All people from all different educational backgrounds are what contribute to the success of this company. It’s not about the machines but rather the people behind them.”

April 2018

Printing News

17

Trends in Digital and Offset Papers:

Serving Today’s “Just-In-Time” Market While offset is still the dominant print platform for commercial applications, demand for digital printing continues to swell.

By Laurie Weller

W

alk into the production environment of any successful print service provider today and there’s a good chance you’ll see offset and digital presses working side by side.

While offset is still the dominant print platform for commercial applications, demand for digital printing continues to swell. Advances in digital press technology are fueling this trend,

high quality uncoated inkjet papers.

This growth shows that the paper mills are focusing their efforts toward more graphic oriented print.”

Ron Pergande, Business Development Director of Digital Papers for GPA, Specialty Substrate Solutions, sees a number of trends ushering in the new era of print, including “premium brands not being requested by name like they used to, digital sheet sizes expanding in breadth and complexity, and caliper ranges growing to complement equipment capabilities.”

“There’s also a general shift from providing one type of printing service to becoming a total solutions provider, facilitating marketing success beyond print,” said Pergande.

PSPs are Raising the Bar Postcard Builder Jason Ek, photo courtesy of GPA.

but that doesn’t mean a new generation of offset papers aren’t also leaving a mark on the industry.

According to John Crumbaugh, Industrial Inkjet Print Marketing Expert for HP, “Paper specifically designed for inkjet continues to expand into the high growth markets of direct mail, commercial, and publishing. There is growth in coated papers designed for inkjet, as well as silk/satin papers, and smooth

18

Printing News

“A PSP’s world is more complex, with higher expectations than ever before,” said Pergande. Crumbaugh emphasized that new printing and paper innovations are working together to help inkjet presses deliver the high-quality brands require.

“Now inkjet is no longer competing with toner, or competing for billing statements,” he added. “It is competing head to head with offset – and quality is hugely important. The printer has to produce quality, and agencies always have an opinion. They are very particu-

April 2018

lar about paper.”

To that end, PSPs are calling on supply chains, including paper mills and other vendors for support.

Printing for a Just-In-Time World To help PSPs compete in today’s printon-demand economy, Pergande noted that “savvy merchants have accelerated their logistics and service to accommodate the rapid pace of digital printing,” and are delivering up to three times more a day than “the biggest printing consumers in most major markets.”

The bottom line is that any paper a PSP needs today “absolutely has to be available in whatever quantities are needed,” Pergande added. “It’s also expected to run on different platforms of printing presses: every sheet, every time, and without fail from production to finishing.”

Pergande added, “The factors driving the future of digital and offset papers include compatibility, availability, and seamless performance from print production through the marketplace.”

Offset roll, photo courtesy of HP.

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Association Insights:

eLearning the Right Way eLearning has become a large part of our daily lives, so much so that we’re sometimes unaware of it. When was the last time you searched for a how-to home improvement video or checked Wikipedia to find a resource, fact, or figure?

W

By Joseph Marin Vice President, Education and Training, Printing Industries of America Joe is one of the industry’s leading voices on digital technologies, including all things related to succeeding in a digital print environment. He is a veteran speaker at GRAPH EXPO, PRINT and other venues on color management, PDF workflow, preparing print-ready files, web-to-print, and businessrelated issues. He is the author of the Prepress Skills Training Program, Process Control Primer, Digital Prepress Primer, and coauthor of The PDF Print Production Guide, all published by Printing Industries Press.

hile eLearning can be broadly defined as any kind of online learning, the examples above could be further classified as informal eLearning because the content is not really structured or formalized but simply a result of an Internet search. Nevertheless, these are forms of eLearning because you are gaining deeper knowledge on a particular topic.

Formalized eLearning, however, provides more structured learning content and delivery, and is usually part of a learning management system (LMS). An LMS is a platform, usually hosted in the Cloud, used to administer, track, and report the delivery of educational and training resources. An example that might come to mind when we think of an LMS is Lynda.com—a platform that provides structured content tracking and educational courses and lessons.

Contextualized Learning There’s a lot of content out there, and it’s easy to generate content and find it. Look no further than YouTube, which has become the second most popular search engine in the world (Google is number one) where over 5 billion videos are viewed every day. Lynda.com also has a lot of great content, with hundreds of different courses on a variety of topics. However, when it comes to truly relevant eLearning, one key critical component missing from these examples is content presented in context.

Content is general information and often is not presented in a way that is relevant to the learner. Contextualized learning, on the other hand, takes the subject matter and connects it to applicable, relevant situations. By contextualizing what is presented in eLearning courses, the learner gains a deeper understanding of how to apply the concepts in real-world, industry-specific scenarios. Let’s compare content versus context, using our Lynda.com example.

Content versus Context You can find various courses on Lynda.com centered on Adobe InDesign—a fairly ubiquitous application used in our industry. The courses offered include InDesign CC 2018 Essential Find this article at PrintingNews.com/124036777 Training, InDesign CC 2018 New Features, InDe-

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sign: Advanced Styles, and so on.

In comparison, Printing Industries of America’s eLearning platform, called the iLearning Center, contains courses that tie directly into our industry and are presented with context. For example, the iLearning Center has a course titled InDesign for Prepress. You’ll learn how to use InDesign’s tools and built-in forensic features to uncover and repair digital prepress problems before they become a disaster on press.

The iLearning Center contains many other courses, and most are free to Printing Industries of America Printer Member companies. There are also important industry certifications including the Improvement Professional in Print Certification that validates the expertise of printing industry professionals who help companies achieve operational excellence by using the concepts of Lean Manufacturing. Another is the Customer Service Professional Certification, a program that provides best industry processes and practices for CSRs in a production print environment.

Investment and Reward Implementing an eLearning strategy in your organization benefits everyone. An employee who feels growth in their career is more loyal to an organization, and eLearning is a tool that provides development opportunities. A company that encourages eLearning as part of an employee’s regular job function sees revenue generated per employee that is 26% higher as compared to those that do not. Establishing a culture of learning within your organization is key, and Printing Industries of America’s iLearning Center can be the catalyst and ongoing resource for your company’s eLearning needs.

For more information on Printing Industries of America’s iLearning Center, visit printing.org/ iLearning.

April 2018

Printing News

19

Digital Original:

INEXPENSIVE SOLUTIONS to Help

Your Bottom Line

I

t’s the little things that make a difference between profit and loss. Too often, lucrative deals are lost because of a lack of clarity, communication, or otherwise solvable issues. Here are seven simple business tips and tricks to help your bottom line.

By John Giles Senior Consultant for CPrint International John Giles is a senior consultant for CPrint International (cprint.com). He helps printers prosper and understand how to sell technology services.

Giles is the author of “12 Secrets for Digital Success” and “The DTP PriceList.”

He can be reached at 954-224-1942 or john@cprint.com.

Find this article at PrintingNews.com/12401737

20

Video conferencing is becoming more common and can help a design staff better understand their customers. A video meeting can quickly clarify what a customer wants and help your team complete projects faster as you work together in real time. It also allows for the review of changes and corrections, moving along the proofing process. A good webcam costs less than $50, and there are several free online video conferencing services available. Gotomeeting.com offers a free service for up to three participants, that gives its users free audio and screen sharing when using a Chrome browser. Join.me, Skype, Zoom, and Webex also provide free or low-cost conferencing services.

Economic Office Solutions A free alternative to Microsoft Office is Apache OpenOffice. It contains a suite of free word processing, spreadsheet, database and presentation applications similar to the Microsoft Office programs—but without the subscription fees. The OpenOffice files are compatible with Microsoft Office files on both Windows and Mac computers, but some formatting issues can arise. OpenOffice is a great alternative to installing pricey copies of Office on all of your computers, just to handle word processing and spreadsheet files.

Don’t pay for both Adobe InDesign and QuarkXpress if you only use one of them.

Markzware offers low-cost conversion solutions that opens Quark files in InDesign (Q2ID) and conversely opens InDesign files in QuarkXpress (ID2Q). Markzware even has a program that converts PDF files into editable InDesign files

Printing News

April 2018

(PDF2DTP). The utility programs are perfect if you’re only looking to use one major page layout program. QR Codes are also back in use. Now that a QR reader comes standard on Apple, and other smartphones, more companies are adding QR codes to their printed material. The thing printers need to do is get a dynamic QR code generator.

This allows you to change the content of your QR code as many times as you want without having to reprint it. Avoid static QR codes that can’t be changed. You should also use a generator that has beautifying options to make your QR code’s appearance more attractive. You can change the code’s color scheme, round its corners, and even add your own logo right in the middle of it.

Creating with Quality Ever get a low-res logo from a customer because they couldn’t find a good one? The next time this happens, all you need to do is hop online, where you’re likely to find a high-quality sample logo for free. Brandsoft heworld.com is the largest free library of downloadable vector logos. Brandsoftheworld.com has a service for graphic designers who want to have the logos they create critiqued.

And if you’re still having a hard time finding the logo you’re looking for you can go into Google and type “.pdf site:(site of the company).”

Additionally, numerous companies and organizations have their branding material online as PDF files, and you can often find a high-resolution vector logo. If finding images proves to be problematic for you, try File Juicer. File Juicer is a $25 (Mac-only) application that allows you to extract images from a Powerpoint or PDF file.

Talk to your customers about using a customized stamp for their mailing. Photo stamps are available in both small and large quantities. They can include a logo or a promotional message. If you have a customer trying to make their mail stand out, a unique detail might be exactly what they’re looking for.

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Sales Clinic:

Applying Successful Training Solutions Regardless of constraints, it is imperative that graphic communications companies offer professional development and supplemental training to every employee.

G

rowing companies need skilled sales talent to communicate their offerings. Most owners and sales managers agree that training is needed for new and experienced salespeople alike, but a lack of time and money often prevents training from happening. Regardless of constraints, it is imperative for graphic communications companies that professional development and supplemental training is offered.

Easy to Implement On-the-Job Training Strategies

Joe Rickard

Successful companies use on-the-job training as a way to ensure salespeople remain sharp and effective. Even small companies can employ simple on-the-job training strategies.

Here are three training strategies we recommend to clients at our digital printing consulting practice:

Founder, Intellective Solutions

1. Role Playing

Joe Rickard is the founder of Intellective Solutions (intellectives. com), a consulting and training company that works with printing and technology organizations to improve their sales, marketing, and operational effectiveness. Follow him on Twitter @joerickardIS.

Legendary Sales Leader and CEO of SAP, Bill McDermott, regularly led his successful sales teams with role playing exercises. He asked what tough objections salespeople had heard from customers, and lead team members to play the role of the customer and salesperson responding to those objections as an exercise.

Salespeople often enjoy being given theoretical objections, sales situations, and common customer scenarios to rehearse, and share best practices.

This should be done regularly so that salespeople begin to anticipate potential objections. This exercise helps prevent mistakes, and sloppy miscommunications from happening in the future.

2. Mentored Sales Calls Find this article at PrintingNews.com/12401731

PrintingNews com

Owners, production managers and sales managers typically have a considerable amount of business acumen and experience. It can be

incredibly valuable to have an experienced salesperson or manager listen in on a call with a less experienced salesperson to carefully observe their interactions with a customer.

Immediately after the call, the salesperson can share what they believe went well (or not so well) during the call. The observer can then share their insights and make recommendations if required.

3. Highlight the Positive with “Win Reviews” At meetings, have salespeople share details of how significant orders were obtained. This is a great way for employees to understand the value of teamwork, and the steps necessary to close a big deal. Aside from recognizing their great achievements, this exercise also helps reinforce good practices.

At the Win Review, a salesperson should be able to answer an assortment of questions about customer interactions, sales made, and how they have resolved issues in the past.

Training and professional development cannot be one-time events. They must be an everyday occurrence. Even successful salespeople can become complacent. Adding planned and structured on-the-job sales training to a printing company’s business process will generate results and that’s one of the best business investments you can make.

April 2018

Printing News

21

New

Products

Flint Group launched EkoCure XS – a UV LED ink series, with the best adhesion, and post

Datalogics PDF2IMG, Version 2.5

shrink performance on shrink substrates. It is also dual-cure, and provides consistent cure

Datalogics, announced the release of

at the highest printing speeds. EkoCure XS is specifically designed for the demands of

PDF2IMG, version 2.5. This new release

shrink sleeve applications.

includes improved support for remov-

EkoCure XS

“We knew from interviews with clients specializing in the short run shrink sleeve mar-

ing unneeded whitespace margins from

ket, that they want a UV dual-curable ink with better adhesion and increased curing speed

rendered pages, and enhanced font and

to boost productivity and reduce yield losses” stated Kelly Kolliopoulos, Global Marketing

color space resource capabilities to en-

Director for Flint Group Narrow Web. “Our experience in LED and conventional mercury

sure accurate and “true-to-original” file

curable ink system technology, combined with our understanding of the shrink market,

conversions. PDF2IMG can now accu-

enabled our R&D team to develop this best-in-class system.”

rately render even larger image files by

printingnews.com/12402656

increasing the maximum supported image size output.

PDF2IMG enables users to easily convert PDFs to BMP, EPS, GIF, JPEG, PNG, RAW, or TIFF formats, and features new APIs that will retrieve the dimensions of

Sun Chemical SunCure Accuflex UV Flexo Ink System

the input PDF file to ensure that the correct aspect ratio is maintained for the out-

Sun Chemical has launched SunCure Accuflex UV, a new UV ink system for primary and

put file. Built upon the Adobe PDF Library,

secondary food packaging that is not manufactured with Bisphenol A (BPA)-based materi-

users are assured of achieving high-qual-

als and meets low migration specifications. Compliant with the strictest global standards

ity image file output they can depend on.

in the marketplace, including Nestlé food packaging requirements and Swiss Ordinance

PrintingNews.com/12402442

chemical composition requirements, SunCure Accuflex UV flexo inks meet the latest photoinitiator safe packaging guidelines and provide low odor and very low residual extractables characteristics, while maintaining the highest standards of pressroom performance.

PrintingNews.com/12402724

HP Collaboration PC HP unveiled a set of conferencing and collaboration technology designed for the office of the future, the latest in a series of HP innovations that reinvent the PC experience and extends it into modern meeting spaces. The HP Elite Slice for Meeting Rooms G2, and an allnew 43-inch diagonal 4K conferencing display, are part of HP’s growing ecosystem of PC-based conferencing tools, and displays designed to make the collaboration experience simple, scalable, and versatile.

PrintingNews.com/12402361

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Printing News

April 2018

PrintingNews com

New

Products Kodak NEXFINITY Digital Press Platform Kodak announced the Spring 2018 availability of the KODAK NEXFINITY Digital Press. The NEXFINITY Press is set to become the most versatile sheetfed digital press on the market. The platform’s low running costs, higher speed and dynamic imaging will change how printers evaluate what can be run on digital. rin nters to operate The entire NEXFINITY Platform is designed to make it easy for printers ic Imaging Technology, a patented in a much more dynamic print marketplace. It’s built with Dynamic Kodak innovation for digital printing. The technology works by applying algorithmic adjustments to specific areas of an image, which optimizes image quality and consistency based on the image content in each area. The result produces crisp text, hard lines, soft skin tones, and beautiful skies on the same page, whether it’s for one print or millions. Featuring a new high resolution and multi-bit LED writing system, the press produces the broadest range of applications, including direct mail, commercial print, publishing, and packaging.

PrintingNews.com/12402578

Grenier Packaging K3-F Cardboard-Plastic Packaging K3, the cardboard-plastic combination from Greiner

MCT VersaTech2

Packaging combines high-quality packaging, with ap-

Flint Group launched EkoCure XS – a UV LED ink series, with the

pealing marketing communication, and environmental

best adhesion, and post shrink performance on shrink substrates.

protection. Its patented tear-off system makes it easy

It is also dual-cure, and provides consistent cure at the highest

to separate the cardboard wrap, and plastic cap, or con-

printing speeds. EkoCure XS is specifically designed for the de-

tainer in K3 packaging, and recycle them. The low pro-

mands of shrink sleeve applications.

portion of plastic in the packaging means reduced CO2

“We knew from interviews with clients specializing in the short

emissions, while retaining the stability of the container

run shrink sleeve market, that they want a UV dual-curable ink

through the cardboard wrap. The cardboard surface

with better adhesion and increased curing speed to boost produc-

offers consumers a pleasant feel, and can moreover be

tivity and reduce yield losses” stated Kelly Kolliopoulos, Global

attractively printed on, and decorated; this gives it an

Marketing Director for Flint Group Narrow Web. “Our experience

unmistakably distinctive look. Marketing messages can

in LED and conventional mercury curable ink system technology,

be integrated into the design of the wrap on the interi-

combined with our understanding of the shrink market, enabled

or as well as exterior, and punched windows or special

our R&D team to develop this best-in-class system.”

embossed printing can likewise be added, depending on

PrintingNews.com/12402723

customer requirements.

PrintingNews.com/12402838

PrintingNews com

April 2018

Printing News

23

New

Products Drytac WipeErase Clear Drytac WipeErase Clear is a durable clear PET film with a hard coat finish and pressure-sensitive acrylic adhesive.

Drytac WipeErase Clear is a 3mil/75μ durable clear PET film with a gloss, hard coat finish and pressure-sensitive acrylic adhesive. Compatible with solvent, UV and latex printing technologies, WipeErase Clear enables print service providers to quickly and easily create custom-printed, removable, high quality, dry erase graphics that stick to virtually any smooth surface. Importantly, it can also be cleanly removed.

Applications include dry erase or planning boards, menu boards, signage, conference room walls, retail displays and much more. WipeErase Clear also possesses excellent anti-graffiti qualities, as well as resistance to scratches, abrasions, water, solvents, stains and chemicals.

PrintingNews.com/12380632

EFI Fiery Textile Bundle

TRESU’s SAVEink Chamber Doctor Blade

EFI Launches Fiery Textile Bundle to De-

TRESU announced the introduction of its Flexi-

liver Superior Quality and Streamline

Print Reservoir SAVEink chamber doctor blade,, a

Reggiani Textile Printing Workflows

b UV light, fast-change inking system for narrow-web

Businesses looking to grow with digital

seed withand water-based flexo applications that can be used

industrial textile production can advance

reevent leakage, out an ink pump. Chambers are air-tight and prevent

with the new EFI Fiery Textile Bundle.

nstalled or removed thanks to TRESU’s patented seals, and can be in installed

Businesses looking to grow with dig-

i safely in five seconds without the risk of spillingg ink.

To introduce the unit

ital industrial textile production for

to its mounting, the operator locks it to the anilox roll, and rotates it from a six-

apparel and décor can advance their op-

o’clock to a nine-o’clock position. Removal reverses the process. Doctor blades are in

erations with the new EFI Fiery Textile

a pre-set position, and there is no need for further adjustment. The pre-set position

Bundle – a set of design and production

ensures optimal anilox contact with minimal wear. An automatic indicator shows

workflow innovations from Electron-

when blade replacement is necessary, so time is not wasted on unnecessary checks.

ics For Imaging, Inc. (Nasdaq:EFII). The

The chamber can hold 250ml – 2000ml of ink making it ideal for application of

bundle—used with EFI Reggiani digi-

normal and spot colors, as well as high ink transfer printing. Ink may be added man-

tal inkjet printers—includes new Fiery

ually without stopping the press, giving the system flexibility for long and short-run

DesignPro Adobe Illustrator and Photo-

production. Since the chambers are sealed, there is no risk of ink contamination and

shop plug-ins to create professional tex-

optimal pressure is maintained, to ensure foam-free printing and an even ink cover-

tile designs efficiently, and the newest

age across the web. The chamber maintains precise inking even at the high speeds

Fiery proServer digital front end (DFE)

demanded by narrow-web printers. Available in widths up to 800mm, the TRESU

for high quality textile production.

FlexiPrint Reservoir SAVEink chamber may be fitted to almost any narrow web

With the launch of Fiery DesignPro,

press. For those using manual filling, the chambers can be removed and sealed so

EFI provides the ability to accurately

that ink can be reused. As the unit features a single compartment, manual cleaning

match colors to the printed result, share

is fast and easy.

color palettes across the design team

Printers using an optional pump system have the advantage of precise flow con-

in real time, design professional repeat

trol, as well as the ability to return unused ink to the bucket. Complete flushing and

patterns and create multiple colorways

anilox cleaning to enable colour changes is also possible with pump systems.

from one design.

PrintingNews.com/12403587

PrintingNews.com/12391124

24

Printing News

April 2018

PrintingNews com

Continued from page 15

Enabling Technology Lambert points to three major enabling technologies: Digital ink advancements, print-head innovations, and innovative integrators.

Print-heads, which have increased in native resolution and in speed, “are operating three times as fast as they were just two years ago and resolutions up to 1200 by 1200 native resolutions,”

Alloy wheel rim printed on the S-Series.

Industrial ink cartridge, image courtesy of Brother.

Lambert said. “We are seeing this new direct object printing that literally has no limits,” said Lambert.

Integrators have been able to design machines for customers that allow them to print on just about anything— flat or curved.

INX can provide all the items necessary for a complete industrial printing solution that includes chemistry, print-heads, hardware, and machinery.

3D printing also benefits from these technological advancements that allow manufacturers to move further towards just-in-time production, and achieving the goal of zero inventory in many cases, noted Maxwell.

“The same market needs for customization and personalization that help grow potential margin can also be achieved with 3D printing, especially now that full-color 3D printing is available,” Maxwell added.

“The ability to produce the exact product or part that a customer needs, customized to their specifications without the need to purchase and stock inventory, has many manufacturers looking to add 3D printing to their service offerings.”

Industrial Printing Isn’t All Fun and Games

Printing onto footballs with the Roland S-Series UV-LED printer.

PrintingNews com

Industrial printing isn’t as straightforward as other types of printing.

It asks that PSPs recognize when technology can be pushed and optimized to reach desired performance.

It requires PSPs understand that if a material is exposed to an abrasive environment that

it demands a more flexible ink, so the print will remain intact (even if damaged). And it may demand a familiarity with the available primers to promote adhesion on difficult substrates.

“These tricks of the trade are what adds value and will differentiate a more successful industrial PSP,” said Maxwell.

The addition of industrial print often means thinking about designing and working with substrates you’re not used to, explained Johansen. Industrial print is often more one-off in nature, opposed to sheetfed and other types of printing.

“In the next five years, we expect to see more and more print businesses competing in the industrial print market,” said Johansen. “That’s bound to set off competition among manufacturers as print buyers begin to look for faster turn times, better image quality, and more eye-catching applications. We’re already seeing a lot of creativity in terms of substrates being used. As inks and hardware continue to be developed, we expect even greater substrate variety, even faster speeds, and even more ease-of-use features.”

Further improvements in print quality, productivity, workflow, and media versatility will continue to drive inkjet adoption into more mainstream applications—such as industrial printing.

“In parallel, the market’s digital drivers of inventory management, versioning, customization, and print on demand (POD) will continue to suppress run lengths and accelerate offset transference to digital,” Murphy said.

“I expect you to pick up a part on the store shelf and not really be able to determine the technology that was used to print it,” said Lambert. “In fact, you would be amazed if you really knew the print technology that was used to decorate your shampoo bottle or your beverage can. It is really going to explode.”

April 2018

Printing News

25

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