Irish Printer - August 2014

AUGUST 2014 // THE VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY // WWW.IRISHPRINTER.IE

04

NEWS

Label World Upgrade Doubles Digital Print Output

14

DESIGN

Not Every Job Should Be CMYK, says PH7 Design

30

WIDE FORMAT

Maximise Your Poster Potential with Canon Ireland

33

FIVE MINS WITH

Bord Gais Energy on Print’s Role in Marketing Awards Win

PRINT

PRINT TO EMERGE STRONGER AFTER

DIGITAL WHIRLPOOL IP COVER AUGUST_FINAL.indd 1

29/7/14 15:44:00

in association with

enter now visit www.irishprinter.ie Celebrating excellence in the Irish printing industry for over 30 years, nominations for the Irish Print Awards are now open. The ceremony will be held on the 28th of November in the Crowne Plaza Dublin – Northwood and promises to be an evening to remember, rewarding the creativity and craft of the print industry.

For more inFormation on the awards or iF you have any queries, please contact: emma.nolan@ashvillemediagroup.com or call 01 432 2226.

IP ADVERT TEMPLATE.indd 1 Irish Print Awards Ad_Entries.indd 1

25/7/14 09:51:59 24/07/2014 10:12:19

Contents | IRISH PRINTER News » 4 A round up of some of the latest news from the Irish print industry.

14

Cover Story » 12 A look at how paper-based media has a future alongside other digital alternatives.

Design » 14 Padraic Horgan, Creative Director with Monaghan-based pH7 Design Ltd, gives printers some advice on how to improve their working relationships with design houses.

Business Matters » 17 What are the selection rules that employers are obliged by law to follow when dealing with employee redundancies? - Rose White, HR Consultant with Athrú Solutions, explains.

Awards Preview » 19 In the third of our Irish Print Awards previews, we profile sponsors Paperlinx Ireland Ltd, Agfa Graphics, Premier Paper, Alphagraphic Inks, and our headline sponsor IBS, a Xerox company.

What’s New in Print » 23 Irish Printer looks at some of the latest innovations and product launches in the trade.

Packaging » 26

26

• Muller Martini Showcases Trump Cards for Web Offset • Fujifilm Puts Graphium Press on Show in Bedford • KAMA Launches Economic Solution for Short-Run Folding Cartons

Wide Format » 29 • Mimaki Helps Kasabian Rock Glastonbury • Inkjet Conference Update • Canon Ireland recently invited its customers and partners to explore the new business opportunities presented by its Oce ColorWave 650 poster printer and its imagePrograf five and 12-colour printers.

Five minutes with » 33

04

Irish Printer talks to Neil Curry, Residential Electricity and Gas Product Owner, Bord Gais Energy, about the role played by print in the organisation’s winning entry in the Integrated Marketing category of The Marketing Institute’s All Ireland Marketing Awards in May.

1 001 IP August 2014_Contents.indd 1

29/7/14 15:50:55

IRISH PRINTER | Editor’s Letter

W

elcome to the August issue of Irish Printer. I can’t believe it is that time of year again - the time when we issue our call for entries for the Irish Print Awards. Our events team here at Ashville Media Group, and this year’s event manager Emma Nolan in particular, are very excited about our new award categories and we hope you are too.

Celebrating excellence in the printing industry for over 35 years, the Irish Print Awards recognise the best of what print companies on the island of Ireland have to offer and are regarded as the leading independent awards event for the Irish print industry. All of the nominees produce world-class printed matter and each year the standard of entries received exceeds expectations. Judged by a select team of industry experts, last year’s Irish Print Awards attracted the highest number of entries to date. More than 300 people attended the 36th annual ceremony last year and we hope to see well in excess of that number attending the 37th annual ceremony on November 28th in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry, in Dublin.

There is no point in pretending that our industry has emerged from the difficulties that it has been experiencing in recent years. Company closures are still happening but we can only hope that the worst is now over and that the industry is facing into a period of at least stability if not growth. I know I am probably repeating myself but Irish print companies have to find new ways to promote what they do to existing and potential public and private sector clients. This year’s new award categories reflect the positive changes that

The team

have taken place in Irish print in recent years. They show how the industry has expanded the range of products that it is delivering and they highlight the innovation that is occurring, with non-print and digital technologies being incorporated into printed material to make it more appealing and to open print service providers up to new markets.

Our industry is full of product and service innovators. I’ve written about a lot of you in issues of the magazine over the past four years but I’m sure there are companies out there who are offering a new or crossmedia service that we haven’t reported on yet. If you think you fit that bill we would love to hear from you. But if you are too modest to subject yourself to a profile in Irish Printer you should seriously consider entering this year’s Irish Print Awards. Success in these awards, whether it is a category win or a nomination, is a mark of excellence for your products and service and one that is respected, not just by your fellow printers but by clients and potential clients. Most importantly, it could prove to be that crucial point of difference between you and another print company when you are bidding to secure that all important contract.

Maev Martin Editor Email: maeve.martin@ashvillemediagroup.com Tel: (01) 432 2271

Editor: Maev Martin Editorial Manager: Mary Connaughton

Printed by: Walsh Colour Print Cover Image: thinkstockphotos.com

Art Director: Jane Matthews Design & Layout: Colm McDermott, Antoinette Sinclair Advertising Designers: Jennifer Reid, Colm McDermott Stock Photography & Illustrations: Thinkstock

Contact: Irish Printer, Ashville Media Group, Old Stone Building, Blackhall Green, Dublin 7 Tel: (01) 432 2200 Web: www.irishprinter.ie

All rights reserved. Every care has been taken to ensure that the information contained in this magazine is accurate. The publishers cannot, however, accept responsibility for errors or omissions. Reproduction by any means in whole or in part without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. © Ashville Media Group 2014. All discounts, promotions and competitions contained in this magazine are run independently of Irish Printer. The promoter/advertiser is responsible for honouring the prize. ISSN 0790-2026

Production Manager: Mary Connaughton Production: Jennifer Reid

2 002 IP August 2014_Editor.indd 2

25/7/14 11:47:26

WKH

Our integration with Xerox paper business means we can now offer you the full range of Xerox branded papers and digital print media, in addition to the already huge range of products you know and trust from Antalis.

Why we’re the perfect match • Exclusive brands • Newly extended product offer • One supplier for all your paper needs • Local customer service • Dedicated account management • Available to order online at antalis.ie

For more information contact Tel: 01 8763100 Email: dublin@antalis.ie antalis.ie

IP ADVERT TEMPLATE.indd 1 xxxxxx_1C_ANTALIS_CMD_IP.indd 1

24/7/14 16:12:03 14:45:41 23/7/14

IRISH PRINTER | News

Label World Upgrade Doubles Digital Print Output

T

he recent installation of a Xeikon 3500 digital press has doubled Co Dublin-based Label World’s digital printing capacity.

The 3500 model, which was installed in February, is one of the fastest digital label printing presses in Ireland. “Our previous press, the Xeikon 3300, was run as a 10 inch wide press, but with the Xeikon 3500 we have upgraded to 20 inches wide,” says Managing Director Declan O’Rourke. “The main difference with this press is the new toner system and the variable lane software which allows different size jobs to be run side by side but it is the phenomenal width that sealed the deal for us. It runs at 20 metres plus a minute, which is the same speed as the 3300, and we are producing a variety of

labels on it for a wide range of sectors.

We believe that this upgrade puts us in a different league and we now feel that we are in a better position to compete in a very competitive industry because of the Xeikon 3500’s capabilities. It is currently producing 30% of our work - the remainder is being produced by our three conventional Mark Andy flexo presses - but it won’t be long before that is 50%. The upgrade to the 3500 model has effectively doubled our digital printing output so it has made a great difference to us. We are delighted to have this capacity now and we are excited about the increased production capabilities

that we can offer our customers and potential customers.”

Label World installed an AB Graphics digital finishing machine in March to work alongside the Xeikon 3500. The company is planning an open day in the autumn when they will invite customers to come and see the new press in action.

Economic Turnaround but Supply Chain Challenges Remain

T

he first survey carried out by the Graphics and Print Media Alliance (GPMA) across the UK printing industry’s supply chain reported a resounding 65% of respondents saying 2014 would bring better results than 2013. A further 33% predict business will be about the same, with only three per cent expecting a decline in sales.

Those who participated in the GPMA survey (90% of which were SMEs) also reported the positive impact of several major government initiatives, such as lowering corporation tax, increasing capital investment allowances and R&D tax credits.

There was a mixed view on the impact of banks towards the industry, and three major issues were highlighted as areas of concern – pre packs, late payments and skills shortages. Interestingly, only 30% of respondents have an apprentice, yet 70% of those who didn’t have one said they would if there was a better financial incentive.

“We were very pleased to see the high level of optimism across the printing industry supply chain but are also concerned about the issues that have a negative impact on growth,” says Peter Kiddell, Vice Chairman, GPMA. “The GPMA will be active in the coming months with responses to the challenges of pre packs, late payments and skills shortages.”

The GPMA, set up in the middle of 2013, has been boosted by the recent addition of two new members: the European Flexographic Industry Association and the Two Sides organisation.

4 004 IP August 2014_News.indd 4

25/7/14 11:50:27

News | IRISH PRINTER

HP’s Latest Latex Models A Big Hit in Ireland

H

P’s new 300 series of latex printers received their global launch at Fespa. However, their debut on the Irish market took place at the Newtech Ireland exhibition at the Ramada Hotel in Belfast (May 20th and 21st) where HP Gold Partner and Authorised Service & Support Partner Diatec took orders for the new models from the Irish print industry.

“At Diatec we are really excited about introducing this new range of HP latex printers to our existing and potential customers,” says Diatec Sales Manager, Graphic Arts, Peter Morrow. “We have experienced phenomenal demand for this new technology and we have had tremendous feedback from our installed base. Since the range was launched in Belfast we have installed five models in print companies around the country and we have orders for the installation of seven units over the summer months.”

The new HP latex series comprises the 310, 330 and 360. The 310 is 54 inches wide, and the 330 and 360 both print up to 64 inches wide. All three use third generation HP latex printing technology. “From small copy shops to medium and large print providers, there is a suitable 300 for both indoor and outdoor sign and display applications,” says Peter. “A feature of the 300 range is that it comes with the HP Latex Optimizer which has been developed to instantly pin pigments onto the media being printed. The new inks offer outstanding durability with superior scratch resistance on vinyl and banner and enhanced quality and performance on a wider range of media. The high ink density options further extend the superior detail and vibrancy to backlit media and textiles.

The Latex 360, with its ink collector kit, now also allows printing directly to porous textiles, including mesh banners and flags without any requirement for a liner.”

The HP Latex inks are completely free from odours, free from HAPS and require no special ventilation in production areas. “Many of our customers are expanding into the interiors market, and the odourless

prints make latex printing the best option for places like schools, restaurants and hospitals where high environmental standards must be met,” says Peter. “Water-based HP latex inks combine the best characteristics of solvent inks and water-based inks. They produce high quality, odourless prints with the environmental advantages of water-based inks and the outdoor durability of solvent inks. HP latex ink prints are completely cured inside the printer to form a durable image that is ready for lamination, finishing, shipment, or display. Other key benefits

of the new Latex 360 range include the simple on-board media and ICC profile creation tool.”

Newtech Ireland, the Printing, Displays and Finishing Show, is the latest in a series of ‘co-op’ events at venues in Edinburgh, Bristol, London and Manchester that have been created to bring companies with complementary products together to reach local markets around the UK and Ireland.

This year’s exhibitors included HP’s Irish partner Diatec, Ultima Displays and Hanolex.

Canon Ireland Welcomes Volkswagen Partnership

C

anon Ireland has welcomed the recent announcement that Canon Inc has signed a global service agreement with German automobile manufacturer Volkswagen AG for the provision of multifunction office systems and solutions. Over the next few years, Canon will serve as a global partner to Volkswagen, providing managed print services through Canon multifunction office systems and solutions to Volkswagen group operating bases worldwide. “Canon’s Managed Print Services solutions allow organisations to save money, increase efficiency and improve productivity and this exciting global partnership represents a great endorsement of our capabilities and will help grow and enhance our reputation, not just globally, but in Ireland,” says Canon Ireland’s Managing Director Philip Brady.

5 004 IP August 2014_News.indd 5

25/7/14 11:51:28

IRISH PRINTER | News

New Bookbinding Operation Reports Definite Upturn in Industry

Alan (left) and Richard Ferns.

R

ecently established Trinity Bookbinding has noticed a ‘definite upturn’ in the industry in recent months. “There are still some pretty tough times ahead but conditions are improving and there is a more positive attitude within the industry,” says Alan Ferns, Managing Director of Trinity Bookbinding.

Trinity Bookbinding was established in February by Alan and Richard Ferns.

Both had previously worked with John Newman in Library Bindings and Harlequin Bookbinding. When Harlequin withdrew from the case binding end of the business to concentrate solely on their Channel Bind product, Alan and Richard believed there was a gap in the market that they could fill by starting their own bindery. “The majority of our work has come from trade printers but we have also worked closely with graphic designers, print brokers and corporate customers,” he says. “The main area that Trinity is concentrating on is hardback\ case bound books. We can also provide scored ring binders, presentation boxes, slipcases, showcards\point of sale material, and foil blocking, as well as a wide range of gluing, tipping and

general print finishing services.” When they began trading in February, Trinity Bookbinding employed three people but they recently employed two more full-time and two part-time workers.

Trinity Bookbinding purchased a Kolbus EMP fully automatic casing-in line with a six station pressing and notching unit, which has the capacity to produce 40 cases per minute.

A Stahl VBF DM300 case maker produces cases\covers for case bound books and single boards for show cards, ring binders and lever arch files and can also produce 40 cases per minute. “A Kolbus PF Automatic foil blocking press, which not only foil blocks but is used for die-cutting various products and scoring ring binders, also has a capacity to deliver 40 hits per minute,” says Alan. “We also operate a Polar 92 guillotine, as well a number of gluing machines, paper drills and a variety of smaller print finishing machinery. We plan to invest in a large format stationery sewing machine in the near future, and we will continue to invest as the business continues to grow. We focus on three key areas - quality, price and lead-times. Based on the machinery

we have invested in (which is some of the most modern in the country), and our vast experience and knowledge of case binding, mixed with our youth, energy and enthusiasm, we believe Trinity Bookbinding offers an unrivaled and unique service when it comes to case binding and related products. The feedback we have received from our expanding customer base is that this approach is working.”

Alan Ferns served his time as a bookbinder with Library Bindings.

He joined the company in 1998 and worked there for 11 years before moving to Harlequin Bookbinding where he was a Director and responsible for the planning and production of all hardback\case bound books. Richard Ferns has 40 years’ experience in the trade, having served his time as a bookbinder in John F Newman & Sons, specialising in a wide range of print finishing, including stationery work and restoration\fine binding. He moved with John Newman to Library Bindings where he was Works Director for over 20 years. When Library Bindings moved to Harlequin Bookbinding again he moved with John until February of this year.

6 004 IP August 2014_News.indd 6

25/7/14 11:52:33

News | IRISH PRINTER

Litho Printer Offers Soft Touch Coating Service

D

undonald, Co Down-based B2 litho print company PrintProject has just launched a new soft touch coating service for the print industry.

“Over the past few years we noticed that many creative papers and processes have dropped off in the market due to a lack of demand because of the costs involved,” says Luke Branagh of PrintProject. “Since we began trading in 2001 we had been the number one choice for very high quality jobs for some of the biggest design houses in Northern Ireland but when the downturn kicked in we changed our business model to offer more economical high quality print to suit the market. However, designers have fallen victim to the market changes in that there are very few reps from either printers or paper companies calling to show them all the lovely new processes and paper swatches. With things stabilising in the market we wanted to go back to our roots and look at new creative processes so that we can offer something new and exciting to designers which they can, in turn, offer to their customers. While soft touch lamination has become available it is still very expensive and a time-consuming off-line process. We discovered our answer when tags that we produced for a large supermarket chain on uncoated board proved to be unsuitable in moist environments.

Soft touch coating had been used on their packaging products and we suggested trialling it on our Heidelberg XL75. We were very pleased with the results and decided to offer this product to our existing customers and to various design houses around the UK and Ireland.”

To showcase soft touch coating PrintProject has produced a selfpromotion pack of postcards using various board stocks and foiling.

These all fit into a bespoke printed folder with an A3 poster. “It has been very well received by our customers and we have taken on several projects to date that utilise the soft touch coating,” says PrintProject Director Geoff Truesdale. “We

identified soft touch lamination as a poor man’s choice against the likes of GF Smith’s Plike and we have discovered a bridge to achieve this effect at a price level suited to today’s market.”

For further information visit www.PrintProject.co.uk.

Antalis Sends Printers to Planet Football

N

ine lucky consumers and nine resellers attended the quarter finals and final of the World Cup thanks to their participation in the international Image Yourself contest organised by Antalis.

Antalis launched the Image Yourself reseller and end-user photo contest in September 2013 to boost sales of its own brand Image collection, which offers office and digital papers for home offices and professionals. Participants simply needed to take a photo of themselves Belgian customer scoops top prize with a real or virtual Image ream and in Antalis IMAGE promotion. submit it via an easy-to-use and fun mobile or web application. They could also share the photo with friends, family and colleagues via social media.

Each week there were a number of prizes up for grabs, including fatboys, camcorders, t-shirts and watches, as well as the nine VIP trips for consumers and another nine for resellers: five trips to Brazil, three trips to a quarter final and one trip to the final. The ultimate consumer prize was won by Belgian customer Geert van Hollebeke while the reseller VIP prize was won by Kevin Farrell, Merchandising Director at UK Office supplier, Almo Office. This oncein-a–lifetime, six-day expenses paid trip included return flights to Rio de Janeiro, hotel accommodation, sight-seeing trips, a cruise across the stunning Guanabara Bay and a visit to a local football academy, before heading to the Estádio Maracanã for the final decisive game on July 13th.

A total of 25,000 participants registered for the contest, which was open to consumers throughout Europe and to resellers in France, Germany, the UK, Ireland, Spain, Switzerland and the Netherlands.

7 004 IP August 2014_News.indd 7

25/7/14 11:53:24

IRISH PRINTER | News

Chesapeake ‘Future-Proofs’ Business with KBA

KBA’s Mark Chatur (left), Mark Wilson (centre) of Chesapeake/MPS Greenford, and KBA UK Managing Director Andrew Pang at the delivery of the new Rapida 106, with the first Rapida 106 in the background.

C

hesapeake/MPS Greenford has chosen the latest KBA Rapida 106 four-colour B1 press as part of a £3m investment programme.

“The Rapida 106 will future-proof our print capability for the next phase of our development,” says Mark Wilson, General Manager of Chesapeake/MPS’s Leaflets UK and Ireland business. “We aim to take the lead in everything we do and this investment will help us to remain at the forefront of the industry.”

In addition to the production of specialist patient information leaflets, the Greenford site is considered to be an innovation centre for leaflet development, serving niche markets and trialling new offerings. “There is a lot of development at this site that then cascades to other locations, as and when appropriate,” he says. “KBA presses are technically advanced and that is something our customers can benefit from.”

The four-colour B1 perfecting press - claimed by KBA to be the ‘world makeready champion’ - replaces two B2 presses. “With the flexibility and capacity the new Rapida provides we are much better placed to meet the

production needs of the market as it is evolving,” says Mark Wilson. Crucial to the choice was the Rapida’s proficiency with lightweight stocks. “Much of our work is on 40gsm and we wanted to work with a specialist in lightweight papers,” says Mark. KBA’s patented DriveTronic SIS sidelay-free in-feed system allows the sheet more time to arrive at the front lays and brings more stability to the sheet travel without operator intervention.

“We have a similar system in operation on the Rapida 106 at our Tewkesbury plant so we know just how effective it can be in aiding speed and productivity,” says Mark.

The investment was also prompted by other changes in customer requirements. “We are seeing market demand move towards larger leaflet sizes to meet EU regulations for the inclusion of more information,” says Mark. “That means an increase in the amount of work we are producing. The new B1 Rapida will help us efficiently meet that market shift. I first started at Chesapeake Greenford 13 years ago.

Then we had eight presses - now we have two. The number of leaflet styles

we produce has reduced but the overall volume of work remains broadly similar.”

Chesapeake Greenford’s 18,000sph Rapida 106 also features KBA’s DriveTronic Simultaneous Plate Change, DriveTronic Plate Ident, the CleanTronic Synchro multi-purpose washing system, ErgoTronic ColorDrive ink density measurement, LogoTronic CIPLinkX to transfer presetting data, antistatic equipment, and an extended video system for sheet travel monitoring. The £3m spend includes the retrofitting of a Maybeg ReelSheeter system for the printing of reels on the operation’s existing six colour KBA Rapida 106, as well as new investment in the pre- and post-press departments. “The benefits of the roll-to-sheet solution include increased productivity and smoother delivery to the pallet,” says Mark.

Chesapeake/Multi Packaging Solutions merged in February. The combined business supplies folding cartons, leaflets and labels, as well as rigid boxes and tubes, to the healthcare, consumer and multimedia markets.

8 004 IP August 2014_News.indd 8

25/7/14 11:54:24

News | IRISH PRINTER

MyPressXpert is Primary Distributor for Compose

M

yPressXpert (MPX) has been appointed as the UK’s primary distributor for Compose Systems’ solutions. Kevin Caughtry, the former Sales Manager at Compose Europe, has joined MPX as their new Sales Director to head up the company’s sales and to promote the complementary solutions from Compose and MPX, including MPX’s range of file handling, colour management, press profiling and colour proofing.

“I am very excited about this new opportunity to offer customers the extensive market leading products from Compose and MPX, including leading brands such as Elpical, Callas, ColorLogic, Smart Softproofing, and the Colorgate Digital RIPs and production suite for professional large format printing,” says Kevin. “We will continue to sell and support Auraia Screening as we have active print trials at some of the leading national newspapers, large print groups and commercial printing houses which are showing very promising results.”

MPX will have the full training and technical support from Compose System to enable their team to support existing users. Kevin will continue to promote the BigIceBox (BIB) and QuickFit4Print ganging/imposition systems, and to deliver Tharstern MIS integrated BIB solution to FM Print.

“It is a real pleasure working with Kevin, “ says Niall Coady, Managing Director of MPX. “His many years of experience and client facing skills will be an asset both to our business and our valued clients. Our appointment as the European technical support agent for Compose systems has given our business a real lift, providing stability for the future. I look forward to working with Kevin to expand our services and add value where our clients need it most - savings and automation. MyPressXpert is a team of digital calibration specialists, widely recognised as being at the forefront of print process control and pre-media colour management engineering. In

a nutshell, we have all the tools and experience to calibrate everything from a desktop proofing system, to monitors, big printing presses and even an iPad. We can also calibrate files, after all you cannot achieve a standardised print result without first having a standardised PDF or image.

In fact many print-related problems are caused by the files themselves.

This is something we see in our complementary audit procedure over 50% of the time. If we cannot get a result or things are not working we find out what’s wrong and we plan how to fix it. Likewise, if your press is running perfectly we will tell you and uncover the real issue behind your production problems. Finally, we have developed calibration tools and we advise others about calibration and associated technologies. Our goal is

to help companies standardise their print and automate their workflow through effective calibration and expert analysis. This has been proven to deliver tangible process savings and improved quality. Our goal is to provide technical know how to companies wishing to automate critical processes previously performed by skilled operators and to give clients the confidence that they are getting valuable expert advice that will make their businesses more efficient and profitable”.

Compose System is an established developer of prepress workflow, digital colour proofing and print publishing solutions. The company’s solutions are centered on the professional Express WorkFlow systems and the Harlequin RIP. Products include Express NewsFlow, InkScript, and IS Connect.

9 004 IP August 2014_News.indd 9

25/7/14 11:54:49

IRISH PRINTER | News

Printer and Copier Makers Boost Energy Efficiency

T

he makers of inkjet printers and copiers for homes and small businesses have boosted energy efficiency by more than 20% in two years thanks to an industry selfregulation initiative adopted in 2011.

That’s according to a report published in Brussels on June 30th by an independent inspector. In its latest Energy Efficiency Report, ERA Technology said energy consumption from so-called OM products was reduced by 20.8% between 2011 and 2013. Overall, the imaging equipment industry has reduced the energy consumption of its products (sold between 2011 and 2013) by 10.5%. The reduction of energy consumption is the outcome of measures taken by all major manufacturers of the imaging equipment to decrease their environmental footprint (Voluntary Agreement on Ecodesign). The agreement developed by EuroVAprint (the association grouping all major manufacturers of imaging equipment that operate in Europe) is binding for its 16 signatories. Since 2011, compliance with environmentally-friendly design requirements of imaging equipment products has been continuously increasing: from 93.92% in 2011 to 97.63% at the end of 2013 (figure provided by ERA Technology).

“Our industry is a vivid example of how self-regulation can work in Europe,” says EuroVAprint President, Maxine Furkel of Lexmark. “The Ecodesign measures provide the right conditions for industries to take universal and immediate action to reduce energy consumption. Our voluntary agreement allows different manufacturers to work together for energy saving targets and achieve immediate results.”

The agreement, backed by the European Commission, obliges manufacturers to comply with a strict set of design and information requirements related to energy consumption, recyclability, and use of compatible cartridges.

Manufacturers agreed to undertake measures to encourage the use of automatic duplex (double-sided) and “N-up” printing (several pages on one sheet) to save more paper. The agreement also lays down a series of requirements for environmental information that needs to be made available to customers. The Voluntary Agreement also has the effect of reducing the administrative burden for authorities: the administrative costs of the Voluntary Agreement are lower compared to European legislation (e.g. Regulation) and are

directly borne by the industry, not the tax payers.

The Voluntary Agreement signed on February 16th 2011 established a set of targets to be met by January 1st, 2012, for all products sold on the EU market.

Requirements for energy-efficiency and duplexing availability must be met by at least 90% of products sold.

The agreement aims to reduce the environmental footprint of imaging equipment - both by design and by helping customers make informed choices during purchase and usage of the equipment. The Voluntary Agreement was officially backed by the European Commission in January 2013. EuroVAprint represents Europe’s leading manufacturers of imaging equipment, accounting together for over 95% of the EU market for personal and office equipment. It is committed to environmental sustainability and improvement, as set out in the 2011 Voluntary Agreement in the context of the 2009 Energy-Related Products Directive. Its members are Brother, Canon, Dell, Epson Europe, Hewlett Packard, Konica Minolta, Kyocera Document Solutions, Lexmark, Murata Machinery, Oki, Panasonic, Ricoh, Samsung, Sharp, Toshiba and Xerox.

Further information is available at www.eurovaprint.eu.

10 004 IP August 2014_News.indd 10

25/7/14 11:55:10

News | IRISH PRINTER

New Three Year Warranty Offer from Mimaki

M

imaki’s UK & Ireland distributor, Hybrid Services Ltd has announced package deals on its JV33 wide format printer and selected CJV30 printer/cutters, which can benefit purchasers with over £5,000 of free extras. For a limited period, companies investing in a 1.3m or 1.6m Mimaki JV33 or CJV30 this summer will get a free three-year gold warranty, free inkset, free high end RIP package and cutting software - on products that feature a cutting element - free powered take-up unit, free delivery and free build.

“Both the Mimaki JV33 and CJV30 machines have become firm favourites with our customers and already represent amazing value for money,” says Hybrid’s National Sales Manager – Sign and Graphics, John de la Roche.

“By making them available to an even wider audience we can help them appreciate the fantastic build quality, proven productivity, reliability and low running costs associated with owning a Mimaki product. You can’t put a price on peace of mind but we’re confident that an offer like this makes owning a wide format printer a stress-free

experience with the benefit of a three-year warranty and no hidden extras at the outset.”

The Mimaki CJV30 Series is an integrated printer/cutter with the capability to print onto almost any display material, including banner, canvas, paper, self adhesive vinyl, vehicle wrap, backlit, and garment marking film. The Mimaki JV33 is a range of 1.3m and 1.6m wide outdoor durable inkjet printers. Available as a standalone printer, or in print and cut packages with Mimaki’s CG-FXII cutting plotters, the JV33 offers a choice of inksets, including white ink and new metallic ink. The promotion is set to run throughout the summer. “This is a great opportunity to invest in proven and high quality wide format equipment, whether you’re upgrading or if you have yet to make the first step into wide format production,” says John de la Roche. “There really has never been a better time to get on board with two of the very best and most productive machines in the Mimaki line-up. The inclusive package of benefits and three years peace of mind really does make it an easy decision to make!”

Ricoh Makes it Three in A Row as MPS Leader

R

icoh announced on July 8th that it had secured a market leadership position in Managed Print Services (MPS) for the third consecutive year. That is according to a new report from analyst firm Quocirca entitled ‘Managed Print Services (MPS) Landscape, 2014’. Ricoh saw double digit business growth in 2013.

Ricoh’s MPS offerings are delivered to customers as part of its Ricoh Managed Document Services (Ricoh MDS) portfolio. Ricoh’s 30,000 service professionals around the world help businesses in sectors such as financial services and healthcare better manage both print and electronic information. Ricoh’s Managed Document Services can help customers manage critical business processes, activities, and resources with the ultimate benefit of controlling costs, increasing revenue and enhancing employee productivity.

Ricoh has made services acquisitions in the last 12 months, including mind SHIFT Technologies Inc, a leading provider of managed IT, cloud, data center and professional services, and Aventia, a technological consulting services organisation. It has also made a strategic investment in Avanti Computer Systems Ltd, a leading provider of print Stephen Palmer, Head of management information systems.

Production Print, Ricoh UK Ricoh was also once again positioned in the ‘Leaders’ quadrant in Gartner’s annual and Ireland.

‘Magic Quadrant for Managed Print Services Worldwide’ 2013 report. In addition, Gartner ranked Ricoh in the top three in its global 2013 ‘Competitive Landscape: Managed Print Services, Worldwide’ for its estimated worldwide direct MPS revenue. IDC also named Ricoh a Leader in Worldwide Managed Print Services in the ‘IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Managed Print and Document Services 2013 Hardcopy Vendor Analysis’.

11 004 IP August 2014_News.indd 11

25/7/14 11:55:40

Cover Story | IRISH PRINTER

Print will

‘Reform and Reappear’ after ‘Digital Whirlpool’

Paper-based media has a future alongside other digital alternatives but there remains a need to be adaptable and creative to secure a place in the journey from the print-first to digital-first world.

T

hat was one of the key findings of a recently published report entitled The European Digital Media Landscape to 2020 – The Future of Paper and Print, which was commissioned by the Stationers’ Company and written by consultants Martin Glass of EMGE & Company and Jim Bilton of Wessenden Marketing.

The report offers eight challenges to the paper and print sector. The first is to embrace digital, don’t fight it. It then urges the industry to know more about digital than digital knows about print and to be more creative with print applications. Printers and paper merchants are being called on to adopt new technologies such as augmented reality, optical recognition, goggles etc, and to be confident and honest about papers’ qualities, particularly its engagement capability, as digital technology increasingly fragments data to meet the needs of the smaller devices. The industry is urged to focus on matching content to the medium, to aim for value rather than volume as print offers a deeper experience than digital. Metrics must be developed to prove that print engagement, something to compare to and compete with the volume metrics of digital. Finally, print

must make itself relevant in a digital world.

The report points out that we are living in a ‘digital whirlpool’, a phase when competing digital and paper-based technologies are creating complex media migrations and where the rise of the mobile, tablet and cloud-based storage and ‘big data’ information banks are changing the battle lines. Digital and paper-based technologies continue to vie for the marketers’ attention as we move from a ‘print-first’ to a ‘digital-first’ setting.

The Transition of Print Media in the Digital Landscape The advertising and communications markets and the whole of society are in a process of transition, from print-first to digital first. But this process of transition is not just a matter of moving simply from print to digital, it is much more

complex, says the report. According to the authors, during the current decade (2010 to 2020) the whole media sector is experiencing a maelstrom of change which they call the digital whirlpool. “Inside the whirlpool, paper media and digital media mix, crossover, substitute and interleave in a complex, non-linear manner,” says the report. “To many, especially those who do not understand the power of print, they see paper in this whirlpool swirling down the drain, like toilet paper.

However, the reality is very different – a modern paperless society is about as useful as a paperless toilet. Instead of being washed away totally, usage of print continues but it is being dispersed. Print will remain in demand, albeit at a lower level than before, and paper demand will continue to decline in Western Europe in the coming years. But all is not dead for paper, despite all the rhetoric from the digital world. Print has a unique ability to

12 012 IP August 2014_Cover Story.indd 12

25/7/14 11:57:02

Cover Story | IRISH PRINTER

engage readers and keep their attention, something increasingly rare and valuable, in a digital world where everything is being broken down into bite-sized snippets. Although paper-based media in general are expected to suffer significantly due to substitution from digital and mobile platforms, paper and print will be recognised for their power to support advertisers and marketers, for example, by driving consumers to digital media (and even vice versa). Eventually, print will reform and reappear in a different, new and sometimes novel manner. The future of paper and print will be determined by how they reinvent themselves in a digitalfirst universe.”

7 Mega Trends MegaTrend 1 – The Growth of Mobile Technology The growth of mobile technology, especially smartphones and tablets, enables users and suppliers of information to access the Internet etc almost anywhere.

MegaTrend 2 – The Growth of Social Media The rapid explosion of social media, largely based on mobile technology (especially smartphones) has been an unprecedented phenomenon, becoming for many an essential adjunct to almost every aspect of daily life. Social media, along with other mobile Internet activities, provides marketers with a rich feeding ground for information on the consumption interests of individuals like never before. In addition, the interactive nature of social media represents a new, novel way to communicate with consumers.

MegaTrend 3: Personalisation & Fragmentation Data on individuals is being collected at an unprecedented rate, which is leading to Big Data resources that can provide accurate targeting information, sometimes in real-time. Fragmentation of audiences is reaching a new phase, resulting in the ultimate goal – a market of one.

MegaTrend 4 – The Digital Whirlpool The impact of digital media on paper and print is more complicated than ever before. The outcome is a digital whirlpool, which the report’s authors see as having four currents for consumption, all running in parallel – digital pure play, print migrating into digital, digital working with print, and digital backing into print.

We envisage a world beyond 2020 where print usage is established in a new digital media universe, where paper is recognised more for its unique benefits, as opposed to its current, vulnerable position as the target for all digital media to attack.

The report claims that, as the digital media mature, print will find new, good applications too.

MegaTrend 5 – The Blurring of Old Boundaries The convergence of technologies, communications, social activity etc., is leading to a world without clear segmentation. For media, the old silos are under threat, with everything driven by data and automated communications.

MegaTrend 6 – Value the New Constant Consumer behaviour which is now much more driven by ‘value for money’ and ‘smart consumption’ has become a new and permanent feature of both consumer and B2B markets. Consumers are increasingly expecting it all now – product quality + customer service + value for money + convenience.

MegaTrend 7 – The Back End is as Important as the Front End The ‘back-end’ is changing just as rapidly as the ‘front-end’ and front-office and back-office issues now overlap and affect each other. The most fundamental issue is how people pay for the products they consume, whether digital or print, and who enables that payment.

Beyond 2020 Today the edges between technologies are blurring and there are digital players going back to print and print publishers going digital and others launching on multimedia platforms. The report says that there are digital technologies and applications that are with us long-term, and others that will turn out to be hype.

The authors believe that by 2020 most of the substitution effects between digital and print will have taken place. The paper and print industries, while reduced, will

reach a settle-down phase in a world dominated by digital when the durability of print will be recognised. Importantly, regarding digital media, the authors do no foresee another big technological revolution ahead (like the Internet itself, broadband, mobile Internet, social networks and Cloud). “The technological development into digital will continue but now seems to be ‘more of the same’ and ‘variations on the theme’ rather than the dramatic and disruptive developments we have seen, almost constantly, over the past 15 or more years,” says the report. “The convergence of digital technology and display technology has already occurred, with the prime example being LCD and E-paper tablets (e.g. smartphones and tablets) so the final step in substitution between paper and electronic devices is already in place. We can expect better screens, new interaction modes (gestures, optical recognition, augmented reality, goggles etc.) but many of the new technological developments on the horizon (such as digital video and smart TVs) are as likely to affect other digital and electronic media as much, if not more, than paper. Without another new, major technological (or other) disruption, longer term, then, we envisage a world beyond 2020 where print usage is established in a new digital media universe, where paper is recognised more for its unique benefits, as opposed to its current, vulnerable position as the target for all digital media to attack.”

As well as looking at overall trends, paper volumes etc., the European Digital Media Landscape to 2020 report includes a look at specific market segments, including newspapers, magazines, books, advertising and commercial print and office/business documents.

13 012 IP August 2014_Cover Story.indd 13

25/7/14 11:58:06

CMYK Not Every Job Should be

In this month’s design focus Maev Martin talks to Padraic Horgan, Creative Director with Monaghanbased pH7 Design Ltd, who has some (hopefully welcome!) advice for printers in dealing with design houses.

“My top tip for Irish printers who are keen to get more work from design studios is to firstly recognise that a lot of studios probably do already have good established relationships with print houses and to then work with the design studios to find areas where they perhaps need some new expertise,” he says. “It is not always about who can print the cheapest 12-page A4. It is about smarter and better ways of getting the best from that budget spend. There are always many ways to approach a problem or a print budget. Responding on time is crucial! There is no point in telling studios that you have a wonderful print house if it then takes you a week to respond to a quotation request. I appreciate that we are all busy but that week-long delay could have seen that job costed, quoted, discussed and agreed by some other print house. Also, I think print companies should adopt more of an ‘undersell and overdeliver’ approach. There are times when we

don’t need to know the name and make of all the equipment in your print house! Sometimes meeting a delivery date early or coming up with a better solution within budget is far more impressive.”

Printer Error Padraic cites what he describes as typical mistakes or assumptions that print companies make when they are working on jobs with a design house. “Firstly, they sometimes forget that we are passionate about print and print quality,” he says.

“When a studio spends three weeks or three months working on a print design, we only want the best from that printed job. We only want the vision realised and for them to do justice to the hours and hours spent on its layout, its colour and its composition. Also, very often print companies forget to communicate with design houses. If a deadline cannot be met, tell us it can’t be met, but tell us in advance, and not when the client has called us to know the delivery time for

14 014 IP August 2014_Design.indd 14

25/7/14 11:59:29

Design | IRISH PRINTER

that day. And remember, not all designers want process! Not every job should be CYMK – that would be disappointing.

There is room on presses for single colour, two colour and other types of inks. There is also still a wonderful world of amazing papers out there. We do appreciate that nice papers cost a bit more but sometimes we can find that little bit more in the budget, especially if it is deserved.”

Lessons from Abroad

PADRAIC HOrgan, Creative Director with Monaghan-based pH7 Design Ltd

AINE’s Chocolates

Like David Smith of Atelier David Smith, who was profiled in the June issue of Irish Printer, Padraic believes that Irish print companies could learn a lot about specific aspects of the pre-press, press and finishing sides of the business from their overseas counterparts. “Quite simply, there is just a better ‘can do’ attitude in other countries when it comes to the achievement of higher standards of print and print finishing,” he claims. “Perhaps, it is the investment some of these overseas companies make in specialised equipment for bookwork, print finishing or sewing, but I think it has a lot more to do with setting better standards in each print house, and with trying to get designers and clients to embrace your own niche skill areas and see first hand the aspects of your printing that you are ‘just very good at’. In nearly 20 years working as a designer, I have seen a person in nearly every print house, large and small, who is just really brilliant at their particular job. These talented people should get recognised and these skills should be honed so that they can make an even bigger difference to that particlar company’s skillset.”

Solid Working Relationships

PH7 CASTLE LESLIE BOOK

pH7 works with three print companies on a regular basis - The Inkspot, Lion Print (a family print company in Cashel, Co Tipperary) and WG Baird in Co Antrim for larger format, B1 printing.

“We have been working with these print companies for a long time now,” says Padraic. “I believe that a solid working relationship where both the design studio and the printer understand each others requirements, timeframes and ‘habits’ can only be a good thing. Over the last few years, as client budgets have been reduced in line with economic necessity and a new marketing focus, we have found ourselves, like so many small niche

studios, trying to find better and more interesting ways to answer a client’s brief and their print requirements.

Therefore, working with companies like Inkspot, and especially Lion Print, has allowed us to have more ‘honest open discussions’ to find simpler, and perhaps more tailored, solutions to these print jobs. Having worked with Lion Print for almost ten years now, we have nothing but high praise for their dedication and commitment to all types and sizes of jobs. They are the kind of printers who would still print a beautiful glossy exhibition catalogue one day and the next day finish a bespoke business card with a foiling and emboss, all inhouse. This is what I like about smaller, more hands on, print houses – they want to assist us in different kinds of work and are not just slaves to process on a four or five colour press.”

The long-standing relationships that they have built up with Inkspot and Lion Print have also worked well for them when it comes to the estimation side of the business. “In times like these where studios are working so much harder to get back to companies with proposals and revised proposals, we need to get relevant and accurate costings within a few days,” he says.

“I think this is an ‘essential cog’ in the good business relationship between design studio and printer. Without these prompt quotations we could miss our proposal submission dates or we would certainly have to look elsewhere for an alternative costing from a different print company. I guess what we are talking about here is good communication.

Our long-standing relationships have been forged because of commitments to meeting deadlines. When you know a print company well, and they know you well, you don’t need to question if a delivery date will be met, it just happens. It’s always one less thing to have to think about in what is already a busy working environment. In times where circumstances were unavoidable, I recognise and applaud the extra effort made by an owner or account manager who sees you at 6am to ensure that your print deadlines are met.”

Have Printers Become a Bit Bland?

While acknowledging that digital print technology has improved enormously and is bringing many benefits to print companies, Padraic is concerned that the importance of selecting a quality

15 014 IP August 2014_Design.indd 15

25/7/14 12:00:37

IRISH PRINTER | Design

voucher for Savoir Faire

paper and of incorporating some of the old crafts, such as letterpress and high end finishes such as foiling, could be forgotten. “I do think that the print industry is suffering from a certain amount of ‘blandness’,” he says.

“Ten years ago designers were spoilt for choice with better budgets, some amazing papers, materials, substrates, and the freedom to mix stocks, processes and inks. Now, it seems that our clients believe that anything is better than something worthwhile.

I recognise the value of digital and I appreciate that it is getting better but it still has so many limitations. I would hate to see a situation where digital or basic run-of-the-mill process on coated/uncoated kills off the desire for a beautiful two colour job on a very different stock or, dare I mention it, for a foil or letterpress process.

As a boutique studio, we still like to embrace these techniques as not only does it still challenge us as designers but it is also healthy for the industry as a whole.”

Innovative Designs pH7 has worked on a few projects recently that they believe are noteworthy in terms of either the print quality or the print finishing work.

Hidden Heritage is a hardback book for Monaghan County Museum, which was printed by Lion Print and finished

by Kavanagh Bookbinding. “It is a flawless example of two print houses delivering a very high end hard cover book with gloss dust jacket and a gold foiled hardcover,” says Padraic. “This is very much a design project that we are proud to have been associated with.

Between Two Worlds, the Castle Leslie Story is a similar type of high quality

project. This book was produced in conjunction with a full exhibition of high quality digitally printed panels, which were all printed by Lion Print.

This goes to show what small, family-run print houses can achieve when they build on a reputation for working with designers. We are always happy for them to be responsible for every print requirement, and in this particular exhibition they produced the large digital exhibition panels, exhibition book, posters, displays, drop banners, and bespoke invitations.”

Another interesting and ongoing print project that pH7 is involved with is chocolate bar wrappers for Aine’s Chocolates which are produced

by Inkspot. “This is a five colour print job but one that requires careful colour consistency and a very high level of print finishing,” says Padraic. “Alongside the bar wrappers themselves, Inkpot have been consummate professionals in the printing, folding and finishing of small die cut swing tags.” pH7 also designed the marketing and promotional print items for a Frenchinspired home interior company called Savoir Faire and, again, all of the print work was handled and produced

by Cashel-based Lion Print. “These beautifully printed items incorporate quality papers, two colour pantone printing, foiling and holograms, and accurate die-cutting on vouchers and gift items,” says Padraic. When it comes to large format, pH7 designed a full exhibition of over 70 eight foot exhibition panels which tell the story of the Irish involvement in the Olympic games. The ‘Patriot Games’ exhibition was hosted by Louth County Museum

Olympic EXHIBITION, 70 8ft exhibition panels telling the story of the Irish involvement in the Olympic games

Hidden Heritage, hardback book for Monaghan County Museum

and the large format panel graphics were produced and finished by Lion Print. “In producing for exhibitions, it is essential to have a rock solid relationship with your printers as requirements, sizes and aspects of an exhibition can change close to the deadline date,” says Padraic. “We have always been praised for the quality of panels and graphics produced in every exhibition we have undertaken.”

16 014 IP August 2014_Design.indd 16

25/7/14 12:01:17

Business Matters | IRISH PRINTER

Handling Redundancy Rose White, HR Consultant with Athrú Solutions, explains the selection rules that employers are obliged by law to follow when dealing with employee redundancies.

What is Redundancy?

Redundancy occurs when an employee loses his or her job due to: • His or her employer ceasing or intending to cease to carry on the business.

• The employer has decided to carry on the business but needs to do so with fewer employees.

• The employer has decided that the work which the employee has been employed to do can be undertaken henceforth by a person who is also capable of doing work for which the employee is not sufficiently qualified.

Selection for Redundancy When an employer is selecting for redundancy, the criteria used should be capable of objective verification. Therefore, selection based solely on the discretion of a Managing Director would not be advised. As with any dismissal, an employer must act reasonably when selecting an employee in a redundancy situation. This requires prior consultation with employees before the decision is made.

As an employer, you should consider all options, including possible alternative work, short time or lay off where the situation may be temporary. It is recommended that employers make their selection based on criteria which is directly referable to records such as performance, time keeping, qualifications and length of service. Before the selection for redundancy can occur, proper notice must be given to the employees that the employer is considering them for redundancies.

Statutory notice periods are as follows:

LENGTH OF SERVICE

NOTICE REQUIRED

Between 2-5 years

2 weeks notice

Between 5-10 years

4 weeks notice

Between 10-15 years

6 weeks notice

Over 15 years

8 weeks notice

Redundancy Payments For statutory redundancy the lump-sum payment is calculated at two weeks pay for every year worked within the company plus one bonus week. This two weeks’ pay is capped at €600 per week. Pay in this case would be considered as your normal weekly pay, including average regular overtime and benefits-in-kind, but before tax and PRSI deductions. All statutory redundancy payments are tax-free. To be entitled to a redundancy payment employees must have at least 102 weeks continuous service with their employer.

Employers’ Insolvency It is the employer’s responsibility to pay the statutory lump-sum redundancy payment. However, in some cases, the redundancy situation may have arisen as a result of

17 017 IP August 2014_Business Matters.indd 17

25/7/14 12:03:54

IRISH PRINTER | Business Matters

liquidation or receivership or the employer simply may not have the ability to pay (in this case an employer must produce proof that they cannot pay). In the event that an employer cannot meet their statutory lump-sum redundancy payment, the employee can fill out an RP50 form which will allow the Social Insurance Fund to pay the redundancy lumpsum payment to the employee.

Lay-Off Lay off, as defined under the redundancies payment act 1977 - 2012, is a situation where an employer has no current requirement for the employee and is no longer able to provide work for the employee but believes this situation is only temporary. For an employer to put an employee on short time or lay off it must be either written into the employee handbook or contract. When this situation arises, the proposed length of time for the layoff or short time must be explained to the employees. Employers must keep the employees informed about matters regarding their work situation at all times during the short time/lay off period.

While an employee is on short time or lay off they may be able to claim a payment from the Department of Social Welfare.

If an employee stays on short time or lay off for four continuous weeks or six weeks in a 13-week period the employee may give their employer notice in writing that they plan to take a claim for redundancy. Unless the employer

counter claims by offering full time work for a minimum of 13 weeks an employee may be entitled to redundancy payment.

It is the employee’s responsibility to complete the RP9 form and give it to the employer.

It is imperative that all employers follow guidelines when going into a redundancy situation as poor selection processes with unreasonable criteria can lead to indirect discrimination.

This in turn can lead to costly unfair dismissals claims of up to two years’ salary under the Unfair Dismissal Act 1977-2007.

It is also important to remember that when a redundancy situation arises, it can have a negative effect on morale within the company and consideration should be given to those employees that remain. A good selection process and succession planning will be crucial to the continued success of your business.

About the Author Rose White (BA Legal Studies, LL.B), is a HR consultant with Athrú Solutions. The Dublin-based outsource company provides a complete human resources management service with personalised human resources packages to meet the needs of SMEs, start-ups and multinationals.

K600i versatile inkjet printer for Variable Data Printing

Stand S5F391

www.domino-printing.com xxxxxx_2L_CODICO_CMD_IP.indd 230987_2L_CODICO_JR_IP.indd 1 1

18

017 IP August 2014_Business Matters.indd 18

www.codico-distributors.com Cleaboy Business Park, Old Kilmeaden Road, Waterford • Tel (051) 379933 Unit 4,W.I.N Business Pk, Canal Quay, Newry, BT35 6PH • Tel (028302 ) 61066

24/7/14 12:46:17 30/04/2014 17:11:29

25/7/14 12:04:25

Awards Preview | IRISH PRINTER

IBS, a Xerox Company, Headlines Irish Print Awards 2014 In the third of our Irish Print Awards previews, we profile sponsors Paperlinx Ireland Ltd, Agfa Graphics, Premier Paper, Alphagraphic Inks, and our headline sponsor IBS, a Xerox company.

I

rish Printer is delighted to have IBS, a Xerox company, on board as our headline sponsor for the Irish Print Awards 2014. IBS, a Xerox company, has been sponsoring the Print Manager of the Year category and the Variable Data Print category for a number of years now and they are sponsoring these categories again this year.

IBS, a Xerox Company, brings unrivalled expertise to the market, providing the full Xerox product and services portfolio, from entry level presses to complete automated workflow solutions, across the island of Ireland.

“We provide market leading technology in a consultative approach to enable our customers to produce more jobs, reduce costs and grow their business,” says Diane Murphy, Sales Operations and Marketing Manager at IBS, a Xerox company. “We see Irish Printer as a valuable medium for placing IBS, a Xerox company, in front of one of our key target markets. The awards dinner is a great opportunity to continue the placement of our brand, products and services in front of our existing customers and potential new customers. The Print Manager of the Year and Variable Data Print categories are both relatively new categories in the Irish Print Awards. We were asked as a key partner a number of years ago if there were any other potential areas

As we visit our customers we frequently see the Irish Print Award certificates proudly displayed in their reception areas. This is an award recognising excellence and is one of the benchmarks by which companies can be judged.

which could be rewarded. We thought the idea of awarding an individual as opposed to a company had some merit, and the Print Manager of the Year category was established. When it comes to variable data print, Xerox is at the forefront of this technology with the XMPie suite of products and services.

For that reason, the association with this award was very important to

us. As we visit our customers we frequently see the Irish Print Award certificates proudly displayed in their reception areas. This is an award recognising excellence and is one of the benchmarks by which companies can be judged. It is a validation of a company’s expertise in a particular field and no doubt also has merit in the mindset of their customers.”

19 019 IP August 2014_Awards.indd 19

25/7/14 12:05:28

IRISH PRINTER | Awards Preview

Paperlinx Ireland Ltd is sponsoring the following categories:

Spectrum Signs took the top award in the Commercial Vehicle Wraps category of the 2013 awards for the printing of the Spectrum Signs van.

• Commercial Vehicle Wrap Printer of the Year • LED Sign Printer of the Year Paperlinx Ireland Ltd is sponsoring the Commercial Vehicle Wrap Printer of the Year for the third year in a row and this year they are also sponsoring one of our new categories in the Irish Print Awards – LED Sign Printer of the Year.

“Paperlinx Ireland Ltd have decided to sponsor the new LED category because of the growth that is happening in this innovative sector of the signage, retail, shop fitting, architectural, display and design market,” says Enda Brophy, Director at Paperlinx Ireland. “The innovation that has occurred with LED technology over the past two years is something that our customers are very impressed with. There is now a broad range of LED products for a wide variety of applications.

Combining LED applications with our portfolio of plastics for backlighting, edge lighting, architectural, neon colour changing wall wash, shelving, and down lighting etc, has allowed us to become a one stop solution provider, advising customers across a broad range of markets.

Printers and sign makers have a natural crossover with shop fitting and vice versa, allowing them to expand their services into a wider range of segments and increasing the end users’ knowledge of the range of services available. LEDs have improved at such a fast pace in terms of quality and innovation that they have become a key design component in many solutions and, on top of all this, there is the energy saving aspect where the user can save up to 70% more energy compared with other lighting solutions. Quality LED solutions have allowed Paperlinx Ireland to enhance its service offering to the broad range of market segments that we are active in, including Sign & Display, Paper, Packaging, Building & Industrial.”

The Paperlinx Ireland Team: Enda Brophy Director Sonny Vance National Sales Manager Peter Buckley Account Manager Plastics for Industry Mark Doyle Account Manager Visual Technology Solutions Suneel Seetal Account Manager Visual Technology Solutions Rod Reynolds Account Manager Visual Technology Solutions Shane Martin Inside Sales Leader Visual Technology Solutions Joanne Long Account Manager Visual Technology Solutions Northern Ireland Angus Murray Account Manager Visual Technology Solutions Northern Ireland

The Premier Paper Award for Graphic Design and Print Excellence Premier Paper is a long established and independently-owned and operated Irish paper merchant supplying an extensive range of quality products for litho, digital and large-format printing. These include unique and specialised media for both dry toner digital and HP Indigo presses, over 100 different colours in various grades, an extensive range of self adhesive sheets and die-cut labels, a new selection of papers and envelopes developed specially for corporate and wedding stationery, and an extensive range of media for wide-format printing. “Additionally, our stock product offering has evolved to

include many non-paper based materials, including printable plastics, vinyls and also hardware to complement printed material such as snap frames, signage and display systems,” says Premier Paper’s Managing Director Will Enright.

“We are constantly striving to offer our customers the complete package of which service is a vital part. Premier Paper is delighted to be sponsoring an Irish Print Award once again this year. We believe that it is important to be involved in the Irish Print Awards because it demonstrates our long-term commitment to the printing industry in Ireland. We feel that the Graphic Design and Print Excellence category encompasses the true value of all printed material produced, as well as the skills and talent that underpins the success of our industry and we are proud to be a part of that. The Irish Print Awards are a great showcase for an industry that supports us all and the timing of the event at the end of November allows for relaxed contemplation of the year’s achievements.”

Nicholson Bass won the Graphic Design of Printed Material category in 2013 for its work on The Dead Rabbit cocktail menu book.

20 019 IP August 2014_Awards.indd 20

25/7/14 14:24:11

IP ADVERT TEMPLATE.indd 1 231669_1C_XEROX_CMD_IP.indd 1

24/7/14 11:29:09 14:46:33 23/7/14

IRISH PRINTER | Awards Preview

The Alphagraphic Inks/ Bottcher Systems Print Media Apprentice of the Year – Northern Ireland Alphagraphics has been a leading supplier to the printing trade since 1987 when the company was founded.

The company now supplies a wide range of consumables and services to the printing and signage industries from their premises in South Belfast where, as well as storage and distribution, Alphagraphics have a full ink blending operation and blanket conversion facilities. Manufacturing partners include Flint Group, Fujifilm and, of course, Bottcher with whom the sponsorship of this award is shared.

“From the beginning we have believed in offering the best service available to our customers as the only way to differentiate ourselves from what others have to offer,” says Alphagraphic Inks’ Managing Director Wesley Moody. “This philosophy is what has made the company successful and is what we continue to base our operation on today.” As the industry changed, Alphagraphics changed with it and this has included diversification into new markets. Signage and

Digital Sales Manager Patrick Sherry joined the company on a postgraduate scheme in 2011 and has built up a successful signage and digital printing supplies division. “The ever changing dynamics of the printing industry have allowed us to diversify into the soaring wide format arena,” says Patrick. “Here, we have remained true to the Alphagraphics ethos which has helped to propel us into this exciting market.”

Over the last 27 years, Alphagraphics has built up a wealth of experience within their workforce and the company greatly values the skillset and the commitment shown by its employees. This explains their ongoing commitment to this award. “Our industry’s success depends on training the best young people to ensure we perform better than overseas competition in what will be a testing time ahead,” says Sales Director David Phillips. “It is important that we recognise success in this area. If our apprentices feel valued they remain in the industry and help carry us into the future.”

Interpress NI were victorious in the Regional Newspapers category last year for their print work on The Impartial Reporter newspaper.

TV3’s Sybil Mulcahy was MC at last year’s Irish Print Awards.

The Afga Graphics Award for Regional Newspapers Agfa Graphics is continuing its sponsorship of the Regional Newspaper Printer of the Year category at the Irish Print Awards 2014.

“We are continuing our sponsorship of this category because newspapers are a very important segment of our business, with over 50% of newspapers globally produced with the aid of Agfa Graphics,” says Peter Doyle, Sales Director – Ireland, Agfa Graphics. “We regard the Irish Print Awards as a crucial part of the Irish print industry calendar because it is important to have an event each year where the often unsung excellence of the Irish printing industry is celebrated.”

Agfa Graphics is a world leader in printing solutions for the commercial print, publishing, newspaper, and sign and display industries. “We believe in print as an essential and powerful medium of communication,” says Peter.

“Our mission is to enable graphic businesses to achieve profitable growth and stay ahead of their competition.”

22 019 IP August 2014_Awards.indd 22

31/7/14 12:40:26

What’s New in Print | IRISH PRINTER

SAi Certified for HP Designjet Range SA International (SAi), a leading provider of software solutions for the professional signmaking, large format digital printing and CAD/CAM for CNC machining industries, recently announced the certification of its software solutions by HP for use with the recently launched HP Designjet Z6600 and Z6800 Printers.

The certification, which follows a period of extensive testing by HP, is for SAi Flexi and PhotoPRINT Families Version 11 with Cloud, and Flexi subscription software.

The two printers are targeted at large format print providers (one of SAi’s key audiences), graphic designers, professional photographers and fine artists. SAi’s RIPs are especially suited to indoor POP/POS signage and display applications, and trade show graphics. SAi’s software RIPs are already certified for use with three earlier HP Designjet Z-series models, as well as the recently announced HP Latex 300-series printers. SAi’s drivers include HP media profiles for 55 media for the HP Designjet Z6800 Printer and 20 for the HP Designjet Z6600 Printer.

New Thermal Platesetter from Agfa

Agfa Graphic’s new Avalon N16-80 XT platesetter is aimed at the high-production market, including the packaging market. “The quality and the speed of the Avalon N16-80 XT is extremely attractive to large commercial as well as packaging printers,” says Bruno Lepage, Marketing Product Manager CtP Equipment Commercial & Packaging. “As the engine also supports the adapted plate sizes used on most recent presses, it is the perfect fit for the 16-up/format 6 market.” All Avalon models integrate with Agfa Graphics’ PDFbased Apogee workflow.

23 023 IP August 2014_Whats New.indd 23

25/7/14 14:26:04

IRISH PRINTER | What’s New in Print

Durst Model Generates Same Day Print for Mesh & PVC O

nlineprinters GmbH, one of the largest online print shops in Europe, has launched a new high-speed UV roll-toroll printer for printing mesh and PVC tarpaulins. “The new Durst Rho 312R roll-to-roll printer enables customised large-format printing on tarpaulins and mesh in excellent image quality rarely available in the market for outdoor advertising,” says Julia Voigt, Marketing Manager of Onlineprinters GmbH. “The ‘fine-art’ image quality is ensured by a six-colour UV ink set that includes light cyan and light magenta and by the intelligent Variodrop technology with particularly high pigment concentration and a resolution of 900 dpi in the printing system. Our customers all over Europe expect their print products to be produced and delivered more quickly. Tarpaulins, plots, multi-wall sheets or rollups can be produced with the ‘same day printing’ option on the same working day the order is received and are dispatched to customers in 30 European countries on the same day.”

The truck tarpaulins and mesh fabrics are printed with UV inks (fire protection class B1) and are suitable for indoor advertising or in the entrance area of shops. Online customers can order their custom-sized PVC tarpaulins from 100 x 100cm up to 400 x 200cm. The new high-speed UV roll-to-roll printer even enables custom formats for PVC tarpaulins and mesh fabrics with a roll width of up to 3.20 metres and a maximum roll length of 100 metres. This means that even unusually large formats such as facade advertising of up to 300 square metres printed area can be realised.

The new Durst Rho 312R roll-toroll printer enables customised large-format and high-speed printing on tarpaulins and mesh.

Fully Automated Ink System IIJ , the global specialist in industrial inkjet design and technology, has created a new MK2 ink controller system in response to customers’ demands for fully automated turnkey systems to cope with larger industrial printers. IIJ’s MK2 system, which has already been piloted at some customer sites, will be showcased publicly for the first time on its booth 3710 at Labelexpo Americas in Chicago, from September 9th to 11th, 2014. IIJ will also be displaying high quality labels produced using Konica Minolta Inkjet Technologies printheads. The benefits include virtually no ink wastage – individual purge by colour – and the extensive use of Teflon and stainless steel ensures the ink system is fully compatible with a very wide range of UV, solvent and water-based inks (even food grade inks can be used). The system is easily expandable into more colours and more heads per colour. It is suitable for single-pass print bars over two metres in width and is readily adaptable to different inks. It can also be purchased as a second controller and it is suitable for both scanning and single-pass applications. As well as ‘normal’ inks, the new design is

suitable for low-migration inks, white inks, varnishes, primers, metallics, ceramic, conductive and security inks. This opens up new applications such as packaging, glass, flooring or direct-product-decoration. Internet browser control means the MK2 fully automated, hands-off system can be controlled and serviced remotely.

Meeting sophisticated customer requirements - the new MK2 ink controller system from IIJ.

24 023 IP August 2014_Whats New.indd 24

25/7/14 12:09:05

What’s New in Print | IRISH PRINTER

Moroccan Architecture Reproduced on Inca Digital Flatbed M

orocco-based exhibit display company Electroprint took their inspiration from the Morrocan ‘Kasbah’ in order to produce a large scale exhibit booth that could be quickly and easily installed. The booth was showcased at Dom&Event, the International Events Exhibition held in Casablanca. They produced a small, complete medieval fortified city with typical Moroccan architecture using the white Reboard substrate and including towers and fountains, fitting a booth space of 9m x 9m (29 feet x 29 feet) with 8m (26 feet) height for the corner towers. With a traditional Moroccan design and architectural look, it came complete with tower lamps, arched entrances, ornate inside walls, ‘wooden’ furniture, and customary artwork on the walls.

The company also worked from threedimensional utilitarian ExpoPrint displays, desks, and literature holders - everything created from Reboard. The principal challenge was to demonstrate that it was possible to produce and install a large booth, including furniture and lighting, in a very short period of time with a minimum of on-site logistical complications. For the job,

they used an Inca Columbia Turbo digital inkjet flatbed four-colour printer.

Electroprint used more than 1,000 square metres (more than 10,000 square feet) of 16mm white Reboard printed in high quality mode in less than two days (including cutting and finishing).

The high resolution of the printer gave Electroprint the ability to reproduce the characteristic textures and natural wall, wood and metal effects. The installation itself took less than one day to build, using only plastic screws to connect and mount the Reboard panels.

New Material for Label Runs on Inkjet S

elf-adhesive technology specialist Herma GmbH recently launched a new self-adhesive material to allow print shops to produce lowand very low-volume label runs on inkjet printers with water-based inks. According to Herma, the two grades included in the range, Herma inkprint glossy (grade 211) and Herma inkprint matt (grade 137), deliver outstanding results on standard inkjet printers, such as Canon, Epson, HP etc with both sheet and web printing. They are also suitable for ultra-fast Memjet technology which, with its static, page-wide print-head,

combines the advantages of an inkjet printer with those of a page printer.

The manufacturer claims that even at speeds of over 300 millimetres per second, images, codes and identification symbols can be printed crystal-clear and distortion-free in conjunction with the new Herma inkprint range. The labels can be used in a variety of applications from carton labelling to labels for cool and moist food packagings. The adhesive has been approved by the German test institute ISEGA for direct contact with dry, moist and fatty foods (reduction factor 2). In conjunction with honey

Cut rolls with the new self-adhesive material at the Herma production facility.

glassine release liner (grade 523, for rolls) and coated kraft release liner (grade 512, for sheet formats), the label stock can be processed on all typical flat-bed and rotary die-cutting machines.

25 023 IP August 2014_Whats New.indd 25

25/7/14 12:11:11

IRISH PRINTER | Packaging

Muller Martini Showcases Trump Cards for Web Offset processes, ensures high printing quality.

Printing plate costs in offset are low, costing just a fraction of what they cost for pure flexo and rotogravure printing.

VSOP

W

eb offset enables diverse inline procedures, such as offset towers, flexo and rotogravure printing unit, screen printing unit, perforation with die-cutting and punching, delivery for roll, signature and fold, cross cutting and folding modules, register control, video belt monitoring, and UV drying.

The Concepta, Alprinta, Alprinta V and VSOP web printing presses from Muller Martini combine all these complex processes in-line with maximum printing quality and a high degree of availability, creating new market opportunities for graphic arts businesses.

Concepta – Short Setup Times and Minimal Production Waste Run sizes are falling, while customers’ quality requirements are increasing. In order to also produce smaller jobs costeffectively, printing plants need a machine design with diverse options and state-ofthe-art control technology. The Concepta boasts intelligent software enabling short setup times and little production waste.

Thanks to its modular design, enabling up to 12 offset towers and the integration of flexo screen printing and digital printing, the Concepta enables tailored solutions.

The printing press offers almost unlimited possibilities thanks to insert changes not requiring the use of any tool and the integration of special aggregates in inline finishing.

Application: pharmaceutical, security, forms, mail shots and commercial work Technical Specifications: belt width 520mm, print size 14–281⁄3 inches Delivery: roll/signature, roll/fold, roll/roll Highlight: unbeatable price-performance ratio - the front runner on the web offset market.

Alprinta – When Quality and Productivity are Important The Alprinta is designed for high-quality commercial work and mail shots, as well as security printed materials and packing slips. It offers a tailored solution for every printing plant. When it comes to challenging job structures, the Alprinta has a great advantage: depending on the needs of the given market, either conventional or infinitely variable inserts can be used. Conventional printing inserts are changed extremely quickly using a track system, enabling low investment costs and quick changeovers.

Application: pharmaceutical, security, forms, mail shots and commercial work Technical Specifications: 520mm and 740mm, print size 17-40 and 20-40 inches Delivery: roll/signature, roll/fold, roll/roll Highlight: servo drive printing press.

Alprinta V – Quick and Simple Printing Plate Manufacture The infinitely variable Alprinta V is the ideal web printing press for all types of labels and for entering the flexible packaging market. The key benefit is that almost any printing length desired can be produced. There is no need to exchange the entire printing insert when changing the size; only the handy VOI cylinder needs to be replaced on the servo drive printing press. Thanks to the optimised ink fountain, developed for high-quality commercial printing, maximum printing quality of even the most challenging products is ensured. The quick and simple printing plate manufacture and short setup times of the Alprinta V provide for a high degree of job flexibility. The offset printing process, which is ideally suited to fine details and screen

Application: label printing and package printing Technical Specifications: belt width 520mm and 740mm (20½ and 291⁄8 inches), print size 508mm-720mm (20-281⁄3 inches) Delivery: roll/roll, roll/signature, roll/fold Highlight: Low-cost size parts, since individual cylinders are less expensive than print inserts.

VSOP – Infinitely Variable Printing VSOP (Variable Sleeve Offset Printing) is used for label printing and flexible package printing. Thanks to sleeve technology, print sizes can be changed easily without having to exchange all the inserts. The process is not only quick and simple, but also cost-effective for frequently changing print lengths. On the flexible packaging and labels market, runs are falling and there is demand for a very wide range of print sizes. The infinitely variable VSOP featuring sleeve technology, which translates to low size costs, is a flexible and impressive solution.

Application: label printing and package printing Technical Specifications: belt width 520mm and 850mm (20½ and 33½ inches), print size 381-762 mm (15-30 inches) Delivery: roll/roll Highlight: quick size changes with lowcost sleeves.

Alprinta

26 026 IP August 2014_Packaging.indd 26

25/7/14 12:12:31

Fit Fitfor fordifference Packaging Fit for difference

Muller Martini VSOP Variable Sleeve Offset Printing For every demand

Muller VSOP Variable theMartini right application Martini VSOP SleeveMuller Offset Printing

Variable

The technology of VSOP web offset press For every demandOffset Sleeve Printing provides the capability to take advantage of the right application Formarket everytrends demand many in packaging: flexible The technology of VSOP web offset press packaging, labels (shrink-sleeve, self-adhesive the right application provides the capability to take advantage of labels, wet glue labels, IML, wrap-around), packaging, labels (shrink-sleeve, self-adhesive The technology VSOPpackaging. web offset press folding carton andofliquid labels, wet glue labels, IML, wrap-around), provides the capability to folding carton and liquid packaging.

take advantage of

Muller Martini VSOP runs up to 365m/ min Muller Martini VSOP runslabels up to 365m/ min packaging, (shrink-sleeve, self-adhesive (1200ft/min) and produce the complete size (1200ft/min) and produce the complete size labels, wet glue labels, IML, ranges (381-762mm/15-30” bywrap-around), using lightweight ranges (381-762mm/15-30” by using lightweight folding carton and liquid packaging. print sleeves. print sleeves.

With its hybrid applications, along with offset Muller Martini VSOP runs up to 365m/ min With its hybrid along with offset printing technology, Mullerapplications, Martini VSOP offers and produce the complete size a range of(1200ft/min) other printing processes, including: printing technology, Muller Martini VSOP offers

ranges (381-762mm/15-30” by using lightweight

a range of other printing processes, including: print sleeves. flexo, screen, gravure and digital printing as well Mulleras Martini VSOP web offset press is finishing processes such asalong laminating.

With its hybrid applications, with offset available with electron beam, UV and hot air drying technologies provide an optimum printing which technology, Muller Martini

VSOP offers

Muller Martini VSOP web offset pressincluding: is a range of other printing processes, available with electron beam, UV and hot air drying technologies which provide an optimum flexibility in the printing process.

Muller Martini VSOP web offset press is available with electron beam, UV and hot air drying technologies which provide an optimum

Digital Solutions Saddle Stitching Book Technologies Mailroom Systems Web Presses

IP ADVERT TEMPLATE.indd 1 232532_ 1C_MULLER_JR_IP.indd 1

Muller Martini North America 20 Caldari Rd. Concord, ON L4K 4N8 Telephone 905-660-9595 Fax 905-660-9555 www.mullermartinicanada.com

Muller Martini North America 20 Caldari Rd. Concord, ON L4K 4N8 Telephone 905-660-9595 Fax 905-660-9555 www.mullermartinicanada.com

Muller Martini Limited The Ridgeway, Iver, Bucks SL0 9JQ Tel. 0845 875 4590 www.mullermartini.com/gb

24/7/14 14:47:19 16/07/2014 11:40:37

IRISH PRINTER | Packaging

Fujifilm Puts Graphium Press on Show in Bedford Fujifilm’s Graphium digital UV inkjet label press, developed and manufactured by FFEI Ltd and launched at Labelexpo Europe 2013, is now available for demonstrations in its Bedford showroom. Graphium has

been developed for label, packaging and speciality print businesses that want to increase their margins and revenue streams on short to medium print runs. It is a modular digital UV inkjet press that allows printers to incorporate in line flexo print and finishing and undertake complex projects requiring a wide gamut of colours on most commonly used

substrates. The press uses Fujifilm’s Uvijet Graphium ink, which was developed specifically for label and packaging applications.

Those interested in seeing the Graphium’s capabilities and exploring the opportunities it offers should contact Fujifilm via email at marketing.fgs@fuji.co.uk or by calling 00 44 1234 572 340.

Economic Solution for Short-Run Folding Cartons KAMA die-cutting machines from the ProCut and DC series can finish small runs of folding boxes and product tags in a B2 or B3 format economically and to a high quality, as well as adding final polish with a hot foil stamping system, where fitted. That’s according to UK and Ireland agent Friedheim International who say that the incorporation of AutoRegister also ensures that the registration accuracy is very high on every sheet, whether digitally printed or cut after printing. The new in-line KAMA SBU stripping and blanking system speeds up the workflow and cuts costs.

Small windows and Euroslots are blown out using air, while large cut-outs and the blanks themselves are stripped and blanked with no need for job-specific tools. Nesting the blanks allows every inch of the sheets to be put to good use, as the KAMA stripping station can de-nest the blanks and convey them to the delivery unit in parallel, overlapping lines. Fast changeovers are the key to economically finishing short runs of folding cartons. On the HP booth at the recent Interpack exhibition, KAMA demonstrated lightning-fast job changes

The KAMA DC 76 foil die-cutter with SBU and AutoRegister – the machine is ideal for finishing in digital printing.

on its DC 76 foil die-cutting machine, including in-line tool-less stripping and blanking. The process involved cutting and creasing 12, 20 or 50 personalised sheets, then immediately shifting to the next task. The KAMA DC 76 foil on the HP stand was fitted with AutoRegister and used to die-cut B2 sheets with 12 blanks for folding cosmetics boxes before stripping them in-line without tools on the KAMA SBU. Spontaneous re-tooling then took place as required to die-cut and crease personalised folding chocolate boxes straight off the HP Indigo 30000 Digital Press (VDP).

These folding carton box samples produced at Interpack were printed using VDP on a HP Indigo 30000 digital press before being cut, creased and stripped with high registration accuracy on the KAMA DC 76 automatic diecutter with SBU.

28 026 IP August 2014_Packaging.indd 28

25/7/14 12:13:21

Wide Format | IRISH PRINTER

Inkjet Conference Update

Mimaki Helps Kasabian Rock Glastonbury It’s not every day that a modest family-run business gets the call from a globally-renowned rock band but that’s exactly what happened to Falkirk-based Brooklyn Graphics when it was asked to print a bass drum skin for indie-rockers Kasabian, prior to their barnstorming headline set at this year’s Glastonbury festival.

“I’ve been involved in the local music scene for years and through a contact in the percussion business we were given the opportunity to show what we could do,” says Darren Brooks, proprietor of Brooklyn Graphics. “The simple design relates to the title of the bands’ new album; 48:13, which is

understood to be the total running time of all the tracks on it. The vivid pink colour was critical to its success and the band and their management were very prescriptive about the reproduction of the particular hue. We had recently upgraded to a new Mimaki CJV30-160 which is a fantastic machine, delivering amazing resolution print with vibrant colours, faithful to the original design, thanks to the SS21 inkset. The result was achieved using Metamark MD5 self-adhesive vinyl and passed intense scrutiny by the band at the very first attempt. The CJV30 delivers on every front. The output is such high quality that I no longer have to factor the vagaries of the print process into my designs... it just prints exactly what the original design intended and its sheer versatility has opened up so many new potential revenue streams, including complex vehicle wraps. I have even had existing customers ask if I have changed my printer because the results are so stunning! We’ve found the new Mimaki so reliable and easy to use that, coupled with the great print results, it has enabled us to play on the same stage as some of the ‘big boys’ in the industry and hopefully win over some more high profile clients like Kasabian.”

The Inkjet Conference at the Swissôtel in Neuss (Düsseldorf ), Germany, September 30 and October 1 2014 will feature exhibitors and speakers from Adphos, Agfa, Caldera, Chemstream, Colorgate, Fujifilm dimatix, Gew, GIS, Huntsman, Industrial Inkjet, KNF, Pall, Printaled, Sunchemical, Toyoink, Trident, Wifag, Xaar, Xennia and Indujet. “Inkjet is becoming a mainstream print technology,” says Peter Buttiens, CEO of conference organiser ESMA. “Since the introduction of high resolution single pass printheads there have been more than five new inkjet presses announced every year. Whether it is labels, textiles, packaging, ceramics or graphics, inkjet print technology is bridging the differences between applications and positioning print into the manufacturing environment.”

Conference topics will include ink supply systems, printheads (several printhead manufacturers expect to announce new products or product availability this year or early next year), UV LEDs, bulbs and IR systems, Datapath - the glue that connects the image file to the printheads, and inkjet ink. Experts on inkjet ink technology will discuss advancements in chemistry that provide for a broader range of inks for a broader range of applications, such as aqueous for textiles and non-textiles, new ceramic inks, and what is really meant by low migration.

Whether it is labels, textiles, packaging, ceramics or graphics, inkjet print technology is bridging the differences between applications and positioning print into the manufacturing environment.

29 029 IP August 2014_Wide Format.indd 29

25/7/14 14:23:40

IRISH PRINTER | Wide Format

Imagine Where Your

Poster Potential Can Take You Canon Ireland recently invited its customers and partners to explore the new business opportunities presented by its Oce ColorWave 650 poster printer and its imagePrograf five and 12-colour printers.

T

he three-day event took place at the press manufacturer’s showroom in Citywest from June 24th to 26th and was specially tailored for the AEC (Architects/Engineering/ Construction) and display graphics markets, as well as Canon partners and their customers. During the first two days Canon Ireland focused on its customers – and potential customers – while day three was for Canon’s partners.

The Océ Color Wave 650 Poster Printer took centre stage on June 25th.

The printer incorporates Crystalpoint technology that uses solid colour toner pearls. It prints up to 155 A1 posters per hour and has an up to six roll media capacity. “This printer is ideal for short runs of posters and

reduces production costs for quickturnaround POP materials,” says Aileen Caffrey, Telesales Team Leader and BIG Marketing, Canon Ireland. “It also produces consistent high quality prints on a wide range of speciality media.

The printer can produce direct-dry, water-resistant prints on plain, recycled and water-resistant media such as tyvek and polypropylene vinyl.”

On June 26th Canon Ireland was highlighting the advantages of the imagePrograf IPF 758 five-colour large format printer for CAD/GIS and renditions and the imagePrograf IPF 8400 12-colour printer for posters, which comes with free Canon Poster Artist lite software.

In total, 20 customers and prospective customers attended the three-day event, including GBM Limerick, BAM, Cantec, Reprocentre, and Doggett Group.

“The reaction to the event was highly enthusiastic,” says Sean Griffiths, Territory Account Manager - South Wales, South West Midlands and Republic of Ireland, Wide Format Group – Corporate, Canon (UK) and Ireland. “The new Canon wide format line up was extremely

well received due to its capability, quality, best value and perceived lowest risk. The tie up between Océ Professional printers and Canon, making them ‘stronger together’, has led to the best large format range on offer in Ireland for the CAD and graphics arts market. New in the Canon showroom and available to demo by appointment are the Océ ColorWave 650, which comes in two high production versions - one aimed at high volume CAD environments and the other for large volume short run or ‘fly’ posters, the IPF 785 cloud-ready colour plotter, which is ideal for small print rooms or offices and small to medium volume businesses, and can be upgraded to also become a multi-functional copier and scanner, and the IPF 8400, which is aimed at the graphics arts market for posters, photographers, fine art, and giclee printing.”

According to Sean, the response from the companies that visited the Canon Ireland event, and from others who responded after the event, has been so strong that Canon are planning to repeat the open days in September. “In particular, we would be targeting other industries who have since contacted Canon looking to view and demo the range,” he says. “For example, 60% of the professional photography market in Ireland uses Canon cameras so why not use the Canon range of printers for colour processing/printing? As Ireland recovers from years of recession now is the time to replace an aged and

30 029 IP August 2014_Wide Format.indd 30

25/7/14 12:14:51

Wide Format | IRISH PRINTER

Canon Ireland’s Aileen Caffrey and Michael Grimes

obsolete fleet with the latest generation of wide format plotters which are cloud and BIM compatible and are the best value in the market.”

imagePrograf iPF785 According to Canon Ireland, this fivecolour printer with 320GB hard drive is perfect for CAD/GIS and posters. “With this 320GB-HDD, 36 inch printer you can get crisper results on CAD/GIS and posters with the new magenta ink while large capacity tanks ensure productivity without downtime,” says Sean. “Our newest five-colour printer also has a faster carriage speed which enables A0 output in draft mode in 41 seconds, while the 320GB hard disk offers more storage space for print job data, including complex or data-heavy files.”

According to Sean, the imagePrograf iPF785 is 25% cheaper on running costs than its competitors in the market. “In addition, the new Direct Print & Share feature gives users greater efficiencies as it allows them to create shortcuts to their most-used print settings and to then print by dragging and dropping files onto their shortcuts,” he says.

“Direct Print & Share lets you print a host of file types without needing an application. As well as PosterArtist integration, the solution allows you to upload and download files for immediate sharing, with easy access even from mobile devices. Printing from an iPad application is also supported.”

The iPF785 is compatible with HPGL/2 and HP-RTL and includes the ability to set palette and pen settings for CAD workflows. Bundled software includes an Optimised Driver for AutoCAD and a plug-in for Microsoft

The tie up between Océ Professional printers and Canon, making them ‘stronger together’, has led to the best large format range on offer in Ireland for the CAD and graphics arts market Office that lets you print directly from Word, Excel or PowerPoint.

imagePROGRAF iPF8400 The iPF8400 is a 12-colour waterbased pigment inkjet printer for production, photographic and proofing environments. “The iPF8400 is designed for graphics arts professionals for up to 44 inch printing,” says Sean. “This large format printer incorporates Lucia EX, Canon’s innovative 12-colour pigment inkjet system with image processing technology that delivers a wide colour gamut, smooth graduations, less bronzing and highly scratch-resistant prints. Users can rely on the iPF8400 for enhanced black reproduction and graduation expression in dark

areas, resulting in the exceptional print quality required for photo print applications. The text and line accuracy, plus excellent colour harmony, mean that the printer is perfect for high precision proofing applications, and the in-built colour sensor ensures consistent and accurate colour reproduction.”

The iPF8400 is compatible with ICC profile-based colour-management systems and Canon says it will work seamlessly with third party RIP applications, supporting production, photography and proofing applications.

The printer also supports a diverse range of media types. The iPF8400 has a built-in 250GB hard disk, which enables highly efficient printing of complex jobs and its ‘hot swap’ 330ml or 700ml ink tanks mean that ink cartridges can be replaced without interrupting printing.

Océ ColorWave 650 The Oce ColorWave 650 offers large format B&W and colour printing on one system. “You can print, copy and scan without sacrificing productivity or quality,” says Sean. “You can print superb quality - in black & white and colour - on a single device using proven, award-winning Océ CrystalPoint technology. Copy and scan templates simplify routine tasks. With the online folder you can print folded document sets from your desktop.” Other features include the ability to produce direct-dry plain paper prints for immediate use, no ozone, no odour and no system emissions, and a range of finishing options, including online folders, a stacker and take up roll.

31 029 IP August 2014_Wide Format.indd 31

25/7/14 12:15:46

228823_1C_LUMI_JR_IP.indd 1

28/7/14 15:21:36

Five Minutes With... | IRISH PRINTER

Five Minutes With...

Irish Printer talks to Neil Curry, Residential Electricity and Gas Product Owner, Bord Gais Energy, about the role played by print in the organisation’s winning entry in the Integrated Marketing category of The Marketing Institute’s All Ireland Marketing Awards in May.

Q

: What was the overall objective of Bord Gais Energy’s Integrated Marketing campaign and can you describe the different elements of that campaign?

A: The main objective was to drive customer numbers through a fully integrated campaign that had a national lead but incorporated significant regional components. A through the line campaign was executed with a consistent creative platform, leading with the headline for a ‘simple and easy home improvement’ switch to Bord Gáis Energy. TV, radio, print, press, advertorials and outdoor, search, direct response display, awareness driving display, and social media engagement initiatives were utilised. Each regional campaign utilised the overarching creative platform to maximise awareness but also contained specific visual references to that particular region to maximise cut through.

Q

: Do you employ a panel of print companies to satisfy your print requirements?

A: We have a great relationship with Tag Ireland who manage our print on our behalf.

Q

: Did the print aspect of the campaign, particularly the direct mail side, feature any novel print technologies or design features?

A: The DM piece was produced as a one piece mailer. The clever use of full personalisation on the tabbed device allowed the piece to become interactive – the customer got the feeling that they were pulling down the wall which tied in with the campaign theme of home improvements. The bill insert piece was produced with a clever die-cut which created a hole in the wall effect, again reinforcing the campaign theme of home improvements.

Q

Q

Q

Q

: How significant a role did print play in the campaign?

A: Print played a very important role in the campaign.

We leveraged below the line techniques, including targeted personalised DMs to specific customer segments, and bill inserts, as well as door drops, to drive awareness in the regional areas. : What type of printed material was used in the campaign? What was the print run for each element?

A: We had four different types of personalised direct mail (print run of 19,000) and three different bill inserts (print run of 220,000). Each had a tailored message appropriate to the target audience which allowed us to be very specific in terms of what we were saying and who we were communicating the message to. We executed nine different types of door drops to regional areas (print run of 87,000). Each incorporated local visual landmarks and the regional town name, ensuring that the campaign had a very local feel to it.

: What are the attributes that Bord Gais Energy values most in a print partner?

A: We are constantly looking at new ways of being innovative and at how print can differentiate us from our competitors.

Flexibility is also a key attribute that is much valued by all clients. : Do you envisage print playing a lesser role in marketing campaigns as the popularity of digital media continues to grow?

A: We continue to see print playing an important part of integrated campaigns in the years ahead. Each channel plays a particular role and has advantages and disadvantages. How and when you utilise each channel is the most important thing. When print is combined with clear customer insights, highly targeted data and engaging creative it is a very powerful tool in the marketing mix.

33 034 IP August 2014_Five Minutes With.indd 33

29/7/14 15:31:49

IRISH PRINTER | Advertorial

Major Investment & Innovation at KC Print KC Print has become the first Irish printer to implement Agfa’s StoreFront e-commerce technology. The company, which is building a new 16,500 square foot factory, has also made some significant finishing and pre-press upgrades.

Website A new addition to KC Print’s trade service is the introduction of a cloudbased B2B web-to-print system, which is unique to the Irish print industry. “We are the first in Ireland to implement Agfa’s StoreFront e-commerce technology, offering our clients an easy to use portal that streamlines the print purchase process for a successful use of web-to-print,” says Sales Manager Niall Walsh. “The main focus for us was that it was visually attractive and easy to navigate. KC Print Online integrates seamlessly with our latest upgrade to Apogee Prepress 8 workflow automation software, automatically downloading and processing incoming orders. This increases our efficiency in handling scheduled print jobs while offering better prices. Choosing a cloud-based service ensures we can offer our clients a high-end and up-to-date web-to-print service. To maintain confidentiality the website is log-in only. A full list of products is available, including flyers, stationery and business cards. Two price options are available on either a two- or four-day turnaround and clients can access prices instantly. Artwork is uploaded through the website, giving the client a 24/7 service. We’re very excited about the website and expect it to be a huge success for both our clients and ourselves.”

A Computer Generated Image of KC Print’s new factory.

The biggest threat to the litho print industry is, in our opinion, itself. The industry’s short-term view is at odds with an industry that requires long-term investment - this needs to change.

New Building KC Print has outgrown its current building in recent years and, with no options to extend, the company decided to purchase an alternative 2.2 acre site. “We’ll be commencing construction on a purpose-built 16,500 square foot factory soon which will have ample room for expansion in the future,” says Managing Director Cormac Casey. “Expansion was an important element in our decision-making process, given our confidence in our business model and growing confidence in the economy. A purpose-built unit will allow us to streamline working practices and optimise our production processes by improving efficiency throughout our entire manufacturing process, from the intake of raw materials to product shipment. The Flow Production Method which we have adopted in recent years has offered many efficiencies that have benefited both us and our clients. A new build will allow us to further develop this method.” Each machine will be positioned in the correct order forcing a one way route

for production. “It sounds simple but as machines are upgraded the shape of the production floor inevitably changes and over time machines become out of position,” says Cormac. “We will place particular emphasis on the floor plans to allow sufficient expansion in each department.”

MIS Upgrade Ensuring that their pricing remains competitive is high on KC Print’s list of priorities. “Our MIS is constantly under review and we recently upgraded to the latest version of Tharstern Primo,” says Niall Walsh. “Many new features such as Milestones, IDC, Ganging and Scheduling greatly enhance our handling of production information.

The Milestones feature allows our scheduling manager to set a schedule of events to project-manage a job, which can also be presented to the customer if required. Another benefit is the real time MiView Dashboards, which provide up-to-the-minute production and management information data at the click of a button. The Ganging

34 034 IP August 2014_Profile.indd 34

29/7/14 15:29:18

Advertorial | IRISH PRINTER

feature has allowed us to fully implement our scheduling module and integrate into our Intranet Data Capture (IDC). Production scheduling coupled with IDC will greatly improve both forward planning and job tracking in production. This will offer greater transparency in the company’s production workflow to both staff and client’s alike.”

Niall says that KC Print has constantly aligned its MIS to reflect changes that occur within the company, including any upgrades to their plant portfolio or enhanced efficiencies in production.

“This has allowed us to pass on time and cost savings to our clients,” he says. “In recent years we have seen the importance of constantly evaluating our MIS system to accommodate the shorter print runs and faster turnaround times that are becoming the standard.

Upcoming developments include JDF compatibility and full integration with our prepress workflow and online portal. These upgrades will further enhance the interface with our clients and the production floor, offering realtime information throughout the whole process.”

Web Approval KC Print is constantly investing in its prepress workflow, including the latest version of Apogee X and a recent installation of web approval. “This web-based approval portal offers enhanced client control over their ripped document prior to production,” says Niall Walsh. “This technology allows our contract clients to upload to a pre-ordered template, approve ripped pages and release directly into production 24 hours a day. Clients have

The recently installed Muller Martini Prima S.

Print companies need to price responsibly going forward, turning our efficiencies into investment capital rather than just reducing prices.

been impressed with the reassurance and level of control it gives them when approving their order. We will be rolling this out on a client by client basis to ensure we allow suitable setup time for each user.”

New Equipment The company recently installed a Muller Martini Prima S six-station saddle stitcher. “This upgrade from our existing machine offers quicker make-ready times and greater flexibility and speed in production,” says Niall. “We’ve also recently invested in other equipment such as wire-o-bind and a punching line and perfect binder, enabling us to finish more products in-house.”

Recruitment KC Print has recruited staff in all departments over the past nine months.

“Two print operators, two finishers

and two account executives have been appointed, and new departments were created in scheduling and customer care,” says Cormac Casey. “This new recruitment drive is in line with our growth and development strategy. As a national supplier it is very important for KC Print to have personal contact with our clients. Our account managers offer that personal touch by calling to our clients as required to discuss projects and assist in the introduction of new technologies, offering the highest standard of customer service.”

Throughout challenging times companies have had to take stock and re-evaluate their core business, and KC Print is no exception. “As a dedicated trade printer we were committed to one client base in a defined market,” says Cormac. “Though all our eggs were essentially in the one basket, offering an end user option, which was becoming the norm in the industry, was never an option for us. Our focus instead was on providing a service that our clients required and not a service that would be a conflict of interest. Our philosophy going forward was simple: Trade Only. This approach sets us apart from the more regular trade printer model, which also offers an end user service. Security and confidentiality are top of our client’s requirements when they are looking for a trade partner and KC Print has enjoyed steady growth over recent years on the strength of that commitment.”

Future Print The Internet, digital and social media were supposed to bring about the demise of litho but litho is still here.

“An industry as old as the printing industry would be exposed to a few knocks along the way and the past number of years have been no different,” says Cormac. “However, the fundamentals of the printing industry are still sound and print has a future alongside electronic media. The biggest threat to the litho print industry is, in our opinion, itself. The industry’s shortterm view is at odds with an industry that requires long-term investment - this needs to change. Future investment is a given and creating profitability is the key but that is easier said than done when every job is down to price. Print companies need to price responsibly going forward, turning our efficiencies into investment capital rather than just reducing prices.”

35 034 IP August 2014_Profile.indd 35

29/7/14 15:29:42

Stafford Engineering Stafford Engineering provides a turnkey operation for all printers • We can now service and repair all printing and finishing machines • Rollers refurbished or replaced. Specialist coatings for Anilox and Chroming • Blade grinding, new blades and cutting sticks • Two print engineers available for onsite repair • 24 hour service, 7days a week.

Unit 12 Parkmore Industrial Estate, Long Mile Road, Dublin 12, Ireland Tel: +353 (0)1 460 0055 • Email: sales@staffordengineering.ie

231676_CLA_STAFFORD_CMD_IP.indd 1

17/7/14 12:06:07230967_CLAS_LabelWorld_CMD_IP.indd 1

23/7/14 15:20:26

TRINITY BOOKBINDING

Specialists in hardback binding and the production of high quality ring binders, slipcases, presentation boxes\ folders, showcard mounting and foil blocking.

TRINITY If you want to hIre the best staff

BOOKBINDING

LTD.

LTD.

ContaCt aPB.ie

The print recruitment specialists

Unit 18A Baldoyle Industrial Estate, Baldoyle, Dublin 13.

Email: trinitybookbinding@gmail.com Phone: 01 5540198 • 085 8081663

Tel: 01 204 2800 • Email: mail@apb.ie Visit our website: www.apb.ie

TRINITY BOOKBINDING

ALAN FERNS LTD.

TRINITY BOOKBINDING LTD. UNIT 18, BALDOYLE INDUSTRIAL ESTATE BALDOYLE, DUBLIN 13 TELEPHONE: 01-5540198

231773_CLA_APB_CMD_IP.indd 1

15/7/14 14:48:09232356_Clas_Trinity_CMD_IP.indd 1

9/7/14 12:53:30

TRINITY BOOKBINDING LTD. UNIT 18, BALDOYLE INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, BALDOYLE, DUBLIN 13

D AWANR ING

STANDARD PRODUCTS

Our services include:

• Short run digital perfect binding

• Wire binding

• Short run digital lamination (matt & gloss) • Short run calendar binding • Drilling

• Collating & gathering

• Round cornering

• High speed tab cutting

• Inkjetting

NEW

• Wafer disc sealing

• Mylar laminated tabbing • High speed two and four hole punching

NEW

NEW

• Saddle stithing • Auto Envelope Insertion (DL/CS)

CONTACT DETAILS: T: 01 450 8603 M: 086 012 7654 Unit 4B Ballymount Industrial Estate, Walkinstown, Dublin 12

xxxxxx_2L_BIZPRINT_CMD_IP.indd 1

IP ADVERT TEMPLATE CLASSIFIED.indd 1

QUICK TURNAROUND

• Wire bound business books/ stationery

NEW

NEW

HIGH STANDARD QUALITY CONTROL CUSTOMER CARE

• Printed divider sets to order

FAST RELIABLE SERVICE

WIN ICES SERV



25 YEARS EXPERIENCE

TELEPHONE: 01-5540198

24/7/14 12:43:23

24/7/14 14:57:27

Walsh Colour Print offer you the advantages of using PUR binding at No Extra Cost.

You might be hearing a lot about PUR binding and you may be wondering whether it makes sense for your printing.

Listed below are some advantages of using PUR binding over Perfect binding: 1. Increased binding strength Pull test reports show 60% stronger results with PUR binding.

HOT MELT

2. Lie-flat qualities PUR is considerably more flexible than standard EVA hot melts and can lie flat when open – allowing hands-free reading.

3. Less wrinkling of backbone Binding paper with standard EVA adhesives causes considerable wrinkling in the book’s gutter area.

PUR, as it cures, allows paper to return to its original orientation.

4. Less “chip-out” Since PUR is applied at half the standard thickness, there is less chipping of the cover material during trimming.

PUR

5. Square backbone PUR allows the tiniest of books to maintain a square and rigid spine.

6. NO EXTRA COST With Walsh Colour Print PUR binding, you get a quality and professional finish at no extra cost.

Please contact us for a free quotation Freephone: 1800 613 111 For asales@walshcolourprint.com superb finish on all books, annual reports, brochures and magazines, Email: give us a call and we will give you a price that you will not believe!

IP ADVERT TEMPLATE.indd 1 1 230382_1C_WALSH_JR_IP.indd

25/7/14 09:53:28 25/07/2014 09:36:41

Discover True WhiTeness! on uPM Finesse PaPers

UPM Finesse papers offer high whiteness and brightness, opacity 90–100% and different finishing from gloss to matt.

Its superior surface provides the best image and text reproduction, ensuring you can make a sharp and lasting impression.

UPM Finesse woodfree coated papers are available in a wide range of sheets and reels. Their runnability and overall performance is proven to be excellent. Close co-operation with technical service and product development ensures that the paper is constantly being developed to meet different printing and market requirements. UPM Finesse is an EU Ecolabel awarded paper.

FI/11/001

IP ADVERT TEMPLATE.indd 1

www.upm.com

25/7/14 12:20:47