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TAKING PRINT TO THE NEXT LEVEL McGowans is adding a new dimension to POS displays with Eclipse 3D
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The best is getting even better The Jet Press 720S has changed the perception of what a digital press can achieve, setting new standards in quality and performance. Now, our new, third generation Jet Press 750S adds a speed of 3,600 sheets per hour and even better up-time, to the same breathtaking quality. So don’t just upgrade your existing offset press, take your business to the next level with the Jet Press 750S.
www.imagineinkjet.com/irishprinter
Richard Styles, Litho Supplies +353 (0) 872342881
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Wesley Moody, Alphagraphics +44 (0) 2890 49224
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ISSUE 1 2019
21 Diary of a brand designer
Print firms that go the extra mile when it comes to customer service are worth their weight in gold, writes Gerard Whelan
22 Rising to the occasion 04 News
A look at what’s happening in the print industry
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A new chapter
The National Print Museum is on the hunt for a new home
13 Match made in print heaven
McGowans Digital Print has partnered with Canon Ireland to install the Océ Colorado 1640 in its Dublin office
16 It’s only Massiv(it)
A new Massivit 3D printer has put McGowans ahead of the game
Anglo Printers’ MD Padraic Kierans talks to Irish Printer about facing Brexit in a border county, procurement challenges and why we need to shout a bit louder about our talents
24 Employee retention
Employee retention matters. The Design, Print and Packaging Skillnet describes how to keep your best employees from job hunting
26 The future is bright
The future for commercial printers is looking good, if a little unpredictable. Charles Lissenburg at Konica Minolta gives his take on the commercial print sector in 2019 and beyond
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WELCOME
Welcome to Issue 1 of Irish Printer for 2019. The National Print Museum plays a vital and perhaps underappreciated role in Ireland’s print industry. It’s not just a place for visitors to find out about our centuries-old, rich printing heritage and maybe take home a print of the 1916 Proclamation. It’s a place of education and learning, of research and collaboration and it exists to remind the general public how important print was back in the day and still is. The Museum has been located at the old Garrison Chapel in Beggars Bush Barracks since the 90s but redevelopment plans by the OPW mean the Museum is now on the lookout for a new home. Carla and the rest of the team at the Museum have asked the industry to keep an ear to the ground for a new building. A premises that may once have housed a printing works or newspaper would be an ideal new home for the Museum. Details of a fundraising campaign to fit-out the new facility (when it’s sourced) will be released by the Museum in due course and we’ll be passing those details on when we have them. Elsewhere in this issue, we speak with Padraic Kierans from Anglo Printers about the challenges associated with facing Brexit in a border county. Padraic also talked about the longstanding issues around procurement that the industry continues to face and why it’s high time public bodies recognised the quality services that printers in southern Ireland have to offer. Finally, on pages 24 and 25, the Design, Print and Packaging Skillnet gives us their take on how print firms can retain staff in today’s competitive marketplace. As always, we’d love to hear from you. If you have any thoughts on this issue, please drop us a line at editor@irishprinter.ie. Enjoy!
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Editor: Denise Maguire Email: editor@irishprinter.ie Creative Director: Jane Matthews Designer: Anna Wesolowska Production: Claire Kiernan Contact: Irish Printer, Ashville Media Group, Unit 55, Park West Road, Park West, Dublin 12, D12 X9F Tel: (01) 432 2200 Web: www.irishprinter.ie McGowans Print Printed by: Printed on: HP Indigo 10000 using Novatech paper supplied by Antalis. 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 2019. 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
IRISH PRINTER
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NEWS Fujifilm launches Acuity LED 40 series of flatbed printers Fujifilm has announced the launch of the new Acuity LED 40 series of flatbed printers which provide production capacity of up to 15,000 m2 per year, at speeds of up to 53 m2 per hour. The standard model allows users to print on media or objects of any size up to 1.25 x 2.5m, while with the X2 (double bed size) model, this increases to 2.5 x 3.08m. Added benefits include improved quality, reduced consumable costs of UV lamps and the reduced energy consumption of an LED curing system. The Acuity LED 40 also features a new LED ink, Uvijet KL and is available with four, six or eight colour channels.
Printlab opens at National Print Museum
PRINT – IT’S NOT DEAD According to a new study from the University of Texas, the print edition remains the most-read newspaper product and the primary revenue driver for the vast majority of newspapers, despite a multitude of digital offerings. The study, called ‘Charging More and Wondering Why Readership Declined?’,
PrintLab is the latest event to open at the National Print Museum. The aim of the event is to create an understanding of the traditional craft of letterpress printing through hands-on workshops for families and children aged from 4-12 years of age. Project artist for PrintLab is letterpress printer, Mary Plunkett, who will lead the initial taster workshops. According to the Museum, “The objective of the space is to enhance children’s learning experience in the Museum and reinvent the craft of letterpress for a new generation.”
also suggests that journalists and media-watchers have focused on circulation decline without also referring to considerable price hikes for printed products which have impacted circulation and in turn, made the ‘print is dead’ line all the more compelling.
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NEWS New software from
Ricoh
New software solutions from Ricoh are set to make Print Service Providers’ lives that bit easier. Ricoh Supervisor and Ricoh Communications Manager (RCM) have been designed to help the profitable management of increasingly diverse and often complex jobs. Ricoh Supervisor is an interactive Internet of Things solution, focused on collecting and securely storing operational data from sheetfed or continuous feed printers, finishing equipment, software applications and manually from operators on the shop floor. Also cloudbased, Ricoh Communications Manager provides end to end workflow and customer experience management. It focuses on providing a repeatable and predictable way to connect the functional components of a typical Customer Communications Management (CCM) system. Both solutions will be available from April in Europe.
PRINT4ALL BRINGS SECTOR TOGETHER Taking place from the 20th to the 22nd of March in Milan, Print4All Conference 2019 gathers together technology producers, converters/ printers, influencers and brand owners to discuss the future of print in a market driven by the evolution of digital. Over 60 speakers will offer their views on a range of topics including future challenges in the sector, the new production frontiers opened up by smart manufacturing and the evolution of the purchasing process. For more information, go to www.print4all.it
New metallic uv ink from Mimaki
Cork’s ‘Evening Echo’ to be rebranded The Evening Echo is to become a morning newspaper from March 3rd and will be renamed ‘The Echo’. The paper, which has become synonymous with Cork culture over the past 127 years, will now be produced and printed at the same time as the Irish Examiner, its sister newspaper. The Irish Examiner and the Evening Echo
Mimaki Europe has released a new UV-curable metallic ink, named MUH-100-Si. The ink is compatible with Mimaki’s UJF-7151plus printer. Created by mixing a bright pigment into the ink, MUH-100-Si can place metallic ink directly onto the product without the need for a separate manual transfer process, as is the case when applying glitters or foils to produce a metallic effect. Decorative options such as printing both gloss and matte tones, texture expression with embossing effects and full-colour metallic expressions can be achieved in-house by printing coloured ink overlaid on metallic ink.
were bought by the Irish Times last July, along with a number of regional titles and stakes in three radio stations. Editor at the Evening Echo, Maurice Gubbins, said: “We are delighted to be carrying on with our 127-year tradition of serving Cork daily with a rich diet of news, sport and features. We are actively developing and enhancing our offering both in print and online with our rebranded Echo Live website. Our online service and our printed newspaper are both packed with Cork content and unique to our Cork readership.”
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NEWS TAKING PACKAGING TO THE NEXT LEVEL AT DRUPA 2020 Touchpoint packaging 2020, a designated area at drupa, will show visitors exactly how innovative printing technologies are contributing to the future of packaging. Key issues will include customisation and personalisation, digitalisation, security and authentication. The aim of Touchpoint is to present concepts and the latest knowledge about new packaging production, finishing technologies and substrates, both future consumers as well as brand owners. In addition, the
Latest software from Agfa
visitor experience will combine physical and non-physical packaging
Agfa Graphics recently hosted its
elements via augmented reality, virtual reality and digital workflows.
bi-annual Apogee User Conference,
Over the 11 days of drupa, visitors will be able to listen to keynotes,
attracting over 60 attendees from across
attend roundtables, engage with specialists and literally touch the
the UK. New product demonstrations
newest and most innovative packaging solutions that enable brand
from Agfa were on show during the event,
owners, packaging designers and packaging converters to meet the
while guests also had the opportunity to
requirements of the next decade.
provide input into the company’s workflow
culminating in prototypes that meet the demands and needs of
software strategies. The latest release of Agfa’s workflow software Apogee was the main focus of the conference, along with automation and cloud-based prepress solutions. The first day was held at Agfa customer NewsPrinters in Broxbourne, an impressive site that receives data from the cloud and makes the plates for a host of UK daily newspapers. Showing what can be achieved on such a mission critical site had a massive impact on participants. There were regular tours of the presses – printing, at the time, the Evening Standard Newspaper – showing the complete automation from loading the newsprint reels to the papers being bound and stacked into the vans for delivery.
Antalis
Brings ‘wow’ factor to packaging innovations If you’re heading to Packaging Innovations 2019 at Birmingham’s NEC this month, pop along to the Antalis display. The stand, which has been created using Xanita’s ultra-lightweight and sustainable composite fibre-board, will show how tailored packaging solutions can improve sustainability, cut costs and inject the ‘WOW’ factor into the customer experience. In addition as part of Antalis’ ‘#YesWeCAD’ campaign, visitors are also encouraged to put forward their packaging challenges to the Antalis team who will then use their experience to recommend the best solution. Antalis will be available on Stand J25 at Packaging Innovations 2019 on 27th-28th February 2019 at the NEC in Birmingham.
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NEWS EMERGING TRENDS AFFECTING THE PRINTING INDUSTRY
According to US website, Printing Impressions, there are a few trends that are likely to shake the print industry up in 2019 and beyond. Demand for Customisation When the customisation trend originally hit the scene, many people assumed it wouldn’t last. But the numbers speak for themselves. Each
Herma
New ‘Thin Range’ label stock
HERMA has launched a new, lightweight label stock featuring thinner label paper (70 g/m2) and an especially adapted adhesive that features a multi-layer technology developed by the company. Two different layers of adhesive – each with special characteristics – are applied at the same time. This allows both the adhesive and the converting parameters to be controlled independently, resulting in excellent adhesion as well as easy processing.
year, more and more customers are seeking to design their own packaging, prompting printing companies to develop technologies that can meet this demand. Printing Inside the Box Printing inside boxes is likely to emerge as one of the hottest trends in 2019. Many companies have already started offering this feature because it reinforces branding and enhances the unboxing experience. This printing strategy can even help reduce the incidences of theft because people are less likely to steal a package that doesn’t reveal its contents or the sender’s name.
Ride-on-Car From Esmark Finch makes debut on Toy Show Esmark Finch’s Junior Force Car featured on the ride-
The Importance of Sustainability
on section of the Late Late Toy Show late last year.
Sustainability has become a big deal. Modern
The company has provided the little cars to the Garda
environmental concerns have changed consumers’
Siochana’s charity, ‘Little Blue Heroes’, an organisation
focus and the printing industry has taken
that is operated voluntarily by Garda staff to help families
notice. Printing companies are also pushing for
in local communities who have children with a serious
sustainability, taking advantage of inside-the-
illness. Honorary Garda Cormac Kennedy stepped up to
box printing to remove the need for packing
the job when his friend Garda Jack was unable to make
receipts, thus showing their customers they are
the show due to recovering from recent surgeries. Garda
environmentally conscious and willing to help
Cormac did an outstanding job driving the car live on air
make a difference.
and even said a special hello to Jack. He also caused one of the more memorable moments of the show by knocking Ryan Tubridy over.
Pay-as-You-Go Print Model Traditionally,
consumers
receive
a
monthly
invoice after sending in their print jobs. Due to market demand, this payment model is being replaced by the pay-as-you-go model, which offers customers a lot more flexibility. Instead of waiting for a monthly invoice, customers can now pay immediately, regardless of the job’s size. This payment model will be a big plus for printing companies because it will help clients manage their costs, thus reducing cash flow issues.
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News
A New Chapter The National Print Museum is on the hunt for a new home Since the early 90’s, the National Print Museum has been located at the old Garrison Chapel in Beggars Bush Barracks on Haddington Road. The Museum, which is housed in an OPW building and leased free of charge, was officially opened by then-President Mary Robinson in 1996. Now, a redevelopment of a number of OPW buildings within the Barracks is on the cards and that means the National Print Museum must find a new home. “The OPW want the premises back by November 2021. Initially, the news came as a huge shock to us. With the support of the industry, we had redeveloped this building and had thought we’d be here forever. All good things must come to an end however and so we’ll be moving on,” said Carla Marrinan Funder, Chief Executive Officer at the Museum. Since learning of the OPW’s plans for redevelopment, the Museum has been in talks with various government agencies and the outlook is positive. “There has been quite a bit of encouragement and we’re
hopeful that we might be able to find a better, more fit-forpurpose home. In some ways we have outgrown the space here. We’re currently renting a big storage facility as we just don’t have enough space and programming has also been restricted as we don’t have space to do more or indeed to display more. This could be an opportunity to find somewhere bigger and better.” The National Print Museum is calling on the industry to keep an eye out for a suitable premises. “We’re looking for buildings at the moment and would be particularly interested in derelict premises that may have once been a printing house or a newspaper. We think it would be really nice to be in a building with a rich printing industry.” The Museum also has plans to start a fundraising campaign to fit out the new premises. “We hope the industry continues to support us and we’ll be releasing details of the campaign over the next while.” If you have any ideas as to where the National Print Museum could relocate, email CarlaMarrinan@nationalprintmuseum.ie
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What could a Jet Press do for your business? Imagine what a state-of-the art single-pass B2 digital printer could do to supercharge your production and increase profitability. This is digital inkjet in reliable, ultra high quality like you’ve never seen before. Better than offset? See for yourself and imagine the possibilities. For more information contact Richard Styles, Litho Supplies +353 (0) 872342881
Wesley Moody, Alphagraphics +44 (0) 2890 492 249
www.imagineinkjet.com/irishprinter
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News
Match Made In Print Heaven McGowans Digital Print has partnered with Canon Ireland to install the Océ Colorado 1640 in its Dublin office
The new machine is intended to provide customers with technology driven solutions while also improving quality, value and production times. Commenting on the new partnership, Malcom McGowan, owner at McGowans Digital Print, said: “We have had the Colorado for around four months now and we view it as a significant upgrade on what we had been using. We have found it exceptionally reliable; it consistently shows an incredible effect. We have already paid for the machine in the first four months of use, so the return on investment in the Colorado technology is excellent.” Donnán Cullen, Key Account Manager, Canon Ireland said: “This partnership with McGowans, to install our latest and unique UVgel technology with the Océ Colorado, represents an extremely important step for Canon in the Irish market and we are delighted to continue to support McGowans in providing innovation for its customers.”
OCÉ COLORADO 1640
The Highlights ■ Canon’s UVgel print technology increases productivity and speed for McGowans, while using less ink and still delivering an improved colour gamut ■ Installation of the Océ Colorado has ensured consistently fast output and automation to ensure rapid job turnaround, which was only previously possible using multiple roll-to-roll engines or a larger flatbed ■ The Colorado has enabled exceptional quality high-resolution prints with the widest colour gamut and high repeatability thanks to advanced UVgel ink technology ■ The UVgel technology in the Colorado has allowed McGowans to print high quality products on the broadest possible range of media, even lower cost, thin or heat sensitive types ■ This partnership has allowed McGowans to ensure every part of its business is running to the optimum, creating new opportunities for McGowans to grow and enhance its customer base in the Irish market
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ADVERTISE WITH US IN
Contact our Sales and Sponsorship Director, Trish Murphy on 01 432 2231 or email trish.murphy@ashvillemediagroup.com
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TAKING PRINT TO THE NEXT LEVEL McGowans is adding a new dimension to POS displays with Eclipse 3D
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Cover Story
It’s only Massiv(IT) A new Massivit 3D Printer has put McGowans ahead of the game
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Cover Story
H
ow does a print firm differentiate itself in today’s market? If winning a job comes down to price and price only, with little or no regard for quality or efficiency, how can companies ensure their voice is heard above the din? One way is through continued investment in new technology. McGowans has never shied away from the latest print tech; in 2017, the firm installed an EFI Nozomi C18000, the world’s first commercial single pass large format printer, at its facility in Ballymun. The 1.8m-wide press can print up to 246 linear feet per minute, producing up to 77,758 sq ft per hour. At 40m long, it’s not a printer you’ll find anywhere else in Ireland, although some of the leading players in the industry have followed suit and invested in the machine, says Dave Fogarty, Marketing Manager at McGowans. “Delta has installed a Nozomi in the UK and Smurfit has also installed one in Portugal. Larger companies felt obliged to follow a company like ourselves so we took that as a marker to say that what we were doing was correct. You have to continually adapt to survive in today’s market and if you don’t, you won’t.” Since investing in the Nozomi, McGowans hasn’t rested on its laurels. Since first seeing the Massivit 3D Printer at drupa a few years ago, the 3D printing space has been on the company’s wants list. “Mal saw the machine and knew it would be an asset to the company and its existing offerings. Having investigated similar machines he found none that matched the Massivit for size, speed or quality,” said Dave. McGowans took delivery of the 1800 model in August 2018 and straight away set about exploring the myriad of ways in which the machine could improve upon and add value to the company’s existing services and products. “Mal knew that 3D printing could provide the wow factor that every brand manager, marketing executive and graphic designer wants for their company or product. 3D printing could provide the elusive differentiator that would set McGowans apart from every other print provider, particularly in the point of sale market.” However, he also recognised his own lack of experience in the area so Colin Doyle from Eclipse Media was brought on board to share his knowledge of large-scale 3D products. “He recognised the potential in the Massivit 1800 and together he and Mal set up a new company to bring the machine and its
IRISH PRINTER
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1,500 FOOTBALL PITCHES EVERY DAY!
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Cover Story
capabilities to the Irish market. Eclipse 3D was formed the day the Massivit began printing in McGowans' northside facility.” Colin knew that wide format, digital 3D format printing would be welcomed by brands and companies as it offers crowd stopping power and allows advertising campaigns to push past creative boundaries. He believes that existing customers will also want to employ 3D printing in their point of sale products in an effort to separate themselves from their competitors. Eclipse 3D introduced themselves to the market at the recent 3D expo in Citywest Hotel in January of this year. The centrepiece of their stand was a life-size Hulk which attracted a huge number of visitors looking to get a selfie with the green giant. “The photo opportunity acted as a magnet for people at the show and naturally allowed Eclipse 3D to introduce new prospective clients to all the other parts of their business. Everyone is looking for new ways to attract consumers and the latest cool technologies never fail to achieve this ambition. The scale of the products the Massivit can produce have always drawn the crowds at industry trade shows and the same proved to be true in Citywest.” The versatility of the machine is another factor that makes it an excellent addition to a wide format print service provider. An example of this is the first commercial job that Eclipse 3D completed for Coca-Cola. “The brand wanted an attractive display to complement their Christmas point of sale so we introduced them to the possibilities offered by 3D printing teamed with Thermo forming. We first created a 3D model based on Coke’s famous Santa Claus image, then we created a 5 foot tall 3D printed mould. This was used to produce 20 plastic models which we then framed with cardboard and installed internal illumination to finish the job. Using the printer to create a mould allowed us to create as many copies as required at an economical and fast rate. Coca-Cola was delighted with the results and particularly impressed with the turnaround speed as it was a relatively late request, quite close to Christmas.”
Massivit 1800 – the details No. of printing heads
1 or 2, with option to scale
Printing speed
300 mm/sec linear speed, 35cm /13.7” on Z axis per hour
Printing quality
Normal/ Quality/ High Resolution
Max. printing volume
145 x 111 x 180cm or 57 x 44 x 70"
Supported materials
Proprietary Dimengel 100 and future specialty gels
Integrated software
Massivit Smart
Max. printing size
Width - 57”/145 cm Depth - 44”/111 cm Height - 70”/180 cm
Top brands are demanding 3D printing technology as a core part of their integrated global campaigns. It allows print firms to embrace entirely new creative realms and get ahead of the game, increase profit margins and draw in new business from a broader range of markets. In an industry currently defined by price, adopting 3D printing is a way of standing out from the crowd. “We’re literally racing to the bottom on price. There are some clients that will email three or four printers and ask them to pitch for the same job in front of each other. Unfortunately, that’s just the way it has gone. By investing in the Massivit 3D printer, we’re trying to offer that much-needed differentiator and give our clients added value. We also want to offer a service that no-one else is currently providing. With the Massivit, that’s exactly what we’re doing.”
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IRISH PRINTING FEDERATION The Irish Printing Federation are the Organisation set up to support the Irish Print Industry.
What you get as a Member:
TRAINING SERVICES AT REDUCED RATES
MEMBER PROMOTION AT NATIONAL LEVEL
INDUSTRIAL SERVICES REPRESENTATION
We have a lot of work to do in 2019 – please support by becoming an IPF member
LOBBYING
WE PROMOTE THE EVENTS FOR APPRENTICE- NETWORKING SHIP
WE PROVIDE GROUP DISCOUNTS
✓ €50 ASSOCIATE MEMBERS ✓ €100 FOR COMPANIES WITH LESS THAN 50 EMPLOYEES ✓ €250 FOR LARGER COMPANIES
Irish Printing Federation, C/O Trimfold Envelopes, Duggan Industrial Estate Athboy Road, Trim, Co. Meath | Tel: 086 – 202 7588 Email: info@ irishprintingfederation.ie | www.irishprintingfederation.ie
Training for Design, Print & Packaging companies
T
he Design, Print and Packaging Skillnet is a training network which works with design, print, signage, label, packaging companies to deliver training solutions which will improve business performance. Building on the work of the Design Ireland Skillnet and the Print and Packaging Skillnet, this network continues to provide excellence in training and networking opportunities to our members for over 10 years. The DPP Skillnet works with proven training and support leaders and tutors to organise and facilitate
training events and workshops designed to impart industry-relevant skills and qualifications that will give you and your company a competitive edge in a rapidly moving marketplace. The focus of the Design, Print and Packaging Skillnet is to provide print training, design courses and packaging courses which will assist members to reduce costs and increase competitiveness through enhanced skills and expertise. All of the training provided is in response to the expressed needs of companies in our industry. We aim to improve the strategic capability of our member companies and therefore improve our industry. The DPPS is supported by Skillnet Ireland.
Skillnet Ireland, P/O Box 12810 Dublin 12 | Tel. 087 – 908 9102 Email: maureen@dppskillnet.ie | www.dppskillnet.ie Advert template.indd 1 Irish Printing Federation_1C_JM_IP JanFeb.indd 1
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Talking point
You can never have enough customer service Print firms that go the extra mile to keep their customers happy are worth their weight in gold, writes Gerard Whelan For us, customer service is extremely important. Over the years we have worked with lots of printers and in general we have almost always had a good experience. In fact, for some reason, the print industry seems to be a very customer service focused industry. In Denmark, I had the same experience. One print firm in particular, Nofo Print, had exceptional customer service. I remember on one occasion, my contact turned up unannounced and said, “Gary (he always called me Gary for some reason), I just wanted to show you this job we are printing for you.” I said, “OK thanks Tom, that looks good”, to which he responded, “No we are not happy with them, so we’re binning the lot, I just wanted to show you and apologise.” Talk about 24 carat gold plated customer service! As I’m sure you can imagine, he got a lot of repeat business after that. We have found the same with printers here in Ireland. Someone will spot a typo on press (Impress Printing Works) and call to let us know, then fix it...nice one! Or we’ll find printers bending over backwards to ensure we are happy with how a certain pantone colour reproduces on press (Print Fusion). On other occasions, we have had printers sticking their neck out to persuade us to use digital press and ultimately delivering much better results (Eddie, Label Tech). However there are occasions when we have been stung, when we get work delivered late or badly produced. I remember on one occasion getting a job delivered riddled with print errors and even though the printer admitted it was their fault, they refused to reprint the job. On another occasion, we got a simple stationary job delivered with three separate shades of yellow (one for the CD cover, one for the business cards and another for the four page brochure). When the printer finally agreed to reprint the job, they still got it wrong on two consecutive reprints.
When it comes to customer service, here’s what’s important to us:
Mistakes Everyone makes mistakes and that’s understandable but: a. Keep it to an absolute minimum b. When you get it wrong you do everything you can to fix it.
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Advice You guys are the experts so advise us. There’s nothing worse than a printer who says things like “I just print what you send me.”
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Expectations We need to know exactly what we are getting for the price. Let’s say the client wants an additional change that requires another digital proof – is this included?
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Delivery Never deliver later than the time you promise. You’re better off adding in a contingency day rather than delivering late.
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Gerard Whelan is Managing Director at Brandcentral
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21/02/2019 14:16
Interview
Rising to the occasion Anglo Printers’ Md Padraic Kierans talks to Irish Printer about facing Brexit in a border county and why the print industry need to shout a bit louder about its talents
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rint, says Anglo Printers’ Managing Director Padraic Kierans, has always been a good indicator of what’s going on in the overall economy. If the print market is suffering, then chances are the economy isn’t going so great either. Since November 2018, print firms have been experiencing a stagnancy in the sector, a trend that has continued into 2019. “December is always a challenge; you only have three weeks and if you get a bad week you’re in trouble. From talking to industry colleagues, January was also quite slow. The constant negative conversation around Brexit is making it difficult for people to make decisions around investing in their business, product or service,” said Padraic. A reluctance to invest in printing means firms must shout that bit louder about their capabilities. “There are challenges ahead but on the flipside there are opportunities. It’s about being positive in your outlook and making sure that people buying print outside of the Republic are aware of the many great printers in this country that can offer an excellent service. There’s no need to go to another country or across any border. I think as an industry we need to be more outspoken.” Contraction within the market over the past few years has radically altered the industry and forced print firms to adapt to a new reality, or die. Padraic doesn’t expect this contraction to continue. “Maybe we’ll see some mergers but I think anyone who’s left at this stage of the game is pretty well established and has managed to survive the most difficult of times. At Anglo Printers, we would have experienced growth in the market over the past four or five years, but I know that hasn’t been the same for everyone.” He attributes that growth to ensuring the customer is front and central. “We’ve tried to make the customer the most important part of the equation. We’ve also invested; we never stopped spending money on technology and machinery.” A new Komori H-UV press, installed just over two years ago, has delivered efficiencies in terms of quality, the environment and finishes. “The technology from Komori has been a revelation. It instantly cures sheets – you can cut them, fold them and move them within minutes. We’re seeing people ordering less volumes but more often and they need to move them faster. We took a bit of a risk with the H-UV technology but it has allowed us to service this market and has opened up new channels for us with new partners and customers.” The company also installed a Ricoh Pro C9110 a couple of years back. “We already have over 10 million impressions. We’ve seen huge growth in digital in the past while; we’re currently running two shifts which wouldn’t have been the case
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Interview
24 months ago. We’ve stayed hungry, we’re always looking for work and investigating new products that we can add to improve our client offering.” Fairer procurement policies would create more demand in the Republic, says Padraic. “A significant amount of spend is going to Northern Ireland. That’s a big challenge for everyone and certainly for us in a border county. In the past number of weeks we’ve seen University Press in Cork announce on RTE News that they received 79 palettes from a print company in Italy that has produced ‘Atlas of the Irish Revolution’. I think the revolutionaries would be up in arms if they thought they had created a Republic where people were celebrating the fact that they were sending work out of the country. There are plenty of people in Ireland and indeed in Cork that could have handled that job.” Procurement remains a major issue for the printing industry and it’s something the Irish Printing Federation continues to lobby government on. “The challenges we face are that labour costs in the Republic are much higher than in the North and the main factor that drives labour cost is housing. With
staff saying they can’t get a mortgage or their rent has gone up, the pressure on employers to deliver a better wage structure is enormous. It’s all very well saying it’s a market and you have to innovate but I think everyone in the print industry at this stage has embraced technology and innovation.” Unlike the NI print market, firms in the Republic can’t avail of any capital grants for machinery. “That’s the reality that people don’t take into account. We have to make it known that the RoI print sector is delivering value for money, top quality products, is innovative at all times and is embracing technology but there are certain things that are not within our control. We can’t control the price of labour or housing and we’re at a disadvantage when faced with a market that receives government funding. The public procurement sector in particular needs to take these issues into account and be aware that the positive decisions they make will ultimately ensure we still have an industry in 10 years’ time.” Anglo Printers is very much a family affair. Padraic and his brother Peter, a Sales Director at the company, took over the business from their father, Johnny Kierans. “I have an excellent team around me, with Peter as Sales Director and also with Production Manager Donagh Callan, who’s a top man at moving stuff. We all have a passion for print and we all share the same vision for the company, which is creating lasting relationships. We’re looking forward to the next chapter at Anglo.”
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Employee Retention
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Employee retention matters. The Design, Print and Packaging Skillnet describes how to keep your best employees from job hunting
give you
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motion or advancement opportunities as most companies were in survival mode, stuck at the same salary or stuck at the same experience and training level. Now, the labour market has shifted dramatically. It has become a tough market out there for recruitment, as all
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e’ve just come through a major recession, where employee mobility was low and employers could pick and choose from a huge talent pool when – and if – any positions opened up within their firms. Employees were ‘stuck’ in many ways; stuck in the same role with no pro-
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those employees who once felt stuck are now free to explore a whole range of creative, competitive and dynamic places to work. Small and medium enterprises have to compete with much bigger multinationals who have huge teams and big budgets for high-impact employee retention programmes. But SMEs can take cues from their playbooks and create their own great places to work.
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Employee Retention “A recent Forbes article showed 43% of workers choose flexible working arrangements over a pay increase”
Staff perception of ‘a good place to work’ has changed. It used to be largely determined by the initial salary and benefits package but now, research among millennials in particular shows that far more than money, they are motivated by three key things – purpose, flexibility and independence.
Purpose
Your staff need to feel they are working together towards a shared goal and have a sense of where the business is going in the future. Not only should your team feel included in the company’s vision, but they also need to feel they are doing good in the world. Consider a company volunteering day, fundraisers or CSR initiative, led by your employees. Pick a charity and donate a print run or redesign their logo for them. A company’s culture means a lot to people when choosing where they want to work and creating an environment where people work to shared goals and values helps shape a sense of belonging, worth and value.
Flexibility
A recent Forbes article showed 43% of workers choose flexible working arrangements over a pay increase. If possible, a clear working from home policy should be implemented. Consider small perks such as flexitime which give your team more control over their working hours and their day. Given the fact that most employees will stay late or work through their lunchbreak in order to meet a deadline, it’s important to recognise this by being flexible yourself. Presenteeism is a cultural norm we need to change. Just because someone is sitting at their desk, doesn’t mean they are being productive or even working at all. This is often not because they are purposely slacking off, but people work differently at different times of the day. Allowing people to have some control over when they work results in people feeling like they can ‘clock out’ if they have lost focus and come back fresh, perhaps a little earlier in the morning, to start again the next day. In the print, packing and design world, we often work to tight deadlines, so management
can often be reluctant to introduce these kinds of arrangements for fear of people downing tools just at a critical moment. But policies can be written in order to allow room for flexibility while ensuring clients’ needs are met on time. In particular, women bear the brunt of inflexibility in the workplace when they have children and are forced to work part time or to give up work altogether. So if you are seeking more gender balance in the workplace, introducing a level of flexibility can be a great starting point.
Independence and Leadership
Allowing your team the freedom to make decisions and work relatively independently is key to high staff performance and employee retention. Giving your teams more responsibility and leadership roles, with support for them to be able to rise to the challenge, is key to boosting morale. Ensuring they have all the tools they need to complete a project or giving ownership to a more junior member of staff can often deliver surprising results and indeed, will give that employee the sense that they are valued and trusted. People like to have ownership over their work. They also like to have clear pathways for progression and in small companies, this can be hard. So think of other ways you can let them know they are doing a great job, perhaps by giving them more freedom and independence over their work, as well as letting them know where they are aiming for. Importantly, have a close look at your team configuration. Have you high turnover in a particular section? Do you have a manager who tends to control and micromanage details? If so, consider management training for this person. They could be doing untold damage to employee morale.
Investing in your Staff: Training and Development
Investing in your staff promotes ‘reciprocity’, a key behavioural science social norm whereby if someone does something for you, you then feel obligated to return the favour. Have a think about your staff ’s training needs. Consider a bursary to send a staff member through a further education programme. Send your staff to conferences and events in the industry and ask them to report back on their findings. Invest in your staff and show them that you care about their development through in-house and formal training initiatives like DPPSkillnet and other industry channels. Finally, if you are worried about your company culture, increased turnover or staff retention, find a way to ask staff how they are doing. Consider an anonymous ‘gripes’ report, where staff can vent about anything that bothers them in the workplace, including people. Consider a staff survey, asking people, again anonymously, to tell you about what could be improved for staff and teams. Rather than second guessing, speaking directly to your teams sends a strong message that your employees matter. And ultimately, creating a workplace where your staff count will ensure they stick around for the long haul.
For information on courses at The Design, Print and Packaging Skillnet, go to www.dppskillnet.ie
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Market Trends
The Future is Bright The future for commercial printers is looking good, if a little unpredictable. Charles Lissenburg at Konica Minolta gives his take on the commercial print sector in 2019 and beyond A renewed sense of optimism among print service providers is pushing the sector forward. That’s according to the 2018 drupa Global Trends Report, which found that only 9% of printers in 2017 considered their economic state to be poor, with the rest describing it as good or satisfactory. This positive outlook reflects the slow but steady recovery of the global economy since the 2008 recession. There’s also a very strong sense in the industry that print will endure as a communications medium, despite the perceived threats from digital, mobile and virtual channels which many thought had signalled the death-knell for our medium. In fact, print is thriving and finding new ways to deliver impact and value, often alongside those other media channels. The future is exciting for print, if less predictable than it once seemed. Amidst this glow of positivity, pressures remain for commercial printers. They must seek to operate sleek and streamlined businesses which are able to respond rapidly to customers’ demands for high quality, cost-effective and creative solutions. They must embrace technology and harness a spirit of innovation and increasingly, they’re looking for suppliers that share that mindset and can help them pursue it vigorously. A great many commercial printers are in the business of diversifying into and mastering new markets. According to the drupa Global Trends Report, printers are operating in an
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average of 1.8 additional specialist markets. At Konica Minolta we have one of the widest product portfolios in the commercial printing marketplace and with products in Ireland supplied by MJ Flood, we are justifiably proud of our long heritage in inkjet as well as toner system. We entered the commercial printing market only 15 years ago and are leaders in mid- and low volume production markets, all under the AccurioPress branding.
Labels
The label sector continues to be a growing market and was forecast by Smithers Pira to be worth a total of $36.98 billion in 2017. The same source also predicts that growth will continue at an average rate of 4.1% per year up to 2022, making labels a $45.22 billion market by then. Together, the two digital printing techniques of electrophotography and inkjet accounted for 28% of label production by value globally in 2017, although this equated to just 11% of the volume of labels produced, illustrating that the inherent nature of digital print brings distinct advantages for added-value label printing. Trends in the market are
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Market Trends for shorter runs, shorter turnaround times and the rise of mass customisation and at Konica Minolta, we see these continuing to shape the labels market going forward. Our own Konica Minolta AccurioLabel 190 Press was originally designed to address exactly these needs for small to medium sized label converters and in the space of a year, there have already been more than 150 installations of the system. Since the introduction of its predecessor, the bizhub Press C71cf at Labelexpo in 2015, over 250 installations have been made. Increasingly, we are seeing the AL 190 becoming a viable solution for larger label converters looking for a press to complement their high-end digital printing systems. An additional trend we have observed, both in labels and in packaging, is that brands increasingly want to add value through innovative decorative and tactile elements within the printed piece. In this regard, technology such as the digital embellishment systems of our strategic partner MGI is a ready-made opportunity for label converters to offer highly creative services and win new business. For example, MGI’s JETvarnish 3DWeb Color+ system for labels and flexible packaging produces in-line flat and 3D spot UV coating, 3D embossed varnish textures and flat and embossed foil effects; it also includes a flexo priming station for uncoated material surface management. Speed to market, short run and creative solutions, along with providing added value to customers, are becoming ever more important in the label sector and Konica Minolta expects these trends to continue. In 2017, we were proud to announce the formation of the Professional Print Division in Europe that is based out of our European headquarters in Langenhagen, Germany, where we also have a dedicated showroom. In the same year, we also opened an industrial print office and R&D centre in Paris, close to the headquarters of MGI. The label market continues to be a success story for Konica Minolta. However, it’s not just about the technology. Consultancy, customer testimonials and other presentations will complement our offerings. The development of the AL190 itself is a perfect example of the close collaboration of Konica Minolta with its customers. We listened to label converters’ feedback on its predecessor, the bizhub press C71cf and included this into our AL 190, which has been developed and manufactured in cooperation with Danish company Grafisk Maskinfabrik (GM). It is now an all-in-one device with integrated web guiding system and quality control area with viewing lights. It’s capable of working in two ways – either as an inline-finishing solution together with the GM DC330Mini or for the two devices to work as stand-alone solutions, fulfilling the need for flexibility that the market requires.
We at MJ Flood are excited to offer the successor to the Konica Minolta C71CF Label System. We are unique in the short-run digital label market because we offer one of the easiest digital systems to use and one of the most reliable in the AccurioLabel 190. And equally important is that we offer a unique allinclusive Cost-per-Linear Meter Service Agreement, which covers all parts, toner, service calls, training, etc. Phil Schueler, Production Print Manager, MJ Flood
Charles Lissenburg is General Manager, Professional Print Division at Konica Minolta Europe Business Solutions GmbH
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Talking to...
How long are you in the print industry?
Pure luck… my first interview on Irish soil a week after I landed from Calgary, Alberta.
Any comedy will do.
Favourite band/ musician?
Foo Fighters/Soundgarden.
What do you see as your biggest success in life?
SUNEEL SEETAL
Blessed to say I love my job and thoroughly enjoy working with my teammates and customers nationwide. I have a soft spot for many who make my work day enjoyable and the nights out memorable!
How has the industry changed?
Different in many ways, yet some things have remained constant. Signage, plastics and commercial print used to be separate. Solvent printing was in its infancy in 2000 and now ‘digital printing’ has meshed the trades together. That said, recognised brands and quality products from reliable suppliers have stayed the same. Any sign-maker who put Avery 600/700 series on a vehicle 15+ years ago, can still stand over their work from that product range and square corriboard from Northern Ireland Plastics is still the best sheet in the market!
Are you a glass half empty or half full person?
I prefer a full pint of Guinness instead of an empty one.
Who or what makes you laugh? Shane Martin – that fella is one funny dude! (the Bromance continues!)
What superpower would you most like to have? Time travel.
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How would you like to be remembered? A respectful son, a good dad and a nice lad.
Life is….?
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Suneel Seetal, Sales Director at GPMI, talks about his passion for Ireland, rock music and enjoying a good pint of Guinness
Having my son Oisin travel all over Ireland.
K i
What do you love/hate about the industry?
Talking to…
Favourite film?
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How did you get into it?
Golf tour operator.
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My first job in Ireland landed me in the signage trade in 2000. I joined Robert Horne in 2004 and have been in charge of the Sign, Display & Plastics division since GPMI started up in 2015.
Dream job?
Pretty awesome over here. My Irish mum left for Canada in 1967 aged 20. In many ways, I feel like I’ve come home and will always be thankful to customers and friends who have welcomed me into their place of business over the years.
To...
Worst job?
Stacking shelves at a supermarket for a summer job during university years. Think I lasted three weeks!
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