Irish Printer Issue 2 2019

I S S U E 2 2 0 1 9 | | T H E V O I C E O F T H E I N D U S T R Y | | W W W. I R I S H P R I N T E R . I E

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ISSUE 2 2019

04 News

A look at what’s happening in the print industry

08 Smart tech boosts business

Productivity is up at GPS Colour Graphics, thanks to its new Stahlfolder TH 82-P

10 New investment, new possibilities

Investment in an Iridesse Press has opened up a world of new possibilities for print firm NeoGen

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A cutting-edge solution

Canon Ireland provides innovative technology to Digital Print Dynamics with The Océ Colorado

11 Diary of a brand designer

Brandcentral and Print

Fusion have collaborated on a complex production with a tight deadline

13 Onwards and upwards

Wilton-based Omah Printing Ltd has invested in a new Xerox Versant 180

17 Keeping pace at Turners

An intelligent end-to-end workflow system has made life that bit easier for the team at Turners Printing

18 Get out of your comfort zone

Injecting a little creativity into your applications offering can do you no harm when it comes to customer satisfaction. Bobby Fosson looks at how having the right software can help improve your bottom line

22 I t’s all about the customer

How do businesses in the speciality print sector respond to consumer demand for personalisation? Sean Holt, executive director at FESPA, explains

IRISH PRINTER

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WELCOME

Welcome to Issue 2 of Irish Printer for 2019.

Our cover story this month focuses on Canon Ireland. The company recently supplied Dublin firm, Digital Print Dynamics, with an Océ Colorado 1640. The installation has been a success; it has allowed the firm to branch out into wide format printing and significantly grow the business. An investment of this nature isn’t for the fainthearted and extensive market research preceded the purchase but still, Colm Smith, Director at Digital Print Dynamics was eager for the purchase to pay off and it looks like it has. Wide format printing has become a large percent of the company’s revenue stream and customers have responded positively to the new services available at the firm.

Canon has been championing companies that are willing to take a risk when it comes to technology for years. According to Colm, the level of service that Digital Print Dynamics received from Canon led to a quick integration, allowing the firm to deliver the best possible results for its customers straight away. For more on Canon and Digital Print Dynamics, turn to page 16.

Elsewhere in this issue, we look at how businesses in the speciality print sector are responding to the increasing consumer demand for personalisation. This demand is driving growth in digital production; a survey conducted by FESPA showed that respondents expect digital wide format to account for more than half of their revenue within the next 24 months – rising from 44% at present to 53%. The survey also found that print service providers are responding well to this demand and aren’t afraid of embracing technology. That eagerness to evolve with the industry is also why Business Print is celebrating 30 years in business this year. We sat down for a chat with the company’s Managing Director, Paul O’Rourke, to find out the secrets of Business Prints’ success. Turn to page 22 for more.

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

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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NEWS RICOH

2019

LAUNCHES RI 1000 DIRECT TO GARMENT PRINTER

Ricoh recently launched the Ri 1000 Direct to Garment (DTG) printer, a machine that delivers excellent print quality with enhanced resolution of 1200 dpi x 1200 dpi. It also supports CMYK plus white ink to ensure impressive results on fabric of any colour. The Ri 1000’s application flexibility is supported by a new pretreatment liquid suitable for 100% light polyester and polycotton blends.

According to Ricoh, this opens up greater opportunities for garments and textile products in a number of sectors including sports. The machine’s magnetic mechanism enables the platens to easily snap on and off without the need for additional tools.

This flexibility supports continuous production and a wide range of print capabilities from children’s sizes to super wide designs. The Ri 1000 will feature at FESPA, Munich, from May 14th to 17th.

MEDIA SPEND TO GROW

BY JUST 0.6% IN 2019 Marketing communications company, Core, has forecast that total media spend in Ireland will grow by just 0.6% in 2019 to €1.044 billion. As with previous years, online will deliver the growth in the market, albeit at a slower rate than before, while offline media will see a third consecutive year of decline, with overall spend falling 4.5% to €525 million. The figures are contained in Core’s annual ‘Outlook’ report which forecasts spend for 2019 across a variety of media including print, video, audio, online, sponsorship and out-of-home. Core says that a hard Brexit is not factored into the predictions for 2019. In the event that the UK does crash out of Europe, the impact on marketing budgets both here and in the UK will be significant, it says. In a bid to ensure that Ireland has a sustainable media market for the future, Core is also calling on the government to commission an independent report to examine the state of the news media in Ireland, the threats of the financial stability of publishers, the impact of search engines and social media platforms and the role of digital advertising. It points out that it is critically important for Ireland to have a “thriving, ambitious, inquisitive, energetic news media” and the Irish government must realise the pivotal role that all our indigenous media play in our culture, values and national identity.

Some of Core’s key predictions for 2019 include: Print: Overall print spend in 2018 fell by 10.6% to €119.9 million. Core predicts that the Republic of Ireland print market will contract by 11.1% in 2019 to €106.7 million, with national newspapers falling by 12.0% to €85.2 million.

Online: The overall online market in the Republic of Ireland is expected to increase by 6.3% to €519.5 million. Despite all the issues surrounding Facebook last year, it will continue to increase its share of the online display market from 44% to 49%, with revenue totalling €108 million. This is driven by an estimated 30% growth in video revenue at Facebook this year.

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NEWS SET FOR GROWTH

Swords based company, Image Vision Print Ltd, has invested in a Konica Minolta bizhub PRESS C1085 and AccurioPress C6085.

The new machines are expected to increase productivity and grow the company. Commenting on the investment, Phil Schueler, MJ Flood Production Print Manager said: “We are very excited about Image Vision’s plans for growth as they move forward.

The addition of the AccurioPress C6085 with longer sheet size support, increased paper handing up to 400gsm and the added productivity the new system gives them is a recipe for success for Peter and Shay! They’ve retained their existing C1085 as well so there is plenty of room for continued growth and expansion.”

Flexo brands fly high at EFIA Awards

Peter Wisely, Image Vision Print Director, Phil Schueler, MJ Flood Production Print Manager, Shay Leathem, Image Vision Print Director

The best and the brightest in the flexographic industry were recognised recently at the 2019 European Flexographic Industry Association (EFIA) Print Awards. Companies that picked up awards included Contact Originators, Parkside, Hamilton Labels and Coveris.

Leading the winners were DS Smith and Smurfit Kappa who both took home a haul of 13 accolades, with Interflex picking up a total of six awards. EFIA Chairman, Neil Jones, of Bobst UK & Ireland, said: “It was a fantastic night and we were amazed by the number of entries we received this year. The awards aim to celebrate the dedication, talent and capabilities of those within the industry and this year the level of quality was unprecedented.”

Plastic out, green packaging in A new report from financial services group PwC Ireland has found that 41% of Irish shoppers would pay a premium for sustainable products. The report also reveals that Irish consumers show a high degree of awareness about environmental issues and understand the influence that their purchasing decisions can have on production, marketing and packaging decisions. Thirty-two percent of survey respondents said they choose sustainable products to help protect the environment, 49% look for products with environmentally-friendly packaging and 52% avoid the use of plastic when they can. In addition, two-thirds are willing to pay for locally produced food items, while 41% say they will pay more for sustainably produced non-food items. According to PwC, this consciousness will continue to grow with the greater awareness of climate change, resource depletion and the implementation of carbon taxes and levies.

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NEWS

Photographer: Mark Henderson

AGFA

INSPIRES PRINTERS AT VALUE CONFERENCE

Agfa recently welcomed representatives from printing companies across Europe to its Value Conference to get ideas on how to grow their businesses and improve their profitability. The focal point was Agfa’s ECO³ solutions, which according to the company make a printers’ operations more ecological and extra convenient while increasing efficiency, limiting waste and reducing the consumption of valuable resources such as ink and paper. Early adaptors from printing companies shared their real-life experiences of Agfa’s ECO³ solutions, which allowed attendees take away practical approaches to increasing efficiency, improving their bottom line and growing their business.

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ONE SMALL STEP FOR MAN…

SONGS OF HOPE Staff at Smurfit Kappa Display recently

Two exhibitions celebrating the 50th anniversary of man landing on the moon are currently running at the National Print Museum. ‘A Letterpress Celebration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the First Moon Landing’ and ‘To the Moon’ explore Ireland’s response to the moon landing through print. Given the historical significance of the events of July 20th 1969, a range of coverage was evident across the island. The front pages of national and regional newspapers, along with the RTE Guide, give a flavour of the response. The exhibition opened late March and will run for three months.

created a charity CD FSDU free of charge, to be used in Dunnes Stores across the country. Commissioned by the HSE, the display was designed to showcase CDs from the Health Voices Choir. All proceeds from the sales were donated to the Simon Community, Hospice, Laura Lynn, Bumbleance and the Temple Street Foundation.

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Image 1 and 2 are part of ‘A Letterpress Celebration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the First Moon Landing’ and image 3 is part of ‘To the Moon.

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NEWS The effect of Brexit on London print firms According to an article in the London Economic, a loss of access to important markets on the continent due to Brexit could be devastating to the printing industry in London. Some firms have also stated that they may be unable to sell products competitively in the Republic of Ireland due to Eurozone status. Several

Mimaki

New Mimaki Desktop 3D printer features at Sign & Digital Hybrid Services has announced the launch of the new Mimaki 3DFF-222 3D printer, a product co-branded with Sindoh, a manufacturer of 3D printers and multi-function printers based in South Korea. The Fused Filament Fabrication

firms have pointed out that if the Pound is devalued in the international community, exporters of printed materials would be able to export more materials for at least some time after EU ties are severed.

Industry analysts claim that some midsized London-based firms would even become attractive acquisition targets for investors from North America and Japan.

(FFF) solution, which will make its debut at Sign and Digital UK 2019, has been developed as an in-house design and production tool. It’s ideal for parts such as jigs used in direct-to-object printing and tools for producing threedimensional signage. Hybrid Services says that the new machine is a marker in the sand for sign and graphics companies looking for a cost-effective way of creating jigs for direct printing using Mimaki’s desktop UV flatbed printers.

It will be commercially available from the end of April 2019 and on display on the Hybrid stand at Sign and Digital UK, which took place in April at the NEC, Birmingham.

ATHLONE IT TO DEVELOP WORLD’S FIRST LARGE-SCALE 3D PRINTER

The European Space Agency has asked researchers at Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT) to develop the world’s first largescale, zero-gravity 3D printing machine for use on the International Space Station as part of a wider European consortium. The 3D printer project is to be known as ‘Project Imperial’ and the consortium will draw on the expert knowledge of key AIT personnel such as Dr Sean Lyons, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Informatics, along with the commissioned group in charge of it. The researchers are expected to use high-strength, functional thermoplastics to develop and deploy a 3D printer capable of creating complex engineering structures larger than itself.

Dr Lyons said: “Traditionally, 3D printers are based around simple materials and applications. They might look the part but they’re not hard or strong enough to be fully functional. Using cutting-edge material science, we’re going to design components that can be modified or configured for printing in zero gravity conditions on board the International Space Station.”

3D printing company to create 100 jobs in Dublin Markforged has announced the opening of its first official European headquarters in Dublin, as part of the company’s planned global expansion for 2019. Over the next three years, the manufacturer of industrial 3D printers intends to hire 100 new employees, across all functions, to staff the new headquarters. The Dublin office will be the first international office for Markforged and will serve as the base of its operations in Europe to meet the growing demand for affordable machines that print high-strength materials, such as carbon fiber and MIM metals.

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News

SMART TECH BOOSTS BUSINESS Productivity is up at GPS Colour Graphics, thanks to its new Stahlfolder TH 82-P

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After taking delivery of a Stahlfolder TH 82-P, Belfast firm GPS Colour Graphics has found that it offers a minimum of 50% and up to 100% increase in productivity and can handle concertina folding without fuss. “I bought this folder because I knew it had a higher run rate and I am always looking for higher line speed,” says Derek Bell, Managing Director. “It has a lower mechanical speed but a higher output and that means it gives better quality control and is easier for the operators to run.

It is a leap forward in technology.”

The Stahlfolder TH 82-P is an industry level, high output folder.

The key is the portrait feeding and underlapped shingle method that operates throughout the folder to produce the traditional format sections, with the minimum of 50% higher output than on standard TH/ KH (buckle/combination) folders.

With this technology, 16 page A4 sections can be produced at up to 16,400 copies per hour with minimal

increase in machine speed. This high output can be achieved with only 140mpm; the problem with chasing output by mechanical speed is that it can compromise quality because of the stability of the sheet, especially with sensitive stocks.

The new folder, which is supplementary rather than replacement equipment, will run alongside existing MBO models and a range of Stahlfolders. A £5 million move to a new 125,000 sq ft premises in Belfast (from a 25,000 sq ft site) two years ago has also given the company space and room for further growth.

The new Stahlfolder will handle book sections through to leaflets.

GPS produces over 99 million items a year, from sewn books to folded leaflets. Its finishing line up is comprehensive and as a company, it not only has print (three long perfectors, digital and wide format technology), but even augmented reality and digital publishing services.

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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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News

New Investment, New Possibilities Investment in an Iridesse press has opened up a world of new possibilities for print firm NeoGen

The Facts Xerox Iridesse Production Press n Standard Capabilities: Production colour printing n Optional Capabilities: Specialty Dry Inks: silver, gold, white, and clear. Add one or two Specialty Dry Ink stations in addition to the standard 4 for CMYK, for a total of up to 6 n High-capacity feeding, stacking, and finishing n Rated speed: 120 ppm (8.5” x 11”/A4), 52-400 gsm Recommended average monthly volume: 225,000 - 475,000 impressions per month n Digital Front Ends: Xerox EX-P 6 Print Server Powered by Fiery n Print Engine n Engine Accelerator – accelerate your Xerox Iridesse Production Press with Xerox FreeFlow Core Accelerator for Iridesse n Media Types: Coated, uncoated, textured and dark stocks, labels, business cards, window decals, durable/synthetic papers, greeting cards, tabs, embossed, polyesters and custom solutions n Applications: Direct Mail, Collateral, Photo Publishing

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Blanchardstown-based marketing communications company, NeoGen, has invested in an Iridesse Digital Press following the Xerox ‘Colour Reignited’ event in late 2018. It was a significant investment, somewhat of a leap of faith, but the opportunities that the new machine has opened up for the firm are proving incalculable. Moving from a Versant to the new Iridesse has allowed NeoGen to expand its offering. “Our clients are always looking to us to innovate, to try new materials and print finishes.The new Iridesse opens up new markets and opportunities. With the press, you can combine stunning four-colour imagery with up to two special inks – including metallic Gold & Silver, White or Clear ink similar to a spot varnish – in a single pass, all without sacrificing digital printing benefits such as economical short runs” said Julian McDermott, Director at NeoGen. “We’ve been able to work with some of our clients and show them exactly what the Iridesse can do. That expanded offering is allowing our clients to express themselves that bit more.” The Iridesse has also allowed NeoGen to expand into new markets. “We’ve begun to target the short-run packaging sector, an area that we wouldn’t previously have been in a position to service. However, with the gold and silver option on the new machine in particular, we’re now able to offer an expanded service. Print jobs created on the Iridesse are virtually indistinguishable from litho. Our sales department are constantly questioned as to whether our samples are litho when, in fact, they are digital. We produced a brochure for a client last year which was printed litho using metallic inks. Out of interest, we printed it digitally with the new Iridesse. When we compared the halftones with traditional litho, you could not tell the difference. There’s no doubt the new press is having an impact; it’s opening up new doors for us and allowing us to offer our clients a superior product.”

“Helping customers differentiate, broaden their services and attract more business during a time of change in the print industry is a top priority for Xerox. We’re delighted that NeoGen’s investment has allowed them to increase their creative scope and open up new opportunities” - Mark McPhillips, Managing Director, Xerox, Ireland.

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Talking point

DIARY OF A BRAND DESIGNER Brandcentral and Print Fusion have collaborated on a complex production with a tight deadline Early in January, we were approached by i Radio to help them produce a radio licence application. The application is a highly complex proposal document containing three parts; one application for North West (200 pages), one application for Central East West (200 pages) and an appendix (1,000) pages. A very tight timeframe meant we had roughly six weeks from the start of the project to final delivery.

After design and layout, our next biggest concern was production.

We needed a print partner we could trust to deliver on time and one that could handle complex production techniques. These three documents needed to be contained in ring binders which in turn had to be housed in a slipcover that would be strong enough to hold all three binders. Our natural choice for a project with this level of complexity was Print Fusion. Having worked with them in the past on complex projects, we have always been impressed with their reliability, technical ability and attention to detail.

From a design perspective, our first task was to produce a range of design options for the client to review. Once the client approved a design direction, we brought Print Fusion on board who advised us on materials, finishes and things to look out for from a production perspective.

“Print Fusion had worked with Brandcentral on a number of high end projects in the past but nothing with such a time sensitive deadline. Knowing Brandcentral’s high expectations around delivering a beautifully produced product, the key to achieving this was to organise preproduction fully finished samples. This enabled us to iron out any issues that would be likely to arise as we would not have the luxury to adjust once the final artwork was received. There were a number of nice little touches that we

added in along the way such as lining the presentation envelope with the colour grey on the main boxes. We always try to go that extra bit further with projects like this as Brandcentral appreciates the effort being made.

The teams at Brandcentral and Print Fusion needed to be flexible throughout the process as the size of the project was constantly changing and the deadlines were being pushed to the limit. With this in mind, a really complex but beautiful job was produced and fingers crossed the client is successful in their tender bid,” said Damien Lyons, Print Fusion.

The end result speaks for itself – a well-produced proposal that fits with i Radio’s branding and sets a level of quality for the content.

Gerard Whelan is Managing Director at Brandcentral

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Aidan and Luke O’Mahony pictured outside their offices in Cork

NEWS

Onwards and upwards Wilton-based Omah Printing Ltd has invested in a new Xerox Versant 180 National Business Machines has been supplying Omah Printing with top of the line, market leading printers for over 15 years. When the print firm made the decision to invest in new hardware, going back to National Business Machines made sense. “We bought our first Xerox DC 250 from NBM and we’re actually still using the Mark 4 version for certain jobs as we are off click for years. Due to falling prices and the downturn in the industry, we decided to sell our Komori Lithrone 26 and concentrate our efforts on signage, digital and GTO work. We purchased a digital press in addition to the Xerox but after three years, decided to go with the Xerox Versant 180,” said Aidan O’Mahony, MD at Omah Printing.

Aidan opted for the Xerox Versant 180 for several reasons. “Our connection with NBM goes back a long time. We also know the MD, Michael Galvin, personally

Aidan O’Mahony, Omah Printing Ltd and Aidan Deegan, Production Sales Manager at NBM Ltd, with the Versant 180 Press

and his quotation was way ahead of the competition both in terms of service, click charge and price of the machine.

Having seen the press in operation, it was a no brainer really as it was twice as fast as the old one.”

With the Versant 180, set-up time on duplex jobs is automatic. “That was another reason for choosing it, along with the accuracy of the registration, the quality of the finished print and the speed.” Since installation, Aidan and the team are printing jobs in-house that previously would have been sent to a trade printing firm. “The press enables us to offer quality work on a large variety of stocks including carbonless for short run docket books. We have no issues with the quality and the service is outstanding and fast. We have the press since October and have the best part of 200K clicks on it. Onwards we go!”

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Cover Story

A cutting-edge

SOLUTION

Canon Ireland provides innovative technology to digital print dynamics with The OcĂŠ Colorado from Canon 14

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Cover Story

business challenges. This brand-new partnership with Digital Print Dynamics, 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 Digital Print Dynamics in providing innovationforits customers.” igital Print Dynamics, a North Dublin based commercial digital print company, has partnered with Canon Ireland to install the Océ Colorado 1640 in its Dublin office, ensuring it is providing customers with innovative and technology driven solutions while also improving quality, value and production times.

As a company that understands and seeks out innovation, Digital Print Dynamics recognised that the Colorado, with its unique and cutting-edge UVgel technology, was exactly what it was looking for after exploring the market.

The installation of the Colorado was a strategic step by Digital Print Dynamics to not only support and strengthen its current customer base, but also grow and develop its business in Ireland.

Commenting on the new partnership, Colm Smith, Director at Digital Print Dynamics, said: “The installation of the Océ Colorado has allowed us to branch out into wide format printing, thus significantly growing our business. Our customers have responded positively to this new offering and wide format printing is now becoming a large percent of our revenue stream.” Colm added: “Canon has been extremely helpful during the entire installation process, helping to train staff in the use of the Colorado and offering advice whenever we needed it. The level of service we receive from Canon has allowed us to quickly integrate the Colorado into our business and deliver the best possible results for our customers.”

Eight years in business this year, Digital Print Dynamics was founded in February 2011 by Colm Smith and Alan Heary and has become one of the foremost commercial digital printers in Ireland, mainly printing manuals, brochures, leaflets and booklets for its wide variety of customers.

Donnán Cullen, Key Account Manager, Canon Ireland said: “As a company that – both in Ireland and internationally – is at the fore of innovation and R&D, we at Canon are hugely excited to partner with a company like Digital Print Dynamics that places importance in cutting edge technology for its business. Canon is dedicated to developing and launching disruptive technologies to help customers face today’s complex

Important benefits from this investment for Digital Print Dynamics include: • Innovative and unique technology – Canon’s outstanding UVgel print technology increases productivity and speed for Digital Print Dynamics, while using less ink and still delivering an improved colour gamut.

• Business opportunities – This partnership has allowed Digital Print Dynamics to expand its business offering.

Before the installation of the Colorado, Digital Print Dynamics did not offer wide format printing services, but since its installation wide format printing has grown to be a significant part of the business.

• Superior quality – Digital Print Dynamics is committed to creating the highest quality products at optimum turnaround speeds. The Colorado has enabled exceptional quality high-resolution prints with the widest colour gamut and high repeatability thanks to advanced UVgel ink technology.

• Versatility – thanks to the UVgel technology in the Colorado, Digital Print Dynamics can now print high quality product on the broadest possible range of media, even lower cost, thin or heat sensitive types.

• User friendliness and low maintenance – The Colorado has proven to be easy to use for Digital Print Dynamics staff, with Canon providing training as part of the partnership. Digital Print Dynamics has also benefited from the low maintenance requirements of the Colorado, meaning more time can be dedicated to servicing their customers.

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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 Irish Printing Federation_1C_JM_IP MarApr.indd 1

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MIS

Keeping pace at Turners An intelligent end-to-end workflow system has made life easier for the team at Turners Printing

After deciding to invest in a new MIS, Turners Printing decided to go with EFI Pace. Two years on and the real time data that EFI Pace captures is ensuring a smooth workflow and is also giving Managing Director Warren and the rest of the team at Turners a much better idea of their current and future costs.

When it comes to understanding the importance of an effective MIS, family-run Turners Printing has been ahead of the game since the start. The firm implemented its first system 25 years ago. “Back then we were using an older system which did not offer much capabilities. MIS has come a long way since then and we’re delighted with the results we’re getting from the new EFI Pace,” said Warren.

Turners Printing is presently being managed by the sixth generation Kerri and Warren Turner. The company also recently implemented EFI Auto-Count, a shop floor production intelligence platform and is in mid-implementation on EFI MarketDirect Digital StoreFront, a webto-print solution software.

EFI Pace provides integrations, customisations and flexible options that give print firms an end-to-end approach to optimise and automate their workflow.

Processes like estimating, scheduling, purchasing, inventory, planning, shop floor data collection, job costing, receivables, payables, accounting, reporting and analysis are simplified by the system. “We now have real live data coming back from all our machines, from pre-press, printing machines, folding machines and perfect binders etc. All that info is fed back with live actuals and it updates live as scheduled. One of the problems we’ve had in the past is not fully understanding our schedule when we get too busy or the impact of taking in new jobs on our existing book of work. With EFI Pace, that problem is eliminated as the data is updated live as the machines are running,” said Warren Jr, General Manager.

If you have any downtime, the system will automatically update your schedule.

“It allows for more efficiencies in the business. It was a significant investment but there’s no doubt it was worth it. To be able to further invest in hardware, you have to have an understanding of the numbers rather than just capacity. EFI Pace has facilitated that requirement.

We’re delighted with how it has transformed the business,” said Warren Jr.

IRISH PRINTER

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t e Gt ofur o u y o

Software

t r o f e m n

o o c z

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Software Injecting a little creativity into your applications offering can do you no harm when it comes to customer satisfaction and retention. Bobby Fosson, channel sales manager at SAi, looks at how having the right software can help improve your bottom line

W

hen the going is good and your sign shop or large format business is doing just fine, it’s all too tempting to stick to your mainstay service or application offering.

Why change what’s not broken, right?

Fair enough, but isn’t it sometimes healthy to mix things up a little and offer customers something a bit different? This needn’t involve changing your core business offering, but simply adding services that are attractive to the client and enable you to charge a premium.

For me, customers of signs shops and large format businesses fall into three different types. First, there’s the high-end client that may already have a marketing department or a set of branding standards that they need to follow. Then there’s the more local businesses – those customers that are always looking for some sort of advantage to differentiate themselves from the competition. Thirdly, there are those customers wanting something more unique that nobody else can provide.

These are the ones who are willing to spend more money to ensure they stand out.

In each case, regardless of the type of customer, the goal with any large format application is to capture and hold the attention of their respective audience. For POP/POS applications, that means producing the type of signs and displays that will grab their target markets’ gaze for those few vital seconds, draw them in and then encourage an action/ purchase. If you have the right equipment, achieving this can often be a lot easier, quicker and less expensive than you or your customers might realise.

Photo finish

For example, the fairly straightforward addition of a clear UV coating to a standard retail POS display or poster enables a matt or high gloss finish. It instantly becomes more eye-catching once the light hits it.

Importantly, the likelihood of customers noticing it increases several-fold.

For customers who have UV printers, there are other reasons to use varnish or clear ink. As some materials don’t accept UV inks well, printing the image first with a matt finish varnish, provides a better base layer on which to then print the full colour graphic. It also increases the breadth of substrates you can print onto.

Getting a feel for it

Another useful added-value technique is the use of UV clear ink for the creation of textures in the decorative or packaging

markets, as well as promotional products like keychains, pens and USB sticks. For example, for items such as a foam core or rigid substrate, the right software and equipment can produce a textured pattern, thereby giving a true tactile feel to the product rather than simply printing a flat logo, copy or graphic onto the substrate. Another customer I know prints onto the surface of Mahjong tiles before adding texture over the ink for a different feel. Experimenting with textures in very short-runs enables cost-effective product testing and evaluation of look and feel before going to full production.

Ain’t no mountain high enough

While it’s easy to see the benefits of leaving your comfort zone and differentiating your offering, there are factors that may present a barrier to doing this right away. That said, these obstacles can be overcome. In terms of applicable devices, there are several currently available on the market from leading players. In other cases, it might simply be a question of education that dissuades some companies from exploring these techniques. Ensuring operators are trained to set up files correctly can be daunting if they are unfamiliar, or they’ve been told to do it out of Adobe Illustrator.

Indeed, while they might provide users with the necessary workflow to undertake these applications, certain printer manufacturers push the use of Adobe Illustrator to create different types of patterns, as well as overflood fills and suchlike. Meanwhile, those users migh be unaware that their existing software, in this case our own SAi Flexi software, can to do the same thing.

In fact, Flexi also offers another extremely time- and costefficient capability when it comes to printing promotional items like pens or USB drives; it allows you to easily design the fixture around the product. You can then export the EPS file and send it to your router, laser engraver, or vinyl cutter to cut the jig or template to put on the table of the printer.

Using just one software for the design of the jig and artwork, to the addition of UV or textures, as well as the direct output to the device, is more beneficial. Indeed, the need to handle various software packages and ensure different designers at each stage are fully conversant with each, is a major bugbear for sign shops.

To that end, I would encourage you to take a look at the various software packages available on the market. Consider how they might help you explore some of the techniques I’ve mentioned. By pushing the envelope with new print substrates, techniques and applications that fall outside your area of focus, you’re better placed to secure repeat business from existing customers and attract new ones.

IRISH PRINTER

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16/04/2019 12:53

Interview

Ge ing down to BUSINESS An eagerness to embrace change has kept Business Print at the top of its game. As the company celebrates 30 years in business, Paul O’Rourke talks to Irish Printer about an industry in flux and why diversification is key to survival

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The Irish Print Awards are regarded by many in the industry as a celebration of the preceding 12 months. They give attendees an excuse to kick off the Christmas festivities that bit earlier and if you happen to win an award, then that’s the icing on the cake. Business Print rounded 2018 off in style by going home with not one but three awards – Printer of the Year, Sheetfed Colour Offset Printer of the Year and Digital Printer of the Year. It was a fitting end to an impressive year and as the company celebrates 30 years in business, 2019 looks to be just as successful.

Established in 1989 by Larry O’Rourke, Business Print began its days with a small web press that produced refill pads for the likes of RW Rowntrees. Strong business relationships and an ethos built around customer satisfaction were the mainstays of the firm from the start. “In those days we had no email or internet so my dad used to drive around town with a phone card, park the car and go from phone box to phone box ringing customers. Sometimes he’d have arranged for people to ring him at a certain time, at a certain phone box. It seems unreal now but it was a great form of communication, he got to know his customers in a very real way. My dad is very much the reason for the long-term success of the business. He built it from the bottom up,” said Paul O’Rourke, Managing Director at Business Print.

The company’s success lies in its ability to print a diverse range of products. Virtually everything can be printed and finished in-house. By marrying digital, litho and wide format, Paul and the team can meet the request of the customer and produce a high quality printed product. Last year, the company invested in a new Speedmaster CX75 from Heidelberg, the first machine to be installed in Ireland at the time, in an effort to open up new opportunities in different markets. The Speedmaster joins a range of other high tech machines that highlight the company’s willingness to embrace technology. “I think part of that willingness to make significant investments in new technology is due to our relatively young staff. Although they may not all be digital natives, they’re a flexible bunch. We’re all excited as to what technology can do for us and the paths it will lead us down.”

Paul served his time as an apprentice at Business Print in the late 1980’s. After studying at the London College of Printing, he made his way to Turners in Longford before doing a stint in Microsoft. He returned to Business Print 20 years ago. “The industry has certainly changed in those years.

The introduction to digital is obviously the one that’s had the biggest impact but in my opinion, the way we conduct business today compared to years ago has also undergone a massive change. It has become more about sales order

IRISH PRINTER

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Interview

processing than traditional sales which now only accounts for about 20% of the job. Fast response times have also become essential. When a quotation came in back in the day you might get to the following day before you started working on it. Now, if it gets into the next hour, someone is ringing up asking if you received their email. If you wait an hour, there’s a good chance that job is printed and on a van somewhere.

With a requirement for faster response times, there’s more demand on administration and back-end staff to get the files out, down off the computer, planned up, proofed and onto the machine asap. We use Fuji XMF for our workflow. It’s excellent and an absolutely essential element of the business.”

Although the company has been burnt by three apprentices in the recent past, it hasn’t put Paul and the team off taking on somebody new. “It’s extremely hard to find people at the moment. We had three apprentices recently who all left before they were finished. That investment is gone and while it was a major upset to the company, we’re not averse to taking on a new apprentice. Finding someone that’s interested is the tricky part.” The ‘unsexy’ view that some younger people may have of the industry is hampering new blood coming on stream, says Paul. “I think the perception is that you’re on a machine all day but the print business can offer so much more. Maybe it needs to be sold in a

different way. If you’re a digital printer today, you need to have good knowledge of InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, all those graphic arts packages so perhaps more of a focus on this side of the industry would be of interest to school leavers.”

Although business is good, it could be better. “Brexit is of course making its presence felt. I believe all the big multinationals are withholding budgets until they know what’s actually happening in the UK. For the past few months the Irish print industry has been flat, business is OK but that’s all it is. The political situation is certainly having an effect across the industry so the sooner that uncertainty disappears, the better for the industry as a whole.”

“Response times are key. If you wait an hour, there’s a good chance that job is printed and on a van somewhere” IRISH PRINTER

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Industry comment

It’s all about

THE CUSTOMER How do businesses in the speciality print sector respond to the ever-increasing consumer demand for personalisation?

Sean Holt, Executive Director at FESPA, explains

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IRISH PRINTER

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Industry comment

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cross every industry all over the world, businesses are striving for greater agility to enable them to respond to the ever-increasing pace of change in both customer demands and market landscapes. This has a knock-on effect on the speciality print sector and the results of the 2018 FESPA Print Census demonstrated this, with 95% of respondents reporting that they anticipate customer demand for fast turnaround, short runs and just-in-time delivery to grow or at least stay the same as they are today.

These demands reflect the growing consumer demand for personalisation and the accompanying shift towards mass customisation in everything from fashion and interior décor to packaging and display graphics. The rapid acceleration of this shift in recent years is very clear when you compare responses from the 2018 Print Census with those from 2015, when just 70% of respondents expected customer demands for fast turnaround, just-in-time delivery and versioning or personalisation to either increase or remain the same. Having increased by almost 40% in just three years, today these customer demands are almost universal.

Considering these demands in more detail, it is clear that, in addition to mass customisation, customers are also looking for their print service providers (PSPs) to deliver a ‘rapid response’ service that enables them to place small orders as they are needed. Requests for fast turnaround are common, with 72% of respondents reporting an increasing customer demand. 61% of respondents see growing customer requirements for short-runs and 59% say that customer expectations around just-in-time delivery are growing, demonstrating the appeal of digital print for eliminating the need to store inventory.

With digital wide format technology so well suited to enabling print businesses to offer customers the flexibility they need, all of this is driving growth in digital production. Indeed, respondents expect digital wide format to

account for more than half of their revenue within the next 24 months – rising from 44% at present to 53%.

What is particularly encouraging is how well PSPs appear to be responding to their customers’ demands. If you consider investments in technology, for example, the Print Census highlighted an emphasis on investments that expand digital production capacity and a focus on speed as a primary selection criteria, suggesting that PSPs’ development strategies are focused on meeting customer demand.

Furthermore, customer preferences are having an impact on business strategies in more areas than just production efficiency. With sustainability now a growing priority for many organisations, the 2018 Print Census aimed to gather more insight into the importance of environmentally sustainable production. The findings suggest that this is another area in which wide format print businesses are taking their customers’ requirements into account – 76% of respondents reported that customer demand for environmentally responsible products is shaping their business strategy.

In fact, from devising product and service offerings that move with the times to investments in process optimisation, responses throughout the 2018 FESPA Print Census suggest an industry-wide commitment by PSPs to understanding and meeting their customers’ evolving expectations. To me, this is an encouraging trend all on its own. PSPs’ business strategies appear to be increasingly customercentric, something that is essential for the continued growth of the industry as a whole.

Looking ahead to the FESPA 2019 Global Print Expo in Munich (14 to 17 May 2019), it will be exciting to see how this customer-led approach is reflected across the industry’s biggest gathering, from the appetite for innovation among visitors to the fresh possibilities showcased by exhibitors.

IRISH PRINTER

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Talking to...

How long are you in the print industry?

Favourite film?

I’m 30 years in the printing industry and 14 years in Print Media Services.

Braveheart, a close second would be The Shawshank Redemption. I don’t mind watching them over and over.

How did you get into it?

Favourite band/ musician?

I had a summer job in Turners in Longford. I decided printing would be my career path so I went to Bolton Street to do print management, then started in Future Print in Baldoyle.

Talking to…

PADDY GALLAGHER

Paddy Gallagher, Sales Director at Print Media Services, on being a positive person and why he has no time for Ed Sheeran

What do you love/hate about the industry?

U2 and Bruce Springsteen.

I don’t like Ed Sheeran.

I don’t like how he always pops up everywhere, he’s almost too nice.

What do you see as your biggest success in life?

My four kids, aged 25, 19, 17 and 16.

I love that every day, every project and every job is different. You go into work and you don’t know what’s ahead of you. I dislike that everything is last minute, a job is almost late before it gets to us.

Are you a glass half empty or half full person?

How has the industry changed since you started in it?

I laugh and smile every day.

We have a coffee break every morning at work and we have great laughs together. I laugh a lot.

The industry has shrunk massively. The characters have gone out of it. The price of printing has also come down dramatically.

Worst job?

A summer job when I was a kid working in an amusement arcade on Achill Island that no-one ever came into.

Dream job?

Working in product development at Tesla. I like what they’re doing and I like Elon Musk, he’s an innovator.

Definitely half full. Always look for the positives, always sunny side out.

Who or what makes you laugh?

What superpower would you most like to have?

I’ve thought about this one a lot. First of all, I thought teleportation would be great but the more I think about it, being able to fly would be better.

How would you like to be remembered?

As a positive, forward looking, innovative person.

Life is….?

Talking to.

24

Life is good and life is for the living.

IRISH PRINTER

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1989 - 2019

we’re just getting started

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Untitled-1 1

30/04/2019 10:50

SECOND TO NONE OcĂŠ VarioPrint 6000 TITAN digital monochrome production presses from Canon drive productivity and extends media flexibility

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See the bigger picture

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17/04/2019 14:23