Irish Printer issue 4 2018

I S S U E 4 2 0 1 8 | | 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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06/06/2018 11:05

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06/06/2018 30/05/2018 08:49 10:56

ISSUE 4 2018

CONTENTS 04 News

A look at some of the latest news from the printing industry

08 The evolution of print

Machinery from a bygone era was on display for guests attending the ‘Print Evolution’ event, organised by Canon and Antalis

13 Awards nod for Delta

The Delta Group’s Applegreen POS is in the running for another prestigious award

15 Gearing up

Esmark Finch is this year’s official race partner of Rás Tailteann, Ireland’s number one competitive cycling event

22 Talking to… Eoin Heagney

16 Investing in the future Santry-based Shanowen Files ltd has invested in a Konica Minolta Digital AccurioPress C2060 from MJ Flood

19 Diary of a brand designer

In his first article for Irish Printer, Gerard Whelan explains why choosing the right paper stock can make or break a project

20 Shouldering the burden

Eugene Healy, President of the Irish Printing Federation, talks to Irish Printer about the repercussions from An Post’s latest round of price increases

10 Print, protest and the polls

A new exhibition at the National Print Museum looks at the role print media played during the fight for women’s voting rights in Ireland

The Antalis MD talks to Irish Printer about the acquisition trail and why diversification is the key to success

24 Inkjet comes of age

Cost remains an issue but service support is still the main consideration for printers investing in inkjet, according to drupa’s latest spotlight report

27 What’s new in Print

● Antalis does its bit for Snowdonia goats ● Canon at FESPA 2018 ● Ricoh demonstrates application versatility at FESPA ● Esko text recognition makes light work of text changes

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06/06/2018 14:28

WELCOME Welcome to Issue 4 of Irish Printer for 2018.

So far, its been a good summer for Irish print firms. McGowans won the bronze award for its Jameson High Impact Unit at FESPA while The Delta Group shared news of its nomination in the annual POPAI awards, due to be held in London later this year. Esmark Finch’s involvement in the 2018 Ras Tailteann singled out the firm for its diverse print services offering and a successful joint Canon/Antalis event in the National Print Museum asked attendees to consider the evolution of print and where the sector is headed over the next few years.

Shanowen Files is the subject of our cover story this month.

The Santry-based printer has invested in a Konica Minolta Digital AccurioPress C2060 from MJ Flood, a move which has resulted in increased output at a higher quality. Turn to page 16 for the full story.

While the summer is proving fruitful for some, recent price increases by An Post are proving a sore point for firms up and down the country. Eugene Healy, President at the Irish Printing Federation, spoke to me about the repercussions that increased commercial bulk rates are having on printers and their frustration at the seemingly unending hikes they’re forced to grapple with on a regular basis. The ill-effects of price hikes are also being felt in pulp, according to Eoin Heagney, MD of Antalis Ireland. He also spoke to Irish Printer about these market-driven increases and about the company’s exciting plans for the future.

In the first of a series of articles, Gerard Whelan writes about the importance of choosing the right paper stock and why printers should have an in-depth knowledge of the subject. We’re delighted to have Gerard join the Printer team and look forward to the interesting, thought-provoking pieces he’ll be contributing to the magazine on an ongoing basis. Welcome Gerard!

Finally, entries are now open for this year’s Irish Print Awards. If you haven’t submitted your entry/entries yet, now’s the time. Go to www. irishprinter/awards for information on categories and what’s required for submission.

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 Editorial Manager: Mary Connaughton Creative Director: Jane Matthews Production Manager: Mary Connaughton 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 Printed by: McGowans Print 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 2018. 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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12/06/2018 09:34

We are pleased to announce the opening of our first Irish Sales Office. Peak are a long established family run business with over 44 years’ worth of experience in producing and supplying an extensive product range with flexible production capabilities. We are widely recognised as the UK’s no.1 supplier of envelopes and associated postal packaging solutions. We hope to extend our excellent service to the Irish Market. We are proud to produce on site and have a dedicated team to ensure that your product is made to the highest quality whilst meeting your delivery requirements. Our team in Kilkenny are on hand to ensure an efficient service to the Irish Market and to assist with all aspects of the customer’s requirements.

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06/06/2018 30/05/2018 08:50 15:48

NEWS Kathryn Wilson

Guinness experts join lineup at Dublin label forum FINAT, the European Label Forum taking place from the 6th to the 8th of June in Citiwest Hotel, Dublin, has added two new speakers to its line-up. Emma Rochford, Global Marketing Manager at Guinness and Kathryn Wilson, Design Lead for Guinness and Baileys at Diageo will discuss future trends in the sector and what they expect from a labelling and packaging supplier. The full speaker line-up is available at www. europeanlabelforum.com. Irish Printer will be taking an in-depth look at the event in the next issue.

McGowans Third time lucky for McGowans at Fespa After Gold and Silver wins in 2016 and 2017, McGowans was awarded the Bronze accolade for its Jameson High Impact Unit at this year’s Fespa Awards. The unit, which was structurally designed by Jamie Flett, holds 96 bottles and was placed in larger supermarkets across the country. The display had to be strong and resilient to remain in-store for approximately 8-12 weeks and withstand a huge amount of traffic and interaction. “Once again we’re delighted to be among Europe’s elite printers.

This particular product has been a great success for Jameson and now, for ourselves,” said Dave Fogarty, Marketing Manager at McGowans.

Emma Rochford

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06/06/2018 10:24

NEWS

Ricoh A new survey conducted by Ricoh Ireland has found that two-thirds (66%)

3D printing could transform health sector

of healthcare professionals believe 3D printing has the capacity to fundamentally transform the health sector. Without investment in these technologies, 41% believe they will struggle to meet the needs of patients in the next five years. 79% of healthcare professionals also revealed that they are using new printing technologies to improve accurate diagnostic rates and lower mortality rates. In the retail sector, 60% said that they are currently investing in 3D printing technologies and 58% are investing in on-demand printing.

Retailers claim that they are turning to more innovative ways of printing to drive competitive advantage, highlighting advantages such as reduced delivery times (83%), more delivery options (74%) and the ability to personalise products (72%). The research also found that 39% of businesses across all sectors have adopted new printing technologies to enable AI and automation. Commenting on the findings, Gary Hopwood, Managing Director at Ricoh Ireland said: “The refrain ‘print is dead’ is utterly misguided.

New printing technologies are helping businesses to transform their operations.

In healthcare, pharmaceutical companies are manufacturing 3D printed prosthetic limbs tailored to specific patients. In retail, vendors are manufacturing shoes and printing unique designs on demand, reducing stock wastage. In education, students can buy personalised textbooks, reducing costs and improving learning.”

New price increase from Agfa Graphics Agfa Graphics recently announced a global price increase for its prepress printing plates. Depending on the different contracts, markets and regions, price increases of up to 10% will be implemented with immediate effect. According to Stefaan Vanhooren, President of Agfa Graphics, soaring prices of aluminum are the main reason for the decision. He added: “However, thanks to the increased intrinsic recycle value of the used printing plates, the price increase will not necessarily result in a cost increase for our customers. We know our customers highly value Agfa Graphics’ continuous investment in advanced prepress technology and related services – such as in the newly launched ECO3 framework which stands for Economy, Ecology and Extra Convenience – which leads to substantial economic benefits in their print shop. That is why we believe our customers will understand the rationale behind these exceptional price increase actions.”

IRISH PRINTER

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06/06/2018 10:22

NEWS Avery Dennison launches new car wrapping colours Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions released seven new car wrap colours at Fespa 2018. The addition brings the total colour count across the Supreme Wrapping Film and Conform Chrome ranges to more than 100. Four new gloss metallic colours for the Supreme Wrapping Film range have been launched while three new colours have been added to the Conform Chrome range. Both Supreme Wrapping Film and Conform Chrome materials come with Avery Dennison Easy Apply RS adhesive technology for faster installation and higher-quality installation results.

Royal wedding boost for printers Consultancy firm Brand Finance has estimated that the recent royal wedding could result in a £1 billion boost to the UK economy, with printers grabbing a healthy share of the profits. A huge amount of memorabilia has been printed to mark the marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle including special edition newspapers, bunting, t-shirts, mugs, tea towels and even swimsuits. Fast food outlet KFC handed out 50 ‘limited edition’ white and gold royal wedding themed buckets of chicken to customers at its Windsor branch on the day of the wedding, while Windsor bakery and café Heidi installed a Ripples coffee printer which served up limited edition ‘Megharrycino’ coffees printed with an image of the couple.

Paragon Inks reveals new ranges Paragon Inks recently launched its new LUNA, AURA and AURA LED ranges for label and packaging applications. According to the company, the new products provide printers with colour strength, stability, quality and value for money.

The LUNA range is a UV flexo system for all label and packaging applications that don’t require inks and coatings to comply with indirect food packaging guidelines. The AURA range is a UV flexo low migration system for all label and packaging applications that do require inks and coatings to comply with guidelines while the AURA LED range is a bespoke flexo system of low migration inks and coatings that are cured by the latest LED/UV technology.

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06/06/2018 10:23

NEWS Trimwel

Metamark acquires Trimwel It was announced recently that Irish distributor Trimwel has been acquired

FESPA census shows strategic responses to escalating demand FESPA has revealed the findings of its 2018 Print Census, conducted in partnership with InfoTrends. A total of 1405 respondents were surveyed from 102 countries, with data collected throughout 2017 at FESPA events and from members in Europe, Eurasia, Mexico, Brazil, Thailand and South Africa. The findings show that 83% of respondents are optimistic for the future of their companies, with business

by Metamark (UK) Limited. Under Metamark’s ownership, Trimwel will continue to operate as a distribution business, working with sign and graphics manufacturers in the region. Trimwel first opened its doors for business in the early 1980s when demand for quality self-adhesive products by sign and graphics producers began to accelerate, thanks to the introduction of computerised processes for sign production. Through the acquisition, Metamark, a key brand in Trimwel’s self-adhesive graphics products portfolio, plans to introduce new products to the Irish market and beyond. Commenting on the move, Nick Little, Trimwel’s Managing Director, said: “I’m absolutely delighted to announce that Trimwel has become a Metamark company. It moves us and our customers, old and new, closer to one of the most respected sources of materials innovation in the industry and gives us access to a rapidly developing spectrum of products.”

from digital wide format continuing to grow.The census also found that 72% of firms are reporting increased demand

Paul French, Metamark, CEO; Nick Little, Managing Director, Trimwel; and Ian Simister, Sales Director, Metamark

for fast turnaround and 61% are seeing a growing requirement for short runs.

More printers sign up for 2018 Print Show Epson has confirmed that it will exhibit at The Print Show 2018. Taking place in September at the NEC in Birmingham, The Print Show 2018 will be the fourth edition of what is regarded as the UK’s leading print event. Several brands have already signed up including HP, Hybrid Services (Mimaki), Vivid Laminating Technologies, Morgana Systems, Renz, Ashgate Automation, Premier Paper and CMYUK. Phil McMullin, sales manager of Epson UK, said attendance at the 2017 show allowed the firm to raise its profile in the signage, point of sale and textiles print sectors.

Kodak

Developing global literacy network

Kodak recently announced it is expanding a global literacy programme by using sustainable technology to provide books and school supplies to communities in need around the world. The company will create a volunteer printer network that will produce thousands of children’s books and school supplies in 2018. The ‘Print for Good’ programme was first introduced in 2016 at Drupa. Commenting on the initiative, General Manager for Sales, Print Systems Richard Rindo said: “While companies like Facebook and Google are leveraging their footprints to expand internet access throughout the world, many areas of the globe have no internet. They can, however, be reached with print. In middle-class communities, there are about 15 books per child. In underdeveloped or impoverished areas, it is one book for every 300 children.” Kodak also said it would be making a “monetary donation” to support a literacy project in Rajasthan, India and providing product rebates to some of the volunteer printers.

IRISH PRINTER

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06/06/2018 13:56

‘Print Evolution’ event at the National Print Museum

Machinery from a bygone era was on display for guests attending the

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Organised by Canon and Antalis, the event brought industry experts together for a discussion about the evolution of print in Ireland. Guests were also treated to live

demonstrations as volunteers put some of the machinery through its paces.

Speakers throughout the evening included Jonathan Tame from Two Sides, an organisation that works to underline the unique qualities of print and paper.

Jonathan talked about the various resources from Two Sides that print firms can utilise when it comes to promoting the use of paper. A host of infographics, a ‘Myths and Facts’ booklet and ‘Love Paper’ posters are all available from the organisation, which helps to reinforce the fact that print and paper are a versatile, effective and powerful means of marketing and communication.

Also speaking at the event was Jacky Hobson from Up-Marketing with a presentation that investigated who today’s print customer really is. Jacky’s research found that although there has been a dramatic reduction in the number of traditional print buyers and print procurement teams, digital printing offers a wealth of opportunities for any business or organisation that has a requirement to communicate personally. She also talked about GDPR and the potential advantages this could present to printers, along with opportunities associated with personalised printed materials for member organisations and direct mail for subscription services. Finally, Jim Whittington from Antalis talked to guests about Powercoat Alive, the company’s NFC paper for both professional and end-user finishing. This read-to-print paper features an embedded NFC chip, allowing instant integration of smart functionality and interactivity with the end-user. After the presentations, guests were invited to have a bite to eat and enjoy a glass of wine while live demonstrations continued around them. The evening ended with a goody bag which contained, among other things, a copy of the 1916 proclamation printed on a machine very similar to the one used to print the original document.

Jacky Hobson, Up-Marketing

IRISH PRINTER

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06/06/2018 10:27

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06/06/2018 10:27

Heritage

Protest

THE POLLS

A new exhibition at the National Print Museum looks at the role print media played during the fi ht or o en s votin ri hts in re and

E The Irish women’s suffrage campaign and the power of print media

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ntitled “Print, Protest, and The Polls: The Irish women’s suffrage campaign and the power of print media, 1908 – 1918”, the latest exhibition at the National Print Museum explores the use of print media by the Irish suffragists and their opponents. It aims to shine a light on a neglected period in Irish women’s history while at the same time exploring the powerful relationship between the contemporary political protest and the developing print media. Pieces at the exhibition include photographs, newspaper publications and print ephemera which has never before been exhibited publicly. Three leading Irish figures in letterpress have also gotten involved with the exhibition by creating their own contemporary response to the theme. Dave Darcy of One Strong Arm, Mary Plunkett of The Belgrave Private Press and Jamie Murphy of The Salvage Press (pictured left) have produced their own letterpress print which will also be on display. Curated by material culture historian Donna Gilligan and supported by Dublin City Council, Spera Brand Management, Smurfit Kappa Ireland, European Year of Cultural Heritage, Vermillion, Colorman and the National Library of Ireland, the exhibition runs until the 30th of September.

IRISH PRINTER

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06/06/2018 10:29

Heritage

IRISH PRINTER

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06/06/2018 10:29

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06/06/2018 22/05/2018 08:54 15:46

The Delta Group’s Applegreen POS is in the running for another prestigious award

NEWS Delta

Lavazza Vespa earns Delta awards nod The Delta Group has been nominated for five gongs at the 2018 POPAI Awards, an event that celebrates the role of retail marketing in all areas of shopper engagement and retailing. The company’s work with Asda, Applegreen and Weetabix has been recognised by the awards, which will take place on the 9th of October in London.

After winning the ‘Large Format Digital Printer of the Year’ accolade at the Irish Print Awards, Delta’s Lavazza Vespa job for Applegreen is already an award-winning project.

The company was given a blank canvas to design, produce and install a large display piece in five key Applegreen sites.

The result is the ‘Italian Moped’ concept, a design that has engaged customers and created a talking point at the five service stations where customer dwell time is high. “We are delighted to have been shortlisted for a POPAI entry for the Applegreen Lavazza Scooter. This comes on the back of the Large Format Digital Printer of the Year award that we won with the same piece of POS. This was a great campaign to work on in the Irish office; we conceptualised the idea and did all the structural design work, graphic design and print production here, along with the installation. It really was a team effort. Applegreen was also delighted with the nomination and has seen the scooter drive sales of Lavazza coffee in the outlets as well as create an impact for shoppers when they visit the stores,” said Delta Managing Director, Peter Mahon.

IRISH PRINTER

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06/06/2018 10:30

ENTRIES OPEN WHEN: 30th November 2018 WHERE: Crowne Plaza Northwood, Dublin 9 HOW TO ENTER: For full details on categories and entry process,visit irishprinter.ie/awards

For details on the Irish Print Awards, please contact Jacinta O'Rourke at jacinta.orourke@ashville.com 01 4322201 www.irishprinter.ie/awards

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Irish Printing Federation

07/06/2018 10:47 10:42

NEWS

IPA Judges

Esmark Finch ...gears up for bike race

Ireland’s roads were filled with cyclists from all over the world during the recently held 2018 Rás Tailteann, which kicked off in Drogheda and finished with a bang in Skerries. As official race partner, every business unit within Esmark Finch had an additional ‘Rás’ workload over the past few months. The design studio art box delivered all creative content for the Rás, from the stage end podium design to the manuals used by the race officials and riders. The smart impressions team delivered the print required for over 400m of the stage finishes along with technical guides for all the riders involved in the event. Esmark Finch’s high visibility team also delivered over 19 fully customised and branded race vehicles which were commissioned by Europcar, also a race partner. In addition, the firm also sponsored the ‘Green Jersey’, the second most important jersey on the road during the cycle race. The holder of the jersey was the rider with the highest points on the road.

Commenting on the partnership, Esmark Finch said: “When Rás Tailteann approached Esmark Finch, we knew this would be a great fit for our organisation. Internally, we knew we had all the business units to help deliver Rás 2018 successfully.”

Esmark Finch is this year’s o icia race partner of Rás ai teann re and s number one competitive c c in event

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06/06/2018 09:33

Cover story Agata Piwucka, Digital Printer

Santry-based Shanowen Files ltd has invested in a Konica Minolta Digital AccurioPress C2060 from MJ Flood

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06/06/2018 10:32

Cover story

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ccording to supplier MJ Flood, the Konica Minolta bizhub Press C2060 delivers optimum colour consistency and is an excellent choice for key operator environments and unattended operation.

Over the past 12 months, two new versions of the C2060 have also been launched - the C3070 and C3080, which have replaced the C2060 and C2070.

Boasting a range of innovative features, these new machines are the last word when it comes to efficiency and speed.

For Shanowen Files, a supplier of printed bespoke manila filing and printed products to the HSE, healthcare, public and private sectors, the investment means increased output at a higher quality.

The new press can deliver up to 3,380 A4 pages per hour and, says MJ Flood, offers digital image quality on a par with offset printing. “We are confident that the AccurioPress C2060 will meet and exceed the advanced requirements of our print production at the highest levels. We now have a reliable and cost-efficient system with outstanding running costs thanks to the efficient management of MJ Flood,” said Philip O’Reilly, Director of Shanowen Files.

MJ Flood began working with Shanowen Files in 2013. “At that time, Philip O’Reilly and I worked out a deal for what was then our C7000 Production Colour System. We started talking about possible upgrades in 2017. Shanowen Files invested in a new AccurioPress C2060 with Vacuum-Belt Suction Feeding, a new Envelope Printing Fuser and a new Fiery RIP. At the time, Philip was just launching a new website, so everything fell into place nicely. We look forward to continuing to work together with such a unique company like Shanowen Files,” said Phil Schueler, MJ Flood Production Print Manager.

The new press is working out well for Philip and the team at Shanowen Files. The vacuum feeding feature has greatly improved the production process, with no paper jams to slow down the flow. Production speeds

Ruta Prendiukaite Digital Printer, Sinead Farrel, Accounts, Liz Doyle, Production Manager, Philip O’Reilly, General Manager, Phil Schueler, MJ Flood Production Print Manager

are much faster which means happy clients and an even happier team at Shanowen.

“We really are delighted with the new press.

The colours are so vibrant and the register is absolutely perfect. It was an excellent investment,” said Philip at Shanowen Files.

A high level of service meant Shanowen Files was happy to continue its relationship with MJ Flood. “We did look at some other machines when we were in the process of changing but as we had so few issues with MJ Flood over the past four years, we had no reason to go elsewhere. We have always found them to be a hassle-free company to deal with and the engineers always respond very quickly when we have a problem which is very rare,” says Philip O’Reilly.

IRISH PRINTER

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06/06/2018 10:32

SAVE THE DATE WHEN 30th November 2018 WHERE Crowne Plaza Northwood, Dublin 9

For details on the Irish Print Awards, please contact Jacinta O'Rourke at jacinta.orourke@ashville.com 01 4322201 www.irishprinter.ie/awards

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Irish Printing Federation

07/06/2018 10:48 10:41

Talking point

When Denise asked me to write an article around print branding, I tried to think of examples where print added value in a way that is not instantly obvious. What sprang to mind was paper stock. It’s an area that’s often overlooked by clients but one that’s hugely important. Take this example. Fairly recently, we were working on a range of cosmetic packaging for a client who shall remain nameless. We had a great design but were very keen to ensure that the stock didn’t let us down. The product was handmade so our focus was on finding a stock that was very tactile. We explored a variety of stock samples, spending over a week looking at different options. We even considered getting our own coloured stock made up from scratch but in the end, we settled on a handmade cotton rich stock. It was only at this point that we discovered that the client would need to increase the unit cost significantly to recoup the cost of the stock. However, this gave us our benchmark so we tried to find something close to it. After many hours and conversations with Paper Assist, we found a stock we were happy with and that fit within our client’s budget. The next step was to choose stock for the labels; the challenge here was choosing stock that reflected what we had used for the boxes and that featured certain technical requirements, for example it needed to be wipe clean. We identified what we were looking for and the job went to print. We were delighted with the end result – the ink reproduced very well on both the labels and the boxes and we were able to deliver the tactile feel to the packaging that we were initially looking for. Choosing the right paper stock made all the difference to this project. If we hadn’t taken the time to select exactly the right paper and label, the message that the overall branding was trying to communicate would have been distilled. In my opinion, paper stock is an area that every printer should have an in-depth knowledge of, particularly when it comes to how ink reproduces on different stocks. Working with printers that have this knowledge and that maintain good relationships with paper merchants can make all the difference to the printed product.

IRISH PRINTER

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Gerard Whelan is Managing Director at Brandcentral

n his first artic e or rish rinter erard he an e ains h choosin the ri ht a er stoc can a e or rea a ro ect

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06/06/2018 09:52

The big picture

Eugene Healy, President of the Irish Printing Federation, talks to Irish Printer about the repercussions from An Post’s latest round of price increases

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06/06/2018 09:40

The big picture

Earlier this year, An Post announced its latest raft of price increases. These rises saw business bulk rates increase by approximately 10%, meter prices go from 90c to 95c and the international standard rate increase from €1.35 to €1.50. The price of a stamp, which had undergone an increase in 2017, stayed the same and this was the good news story that did the rounds last March. The effect that these changes had and continue to have on printers didn’t hit the headlines in quite the same way.

The latest round of price increases has primarily affected commercial bulk rates. This, says President of the Irish Printing Federation, Eugene Healy, can’t be seen as anything other than an anti-business move. “The almost annual price increases we’re seeing from An Post and in particular, the most recent one, will force organisations to increasingly opt for electronic methods of communication. Financial institutions and utility firms will be forced to use less traditional mail and that’s bad news for the industry.” An Post’s solution to falling profits, that is to increase the price of mail to compensate for falling revenue streams, only serves to compound the situation further. “It will drive more people to electronic means. How does that help the situation? Every letter that goes through someone’s letterbox has a piece of printed matter in it of some description, be it a bank statement or a booklet. A print firm is printing these items. This increase is affecting print jobs and is, essentially, damaging the industry.”

The effects of these changes are being felt across the industry. “Print companies are complaining bitterly about the level of increases, particularly in the commercial bulk rates. I investigated the matter with the Government but was informed it doesn’t interfere with the running of An Post.”

Eugene feels there’s a damaging, serious disconnect between An Post and Irish businesses. “The higher these rates go, the more people will move to electronic. I don’t know how far mail volumes are going to fall because of this. The traditional letter is going to be killed by continued increases. I know post is expensive to deliver but the current approach is an extremely anti-business measure. Print companies are now going to print less and print volumes are going to be smaller. There’s a very real domino effect with this.”

The situation is out of the Federation’s and indeed the industry’s control. Digital technology has certainly had a profound effect on print and there is, says Eugene, a natural shift happening anyway. “We’re in a regressing business whether we like it or not but that doesn’t mean the situation should be accelerated even further. A large number of print companies are adapting to these changing times and diversifying. They’re doing smaller runs and have become more flexible to cope with a changing market. That’s very encouraging but despite that, last year when the big hike went

through, a lot of mailing stopped in its tracks. It picked up but here we are again, hit with another substantial increase.”

Another issue for printers is the lack of notice they’re getting when it comes to price hikes. “If you’re conducting a mailing campaign and you’re budgeting a certain amount for post, how much do you budget? Should you be building potential increases into your budget? This is another, very practical consideration for printers.”

Although a matter of some urgency, there doesn’t seem to be a resolution in sight. Unless An Post agrees to stop increasing the postal rates, the illeffects of these changes will continue to be felt across the industry.

Increasing postal rates is just one issue that’s affecting the print sector. Another is the apprenticeship scheme and the repercussions associated with a lack of skilled trade that will undoubtedly be felt in the next few years. The Irish Printing Federation recently contacted Irish printers across Ireland. About 850 firms received a letter from the IPF; only 14 replied. Apprenticeships and the lack thereof is an issue that the IPF is taking seriously but not one, it appears, that the industry is concerned about. “In our opinion, what’s happening is that a lot of printers are moving to digital. If necessary, they’re going out to trade houses and getting litho done there. Training someone on digital probably only takes a couple of weeks and doesn’t require an apprenticeship.”

Despite this shift to digital, the fact that no new apprentices entered DIT this year is a poor indictment on the industry. “Currently, the signs don’t look good for print. With a weak sterling we’re seeing imports coming into Ireland and added to that, wage rates in Ireland are higher than those in the UK. When these factors are combined with a lack of skilled tradespeople, you’re facing into an industry under severe strain.”

If the statutory apprenticeship scheme is entirely disbanded, would-be apprentices would have to be paid by print firms. For an industry still in recovery mode after a period of intense economic uncertainty, that could simply prove impossible. “Print firms may also have the extra worry of investing in an apprentice only to have them move to another country after their training. But if you want to be a progressive company, you simply must invest in training. If firms fail to invest in apprentices right now, the sector will contract even further and the firms that are left will be in such high demand that they’ll make a fortune. Apprentices are vital to the industry and hopefully, we can find a way to maintain the scheme in some form.”

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In Person

Talking to…

EOIN HEAGNEY

There’s always something new going on at Antalis. Managing Director Eoin Heagney talks to Irish Printer about the acquisition trail and why diversification is the key to success

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In January 2017, Antalis acquired Dublin-based firm Swan Paper. For Antalis, the acquisition of Ireland’s largest independent paper merchant was a big deal. It strengthened the company’s position in Ireland and firmly reiterated its intentions to remain a key player in the Irish market. Acquisitions are nothing new at Antalis though. During the recession, the company raised eyebrows when it announced the acquisition of McNaughton and a few years after that, it signed a contract to acquire Xerox’s Western European office paper distribution business. An ongoing and crucial part of the business, acquisitions are contributing to the ongoing success of Antalis. “With McNaughton, some people may have thought that an economic downturn was not the best time to buy a company but in hindsight, it was probably the best thing we could have done at the time. We’re always on the acquisition trail, always looking for new opportunities to expand our offering to customers,” said Eoin Heagney, MD of Antalis Ireland.

Acquisitions are one part of the business; for Eoin and his team, the day to day is made up of print, packaging and sign and display. Scholastics comes into its own during the summer months and is traditionally a busy period for the company. “Certain sectors are performing better than others. That has always been the case at Antalis as we’re such a diversified business. The educational sector, which primarily consists of copybooks, is centered around three months. Up until recently, that has been a seasonal business for us but we decided to bring in certain ranges that would sell throughout the year as opposed to just during the summer months.”

Packaging is a growth area for the firm, particularly in the industrial sector while sign and digital continues to grow year on year. “We’re also about to launch a new website, we’re implementing a new warehouse management system and we’ll be moving onto SAP next year. With Antalis, there’s always something happening whether it be in the areas of technology or acquisitions.”

There are lots of advantages to being the only multi-national operating in the paper sector in Ireland. “We operate locally and we’re run by a local team that knows the industry inside out. Currently, we have 38 people in the RoI office and six in Northern Ireland. We’re also the only merchant with a fully integrated website where stock availability and pricing can be checked. Our new, even better website will be launched by the end of the year. Our new warehouse management system, which will be launched in Ireland in Q4 this year, will help improve

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In Person

procurement and stock rotation, which all adds up to a more satisfied client base.”

Price fluctuations are a harsh reality for the industry and an issue Antalis battles with on a daily basis. “It can be quite difficult when you’re going to printers or stationers with yet another increase. We fully understand where they’re coming from and we feel their frustrations. If you take a step back and try and understand what’s driving it, pulp prices today are $1200 a tonne whereas this time last year, they were $700 a tonne. Mills are closing, there are actually two mills in Germany proposing to close right now and there are also issues in the Chinese markets.” All this translates into price increases for the end user and with no sign of pulp prices coming down any time soon, it’s a tough time for firms operating in this sector.

“We’re in talks with our suppliers at the moment who are talking about more increases in the summer months. Increases are coming thick and fast in most sectors including coated, uncoated, speciality grades, envelopes, etc. I’ve been in this industry a long time and it’s very seldom you see three or four increases in the one year.” Eoin says the frustration on the phone from clients is palpable. “It’s our job to explain why this is happening in the marketplace. They mightn’t

like it but it’s important for our customers to understand the rationale and why it’s happening.”

An industry veteran after 27 years in print, Eoin joined Antalis straight out of college. He has worked across nearly every sub sector of the business, from inside sales, purchasing and accounts to finance and operations. “I also had the opportunity to work in different countries like Switzerland and the UK. Antalis is extremely proactive when it comes to investment in staff. Our success is down to an experienced, highly knowledgeable team who aren’t afraid to make bold decisions.”

Going forward, plans for the company include staying on the acquisition trail and advancing further into the industrial packaging sector. An updated website and a new warehouse management system will cement the firm’s position in the Irish market. Print may be an industry in decline, says Eoin, but new innovations and a willingness to adapt will be the saving grace of many firms. “Over the past 10 years, we’ve seen the demise of quite a number of paper merchants that had been around for a long time. Unfortunately, the industry will continue to contract but at a much lower rate than recent years and firms that are willing to adapt to an ever-changing industry will reap the rewards.”

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Packaging

INK JET OF

COMES AGE

Cost remains an issue but service support is still the main consideration for printers investing in inkjet, according to drupa’s latest spotlight report

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The report, which delves into the impact of inkjet printing, finds that there have been rapid developments in inkjet over the past few years while initial challenges to do with print quality and the range of substrates have been overcome. Inkjet is now seen as a mature and stable process, capable of producing high quality images on a range of different substrates. About 300 printers and suppliers were surveyed for this report and were, for the most part, enthusiastic about the opportunities for inkjet print. However, they were far from naïve and understood its limitations and in many cases, were still trying to work out how best to exploit its merits. According to drupa, all the detailed results showed virtually no regional variation. Equally, views from printers and suppliers were, in general, closely aligned. In terms of applications, the report shows that printers are finding competitive opportunities for inkjet in all market segments. They are also finding they can apply inkjet in multiple markets, creating the opportunity to enter new markets not in their traditional core sector. Participants reported strong growth in all sectors but the more specialist the market, the higher the growth rate. For many, the cost of inks remains the core issue restraining growth. However, growth is possible in specialist markets with one UK supplier saying: “Understanding the value stream is key to selling inkjet. The focus has been on applications where good alignment exists, but these are increasing rapidly.” Some formats are better suited to particular markets so although rollfed was the favourite in most markets, B2 sheetfed was also a popular choice in many markets. The report stresses that it is important to put the development of inkjet by suppliers in perspective. 46% of suppliers reported that right now, inkjet represented less than 10% of total turnover. Clearly some specialise in inkjet, while others offer inkjet as one of a range of processes e.g. digital toner or conventional offset/flexo.

However, virtually all suppliers are investing heavily in the technology with significant funding going into research and development.

For printers investing in inkjet, the dominant consideration when choosing a supplier is the level of service support followed by the price of the complete commercial package. “The key question for anyone considering the purchase of inkjet print technology is that it needs to be the right fit for the desired applications. Market-changing process improvements can only be achieved when the technology provides the desired running cost, productivity levels, print requirements, size, substrate suitability and workflow automation tools. New advanced inkjet systems have brought the disruptive capability of inkjet to a new level. Higher quality inkjet for both cutsheet and rollfed has arrived and is bringing digital print to a broader range of applications across all market sectors,” said Sabine Geldermann, Director drupa, Messe Duesseldorf.

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What’s New in Print Ricoh demonstrates application versatility at FESPA From custom wall boards, banners and cut outs to T-shirts, hats and bags, printers experienced it all at the Ricoh stand at FESPA 2018. A visitor must-see was Bianchi Corner, a simulation of a typical Bianchi shop where high-end bicycles from the famous Italian performance bicycle company were displayed together with in-store branding materials. Everything was produced using Ricoh technology. The rest of the stand was transformed with a brightly-coloured jungle theme showcasing the creative results Ricoh technology can deliver. Highlights included multiple styles of display unit, all printed on a Pro T7210 using 10mm Falcon Board.

Canon at FESPA 2018 Canon made its mark at this year’s FESPA by showcasing its developments in digital wide format production. Following its launch last year at the 2017 show, the Océ Colorado 1640 roll-to-roll printer featuring Canon UVgel technology was shown in a prototype inline print-and-cut workflow, with technology from Canon partner Fotoba. Canon also demonstrated a fully robotised flatbed print-and-cut workflow which links the Océ Arizona 6170 XTS printer with the Océ ProCut cutting table using robotic technology integrated by Canon’s specialist partner, Rolan Robotics.

The solution allows for 24/7 unattended printing for a range of high-volume flatbed applications.

Esko text recognition makes light work of text changes Esko has extended its portfolio of solutions with Text Recognition, a new plug-in for Adobe Illustrator that makes last-minute copy changes to outlined text fast, safe and simple.

According to Esko, the new plug-in helps packaging professionals produce packaging in an optimal way by eliminating cumbersome work-arounds. It’s also the only OCR tool on the market that converts outlined text in artwork to live, editable text directly in Illustrator.

The Text Recognition plug-in is available as a part of the Esko DeskPack collection of plug-ins for packaging professionals, or as a standalone product for anyone working with Adobe Illustrator.

Antalis

Antalis does its bit for Snowdonia goats Antalis has donated DIBOND Digital

board to support a photographic exhibition highlighting the plight of rare Welsh Mountain goats in Snowdonia. Organised by amateur photographer and printer Stuart Hill, the exhibition captures the goats in their natural habitat where they have lived since around 4500BC. To produce the finished photographs, C3imaging Liverpool printed the A1 images onto a satin photo paper using their HP DesignJet Z6200 Photo Production printer. The images were then laminated with Drytac Emerytex laminate before being mounted onto the DIBOND Digital using Drytac MediaTac. The DIBOND Digital was cut to shape using a Zund XL3200 cutter. The exhibition is on display at the Electric Mountain visitor centre, which sits below the mountains in Snowdonia, where the goats roam.

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Packaging

What’s New in Print Durst

New plans unveiled at Durst Tech Days 2018

Zünd returns from FESPA with EDP Awards trophy

Durst has unveiled the company’s latest technology developments in large format print, service and software at Durst Tech Days, a series of events held at Durst’s headquarters in South Tyrol, Italy and its other manufacturing site in Austria. For the Italian event, the focus was on roll-to-roll printing systems, software and preventive maintenance concepts; in Austria, demonstrations of Durst P5 and Durst Water Technology for flatbed printing was on the agenda. Plans were also unveiled to launch a new initiative whereby print service providers will be offered a high quality pre-owned machine through a full-service contract without having to make a large initial investment.

Zünd’s Over Cutter Camera (OCC) took the prize for Best Finishing Support Tool in the Finishing/Enhancement category at the FESPA Global Print Expo in Berlin. According to Zünd, the Over Cutter Camera significantly increases cutting productivity. Fitted above the centre of the cutting bed on a Zünd digital finishing table, the optics system captures every register mark within the working area in a single image for data analysing by the Zünd Cut Center (ZCC) software. Any distortions are compensated for, decreasing production times and minimising user intervention.

Huhtamaki acquires the majority of CupPrint Food and drink packaging specialist Huhtamaki has acquired the majority of Clare-based CupPrint Ltd. Through the acquisition, packaging firm Huhtamaki hopes to capitalise on the growing market of short run custom-printed cups and boost its on-line commercial activity. CupPrint specialises in short run custom printed cups with quick delivery time. The company has an on-line service model which allows efficient design and delivery of small volumes. Annual net sales at CupPrint are approximately €14 million and it employs approximately 110 people in its manufacturing unit in Ireland and sales office in Germany.

New software investment at Keeco Creative Web to print solutions provider Infigo Software has signed a contract with Dublin-based firm Keeco Creative who has invested in the Catfish and MegaEdit Pro software solutions from the UK software company. Commenting on the news, Ronan Keegan, Director at Keeco said: “We looked at various solutions to address the issues we faced and allow the growth we wanted. Infigo stood out as they were happy to mold their software solutions to fit issues particular to us; we felt very much that we weren’t being presented with an off-the-shelf solution.”

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