Irish Printer Issue 5 2018 by Ashville Media Group

I S S U E 5 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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ISSUE 5 2018

04 News

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

09 Rebranding for the future

Previously known as Reprographic Systems, Spera Brand Management is adapting to a more digital future

10 Label industry comes to town

The implications of Brexit and the growth of Ireland’s self-adhesive labelling industry were up for discussion at this year’s European Label Forum

13 Trading up

A decision to invest in new machinery has paid off at P+D Visual Communications, resulting in greater output and higher levels of productivity

15 Better, faster, stronger

A new Konica Minolta AccurioPress C3070 from MJ Flood has transformed one office supplies business

19 Diary of a Brand Designer

Gerard Whelan gives his take on why printers should take branding seriously

The future’s bright at Trimwel

Trimwel’s acquisition by Metamark presents new and exciting opportunities for the firm

20 Satisfaction guaranteed

Investment in a Xerox Versant 180 has allowed Keeco Creative to improve its offering to clients

22 Me and my Duplo

For over 50 years, Duplo has set the standard with some of the most innovative and reliable finishing products in the print industry

24 The changing face of print

A new campaign headed by Canon is changing with the times and targeting print end users as well as PSP’s

25 Talking to…

Dave Fogarty, Marketing Manager at McGowans, talks to Irish Printer about starting out in the industry and what superpower he’d most like to have

IRISH PRINTER

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WELCOME Welcome to Issue 5 of Irish Printer for 2018. Trimwel’s acquisition by Metamark is the subject of this issue’s cover story. The print sector has always had its fair share of M&A activity, but acquisition within the print space seems to be more prevalent at the moment as print firms realise that to survive, they must adapt to a changing environment. As companies with a clear vision as to how they want their businesses to progress, both Trimwel and Metamark have made the right decisions for them. The same could be said for Webprint and Datascope. Webprint acquired the business of the Wexford-based printer just recently, in a deal that will see Datascope’s customers move to Webprint’s modern facility in Cork. The reasons behind an acquisition are always varied but access to skills or access to a better geographical market are quite often important factors. Owners coming up to retirement age may also think about going down the acquisition road. This M&A activity is expected to continue into 2018 and beyond; print firms will continue to want to differentiate their business models and broaden out their revenue streams. It’s indicative of an industry embracing change and preparing for an uncertain future, especially in light of Brexit. To read Trimwel’s story, turn to page 16. Elsewhere in this issue, our resident brand designer, Gerard Whelan turns his attention to self-promotion and branding for printers. Ronan Keegan at Keeco Creative explains why he opted for a new Xerox Versant 180 on page 20 and on page 10, we take a look at the recently-held European Label Forum which took place for the first time in Dublin. Finally, The Irish Print Awards will be held on the 30th of November in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Northwood. Now’s the time to submit your entry; go to www.irishprinter/awards for information on categories. It promises to be another great night for the industry so we hope to see you there! 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!

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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30/08/2018 15:06 15:02

NEWS Antalis

Antalis launches KernowPrint’s range for HP Indigo synthetics

Antalis has added a new portfolio of HP Indigo printable synthetics to its range. This latest innovation from KernowPrint features the company’s Cobalt Coating Technology which has been engineered to enhance the way synthetic media runs through HP Indigo hardware. The result is a durable, static-controlled suite of polyester, polypropylene and specialty synthetic substrates which deliver vibrant colours and prints, as well as optimal performance on press. The new line of HP Indigo printable materials has been designed specifically for Indigo users wanting to print on small format synthetics and includes KernowPrint Elite Synthetic Paper, KernowPrint Vivid Synthetic and KernowPrint MetaliK.

Go to page

for Gerard Whelan’s take on why print firms should take self-promotion and branding seriously

62 speakers confirmed for The IJC 2018 Over 500 OEMs, developers, suppliers, print service providers, brand owners and innovators are expected to participate in this year’s Inkjet Conference, set to be held from the 16-17 October 2018 in Düsseldorf. From scientific papers on jetting reliability through to the latest innovations in software and printheads, attendees can expect to learn about the latest technology developments from over 62 expert speakers. Ink formulation, fluids and the chemistry surrounding inkjet will be featured extensively at the event, as will software and hardware with opening plenary sessions covering printhead architecture. Experts will deliver a series of presentations on academic research with topics ranging from inkjet-printed tablets, orodispersible films and capsules, ceramic inks for glass and printing functional elements on 3D objects.

IRISH PRINTER

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A lot done… a lot more still to do Political turmoil in the UK, postal charge increases and the suspension of the apprenticeship programme were the topics up for debate at The Irish Printing Federation’s AGM Eugene Healy, outgoing President of the IPF, kicked off proceedings with comments on Brexit and political unrest in the UK, which is leaving Sterling weak and encouraging imports. He also touched upon the increases in postal charges from An Post. “This has had the knock-on effect of driving users of post as a method of communicating with their customer base to alternative methods of client communication; this will mean the continuation of falling volumes of printed matter.” Alongside unprecedented levels of paper price increases, the industry is seeing longer lead times from mills, leaving an already strapped industry with further difficulties. Eugene also talked about the IPF’s campaign for lower VAT rates for printed matter. “This is an area which the Government, if they so wish, can make a huge impact on securing jobs in this industry.” A campaign to encourage companies to join the IPF has had limited success. “It has proved difficult to increase membership numbers substantially; this has not been from the lack of trying. We have run various campaigns to encourage companies to join, however interest levels prove to be low. This would seem indicative of an industry that is struggling with its day to day business and feels that joining the IPF is low on their agenda. We will continue in 2018/2019 to try and rectify this by proving to prospective companies the value of being part of a representative body.” Despite doing its utmost to encourage print firms to support industry apprenticeships, the print media apprenticeship programme was suspended this year. “This was only relayed to us by Solas after we requested a meeting with them. Ironically this year we have keen interest from a number of companies wishing to place apprentices on the programme. After discussions with Solas, it confirmed that the scheme could be revived if the printing industry supported the scheme and guaranteed the placement of apprentices going forward.” Eugene added that Solas is requiring solid forecasts on future numbers for registration for the scheme over the next three to four years. “It is imperative that all companies within the printing industry support the print media apprenticeship, to create a scheme that is fit for purpose and will cover future requirements. There is no other way to secure the future of our industry and the future of the scheme.” Eugene also welcomed Diarmuid Dawson, Managing Director at Innovative Print Solutions Ltd, as the incoming President of the Federation and Dermot Downer from Westside Press who will take up the role of incoming Vice President.

NEWS

FROM TOP: Eugene Healy, Trimfold Envelopes (outgoing IPF President), Diarmuid Dawson, Innovative Print Solutions Ltd (incoming IPF President) & Dermot Downer, Westside Press (incoming IPF Vice President); Eugene Healy & Diarmuid Dawson

IRISH PRINTER

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Opinion

NEWS Go to page

to read about Canon’s new campaign that targets print end users as well as PSP’s

Avery Dennison launches recycled PET liners in Europe Avery Dennison is set to be the first pressure sensitive labelling material supplier to introduce liner made from recycled PET (rPET) commercially in Europe. The new rPET liner uses carefully selected post-consumer waste and will be introduced in October 2018 across a number of self-adhesive constructions. Initially, a limited supply will be available, but it’s expected that rPET will eventually become an option across all filmic and paper constructions.

Agfa

Revenue and profit drop at Agfa in Q2

According to reports, the Belgian manufacturer recorded sales of €559 million in the second quarter, down 10% on Q2 2017, with first-half sales standing at €1.11 billion, down 8.4% year-onyear. The company’s gross profit fell by 15.5% to €180 million in Q2, with first-half gross profit down by 11.7% to €358 million. Gross profit margin was 32.2% in Q2, which Agfa said was in line with Q1. The company said it continues to face challenges in the prepress market, adding that ongoing decline for analog computer-to-film products, competitive pressure, market-driven volume declines for digital computer-to-plate products and high aluminum prices have been an issue. “We therefore announced a global price increase program for our prepress printing plates in May. Furthermore, we will continue to look into initiatives to actively participate in the necessary consolidation of the industry,” said a spokesperson.

Esmark Finch gets involved with Garda charity Esmark Finch recently participated in the ‘Blue Light for Temple Street’ event, an initiative led by the emergency services in aid of the Temple Street Foundation. The company’s relationship with the emergency services led to the collaboration, which saw Esmark Finch convert a kids 12V electric ride-on-car to a mini roads policing vehicle. As well as impressive high visibility Garda branding, the car has amazing features such as MP3 input, working lights, parental remote and horn and turn sounds. The mini roads policing car was won by Martin, a patient in Temple Street.

IRISH PRINTER

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IPA Judges

Donagh O’Doherty

Smurfit Kappa Display makes chair for Pope’s visit

Webprint acquires Datascope Cork printing company Webprint has acquired the trading business of Datascope, a Wexfordbased printer that produces 26 regional titles. The deal, effective from July 27th, will see the migration of Datascope’s customers to Webprint’s state-of-the-art facility in Cork. “The industry continues to consolidate so this acquisition made sense for all parties involved. Our plant is the largest newspaper plant on the island and so we have the capacity to take on Datascope’s customers,” said Donagh O’Doherty, Managing Director at Webprint. As the largest

Smurfit Kappa has worked with a local entrepreneur to launch a portable and sustainable chair ahead of the Pope’s visit to Ireland. Dublin man John McGarry had the brainwave for the chair and approached Smurfit Kappa Display in Tallaght with the idea. The chair, which is sold flat and takes seconds to assemble, is made from corrugated board and can withhold a weight of up to 100kg. The design features an image of the Pope and the chair is 100% recyclable. Speaking about the innovative new product John McGarry said: “I heard that people could be on their feet for up to eight hours when they go to see the Pope. This chair is very lightweight and has a handle so it’s completely portable. Alongside being a great souvenir of this historic day, it’s completely biodegradable and made from Forest Stewardship Council approved paper.” John O’Loughlin, CEO of Smurfit Kappa Ireland added: “We welcomed the opportunity to work with John to create the Pope’s chair. At Smurfit Kappa, we’re always keen to identify sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics and this chair is the perfect solution for people who may need to sit down either on their way to or inside the Phoenix Park.”

independent coldset web offset printer in the country, Webprint is well set up to handle the additional workload. “Our automatic packing was definitely a big draw and is something that helps us in terms of efficiency and quality. We are delighted to welcome Datascope’s customers to Webprint and look forward to continuing a great working relationship.”

Go to page

to read about Trimwel’s acquisition by Metamark and the company’s plans for the future

IRISH PRINTER

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NEWS FINAT launches #LABELicious initiative International label association FINAT has launched its #LABELicious competition to attract fresh, creative and enthusiastic industry talent. The initiative follows the latest FINAT Radar survey that showed how challenging it is for the industry to attract a newly skilled next generation workforce. The competition features three categories: Brand design - the winning entry will demonstrate how in 2025 a branded label will create an outstanding experience, competitive advantage and added value for a brand in its own product category.

Spectrum

Spectrum Sign and Display backs a winner at Aintree Spectrum Sign and Display recently produced and installed signage and graphics for the Aintree Grand National. With speed and quality a necessity, the company decided to purchase a Mimaki UCJ150-160 from CMYUK. Julian Robinson, Director at Spectrum Sign and Display, said: “This is always a big event for us and this year we were asked to provide signage and graphics for 220m of temporary bars across the course. Some could only be accurately measured once installed so we needed the capacity to print quickly and without having to wait for the vinyl to dry. The Mimaki gave us the ability to print and install on the same day as well as being a superior quality to our existing machines.”

Smart/intelligent/multifunctional labels - the winning entry will demonstrate how technology adds value to a label through new functionality, other than branding alone. Out of the box - the winning entry will demonstrate how out-of-the-box-thinking, combining both creative design and technology, offers new applications and added-value possibilities in product labelling. This could also present a vision of the entrant’s future work environment in the industry. The international winners of the competition will be announced during Labelexpo Europe 2019 where a #LABELicious pavilion will showcase all winning entries.

Paying tribute to print’s glorious past at The Print Show 2018 This year’s Print Show will offer visitors the opportunity to take a trip through time and visit some of the glory days of years gone by in the industry at the Traditional Print Masterclass. One of the most popular show features since the event began in 2015, this area is entirely dedicated to traditional printing techniques that have helped to shape the modern industry. Those in attendance can try their hand at some of these techniques and test out some of the technology on display. Experts from various backgrounds will be on hand to talk visitors through how the kit works and help attendees produce their own work to take home with them as a souvenir for their day at The Print Show. Set up five years ago to protect and use letterpress machines and type, Letterpress Collective will be on hand to educate attendees about this much-loved process. Elsewhere, the St. Bride Foundation will be giving visitors the chance to see kit from the middle of the 19th Century and techniques used in Fleet Street until as late as the 1990s.

IRISH PRINTER

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NEWS

Now known as Spera Brand Management, Reprographic Systems is adapting to a more digital future Tom Fitzpatrick, Director, Spera Brand Management

Spera

Rebranding for the future Specialising in print reproduction, flexographic platemaking and wide format digital printing since 1969, Reprographic Systems has made the decision to re-brand its business in a bid to future-proof growth. This strategy has seen the company extend its list of services to include brand management and fittingly, change its name to Spera Brand Management. According to Director Tom Fitzpatrick, the longterm aim of the company is to operate a global brand management company and to develop long lasting relationships based on ‘trust’ with its customers. Spera Artwork Management, SAM for short, has also been launched and provides clients with a secure, compatible and end-to-end artwork approval online system. As well as streamlining the artwork approval process, SAM gives clients complete control of their artwork and expedites delivery to allow for faster turnaround times. Commenting on the rebranding, Tom Fitzpatrick said: “We love print, design and packaging and we live branding. We know great relationships build great brands. Since 1969 we have been watching the market and listening to clients, making sure that we don’t just meet and exceed their needs, but anticipate them. Our ability to foresee change and harness innovation has given our clients the edge in all areas. Customers make great investments in a re-brand. It’s our role to ensure that all of their expectations are not only met but exceeded.”

IRISH PRINTER

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FINAT

Label industry comes to town

The implications of Brexit, issues around food safety and the growth of Ireland’s self-adhesive labelling industry were just some of the topics up for discussion at this year’s European Label Forum, which took place in Dublin in June

Emma Rochford, Global Marketing Manager, Guinness BELOW: Speaker panel

FINAT’s 2018 labelling conference, which took place this year in Dublin, was very much focused on identifying ways of harnessing the skills of tomorrow’s label industry leaders to drive the ever-changing packaging print sector. About 250 attendees heard from a varied speaker panel which included Vlad Sljapic, Xeikon’s Vice President, Alastair Campbell, Tony Blair’s former director of communications, Gavin Killeen, Managing Director of Nuprint Technologies Ltd and Andy ThomasEmans, Strategic Director at Tarsus Labels & Packaging Group.

IRISH PRINTER

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News Alastair Campbell spoke about Brexit and the lack of clarity around the UK’s final proposals for its departure. The subject of Brexit was taken up again by Gavin Killeen in his presentation which looked at the self-adhesive labelling sector in Ireland and the relationship between the island’s northern and southern territories. Next up was FINAT MD Jules Lejeune who provided an update on the broader European label industry picture, which has exhibited a strong recovery since 2012. The association’s data has confirmed healthy 4.7% industry growth in 2017 over the previous year, with film-based labelstocks growing at an even higher rate – 8.2% over the prior year. The top 15 label market countries in Europe represent a massive 90% of the total business and the statistics confirm that Turkey, Poland and Italy enjoyed the largest increase in absolute volumes between 2010 and 2017. The influence of Brexit has made itself felt in the UK, with consumption in decline since Q3 2017. The growing crossover for label converters between label print and other packaging print options was discussed by Andy Thomas-Emans from Tarsus Labels & Packaging Group. He stated that recent research from FINAT RADAR indicates that the production of flexible packaging pouches is already an additional capability for 19% of label converters. Sleeves represent additional capability for 31% of survey respondents while other flexible packaging items represent additional capability for 27%. Flexible packaging is a key market for the future, forecast to represent €16 billion-worth of business in Europe by 2022, with the biggest growth in the savoury snacks, cheese, coffee, dry products and pet foods markets. The second day of the conference was focused on management issues and opened with the CEO of XYZ University Sarah Sladek, who talked about driving stronger engagement with the younger generations in the quest for new, young business talent. Emma Rochford, Global Marketing Manager for Guinness and Kathryn Wilson, Design Lead for Guinness and Baileys at Diageo, delivered a presentation that looked at the need for high-quality branding in the premium and craft beers sectors. The FINAT European Label Forum 2019 is set to take place from 5-7 June at the Scandic Crowne in Copenhagen.

Alastair Campbell

IRISH PRINTER

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NEWS Michael Collins, Operations Director, Mary McGillicuddy, Sales & Marketing Manager and Mark Downey, Printer

P+D Trading up

A decision to invest in new machinery has paid oﬀ at P+D Visual Communications, resulting in greater output and higher levels of productivity

The modern reincarnation of Print and Display, P+D Visual Communications made the transition from screen printing to large format digital print five years ago. The company, which is now 100% digital, recently took another step forward in its future-proofing strategy by investing in a new machine. A partner of HP Scitex for several years, two HP 7600 machines have, until recently, stood the company in good stead. “Those machines were running flat out for quite a few years but were getting to the end of their life. They were slowing down in terms of productivity and weren’t matching up to newer, more technologically advanced machines,” said Michael Collins, Operations Director at P+D. About 12 months ago, Michael and his colleagues began researching the merits of various machines on the market. “We ran a number of complex tests and compared the machines in terms of speed, productivity, colour consistency, quality and colour correctness. For us, the HP FB1000 came out on top.” Volumes are up at P+D; the new machine produces three times the volume of the old machines combined. “It’s faster and it’s also much more automated which allows for less human intervention.” The company is taking on more work and completing that work faster and more efficiently. “The operator can get on with other tasks while the machine is working away. Previously that would have been impossible as he would have been too busy checking the work coming off the machine.” Creatively, the possibilities that are now open to the team are much wider. “We’re much more confident when it comes to being a bit adventurous with the machine. We’ve been able to expand our offering to customers and that has been invaluable.” IRISH PRINTER

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30/08/2018 25/07/2018 15:08 09:33

A new Konica Minolta AccurioPress C3070 from MJ Flood has transformed o oﬀi s pp i s si ss

MJ Flood

NEWS

Better, faster, stronger

Jones Business Systems, a company that supplies over 20,000 products to the offices, schools and business sector, recently made the decision to invest in a new printing system. Two Xerox Docucolor 700 printers were replaced with a new Konica Minolta AccurioPress C3070, supplied by MJ Flood. “We had got to a point where the ‘click’ inflation applied by our supplier meant it was becoming increasingly difficult to compete. I was also aware that there was a substantial productivity gain to be achieved with the latest generation of digital machines. We had traditionally lost good time in getting jobs started on the older presses as we had to be ever mindful of page registers and colour accuracy,” said Doug Poole, Print Services Manager at Jones Business Systems. An upgrade was the obvious step, so Doug and the team at Jones Business Systems enlisted the help of MJ Flood to ensure they selected the right machine for their needs. “The C3070 was a very impressive machine from first sight. It processes and flies through work at a rate far in advance of our incumbent printers, despite similar headline speed rates. It was evident that the issues with areas such as image register and colour accuracy did not apply to this machine.” The C3070 hasn’t just addressed Jones Business Systems existing issues; it has provided the firm with new opportunities in the print space. “The banner print is a very useful feature that has allowed us to tackle other items such as packaging, 6pp work, folders etc, which traditional SRA3 did not allow for. The machine loves to print envelopes – it eats them. This has allowed us to add these to a quick turnaround to other traditional stationery offerings.” Phil Schueler, Production Print Regional Manager at MJ Flood, helped Jones Business Systems select the right machine. “For Doug, the feeding system and the image quality were particularly attractive qualities of the C3070. The machine can easily manage longer sheet sizes and that was definitely another plus. The C3070 also produces perfect registration right out of the box. Overall, the new machine has allowed Jones Business Systems service its clients faster and more efficiently.”

Doug Poole, Print Services Manager at Jones Business Systems with Phil Schueler, Production Print Manager at MJ Flood

IRISH PRINTER

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Cover story

THE FUTURE’S BRIGHT AT TRIMWEL

TRIMWEL’S ACQUISITION BY METAMARK PRESENTS NEW AND EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMPANY

hen a well-known and respected company is acquired by another, news of the transaction quickly spreads throughout the industry and speculation as to why the deal was made is rife. The recent acquisition of Trimwel by one of its key suppliers, Metamark, was no different. Despite the industry speculation, the reasons behind the acquisition were quite simple and Metamark’s view is that Trimwel’s experience, its reputation and the relationships it has built since its founding, are not things to lightly put aside. Metamark has no plans to bend Trimwel into a new shape. Instead, it’s business as usual for Trimwel but with a wider market ahead of it and more resources behind. Trimwel is a highly evolved business that has firmly established itself in the print sector. The business model it promotes is a reflection of market and customer needs rather than something that’s imposed upon the industries that it serves. Having recognised that customers like to do business in a particular way, Trimwel has built up a loyal client base and continues to attract new customers on a regular basis. The company’s business is built on the idea that signs and graphics producers would rather have cash in the bank than have the materials of their trade on the shelves. On that basis, Trimwel supports its customer by supplying what’s needed and when it’s required, at prices the market is happy to pay. For example, if a customer requires a few metres of a particular material, Trimwel will supply that material in a bespoke length. Trimwel’s ability to supply on this basis mean that the customer is prepared to back off their inventory holding to Trimwel, thus saving the need to have cash tied up. One of the earliest suppliers to join the Trimwel product portfolio was 3M. It’s a relationship that began in the 1980s and continues to this day,

IRISH PRINTER

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Cover story making Trimwel the region’s longest standing 3M distributor. When 3M and Trimwel met, computerised signmaking was just beginning to advance behind the Gerber Graphix 3, introduced on this side of the Atlantic by Spandex. 3M’s materials were very popular with owners of the Gerber computer and buying habits were changing. Materials were required in new formats and the volumes being consumed were rising dramatically. Trimwel responded to this growth. It wasn’t long before other suppliers recognised the value in what Trimwel could offer as a distribution system and took steps to get aboard. Among them was a company based in Lancaster in the UK known at the time as Ultramark. A self-adhesive materials manufacturer, products from Ultramark were targeted at an emerging market for shorter term applications for which other materials were over-specified. Trimwel carried the product and turned the opportunity into a success for both Trimwel customers and Trimwel itself. Today, the Trimwel portfolio includes families of related components that are used by Trimwel’s customers to build finished signs such as directories, fascias and post-panel signage. Trimwel promotes the systems behind its business model and succeeds in getting the products to market, whether they’re freely chosen by sign makers or specified by end-users. The company has a reputation as an innovator, with suppliers attracted to Trimwel’s business model and ability to hold inventory. One such product is Visive, a product used for the provision of architectural “lit accents” as seen on petrol station canopies and increasingly, outlining the night sky on buildings. The product represents an opportunity for the many sign makers who shop at Trimwel and who have a hunger for something new. Metamark’s attraction to Trimwel stems from the company’s relationship with it as a distributor. Despite also handling other brands, Trimwel has delivered great performance for Metamark. It’s Metamark’s belief that the Trimwel business model and the company’s attractive portfolio can be taken to a wider market. Neither company is a stranger to driving specifications and both have great customer appeal. With more resources at its disposal, it is expected that Trimwel’s services will prove attractive to a variety of new markets. Commenting on Trimwel’s future, Managing Director Nick Little said: “When Metamark expressed its interest in having Trimwel become a Metamark company, I immediately wondered what was it they thought they were buying and why did they want it? Turns out, they understood our model well. Its effectiveness was demonstrated through the sales of Metamark products and they had clear ambitions that built upon Trimwel as a brand. “The value of a company is largely a reflection of how attractive that company is to its customers. To change Trimwel drastically would diminish its value. That’s not what Metamark wants. It recognises that Trimwel’s range of novel products could address new and developing markets. That’s where our gears mesh perfectly. With Metamark onboard, I can now deliver against that ambition and bring my customers and suppliers on the journey too. I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to fully engaging with this opportunity.”

The sign and allied industries are operating in interesting times. Innovative solutions and applications are increasingly being sought after; Trimwel is perfectly positioned to deliver on this requirement. “It’s going to be an exciting journey forward. Trimwel is and will remain the company that customers love to do business with. Both customers and suppliers will benefit directly from the growth we’re going to deliver,” says Nick. The last word belongs to those without whom Trimwel and Metamark wouldn’t exist – the customers. Hugh Kenny of Coatek said: “We’ve been dealing with Trimwel for a good few years. The company’s product knowledge and the fact that it holds large stocks has helped us grow.” Kevin Parkes at Iconic also said: “The service level that we get from Trimwel is of an extremely high standard and the product range is excellent. Regardless of who answers the phone, you know you’ll be looked after and the right product will be delivered.” Business as usual? Sounds like it.

IRISH PRINTER

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Next Day Delivery Trade Print • Short run digital booklets (including 6pp A4s and landscape A4s) • Flatbed digital cutting • Short run die cut folders • 126” Latex wide format printing (including vinyl) • SEG Lightbox printing • High volume automated poster cutting • Full in-house finishing • Case binding • Data processing & direct mail • Polybagging

Quote it Sooner.

Quotations within one hour on average.

Print it Sooner.

Two Xerox iGen 4 digital presses, an array of large-format print technology and complete in-house finishing, operating 24 hours a day, five days a week.

Deliver it Sooner.

4 Mercedes Benz Sprinter vans covering the country.

Call us on (01) 2844777 or visit soonerthanlater.com

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30/08/2018 30/05/2018 15:16 10:59

Talking point

Gerard Whelan is Managing Director at Brandcentral

Gerard Whelan gives his take on why printers should take branding seriously

Recently, I received a fairly confusing piece of direct mail from a certain print company who will remain nameless, which has prompted me to write something on self-promotion and branding for printers. What struck me about the direct mail was that someone had obviously taken the time to find names of art directors and designers to contact and had then spent more time writing the content, laying out the direct mail, printing it and delivering it. The problem is that the direct mail was totally unfocused and confusing. There was no clarity as to what their USP was, what they were as a brand and how they differentiated themselves from their competition. This left me with no reason to consider working with them. The issue as I see it is this – many printers feel they have everything they need in-house to brand and market themselves (in-house designers and print facilities). However, the challenge of branding an organisation is very complex and not suited to an in-house team and using internal resources to carry out this work will suffer from a lack of an unbiased viewpoint. To establish a successful brand you need a very clear idea of what you are about as an organisation, what your company culture is and what kind of clients you want to work with. In short, why should a client or employee want to engage with you, as opposed to any other printer? Here at Brandcentral we are very particular about the printers we work with, as we brand ourselves on quality. So this rules out quick turnaround or cheap printers and you can be sure that every other designer or art director will have similar criteria when it comes to choosing a printer. Having a clear idea of what you are as a brand makes decision-making much easier. By way of illustration I will discuss two projects we have worked on, purely because I know what their core brand attributes are and how we built this into all our communication.

PRINT FUSION Print Fusion’s core brand attributes were ‘we share your creative vision’. All of Print Fusion’s communication centred around using innovative printing techniques to demonstrate the company’s ability to think outside the box when it comes to delivering a solution that would echo its core brand attributes.

Label Tech Label Tech’s core brand attributes were people, technology, craft and service. This fed into all decision making from photographing employees and choosing illustrators to work with, to who wrote copy for direct mails and brochures.

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Investment

SATISFACTION GUARANTEED Investment in a Xerox Versant 180 has allowed Keeco Creative to improve its oﬀ i o i s Investment in machinery isn’t a decision to be made lightly. The potential benefits of providing an improved service to clients have to be weighed against the considerable cost of purchasing a new machine. The sheer quantity of presses on the market and their apparent similarity only make the task of selecting the right one all the more difficult. Ronan Keegan at Keeco Creative Ltd took his time when it came to investing in a new press, weighing up the pros and cons of several machines on the market and assessing their suitability for his requirements. That cautiousness is now paying dividends for the company. Keeco Creative has been operating in the print and design space for over 30 years. The firm produces a large range of products and services from high quality print, design and digital media to exhibitions and all sign needs. Ronan and his team had been using their own Xerox 250 and then a Xerox 1000 which belonged to another company in the same building. Investment in a newer, more technologically advanced press was the next step. “We made the decision to invest in a new machine so we could continue doing what we

DIARY DATE

You can see the Xerox Versant 180 at the Print XL event at The Red Cow Hotel in Dublin on 25th & 26th September. Register here - https://info.neopost.ie/printxl/

were doing, but at a much better quality,” says Ronan. After comparing several of the market-leading presses, Ronan was more aware of the benefits and limitations associated with each one. “I evaluated these machines and compared them as I wanted to be certain that I was purchasing the right one for us. I’ve had an excellent relationship with Xerox and Xeretec for a long time and have always been happy with the service I’ve received from them, so in the end I decided to continue that relationship.” Ronan invested in a Xerox Versant 180 Press with the full performance package. “Although I was confident of the service I would get from Xeretec, it took a long time to get me over the line on this. I had to be sure I was making the right investment in the right machine.” The Versant 180 can print at speeds up to 80 ppm and can produce up to 80,000 pages per month. It prints on stocks and specialty media from 52-350 gsm, while automated registration and image quality controls help create error-free output and tolerances to within one

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Investment

millimetre. “It’s just a really good machine. The print quality is excellent and the fact that it can print on heavier substrates without any loss of clarity or quality is a huge plus. It has allowed us to improve our offering to customers and that’s really what we were after.” Clever features, like the spectrophotometer which automates colour calibration, also helped to push Ronan over the line. “The press also has the ability to not just match specific spot colours as closely as possible, but to match them to a particular type of paper.” Ronan opted for the Versant 180 full performance package. “Obviously the higher end press is more technologically advanced but it also made sense from a value perspective. When I did the

sums on all the different machines, it actually worked out cheaper to go for the Versant.” Before installing the new press, Ronan was on a higher click rate. “Now, I’m on a much lower one. We now do litho work in-house and that has also improved our margins. Overall, the new press has given me more control over jobs and has given my clients a much quicker turnaround.” Keeco Creative has been dealing with Xeretec for over a decade. Excellent customer service has ensured the longevity of the relationship. “I’ve never had any issues and if myself or anyone on the team ever has a query, a quick phone call to Xeretec sorts it out. We’ve had the Versant 180 now for about seven months and we’ve had no issues with it. There are other machines out there that say they do X, Y or Z but that’s just not the case. I know a lot of people in the same game as myself who opted for one of those machines and were sorry that they did. The Versant 180 works and there’s a lot to be said for that.” For information on the Xerox Versant 180 or any other Xerox press, contact Xeretec on 01 862 2976 or email info@xeretec.ie

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30/08/2018 14:03

ME & MY DUPLO

For over 50 years, Duplo has set the standard with some of the most innovative and reliable ishi p od s i h p i i d s Duplo products now encompass a vast range of finishing processes, from saddle stitching, booklet making and perfect binding to cutter-creasers. As the sole supplier of Duplo in Ireland, Neopost is proud to serve a widespread community of Duplo users who rely on this print and finishing equipment to tackle their demanding workloads. This article features four of Neopost’s Duplo customers, each highlighting how their print-finishing equipment has benefited their business.

CUBE Printing, Limerick “We’ve grown up with Duplo and we trust them,” said Brendan Ring, Managing Director at CUBE Printing in Limerick, who has been using Duplo print-finishing equipment for over 20 years. CUBE is a leading provider of design, print and packaging solutions. To continue to cater for its diverse client base, CUBE invested in the Duplo System 6000i through Neopost. The System 6000i is a reliable production machine in the long run range with short changeover times. This machine was the perfect match to accompany its existing Duplo System 5000, installed in 2015. Brendan says that IFU’s (Information for Use) booklets are important to the business. These require a robust machine and that’s why CUBE chose the Duplo System 6000i. With a large throughput, the Duplo finishes to a high-quality saddle stitch finish that ensures industry requirements are met. It also combines the construction of the DBM-600 booklet maker and trimmer with the high-speed DSC-10/60i collator tower. The in-line camera system verifies that the page sequences are correct, giving the end user a guarantee that booklets are manufactured to specification. With different clients requiring various services, CUBE needs to rely on its systems and equipment. “Knowing that the Duplo System 6000i is an integral part of our manufacturing brings real peace of mind to us here at CUBE,” said Brendan.

Bridge Print, Dublin Founded in Dublin in 1998 by Willie Carroll and Tom Lyon, Bridge Print offers a range of cost-effective print solutions. In 2016, Willie and Tom were looking for a machine to upgrade their older smaller booklet maker. The criteria Tom and Willie used in their search was reliability; they needed a machine that would withstand constant use on their hectic print schedule, not jam with staple problems and was easy to programme. After a lengthy search process the Duplo System 6000i, supplied by Neopost Graphics, was chosen as the perfect machine for Bridge Print. “We bought it in January of 2017. We use it almost every day and there’s so much you can do with it,” said Willie Carroll. Co-Director Tom Lyon is one of the main operators of the Duplo System 6000i and he can save settings, allowing the machine to set itself up for different runs. It also allows the user to complete the entire booklet-making process in-house. Since acquiring the Duplo System 6000i, Bridge Print has been able to print in sizes right down to CD brochures. “For a 10,000 book order, you can run the machine at speed and still have time to count and pack, thanks to the long delivery available. Ultimately, this machine has been ideal for Bridge Print,” said Willie.

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Print-finishing Impro Print Ltd, Belfast Impro Print Ltd is a digital and lithographic print company operating out of the Dargan Road in Belfast and run by Managing Director, Ernest Culley. Production Director is Pat Beattie. In December 2017, the company won Book Printer of the Year at the Irish Print Awards and was one of the finalists for the “Small Printer of the Year” category in 2016. Just over a year ago, Impro added the Duplo System 6000 to its printing suite, a machine described by Pat Beattie as “an excellent machine that’s hard, good and reliable.” A major benefit of selecting the Duplo 6000 was the ability to finish A4 landscape, a function not available on some other machines. Pat estimates that an annual run of one million books goes through the machine which despite being used on a daily basis, remains extremely reliable and durable. Before the new investment, Impro relied on the Duplo System 5000i. Well-functioning Duplo products have been at the centre of Impro’s operation for many years, with the company upgrading its models through Neopost as they come on the market. Impro is the longest standing Duplo customer in Ireland, having gone through six variations of Duplo machines. “Impro regularly invests in modern technologies, by upgrading our pre-press systems and implementing a fully integrated finishing suite. This helps Impro Print ensure they’re always using the latest and most up-to-date print finishing equipment from Duplo,” said Pat.

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to read about FINAT’s 2018 labelling conference, held for the first time in Dublin

Peninsula Print, Co Down Peninsula Print was established in 1986 in Newtownards, County Down. As a trade house with large digital and lithographic departments, Peninsula Print can’t always plan for the work coming in the door so it needed a flexible machine that could handle all requirements. In January 2016, the company acquired Ireland’s only Duplo iSaddle through Neopost Graphics, upgrading from the Duplo System 5000. The iSaddle boasts a wealth of features that have helped Peninsula Print satisfy the needs of its customers. “There are several benefits associated with an iSaddle. It has a three-knife trim, intelligent collating towers and produces a flatter saddlestitch book. It complements the Duplo DBM 6000i as both do A4 landscape. It also allows us to do two up work as the trimmer has a gutter-cut. The machine also has great flexibility in its run lengths and thickness so we can offer a quicker turnaround,” says Managing Director, Gary Withers. Peninsula Print is a long-time established customer of Neopost. “We’ve been buying Duplo products from Neopost for eight years and we’re very happy. Quality of service is a big consideration for us when purchasing a new machine and the service provided to us has been second to none,” says Gary.

If you have any questions about Neopost or Duplo print finishing equipment, please give Neopost a call on 01 625 0900 or visit www.neographics.ie

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The big picture

Canon

The changing face of print

A new campaign headed by Canon is changing with the times and targeting print end users as well as PSP’s

and they’ll have an answer for you. Whatever that answer is, one thing’s for sure – the print sector is evolving and print firms must adapt their services to stay relevant. Volumes are falling across the commercial printing sector and although packaging and labels remain viable markets, experts say this decrease in volumes will lead to changing work practices and a more open approach to the overall print process. A new campaign spearheaded by Canon isn’t just targeting printers. It’s bringing the print end user into the conversation and ensuring a more rounded approach is taken. “If you take the publishing market, Canon’s main market is books. It’s important to try and understand the reader and what their requirements are. How can the publisher better reach the reader, who’s now spending more time on Instagram and YouTube than they are actually reading books? That’s the difficulty publishers are experiencing,” said Cathy Bittner, Business Development Manager from the EMEA Commercial Printing Customer Group at Canon. With book print volumes declining across Europe, it’s important to approach the print buyer market. “We bring publishers and printers together and say, this is where the market is at and this is how it’s affecting the overall printing sector. We then identify where the opportunities are for digital printing. It’s not that printing has gone away, it’s that the run lengths for books are much shorter. That’s basically the way we go to market, from the end user first. We then look at what opportunities we can offer our print service providers to develop new business models.” Canon is extending this approach into the promotional market and is set to hold the Future Promotion Forum this September in Germany. “We’ll be engaging with the print buyer market and asking them to bring their agencies, creatives and brands. Of course, we’ll also have the print service providers there as well. We want to provide a platform that brings everyone together and demonstrates how the market is changing, how users are behaving today and what opportunities are out there to grow a PSP’s business.” Taking the fear out of change is the main aim of Canon’s new approach. “It needs to be a concerted approach; if it is, there’ll be less hesitation to adapt and grow. That’s very much our role. We want printers to know they have a partner that can help them define a strategy and that when it comes to providing a solution, we have a large portfolio that will help find the right fit for them.”

CATHY BITTNER

sk any printer where they think the industry is heading

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Talking point

Dave Fogarty, Marketing Manager, McGowans How long are you in the print industry? As long as I’ve been with McGowans, just over 26 years. How did you get into it? Straight from college, my lecturer recommended me to Mal who employed me despite the dodgy ponytail. What do you love/hate about the industry? Love: every day is completely different. Hate: no matter how tight the deadline, there is always time for a reprint! Worst job? Window cleaner, not a fan of heights. Dream job? Successful musician, I stress the successful. Favourite film? Star Wars. Favourite band/musician? Too many to name and constantly changing. At the moment, it’s Fontaines DC from Dublin. Check them out. What do you see as your biggest success in life? My family. Are you a glass half empty or half full person? Half full. There’s a positive to be found in most things. Who or what makes you laugh? Every day in my office something inappropriate makes me laugh. All unrepeatable. What superpower would you most like to have? Invisibility would be handy. I gave this question way too much thought. How would you like to be remembered? In song. Life is….? What you make it. Great song that.

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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 FC advert template.indd 1 IPA 2018_Entries Open Advert_V7.indd 2

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To book seats and for details on the Irish Print Awards, please contact Michael Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Donoghue michael.odonoghue@ashvillemediagroup.com 01 432 2224 www.irishprinter.ie/awards For details on sponsorship opportunities contact Trish Murphy, Sales and Sponsorship Director Trish.Murphy@ashvillemediagroup.com 01 432 2231

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Packaging

What’s New in Print Print Your City The New Raw is a research and design studio based in Rotterdam, founded in 2015 by architects Panos Sakkas and Foteini Setaki. The company’s latest work, called ‘Print Your City!’, uses large scale 3D printing to transform the plastic waste of cities into applications for the built environment. XXX, a bench made out of the same amount of plastic waste that two Amsterdammers produce every year, is its first prototype designed for the city of Amsterdam. According to the company, people in Amsterdam generate an average 23kg of plastic waste per person annually (2015), enough to 3D print one bench for every two Amsterdammers each year!

Is there life on Mars? NASA has set its sights on building homes on Mars. The US space agency has selected five winners of the latest phase of its “3D-Printed Habitat Challenge” to design 3D printed houses for the arrival of astronauts on the red planet. Eighteen teams were asked to design a virtual model of a 3D-printed house on Mars and were encouraged to use recycled material and ‘indigenous resources’ in an effort to keep the planet waste free. The plan is to send a robot to Mars to autonomously print a habitat for the arrival of astronauts. The winning designs include a garden for food and oxygen, a roof that bends in case of ‘marsquakes’ and a spherical house with a

MASSIVIT Force of 3D printing creates Star Wars wheelchair costume

Massivit 3D unveiled a 3D printed Poe Dameron X-Wing Fighter charity wheelchair costume at the recently-held Comic-Con International event. The costume was the vision of non-profit organisation, Magic Wheelchair and created for Star Wars fanatic, 13-year old Vedant Singhania. A Massivit 1800 3D Printer was used to produce 50 individual costume pieces in just over two weeks. The 2.44m-high and 3m-long spaceship provided Vedant with his very own Star Wars X-Wing fighter jet, crafted by some of the original Lucasfilm prop fabricators.

recreational room on the top floor.

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