Print INNOVATION
Asia
Magazine
Printing, Packaging and Publishing Industries across Asia since 1985 Issue 3 2020
- See Page 8
Asian PrintAwards 2020 th
PACKAGING EXCELLENCE AWARDS: 2020
2020
_018 020 VIETNAM - August Contents Page 4 6 8 12 20 22 24 28 30 32 34 38 40 42 44 46 48 54 56
drupa postponed to April 2021 Konica Minolta achieves 500th AccurioLabel milestone Bringing the Rain HP unveils drupa portfolio MICRO RUN - The Evolution of digital textile production Fuji Xerox Introduces New Pink Specialty Dry Ink to Enhance Color Expressions Heidelberg - Unfold Your Potential High quality short run of tins for an in-store display Printing Solutions that Navigate the Complex World of Food Contact Materials Compliance Systems Integration is Top Priority in 2020 Training can make all the difference Third RotaJET for decor printer Re:generation program rejuvenated Papercon Philippines Amazing Applications: The story behind 9 different label samples EFI Launches ‘D’ series of VUTEk printers ORIS x Gamut demonstrated Between global trends and local patterns, online printing continues to grow The Personal Touch News from around Asia and the world
Issue 3 2020
Print INNOVATION
Asia Magazine
Published by Asian Print Awards Management Pte Ltd 65 Chulia Street #46-23 OCBC Centre Singapore 049513 Print Innovation Asia Labels and Packaging Innovation Asia Asian Print Awards Packageing Excellence Awards Label and Packaging Conferences Publisher Paul Callaghan paul@printinnovationasia.com Editorial Elizabeth Liew elizabeth@printinnovationasia.com Editor Sha Jumari sha@printinnovationasia.com Packaging Sales Elizabeth Liew elizabeth@printinnovationasia.com
Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
4
drupa postponed to April 2021 The drupa trade fair scheduled for 16-26 June 2020 will be postponed to 20-30 April 2021. In doing so, Messe Düsseldorf is following the recommendation of the crisis management team of the German Federal Government to take into account the principles of the Robert Koch Institute when assessing the risk of major events. Based on this recommendation and the recent significant increase in the number of people infected with the new corona virus (SARS-CoV-2), including in Europe, Messe Düsseldorf has reassessed the situation. In addition, there is the general ruling issued by the city of Düsseldorf on 11 March 2020, in which major events with more than 1,000 participants present at the same time are generally prohibited. "The decision was taken in close consultation with our advisory boards and sponsoring associations," emphasises Werner M. Dornscheidt, Chairman of the Board of Management of Messe Düsseldorf GmbH. It also reflects the wishes of individual industries: "As their partner, we are currently doing everything in our power to reduce the economic losses suffered by our exhibitors". "The city of Düsseldorf is following the instructions of the state government. Our aim is to slow down the spread of the corona virus so that the health system can continue to function properly," emphasises Thomas Geisel, Lord Mayor of the state capital of Düsseldorf and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Düsseldorf trade fair company. Delaying the spread of the virus as far as possible is also a declared goal according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). In order to fulfil Messe Düsseldorf's responsibility for risk prevention, the company primarily had to minimise the increased risk of infection at major events. Measures
to reduce the risk of transmission at major events, which the Robert Koch Institute has clearly defined – such as ventilation of the venue appropriate to the risk of infection, the exclusion of persons from risk groups and the comprehensive installation of entrance screening, were practically impossible to implement. Also, comparable measures were and are unreasonable in view of the unforeseeable rapid development and the size of the various events with up to 60,000 participants.
'embrace the future', it is characterised by personal, international contact and live product presentations. The risk of infection would simply be too high at present. We therefore support the decision to postpone the event and look forward to the date next year.”
drupa president Claus BolzaSchünemann also agrees with this: "A postponement of drupa was unavoidable after the latest developments. The decision is therefore right and responsible. Many exhibitors start their logistical preparations middle of March – today's announcement of the postponement enables all those affected to react now, reschedule and prepare for the event date in April 2021. The excitement for 'embrace the future' remains undiminished – also in 2021".
The Düsseldorf hotel industry is also sending out an important signal through its umbrella organisation DEHOGA (Trade Association for the Hospitality Industry): "We appeal to our members and the entire industry to be flexible when it comes to rebooking by exhibitors and visitors. The Düsseldorf trade fairs such as drupa play an enormously important role for the city, the hotel industry and the catering trade. It would be counterproductive not to show goodwill in this situation,” as both DEHOGA-Representatives Giuseppe Saitta (Chairman Düsseldorf/District Group Rhein-Kreis Neuss) and Rolf D. Steinert (Düsseldorf/Rhein-Kreis Neuss Hotels and Tourism Group) emphasise.
In view of the increased risk entailed by a fair with significant international participation, the industry associations also welcome the announcement: "drupa is the most important meeting place for the international printing industry," says Dr. Markus Heering, Managing Director of the Printing and Paper Technology Trade Association of the VDMA. "True to the motto
Werner M. Dornscheidt is pleased about the general consensus and encouragement in this special situation: "We would like to thank all partners for their excellent cooperation in making these difficult and time sensitive decisions. We are pleased that together dates were found so quickly in order to provide all those affected with reliability in planning.”
Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
5
Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
6
Konica Minolta achieves 500th AccurioLabel milestone Konica Minolta announced that it has shipped the 500th unit of the AccurioLabel series since it launched in 2016.
The Konica Minolta AccurioLabel series was designed for small to midsize label converters by offering affordable entry to high-quality digital printing. It was developed to manage and deliver an increasing number of small to medium print jobs in evershorter processing times. Contrary to traditional conventional flexo and offset printing, highly flexible digital presses can process these jobs like variable data printing or numbering printing easily and efficiently. “Konica Minolta entered the digital label press market in 2016 and quickly hit the milestone of 500 units sold. We drove the growth of the overall digital label press market by creating a new market of the mid-range digital label press. Last year, we had one of the largest shares of the global market,” said Toshitaka Uemura, general manager for Konica Minolta’s Industrial Print Business Unit. “This has been achieved by widespread support from customers for the AccurioLabel series as a solution to various issues faced by the label printing industry, including the growing demand for small to medium print jobs with fast delivery.”
According Uemura: “Many label converters, which used analog printing alone, have entered digital printing for the first time using AccurioLabel. We will continue to help customers expand their businesses as their partner in the industrial printing business.” Features of the AccurioLabel 230 The latest model of AccurioLabel series, AccurioLabel 230 is a highly
flexible system for on-demand job needs and runs most tack papers and films at speeds of up to 23.4 mpm. The output is high quality and high precision, with the printing resolution of 1,200 × 1,200 dpi and 256 gradations. The touch panel monitor enables intuitive operation and is easy to use for operators, eliminating the need for extensive user training. Tasks that were time-consuming on analog machines can be performed quickly and accurately. The AccurioLabel series is also designed to deliver stable printing quality. It is clearly hitting the mark with label converterswho want to be able to deliver high quality and consistent results repeatedly.
Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
7
Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
8
Bringing the Rain On the journey to realising a digital transformation, printers find that there are plenty of solutions to transform their business model, but the extension of integrated digital services to their service offering proves more challenging. One company in Southeast Asia is working to help print providers with this aspect of their business.
I
t’s a problem that demands attention sooner rather than later. Razor thin margins and stiff competition for a share of everdecreasing printing budgets are forcing print providers to look for new ways to maintain profitability while retaining customer loyalty. One solution is to elevate your position in the marketing value chain by integrating print with other channels, providing additional services from campaign inception and strategy to program execution. But how does a printer transition from Print Services Provider to Marketing Services Provider? More importantly, in a sea of MSPs all offering the same tactics, how do they do it in a way that makes their company stand out? PURLDIVER is working with Southeast Asian printers to help them make this change, and lift their bottom line. In a recent study by Demand Metric and Printing for Less in the US, over half of respondents had integrated direct mail into their multichannel campaigns with 80 percent reporting that direct mail improved their multichannel campaign performance. This mirrors Marketo’s findings where 79% of consumers say they are only likely to engage with an offer if it has been personalised to reflect previous purchases.
com prldvr shape the input – shape the outcome
So how does a Printer or an MSP take advantage of this phenomenon? What expertise is required? What new software is needed? Where do you find the experience to provide some of the more complex programs? How are those new services confidently sold in to existing and new customers? PURLDIVER is working with Southeast Asian printers to help them make this change to their bottom line. We caught up with Bob Pente, the Managing Director of PURLDIVER to get the answers to these questions and a few others. PI: What do you mean when you say you are “Bringing the Rain”? BP: A lot of printers today are grinding away every day trying to increase sales. They cling to the idea of doing what they have always done – just more of it – and hoping for a different result. That way lies madness. The print market as we knew it 30 years ago – hey even 15 years ago, has changed and we’re never going back to those times. Marketing has changed, and print is being dragged along with it. Direct marketers today are using the online channels to reach and then engage customers and prospects. Just look at the channels you, yourself, scan every day. Ads on Facebook, Instagram and
Google are determined by the last thing you searched for, or clicked on, and they follow you seemingly forever. And a single impression costs a magnitude of 10X less than a print piece with the same offer, maybe even less than that. That’s hard for a marketer to resist, and it’s a battle a printer will never win. Instead of fighting it, we help printers integrate print into the marketer’s online continuum, and in the process, we repatriate a large chunk of that marketer’s business. Business that until now, was going to online marketing firms. We help them formulate the proposal, pitch the customer, and then we put together the strategy and creative. Finally, we give that printer access to the software they need to make it all run flawlessly. The result is a repeatable, sustainable campaign and a loyal, repeat customer. PI: Aren’t agencies and marketing firms already doing that for their clients? BP: Not really. The agency will always choose the path of least resistance, and online marketing represents the greatest profit for them with the least amount of campaign overhead. An online campaign is faster to put up and costs less. But that campaign lacks in its targeting and the level of engagement that it elicits. The result is a lower return on investment. It’s still high enough
Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
Manulife (Singapore) Pte Ltd 51 Bras Basah Road #01-02C (Manulife Centre) Singapore 189554
9
PP 0567
Something Special just for you on your birthday!
Stephen
Happy Birthday
Manulife Singapore used tailored marketing to turn a brand relaunch into a multi-channel cross-sell/upsell opprortunity with response rates over 20%!
that it could be called successful, and its safe – everyone is doing what they’ve always done, so no one jeopardises their job, but it has nowhere near the return that an integrated, multi-channel campaign delivers. PI: Isn’t there already software on the market that a printer or an MSP can buy and offer the same thing? BP: Sure. But software alone won’t save you. Anybody with a MailChimp account can run a personalised email campaign these
days. It’s easy and it’s free. It’s also completely ineffective. Consumers have learned that it’s just software, and the company that’s pitching them doesn’t really know them – or, for that matter, care about them.
is established. Instead of personalising a marketing message, we are building a buyer/seller relationship for that individual that encompasses as many aspects of their reality as possible.
And that last point is actually the only point. Consumers have come to expect and demand that the companies they do business with take the time to know them and appreciate them. They don’t expect deep discounting or special deals every time they interact with a company, but they do want to be recognised, and they reward the companies that get this right with their business.
A better description might be Tailored Marketing. For instance, it stands to reason that an insurance company that simply dumps the same offer on the Internet to thousands of people, with only first name or maybe two or three points of personalisation is not going to be as effective as a campaign for an insurance product that recognises that a mother of two young children has different motivations to buy than a mid-sixties widower who wants to leave a legacy for his grandchildren. Not only that, but there are likely different products that are appropriate to each that should be offered.
I’ve seen this over and over, all over the world, in different verticals. It’s a universal truth. PI: So, you integrate print with online marketing, and I get how that has value, but why is it important to personalise the marketing message so completely?
A fully tailored campaign can be successful with the variables commonly found on a business card.
BP: The term that’s generating a lot of buzz these days is hyperpersonalisation, but even that is a bit of a misnomer, because most marketers don’t go deep enough. To be truly successful at building a relationship with a customer, a company has to engage the individual on that person’s terms, not the marketer’s. In doing so, they gain that customer’s tacit approval and a chain of collaboration
We’ve done multi-channel campaigns in Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and North America that have pulled much, much higher response rates than their side by side traditional direct marketing control cells. PI: What software do you guys at PURLDIVER use for your campaigns? BP: We’ve been using something called XMPie since it launched, for the smallest to the largest of our campaigns. We’ve tried other software suites in the past, but
Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
10
We helped a major Canadian telecom brand generate double digit response rates for years, engaging B2B prospects across multiple channels for multi-million dollar installations.
nothing comes close in terms of its robustness and its breadth of application. We can generate completely individualised print with personal QR codes to drive targets across channels and support them in any online channel as they arrive, with fully personalised websites, email, offers, selling arguments and creative executions. And given that not everyone buys on the same cycle, XMPie will also nurture that contact, growing it at the speed dictated by the customer. There is simply nothing like it in the market. In fact, we believe in it so much, that we became re-sellers this year, so now we can help a printer sell the concept to their customer, conceive and design a proof of concept and install and manage the program completely inside the printer’s infrastructure. In the process, the printer can learn our methods to move forward on his own or he can keep us as a white labelled resource. Either way, he becomes a high-value asset for his customer and grows his business. PI: The process sounds complicated. Is this level of complexity worth it? BP: I’d say so. In the beginning, when we were managing the 1to1 Lab for Xerox and the 1:1 Experience for Fuji Xerox in Asia and Australia, they were diligent about tracking results beyond simple response
rates. We consistently saw ROI numbers that went far beyond anybody’s projections. Not to downplay those response rates, which were also 2 to 3 times those of the control packages. And you have to remember, PURLDIVER does the heavy lifting in terms of complexity. By accepting that complexity, we make it simple for the customer. And a simple path to a sale is always more successful. PI: How does a PSP or an MSP work with PURLDIVER? BP: We work with the printer right from the beginning. We help them identify their customers that will benefit most from a tailored marketing approach and we work with the printer to determine the pitch to that customer. We then help the printer deliver that pitch in the boardroom. In the past, we’ve found that proposing a proof of concept, with a roll-out if it’s successful, is an effective strategy to get customer take-up. Once the client is on board, we work with them to establish a campaign strategy and we design the campaign to achieve the goals of the test, keeping the printer in the loop the whole time. While that is happening, we arrange for installation of XMPie at the printer’s site along with technical training for their operators. Once the campaign is fully approved, we execute from the printer’s site using their operators and we track and report back on results. A successful proof of concept invariably leads to a roll-out. By this point, the
campaign is set, so the operator can execute on demand. We have had programs run for years, amortizing that original cost against profit to a tiny expense compared to other tactics. PI: How does a PSP convince their customer to try it? What proof is there that personalisation and multi-channel marketing works? BP: Because of our years of doing tests for Xerox and Fuji Xerox, there are dozens of case studies of our work with objectively measured results from all different verticals. With those proof points, testimonials from client-side program champions and PURLDIVER’s history and presentation, a definitive argument can be made for a test, and with a successful test, a roll-out. The sale of the program concept itself is proven. PI: This has been great. Thanks for giving our readers your time. How can they contact you if they want more detail? BP: They can drop me a note at bob@prldvr.com or call me on +66 658 658 222 and I’ll be happy to discuss it further with them.
Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
11
Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
12
HP unveils drupa portfolio The portfolio will launch as scheduled despite drupa postponement. Sha Jumari reports. In a virtual press conference, HP Inc. had announced new product launches for commercial printing and labels & packaging that was slated to be on show at drupa 2020. Organisers for drupa recently announced the postponement of the event, but HP has said that it is not reliant on it for launches or releases and that the portfolio will launch as scheduled. COMMERCIAL There are five notable products that will be launched: HP Indigo 100K B2 digital press, HP Indigo 15K, HP Indigo 7K, HP Indigo 7eco and HP Indigo 90K and the HP PageWide T250HD. On the software end, the HP PrintOSx is a cloud platform with even more AI functionality than the drupa 2016-launched HP PrintOS.
The new ‘normals’ For the past 20 years, the commercial print market has been going through a decline and under pressure. According to HP Indigo’s general manager, Alon Bar-Shany, there are new “normals” that are defining what customers are looking for, and requesting from HP. These are the new normals that are inadvertently affecting HP’s investments in its technology: 1. Everything is online. The new generation is consuming in a different way, and they’re buying in a different way. 2. Same day delivery requires quicker turnarounds. Today’s consumers are expecting their product in one day to two hours.
3. Minimum orders are a thing of the past. Things change too quickly and brands are not willing to get tied up with too much money in inventory. 4. Eco and local mindset. Sustainability and reducing CO2 emissions will only be more important for print buyers. People are really eager to only order what they need, consume what they need, and in general reduce their negative impact on the environment. 5. The world has moved online. Online channels are great, but they are becoming increasingly confusing, crowded and expensive. More and more companies are moving some of the advertising back to print as data driven and unique print has extremely high ROI. 6. Average is over. People are looking for experiences. It is not just about products and services anymore. It’s about emotions and connecting to an experience, which is why people and businesses are willing to pay more for experiences.
Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
13
Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
14
HP Indigo 100K – first in new Series 5 platform One of the star products is the HP Indigo 100K digital press, a new generation B2 commercial printing solution. It is purportedly the world’s most productive B2 sheetfed in the market. The first press in HP Indigo Series 5, the HP Indigo 100K is designed for offset players to adopt highly productive, on-demand digital printing. The commercial sheetfed press is able to do nonstop printing of tens of thousands of B2 duplex sheets every day. HP had to “go back to the drawing board” for the HP Indigo 100K, which is “born to run”. “Online printers were asking for a press that is optimised for their high capacity environment. They want a press that can do non-stop production and handle thousands of jobs per day; an offset digital press,” said Bar-Shany. The HP Indigo 100K Digital Press offers nonstop duplex digital printing, enabling PSPs to deliver more than one million B2 million duplex sheets per month. The digital press features advanced paper handling and offset-like
HP PageWide Web Press T250 HD.
gripper-to-gripper design for precision registration, as well as unique Indigo digital advantages, including colour automation, calibration, fast switchover between jobs and media and five-input source feeder. Delivering 6000 sheets per hour, the HP Indigo 100K four-colour press boosts margins on short-run digital production and introduces new calculations that confirm a lower total cost of ownership. Bar-Shany added that the HP Indigo 100K is currently undergoing customer beta testing, one of which is PressUP, an Italian B2B e-commerce print service provider. The Rest of the Commercial Fleet The HP Indigo 15K is based on the HP Indigo 10000 platform, which has sold more than a thousand units since its launch at drupa 2012. The HP Indigo 15K is able to address a broader range of applications, higher quality, robustness productivity and automation. It is equipped with new high definition FM stochastic screens support increased sharpness for halftone text.
Especially for Asia, HP will be introducing an option to RIP at 1600 dpi: “For countries like China, Japan and Korea this ability would be extremely important to print tiny, tiny Kanji fonts at high resolutions,” said Bar-Shany. The HP Indigo 7K is a 19-inch digital press to fit into the busy A3 space. It is the most versatile press to be able to handle thousands of media and inks. The HP Indigo 7eco is an entry-level press and is available immediately. Termed by Bar-Shany as being “my first Indigo”, this is an affordable press that offers all the essential HP Indigo capabilities. The HP Indigo 90K is a web-fed press for simplex applications such as banners, oversized B1 posters and wallpaper. It is also suitable for folding carton applications. Also introduced is the HP PageWide Web Press T250 HD. It is a new flagship 22-inch continuous inkjet press which features HP Brilliant Ink and expanded media versatility. It is targeted for high-volume commercial, publishing, transaction, and direct mail applications.
HP Indigo V12 Digital Press, Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
15
On the software front, HP PrintOSx is a level up from PrintOS, which was first introduced in drupa 2016. The HP PrintOSx is a cloud platform which highlights automation. Artificial Intelligence (AI) processes are a major feature on the platform, to help customers build towards a “print factory of the future”. “With the platform, every week it is updated. It is the future for business in general. All our customers are connected in real time and are able to work remotely,” said Bar-Shany. This has shown to be more of a possibility in recent times of COVID-19 outbreak, when businesses are forced to work remotely. “Our philosophy for success is grounded in two key principles – innovation and automation – and how they play together to build a profitable business for customers. All this is underpinned by a view towards reducing waste with a genuine concern for the environment. As we develop our product repertoire, we keep these guiding principles in mind. Our new portfolio reflects a range of products that offer unprecedented productivity, as well as new levels of quality and versatility, to inspire the unbounded creativity of our customers and the
brands they serve,” said Alon BarShany, general manager, HP Indigo. Availability The B2 HP Indigo 100 and HP Indigo 15K, HP Indigo 7K and HP Indigo 7eco for commercial will all be available in June or later in 2020. Value packs with various upgrade options will allow the existing customer base to benefit from new features and capabilities. The HP PageWide T250 HD will be available later in 2020. LABELS & PACKAGING HP Indigo currently offers converters the industry’s widest portfolio of digital presses. HP Indigo offers converters the industry’s widest portfolio of presses, along with new colour and workflow automation solutions, to efficiently deliver diverse, on-demand print orders with low waste. “The digital labels and packaging market is growing and evolving as converters move to support market needs for on-demand production, SKU diversification, customization and printing with reduced waste,” said Bar-Shany. “Labels and packaging converters using HP Indigo are growing their Indigo volume four times faster than the market and are consistently generating new opportunities. The new
labels and packaging portfolio unveiled today is a blueprint for customers to create a digital print factory so they can stay ahead of the curve and deliver a wider range of jobs faster, with less labour, all while keeping the environment top of mind.” Value packs with various upgrade options will allow the existing customer base to benefit from new features and capabilities. Since drupa 2016, more than 1000 HP Indigo labels and packaging presses have been installed at converters worldwide. Labels In a major step toward extending analog-to-digital conversion, HP announced the, HP Indigo V12 Digital Press, the first HP Indigo built on next-generation HP Indigo LEPX architecture. Poised to disrupt the label market ecosystem, this is the first of Indigo’s Series 6 platform and is a narrow-web label press. The press has all of the Indigo’s quality and versatility, but at significantly higher speeds. As a result, the HP Indigo V12 can print as fast as analog with greater production agility, redefining digital label printing. According to Alon Bar-Shany, general manager for HP Indigo, feedback from some beta customers has been that they see a real possibility to stop investing in flexo: “The V12 is designed to take jobs from flexo. Think three V12s running non-stop; it has the ability to run the massive campaigns.” In LEPX architecture, six imaging engines operate inline simultaneously, instead of LEP’s single engine, multiplying speed to match analog with the added benefits of digital printing. As a result, LEPX offers the speed and efficiency for PSPs to profitably produce large print volumes than previously possible.
Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
16 Additionally, the HP Indigo 6K Digital Press is the new model of the highly successful, high-versatility HP Indigo 6000 series. The press can deliver more applications using higher opacity white for shrink sleeves, new inks including silver, fluorescents, invisible red and green for brand protection applications and new varnishes from leading partners for higher durability. The HP Indigo 8K offers increased productivity, reduced waste and easier transitioning between media types and jobs. With HP Indigo Secure and partner solutions, converters can provide brand protection solutions using special inks, anti-counterfeiting marks, microtext fonts and protected track and trace solutions. Digital embellishment solutions from HP Indigo and partners offer ways to stand out, including the inline KURZ DM-JETLINER® digital metallization solution, HP Indigo ElectroInk Silver for metalizing the color gamut, and HP Indigo GEM, a digital print-and-embellish, one-pass solution integrated with the HP Indigo 6K Digital Press. Flexible Packaging HP Indigo customers created the digital flexible packaging market with the capability to offer on-demand and sustainable flexible packaging. The new HP Indigo 7eco Digtial Press
HP Indigo 25K Digital Press
mid-web HP Indigo 25K Digital Press is designed to help converters meet brand needs with an even more attractive total cost of ownership, a wider media range to deliver compostable and recyclable pouches and more choices to create a digital pouch factory. The HP Indigo 25K is also designed for high-capacity label production, supported with a new slitter for labels. Folding Cartons For folding cartons, HP introduced the new sheetfed B2 HP Indigo 35K for high-value folding cartons, the new sheetfed B2 HP Indigo 15K for mixed commercial print and packaging production and the new B1 HP Indigo 90K roll-to-sheet solution with an inline water-based/UV coater and sheeter. Software - Advanced workflow and colour automation tools A new colour automation solution, Spot Master, will enable converters to reach brand colours within minutes, making it the industry’s fastest time-tocolour solution. Spot Master enables converters to deliver high colour consistency and uniformity across the entire print frame using a new patented algorithm for fast and accurate colour matching, ensuring every package looks the same no
HP Indigo 7K Digital Press
HP Indigo 35K Digital Press
matter when or where it was printed. Spot Master will be available for the HP Indigo 35K, HP Indigo 25K, HP Indigo 6K and HP Indigo 8K presses. Brand Beat, a new application offered in HP PrintOSX, delivers real time color reports directly to converters and brands. PrintOS Production Pro for Indigo Labels and Packaging, featuring HP Indigo’s fastest HP Indigo Raster Image Processor (RIP), is seamlessly integrated with the new Esko Automation Engine for HP Indigo, allowing converters to process more jobs per day. HP PrintOSX unites the cloud platform applications with AI-driven service and support infrastructure to help customers get the most out of their press investment. With its suite of tools and applications, customers can start building the digital Print Factory of the Future and reach operational excellence by automating production and minimizing operator touchpoints. Availability The HP Indigo 6K, HP Indigo 8K, HP Indigo 25K, HP Indigo 35K, and HP Indigo 90K digital presses will be commercially available in June or by the end of 2020. The HP Indigo V12 is scheduled for commercial availability in 2022.
HP Indigo 15K Digital Press
Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
18
MICRO RUN
THE EVOLUTION OF DIGITAL TEXTILE PRODUCTION The fashion life cycle: From short to shorter
The fashion industry works at a furious pace. Trends and styles shift and evolve, and production capabilities must follow suit. From a single seasonal collection, designers now produce inter-seasonal items, while e-commerce and a desire for individuality drive the demand for one-of-a-kind garments. Many fashionforward items are now one-offs, requiring a shorter but still profitable printing cycle. No matter how you turn this, the consumers have spoken their minds. Personalized fashion is here to stay, and thus redefines industrial short runs. The industry demands printing
in ever-smaller quantities. Production technology must answer that need. What is a micro-run? Since the one-off trend is becoming the norm, short runs simply aren’t enough. The industry is searching to define the solution for personalized fashion. Kornit Digital has the answer: the micro-run. Shorter than the short run, the microrun enables an inexpensive run for fabric lengths as small as a meter. Extreme, inexpensive customization is now available to fashion designers and manufacturers around the world.
By eliminating many of the traditional pre- and post-care steps, the micro-run requires only a digital file and a single operator. A single versatile ink adapts to different materials and encompasses a full colour gamut. Short runs: 6-8 pre- and post-treatment steps. Micro-runs: 1-step solution for small printing jobs. The solution – Kornit Presto Kornit Presto a single-step solution for long, short, and micro-runs. Like its former Allegro, the Kornit Presto
Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
19
Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
20
eliminate the need for external process steps, so users can achieve the best results from PFP (Prepared-For-Print) to finished digitally printed fabric faster than ever. Designed for end-to-end garment manufacturers, the Presto offers the quickest file-to-finished goods process for short and micro-runs. It additionally offers low-cost micro-run production and has the shortest run cycle in the industry. Kornit Presto leverages patented technologies for added benefits. It utilises award-winning NeoPigment Robusto ink, which is water-based, non-toxic, and 100% biodegradable. It is able to print on all fabric types with just one ink set, and results in excellent hand-feel and vivid colour combinations.
With the Presto, it eliminates pre- and post- care. Users just need to load files and print. All energy- and waterconsuming steps are also eliminated. Manpower needs is reduced. Files are loaded and queued at setup, without any mid-run intervention. “With the Kornit Presto, we bring all the benefits of textile pigment printing to the digital world by combining Kornit Digital’s advanced technology with our revolutionary NeoPigment process. We provide you with an unprecedented colour gamut and the ability to print any design, in any number of colour combinations, at any level of detail,” said Andy Yarrow, president for Kornit Asia Pacific. “Our NeoPigment process eliminates the need for external process steps, making the Kornit Presto a true stand-
Andy Yarrow, president for Kornit Asia Pacific alone solution. Digitally print on a wide variety of fabrics with just one printer and one NeoPigment Robusto ink set. By eliminating energy- and waterconsuming steps, and using our 100% biodegradable inks, you benefit from the most eco-friendly solution in the textile printing industry.” The Microrun in Action: a case study Established in 2008, Spoonflower is a growing web-to-print business in the US. The company caters to the largest community of independent fabric designers in the world, serving 2,000 orders each day with an average print of 1 to 2 yards. Customers upload and print their own designs on a range of fabrics, or choose from a wide range of ready-made independent design options. With the Kornit, the entire manufacturing process happens in one step. It essentially consolidates the entire textile industry into one machine.
Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
22
Fuji Xerox Introduces New Pink Specialty Dry Ink to Enhance Color Expressions Adds Dry Ink Lineup for the Iridesse™ Production Press Fuji Xerox Asia Pacific Pte Ltd announces the new addition of pink specialty dry ink for the production colour printer Iridesse™ Production Press across the Asia Pacific region, to strengthen the printer's ability to handle printing needs in specialized colours. With its one-pass six-colour printing engine, the Iridesse™ Production Press is able to load a maximum of two specialty dry inks in addition to the standard dry inks of cyan, magenta, yellow and black (CMYK), thus enabling rich colour expressions that could not previously be achieved with digital printers. The new pink joins the lineup of other specialty dry inks that have been previously released for the Iridesse™ Production Press - gold, silver, white, clear and custom red - realized by mixing and optimizing a new fluorescent-type colour into Fuji Xerox's unique EA (Emulsion Aggregation) toner. The ability to incorporate bright and vibrant pink hues into the design of printed materials will help broaden the scope of different styles of visual expressions, including cute, cool and
elegant styles. Moreover, mixture of pink dry ink with CMYK colours will enable printing orange, red, violet and other colours with a vibrancy that cannot be achieved with CMYK colours alone, thereby realizing a faithful reproduction of specialized hues such as corporate brand colours. The use of pink dry ink delivers fluorescent pink prints and other colours that are commonly used for applications such as front cover of magazines and comic books. The new pink dry ink can also be used in conjunction with existing specialty dry inks including gold and silver, expanding the scope of expression for various on-demand printing needs, such as for marketing collaterals
including point-of-purchase (POP) advertising, leaflets and catalogs, as well as for folding cartons and packages. Furthermore, the GX Print Server for the Iridesse™ Production Press will provide an ICC profile conducting pink layer separation. This can be downloaded and used via the client's computer to more easily make use of colour expressions that take advantage of the pink dry ink during the design process in developing print materials. The profile automatically separates RGB data and other data on specially designated colours into the optimal CMYK and pink output data, thus making it possible to easily create colour expressions that benefit from the pink dry ink.
Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
24
“Unfold your Potential” – this was the motto presented by Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) in a web conference to media for drupa 2020. In light of the current COVID-19 outbreak situation, drupa has postponed its event to April 2021. Heidelberg has made a statement that it is supporting the decision of organisers to postpone the trade fair. Regardless of the postponement of the fair, Heidelberg will continue to drive the innovations forward and will launch and make them available to the customers as planned. In addition, Heidelberg is working on an alternative for its customers who will receive further information shortly. The focus is on customers’ need to combine state-of-the-art technologies and services with new business models to optimize the development and leveraging of their business potential. Concentrating on key factors such as process optimization and intelligent productivity regardless of who is operating equipment, Heidelberg is
taking the smart print shop into a new dimension and presenting a smart print media industry. “Heidelberg is positioning itself as an ideal partner for customers in a digital future by offering solutions to the industry’s most pressing challenges. These include growing complexity, a lack of skilled personnel, fierce competition, and the addition of digital platforms to the value chain. As an innovation leader, we will be setting a clear course,” said Heidelberg CEO Rainer Hundsdörfer. “The new Heidelberg presentation for drupa underlines how we’re working with our customers to implement solutions for a successful future. As we see it, partnership means shared
success, so we’re also prepared to share challenges with our customers. Thanks to big data and artificial intelligence, we can use performance data to tell them where future opportunities lie,” explained Ludwig Allgoewer, Head of Sales and Marketing at Heidelberg. In a global survey of over 1,000 customers, Heidelberg identified four key areas that sum up the challenges in the print industry: increasing complexity, skills shortages, competitive pressure, and the expansion of the value chain to include digital platforms. With the drupa 2020 generation of Speedmaster, Heidelberg aims to answer these questions. How can you process increasingly complex orders in the shortest possible time? Industrial processes are a growing feature of an ever more networked world, making systematic digitization and automation the order of the day at print shops and an essential prerequisite for sustainable success. From print shop management to networking everyone involved in the printing process, Heidelberg has the solution on how its customers can significantly boost their productivity, expand their business, and further reduce complexity. Push to Stop is a big help, for example. The latest generation takes automation to the next level with a whole host of intelligent assistance systems. One instance is fully automatic printing plate logistics. In this system, the printing plates are supplied fully automatically Heidelberg CEO Rainer Hundsdörfer.
Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
25
in the correct plate changing shaft and the used plates removed. This is the only way to achieve consistently high productivity on short runs in the long term. How can you achieve consistently high productivity and quality no matter who is operating your equipment? The shortage of skilled personnel is also affecting the printing industry, and companies are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit qualified staff. Consequently, the focus of innovation work at Heidelberg is on optimizing processes to make life as easy as possible for operators in the future. Autonomous processes, in particular, are giving a significant boost to a print shop’s overall productivity by
increasingly taking the strain off operators. An enhanced Push to Stop concept, more wide-ranging process automation, and all manner of intelligent assistants mean the drupa 2020 generation of the Speedmaster supports navigated, autonomous printing on an even more comprehensive scale and thus makes a big contribution to improved productivity and quality. Heidelberg is presenting the most intelligent and most automated Speedmaster ever, revealing the potential that lies in offset printing. How can you future-proof your company in the face of global competition? Another challenge facing the industry is how to keep on improving
competitiveness. Offering a comprehensive digital ecosystem and a whole range of online services, Heidelberg is focusing increasingly on its partnership with customers. Endto-end digitized processes are a must if new business models such as the webto-pack platform in digital packaging printing are to pay off. As solutions such as the Heidelberg Assistant show, the company helps customers digitize printing industry processes. Thanks to big data and artificial intelligence, performance data can be used to ascertain how customers are doing compared with their competitors – and how they can become one of the best. Heidelberg is further expanding its data-based contract business and adding to its existing Heidelberg Subscription portfolio, placing greater
Speedmaster drupa 2020 generation
Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
26 Speedmaster XL 106 eight-color press with fully automatic printing plate logistics.
emphasis on its partnership- based approach. Designed to significantly boost customers’ overall performance, the new offerings make it easier to put the company’s Smart Print Shop concept into action. How can you digitize your supplier and customer management operations? With a centralized digital platform – a “system of systems” Print shops are keen to keep on expanding their value chain and systematically eliminate processes that fail to add value. This means supply chain optimization must extend beyond print shop boundaries. The future lies in seamless communication between a customer’s systems and in linking up customer systems to those of their suppliers and print buyers / brand owners. This also paves the way for shared use of IoT data, which means each printer can maintain a digital twin of all operating processes. This digital twin of all valueadding stages at the print shop is a must for optimizing strategy and becoming more competitive. The link between customer and supplier – from ERPto ERP-System – avoids unnecessary manual interventions, reduces sources of errors, and makes processes faster while also cutting costs. The result is a fully digitized supply chain. With this in mind, Heidelberg is cooperating with a large number of equal partners to develop a digital platform – among other things to leverage the benefits of networking. SPEEDMASTER DRUPA 2020 Smartest One Yet To that end, Heidelberg presents the most intelligent and most highly automated Speedmaster yet with the Speedmaster drupa 2020 generation.
Heidelberg presented the Smart Print Shop and the innovative operating philosophy Push to Stop back at drupa 2016. Further automation and many intelligent assistants has allowed the solution to be consistently enhanced and reach new levels. The new Speedmaster drupa 2020 generation and the Prinect print shop workflow will open up a new dimension in economy and competitiveness for offset printing. With the new Heidelberg User Experience (UX) on the Speedmaster, it offers a modern and attractive workstation. In addition, other intelligent assistants ensure that the machine’s productivity potential is unlocked. All models in the drupa 2020 generation also include Push to Stop functionalities and an interface to the Prinect Cloud as standard. This enables more comprehensive navigated and autonomous printing, which increases productivity, process reliability, and profitability. The completely redesigned Prinect Press Center generation with the new Speedmaster Operating System delivers Push to Stop functionality and an interface to the Prinect Cloud to every Speedmaster, from SX 52 to large format. Many new assistance systems,
such as the Wash Assistant or Intellirun on the Wallscreen XL, turn the Prinect Press Center into a modern, attractive workstation, and allow the operator to continuously call on the machine’s performance potential. The hardware has evolved as well. In addition to the new and significantly larger 24-inch multi-touchscreen, the standard illuminant lighting to ISO 3664:2009 was converted to LED. Instead of time-consuming tube changes, as before, switching between standard illuminant D50 and D65 with and without UV is now done simply by pressing a button. Heidelberg automates the dampening unit of the Speedmaster XL 106 with the new Hycolor Pro. Heidelberg is introducing “Plate to Unit”, which reduces the 23 manual steps of loading and unloading of plate changing systems previously required, to just three. This is a fully automated infeed and disposal of the printing plates. The new Speedmaster drupa 2020 generation will go into production with almost all model series as early as April 2020. All Speedmaster drupa 2020 models, in both small, medium, and large format, will be equipped as standard with the new Push to Stop functionalities and a cloud connection.
Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
27
Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
28
High quality short run of tins for an in-store display Iconic London retailer Fortnum and Mason enhances luxury hot chocolate promotion with bespoke short run of tins printed on Fujifilm’s Acuity B1 inkjet press Fortnum and Mason’s canmaker of choice, William Say & Co, turned to Fujifilm, and the Acuity B1 to produce a high quality short run of tins for an in-store display. Fortnum and Mason, one of London’s most instantly recognisable retail brands and owner of the capital’s most iconic food hall, boasts a long, proud heritage of over 300 years. For the purpose of a recent promotion in its flagship Piccadilly store, the company needed a bespoke short run of ultra-high quality printed metal tins in which to present its range of luxury hot chocolate. William Say & Co – London’s last remaining independent canmaker, founded in 1920 – was tasked with the project. In keeping with the Fortnum and Mason brand, matching the colour precisely and achieving an extremely high quality finish was vital, but the challenge William Say & Co faced was finding a way to do this over a very short run. The company spoke with a range of specialist metal decoration service providers, but as all used traditional offset printing processes, the high set up costs involved meant that none were able to offer the ultra-short run of printed metal sheets William Say & Co required to create the tins. Here the long-standing connection between William Say & Co and Fujifilm
proved invaluable. For more than forty years P Wilkinson Containers, William Say’s sister company, has provided cans and plastics tubs to Fujifilm for its inks. Using a demo Acuity B1 inkjet printer at Fujifilm’s Broadstairs facility, the team digitally printed the high-quality, short run of metal sheets required.
large promotional tins, which stand at 50cm tall, are the first in the UK to utilise Fujifilm’s breakthrough digital printing technology. And to be able to create these within such a short timeframe opens up a whole host of new creative possibilities for canmakers.”
William Say & Co manufactured the tins using solar power at its Bermondsey factory, just a stone’s throw away from the product’s final retail destination. At Fortnum and Mason, the large promotional tins, with their colourful printed designs, created an impactful Christmas display.
Kevin Jenner, Business Manager, Commercial, Fujifilm Speciality Ink Systems added: “William Say & Co and Fortnum and Mason are both iconic London brands, rich in heritage. We’re delighted to be able to unite them with the aid of Fujifilm’s digital inkjet technology. Thanks to Fujifilm’s extensive R&D and nearly two decades of pioneering inkjet technology in the graphic arts industry, Fujifilm is in an unrivalled position to offer canmakers and metal decoration printers the means to stay ahead of market trends towards bespoke short runs of high end work.
Stuart Wilkinson, Marketing and Sales Director at William Say & Co, commented: “We’ve had a long running relationship with Fortnum and Mason spanning two decades, supplying them with tins for their luxury hot chocolate, amongst other products. “With this project, we’ve combined both heritage and innovation as these
“The Acuity B1 provides the enabling technology for metal decoration printers to add tremendous value to their clients’ businesses as well as enhancing their own credibility and reputation. Moreover, this partnership demonstrates the commercial benefits and value that digital print can offer the canmaking industry and how companies within the sector can stay competitive.”
INTRODUCING XMPie’s NEXT GENERATION (NG) WEB-TO-PRINT TECHNOLOGY:
GIVING YOU THE POWER OF MANY Create any web-to-print store you can imagine, and take advantage of the unparalleled capabilities of the XMPie personalisation platform: • Launch client storefronts fast; adjust and brand each one with the new interactive Theme Editor. • Adapt to your customers’ exact specifications by designing your own reusable theme with HTML, CSS, and code; add extra functionality, featured product areas, bespoke pages (like FAQs), personalised product recommendations, and more. • Speed-up order acquisition, grow volume and retain clients for longer terms. • Customise and order a group of products at once with the new Kitting feature • NEW! Integrate unique 3D previews to accurately portray print properties online!
Scan the QR Code or visit https://url.xmpie.com/ustore to request a demo:
Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
30
Printing Solutions that Navigate the Complex World of Food Contact Materials Compliance If you’re an OEM creating printing equipment for label and package converting, food packaging is likely to be on the top of your customers’ list of objectives. That’s because the majority of labels produced today are for food and beverage products. In its report “The Future of Digital Print for Packaging to 2022,” Smithers Pira notes that digitally printed labels and packaging were worth $13.4 billion in 2017. By 2022, the rapidly expanding digital packaging market will grow by almost 13 percent annually to exceed $22.0 billion. While the label sector has been the early adopter of digital printing, it is starting to come of age and there is now robust growth in corrugated, carton, flexible packaging, and direct-to-shape. The Complex World of Food Contact Materials The food and beverage packaging opportunity, while vast, is not without its challenges. Converters must struggle with the complex issue of food contact materials (FCM) compliance aiming to ensure the safe use of packaging and other materials that come into
contact with food during production, processing, storage, preparation, and serving. In reality, FCM is burdened by a complex and confusing set of regulations that lack any harmonization. The bad news is that FCM compliance is not likely to get any less confusing in the near future. The good news? As more and more label and package providers adopt digital printing solutions, many can realize the FCM compliance benefits inherent in Memjet’s inks. Compliance Starts with the Right Ink From the start, Memjet’s chemists optimize potential ink formulations for a myriad of performance requirements (e.g. PQ, OD, dry time), always cognizant of each ingredient’s suitability for sensitive applications.
By: John Ortiz, VP of Inks and Materials at Memjet Our ink formulation designs and manufacturing processes account for the extreme physical and operating demands placed on inks in the printing environment and are extremely selective to ensure that printheads operate effectively and unknown contaminants are not going to be present in your printed materials, labels, or packaging, from the first drop through the billionth. Memjet’s ongoing research and development, combined with our manufacturing quality control efforts, ensure that our inks remain suitable for use on tested food packaging, and throughout your product lifecycle. With an all water-based ink portfolio, free from toxic and reactive chemistries, like those in UV curable, solvent, and liquid toner inks, Memjet inks are safer for the earth and for the people handling them – making them an essential differentiator for OEMs creating FCM compliant solutions. Your Resource in This Growing Complexity Memjet has the resources needed to help you navigate this complex issue. Our team of scientists and engineers specializing in ink chemistry, printhead and mechanical systems, as well as experts in regulatory compliance issues, are able to work in partnership with our OEMs, their customers, as well as substrate manufacturers to help navigate the complexities of FCM compliance.
WE ARE R&D
DIGITAL PRINTING TECHNOLOGY THAT POWERS THE WAY WE PRINT TODAY.
1600x1600 dpi
Our printing solution possibilities are endless.
Download Applications eBook Packaging
Labels
Mailing & Addressing
Document
Commercial
Wide Format
memjet.com/discover
Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
32
Systems Integration is Top Priority in 2020 With this Spotlight we provide an in-depth analysis of workflow automation. Read about the technological advancement that is in the process of turning the printing industry upside-down. The result: increased productivity and reduced costs. After the Global Trends Report, we decided that certain issues of the printing industry deserve special attention, so we started publishing a yearly indepth analysis for one important topic each. The first Spotlight was a detailed workup of the impact of inkjetin all printing markets and regions. This year, our expert panel tackled the topic of workflow automation: 528 printers and 164 manufacturers and suppliers completed the survey and reported how critical workflow automation is to make progress, but also pointed out the challenges of development.
“The Larger the Printer, the More Systems They Have” That is the general consensus we extracted from our panel. While our smallest recorded companies work with 3.5 systems, the largest work with about 7.7 on average. Of course, fewer systems in general mean more manual intervention but switching to automated workflow will only be successful if your current IT operational practices are already well-maintained. The most popular IT system used globally is PrePress workflow with an overwhelming 66%, followed by color management workflow. Our analysis showed that the use varies highly across the smaller and larger printers, for example with 45% and 82% for PrePress workflow, and less between sectors or regions. Though less developed regions had a tendency to be below average. Integration Reduces Error, Wastage and Quality Costs The benefits of a working and fully integrated automation system are unquestionable. Suppliers are no longer looking to only create new options but also to guide printers to connect their already implemented systems. A German supplier to commercial printers told us: “We integrated a complete workflow system as a backend to connect several third party software packages and added missing features. We provided the customer with customized workflows and an editor, which can be used by the customer to edit and develop his own workflows. As a result the customer stated, that he saved 90% of working hours in the production and administration of standardized products.”
“The Key to Success is to Plan the Architecture For the Future Not For Now” When asked about the priority of system integration in 2019, our printer panel agreed that it was either top priority or at least an important priority, while suppliers ranked it more conservatively. Only 45% of them called system integration the most common or common issue raised by customers, with a supplier for the commercial sector from Switzerland reporting a customer’s progress as followed: “The customer created a new ‘greenfield’ printing works. We were instrumental in the planning and execution including the system integration. The customer supported the project with the necessary resources and insight from concept to completion. The major challenge was to review existing procedures and overcome prejudices. We learned a lot how to motivate and teach our own people and the customer‘s teams.” The printers also face challenges when it comes to a full system integration, as an Argentinian commercial printer told us: “It is not so easy to integrate systems when you have a wide variety of products and services. Especially in these times of permanent changes, with communications and technology going through us, and forcing the printing industry to evolve day after day.” But being an evolving industry is also what keeps us at drupa going – so let’s embrace the future of workflow automation.
Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
34
PrimeLink
™�
C9070 / C9065 Printer Fuji Xerox PrimeLink C9070/C9065 Printer combines easy to use features and professional capability as an all-in-one solution.
Simply professional. Amazingly flexible.
Xerox, Xerox and Design, Fuji Xerox and Design, as well as PrimeLink are registered trademarks or trademarks of Xerox Corporation in Japan and/or other countries. www.fujixerox.com.sg/en/Products/SG-Production-Print/PrimeLink-C9070-C9065-Printer
Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
36
COLOUR DIGITAL PRESSES Reap the Benefits of Productivity, Versatility, and High Quality
The imagePRESS C910 Series is a true, light- to mid-volume production press that incorporates advanced technologies to help print establishments achieve amazing results—all in a small footprint.
Outstanding Productivity
Amazing Quality
Brilliant Versatility
• Production speeds of up to 90 ipm • Maintains rated speed on uncoated stocks up to 80 lb. Cover • 7,650-sheet1 feeding capacity with up to six different sources2 • Wide array of productive Canon and third-party in-line accessories2
• 2400 x 2400-dpi print resolution utilizing the unique R-VCSEL imaging technology • Intuitive calibration process that uses internal sensors to measure test patches • Translucent CV Toner produces vibrant images on a wide variety of stocks • Multi D.A.T. helps to achieve consistent color across long runs automatically
• Supports stocks up to 130 lb. Cover2 • Runs a variety of envelopes and long sheets2 up to 51.2” • Helps achieve highly accurate and consistent registration, even on large and heavy stocks • Meets ENERGY STAR® standards and rated EPEAT Gold
CANON SINGAPORE PTE. LTD. 1 Fusionopolis Place Galaxis #15-10 Singapore 138522 Tel: +65-6799 8888 | Fax: +65-6799 8882 | www.canon-asia.com | www.canon.com.sg
Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
38
Third RotaJET for decor printer Interprint GmbH from Arnsberg, Germany, since October 2019 a member of the Toppan Group, is continuing its successful investment strategy in digital print. The company recently ordered yet another RotaJET digital web press from Koenig & Bauer. The new press is scheduled to enter production in the first half of 2021. With the RotaJET 225, Interprint will be able to process web widths up to 225 cm. “We are convinced that the future belongs to digital. And with the digital printing technology offered by Koenig
& Bauer, we can both accelerate product development and extend our design flexibility. For our customers, variable job volumes, longer repeat lengths and previously impossible colour combinations are becoming ever more important,” says Robert Bierfreund, managing director of Interprint GmbH. Barely half a year has passed since
Interprint last decided to expand its digital printing capacities with the installation of a second RotaJET, and now the company is back once more with the order for its third industrial digital printing press from Koenig & Bauer. Koenig & Bauer executive board member Christoph Müller: “We view it as a sign of particular appreciation for our work when Koenig & Bauer is not only successful with new customers for its digital presses, but also convinces companies like Interprint, the pioneer of industrial single-pass inkjet printing in the decor industry, to return for a further RotaJET investment.” More than 15 industrial single-pass digital presses from Koenig & Bauer (including HP PageWide T1190 and T1100 models), with web widths up to 2.8 m and production speeds up to 305 m/min, are currently already in use or else sold and awaiting installation. About Koenig & Bauer Koenig & Bauer is the oldest printing press manufacturer in the world with the broadest product range in the industry. For more than 200 years, the company has been supporting printers with innovative technology, tailormade processes and a wide array of services. The portfolio ranges from banknotes, via board, film, metal and glass packaging, through to book, display, coding, magazine, advertising and newspaper printing. Sheetfed and webfed offset and flexo printing, waterless offset, intaglio, simultaneous perfecting and screen printing or digital inkjet – Koenig & Bauer is at home in virtually all printing processes and is the market leader in many of them. In the financial year 2018, the approximately 5,700 highly qualified employees worldwide generated annual sales of more than EUR 1.2 billion.
Our World-class Post Press Innovations European made, with all of the quality and support you expect from Koenig & Bauer The Ipress 106 K PRO die-cutter and the Omega Allpro gluer are capable of producing the most complex range of carton styles minimizing make ready and maximizing productivity and profitability. All this combined with the ultimate service and support from Koenig & Bauer. Contact your agent to learn more. Koenig & Bauer (S SEA) Sdn Bhd +60 3 7885 8860 michael.choong@koenig-bauer.com koenig-bauer.com
Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
40
Re:generation program rejuvenated Papercon Philippines When you have enjoyed a reputation of innovation and quality for over 50 years, you do everything you possibly can to protect and even enhance it. That is certainly the case for Papercon Philippines, a packaging company that was established in 1963 and is widely renowned for its commitment to excellence and its clients, both nationally and internationally. Specialists in folding carton, food packaging, labels and commercial printing and publications, Papercon boasts a wide range of printing capabilities, from basic onecolor applications to intricate, multicolor designs, with or without metallic effects. “Dependability and efficiency are possibly the two most important attributes in the world of packaging, and we pride ourselves in constantly delivering both,” said Kevin Pesengco, co-General Manager and third generation at Papercon. “In an era when we are seeing clients requiring shorter and shorter lead times with stricter quality controls and environmental sustainability, this can be challenging – but we have always managed to stay ahead of the curve.” One of the main reasons for this is Papercon’s philosophy in cultivating and promoting creativity and innovation. The company invests with the very latest techniques, processes and methodologies to give its clients exceptional service experience. Its partnership with BOBST is the perfect example of its commitment to cutting-edge technology and service. The partnership stretches back to the 1990s, and Papercon still has a BOBST SP 102-SE Automatic Die Cutter that it purchased all the way back in 1995. Being in action continuously for over 25 years is extremely impressive for a die-cutter, but that time will inevitably take its toll, even on Swiss engineering. This is where BOBST’s Re:generation
program comes in – BOBST Field Technicians come into the customer’s factory as expert troubleshooters, provide a thorough checkup of the machine, and install a ‘Re:generation Pack’, which replaces any worn parts and enhances the machine to optimal modern standards. When Papercon started noticing quality defects, such as misregistration and poor cuts due to general wear and tear sustained over so many years of use, it was time to implement the Re:generation Pack for the SP 102SE die-cutter. The BOBST Field Technicians spent several days at the Papercon site diagnosing any issues and installing the latest hardware to optimize performance. The outcome was instantaneous. “Since the Re:generation Pack completion, we have seen an instant reduction in breakdowns and a significant increase in machine availability,” said Jason Pesengco, third generation owner and co-General Manager. “The press is essentially back to brand new peak condition, and the overall quality of the finished
materials reflects that. It is now running at optimal efficiency and we have complete confidence that it will produce dependable quality for many years to come. In a time when we are receiving more and more urgent orders from customers, this is a real benefit.” BOBST conceived of the idea for the Re:generation Pack after hearing from so many customers who still relied on their innovative technology from two or even three decades ago. The idea is to bring these machines back to their original performance levels, enabling optimal efficiency and quality in an extremely cost-efficient way. For Papercon, it is the latest example of BOBST being a genuine partner, not just a supplier. “We have always seen BOBST as a provider of the best technology and a true partner,” said James Pek, Chairman of Papercon (Phils.) Inc. “We are very satisfied with the support from BOBST ever since the beginning of our partnership. Just like the technology they deliver, our partnership is high quality and highly durable.”
Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
41
SPEED UP YOUR PROCESSES with optical systems for UV curing and drying
Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
42
Amazing Applications: The story behind 9 different label samples At Labelexpo Europe, MPS decided to change the game of our printed label samples. Instead of using a standard design for our live show demos and label samples, this time we printed a very difficult job with all possible combinations of applications and technologies. We wanted to show a real hybrid solution – and samples that command attention. A total of 4 laminations, 5 flexo stations, 6 colour inkjet, de-lam/re-lam and turner bar, die-cutting and matrix rewinding were combined. And all within a register deviation of 0.1 mm, at a speed of 65 m/min!
Label 3: Hologram foil The (variable) image in the background was printed digitally, with hologram foil applied using Distorun. The Distorun rail unit places the image on the cold foil in register to print.
Label 4: Lenticular 3D label (1) The image was printed digitally with special pre-press. Lenticular foil was applied for a 3D effect. Label 5 & 6: Lenticular 3D label (2 +3) Both these images are printed in flexo, after which a lenticular foil was laminated. The outcome (above) was a combination of 9 different labels, all printed on the hybrid EF SYMJET press. Using both flexo and digital inkjet technology and additional rail units for special applications, the result is a one-of-a-kind set of samples. What’s so special about each label? Label 1: MPS presents Beyond the Machine This label was printed using digital inkjet and die-cut in-line with perforation. Label 2: Variable cold foil application The image was printed digitally using inkjet, and the name Inge was printed with a unit that creates variable data in cold foil, printed in register. During the Labelexpo demonstrations, people in the audience could have their name printed live!
Label 7: 0.25 pt Microtext Using Imageworx design and Kodak NX plates, the 0.25 pt microtext was achieved. Printed in flexo. Label 8: Variable image Variable images, printed with digital inkjet technology Label 9: Dome effect Doming lamination from Kurz was applied using the Distorun unit. The glue for lamination was positioned very
accurately with flexo. There was no room for deviation in register, which was perfectly achieved with MPS Crisp. Dot technology. Successful collaboration Not only were the samples at Labelexpo a hit and taken home by many of our stand visitors, they proved a successful collaboration with our industry partners by showcasing unique technology and eye-catching embellishments.
OWN THE FUTURE.
EFITM VUTEk® h5
Next-generation technology for the next generation of leaders. The EFI VUTEk h Series — an entirely new hybrid LED superwide platform invented to not only lead today’s market, but everything to come. There’s just nothing else like it. You’ll deliver higher quality,
with a Fiery® proServer, make it part of the EFI workflow and productivity ecosystem, and let the new h Series help launch your business forward — and beyond.
To find out more, contact us at go.efi.com/contactus-media
LET US BE THE FUEL
Nothing herein should be construed as a warranty in addition to the express warranty statement provided with EFI products and services. EFI, FabriVU, Fiery, the Fiery logo, and VUTEk are trademarks of Electronics For Imaging, Inc. and/or its wholly owned subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or certain other countries. ©2020 Electronics For Imaging, Inc. All rights reserved.
Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
44
EFI Launches ‘D’ serie EFI announced the launch of a new midrange roll-to-roll printer line targeting sign and display graphics. EFI’s signature Connect event was the launchpad for the ‘D’ series of VUTEk inkjet printers, consisting of the D3r and D5r. By Sha Jumari The new EFI VUTEk D3r and D5r LED inkjet printers leverage the capabilities from the VUTEk 3r+ and 5r+ printers. According to EFI, the ‘D’ series is designed to offer the right mix of features, productivity, and cost to create opportunities for signage and graphics professionals. The ‘D’ series of printers was created upon customer feedback for a mid-range, mid-volume solution. “The ‘D’ series lands itself well to the mid-level shops that need the flexibility. It is a truly unique product that leverages all the same technology from our higher-end roll to roll devices with the same quality output. It’s just more flexible. This is what’s really important about it, is that it gives people choices when they previously can’t make a choice,” said Rodd Harrison, Sales VP for EFI Asia Pacific. “For someone who is looking for higher volume and high productivity, they would go with the 3r+ or 5r+. But
if super high volume is not the goal, but flexibility is, then the ‘D’ series is perfect. The D3r and D5r comes slightly under the 3r+ and 5r+. While it is not as fast, the ‘D’ offers greater flexibility,” Harrison continued. The D3r and D5r are dedicated roll to roll machines, but they can have table attachments to allow them to print board as well. The new printer line supports other options including inline x-cutters and y-slitters; automatic backlit and block-out printing; media spreaders and motorized winders; and more. “Instead of buying multiple devices, they can do more on one. For example, with a D3r, you can do vehicle wraps for trains, buses and taxis, and just one hour later, you can be printing a cosmetics display backlit for a department store. Totally different applications, on one single machine,” said Harrison. According to Harrison, the ‘D’ line of printers is perfect for markets in Asia, which requires a ‘Swiss Army knife’ type of product.
“In the US and Europe, the markets are big enough where printers can buy different machines for different applications. But for markets in Asia Pacific like Singapore or Australia, the markets and volumes are not that huge. So businesses here really need to buy a piece of equipment that’s more like a Swiss Army knife that allows them to do many things. The machines need to be able to do multiple prints, not just in terms of customer’s jobs, but even the type of output. The more flexible we make our products, the better it will suit more markets in Asia,” Harrison continued. White and Clear Inks in a Single Pass One of the main differentiating features of the ‘D’ series is the use of white and clear inks – all in one pass. The VUTEk D line is equipped with additional printheads and is able to offer matte and glossy effects to cover a wider amount of unique applications such as wall decorations and murals, window graphics, flooring, high-value prints with selective gloss effects, fleet graphics, truck-side curtains and more.
Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
es of VUTEk printers
an ultra-high-definition print mode offering near-photographic quality.
“The ‘D’ series is the only EFI printer that does the clear and white coats at the same time. With the other printers, you would have to choose between the white or clear. With the D3r and D5r, you can essentially do colour, white and clear, all at the same time, all in a single pass,” said Harrison.
cosmetic display, and there’s an image of a bottle of makeup, you can just have that with a high gloss coat. This would make that part really stand out with its reflective qualities as well as having that enhanced pop of colour. The clear coat is also a protective coating,” Harrison added.
Both white and clear ink can be produced together for premium applications. The ‘D’ series supports multilayer printing, advanced white printing modes, and clear ink with glossy or matte coating modes.
The ability to print clear ink meant that time is significantly saved by eliminating the need to have separate offline coating systems. The clear protective coating provides three years of outdoor protection against abrasion and scratching, chemicals such as detergents, weather damage, air pollution, UV fading and yellowing.
“The clear ink can also be a flood coat, or a spot coat, and it can be a semi-gloss or gloss finish,” Harrison continued. “What this means is that you can put a clear coat on top of everything, like a flood coat, with either a gloss or a matte finish. That’s really good for lots of applications, but you can also do a spot colour, like a spot clear,” said Harrison. Clear ink enhances the output, adding an extra pop to the colours and opens up beautiful creative possibilities: “Imagine you’re doing something for
Mid-Level Solution for High Quality and Efficiency The VUTEk D3r prints up to 204 sqm/hr, while the D5r can produce up to 244 sqm/hr. The D3r and D5r printers come at 3.5- and 5.2-meters wide respectively. The printers are equipped with UltraDrop Technology and delivers precise and sharp 3-point size text, and a true resolution of up to 1,200 dots per inch. The ‘D’ line also features the Museum print mode,
The printers’ LED curing ensures not only cost savings but also a more environmentally sound printing solution, consuming less energy and enabling the use of thinner, heatsensitive substrates. The ‘D’ series has obtained the highest category Gold Greenguard certification for low chemical emissions, which means the machines meet some of the world’s most rigorous chemical emissions standards and can be used in sensitive indoor environments like schools or healthcare facilities. The ‘D’ series uses environmentally friendly, LED-curable EFI 3M SuperRange XF UV inks. EFI VUTEk SuperFlex 3M inks are also available for manufacturing of popular and profitable vehicle wraps and fleet graphics. The printers utilize EFI’s Fiery proServer SE digital front end, allowing increased productivity as well as accurate colour matching. For added productivity, users can choose to add a software productivity pack and are able to remotely connect with the printers using a mobile application. For more information on EFI’s portfolio of solutions for the display graphics industry, visit www.efi.com. Visit EFI at drupa 2020 in Hall 9, booth no. A40-1 – A40-2.
45
Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
46
ORIS x Gamut demonstrated excellent ICC-multicolour profiles and spot colour overprinting The Research Institute for Media Technology e.V (Fogra) has placed very precise colour management software for multi-channel printing under the microscope. To this end, they presented the participants at the Multicolor Forum 2019 with various tasks to analyze in detail the procedure, precision and practicality of the solutions. Their goal? To provide potential customers with a manufacturer-independent view of the highly topical topic from the prepress perspective. Several leading software manufacturers took up the challenge and submitted their results. Amongst the seven "Use Cases", were overprinting spot colours using CxF (Colour Exchange Format) data, proofing multicolour data and profile generation.
We are very satisfied with the results and what makes us particularly happy is that we were able to show clearly how we can use our software to create ICC multi-channel profiles in a standard format that can be implemented directly in existing workflows. This also applies of course to the internal workflow in ORIS X Gamut to convert PDF data into the extended colour space,” emphasized Lukas Lindwehr, Product Manager at CGS ORIS. In addition, Fogra will be hosting February 12th and 13th the "Color Management Symposium" for the seventh time. The results will be
presented there and current core topics such as "printing in the extended colour space", packaging and industrial printing are dealt with in depth. More about ORIS X Gamut ORIS X Gamut is the latest software development from CGS ORIS. The fully automatic colour management tool for digital as well as conventional printing won the European Digital Press (EDP) Award 2019 for “Best Colour Management Software”. ORIS X Gamut makes it possible to print spot colours in a simple and reliable way with process colours
Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
47
from an extended fixed colour palette (CMYK + N) without the need for special ink formulations. This not only streamlines the production process considerably, but also helps to cut costs enormously - for printers and clients alike. Introducing extra colours into the process increases picture ink
saturation and produces brilliant photo reproduction of RGB images. Thanks to an intelligent workflow and perfectly coordinated functions, the entire extended colour space can be optimally used. ORIS X Gamut also contains the basic functions of the award winning ORIS Press Matcher.
Given the premise of agility and responsiveness, it's no wonder that it's a digital converting system that provides a cross-procedural solution for label and folding carton printing. The Gallus Labelfire with "Carton Kit" utilises the strengths of digital printing and is additionally equipped with optimized analog and digital inline finishing techniques.
Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
48
Between global trends a local patterns, online pri continues to grow
Mainstream operators, innovators, artisans and packaging professionals light up the web-to-
If the Internet has democratised access to information and social media have stimulated interaction between brands, retailers and consumers, Amazon has convinced buyers of all kinds and all ages that buying online is safe, comfortable and even rewarding. And printed products, although more complex and full of customisation and creativity, do not seem to be an exception. The first fledgling phenomena of online print sales go back to the 1990s, but it is only in the last decade that such sales have really taken on significant size, as large players progressively raise the bar in their services and investments and disproportionately broaden their product portfolio, their range of ancillary services, also the geographical reach. All this to the point whereby both the large national operators – those still without an online store, of course – and the thousands of small local printservice providers are all wondering how appropriate it is to enter an already crowded, mature arena. Above all they are asking themselves what the real prospects for growth and development are, and which investments have to be made. Although almost all online businesses have some elements in common – strong automation, effective quality management, impeccable customer care – online printing is not an exact science, nor does it provide for a common or standard organisational model that can be just adopted and copied indefinitely.
The internet is instead a powerful interactive channel and as such it must be understood, exploited and supported. To find your own successrecipe and to ensure space for growth in the medium to long term, it’s first of all appropriate to analyse the market, the best practices and the moves of the most relevant operators. 1) Established companies set the example Favoured over other global economies because of the larger average size of their companies, the United States and Germany are undoubtedly the Western countries that have best interpreted the concept of consolidation and concentration of business. In the case of the USA, the result is a vast market flying a single flag and speaking the same language, where giants such as vistaprint.com, controlled by Cimpress, are thriving. In Germany, success factors include the presence of significant technology manufacturers, trade shows, logistics infrastructure, skilled labour and an automation culture. Advantages that German printers have been able to exploit masterfully, optimising their workflows and creating state-of-the art online sales models which go way beyond clumsy ‘multilingual websites’ used to place orders here and there. The most successful online printers have made cultural and linguistic diversity their flag, hiring local staff across Europe, creating mother-tongue customer care infrastructure, sometimes opening national subsidiaries.
The names are the emblazoned ones of onlineprinters.com, flyeralarm. com, unitedprint.com and others. Companies that are large in size but remain largely independent or familyowned. «The online printing market, and our company, in particular, benefits from four main factors» explains Michael Fries, CEO of Onlineprinters GmbH. «First of all, there are still a significant number of customers who move from slower and more expensive purchasing processes to faster online orders. Another success factor is the increasingly international scope of our activities. Also, we are constantly evolving our focus from printing to e-commerce, to create an excellent customer experience at low prices. Finally, through integrated processes and centralised purchasing, we share a
and inting
-print landscape
mutual benefit with our subsidiaries». The German company, founded as a printing house in 1984, now employs more than 1,400 people and is the symbol of how a favourable geographical location, combined with fierce competition between compatriots of long tradition, can advance the quality of service and product. «We continue to aim for double-digit annual growth, and we believe that the conversion from small, decentralised printers to large industrial e-commerce models will continue for many years to come. In our case, we are also expanding our product range with gadgets, textile applications and products that help our customers achieve their marketing goals». 2) When online printing is artisanal and design-driven
If online selling is synonymous with democratisation, it is reasonable to think that every printing business can benefit from this opportunity. Surprisingly, even those who don’t have real (actual) production capacity and sometimes not even machinery. The most far-sighted entrepreneurs have understood that to be successful, it is necessary to break away from a generalist offer and build an original and recognisable recipe of their own. The American platform mycreativeshop. com was born as a large container of creative solutions, in which printing is only one of the possible outputs. «Among the parameters of my business idea I considered it essential that it had to be scalable, automated, with a small or almost non-existent physical warehouse. I didn't know anything about the world of design or printing, but I felt that the idea could work», says Jason Frueh, founder and CEO of MyCreativeShop. The platform allows users to create a graphic design based on a fully customizable online template, without the support of a designer. Once the operation is complete, you can download your project and buy printing from a trusted vendor, generating the potential for many other offline printers. Or order it on the platform in the desired quantity. «A very small percentage of users order printing through us. So much so that the related turnover is below 25% of the total. It's also our revenue stream, as cost associated MyCreativeShop,
most there's with which
expensive a tangible printing». leverages
CHILI Publish's powerful automated publishing infrastructure, is a lightweight, scalable model that enables the American company to serve customers worldwide while remaining incredibly small. Among the thousands of local experiences, the Italian skillpress.it is an example of how it is possible to digitise and bring online the art of typography. The small company, born from the love for typography of Maurizio and Marco Battiston, has chosen to subvert the logic of standardisation that characterises almost all online suppliers. Skillpress, whose firepower is limited to an HP Indigo 12000HD and a modern finishing department, has turned total freedom of size, substrate, grammage, finish and quantity into its strengths. «We invest a lot in training and advice to our customers for the choice of papers, finishes and binding methods; we also produce the single copy for them, and we treat each project as if it were unique», explains Battiston. «Although many find it senseless and uneconomic, for us it is a winning model, and our customers recognize us as true craftsmen of online digital printing». 3) Between decoration and hyper-verticalization, make way for solution makers! If design plays a crucial role in the development of "conventional" printing projects, its importance increases if we enter the field of unusual applications, with substrates and surfaces that have little or nothing to do with commercial printing and display graphics. It's new territory, made up of operators that we could define as solution makers, able to
Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
50
satisfy a new printing demand, often creating an offer completely separate from that of other PSPs. Most of them have gained specific experience outside the graphic arts, to the point that their portfolio ranges from fabrics to wallpapers, from photographic paper to pictorial canvas, up to gift-wrapping paper. This is the case of the American spoonflower.com, the Dutch motiflow.com and the Italian thecolorsoup.com, three businesses with different histories and sizes, all sharing a strong orientation towards textile substrates. But above all the desire to combine simple print output with an unlimited range of designs and patterns, searchable by theme or colour, sometimes scalable in size, created by young international designers, who find visibility and business opportunities on the platform.
An open and meritocratic attitude that involves new stakeholders, and generates a spontaneous network of promoters for printing infrastructures. Among the solution makers, there are also those who have focused on niche applications, such as the British moo. com. Founded in 2006 by Richard Moss, the company has always been inspired by the passion of its CEO for extreme design and quality, which MOO uses to transform the segment of business cards, considered by many others as just a commodity. «The exchange of a business card is often the first time a potential contact, customer or investor interacts with a company or brand. Having a carefully designed premium card helps you stand out in a crowded market», says Amanda Champion, Marketing & Communications Manager at MOO. «MOO is just over 12 years old and
had £100 million in revenue in 2018. The business card market is booming and, looking at only the 600,000 new companies that open their doors each year in the United States, the market opportunities are obvious». 4) Profiting from new segments: Packaging as the next big thing Today, packaging is the market that expresses the highest volumes, growth rates and margins. At the same time, except for promotional containers and gadgets, it is the most challenging segment to deal with. Making packaging involves managing a multitude of variables, such as the design of effective templates and diecutting patterns, adherence to strict quality and safety standards, impeccable reproduction of spot colours, the use of enhancement, the integration of packaging into industrial packaging processes, the durability needed for shipping and for display at the point of sale and effectiveness (impact) in its interaction with consumers. For this reason, there are still few online print operators who have introduced it, perhaps limiting themselves to simple products that can be made with standard papers, weights and sizes. Among the pioneers of web-to-pack, there is the Italian pack.ly, a software company founded in 2014 to open the way for designers, agencies, small converters or simply newcomers to design, approve and purchase online professional packaging. «We have found that the packaging industry was still conditioned by complex and expensive production methods, inaccessible to a large part of the market. That's why
Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
51
embrace the future in 2021 ent: m t n i o p p New a 21 0 2 , 0 3 – April 20
Experience innovations as well as fascinating technologies of the future. Be inspired by top speakers and the drupa highlight topics. Be part of the digital transformation and take advantage of opportunities for your business. Experience the future at the world’s leading trade fair for printing technologies. drupa 2021 – embrace the future
April 20–30, 2021 Düsseldorf/Germany www.drupa.com #drupa
Messe Düsseldorf GmbH P.O. Box 10 10 06 _ 40001 Düsseldorf _ Germany Tel. + 49 211 4560 01 _ Fax + 49 211 4560 668
blog.drupa.com
www.messe-duesseldorf.de
See video now!
Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
52
we designed software that would make digital die-cutting and 3D rendering accessible to everyoneÂť, explains Giuseppe Prioriello, Founder and CEO of Packly. Entirely web-based, but also accessible via API, Packly gives access to a library of models, fully customizable in size and substrate, to apply your graphic layout. At the end of the process, in addition to the interactive 3D preview, you can download the generated die path file, or place the order. Packly can produce and ship in a few days microorders (starting from a single copy) of folding carton boxes, digitally printed and die-cut with ZĂźnd technology. But also medium and large runs, printed with Koenig & Bauer sheetfed offset presses, finished with BOBST converting lines or with a Highcon digital die-cutter. Labels deserve a separate chapter.
Another vast and hyper-technical market, which online printers mostly treated as an ancillary service, providing stickers and small reels, or a little more. Unexpectedly, the CCL Group, the global giant of labels, is presenting itself as a real game-changer. With its self-adhesive skills and converting capacity to satisfy the most demanding brand owners, in 2018 the Canadian group launched online portals such as etikett.de in Germany and etichetta.it in Italy, and acquired established operators such as easy2name.com in the UK. Will technology be the trigger? Although the ongoing supremacy of any successful business depends on the strategic capabilities of its management/leadership team and on the skills of its workforce, new or evolving technologies continue to be a driving force for our industry, as well as being a trigger for new businesses. Over time at drupa 2000, 2004, 2008,
2012 and 2016 digital printing (inkjet in particular) has taken on increasing importance, to the point where it has become the main protagonist at the show and where at drupa 2021 it will be considered as an indisputable fact. It is therefore to be expected that the discussion will shift to digital transformation and the hybridisation of print-production processes. And that the strategic messages of organisers and exhibitors will increasingly focus on interconnection, automation and digitisation of the design, procurement, preparation, finishing, converting, inventory and logistics stages. As chance would have it, it is precisely these ingredients that have already added flavour to the online printing production and sales models, with yet more destined to make a difference.
About the author: Lorenzo Villa is a Print Engineer and Publisher. He holds a degree in Graphic Arts, as well as technical, strategic and commercial skills. From the late '90s Lorenzo has led print industry publications. He’s been co-founder and General Secretary of the EDP Association. From 2010 he started serving innovative manufacturers as management consultant, specializing in product & business development, being involved in a number of projects within graphics, textile and packaging. Together with his partner Gabriele Lo Surdo, in January 2015 he founded Density and acquired Italia Publishers, driving an ambitious revitalization plan based on a new generation of B2B media, delivering our industry higher levels of knowledge and inspiration.
DIGITAL PRINTING SOLUTIONS LIKE NO OTHER Ready for the next turn. Just like you. As truly direct and dedicated printing technology specialists, we believe you should deal with your challenges in your very own way. That is why we offer a wider range of digital technologies for a wide range of applications. From wine labels to wall decoration; from toner to inkjet – how can we help you to make your business ready for the next turn? www.xeikon.com
Direct. Dedicated. Digital.
Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
54
The Personal Touch I was reminded last week when I overheard a colleague speaking, to a potential candidate in our office, about just how important it is to always reach out/speak to or touch base with your recruiter and to be open and honest, ahead of any career move. understand exactly what experience and expertise you have to offer. From a client’s point of view, it’s always useful to hold your recruiter close so when you have a situation with your team, you can reach out quickly to someone who knows and understands fully, your business plans, its mission and vision for the future.
There are so many critical pieces of information which are never included in a CV. Yes, your skills/qualifications and experience should be the basic reason why you are a good fit for the job in question and if not, your CV is either not the best it could be, or this isn’t the right job for you. Your CV showcases your professional experience and skills. The drivers as to the ‘why a candidate is searching?’ is something to be discussed and understood, direct with your recruiter. Also, particularly if you and your immediate family have any special requirements e.g. educational/ visa or health requirements. Your CV doesn’t usually allow for such sensitive information to be included, so discuss this openly.
The recruiter and potential employer are only interested in really understanding what your greatest achievements are and what added values you bring as this experience may well benefit the new employer. A successful final interview should conclude, in you being offered the position. The numbers, dates, data and statistics really help illustrate this quickly. Set out the information, pertaining to your career clearly and honestly. Where and when you worked somewhere and include those companies’ websites and logos. Make it easy for the recruiters/potential employers to understand where you have come from, as they might not be familiar with all the companies you worked for especially if they are in a different country. Include detailed information on how many and which team members you managed, the plant/ factories turnover. How you improved its performance or grew its sales/exports and include percentages/figures, times and dates. It goes without saying that buzzwords and clichés, will probably just bore your readers so avoid using them. Your CV should be super easy to read and
Even better if you can work with a specialist recruiter as they will also understand your jargon and daily issues with commercial/production and sales cycles. Being specialists to the Print, Packaging & Industrial Processing sectors has always kept us niche, boutique, specialist, and focused on an area we are passionate about. We like to keep regular contact with our clients, holding calls and keeping abreast of industry news, to see who is doing what, where and when and with who. We recruiters genuinely want to help and do a good job for our candidates and clients alike. This is our continual quest, coming up with, new innovative ways to match expectations and bring two equally important parties together. Also, being our own boss enables us to really think outside the box and make things happen, for our valued candidates and clients. There is no better way than the personal touch, especially in this ever so technologized world that we find ourselves living in. So, why not pick up the phone and speak to your recruiter you never know whom they have just been talking to, which might interest you. About the Author: - Emma Doo is a Managing Partner at Mood Group, a specialist Head-hunting and Recruitment Agency to the Print, Packaging & Industrial Processing sectors. She welcomes all new connections through LinkedIn as like-minded professionals in the Print & Packaging sectors. https:// mt.linkedin.com/in/emmadoo
Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
56 No Slowing Down at Creative Graphics as Third KODAK FLEXCEL NX System Comes on Stream The remarkable expansion programme at Indian trade pre-press trade shop Creative Graphics Solutions shows no signs of slowing down, with another KODAK FLEXCEL NX installation entering production at the company’s Mumbai branch. This latest investment is the third FLEXCEL NX system since 2016, when the first arrived at Creative Graphics’ Delhi headquarters. Founded in 1998, Creative Graphics is now firmly established as a leading provider of plates (analogue, digital flexo, letterpress and coating) for a wide range of applications, including labels, flexible packaging, folding cartons and pre- and post-printed corrugated. The company was also recognized as the PrintWeek India Prepress Company of the Year in 2014 and 2016, which has further enhanced the Creative Graphics brand. Continued investment in technology has been central to the Creative Graphics approach from the start, and is a major reason for the company’s significant investment in KODAK FLEXCEL NX. “We serve the top end of each of our markets,” says owner Deepanshu Goel, “so it’s essential we deliver consistently high quality. With Flexcel NX, we can do this. The technology offers a wide range of benefits, from high-quality halftones and smoother tonal gradations to improved solid densities and image contrast. Text is crisp, reverses sharp, and dot gain is minimal. It all adds up to excellent print quality.”
Koenig & Bauer receives “Company to Watch” award • 95 printing/packaging executives gather to pick up information on the latest digital technologies • Koenig & Bauer and Durst demonstrate their holistic approach for folding carton production of the future • All eyes on the launch of the new VariJET 106 at drupa 2020 At the Fifth Annual Digital Packaging Summit, which was held in Florida in November 2019, Koenig & Bauer was honoured with the coveted “Company to Watch” award. The three-day event is organised and coordinated by NAPCO Media and the magazine Packaging Impressions, and played host to 95 executives from the printing and packaging industries who were keen to find out about the latest developments in digital technologies for use in packaging printing. During the event, the attendees were also asked to vote for the company which they considered the “Company to Watch”. Some 43 solution providers were in attendance at the event to present their products and answer questions. “The Digital Packaging Summit was a unique opportunity to present our company’s digital vision in close cooperation with our joint venture partner Durst. It also provided a forum for personal discussions on the future direction of our industry. And we are naturally very proud of the award,” said Eric Frank, senior vice president of marketing and product management at Koenig & Bauer.
Maik Laubin, sales director for digital solutions at Koenig & Bauer Sheetfed, spoke about the VariJET 106 for digital folding carton production and the hybrid approach it uses: “The event was an outstanding venue for us to inform potential users about the VariJET 106 and to gain a better understanding of the exact needs of the folding carton market.” The VariJET 106 is to be launched at drupa 2020 in Düsseldorf. The development partners Koenig & Bauer, Durst and their joint venture expect tremendous interest in the new press, which will help users to enhance their competitive standing, to grow into new markets and to extend their product portfolios. The VariJET 106 combines the strengths of digital inkjet with those of classic offset printing and inline finishing by integrating inkjet technology from Durst into the platform used for the highperformance Rapida 106 sheetfed offset press. The fully modular concept enables process steps such as coating, offset printing or subsequent die-cutting to be combined with inkjet printing in an inline process. This makes printers ideally equipped to handle the folding carton production of the future, whether that means personalised, regionalised and individualised print products or regular alternation between short and medium runs. Each VariJET 106 can be configured exactly the way a print company requires for its particular production needs. It is this unique flexibility which defines the VariJET 106 as the most productive and most cost-
WWW.MPS4U.COM
OPERATOR FOCUSED, RESULTS DRIVEN EFS The automated multi-substrate press
AT MPS, we put the needs of our clients first.
HIGHLY AUTOMATED
EF SYMJET The hybrid printing solution
Our focus is on you, your operators and your results. We are driven, driven to improve your results. We design our presses to enhance the talents of your operators.
DIGITAL
EXL-PACKAGING The mid web packaging press
MID-WEB
MPS Systems Asia Sdn Bhd Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia info-asia@mps4u.com www.mps4u.com
MPS019-ADV-EB_EF SYMJET_ASIA_206x271.indd 1
31-07-19 14:44
Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
58 the Jet Press – it’s extremely capable – not only in doing some things that we were unable to do digitally until now, but it’s also fulfilling other roles as well. As a solution, it adds to an already impressive arsenal of equipment and the abilities we have as a business.”
efficient hybrid printing system on the emerging market for digital packaging printing. “Koenig & Bauer (US) has been a loyal supporter of the Digital Packaging Summit ever since we started the event,” said David Pesko, executive vice president at NAPCO Media and event director. “We congratulate them on winning this coveted award. Votes for the “Company to Watch” award are cast by all our executive attendees, with the award going to the company which they feel is the most innovative and one to keep an eye on moving forward.” 50,000 orders a year for 160 million books Established over 200 years ago, Clays is recognised as a market leading book production specialist. Its 14 acre Bungay site employs 700 staff and processes an extraordinary 50,000 orders a year for 160 million books from some of the best known publishers in the UK. In July 2019, the company became the second in the UK to invest in Fujifilm’s Jet Press 750S to further enhance its digital printing operations. “Working with such high-profile authors and publishers means we must have equipment that satisfies their requirements,” says Paul Hulley, Managing Director at Clays. “The book industry has seen a marked changed from where it was 10-15 years ago; rather than being printed in bulk, books can be printed on demand and in response to retail sale requests. It is vital therefore, that we have technology to produce outstanding quality quickly and efficiently. Uptime is constant at our facilities, so we must also ensure that we have products that allow for seamless job changeovers and
generate as little a waste as possible.” “We use a wide range of litho and digital presses, and each offer significant advantages in their own way,” adds Ian Smith, Clays’ Operations Director. “We are always looking for ways in which we can streamline our processes and also improve the quality of our work. Fujifilm’s Jet Press 750S has certainly offered that and more. “It can print on a wide range of substrates without us needing to use any particular coating, and from a business point of view, it brings short-run, selfcolours and a wide range of pantone colours. In fact, the machine stores any colour we create for one job, so we can use it again and again and be in no doubt it will produce the same quality every time.” Hulley is clear on the gaps the Jet Press has filled within the business: “There were times in the past when we had to use litho presses for more complex work that our existing digital presses struggled to complete to the necessary quality. That gap in our capabilities has now been filled with
As the company continues to evolve to meet the needs of an ever-changing market, Smith explains how Fujifilm’s Jet Press is helping them on that journey: “The Jet Press gives us the ability to produce a wider range of short run work, more cost effectively than before. We understand our customers’ desire to have varied, colourful and impactful covers – so being able to produce such a wide variety of products with no make-ready, and at ever-lower run lengths, provides us with a platform to greater satisfy the needs of our customers now and in the future.” The Jet Press is also helping Clays to meet the high environmental standards it sets itself. Smith explains: “Sustainability is something people are becoming more and more aware of across the printing industry, so the fact we now have a zero make ready press, using far less paper and reducing our overall wastage, helps us meet those obligations. “Ultimately, we see the Jet Press as having simplified our workplace – there is little wastage and the transition of work off our other presses and onto the Jet Press has been completely seamless. We expect the highest qual-
93 million population - 14th most populous country on earth 3 - 2019
20 _018
LABELS & PACKAGING CONFERENCE
AUGUST 26 - 27th Ho Chi Minh City
2020
Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
60
ity from our equipment, as do our customers, and we’ve had nothing but positive feedback on the work we’ve done on the Jet Press.” Smith also has high praise for Fujifilm’s support team: “Relationships are incredibly important – you must get along with whoever you are working with and the team at Fujifilm have been great since day one. For the machine to hit the floor here and achieve what it has in such a short space of time has truly demonstrated how well we were able to work with them, and gives us a great platform to work from in the future.” Andy Kent, Divisional Manager at Fujifilm Graphic Systems UK says: “Clays has responded to changes in the book printing market and acted to make sure it can now deliver on short run requests more efficiently than ever. As one of the biggest and historically significant book printers in the UK, producing millions of books every year, we’re delighted that they’ve been able to enhance their offering still further with the Jet Press 750S.” Revolutionary, sustainable and cost-effective metallization technology ACTEGA Metal Print GmbH announces the German print specialist, Kolbe-Coloco Spezialdruck GmbH, as the world’s first beta customer for its revolutionary, sustainable and cost-effective metallization technology, EcoLeaf™. Focusing on high-end applications, the company will use the new solution to print profit driving metallization embellishments onto self-adhesive labels for a broad variety of markets. The company cites the eradication of foil and its sustainability advantages as a key decision.
Based in Versmold, only a 1.5 hours drive from ACTEGA in Lehrte, Kolbe-Coloco is part of the 550 people Hamburg based printing group, H.O.PERSIEHL. The EcoLeaf operator training and unit installation on the company’s highly specified all-servo 12-colour press, with a combination of offset, flexo and screen all inline Gallus RCS, began in early March 2020. “Our business is focused on print services that create a greater connection between a brand and the consumer, to ultimately aid sales. We do that by employing some of the best print technologies on the market, and EcoLeaf is a perfect example of this,” said Michael Leon, Managing Director, Kolbe-Coloco. “Eradicating foil is a huge and incredibly important milestone in our industry, and this technology looks poised to support that. For this reason, we have no doubt that our customers will embrace EcoLeaf with open arms, but we also know that they will love the opportunity to add cost effective and amazing metallization to their jobs too – this solution has the potential to
be a serious game changer,” continued Leon. The basis of EcoLeaf is a silver pigment that can be overprinted, leading to a rainbow of metallic colors including gold. Integrated inline on analogue presses, digital printing presses or finishing equipment – either new or retrofitted to existing equipment – EcoLeaf consists of a printed trigger image and a metallization unit that applies only the precise and required amount of metal to the trigger image. According to Jan Franz Allerkamp, the Managing Director of ACTEGA Metal Print, Kolbe-Coloco was an ideal choice as its first beta site. “In KolbeColoco we’ve found a likeminded and very innovation-driven business. One that operates an automated, clean and very professional environment, but a company that has already proved itself to be a real change-maker. We look forward to working closely with them over the coming weeks and months, and to seeing EcoLeaf ’s positive impact on their business.” EcoLeaf will be commercially available from Summer 2020 onwards.
5th INTERNATIONAL PACKAGING AND PRINTING EXHIBITION FOR ASIA
22- 25 SEP 2021 BITEC • BANGKOK
www.pack-print.de
325
National Pavilions and Groups
leading exhibiting companies from
from Germany, Taiwan, Thailand, China and Singapore
30 countries and regions
International Visiting Delegations
More than
19,000
from the Philippines, Myanmar, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Korea, Japan and many more, as well as local group visits from Thailand's printing and
trade visitors from
63
countries, making up a 30% overseas participation Supported by:
I
Messe DUsseldorf / Organizer of:
packaging industries
For enquiries:
Within Thailand:
Exposis Co., Ltd Tel (66} 2559 0856 _ Fax (66} 2559 2893 info@exposis.co.th
Overseas:
Messe DUsseldorf Asia Tel (65} 6332 9620 _ Fax (65} 6332 9655 ppi@mda.com.sg
Jointly organized by:
8* au1Aumsuss,il'irurllna
THE THAI PACKAGING ASSOCIATION
The Thai Printing Association
f Messe Diisseldorf Asia
Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
62 Original craft beer can designs direct to can digital printing technology BrewBoard, the Cambridge based independent craft brewer has expanded its offering of exclusive and original craft beer can designs with Tonejet Cyclone direct to can digital printing technology. The brewery will implement highly customised campaigns across Cambridge and East Anglia, with the low volume freedom afforded by Tonejet’s solution. The cans will be produced at Tonejet’s facility in Melbourn, Hertfordshire where they maintain a can printing line for demonstration production runs. “BrewBoard gives us the perfect opportunity to collaborate with a local partner to expose the full potential of the Cyclone end-to-end model. This is the first of many projects, craft beer is a huge potential market for digital beverage can production” comments Rob Day, CEO at Tonejet. BrewBoard prides itself on producing craft beers with distinctive and characterful branding. Each of their brews is distinguishable by its packaging, with unique off-the-wall designs representing the various brews making it a perfect fit for Tonejet, with a minimum quantity as low as one,
and giving them an edge in the highly competitive world of craft beer. Speaking on how the Tonejet solution will help to support new business plans, BrewBoard Co-Founder Oliver Pugh, said that “having the flexibility to do small runs will enable us to win business that we might otherwise have not been able to cater for. It reduces lead times making us more competitive. We’re very lucky to be located so close to Tonejet, it was a no-brainer to collaborate with them and we are only at the beginning of our digital journey.” Whilst supporting independent business by allowing small breweries to run promotional specials and create limited edition beverage cans, the Tonejet solution allows companies to package their products in an environmentally friendly way, producing very little wastage. The Cyclone printer does not use plastic-shrink sleeves, meaning the only materials used are 100% recyclable. This gives the process a miniscule carbon footprint, which is compounded further by the process using 90% less ink than conventional inkjet systems. For BrewBoard, this was one of the main draws for using the Tonejet system, with Pugh affirming “we are always looking for ways to make our packaging more sustainable, recyclable and environmentally friendly and digitally printed cans fit in with that philosophy.” The company has already manufactured thousands of cans with Tonejet and plans to produce many more, as part of custom, short-term marketing campaigns. “It’s been a pleasure to work with Tonejet, who have been both professional and flexible in their approach, qualities which are important to a small business like BrewBoard” concluded Pugh. The Tonejet Cyclone gives craft beverage brewers, contract fillers, packaging suppliers and large brand owners the ability to create bespoke packaging for short-run product variations at much lower running costs than those associated with traditional
methods, and with no compromise on quality. Digital beverage can production eliminates the need to procure, stock, apply and recycle labels ensuring a reduction in costs and a sustainable product. Tonejet printed cans remain 100% recyclable. Significantly improve the quality of digitally printed products Contiweb, a specialist in state-of-theart technologies for printing, advanced drying and web-handling, announces today the launch of its Digital Fluid Applicator (DFA), a standalone remoistening applicator for digital web presses, developed to significantly improve the quality of digitally printed products. Based on the popular Contiweb Fluid Applicator for heatset web offset applications, the DFA is an innovative and user-friendly system, which uses tap water and a surfactant to intelligently and very precisely remoisten the paper on digital web presses. Silicone can also be added as an option, decidedly advantageous if inline finishing is being employed. “Common quality issues such as loss of signature flatness, growth of cut books, curling and broken folds are overcome with our new DFA
Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
63
Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
64 system. Furthermore, damage on the printed surface due to friction from inline finishing modules can be overcome by the integrated siliconizer,” explains Rutger Jansen, CEO at Contiweb, adding: “There may be a perception in the market that digital inkjet printing does not require remoistening, however the process generates high temperatures during drying, resulting in significant loss of moisture and diminished quality of the printed matter, a difficulty we’ve been determined to resolve.” The Contiweb DFA mixes tap water and a surfactant within the system, which is then continuously circulated, rather than using specially treated deionized water. The amount of remoistening can be adjusted quickly to suit requirements, and due to a sophisticated control system, are steadfastly consistent. The system ensures constant coverage, even with changing press speeds, and can be set differently for each side of the paper if desired. Settings can also be saved, slashing set-up times for repeat jobs. “The Contiweb team has developed a Plug and Play system that is compatible with digital web presses from all well-known manufacturers. Using economical, easy-to-access tap water, with high performance pure silicone, the Contiweb DFA will provide a step-change in the quality of digitally printed products. I’m very much looking forward to seeing the results for our customers,” concludes Jansen. Customer feedback has resulted in significant advancements in the technology Highcon was to be introducing a portfolio of field proven products
supporting different speeds, format and substrate requirements for the folding carton and corrugated markets. The latest versions of the enhanced Highcon Euclid and Beam platforms, named the Highcon Euclid 5 and Highcon Beam 2. Undoubtedly, the star of the Highcon booth at drupa was to be the highly anticipated Highcon Beam 2C machine targeting the corrugated board market. Already installed at sites across the globe, the Beam 2C has proven its worth, allowing two industry leaders, Orora Fibre Packaging Australasia (www.ororagroup.com) and THIMM Group (www.thimm.com), to answer the emerging requirements of their customers for digital finishing. Martyn Johnson, General Manager, Technical at Orora Fibre Packaging Australasia “We have been working with Highcon on digital finishing for corrugated for three years and are constantly discovering more benefits of this innovative technology. We are seeing great Interest and excitement from large brand owners in the potential of digital finishing which will offer them far more capabilities than normal diecutting both in terms of the cutting and also the ability to produce both short and long runs rapidly without waiting for a die cutting tool, thus substantially improving overall manufacturing efficiencies.“ Leoš Máslo, POS & POP project manager at THIMM pack’n’display, adds: “Our goal is to always provide customers with the best solution, whether for packaging or displays. We are convinced that digital technology is affecting the entire industry, and everyone should be taking advantage of the benefits. We are definitely excited about the new machine and
the impact it will have on increasing the overall efficiency of our different businesses.” With Highcon Euclid and Beam digital cutting and creasing machines installed worldwide, digital finishing is gradually becoming truly accepted in the marketplace. Several Highcon customers have already acquired second machines to cope with supply chain challenges when utilizing conventional die cutting, increased demand by brand owners for rapid turnaround for campaigns and promotions and reduced working capital requirements that only digital finishing enables. Customer feedback has resulted in significant advancements in the technology, in terms of efficiency, reliability, quality and predictability. Highcon also continues to invest in its Euclid product platform. One of the most visible developments of the new series of Euclid machines is probably the User Interface adopted from the Beam machines. The modern, user-friendly appearance reflects the inherent agility of the digital cutting and creasing solutions. Digital technology by definition implies flexibility: adjust the laser cutting depth for full cutting, half cutting, perforation, or etching; adapt the crease height to suit the substrate thickness and stripping to suit the layout. These are just a few of the benefits of the digitally driven physical creasing and the laser cutting that are at the heart of Highcon solutions. After 7 years in the field, the Highcon technology has gone through substantial improvements as reflected in the increase in the number of jobs per machine by 35% year over year from 2016 to 2019, many of which were delivered to major brands.
Printing Innovation Asia Issue 2 2020
65
Quality Printer? Then go for GOLD The 2020 Asian Print Awards Awards Dinner Manila Philippines Oct 2020
16
th
FREE ENTRY FORM DEADLINE 5PM SEPTEMBER 3RD 2020
SINGAPORE - THAILAND - INDIA - MALAYSIA - JAPAN - HONG KONG - CHINA - KOREA - TAIWAN - VIETNAM - INDONESIA - SRI LANKA - PHILIPPINES - CAMBODIA - MYNAMAR The annual Asian Print Awards was founded to recognise outstanding achievement in the print and packaging industries across Asia. With more than half the world’s population represented in this fast growing area, communication in the form of printed matter links Asia’s diverse cultures. It is imperative that such print achievements do not go unrecognised, especially among the population base that Asia enjoys. The Awards are judged on a wholly quality-oriented set of criteria to ensure that fair play is enacted at all times. The Independent Judging Panel comprises highly qualified personnel from within Asia and around the world. The independent judging panel has no knowledge of the actual entrants details. ALL ENTRIES ARE NUMBER-CODED. Entries must be commercially produced work. The Asian Print Awards is the only regional print quality competition of its kind in Asia. Supported by leading industry-supply companies, any progressive quality print house should enter and prove that they are the best - by winning the Gold, Silver or Bronze award. Proving pride in quality awareness is what customers love to see. It’s not just empty words, you can prove it.
Categories 1-8 : Offset Printing Only
20. Digital Labels
1. Calendars – any format
21 Digital - Outdoor Billboard
2. Sheetfed Magazines
Categories 22-26 : Specialty Categories
3. Book printing – less than 4 colours
22. Multi–Piece Productions and Campaigns Any substrate or print process: Multi–piece Production must be 3 or more items such as folder, leaflets, ring binders, inserts, envelopes including their contents. Campaigns must be 3 or more items with a consistent theme produced during the year by the same printer for the same client.
4. Book printing – 4 or more colours 5. Limited Editions & Artwork Reproductions (under 1000 print run) 6. Web Offset – Coated stock 70gsm and above 7. Web Offset –LWC (light weight coated) 65gsm or less 8. Offset Packaging products
Categories 9 - 21 : Digital Printing Only 9. Book Printing 10. Calendars 11. Personalised photo books – any format. 12. Posters 13. Showcards & Point-of-Sale material 14. Digital Magazines
23. Embellishment Any substrate – any combination - for example: embossing – diecutting – foil stamping –laminating coating. 24. Innovation / Specialty Printing The entry must exhibit any innovative and/ special application of machinery, process, substrate or finishing. A short description must be provided for the judges, detailing reasons for entry into this category. 25. Company Self Promotion Any item printed to promote a product or company involved in the graphic arts industry. Self promotion cannot be entered into any other Category. 26. Judges Special Award (A job that catches all the Judges’ attention)
15. Gold, Silver and Special colours 16. Restaurant Menus 17. Limited Editions & Artwork reproductions (under 500 print run) 18. Digital Proofing (must supply the digital proof and the prinnted product)
Best in Digital Award
19. Digital Packaging * If your company wins an award, a representative(s) from your company MUST be present in Manila to receive the award on stage, we will not send any awards to you if you are absent!
The Awards Dinner Presentation will be Friday Oct 9th in Manila, Philippines and held alongside the leading PPP Trade show also in Manila.
Best in Offset Award Best Use of Colour Award
FREE ENTRY FORM ASIAN PRINT AWARDS 2019
Deadline for Entries Submission: 3rd September 2020, 5pm Remember to submit 2 copies of each job! Why? - Just in case one is damaged.
SECTION A (This will not be shown to judges). Please fill the form in capital letters. Entered by (company name): ______________________________________________________________________________________ Contact Person: ________________________________________________ Email______________________________________________ Address: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Telephone: __________________________________
Country________________________________
Category entered __________________________ Title of entry (ie: " Paul's Ice Cream" ): ____________________________________________________________ Printed by (Printers name): ________________________________________________________________________________________ Client name: ________________________________________________________ Designer Pre Press House: ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Brand of Printing Machine used: _____________________________________________________________________________________ Stock supplied by (Merchant’s name): ______________________________________________________________________________ Brand name of stocks Coated Uncoated: ____________________________________________________________________________ By signing here you accept the rules and conditions of the Asian Print Awards
Signature over printed name_____________________________ Name_____________________________________________________
SECTION B Production information to be shown to judges
( tape this securely to the back of your entries)
Category entered (Same as above): __________ Entry number (Administrative use only] ____________
Title of entry (ie: " Paul's Ice Cream" )__________________________________________Print method: _______________________
Number of ink colours (4-6-8 etc) ________
Any Embellishment (foil stamping etc) __________________________________
Quantity produced (Print run copies): ___________ Other technical details (finishing processes etc) ________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
16th Asian Print Awards 2020 ENTRIES SUBMISSION CLOSES 3rd July 2020, 5pm
Send all entries to: APAM Pte Ltd, Level 28, Office 28-31 - Clifford Centre, 24 Raffles Place, Singapore 048621 Email: paul@printinnovationasia.com Additional entry forms can be downloaded at www.printinnovationasia.com Please note that entries are non-returnable unless a self addressed courier pack is supplied.
www.xeikon.com