November 2011 - Print through the ages

Saphira Inks. More Choices. More Value. www.shop.heidelberg.com

1 800 363 4800

Lauren

Mark Johnny

Gina

Beth

Rowdy

Michele

Bob

Wilber

Josh

Betsy

Tina

Pablo

Julie

Suzie

John

Nichole

Arthur Juan

NOW YOU’RE GETTING PERSONAL Print full color mailers, envelopes, brochures and postcards with variable data at full speed.

Two high production models available Print up to 60 color envelopes per minute*

Prints on heavy two dimensional textured stocks

Heavy cover stocks up to 26pt** Label stocks NCR papers

Now you can go digital and meet the demand for high volume full color, personalized printing. The ILUMINA GS Digital Envelope Press (pictured) delivers fast full color envelopes, oversized sheets and cards. The ILUMINA GS Digital Production Press provides full color printing on a wide variety of media. Text weight to heavy cover stocks (up to 26pt**), coated, uncoated, NCR papers, textured stocks, metallics, label stocks and more. It also prints in a wide range of sizes (from 3.875" x 5.125" up to 13" x 47"). See them in action! Request a live web demo.

US: 1.800.926.8839 / 251.473.6502 • EU: +31 (0) 26.319.3210 •

xante.com

©2011 Xanté Corporation. Xanté, the Xanté logo, ILUMINA and iQueue are registered trademarks of Xanté Corporation. Adobe and PostScript are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems, Inc. *Up to 60 full color envelopes refers to ILUMINA GS Digital Envelope Press. 2¢ is the average consumables cost to print a single full color #10 envelope. **ILUMINA GS Digital Production Press only.

November 2011 Magazine

Print through the ages

GRAPHIC ARTS MAGAZINE is published ten times per year by B.K.L.K Inc. 72 Main St. Mount Albert, ON L0G 1M0 Phone: 905-473-9111 Fax: 905-830-9345 Outside Toronto: 1-877-513-3999 e-mail: info@graphicartsmag.com www.graphicartsmag.com Submission deadlines are as follows: November 14 for December 2011 / January 2012 January 16 for February 2011 Publications Mail Agreement No. 40029380 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Graphic Arts Magazine, 72 Main St. Mount Albert, ON L0G 1M0 email: circ@graphicartsmag.com

17

Print through the ages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Diana Brown Digitization, restoration and preservation

28 Survivor wrap-up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Tony Curcio

Two thumbs up from the audience

30 Consac Imagemakers Sign Show 2011 – Peter’s picks . .

Peter Dulis

Peter’s top picks from the show

Publisher: Joe Mulcahy Associate Editors: Natalia Gilewicz

Kristen Read

Copy Editor: Mandy Bayrami

Senior writer: Tony Curcio

Columnist: Diana Brown Production Manager: Genevieve Doucette Account Managers: Maureen O’Sullivan

Sandy Lee

Tim Mulcahy Classified Manager: Bruce MacLean Creative Director: George Dedopoulos CTP supplied by: Sina Printing

Paper: SNZ Trading Inc.

Printing: Sina Printing

32 PowerSWITCH 10 and Chili Publisher 2.0 . . . . . . . . .

Andrea Mahoney

Popular new upgrades and what they can do

34 Product Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Diana Brown This month’s topic: Digital presses

38 A back-up objective for the B to C exhibitor . . . . . . . . .

Barry Siskind

Six steps to maximize trade show success

40 Understanding mechanical binding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Staff Writer Spiral, wire and cerlox binding

42 For your print information: Dot gain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thomas Gagnon Its role in the printing process

44 The power of partnering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Kelley Robertson

Why it’s well worth investing your time

GRAPHIC ARTS MAGAZINE would like to thank our contributing writers: Diana Brown • Tony Curcio • Peter Dulis Thomas Gagnon • Natalia Gilewicz • Andrea Mahoney Peter Muir • Kristen Read • Kelley Robertson • Barry Siskind

46 Succession planning 101 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Diana Brown

2011 EDITORIAL BOARD

50 For the record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Ernie Bardocz Danny Ionescu, HP Evan Cambray, Spicers Steve Klaric, Heidelberg Canada Jana Lucatch, Magnum Fine Commercial Printing George Mazzaferro, RP Graphics Group Brian O’Leary, Kwik Kopy Angus Pady, Digital Solutions Paul Tasker, Spicers

CMCA AUDITED

Opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily intended to reflect those of this publisher.

Graphic Arts Magazine accepts no responsibility or liability for claims made for any product or service reported on or advertised in this issue. Graphic Arts Magazine also reserves the right to limit liability for omissions and errors to a printed correction in the next issue.

SUBSCRIBER’S NOTICE: From time to time we may rent our mailing list (names and addresses only) to select third parties whose products or services may be of interest to our readers. Please contact us should you wish to be excluded from these mailings using the contact information at the top.

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund (CPF) for our publishing activites.

What’s involved and why it’s necessary Tony Curcio

Gord Griffiths

54 Helping you help your customers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Peter Muir

New regular column debuts

26 Installations & Investments 52 List of advertisers 53 Classified

When making submissions, please forward to the following email addresses: ADS ads@graphicartsmag.com NEWS news@graphicartsmag.com CLASSIFIED classified@graphicartsmag.com ARTICLES articles@graphicartsmag.com INSTALLATIONS installations@graphicartsmag.com SUBSCRIPTIONS circ@graphicartsmag.com

Joe Mulcahy

View from the publisher First of all, I would like to thank all those who attended our Printing Survivor 2011 event in Toronto last month. A special thanks to speakers John Foley Jr., Jay Mandarino, Arjun Basu and Peter Muir for their inspiring presentations, and to our sponsors – Gold Sponsor Konica Minolta, as well as Sina Printing, SNZ Trading, Green Dot Litho and Harrison Mailing Services. We plan on making next year’s event just as timely and relevant, based on continuing feedback from our readers.

Check our wrap-up story and audience comments on pages 28 and 29.

might want to check out a recent Printing Industries of America (PIA) report titled “Competing for Print’s Thriving Future” that cites print logistics as the real – and perhaps only – solution for a printer to remain competitive in the future.

In people news, HP has named Meg Whitman as CEO, and HP Canada recently made several executive appointments and re-assignment of responsibilities that further enhances its ability to bring its industry-leading imaging and printing products to market. Also, Claus Bolza-Schünemann was recently named CEO of KBA and Doug Aldred has been appointed President of Flint Group’s Packaging and Narrow Web Divisions for Europe and North America.

Speaking of events, don’t forget to visit the Graphics Canada Show November 10 – 12 at the Toronto International Centre, the largest and longest-running Canadian printing industry trade show. Please stop by our booth (#2011) at the top of Hall 2 and say hello. We’re looking forward to meeting old friends and making many new ones. And we’ll be having a draw at the show for a valuable prize.

Sadly, two highly-respected and much loved industry leaders passed away recently: George Hurley, senior vice-president and partner, Toronto’s C. J. Graphics, and Raymond Russell, who worked for more than 40 years in our industry in Canada, and spent the last 32 years with Fujifilm Graphic Systems.

They will be remembered and they will be missed.

Congratulations to Toronto print finisher Sydney Stone on its 60th anniversary and to Farnell Packaging of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia on its 50th anniversary. Their longevity is a real inspiration to many in our industry. Congratulations also to Esko Artwork for their successful one-day Toronto Roadshow event last month at Ryerson University in Toronto.

Until next month, as always, stay positive and stay focused.

Joe Mulcahy Publisher, Graphic Arts Magazine joe@graphicartsmag.com

After running a feature on Torstar Chairman John Honderich in our magazine last month, I see that Torstar subsidiary Metroland has just purchased Ontario’s Performance Printing, publisher of some Eastern Ontario newspapers as well as a commercial printer. I wish them the best moving forward. You

PLplat

PRINTERS SERVICES Envelope Press

Digital Short Run Four Colour Printing On Demand Pantone Colour Matching Scanner and Fax Fiery Rip Variable Data Printing, Personalized Messages Set of Toner $500 less than Competitors

PlateWriter™

BAO-DER AUTOPLATEN DIECUTTERS A HIGH QUALITY AND PROVEN RELIABLE DIE-CUTTER 29 X 41” AVAILABLE WITH STRIPPING AND FOILING

Chemical Free Metal CTP Plates as low as $2.00

CALL DAN IN ONTARIO - 416 540 7332 CALL MIKE IN VANCOUVER - 604 728 6149

50,000 Impressions per plate

SEE OUR WEBSITES FOR MORE INFO Call Mike - Vancouver: 604.728.6149 Fax: 1-888-694-5206 E-mail: mfowlds@direct.ca www.printerservices.com www.diecutters.ca

PRESSDOWN

(416)297-7996

•

(800)608-4506

November 2011 | Graphic Arts Magazine

•

www.pressdown.net

4

www.graphicartsmag.com

www.manroland.ca www.manroland.us.com

Meet the game-changer.

The world makeready champion, ROLAND 700 DirectDrive For zero-time plate changes, nothing out-performs the ROLAND 700 DirectDrive press. With directly driven plate cylinders, all plates can be changed simultaneously and easily during the same time the impression and blanket cylinders are being washed. For even more speed, QuickChange modules allow you to automatically pre-select all makeready steps, and print length correction on-the-fly allows you to correct while the press is in operation. The ROLAND 700 DirectDrive’s speed, quality, and efficiency make it the bridge between offset and digital for short-run printing.

Truly, changing the game..

Natalia Gilewicz

Don’t be a panda We have a lot to be proud of at Graphic Arts Magazine this month. On October 13th, we held our first day conference.

Print Survivor was the name of our debut event, and I’m excited to say that we did better than just survive. You will find some of the details and feedback from the event in the wrap-up article. The sessions were informative and uplifting.

Sadly, it wasn’t all happy news. Our hearts pour out to the family and friends of George Hurley, the Senior VP and Partner at CJ Graphics, who passed away that day. Long time friend and business partner, Jay Mandarino was one of the evening’s presenters. Jay paid tribute with a moment of silence prior to beginning his talk. Our deepest condolences go out to Mr. Hurley’s family and friends.

ges—a single, all-encompassing takeaway. I think for me, Arjun Basu, Content Director at Spafax, neatly packaged that message: “Don’t be a Panda!” he urged. Translated loosely, don’t continue to rely on resources that will endanger your existence (eat more than just bamboo = do more than print flyers). I’m going to take the analogy one step further and say that “Don’t be a Panda!” can also mean change what you eat. While there were many different strategies discussed throughout the event, this wildlife survival perspective seemed to encompass the first steps of a majority of these strategies best. In an industry that is shrinking, changing, and morphing into something new, one cannot keep going on the same way. This month’s lead article, Print Through the Ages, is one of many examples where the tradition of print collides with today’s rapidly changing world of information technology. Diana Brown helps us understand the basic methods of digitization data and the importance of archives.

As I sat and listened to the seasoned professionals explain how to survive in the graphic arts industry, I tried to find a common thread in their messa-

Natalia Gilewicz is a full-time Assistant Professor in the School of Graphic Communications Management at Ryerson University. Her teaching concentration is in areas of prepress, typography, and layout. In her research, she studies e-print and its applications.

Contact her at ngilewic@ryerson.ca

Relax. It’s Easy to Print Magnetic Car Signs.

Introducing MuscleMag® Thin High Energy Magnetic Sheeting Use your digital printer to make more money by printing magnetic car signs on flexible magnetic material from Magnum Magnetics.

Wide range of sizes and laminates 50% thinner than conventional magnetic car signs allows for easy feed into most digital printers.

Learn more about our high performance materials* and magnetizers for digital printers at magnummagnetics.com. Contact us for free samples. *Non-Magnetized (Use our post-production magnetizers)

To learn more, scan with your smartphone’s QR reader.

800.258.0991 Fax: 740.373.2880 sales@magnummagnetics.com November 2011 | Graphic Arts Magazine

magnummagnetics.com 6

www.graphicartsmag.com

Your perfect connection to the printing and graphic arts industry

Installations & Investments

Creative Path equipment operator Phillip Richards with company owner Patrick Sinn, behind the new Morgana AutoFold Pro

Scott Saunders, Gerald Maister and Ben Lyons, owners of Global Imaging, stand with their new Kongsberg i-XP 24

CREATIVE PATH

GLOBAL IMAGING

Creative Path, a full service marketing and printing company, has recently installed 2 new pieces of finishing equipment into its Richmond Hill facility. Purchased through Sydney Stone, the company invested in the new Morgana AutoCreaser Pro 33 and the Morgana AutoFold Pro. Patrick Sinn, owner of Creative Path, commented: “We fell in love with Morgana’s ease of use, quality of the scores and its build. Adding Sydney Stone’s professional sales and support makes a perfect combination.”

Mississauga, Ontario-based Global Imaging specializes in wide-format graphics. In 2008, the company installed a Kongsberg i-XL to partner with their Oce Arizona 250 GT flatbed printer. This summer, after adding two new Oce flatbed printers, they upgraded to the i-XP 24 to achieve faster cutting speed. “We easily doubled our cutting speed,” says Scott Saunders, one of Global Imaging’s owners.

Ian Campbell, owner of Kwik Kopy, with the new HP Designjet L25500

Ping Tam, operations & production director of Photobook Canada, with the HP Designjet Z6200

KWIK KOPY

PHOTOBOOK CANADA

Kwik Kopy is an international company with the largest print franchise business in Canada. At Kwik Kopy’s downtown Toronto location, an HP Designjet L25500 printer has recently been installed. As a result, the company has been able to expand its product offering to include large-format printing. “Investing in the HP Designjet L25500 Printer has encouraged our company to expand into large-format printing,” said Ian Campbell, owner of Kwik Kopy.

Photobook Canada specializes in producing a variety of unique photo books for their diverse customer base.

The company recently invested in an HP Designjet Z6200 photo printer, sold through reseller Cell-A-Net. The printer has helped Photobook Canada produce all of its work in-house. Charlene Callaghan, managing director of Photobook Canada, said: “The HP Designjet Z6200 photo printer produces photo books in a large range of sizes that sets us apart from our competitors.”

November 2011 | Graphic Arts Magazine

8

www.graphicartsmag.com

Kristen Read

News and comments 2011 WorldSkills Competition held in London

ideal for outdoor billboard and banner applications where UV cured Uvijet QK inks provided an alternative to solvent roll printing. It effectively printed on a wide range of substrates, including polyethylene. The initial Uvistar produced high quality output at throughput speeds in excess of 3,800 sq. ft. per hour.

The 41st WorldSkills event, which took place this year from October 5 to 8 in London, is the largest international skills competition. Over 1,000 young people from 51 countries participated in the 4-day event.

This year, the competition was watched by more than 200,000 visitors, including British Prime Minister David Cameron and Her Royal Highness Princess Anne, as well as other high-ranking politicians and business people.

Uvistar 2 handles the same breadth of media and has been developed to meet the growing demands of point-of-purchase applications, where viewing distances tend to be closer.

The previous WorldSkills event took place in Calgary in 2009, and a bronze medal was earned by Canadian Simon Beauchamp in the category of offset printing. This year, for the first time in this discipline, the gold and silver medals went to two young women.

“In just over a year, the Uvistar series has filled a need for low cost production of billboards and banners,” said Mitch Bode, VP of wide format and specialty ink systems for Fujifilm. “In keeping with our promise to provide customers with the most innovative technologies available, Uvistar2 offers enhanced capabilities and functionality for cost effective production of high quality point-of-purchase displays. It essentially does it all.”

First place was awarded to Makiko Ito of Japan, who has been working for the Asia Printing Corporation since 2008.

The silver medal was awarded to Susanna Virtanen from Finland, who works at a print shop in a Turku-based training institute. Olivier Deloge from Belgium and Sascha Epp from Germany were awarded third and fourth place, respectively.

Here is an outline of some of the new technologies and refinements that can be found on the Uvistar2:

Epp, who was crowned national champion in the German final, and was awarded the “Medallion for Excellence” for his outstanding performance, had this to say: “The WorldSkills competition was an amazing experience for me and I am proud to have been able to compete in the event. The tasks were well designed and the experts went to great lengths to ensure a fair and objective assessment of the contestants’ performance.”

Parallel Drop Size Technology – One of the major new advancements with Uvistar2 is the use of a unique “Parallel Drop Size” (PDS) technology. PDS technology allows an increase in print quality without compromising speed or ink coverage.

This innovative technology enables users to print both larger 40pl drops together with smaller 20pl drops, thereby eliminating the need for “light” colours to achieve superior print quality. Large drops provide greater coverage and density, while small drops enable fine details, all without a reduction in print speed.

Heidelberg provided two Speedmaster SM 52 five-colour presses for the competition in London. The European finalists did their training in preparation for the event on the same type of press at the Print Media Centre in Heidelberg, Germany in September of this year.

Drop Placement Accuracy – A new Linear Encoder monitors printhead location for improved accuracy of drop placement, insuring better print quality and finer detail.

Bernhard Nahm, a member of the management team at the Print Media Centre, was one of the judges assessing the performance of the young printers in London. He was delighted at the success of the female contestants. “Heidelberg has had an impressively high proportion of female printing trainees for some years now. We are currently training ten young people to become printers and four of these are highly motivated young women. The next WorldSkills competition will return to Germany for the first time in 40 years – and perhaps one of our trainees will once again be a finalist in Leipzig in 2013,” he said.

Improved Printhead Heating – Upgraded electronics offer greater control over printhead heating, providing more uniform ink density, improving print quality, especially at lower passes.

Front End Scale-Up Feature – Large files may be ripped to the Uvistar2 in smaller sizes and then scaled up on press, saving RIP time and disk storage space.

On-Press Colour Correction – Software enhancements allow for ink adjustments on the press, aiding colour match and control.

Fujifilm launches 2nd generation Uvistar super wide format printer

Multi-Roll Support – Multi-roll capability facilitates quick changeovers between different media types with little waste.

Uvistar2 allows users to work simultaneously on as many as three rolls up to 65 inches wide, with cores of varying weights, widths, and diameters. An optional flatbed table allows for printing rigid materials.

Fujifilm has recently announced the launch of the second generation of its Uvistar super wide format UV roll inkjet printers. The company says that its new Uvistar2 series, available in 3.5 meter and 5 meter platforms, provides higher print quality and productivity than ever before.

The first generation Uvistar series, launched in 2010, was

November 2011 | Graphic Arts Magazine

9

Your perfect connection to the printing and graphic arts industry

Your perfect connection to the printing and graphic arts industry

Sydney Stone to sell Formax products in Canada

Founded in 1987, Formax specializes in the design, manufacturing and distribution of paper handling and inserting equipment to streamline paper and mail-flow in companies of all sizes.

Sydney Stone has recently announced a new partnership with Formax, selling and servicing the company’s products in Canada.

Formax markets a wide range of inserters, pressure sealers, as well as an array of complementary products such as MailDoc software, bursters, signers, envelope openers, joggers and tabbers.

“For many of our customers, the final stage of the print finishing process is mailing, which up until today we could not offer,” says Sydney Stone’s director of sales Michael Steele. “Formax will provide Sydney Stone with a wide range of high quality product offerings along with the valuable support for our service team.”

Robert McCrea appointed as manroland’s regional sales manager for Toronto & western Canada

Bob McCrea has joined manroland as a regional sales manager for Toronto and Canada’s western provinces. He is a Canadian printing industry sales veteran, serving more than 25 years as a senior sales representative and as national manager for remarketed equipment.

Michael Mugavero, VP of Sales for manroland, said: “We are very pleased to introduce such an accomplished printing sales executive to our Canadian customers. We believe that his knowledge and experience, in combination with manroland technology, will be an asset to Canadian printers looking to improve their productivity and profitability.”

Specifically, McCrea will be responsible for sheetfed sales in the greater Toronto metropolitan area as well as the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and BC. Mr. McCrea said: “I am very much looking forward to working with existing customers as well as introducing others to the manroland portfolio of solutions for both web and sheetfed offset printing. It’s going to be a great deal of fun for me to talk with printers who have not evaluated manroland technology in the past year or two, particularly the incredible automation improvements and makeready reductions that have been introduced recently.

EFI launches Jetrion 4900

At the recent Labelexpo show, EFI launched the Jetrion 4900, a UV inkjet digital printing system that combines high-quality digital printing with in-line laser finishing for label converters.

EFI says that the new system makes short-run digital label jobs more efficient and profitable by eliminating set-up time, substrate waste and inventory requirements associated with the label finishing process. It produces eye-catching, durable labels on an array of substrates.

“EFI’s Jetrion 4900 is a robust industrial press that is ideal for label converters looking to transfer high-cost, short- and medium-run jobs to digital systems, from print file straight through to finished roll,” says Sean Skelly, VP and GM of EFI

November 2011 | Graphic Arts Magazine

10

www.graphicartsmag.com

www.graphicartsmag.com

Keeping up with the Joneses!

For the first time in years, John is back playing golf every Thursday afternoon with his buddies.

“Avanti’s Print MIS software helped us significantly improve productivity and reduce job turnaround time. The real benefiit is in the time savings – now that we’re completely automated, I can leave the shop without worrying non-stop about jobs getting out on time,” says Mr. Jones.

T

Av a n t s k n ha

i!

To find out how you can keep up with the Joneses visit www.avantisystems.com/JONESES

November 2011 | Graphic Arts Magazine

11

Your perfect connection to the printing and graphic arts industry

Your perfect connection to the printing and graphic arts industry

Jetrion. “It produces top-quality labels with cost savings that go straight to the bottom line, a must in today’s business environment where lean manufacturing and efficiency are required to compete.”

company says that these GBC/Canon turnkey solutions allow in-plants and print-for-pay providers to quickly and affordably add wide format lamination and mounting to their customer offerings.

By integrating printing and finishing for the entire production run, the Jetrion 4900 offers label converters savings with no additional plates, dies, changeovers and make-ready labour needed. The Jetrion system prints four-colour and highly opaque white UV inks in a single pass, delivering labels that EFI says are flexo-quality.

The labels are also heat, cold and chemical resistant.

As a single source, GBC will be able to offer these packages and all the supplies needed through their own nationwide network of sales representatives.

The company has also recently announced its new Magnapunch 2.0 tabletop puncher. First demonstrated at the recent Graph Expo show, the machine will also be featured at the upcoming Graphics Canada Show.

GBC and Canon team up to offer wide format solutions

The Magnapunch 2.0 tabletop paper puncher is designed to increase productivity and profitability. It features proprietary edge detection technology that virtually eliminates mispunches. The machine is the first desktop punch to move from the world of electro-mechanical devices into the digital age, bringing increased productivity to print finishing operations. With the Magnapunch 2.0, smart set-up technology permits the operator to realize faster set-ups and changeover for custom size applications.

GBC has collaborated with Canon, and the two companies are bringing their own specific expertise to large format printed output and finishing processes. GBC and Canon are working together to offer these solutions to the market. GBC has also recently announced its new Magnapunch 2.0 tabletop puncher.

Recently demonstrated was Canon’s imagePROGRAF large format printer in combination with the lamination and mounting capabilities of the GBC Arctic Titan 1064WF laminator at CONSAC 2011. At the show, GBC printed large format images from flash drives and immediately laminated the prints.

With a half-second punch cycle and continuous-duty motor, the Magnapunch 2.0 punches up to 49,000 sheets per hour.

Multiple punch patterns are available to punch sheets with 13 different hole patterns.

This match-up of paired processes “created the perfect workflow solution for print finishing,” according to GBC. The

www.manroland.us.com www.manroland.ca

Tested to guarantee the best quality performance manroland’s blankets are specifically designed to maximize press speed and achieve the highest quality. Their buffed surface provides superior solvent resistance while reproducing precise halftones and full solids. The enhanced compressible layer minimizes gauge loss, provides superior rebound properties, and excellent smash resistance, extending the life of your blankets. line of Find out more about our consumables at 800-533-7561, choose the parts option.

WE ARE PRINT.®

Call Us Today!

November 2011 | Graphic Arts Magazine

12

www.graphicartsmag.com

www.graphicartsmag.com

— exclusive opportunity —

Printers  Sales Executives  Marketing Agencies in... Newmarket/Aurora • Richmond Hill • Barrie

Add an exciting pRofit CeNteR to your existing business.

We’re offering an exclusive opportunity for one business in the cities of Newmarket/Aurora, Richmond Hill and Barrie to represent our innovative digital magazines. We provide a turnkey operation with a ready-to-go product line. For a complete information package: T: 888.412.1067 E: info@mainstreetmagazines.com

VISIT OUR

BOOTH

2430 AT GRAPHICS CANADA 2011 International Center November 10th-12th

PRINTING PA P E R

GRAPHIC SUPPLIES & SYSTEMS

SIGN & D I S P L AY

INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & PA C K A G I N G

SPICERS.CA SPICERSAd.indd 1 November 2011 | Graphic Arts Magazine

11-10-25 8:58 AM

13

Your perfect connection to the printing and graphic arts industry

Tony Curcio

People and events

People and events Sydney Stone celebrates its 60th Anniversary

MBM, Akiles, Rhin-O-Tuff, Royal Sovereign and Challenge equipment. More information: www.printfinishing.com or call 1-800-251-6546.

It all started before the company was founded in 1951, with the sale of a Davidson Dual Duplicator for a mere $1,650.

C.J. Graphics’ V.P. passes away

Sydney Stone began his career at 14 at a Toronto print shop. He operated one of the first Heidelberg presses in Canada. That experience later landed him a job as a demonstrator and installer. After serving 6 years in World War II, he moved to selling binders, cutters and even small-format presses and established & Co. Limited. Stone worked closely with Challenge Machinery, providing the original concept and construction of the wellknown Paddy Wagon. He retired in 1980 and, sadly, passed away in March of 1981, having dedicated over 50 years of his life to the print finishing industry.

George Rodway Hurley, Vice President of Toronto-based C.J. Graphics Inc., passed away unexpectedly last month. Below are comments from President Jay Mandarino: George was the most unselfish and kindest person one could ever know. He became my business partner and brought with him a great team that had worked with him for almost 20 years. He also became my marriage advisor, life coach and a wonderful friend.

Everybody loved George’s Hollywood hair, especially the ladies – perhaps that’s why 93% of his clients were women! I remember one time at a film festival party I introduced him and they believed it!

In 1983 employees Shirley MacKay and Harry Day purchased the company from his widow. In 1989 David Marsh, former International Marketing Manager of Computerized Cutters, bought the company and led it into a new technological era focusing on programmable technology and Michael Steele and Dylan Westgate, codigital print. Securowners, Sydney Stone ing major brands such as Duplo, Morgana, Triumph, MBM and EBA, Marsh was well known for his foresight. He received numerous manufacturer awards for establishing Sydney Stone as one of the leading print finishing distributors in Canada.

George Hurely, Vice President/partner (right) with President/partner Jay Mandarino, beside the first press the two purchased together. as Richard Gere’s brother

We did so much together – traveled to Wisconsin to help the Waterless Printing Association, rode camels in Dubai with the IPN, dined with Charlie Trotter in Chicago during Graph Expo, went to London England to IPEX and to the Juno Awards in ‘Winterpeg.’ However, the best trip of all was to France with our amazing wives where we ate at the Eifel Tower In Paris! We accepted or first Benny Award together in Chicago and met David Suzuki at the Environmental Printing Awards – which George got me involved with.

George was instrumental in starting our Digital Division. Whatever crazy idea I might have had, George always supported and encouraged me. He often said he learned a lot from me – but in fact, it was I who learned from him. This made us an amazing team. He was the perfect business partner as well the ideal friend. In his memory, we’re starting a scholarship fund bearing his name for students at Ryerson University in the Graphic Communications Management Faculty. At our annual Employee Staff Awards we have an Ambassador Award which will be now named in his honour.

In 2008, after 40 years in the industry, Marsh sold the company to two of his employees, Michael Steele and Dylan Westgate.

The co-owners soon made bold, extensive changes in rebranding, revamped its website to support 24-hour sales, and created a new service and support team with more comprehensive technical skills while instituting faster response times. At the beginning of January, they will relocate to a larger head office at 6338 Viscount Road in Mississauga, Ontario.

“Our new slogan, ‘Giving Meaning to Expertise’ is not only what we stand for, but is also part of the long history of this company and is very much related to what Sydney Stone himself did,” says Michael Steele. “He was known for travelling the world to find unique equipment that he could import into Canada to sell and service. To do this, he was an absolute expert in not only the finishing processes but also on the print side as well.

I miss my friend so very much and would never trade the times I have had with him for anything. George was the nicest, most humble and most honest, caring person I have ever known. He was indeed the Yin to my Yang. I will remember him every single day of my life. But I will also celebrate all the wonderful times we had together.

Our customers today really require that. Without it, they may not be able to weave their way through the huge amount of choices out there and arrive at a machine that works best for their applications,” he adds.

A Toast to George R. Hurley and his family and friends from all of us at C.J. and in our industry. He will always be remembered by what we all used to say about him: “Everybody Loves George.”

Today the company distributes Duplo, Morgana, EBA, Ideal,

November 2011 | Graphic Arts Magazine

14

www.graphicartsmag.com

Tony Curcio

People and events

J. F. Moore joins International Printers Network

latest products and enhancements. Topics included Colour by Numbers, Label & Flexible Packaging, Automation Engine, DeskPack, HD Flexo & DFS, Commercial, Wide-format & Rigid Printing, ArtiosCAD, i-Cut Suite, Studio 3D and a Ryerson Lab Tour.

Toronto-based J.F Moore (JFM) has joined the International Printers Network (IPN) (www.ipnglobal.com) as the only Canadian member of this global alliance. With over 200 locations around the globe and world-class capabilities, the IPN is helping organizations all over the world do business successfully.

Now, any Canadian company needing to launch direct mail, business development, marketing research or training documentation (and kits) in virtually any country, can consult with J.F. Moore on how to best deploy their print, digital and web-based communications in each market around the world with local feet on the street. JFM can manage all of national or global POP, DM, Print On Demand, E-Commerce or fulfillment and distribution requirements.

48HourPrint.com adds online expert and print marketer to Leadership Team

Online printing services company 48HourPrint.com has named James Eglin Jr. as V. P. of online engagement and Ali Westcott as Senior Director of Marketing. Eglin has extensive sales experience and expertise in leveraging technology to drive growth in technology products and service companies. Westcott is a tech-savvy marketing and communications leader with 14 years of industry experience at a national printing firm.

“We’re pleased to be part of the IPN as it will bring numerous cost and business process benefits to all of our clients” said Dean Baxendale, President of J.F. Moore.

“The knowledge, innovation and best-inclass processes for creating, printing and deploying customer communication will provide our customers with a definitive competitive advantage.”

“We are pleased we were able to attract and recruit two highly skilled and well-respected individuals such as Jim and Ali,” said James Cozart, 48HourPrint.com V. P. of sales, marketing and customer service. “Not only does this strengthen a great core team already in place, it positions us well with their respective industry contacts and knowledge. Their expertise and experience will impact our organization in a positive manner as we continue to broaden and supplement our offering to the market.”

Prior to joining the IPN, JFM was engaged in a number of Distribute and Print Programs for global customers through IPN member companies. During 2010 and 2011, the company developed Dean Baxendale, a complete end-to-end solution to manPresident and CEO of age all of the training and course J. F. Moore documentation for one of the world’s leading software and business systems companies. This training solution is a fully integrated, turnkey solution that includes best-of-class document creation, printing, kitting and fulfillment services. The program is now running in 6 countries around the world.

48HourPrint.com, with headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts and printing plants in Phoenix, Arizona, and Cleveland, Ohio, is a leading online printing services company offering high-quality printing and mailing services to businesses that value quality, speed and affordable prices.

HP Canada new executive appointments and responsibilities effective this month

More information: Dean Baxendale, President and CEO of J. F. Moore. (416) 940-2251 or e-mail d.baxendale@jfmoorecommunications.com.

• Danny Ionescu, V. P., Sales and Marketing, Graphic Arts, will now manage the company’s Web press and Indigo businesses.

• Patrick Harrison to V. P. of newly formed Commercial Sales, responsible for national commercial outbound and inside sales.

• Gary Drysdale to V. P., Managed Enterprise Services, responsible for HP Managed Print Services and Enterprise Sales.

• Serge Leger to V. P., LaserJet & Enterprise Solutions, responsible for Category Marketing, Business Development and Wholesale and Distribution business.

• Anita Grassl to V. P., Inkjet and Web Solutions, responsible for Category Marketing, Business Development, Retail Sales and Second Tier solutions.

• Mark Lehmann, V. P., Large Format Printing Business, will also assume additional responsibilities for Designjet and Scitex business.

Graphics Canada Trade Show set for Nov. 10-12

It’s all happening at the Toronto International Centre, a short drive from Pearson International Airport. As in previous years, this show will actually consist of many shows. Yes, it will cover key industry technology – pre-press, equipment, finishing, software, workflow, consumables, etc.

– but also feature several hands-on areas devoted to specific emerging technologies. These include the Wide Format & Sign Pavilion, Design City, Printing Sales Training Day (Thursday, Nov. 10, 8 am – 5.30 pm), Graphics Canada Software Theatre, Graphics Canada Seminars Series and the The 2011 Postal Forum.

Information: Dan Mustata at (416) 385-2030 (danmustata@ graphicscanada.com) or visit www.graphicscanada.com.

Esko Artwork Roadshow hits Toronto

Tony Curcio ajg.curcio@gmail.com

Esko Artwork, a global supplier and integrator of innovative solutions for packaging design, commercial printing and publishing, held a full day of impressive demonstrations and technology Wed. Oct. 26 at Ryerson University in Toronto (Oakham House Student Centre Conferencing) covering its

November 2011 | Graphic Arts Magazine

16

www.graphicartsmag.com

Diana Brown

Print through the ages Too often we see print as a disposable means of disseminating information (magazines, newspapers, flyers) but what about the printed pieces that are meant to last? Print advocates and old book lovers the world over have always faced the challenge of preserving books but there is now a viable means of preservation to capture information long into the foreseeable future using digital technology. It’s as though books used to have an expiry date, but we’ve uncovered a magic pill to make their content live on for eternity.

vation tool. Deterioration impacts both the accessibility and longevity of printed collections, and digitization is an excellent avenue to archive important documents for years to come.

Why Digitization is Necessary

Due to the nature of paper, deterioration will happen over time no matter how well it is preserved. Temperature, relative humidity and light all play a role in deterioration of paper, parchment, leather, adhesives and other materials used in bookbinding.

Public libraries, teachers, researchers and other citizens are the users of archived content for educational or genealogical purposes. I had the pleasure of speaking with Kimberly Taylor, who was once a Digital Archivist for a regional museum and who is now a secondary school History Teacher. Kimberly has the unique viewpoint of having been an archivist and is now a user of archived documents in her teaching. She understands the importance of online historical records for free or for a fee, but she points out that very few are available in digital format, relative to the number of old printed documents in existence.

High temperature and high relative humidity can promote the growth of fungi, which can damage the book. Conversely, low relative humidity can promote over-drying and cause paper, leather and bookbinding materials to become brittle and weak. Because of the hydroscopic properties of paper, extreme changes in temperature and relative humidity cause rapid deterioration of paper.

Before Kimberly’s digitizing project at the museum was underway, if anyone was interested in looking at the old documents and photos in the museum’s possession, they would have to make an appointment with the museum to view them. The biggest obstacle here was that very few people knew they existed or knew that they were available for viewing.

Light (in the form of fluorescent, ultraviolet and natural sunlight) can damage books through fading of the pigmentation.

Different coloured dyes and pigments deteriorate at different speeds, which can negatively affect the original contrast of the document. With regard to paper, light promotes the oxidization of cellulose, further deteriorating the material.

Additionally, light reacts with lignin in the paper to cause the paper to turn yellowish brown over time. The more lignin present in a given paper (newspaper, for example, has high lignin content) the more yellowing will be prevalent. For all of the damaging effects we can see when old books are exposed to light, there are other, more subtle changes happening within the paper. Fibres that make up the paper’s structure can break into smaller and smaller subsections, thereby creating a structurally unstable document that has the potential to fall apart if handled.

Kimberly points out that there are many documents available for people to view but lack of knowing where to find them prohibits individuals from experiencing them at all. Many are not yet available online, and only available as a hard copy: “You can come to Library and Archives Canada where we have the document and you can photocopy it… but you have to drive six hours to Ottawa to get it.”

As part of her work, Kimberly was digitizing photographs, scanning into RAW file format, and then saving the files as TIFF’s. She emphasizes that “digitizing is only the first step”. It is then necessary to create a portal to access the information.

When there is a lack of grant money available, museums are now turning to online services like Flickr to act as their portal to share archived documents instead of building proprietary systems.

An important consideration for a sustainable digital asset management workflow is to be aware of the rapid rate of technological change and keep up to ensure your storage format does not become obsolete. Although paper won’t last

What’s important to understand is that paper and books don’t last forever. No matter how well paper is preserved, organic and inorganic compounds will break down over time, which is why there is such a need to employ technology as a preser-

November 2011 | Graphic Arts Magazine

18

www.graphicartsmag.com

Productivity Solutions

+

+

+

Diana Brown

Print through the ages

forever, it can last quite a long time if it is properly preserved (therefore it’s important not to get rid of the original when you digitize!). For example, the regional museum had film reels with lots of great historical information, however they didn’t have the equipment necessary to view them. Digital Archivists have to be aware of the technology medium used to capture the information, whether that is a hard drive or DVD, because in a few short years, there may not be that same technology to view and recover the data. Therefore it is important to always be mindful of moving with the speed of technology and ensuring the data is constantly managed and moved to new platforms if necessary.

What’s important to understand is that paper and books don’t last forever. No matter how well paper is preserved, organic and inorganic compounds will break down over time.

Digitization & Preservation Technology

Book scanning technology most commonly converts book pages into one of two file formats: Portable Document Format (PDF) or Tagged Image File Format (TIFF). Although 300dpi is an ideal resolution to scan a given image, high quality book scanners capture image data at much higher resolution in order to preserve fine details. This technology can employ Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software that translates images of text into a digital file format, which can then be searched and processed by other applications and individuals. An advanced version of OCR technology is Intelligent Character Recognition (ICR), which is able to adapt and learn the characteristics of specific fonts during processing to improve recognition levels.

Globally Preserving Our Records

With historical digital document services available like Ancestry.ca, genealogical research is made easier through the literally billions of digitized and indexed documents available via the Internet. Ancestry.ca brings original records from around the world to create online access. They employ a content acquisition team who seeks out historical records and then works with governments, archives and content owners to make these records available in a digital format. Once they have obtained access to the documents, they use their digitization process to create high-resolution scans of the documents. Next, their indexing team works to covert the information into a format that is easy to read, as well as easily searchable. The documents are then uploaded to the web where they can be manually searched or pushed to individuals as “Ancestry Hints” which automatically search key collections to find records that may be relevant to the user.

The book scanning process can be manual or automated based on the technology. On a commercial image scanner, the book is placed face down on a flat pane of glass and an optical array moves across the glass capturing the image information. Other book scanners are designed to sit the book face up in a v-shaped frame with glass pressed against the pages. It then takes photographs of the pages from above. Pages can either be turned by hand or by an automated device. Higher-end options can also include vacuum capabilities and static charges to turn the pages while digitizing is done automatically. Another book scanning method available (but it is not always a viable option with old books) is removing a book’s spine to create loose pages and moving pages through an automated pagefeeding scanner. This provides a cost-saving option but is damaging to the original book.

Crowdsourcing and collaboration tools are also employed with memory institutions like Ancestry.ca, as a way of better understanding how sets of digital documents relate to one another to create meaning for users. Crowdsourcing is defined as “the act of taking a job traditionally performed by a designated agent (usually an employee) and outsourcing it to an undefined, generally large group of people in the form of an open call”. Crowdsourcing and collaboration tools enable pooling of information to create a more complete picture of historical documents. The World Archives Project is Ancestry.ca’s current community project enabling global collaboration. This project allows people from anywhere in the world with Internet access to help index historical documents and records. Once records are digitally photographed, users can participate by accessing records online at Ancestry.ca and then enter names, dates and facts that make these documents searchable online.

After scanning, software is used to line up the pages with one another, as well as crop and edit. The sheer volume of historical books to be scanned provides a challenge for archivists even though commercial grade book scanners can scan thousands of pages per hour.

Book Restoration

After digitizing is complete, the original will be kept safe from environmental dangers in an archive, but what if the original is not in optimal condition? In some cases, book restorations specialists are needed in libraries, archives and museums to restore old texts to their former glory. These experts can repair, restore or rebind a given text while maintaining the overall integrity of the book. Full or partial spine restorations can be achieved depending on a book’s condition. Books with pages falling out can have the pages carefully sewn back into it.

Library and Archives Canada: A New Direction For the Future

Library and Archives Canada (LAC) is our national memory institution to support historical research about Canada. LAC’s mandate is to ensure “the best possible account of Canadian life is captured through acquiring, preserving and making accessible Canada’s documentary heritage for present and future generations.” The documentation includes published and unpublished works, private and public documents and portraits. Every second of every day, a new piece of information is created or discovered somewhere in the world that may contribute to Canada’s continuing memory. LAC has recognized

Book restoration specialists can also perform paper restorations. They can replace missing portions of paper documents or even employ a process called “deacidification”. This process stops acid decay for up to 75 years by infusing a magnesium buffer into the paper fibres.

November 2011 | Graphic Arts Magazine

20

www.graphicartsmag.com

www.graphicartsmag.com

Digital Humanists

their unique challenges moving forward in a society that is digitally driven, with individuals who expect immediate access to information via the Internet.

Entire new disciplines of study have been established from the convergence of literature, printing and digitization: Digital Humanists. In an age where the disciplines of technology and humanity have come face to face, Digital Humanists are creating new possibilities for archiving printed matter and enabling accessibility to more people than ever before.

LAC affirms that: “the face of information has changed substantially in the last decade: superabundance; rapid creation, sharing and remixing by individuals; multiple formats; unprecedented access; ever-present and expanding user influence, points of view, skills and engagement. This picture is in direct contrast to that of the past… We must find ways to grow closer to citizens and society and embrace evolving technologies.”

I had the pleasure of listening to Cara Leitch and Julie Meloni discuss “The Future of the History of the Book” at the University of Victoria, British Columbia. Cara is a Researcher who works in UVic’s Electronic Textual Cultures Lab (ETCL), a facility in which data-harvesting, textual content analysis and document encoding takes place. Cara’s focus is on digitizing 19th Century texts and social networking. Julie has also worked in the ETCL with a focus on Information Management. They are both book lovers and consider themselves “Digital Humanists”. Through their work, they rediscover the meaning of texts by using technology, comparing with other texts and annotating. Through using OCR software, as well as crowdsourcing, Digital Humanists preserve texts of the past for future generations to enjoy.

LAC is adapting to new technological access points including virtual vaults, podcasts, expert demonstrations and webcasts.

They have recognized that the digital asset management framework that they will establish moving forward, must reflect the changing technological landscape of our society in order to stay relevant.

A viable solution to broad accessibility is collaboration with other memory institutions in Canada. Shared information and joint projects are viable ways to broaden accessibility and LAC recognizes the opportunities possible through collaboration of physical and digital documents. Collective catalogues perpetuate their mandate of accessibility by providing archived printed material regardless of geographic location. LAC acknowledges that: “broad accessibility must remain at the forefront of our thinking…” A shared approach is the key to future success.

During Cara and Julie’s session, we used technology to create a word cloud to visually understand the true focus of a specific text.

By using the website www.wordle.net, we imported all of the text and the software and created a word cloud that organizes all of the text by how often words were mentioned. The words mentioned most often will be the largest in the word cloud. This helps Digital Humanists uncover patterns in the text in a very non-traditional way using technology. During their session, we also had the unique opportunity of viewing a scan of a 19th century document and we then worked to index the document by deciphering handwriting that was over 100 years old. After indexing was complete, this document was searchable and made available on the Internet.

Additionally, LAC has recognized important questions relating to its core mandate that they need to address moving forward: How do we best engage citizens and professionals from all domains in our efforts? How do we reach out to the new generation of “born-digital” consumers? How do we ensure they can find the documentary heritage we have acquired and described? How do we work in collaboration with stakeholders?

It is important to understand how printed documents and books of the past will be preserved for future generations. Environmental conditions, such as temperature, relative humidity and light all play a role in the deterioration of paper and printed matter. Digitizing is the answer for increasing longevity, accessibility, and broader use of a given document. Print advocates and old book lovers the world over have always faced the challenge of preserving books but now have a viable resource to preserve information long into the foreseeable future. Even our national memory institution, Library and Archives Canada, understands the importance of the momentous shift in archiving processes and keeping up with technology to stay relevant. Digitization of old printed matter has created new jobs and research opportunities, as Digital Humanists use technology to learn about printed documents in whole new ways.

LAC believes that their traditional archival techniques of historically printed matter must be maintained alongside the new digital archiving techniques. Metadata is formatted based on the document’s description and enables user-friendly searches. “The future success of our institution, both in the short and long term, will be largely dependant on the modernization of these processes.”

The face of information has changed substantially in the last decade: superabundance; rapid creation, sharing and remixing by individuals; multiple formats; unprecedented access; ever-present and expanding user influence, points of view, skills and engagement.

November 2011 | Graphic Arts Magazine

Crowdsourcing and collaboration projects, such as the World Archives Project, enable global collaboration thereby increasing our understanding of the connection between historical texts. Additionally, by working with governments, archives and content owners, sites like Ancestry.ca create accessibility for increased learning and understanding of years past.

Although digital technology is an excellent solution for preserving printed pieces of the past, forward thinking digital asset managers must always understand changing technology and manage their databases as not to become obsolete. From analog to digital and from paper to computer screen, historical documents are moving full speed ahead in the 21st Century.

Diana Brown is the Owner of ON-SITE First Aid & CPR Training Group, a health & safety company who provides training to the Graphic Arts industry. diana@onsitefirstaid.ca

21

Your perfect connection to the printing and graphic arts industry

Kristen Read

Tech News

Traceable seafood products are uniquely coded and tracked from the time they are caught through to their journey to Sobey’s stores to give customers a behind-the-scenes look at their seafood purchase: its origin, preparation tips and recipes, photos of the boat and crew, and even the captain’s logbook. Customers also have the option to send a note directly to the fisherman that caught their fish.

Adobe unveils Creative Cloud, new apps

Adobe has been in the news lately for announcing its Creative Cloud, a new initiative that the company says will ‘redefine’ the content creation process. Adobe is aiming for its Cloud to become a hub for viewing, sharing and syncing files. Millions will be able to access desktop and tablet applications, essential creative services, and share their best work.

Vic Amos, B.C. Fisherman, had this to say: “As fishermen, it’s great for my crew and me to realize that somebody around the world is buying our fish, and that they can look at who we are and where we come from. Traceability goes back to high quality and sustainability goes back to accountability, so it’s important for me to ensure that I fish sustainably and deliver a high-quality product, too.”

“Adobe Creative Cloud reinvents creative expression by enabling a new generation of services for creativity and publishing, that embrace touch interaction to re-imagine how individuals interact with creative tools and build deeper social connections between creatives around the world,” said Kevin Lynch, chief technology officer at Adobe. “The move to the Creative Cloud is a major component in the transformation of Adobe.”

This whole process is made possible by advancements in QR code technology. On traceable seafood, customers will find a unique code on the product’s packaging to input on Sobeys’ tracking website, as well as a sticker with a QR code printed on it that can be scanned using a smartphone. This links the customer to much more information about the item than can be printed on the package itself.

Six new apps have also been revealed by Adobe, in conjunction with the Creative Cloud announcement. The intuitive touch screen applications, designed for Android tablets and Apple iPad, allow anyone to explore ideas and present their creativity anytime, anywhere.

Not limited to seafood, this food tracking trend also extends to all kinds of products, from meat to milk to coffee, and also fruits and vegetables. Here are a few other examples, according to a recent article in the Globe & Mail:

Inspired by Adobe’s Creative Suite software, the apps address multiple areas of the creative process: image editing; ideation; sketching; mood boards; website and mobile app prototyping; and presenting finished work.

“California-based HarvestMark lets shoppers look up information on various coded grocery items, Brazilian food co-op Aurora allows customers to access information on the origin, processing and packaging of a milk product, and German meat co-operative Westfleisch reportedly offers a “Trace ’n Face” system that lets shoppers see a photograph of the pork producer by scanning the label with their cellphones.”

Available soon as standalone apps, Adobe says its Touch Apps are essential components of the Creative Cloud. Files created via the new apps can be shared, viewed across devices or transferred into Adobe Creative Suite software for further refinement. With stylus capabilities expected to become a feature on some next generation tablets, Adobe Touch Apps are designed to work with both finger and stylus input.

New concept printer: ‘See What You Print’

SWYP: See What You Print. The idea behind this new concept printer comes from Artefact Group, an organization dedicated to innovation in design, research and technology. The device aims to reduce some of the common complications associated with consumer printing.

Artefact Group’s website says: The issue with printers is not that we lack the necessary technology, but rather that the core design and usability issues have not been fully addressed. Traditional OEMs are making incremental improvements end up over-complicating what should be a simple process and producing over-bloated boxes that sit in our shelves.

Adobe Touch Apps will be available for Android devices this month.

Adobe expects to make an announcement regarding iOS availability in early 2012. Introductory pricing is US $9.99 for each app. Access to the file viewing, sharing and transfer functionality of Adobe Creative Cloud is included in the price of each app. Details regarding the pricing of the Creative Cloud will be announced soon in November.

The device, noticeably less cumbersome than most desktop printers, simplifies editing and printing by showing people exactly what the printed page will look like.

Food tracing and the QR code

- Margins and scaling can be previewed and edited on the touchscreen before printing - Colour results become predictable with a screen that is always calibrated to the printer - Unwanted print areas are easily spotted and can be removed by simply ‘swiping’ it off the screen

Food tracing — the ability to track food through the supply chain back to its origin — is really taking off these days. As consumers demand more transparency in the food system, grocery stores, suppliers and producers are expected to provide them with greater access to food traceability. That’s where the QR code comes in.

Sobey’s, Canada’s second largest food retailer, has recently launched a traceability system to track its seafood from the ocean to the plate. Customers can not only discover the fisherman who caught their dinner, but also the boat it was caught from, a map of the fishing area where the catch took place and the fishing method used.

With the ‘SWYP’ printer, printing from a camera is straightforward, even without a computer. Users can also connect directly to Facebook and Flickr to print photos from online.

“Sobeys is proud to be the first Canadian grocery retailer to offer an innovative and comprehensive seafood traceability system that focuses on more sustainable sources and allows customers to verify the authenticity and quality of their seafood purchases,” says David Smith, VP of Retail Strategy & Sustainability at Sobey’s.

November 2011 | Graphic Arts Magazine

22

www.graphicartsmag.com

C O

R

R

E C T I

O

N

Graphic Arts Magazine extends its apologies to press manufacturer KBA. The following article is the one that should have appeared in last month’s product profile on offset presses.

KBA Rapida 106 slashes make-ready times In an industry where shorter run lengths are becoming more and more prevalent, KBA has taken dead aim at reducing costly make-ready times with its groundbreaking Rapida 106 medium-format sheetfed press. Job changeovers become child’s play, says the company, and will result in more profits through improved productivity.

• Cleaning and washing systems

With a maximum sheet size of 740 mm x 1.060 mm (29.13” x 41.73”) and a top output of 18,000 sheets per hour, the Rapida 106 can be supplied in countless configurations with up to 16 printing units. The substrate ranges from lightweight papers to heavy board, from plastic films to corrugated substrates. Inline finishing options mean that a printer can add exciting creative effects on both sides of the sheet in a single pass.

• And many, many others.

• Disengaging of unused inking towers • Automatic coater plate changing • Console-controlled coating supply • Suction ring positioning on perfecting presses • Video register KBA also points out that the Rapida 106 is able to perform up to 6 different make-ready processes simultaneously rather than consecutively, slashing from 40% to as high as 60% off the time taken for job changeovers, depending on the complexity of the makeready and the press configuration. More information at www.kba.com.

But again, KBA emphasizes it is in the reduced make-ready times that efficiency has been taken to an entirely new level. In fact the KBA Rapida 106 is actually the make-ready world champion. It has already produced 104 jobs of 1,000 sheets each in a single three-shift day, all under the watchful eyes of independent, third-party institutions. Other key Rapida 106 process automation and optimization features include: •S haftless DriveTronic feeder •S idelay-free infeed •F ully automatic and simultaneous plate changing November 2011 | Graphic Arts Magazine

24

www.graphicartsmag.com

www.graphicartsmag.com

Fine & Business Papers Graphic Systems Sign & Display Industrial Supplies

Come visit us at Canada’s largest graphics, printing & converting show!

Graphics Canada Booth 2430 Toronto International Centre November 10th - 12th 2011

®

November 2011 | Graphic Arts Magazine

®

CoastPaper.com

25

Your perfect connection to the printing and graphic arts industry

Your perfect connection to the printing and graphic arts industry

Installations & Investments

Stan Tranter, Agfa account manager for Quebec, and Serge Robillard, prepress manager of Elopak Canada, with the new Agfa Avalon CTP.

BULLET AUTOGRAPHICS

ELOPAK CANADA

Bullet Autographics has just welcomed a new HP Designjet L25500 printer into its Belleville, Ontario facility. The company, founded in 1995, produces highquality indoor and outdoor signage – everything from freestanding pylon and backlit signs to vehicle wraps, banners and fleet lettering. Company president, Chris Sanders, said: “The HP Designjet L25500 Printer requires less maintenance and is much more consistent than other machines we’ve worked with.”

Elopak Canada in Saint-Leonard, QC has installed an Agfa Avalon N8-22E computer-to-plate system with Agfa Apogee Platemaker software imaging Energy Elite plates. The company offers carton-based packaging solutions for non-carbonated fresh and long-life liquid food products. Elopak also delivers cost-effective flexible filling machines in addition to closures, materials handling equipment and secondary packaging solutions.

Roger Blanchette, president of Quadriscan, and Martin Lapointe, KBR sales representative, with the new Standard/ Horizon BQ-470 PUR perfect binder.

QUADRISCAN

THOMAS-RITT & ASSOCIATES

Montreal’s Quadriscan, a full-service commercial and book printer, has recently purchased a new Standard/ Horizon BQ-470 PUR perfect binder. Purchased through KBR Graphics Canada, the fully-automated device produces up to 1,350 perfect bound books per hour. “The new BQ-470 perfect binder with PUR (polyurethane reactivate adhesive) offers the best size, quality, and turnaround for our customers,” said Roger Blanchette, president of Quadriscan.

Located in Grimsby, Ontario, Thomas-Ritt & Associates considers itself a ‘one-stop shop’ for its customers. The company, with its recently installed HP Designjet Z3200 printer, specializes in producing customized, high quality printed materials for clients in addition to advertising, development and strategic planning. “The HP Designjet Z3200 printer has enabled us to complete projects from start to finish, as now we can print and customize without using a third party,” said Thomas Stirr, founder of Thomas-Ritt & Associates.

November 2011 | Graphic Arts Magazine

26

www.graphicartsmag.com

www.graphicartsmag.com

“YOUR MAILING EXPERTS”

Providing full mailing services for Canada, U.S.A. and International destinations.

We provide polybagging, inkjetting, labeling, laser printing, full lettershop, folding, clip sealing and specialized hand fulfillment.

Our Staff is customer focused and professional.

Serving the industry for over 40 years.

We operate from a 25,000 square foot modern facility and we are here to help you.

817 Brock Road, Unit 1, Pickering, ON L1W 3L9 Tel: 905-420-1099 • Fax (905) 420-9878 Contact Stuart Sullivan for further information or your no obligation quote

Trade Printing Best deal on time on budget When you have deadlines to meet…

Fast turnaround & competitive trade pricing NEW 8-Colour Mitsubishi 40” w/ Perfector 6-Colour Mitsubishi 40” w/AQ 5-Colour Mitsubishi 40” 4-Colour Heidelberg 25” w/AQ State of the art CTP & Film Output

NEW Over 50,000 sq. ft. Facility 24/7 Production Full In-house Bindery and Finishing Fully Automated Process Books, Magazines, Catalogues, Posters, Brochures, Flyers, etc.

Prompt estimates

T:

416-299-8568

F:

416-299-3977

E: bestdeal@bdprint.ca 30 Production Dr., Scarborough, Ontario M1H 2X8

www.bestdealgraphicsprinting.com

Toll Free:

1-866-719-3339

BROKER / ACCOUNT PROTECTED November 2011 | Graphic Arts Magazine

27

Your perfect connection to the printing and graphic arts industry

Tony Curcio

Special event

The verdict is in: Printing Survivor 2011 was “well worth the trip”

Speakers included John Foley Jr., founder and CEO of interlinkONE, who discussed how printers can grow their businesses through print, email, web, social media, mobile and more. During his uplifting talk, he gave away some free copies of his book “Business Transformation: A New Path to Profit for the Printing Industry”.

Graphic Arts Magazine (GAM) held its first-ever town-hallstyle Printing Survivor 2011 event Thursday, October 13 at Le Jardin Conference and Event Centre in Vaughan, Ontario.

Judging by what most in attendance had to say afterwards, the afternoon was “well worth the trip.”

Jay Mandarino, President and Founder of C. J. Graphics Inc., whose company has won more awards than any other printer in North America, shared his ideas and thoughts on how companies can survive going forward. His talk included the inside story on his own company’s success.

“We wanted to put on an event filled with strategies from successful printers and business entrepreneurs that every single person in the room could take back with them and begin implementing right away in their own businesses,” said GAM Publisher Joe Mulcahy. “With our line-up of exceptional speakers, the important topics they covered, the opportunity for audience questions, and from comments after the event, I genuinely believe we accomplished our goals. We plan on staging a similar event next year – and I can tell you that its date, times and topics will be determined by the feedback we got, and will get, from printers,” he added.

Arjun Basu, Content Director of Spafax, one of the world’s leading providers of custom marketing solutions, assured the audience that print, especially magazines, are anything but dead. He pointed to the fact that 83% of consumers still read magazines and that 80% actually expect a multi-media experience. His message was clear: compelling content is extremely important, no matter what the channel.

Peter Muir

November 2011 | Graphic Arts Magazine

28

www.graphicartsmag.com

www.graphicartsmag.com

Arjun Basu

John Foley Jr.

Peter Muir, President of Bizucate Inc., gave a rousing close to proceedings following dinner. He focused on six basic strategies designed to help printers to help their customers. After reviewing some fascinating case studies, and great audience interaction, the evening came to a close.

Jay Mandarino awake until the very end. Based on my conversations, the people who did attend seemed very pleased with the content. We certainly left with much to think about. Those who didn’t show up missed out!”

Ruby Thomas, V. P., Operations, Harmony Printing Limited (Toronto, Ontario)

Here is a cross-section of comments from some of those who attended.

“Worth my 8 hours of travelling time back and forth from Windsor.”

Cary Wheeler, Wheeler’s Printing & Copying Ltd. (Windsor, Ontario)

“Congratulations to you and your staff for Printing Survivor 2011. This turned out to be a most enjoyable and informative event. The speakers were first-rate and delivered the positive message that those assembled came to hear. A job well done.

Wayne McHale, McHale & Associates (Dundas, Ontario)

“Great job organizing the mix of speakers, excellent food and venue. The event was exactly what the printing industry needs. The thousands of printers who didn’t attend missed an opportunity to learn about high-level business planning to succeed in a tight market as well as some fundamental ‘getin-the-door’ sales techniques that don’t require a ‘born salesperson’ – at a very low event fee of $100. I will be applying some of the speakers’ ideas to my business.”

Garth Atkinson, Publication Partners Ltd. (Pickering, Ontario)

Early-Bird Discount available for next year’s event!

Reserve your seat NOW for Printing Survivor 2012 now and save. Call 1-877-513-3999 for more information.

“The speakers forced you to come up with some great ideas while they were presenting. Graphic Arts Magazine did a good job holding an event with 80% content and 20% networking. Better than expected.”

Gordon Griffiths, Gordon Group Enterprises Ltd. (Toronto, Ontario)

Tony Curcio ajg.curcio@gmail.com

“Just a note to congratulate you for putting on a great event.

Peter Muir was the highlight. He kept everyone engaged and

November 2011 | Graphic Arts Magazine

29

Your perfect connection to the printing and graphic arts industry

Peter Dulis

Te c h n o l o g y

Consac Imagemakers Sign Show 2011 – Peter’s picks Images are everything today and at the Consac Imagemakers Sign Show this year, we had lots of images in print and digital format. Consac Imagemakers has grown to be among the top ten largest sign industry tradeshows in North America and this year it was held Sept. 23-24th at the International Centre in Mississauga.

to outdoor banners, bus shelters and vehicle wraps. Since its introduction, the HP Designjet L25500 Printer and HP Latex portfolio have seen tremendous market acceptance with more than 3,000 latex ink printing systems shipped, producing more than 100 million square feet of materials.

The image making industry contributes in excess of 3 billion dollars annually to Canada’s gross domestic product and this would be Canada’s major show dealing with the sign industry.

Many people were quite excited to see so many new exhibitors this year and I spoke with many exhibitors at the show about their new offerings. Here are a few of the “HOT PICKS” that I thought were newsworthy:

Océ was present with print samples produced from its new Océ Arizona 360 GT and 360 XT UV series of flatbed printers, build on the success of world’s best selling UV flatbed platform. The 360 GT model features the standard table size of 1.25 meters by 2.5 meters while the 360 XT model features an extra large table size of 2.5 meters by 3.05 meters. Both offer an Express Mode print speed of up to 377 square feet per hour, which is ideal for banner and outdoor work. A new High Definition print mode delivers incredibly fine feature reproduction including the ability to print text as small as twopoint size, enabling print providers to offer higher-margin technical and industrial applications such as printing on lenticular lenses and membrane panels.

Océ

Canon – GBC

Canon and GBC presented a Create – Print – Laminate solution. Canon-GBC demonstrated how the PosterArtist turn-key solution for Windows is a professional poster creation suite, perfect for designing posters, banners, and signage in 4 simple steps, with over 200 templates to choose from. The new Canon iPF8300s 44” printer was on display with the GBC Titan 1244WF. This formidable pair allows print + copy shops to add on extra revenue stream for indoor and outdoor printing for around $645 per month.

Roland

HP

Roland showed off its first hybrid 64-inch UV-LED inkjet printer. This newest addition to Roland’s award-winning VersaUV line, prints CMYK, White and Clear Gloss inks on a wide variety of flexible roll media and rigid substrates up to 13mm thick.

Versatile by design, the LEJ-640 enables professionals to explore exciting new options for applications ranging from wide-format signage, displays and window graphics to POP, packaging prototypes and interior décor items.

HP demonstrated the Designjet L25500 printer with Latex Inks. The L25500 printer delivers easy, low-maintenance printing of a wider range of applications – from indoor pointof-purchase displays, exhibition graphics and interior décor

Peter Dulis Wide Format Printing Specialist Canon Canada pdulis@rogers.com

November 2011 | Graphic Arts Magazine

30

www.graphicartsmag.com

2012 Personalized Magnetic Calendars A cost-effective way to keep your name in front of your clients all year long!

ss

sine

u ur b “Yo

Season’s Greetings

Eye-Catching designs to choose from

ngs i t e e Gr s ’ n so Sea

2 1 0 2 2012

SEASON’S GREETINGS

2012

SEASON’S GREETINGS

2012 Season’s Greetings

SEASON’S GREETINGS

Season’s Greetings

2012

2012

SEASON’S GREETINGS

Season’s Greetings 2012

• Attractive Cover • 13 monthly pages • Dec. 2011 to Dec. 2012 • Full color throughout

2012

• 2013 calendar at a glance • Page for emergency numbers

• Thank valued customers • Promote your business all year long

240 Brunel Road, Mississauga, Ontario L4Z 1T5 Tel: 905.501.1296 • Fax: 905.949.1021 E-mail: info@sherwoodprinters.com • www.sherwoodprinters.com

2012

ere”

dh car

Andrea Mahoney

Te c h n o l o g y

PowerSWITCH 10 and Chili Publisher 2.0 Hot new upgrades

Enfocus started off the Chili Publisher World Tour by announcing the addition of Chili Publish as a Crossroads Application Partner. Chili Publisher was showcased in the October 2011 Tour in New York, London, Paris and other cities. Among the new features were the Chili Publish Plugin for SWITCH, the Chili Publish Flash Viewer and the Chili Publish iPad Reader. The Crossroads partnership gives SWITCH and its counterparts a connection directly into web portals via Chili Publisher API.

• Pass database information to your customers using Pitstop Connect • Create production steps using SwitchClient by passing updated data to departments • Create Status updates allowing your production departments and customers to view status

The New SwitchClient is now available on iPad

The same setups you have using the regular SwitchClient application will allow you to view messages, database Status updates, metadata, send approvals etc. This is now available at the App Store.

The Chili Publisher Plugin for SWITCH

SWITCH adds automation to the upload of images into Chili or the creation of documents into user spaces. Flows can carry files, images, fonts and uploads to Chili Publisher for customers to make changes, additions or approvals. The automation ensures that files are created the same way each time for each customer.

Creative Suites – CS5 Plugin Module

What’s new? Now, all kinds of file types can be sent to InDesign, Illustrator, or Photoshop. Previously only Photoshop files, Indesign files and Illustrator files were allowed. Illustrator configurator now also accepts job folders allowing automation for linked images in your workflows. InDesign can now automatically export files to ePub within SWITCH.

Chili Publisher also generates quality output that can be sent to SWITCH automated flows. These formats can be created from layout files in Chili Editor:

Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP)

PDF, Chili Publish Flash Viewer, Chili Publish iPad Reader

This module has been added to all versions of SWITCH 10.

This protocol ensures that your company’s files are safely sent and received over the Internet.

All output can also include interactive content such as: • Hyperlinks • Bookmarks • Videos • Image slideshows

SwitchProxy module

The SwitchProxy module is a proxy server that ensures business continuity: clients can always deliver data to your company’s server even while it is being maintained or updated. SwitchProxy is an additional module for FullSwitch and PowerSwitch users.

Chili Publisher 2.0 uses Adobe Flex which supports Android, iPad, BlackBerry etc. Follow www.Crossroads-World.com for further announcements on Chili Publisher.

SWITCH and its latest update have added many new features to FullSWITCH and PowerSWITCH:

These upgrades are full of new technology that is in demand right now. Both Chili Publisher and SWITCH will provide the graphic arts industry with the technology they can use on their own to become more competitive and more profitable.

Find more information at www.enfocus.com, www.chili-publish.com or book a demonstration to fit your needs by emailing sales@tribay.ca or phoning (416) 729-9687.

The all-new Database module

Customized scripting and integration is no longer required.

The Database module establishes a connection to a MIS or any database. A high expertise level is not required allowing most to integrate with their own system. The ODBC connector helps you establish a connection and see the data you need for your everyday production.

Andrea Mahoney designs and installs automated workflows for all types of printing professionals. Tribay, a workflow automation company, offers the tools, training and setup for successful automated workflows.

Visit www.tribay.ca and/or email Andrea at andrea@tribay.ca.

• Use data from your database in the same environment as you would use regular variables • The Database connector allows you to read, write and delete data from your database

November 2011 | Graphic Arts Magazine

32

www.graphicartsmag.com

www.graphicartsmag.com

LARGE FORMAT FOR TRADE Upto 1440 DPI

High Quality Short Run

FULL COLOUR Copying Short and Long Run

Black & White Docutech Publishing

Full In-house Bindery * Prompt Quotes. * Timely Turnaround. * Competitive Pricing. * The ability to accept Hard Copies or Mac/PC files. * 24 hr FTP file upload server for your convenience.

BROKER PROTECTED

1.99 COLOUR PRINTS ¢ 8 FROM

$

/SQ FT

AS LOW AS

trade

E-mail: files@tradeimpressions.com www.tradeimpressions.com

Division of

Tel: 905.238.1307 Fax: 905.238.0589

800

4611 Burgoyne St., Mississauga, ON L4W 1G3

• BANNER • VINYL • CANVAS • POSTERS • BACKLIT • FABRIC • PHOTO PAPER

Calendar Magnets Business Card Magnets 12x18 Peel-n-Stick Magnet Sheets 12pt Card Stock - 12 x 18 10pt Card Stock - 12 x 18 80lb Text Stock - 12 x 18 100lb Text Stock - 12 x 18

56 Bramsteele Rd., Unit 4 Brampton ON L6W 3M7

www.800trade.ca info@800trade.ca

647-300-9015

• die-cutting • embossing • mounting • numbering • automatic gluer • hand finishing

FOIL STAMPING 28x40 SHEETS

November 2011 | Graphic Arts Magazine

33

PER COPY

Your perfect connection to the printing and graphic arts industry

Diana Brown

Product Profile

Product Profile

Epson’s SurePress L-4033A Digital Label Press

This month’s topic: Digital presses HP Indigo WS6600 Digital Press

Digital press technology is becoming increasingly prevalent and valuable in today’s printing environment.

Versatility, cost effective short run capabilities, decreased makeready and reduced waste are just some of the factors enabling digital press technology to out perform traditional offset processes.

HP Indigo WS6600 Digital Press is a state-of-the-art digital label and packaging press that prints 98 feet per minute in 4-colour mode and up to 196 feet per minute in 1 and 2-colour modes. The press has an image resolution of 1219 dpi and 2438 × 2438 dpi addressability HDI (High Definition Imaging). Compatible substrates include pressure-sensitive label stock, paperboard and unsupported films, with a web width from 7.87 – 13.39 inches.

Another huge benefit to digital press technology is the opportunity for reduced obsolescence and printing only what is required, when it is required. This reduces associated storage and overall waste without sacrificing quality. The opportunity for variable data, custom and on-demand printing jobs can far outweigh the higher cost per piece associated with a digitally printed, short run job. Therefore, there’s a lot to be said about the current work produced by digital presses and the innumerable opportunities digital presses hold for the future. Below is a breakdown of six digital presses.

At the core of the HP Indigo is a liquid electrophotographic printing process. The press supports a white ink mode that allows for greater opacity and a greater range of products to be printed.

There is an optional inline priming treatment unit so that nontreated standard stock can be primed inline and does not require a separate step. This helps increase production flexibility and accommodate last minute jobs and changes.

Epson’s SurePress L-4033A Digital Label Press

Remote diagnostics and troubleshooting tools are designed to help assist operators in resolving problems quickly and efficiently. In addition to these service features, this press is equipped with automated calibration processes to ensure consistent quality with minimal operator intervention.

Epson’s SurePress L-4033A digital label press allows for short run label production. It is a water-based, 6-colour device (cyan, magenta, yellow, black, orange and green), thereby allowing for increased colour gamut with consistent results. This digital label press employs inkjet technology and allows for web widths from 3.15 – 13 inches. Substrates used with this equipment do not require pretreatment; therefore a wide range of off-the-shelf substrates can be used. Pretreatment is not required due to the use of a two-stage drying process, which permits a wide range of substrates to be used while still ensuring maximum ink adhesion.

November 2011 | Graphic Arts Magazine

HP Indigo WS6600 Digital Press

34

www.graphicartsmag.com

www.graphicartsmag.com

GBC USP 13 Automated Universal Speed Punch Productivity: Up to 120,000 sheets per hour; Average 80,000 sheets per hour Min Doc Size: 5" x 6" Max Doc Size: 12" x 13" Data Processing

• Handles thick, glossy, coated stock, weight from 16lb to 110lb index.

• Included are 5 dies: 2:1 Square, 3:1 Round, 3:1 Square, 4:1 Round, 5:1 Round. (15 dies available in all) • Machine is 2006 at cost of over $40,000.00 new!

• We are selling it because we lost school contract.

• Very low usage (used 3-4 weeks each year).

• Highly productive, clean, very good condition.

Laser Personalization Canadian and US Mail Sorts Complete Lettershop Services Project Management 750 Birchmount Road, Unit 47 Toronto, ON M1K 5H7 Telephone: 416-755-9494 Fax: 416-755-4343 Contact: Tony Grosso or Rod Jones

Selling for $10,500.00 obo.

Kit Prep and Assembly Database Management Innovation

Our experience ensures your campaign’s success

Tel. (800)663-6279. Email: print@avemaria.ca

SHORT RUN

LABELS

ON ROLLS CUSTOM LABELS

No Plates or Dies N

4 Colour

• Flexo 1 to 6 colours, 150 line process • U.V. varnish, laminating, foil stamping • Numbering front and back • Rolls, sheets, fan folded • Up to 5 years outdoor fade resistance • Rush orders available

Digital Printing Digital Die Cutting

1

23456 78901

Barcode

2

No Minimum Quantity Fast Turn Around

DIGITAL PRINTING

Any Size (Up to 9”)

• Full colour variable data printing • Consecutive numbering • Bar codes • 72 hour delivery available

Lamination

TRADE SERVICES

Any Shape

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Numbering

• On time • No cost drop shipments • Ship exact quantities ordered

The Print Connection Inc. Tel 905-731-0399 1-888-255-0291 Fax 905-731-8581 info@labelconnect.com

FOR TRADE QUOTES:

245 Bowes Road Unit #4 Concord, Ont, L4K 1H8

T: 1-800-565-2235 or 905-681-7070 F: 1-800-837-8683 or 905-681-7072

www.labelconnect.com November 2011 | Graphic Arts Magazine

quotes@teckmark.com • www.teckmark.com

35

Your perfect connection to the printing and graphic arts industry

Diana Brown

Product Profile

In a blind test with 226 participants in November 2010, users were asked which package they preferred. They were shown a package printed on the HP Indigo and a product printed via flexography. Participants preferred the quality of the HPIndigo package by a four-to-one margin.

100%”. MGI therefore operates with no monthly minimums or overage charges. “You pay for what you print, it’s that simple.”

Xante’s ILUMINA GS Digital Production Press

There are also environmentally friendly aspects to this digital press including deinkable printed products that are therefore recyclable. This digital press has a smaller carbon footprint than other similar digital presses, including low power consumption, no exit exhaust, no additional HVAC or chiller required, as well as no VOC emission. To top it off, the consumables for this digital press are packaged in recyclable containers and do not require a special means of disposal.

This high-production digital colour press is designed to print full-colour envelopes, sheets and cards. The press includes a high-volume feeder and delivery conveyor that can support the manufacture of 40 full-colour #10 envelopes per minute or 36 full-colour pages per minute. It can also produce variable data at full production speed. The High Capacity Feeder holds 4000 sheets of 20lb bond paper with a width of 3.875 – 12.9 inches. Text weight paper and heavy cover stocks (up to 26 pt) can all be accommodated, as well as uncoated, coated, textured stocks and transparencies.

The High Capacity Feeder also accommodates unique sheets up to 47.29 inches in length for banners.

Xeikon 8000 Digital Press Xeikon’s 8000 digital press employs dry toner elec trophotographic technology and provides 1200 dpi imaging capabilities. This press is ideal for direct marketing and web-to-print applications, including books, transpromo, direct mail and variable data ondemand printed pieces.

Konica Minolta bizhub Digital Press C8000 This Konica Minolta versatile digital press has fast and reliable output of 80 ppm in full colour with offset-quality colour at 1,200 dpi and is certified by IDEAlliance. It has a simple interface that allows for straightforward usability; therefore less operator training time is required.

The user has a choice of 3 powerful print control engines, including Konica Minolta, Fiery and Creo, for superior colour management of every job.

Additionally, a new relay unit in this digital press provides key information directly to the print engine and makes adjustments on the fly to promote maximum press uptime. Another unique attribute of this press is the high capacity storage unit that is able to hold 10,760 sheets of paper for minimal stoppage of long run jobs. This in turn means less operator intervention and more press uptime.

The Xeikon 8000 digital press does not require pre-treatment of substrates, thereby allowing for increased flexibility when planning and executing a job. It is a web-fed device that has a maximum web width of 20.2 inches and no maximum print length.

Massachusetts-based book printer, Bradford & Bigelow, invested in this technology in 2009 and have achieved success with educational book publishers, who often require text revisions to communicate the latest research. They have employed finishing technology that feeds directly from the Xeikon to cut, slit and collate the book so it’s ready for the bindery. Bradford & Bigelow recognizes that the Xeikon 8000 digital press has trimmed significant time and labour out of its book production, thereby increasing bottom-line profitability.

MGI’s Meteor DP8700 XL

It is often difficult to see through all of the numbers, specifications and capabilities to understand what’s truly important: value. If the capabilities of a digital press are able to create value for your current and prospective customers, it may be worth the investment. With digital printing, and every other product or service sold, if the customer says, “it’s too expensive”, they are not saying, “the price is too high”, they are saying, “the value is too low”. If you can show them value, above and beyond the cost per printed piece, your digital efforts will pay off.

MGI’s versatile digital press prints on a wide range of substrates including paper and plastics. It can accommodate up to 40” sheet size with a possible 3600 dpi output. A wide range of industries makes use of this technology, including commercial, book, photo and envelope printers.

The Meteor DP8700 XL can handle plastics from 4mil up to 16mil thick and accommodate the following types: PVC, polyester, polycarbonate, polyethylene, Lexan®, PET, Autotype, Vinyl, Teslin®, Yupo, Melinex®, and canvas. It has variable data capabilities and is compatible with many popular variable data management solutions including: NEWLEAF & PReS PrintSoft, Seagull Scientific Bartender, Adobe InDesign, QuarkXPress, PrintShop Mail, etc.

Diana Brown is the Owner of ON-SITE First Aid & CPR Training Group, a health & safety company who provides training to the Graphic Arts industry. diana@onsitefirstaid.ca

A unique quality of this press is that there are no click charges!

As MGI explains: “we listened when printers worldwide told us they thought that the click charges were unfair, and we agree

November 2011 | Graphic Arts Magazine

36

www.graphicartsmag.com

www.graphicartsmag.com

Save up to $1 on every book you bind

Courtney Dams em: courtney.dams@gmail.com www: courtneydams.com ph: 289.355.0224

Graduated Honour Roll Student, proficient in CS5 and HTML/CSS, specializing in digital art and website design, looking to be part of a team.

Do strip binding, perfect binding or Halfback™ bound covers, all on one machine.

Fastback® offers a stronger, better-looking and quicker alternative to coil or comb binding.

Call 1.800.663.8184

204-19232 Enterprise Way Surrey BC V3S 6J9

www.bindingandlaminating.com

Is homework painful?

Relief is just a phone call away.

For a free information package call Maureen O’Sullivan, BSc at 905-853-3363.

Visit us at learningability.org.

If learning is a problem ... we have a solution.

November 2011 | Graphic Arts Magazine

Licensed and certified Davis facilitator TM

37

Your perfect connection to the printing and graphic arts industry

Barry Siskind

Trade shows

A back-up objective for the B to C exhibitor The secret to exhibit success lies in your ability to focus all your resources on a single, achievable and measurable goal. However, there are situations where focusing on one goal may mean lost opportunities, particularly when you are exhibiting at B to C (Business to Consumer) shows.

In order to realize this additional benefit of participating in a trade show you need to carefully plan your approach. Here are the steps you need to take.

1. Plan a post-show event within 20 – 30 days after the show.

This way you can promote the events and they will stay fresh in your visitor’s mind.

Typically, exhibitors who participate in shows that attract the end user, focus on selling products, setting appointments or writing orders. None of these are bad and for many companies, they provide an immediate method of gauging success.

The opportunities that may be slipping through your fingers are with those attendees who are not ready to buy your product or commit to the appointment and need more time before placing an order.

2. Promote the event at your booth. This could take the form of a poster or sign-up sheet.

3. Create a profile of the people who will get the biggest benefit of attending this event and train your booth staff on how to identify these people and qualify them.

4. Develop a lead sheet, so that your staff can record the visitor’s information as well as additional bits of information that will help you target your post-show marketing.

To address this challenge we need to go back to the beginning and look at your marketing plan. When you developed your plan to bring your products and services to the market, surely you weighed the pros and cons of each marketing tool.

Some of these tools include print, e-marketing, social media, direct mail, brochures, trade shows and events. In addition, you have undoubtedly considered adding special events to your roster of activities. These may include open houses, seminars, newsletters and special discounts.

5. A sk for the commitment. If they have agreed to purchase your product, invite them to a post-show event after the sale is completed. If they are qualified but are reluctant to finalize the sale immediately, you can invite them to your post-show event. If you don’t ask, they won’t volunteer.

6. F ollow-up with these people immediately after the show to remind them of the upcoming event or the date of the release of your newsletter.

Now, the next step is to integrate all your marketing tools to support the events you are planning. For example if you are planning an open house you may be printing invitations and mailing them to a pre-qualified list. If you are offering a special discounted price you may be considering an e-mail blast.

When you look at your marketing plan as a holistic component of your business success and you move away from focusing on one show at a time, you will achieve better results. Studies have proven that when you add this secondary objective to your exhibit plans, your ultimate show-related return on investment could grow as much as 50% – 60% and that’s well worth the effort.

You can tie these marketing activities into your exhibit planning when you include as a secondary objective, attracting visitors to attend one of your other marketing events. For example, if a visitor at your booth is not prepared to buy now and you have assessed that there may be long term potential, why not invite them to a tour of your facilities or an educational session? Your secondary objective could be as simple as building a database of interested people who will receive your newsletter.

November 2011 | Graphic Arts Magazine

Barry Siskind is North America’s foremost trade and consumer show expert. He is author of “Powerful Exhibit Marketing.” Visit www.siskindtraining.com and learn how you can dramatically improve the bottom line at your next show.

38

www.graphicartsmag.com

www.graphicartsmag.com

1220 Landmeier Road, Elk Grove Village, Illinois 60007 Tel: (847) 472-2100 Fax (847) 472-2106

Equipment Failure? blowers

We service

• compressors • vacuum pumps

Loaner compressors / pumps available 24-hour service Authorized O.E.M. Recommended Lubricants Specialist in Printing Equipment Repair

DURABILT PUMP SERVICES INC.

TEL: 416-293-9151 • FAX: 416-293-5359

November 2011 | Graphic Arts Magazine

39

Your perfect connection to the printing and graphic arts industry

Staff Writer

Bindery

Understanding mechanical binding There are many ways of mechanically binding paper together. We’ll focus on the methods most used in commercial and digital shops: Spiral, Wire and Cerlox Binding.

block into a bind. Cerlox is available in standard sizes of 19 rings for letter size and 21 rings for legal size. Spines are available from 3/16” up to 2” with a capacity of 425 sheets.

Cerlox hole patterns are rectangular and the plastic binding strip or “combs” need to be opened with a special spreading device so the book block can be inserted over the plastic spine. The appeal of Cerlox is that the spines can be printed on, thus showing the title of the work. Different colours are available but black and white are the two most popular.

Spiral binding

Spiral Binding (aka coil binding) uses a circular plastic coil that is inserted into the spine of the book block through circular holes punched into the paper to create a bound, lay-flat book. The punch creates a circular or oval hole pattern. Oval hole patterns are becoming more popular because they make it easier to insert the coil into thicker books. The coil is inserted with the aid of a rubber-rollerpowered device. Spiral has become the most popular form of mechanical binding for a number of reasons. The spiral can be easily inserted into any size of book and then trimmed to its final size, thus eliminating the need to purchase the exact length required. A full range of colours adds additional dimension to the design and can be matched to a specific corporate colour scheme. Plastic coil is low-cost and available from 6mm sizes up to 50mm. This allows binding books up to 2” thick (or containing about 460 sheets).

Pros: • Lay-flat properties • Spines or combs can be printed on • Individual sheets can be added or removed Cons: • Not as aesthetically appealing

The machines: How it’s done

While many printers use large machines for mechanical binding, the range of smaller machines on the market has increased, especially units that have changeable punch patterns (dies).

Pros: • Single-punch pattern can be used for all thicknesses of books • Wide range of colours are available • 12” and 36” lengths can be easily cut to required length • Allows book to lie flat on a table Cons: • Pages cannot be removed or new sheets added • Coil is flexible and may not support the spine of large books, especially ones that contain heavier coated paper

Low-volume machines These give you the ability to produce one type of bind and usually include a small finishing attachment to complete the process.

For example, a spiral machine has a small electric inserter on the top, whereas a wire or cerlox machine includes a small comb opener or wire crimper mounted on the top.

Typically, these punches are operated with a manual hand lever or electric foot pedal and can punch from 10 to 20 sheets per lift.

Wire binding

Also called Wire O or Twin Loop Binding, it’s available in two different pitches – 2:1 – 2 holes per inch and 3:1 – 3 holes per inch. 2:1 places two holes across the spine of the book block and allows binding from ¼” up to 1 ¼” thickness. 2:1 pitch is almost always used for thicker substrates as the gauge of the wire is also thicker. 3:1 wire is used for all books up to 9/16”. Wire binding is most often used for calendars – as well as reference books that combine light and heavy substrates. Wire-bound hole patterns are square and require the wire spine to be inserted and then crimped or squeezed closed with an adjustable crimper. Additionally, a wire bound document can also contain a plastic hanger for such applications as calendars. Wire-bound documents also have the ability to lie perfectly flat on the table and also allow for a 360-degree rotation of the paper.

Pros: • Wire is strong and will support thicker books that contain thicker stocks • Wide range of colours are available

Akiles CoilMac-EPI+ Heavy Duty Electric Coil Punch & Inserter

Mid-range machines They’re the most popular type of mechanical binding punch.

Electrically operated, they allow the punching of up to 55 sheets per lift, are foot-pedal or hand-control operated, and include a die system that can be changed to allow the punching of different hole patterns. All of the final coiling or crimping is completed after the punching process using line inserters or crimpers. Coil inserters that have integrated cutters and crimpers, or electrically powered crimping machines, are the most popular for high-production workflows.

Cons: • Must either be cut to proper length or order custom dimensions

Cerlox binding

Cerlox Binding (aka comb binding) uses a plastic strip that has teeth on each side that close together to lock the book

November 2011 | Graphic Arts Magazine

Akiles VersaMac Interchangeable Die Electric Binding Machine

40

www.graphicartsmag.com

www.graphicartsmag.com

Give us a try buy our supplies Silvermaster Plates Agfa Metal Plates Kimoto Plates Genie Plates Deletion Pens Taniguchi Ink

Day Blankets Laminating Material Book Binding Coil Baseline Masking Sheets Blanket Wash

Fountain Solutions Alcohol Plate Cleaners Staples, Stitching Shrink Wrap Wire

Print onto magnet directly Available for Offset Printing Wide Format Printing Digital Printing Inkjet Printing Screen Printing

BRAND NAME SUPPLIES AT WHOLESALE PRICES IN STOCK

Ask for Free Samples

Toll Free: 1-877-885-2734

Jasdi Magnetics (Canada) Co. Ltd. e-mail:sales@jasdimagnetics.com website: www.jasdimagnetics.com

November 2011 | Graphic Arts Magazine

(416)297-7996 • (800)608-4506 • www.pressdown.net

41

Your perfect connection to the printing and graphic arts industry

Thomas Gagnon

FYPI

For your print information:

What is Dot Gain?

Conclusion

What Causes Dot Gain/TVI?

In terms of colour balance, controlling the consistency and balance of dot gain for each ink colour is more important than its actual value. If any colour produces a significantly different dot gain value than its counterparts, severe colour shifts will occur.

As a rule then, dot gain values should vary as little as possible between colours. Understanding this will help you ensure efficient, repeatable, and high quality results.

“Dot gain” refers to the apparent growth in dot percentage that occurs from when a dot is measured on film (or in the application file) to when it is measured on the printed sheet with a densitometer. Dot gain is created by the pressure between the plate and blanket, which causes the ink film covering the dots on plate to spread outward. The term tone value increase (TVI) also refers to the same phenomenon. In reality, TVI is the more appropriate term of the two, because not all modern printing technologies (for example, some inkjets or proofers) actually use dots. In addition, the term TVI puts more emphasis on the aspect of this process that we are most concerned with – the change in tone from original to reproduction.

Some form of dot gain is inherent in any printing process, and as such it should not necessarily be seen as positive or negative.

We can, however, use dot gain as a process control metric by comparing expected dot gain values with the actual results we achieve on-press. For example, if we have a 50% tone, and expect a total dot gain of 24% during printing, then a measurement of the corresponding tone patch on our press sheet should have a value of 74%. If our reading yields a value significantly different than this expected size of 74%, then our processes should be examined to determine the cause for failure.

There are actually two primary components of dot gain. The first component, which we have already touched on, is mechanical dot gain. It is caused by the application of pressure to an ink film during printing. The second component is what is known as optical dot gain. Optical dot gain occurs when light is trapped by the substrate and scattered around the perimeter of the dot. It can be thought of as the shadow of the dot within the substrate.

About RYETAGA

RYETAGA (Ryerson Technical Association of the Graphic Arts) is Ryerson University’s official Student Chapter of TAGA (Technical Association of the Graphic Arts). As Canada’s only TAGA student chapter, RYETAGA student members take part in every aspect of our journal production. We will be submitting our student journal publication to be competing at the TAGA Annual Technical Conference this March 2011. The TAGA conference provides industry and student members the opportunity to learn about the latest research and technology in the graphic arts industry, through seminars and networking. RYETAGA’s student journal publication will be competing to keep the Grand Prize, the Helmut Kipphan Cup for best overall student technical journal and Harvey Levenson Undergraduate Paper, won last year.

How is Dot Gain Calculated?

The optical component of dot gain makes it difficult to directly measure. As a result, the method most commonly used to calculate dot gain requires density readings of a solid patch of ink and and a corresponding tone patch. One of the many formulas created to calculate dot gain can then be used to determine the change in total area of the dot. Due to the complexity of measuring optical dot gain, there is no universally accepted formula for calculating total dot gain. The one most commonly used, and which is built into most densitometers, is the Murray-Davies formula. The values obtained by these calculations can be compared against the target values in your own in-house specifications or against a published set of standard values such as GRACoL. Keep in mind that some standards will specify allowable tolerances for the midtones only, as this is where dot gain is greatest.

November 2011 | Graphic Arts Magazine

42

www.graphicartsmag.com

www.graphicartsmag.com

Derp printing klub

November 2011 | Graphic Arts Magazine

43

Your perfect connection to the printing and graphic arts industry

Kelley Robertson

Sales

The power of partnering “Get the sale at any cost.” “Make more calls.” “Tell them what they want to hear.”

away this additional service. A few sales trainers I know (including myself) incorporate telephone coaching into their proposals.

They charge for this service but they position it as a way for the company to improve their results. They demonstrate how this additional investment will drive more dollars to their clients’ bottom line. Ultimately, your goal should be helping your customers and clients improve their business results. Here are a few points to consider.

Sales professionals in virtually every industry are under tremendous pressure to close sales. It is not uncommon for them to hear comments similar to ones above from their sales manager, supervisor, or boss. But this approach does not create trust with customers and does not encourage repeat business or a lasting relationship. A more effective approach is to develop a partnering relationship with your clients. This means working with them to help them achieve their goals and objectives. Simple in theory, this strategy requires a completely different approach. Here’s what I mean. In the majority of sales meetings, the sales person looks for ways to position his or her product/service so that the prospect will buy it. However, a partnering approach means putting your goals and objective aside. It means focusing 100% of your attention on your customer. It requires a self-less mindset because there are situations when the best solution is not yours.

In fact, it may mean telling your customer to contact a competitor.

I experienced this just a few days before writing this article. A subscriber to my ezine contacted me about delivering a particular service. Although I may have been able to help her, I knew someone who could better meet her requirements. It was mentally difficult, but I made the decision to refer her to my competition.

1. Focus on their goals and objective instead of your personal agenda (closing the sale). If necessary, recommend another supplier or vendor who offers the exact product/service your client needs.

2. Follow-up. Contact your customer and talk to them after they have made their purchase. Ask them if they are getting the desired results. If they aren’t, look for ways to help them maximize their results. Offer additional support. Give them extra resources. Help them get the best results possible.

3. Incorporate a systemized process into your sales pitch or proposals. People will pay for extras providing they see that value that is brought to their organization.

4. Send information to your customers on a regular basis without being asked. I like to send articles that are relevant to my clients on a regular basis. This demonstrates that I am looking out for their interests, rather than my own. I prefer to send articles written by other people, not just the ones I write.

Partnering also means that you provide exceptional follow-up to ensure that your customer is completely satisfied with their purchase. This does not mean you make just the obligatory follow-up call. It means you explore their actual use of your product and/or service and help them maximize its full potential.

Zig Ziglar once stated, “You can get anything you want in life if you just help enough other people get what they want.” When you help your customers achieve their goals and objectives you become more than a supplier or vendor. You become a preferred partner. And this will prevent your competition from overtaking you in the marketplace.

A client of mine was experiencing less than favorable results after implementing a new program into their business. We scheduled a follow-up meeting with the management team, because as the vendor, I knew that the answers lay in the execution of the program. During the meeting we explored several ways to improve their results and one of the solutions required me to provide additional follow-up. Although I could have charged this client for my time, I knew that it made good business sense to absorb the cost of this follow-up because my primary objective was to help my client achieve the best results possible.

Create a checklist of the additional services you can offer to your clients to help them achieve their goals. Helping your customers reach their objectives will help you increase your profits.

One word of caution—this is a process, not a quick fix. This strategy does take time to generate a return. However, it is well worth the investment.

Subsequent meetings indicated that this investment was worth it as my client began discussing how we could take this initiative to the next level.

The challenge with this concept is that most sales people want some form of instant gratification. But this approach does not offer a direct or immediate payoff for the sales person. However, from a business perspective, it makes good sense.

© 2011 Kelley Robertson, All rights reserved. Kelley Robertson, professional speaker www.kelleyrobertson.com 905.633.7750

It is also important to note that you don’t necessarily have to give

November 2011 | Graphic Arts Magazine

44

www.graphicartsmag.com

www.graphicartsmag.com

High Quality

UV

OFFSET • DIGITAL

Special*

80 lb or 100 lb coated text. 8 pt - 50 pt • 4x6 - 28x40 Size: 12x18 or 14x20 (offset)

1000

• 3/8 gripper required.

$70

Per side - per 1000 imp.

8.5x11-14x20 7 ¢ per imp.

20x26 7.5 ¢ per imp.

28x40 15 ¢ per imp.

*$49.99

per 1000 imperessions.

• WE CAN UV LABLE STOCK •

Wax toner problem eliminated - KONICA MINOLTA UV Specialist

UV

P re s e n tat i o n Folders

Qty

1 pkt.

2 pkts.

50 100 200 500

$2.60ea $2.25ea $1.69ea $1.41ea

$3.10ea $2.75ea $2.20ea $1.46ea

FAZ

High gloss UV folders • 9x12 • 12 pt • Full colour • UV • 3.5” pkt.

(Bring your printed stock and we can also finish them for you).

N e wC O L O U R E n v e l o p e s W W

E. Art95 Cr. 6 Beaver nd Hill Richmo 1L4 Ont. L4B

ViVi

! ble l aila Ful Av in w pes U R o N elo O v En O L C

Available: #8, #9, #10 Reg/Window, 9x12, 10x13 and various invitation envelopes.

• Printing on back available.

#10

OS

9x12 OE

500 $ 89 500 $145 1000 $159 1000 $256 2000 $260 2000 $380

OTHER SERVICES • 1-2-3 spot colours • stationery • pads • carbonless

Short run bindery • folding • perfing • scoring • laminating • padding • cerlox / coil binding

UV & Bindery Services

T 905.370.1875 F 9 0 5 . 4 8 2 . 9 4 2 8 E U V _ U B S @ ya h o o . c a 95 East Beaver Creek Rd. Unit 6, Richmond Hill ON L4B 1L4

November 2011 | Graphic Arts Magazine

45

Your perfect connection to the printing and graphic arts industry

Diana Brown

Education

Succession planning 101 What is succession planning and why is it important for every business?

Succession planning is also about leadership development and attracting and retaining top talent to move forward with the organizational goals of the business. If you plan to transition your business onto a successor versus selling the business, selecting internal versus external candidates is an important decision. There are pros to both, including maintaining business continuity and less expensive recruitment costs for internal candidates and fresh perspectives, as well as a potential greater range of experiences for external candidates.

Succession planning is the preparation for giving over control of an organization. It helps answer the “what if” questions and outlines the necessary steps to successfully transition the company from one leader to the next with minimal disruption.

Succession plans are necessary if the CEO retires, can no longer fulfill their duties, or in case of death. For this reason, planning can often be delayed because it is an emotional issue for the business owner, however it is critical to plan for the inevitable. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business believes that over the next 10-15 years, approximately 70% of Canadian businesses will change hands.

It’s imperative to be realistic about the prospect of a family member taking over the business, and take a hard, objective look at all available options. With that said, It’s critical to involve your family in you plans so that there are no surprises when it comes time to execute the plan.

Although having a formal plan in place is essential for ensuring a smooth transition, according to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business only 10% of SME owners in Canada have a formal plan. To add to this shocking statistic, over 50% of SME owners in Canada don’t have any plan at all. As the baby boomers age, it is important for companies to have appropriate plans in place to ensure their businesses continue to operate or are sold to suitable buyers. Putting off planning is the worst thing a business owner could do, because they are putting both the future of their business and their retirement savings at risk.

November 2011 | Graphic Arts Magazine

No matter who your successor will be, ensure you set ample time aside to properly prepare them for the road ahead. This should include your successor working along side you to truly understand their responsibilities once you leave. Provide them with the necessary information and resources to be able to competently move forward with your business vision.

Although succession planning is often thought of as something for older business owners to consider, it is always wise to have a plan in place and be ready for anything. It is estimated that it takes from 3-5 years for an owner to successfully plan their exit, so there is no better time to start than right now.

46

www.graphicartsmag.com

www.graphicartsmag.com

CCC

Compelling Content Creation

autolaminator

for ANY Channel or Platform Fully automatic

Tony Curcio Writing • Design • Advertising • Marketing • PR

laminating for digital printing

1 Yonge St., Suite 1801, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5E 1W7 T: (416) 306-2491 • F: (416) 369-0515 • ajg.curcio@gmail.com

HO! HO! HO! HO! International Binding & Laminating Systems, Inc. 204-19232 Enterprise Way, Surrey, BC V3S 6J9

November 2011 | Graphic Arts Magazine

Rex Ho: Graphic Designer

Tel: 604-574-9508 or 1-800-663-8184 Fax: 604-574-3407 or 1-866-574-3407 Website: www.bindingandlaminating.com E-mail: ibls@bindingandlaminating.com

Full-time • Part-time • Freelance

Over 10 years’ experience • Deadline-oriented • Reasonable rates Corporate Identity Development• B2B • Retail • Direct-Mail • Packaging Collateral Design • Promotional & POP Multi-Media Design & Production Advertisements, Newsletters, Direct-Mail Pieces, Posters, Catalogues, Logos, etc.

Professional Photography too!

T: (416) 716-6613 • F: 1-866-846-9816 • E-mail: design@rexho.ca • www.rexho.ca

47

Your perfect connection to the printing and graphic arts industry

Diana Brown

Education

Top 10 Questions to Establish Your Successful Succession Plan

Smart organizations spin the necessity of business succession planning as a positive opportunity to ensure continuity within the business and strengthen corporate identity. The process brings the corporate decision making team together to improve organizational performance, now and in the future.

The National Federation of Independent Business (in the USA) has provided a list of important questions to ask in order to create the right succession plan for your small business.

What’s involved in succession planning?

If succession planning is so important, why do so many business owners put succession planning on the back burner? It’s not an easy task, especially because it deals with corporate decision makers facing issues like loss of control and their own mortality.

1. What are my overarching objectives?

2. What are my financial objectives?

3. What will my income be?

4. When is my desired departure date?

5. How much is your business worth right now?

6. How can I make the business more valuable right now?

7. Is my business a turn-key buy?

8. Do I want to sell to a third party?

9. Do I want to transfer ownership to family or a key employee?

10. W hat would happen to my business if something happens to me?

For small business, most succession plans are divided into three main components: ownership, management & taxes.

Ownership and management can be transferred to one individual or various individuals. One possible scenario is for the original business founder deciding to impart ownership and management responsibilities onto one single family member.

Conversely, ownership could be divided amongst several family members or the business founder could even decide to maintain ownership upon retirement. In terms of taxes, this section focuses on minimizing taxes in the case of death.

Accountants and lawyers can provide indispensable information when it comes to organizing these components of your succession plan.

Many business owners suggest leaving succession planning to the professionals. Accountants, lawyers and financial planners can help business owners on the road to stable retirement and successful perpetuation of the owner’s business vision.

well as their ability to lead their subordinates. Former CEO, A.G. Lafley, implemented this succession tool in 2001. This ‘holy grail’ of future leaders houses those who are ready to be promoted and names at least three successors for each major management position (35-40 positions). All General Managers’ performance is evaluated every 6 months, not only by their superiors, but also by their peers. Additionally, prior to Lafley’s departure as CEO, he worked with consultants to devise a list of 10 qualities the new CEO must possess, including character and integrity attributes.

In-Action Example – Procter & Gamble 172 years. 12 CEO’s. 1 strong succession plan.

Procter & Gamble’s track record of worldwide success, including their reach to almost four billion consumers worldwide, perpetuates their need for strong footing now and in the future. It’s interesting to note that all 12 of P&G’s CEO’s have been promoted from within. The organization grooms top talent as a means of gaining a competitive advantage.

Leadership development and succession planning is at the forefront for P&G, which is not always common for similarsized businesses.

Although SME’s don’t have all of the resources of Fortune 500 companies, there is a lot to be learned from this methodology that is not difficult to implement. The concept of the ‘Talent Portfolio’ with financial and non-financial metrics to measure up-and-coming leaders provides huge insight into the best candidates to transition into key positions. Not only will this provide a better understanding of your key employees, but it can also improve operational performance and accountability if everyone understands their roles and responsibilities within the organization.

P&G’s Global Human Resources Officer, Moheet Nagrath, maintains a binder called the ‘Talent Portfolio’. This binder contains evaluations of P&G’s top management using hard and soft metrics, including achieving financial objectives, as

Resources

Blog – Business Exchange (http://bx.businessweek.com/ succession-planning/blogs/)

Book – The Business Transition Crisis: Plan Your Succession Now to Beat the Biggest Business Selloff in History By: Wayne Vanwyck

The Business Exchange blog is divided into various business subsections, one of which is succession planning. There are articles divulging different aspects of succession planning from why CEO’s need coaching in this area to dealing with transitioning new management into the family business.

This book resource guides business owners through the tedious but important process of succession planning. Vanwyck argues that there are literally millions of business owners planning to retire in the next 10 years… without a plan! He believes that this will create a huge wave of businesses for sale with few sellers willing to buy. This book is full of practical advice to determine the best course of action to hand over the reigns of a business transition to the next stage.

Diana Brown is the Owner of ON-SITE First Aid & CPR Training Group, a health & safety company who provides training to the Graphic Arts industry. diana@onsitefirstaid.ca

5 of 5 stars from 3 customers on Amazon.com Retail Price $30.99 CND

November 2011 | Graphic Arts Magazine

48

www.graphicartsmag.com

www.graphicartsmag.com

Sherbrand Industries

Tel: (519) 621-1729 • 866-621-1729 • Fax: (519) 621-1936 E-mail: sherbrand@rogers.com • www.sherbrand.ca

WE NEED USED EQUIPMENT - PRESSES, BINDERY, CONVERTING, ETC

SHEET FED PRESSES 1993 KOMORI L240II, 96 MIL IMPS 1988 KOMORI L440 112 MIL IMPS 1998 KOMORI L440P, 4/ COLOR 28X40, PQC CONSOLE, ESS SYSTEM E500, IVT COMBI, AUTO BACK CYLINDER WASH, AUTO PAPER SIZE, AUTO INK KEYS WITH PQC, 42 MIL IMP, 2/2 PERFECTOR CUTTERS 1994 POLAR EM, INFARED SAFETY LIGHTS 1987 POLAR 115 EMC MON CUTTER, INFRARED RED SAFETY LIGHTS, AIR TABLES, 1995 POLAR 115ED CUTTER, W, POLAR R-4 JOGGER, POLAR LIFT 2001 WOHLENBERG (54”) PAPER CUTTER SYSTEM, BAUMANN PNEUMATIC RETRACTABLE SIDE-GAUGE, BAUMANN BFS-1 GRIPPER TRANSPORT SYSTEM, BAUMANN BA-3 UNLOADING SYSTEM (55” STACK HEIGHT), BAUMANN AUTOMATIC JOGGER W/AIR EXPULSION 2006 WOHLENBERG CUT-TEC 155 (61”) PAPER CUTTER SYSTEM, WOHLENBERG TOUCH SCREEN DISPLAY & CIPS3 INTEGRATION, BAUMANN TOUCH BSB-6L (41 X 67”) AUTOMATIC JOGGER W/AIR EXPULSION ,BAUMANN NUP-100L PILE HOIST W/ AIR, BAUMANN BSB-6L & BFS-1 PREPARATION BAUMANN PNEUMATIC RETRACTABLE SIDE-GAUGES, BAUMANN BFS-1 GRIPPER TRANSPORT SYSTEM, BAUMANN BA-3 UNLOADING SYSTEM (55” STACK HEIGHT),BAUMANN APS AUTO WASTE REMOVAL SYSTEM, WOHLENBERG ASE RETRACTABLE AUTO WASTE REMOVAL SYSTEM, C & P COUNTING SCALE SYSTEM, ELECTROGRAPHIC WASTE CONVEYOR/INCLUDING 114” X 11.8” CROSS CONVEYOR, INCLINE WASTE CONVEYOR 108” X 11.8” 2000 LAWSON 60" MPU CUTTER ,LAWSON COMPUTER, DOUBLE END PULL 1986 LAWSON MODEL MPU100, 70" GUILLOTINE CUTTER, WITH LAWSON DIGITAL SPACER; SEYBOLD HYDRAULIC 85” GUILLOTINE CUTTER, MICROCUT COMPUTER, AIR TABLES 1987 LAWSON 87: CUTTER, MICROCUT COMPUTER 100” SEYBOLD CUTTER, MICROCUT COMPUTER LAWSON 110 ‘ MILL TRIMMER (CUTTER), LAWSON MCC COMPUTER, SAFETY LIGHTS, BINDERY 2006 MULLER MARTINI BOLERO BOOK BINDING LINE (HIGH SPEED DOUBLE PRODUCTION LINE) 21 STATION GATHERER X 3695 GATHERER, 1 MULLER MULLER MARTINI BOLERO21 CLAMPS, MULLER MARTINI BOOK SAW, PLUS TURNER BELT (WITH IN LINE DIVERT, 2 MULLER MARTINI ZENITH S 3672 THREE KNIFE TRIMMERS (COLOUR CONTROL PANEL (CO-PILOT), 2 MULLER MARTINI CB 16 COMPENSATING STAKERS 1989 NORMBINDER BINDER NB2,20 CLAMPS, 24 STATIONS, 3670 THREE KNIFE TRIMMER, 1504 ASTRO STACKER, 3 PUMPS

1994 STAHL FOLDER MODEL KC66 4KZ W/CONTINUOUS FEEDER & PCS100 BATCHCOUNTER, #48834 1994 A CONTINUOUS FEED “HIGH SPEED” SIGNATURE FOLDER – WITH ELECTRONIC MONITORING AND FAST SET CONTROLS. 26” X 45” MAXIMUM SHEETS, 4 BUCKLE PLATES IN PARALLEL SECTION 1997 MULLER MARTIN PRESTO STITCHER, 4 POCKETS, COVER FEEDER, TRIMMER, BELT DELIVERY, 10+ HRS 2005 BOURG COLLATOR 2 10 BIN TOWERS,STITCHER, FOLDER, SHEETER, STITCHER, FOLDER, SHEETER STAHL FOLDER , 20” W/ R ANGLE, KNIFE FOLD UNIT SULBY VACUUMATIC PAPER COUNTER DIE CUTTERS 1981 GEITZ FSA 720 FOILER AND DIE CUTTER BUSCH MODEL A, 7 X 7 DIE CUTTER HEIDELBERG 10 X 15 WINDMILL HEIDELBERG 10 X 15 WINDMILL W/ FOIL HEIDELBERG 28” CYLINDER DIE CUTTER HEIDELBERG SBG CYLINDER DIE CUTTER 22” X 30” HEIDELBERG SBD W/ FOIL 35” CYLINDER PRESS 1996 BLUMER PB-18-1 LABEL HIGH DIE CUTTER, FEEDER, BELT CONVEYOR DELIVERY, COMPUTERIZED 1978 BOBST 102E,2 CHASES,2 PLATES,NICE MACHINE 1994THOMSON 29”X 41”, CLAM SHELL DIE CUTTER THOMSON 28” X 41” CLAM SHELL DIE CUTTER KENSOL HOT STAMPER #K36F3 FOLDER GLUER 1999 BOBST MEDIA GLUER 100-11 STRAIGHT-LINE, NORDSON GLUE SYSTEM/ LOCKBOTTOM SHEETERS & SLITTERS 57” MAXON SHEETER, VOLTAGE, 460/3/60, 100 AMPS CUSTOM UPGRADE 2003, CONSISTING OF TWO ALLEN BRADLEY 1336 IMPACT VECTOR DRIVES AND TWO ALLEN BRADLEY VECTOR DRIVE MOTORS WITH ENCODER FEEDBACK. (ONE EACH FOR THE KNIFE ROLL AND THE DRAW ROLL). ALLEN BRADLEY SLC 500 PLC CONTROL WITH SCANPORT MODULE FOR DRIVE SYNCHRONIZATION.,ALLEN BRADLEY PANELVIEW 300 FOR OPERATOR INTERFACE.,1 MARTIN ROLL STAND WITH WARNER PNEUMATIC BRAKE SYSTEM AND WARNER MSC2000 CONTROLLER., 1 MARTIN ROLL STAND FOR PARTS. BECK 45 SHEETER, W/ LAYBOY DELIVERY SMALL SILK SCREEN SHOP EQUIPMENT FOR SALE PLEASE CALL

8’ wide 2880 DPI

When Size Matters Your Trade Printer

Roll to Roll

*Print Up to any size on: 3M Cast Vinyl Banner Adhesive Vinyl Perforated Vinyl Backlit Sign Canvas Poster

Flat Bed Print

*Other Materials up to 2˝ thickness Coroplast P.V.C. Corrugate Wood Styrene Acrylic and...

1-888-739-0279 • info@highprintco.com • www.highprintco.com

November 2011 | Graphic Arts Magazine

49

Your perfect connection to the printing and graphic arts industry

Tony Curcio

For the record

For the record Gord Griffiths

You’d be hard pressed to find a printing industry executive with more experience and business savvy than Gord Griffiths. He currently heads Gordon Group Enterprises Limited, a Toronto-based consulting firm that specializes in helping printing and packaging companies in the areas of revenue building, mergers and acquisitions, recruiting and succession planning. His resumé, accomplishments and roles in key industry organizations during the past 30 years would fill several pages of this magazine and then some.

through a dramatic shift. Those that have continued to operate as they have in the past have lost their market share and profit levels. Another mistake is waiting too long to implement a succession plan. Little thought is often put into who will run the business and/or how it will be sold.

What gives you the most satisfaction when you interact with those in our industry? What are you most passionate about?

I enjoy watching a company transform from the traditional printer or manufacturer into a solutions-based provider.

Companies that can provide content in any media or channel are of more value to a client as a marketer of that client’s products and/or services, than a company that only provides a single service such as printing.

But perhaps he is best known for his leadership as President of Quebecor Printing Canada from 1988 to 1998. Under his guidance, profit targets were consistently exceeded while producing the highest earnings of any Quebecor Printing division worldwide. He is also well known as co-founder of Pareto, Canada’s leading Shopper Marketing Company, which has now grown to the point where its sales exceed $100 million! He speaks from a wealth of experience and with a passion for our industry.

What are you doing now? Anything new and exciting on the horizon?

Today, I am supporting a company called Colorsciences.

Colorsciences specializes in Colour Measurement, Analysis and Process Control. Today, brand owners want consistent colour, no matter how their message is being printed or on which substrate. We are focusing on high-end printers and packaging companies with our CrossMatch Process Control System, On-Site Training Sessions, Colour Studies (Root Cause and Systemic Analysis), Colour Space Installations (Including GraCOL and G7 On-Site Proofing) and Enterprise Process Control.

What overall comparisons can you make between printing in the 80s, 90s and the industry of today?

Overall, the industry had growth in the 80s and 90s which meant that you had a better chance to maximize equipment utilization. Most printers still had a few accounts that paid a fair market price. This provided margins to reinvest in new technology, develop sales teams and make purchases/ acquisitions.

Any further comments?

What do you see as the one biggest challenge now facing Canadian printers?

Being a printer in today’s tough economy isn’t easy. But if you have the right team, you will be successful. The companies that are successful communicate their plans well internally. When associates understand the direction, they will get behind the strategy. Everyone wants to succeed and success is contagious — in the final analysis nothing succeeds like success itself. I could fill many books on managerial motivation, but basically two things motivate people: proper challenges that can be met and a desire for everyone in the company to feel that they are an important part of the organization.

There are too many small players who do not specialize. All are competing in the same small marketplace. Many of the printers have little expertise, offer no added value to their customers and have accounts with limited growth potential.

Printers wait too long to merge or sell, because they are hopeful that the market will improve.

If you owned a printing shop today, what specific strategies would you implement to help guarantee future success?

The fundamentals of running a successful business have not changed and are no different in the printing industry than in any other. Companies that survive are low-cost producers who know how to grow profitable sales.

Tony Curcio ajg.curcio@gmail.com

What are some of the most common mistakes you see struggling printers making today?

In the past decade, the graphic arts industry has gone

November 2011 | Graphic Arts Magazine

50

www.graphicartsmag.com

www.graphicartsmag.com

Touch Screen Interface JDF Ready

German Hydraulics

Paper Cutters

German Hydraulics & North American (Micro-Cut) Controls

20 installations in Western Canada

Massive Knife Bar

Safe, Rugged Design

Canadian Printing Equipment Ph.1 (800) 665-7450 www.canprintequip.ca November 2011 | Graphic Arts Magazine

51

Your perfect connection to the printing and graphic arts industry

Your perfect connection to the printing and graphic arts industry

List of advertisers 4over 3

Main Street Magazines

13

4over 55

Majic Paper

27

800 Trade

33

manroland 5

Advantag 33

manroland 12

All Graphic Supplies

19

Max Media

52

All Star Envelopes

11

MC Reproductions

45

Avanti 11

Papier Majic

39

Ave Maria

35

PhotoXpress 35

Best Deal Graphics & Printing

27

Pillar Direct

35

Canadian Printing Equipment

51

Premier Presentation Folders

52

Canadian Sign Supplies

37

Pressdown 4

Coast Paper

25

Pressdown 41

Deco Labels

39

Printer Gateway

23

Dolphies Promo

27

Printers Services

4

Durabilt Pump

39

Repro Labels

27

Envelopes Unlimited

12

Serv-a-Trade Lithographers

33

ExpoSystems 10

Sherbrand 49

First Envelope

Sherwood Printers

41

SinaLite 15

General Press

33

Sinclair Computer Forms

11

Graphic Finishers

39

SNZ Trading

56

Graphic Technical Services

45

Spicers 13

Harrison Mailing

27

Sydney Stone

Teckmark 35

High Print

49

The Label Factory

52

House of Foil

35

The Print Connection

35

House of Foil

39

The Printing Klub

43

House of Foil

45

TPPI Trade Printing

25

Hynek 33

Trade Impressions

33

International Document Finishing 37

Trade Letterpress

49

International Document Finishing 47

Trade Pocket Folders

51

Jasdi Magnetics

UV & Bindery Services

45

Vinyl Xpress

41

7

KT Printing & Bindery

39

Xanté 2

KT Printing & Bindery

45

XL Prints

12

Learning Ability

37

X-Press Electric

52

Magnum Magnetics

(416) 675-2920 Tel:Tel: (416) 675-2920 Fax: (416) 675-2930 Fax: (416) 675-2930

premprint@yahoo.com

Canon IPF Large Printer

X-PRESS ELECTRIC SERVICES LTD.

416-410-9006

47

Heidelberg 1

KBR Graphics

Commercial Printers 32 Goodmark Place, Unit Unit 1, 1, Rexdale, Ontario M9W M9W 6J4 6J4

31

Fujifilm 1

41

SIZES STYLES - OVER 200 DIES LOTS OF STYLES ANDLOTS SIZESOF - AS FEWAND AS 250, FROM 1- 4 COLOURS AS FEW AS 250 IN 1 TO 4 COLOURS WE CARRY BLANK FOLDERS IN STOCK IN WHITE AND 10 SOLID WE STOCK FOLDERS IN WHITES AND COLOURS FOR FOIL EMBOSSING OR LETTER PRESS IMPRINTING 10 SOLID COLOURS, PERFECT FOR FOIL STAMPING IF IT’S NOT IN STOCK, WE CAN MAKE THEM UP FOR YOU IF IT’S NOT IN STOCK, WE CAN MAKE THEM UP FOR YOU CALL OR OR FAX FAX FOR FOR TRADE TRADE PRICE PRICE LIST LIST & CALL & SAMPLES SAMPLES

Graphic Arts Specialists for Installations, maintenance & repairs on all equipment

6

November 2011 | Graphic Arts Magazine

52

www.graphicartsmag.com

www.graphicartsmag.com

Classified FINE ART INK FOR EPSON

For sale

1989 MBO T-67 folder complete with right angle and Delivery also batch counter, refurbished with all new belts, new compressor. Ready to install

1999 STAHL T-36 mini Folder complete with delivery and continous feeder.

Very high quality pigmented fine art ink for Epson Up to 12 colours, archival quality made by a master Symphonic Inks, from A.I.C. inks@scan11.com www.scan11.com

WANTED Used Offset Presses for Export The Print Connectors Ltd Tel: 905-792-8521 Fax: 416-981-8701 Email: printconn@yahoo.ca

LABELS - TRADE

Other folders For Sale: 1999 STAHL TD-52 folder complete with right angle and VSA-M66 Stacker.

1888 MBO T-49 Pile Feeder complete with right angle and delivery and MBO stacker Other machines For Sale, MBO STACKER, MBO Knife folder, Challange round corner machine, Challange Heavy duty 5 Hole Drill,Baum 3 hole Drill 416-580-0185 paul@hdpressservices.com

Ideal Labels - (T) 416 292-6221 (F) 416 292-0517 (E) ideal.labels@bellnet.ca (Web) www.ideallabels.com UV FLEXO up to 7 colours + UV varnish Your account protected

Factory Trained

HEIDELBERG PRESS SERVICE

WANTED

Parts • Service • Consumables

PUMP REPAIRS MECHANICAL / ELECTRICAL

Scrap Graphic Film, med x-ray and industrial x-ray film.

Cash paid upon pick up, Ontario wide.

416.580.0185

Jake 1-877-745-7420

Email: Paul@hdpressservices.com www.hdpressservices.com

ADVERTISE WITH US Best deal in print. Only $40 for 25 words in our classifieds pages.

Call 877-513-3999 or email classified@graphicartsmag.com

FOR SALE Complete commercial printshop equipment incl 4 colour MOVP-H,Fuji Dart 4300-E ctp c/w Rampage, Baum folder 26” 4/3, 6 station RossBack collator-stitchertrimmer, Bostitch #7 #17 3 head stitcher, Acme booklet stitcher 2 Heidelberg cylinder diecutters, Heidelberg 10x15 Platine with foil, Challenge paper drill. Many more items.

Mimaki™ Roland™ Mutoh™ Hp™ Canon™ Seiko™, Grandinnova-tion™ Agfa™ Vutek™, Colorspan™, Epson™ *.

Legal note: this product and service has no affiliation and/or endorsed by these manufacturers.

Call 519-994-4947

HELP WANTED Central Alberta print shop has an opening for small press operator for Heidelberg DI4 and QM2 presses.

Fax resumes to 403-346-7999 or e-mail: kdp@kdp.ca.

Will contact successful candidates only

FOR SALE A 1972 Solna 225 press. Sheet size 18” x 25”. Stream feed and conventional dampening. All rollers in good shape. $5000.00 o.b.o. Call Janice at 1-800-305-2044 ext. 26 or email dl@dl-ads.com.

November 2011 | Graphic Arts Magazine

Richmond

WANTED URGENTLY

Electric Services Ltd.

FOR EXPORT KORD, SORDZ, SM-72-V

Specialist in press repairs and transformers

Any surplus printing machines,

10660 Yonge St. PO Box 30618 Richmond Hill, ON L4C 0C7

Electrical Installations Service and Maintenance 24 Hour Service

Tel: (905) 889-2634

53

Any model Heidelberg presses or

Polar Guillotines & Binding, nishing Equipment. Top prices paid$$$$$$$$ Any model, immediate decision

E-Mail: gr_trade@hotmail.com

Call- 416 824 0236, 647 835 6224 Fax-905 450 2748

Your perfect connection to the printing and graphic arts industry

Peter Muir

Marketing

Helping you

help your customers This month begins a new regular column by Peter Muir focusing on helping you help your customers. Since 2003 his company (Bizucate Inc.) has been delivering education, training, research, coaching and consulting in graphic communications and other industries. Muir has been involved in industry education for more than 15 years, helping printers and other companies with their strategic planning, marketing, business workflows, process design, implementation and management.

• Do I use multi-channel marketing and/or social media and to what extent?

• Have I ever considered integrating a marketing approach in my customer’s business?

• Do I actively continue to identify what customers and prospects want?

• How do people hear about me and my customers’ products and services?

• What are my customers’ perceptions of what we do for them?

“I am more than familiar with the problems and challenges that printers face today,” says Muir. “And I am absolutely convinced that I can help you move forward with profitable strategies and solutions to help differentiate you from your competition. Today, successful printers must know not only how to market themselves, but how to help their customers market their own products and services.”

Sales is actually about creating business transactions that give people what they want – or what they didn’t know they could have. So… • Do I have an established sales process?

• Is this process measurable and repeatable?

• What do I lead with in my sales efforts?

• How do I finally arrive at a place that makes my company more profitable?

Keys to success

Let’s begin by examining what I believe are the 6 basic areas that determine success. They are:

Financing is another important strategy, but we will deal with the complexities of that at a later date.

1. Strategic planning 2. Product/service mix 3. Marketing 4. Sales 5. Workflow 6. Financing

Using these strategies to help your customers

Once you’ve determined your approach, use the same strategies to examine your customers’ businesses. Use them as part of an indirect sales approach to acquire new customers – or to help existing customers grow their business. Be honest and tell them how you have used the strategies yourself, then share what you have learned. Basically, this is all about partnering – that is, genuine efforts to help your customers grow their businesses and be a part of it along the way.

Strategic planning involves mapping out and following a critical path. You should create both a business plan AND a marketing plan. Start by sitting down with your partners, employees, even outside advisors. Ask for their objective opinions about your business and how they perceive it. Discuss approaches on how best to move forward, but at the end of the day, you must answer these key questions:

In what specific ways can you help your customer while helping yourself? Well, you can start by looking at services other than printing (that could be seen as value-added) such as mailing, inserting, data management, fulfillment and distribution, finishing, converting, labeling, proofing, copywriting and design, developing host marketing, selling, billing and collecting, multi-channel communicating, social networking and more. Because, let’s face it – regardless of what you specialize in, there are jobs you can do better than your competition.

By the same token, there are jobs your customers can perform better than their competition. Sit down with your customers and find out how you can use each other’s strengths to your mutual benefit.

• Will my current path get me to where I want to be?

• Does my current direction align with current customers’ needs?

• Does this path also align with my new customers’ needs?

• If yes, how’s it progressing and where are the roadblocks?

• If not, what are the reasons? What will it take to move in that direction?

Examine your product/service mix and ask: • As of today, what products/services are the most profitable and the least profitable?

• What do I sell the most of? Why? Is it profitable enough?

Does it lead to more profitable work?

• If I could add any product or service, what would it be?

Why? How does it align with my current/new customers’ needs?

• What am I doing to find out if what I now deliver to my customers meets or exceeds their needs?

• What else could I be offering to customers in addition to what I know they require?

Marketing is about creating processes that identify what people want – and spreading the news that your company (and your customers) indeed have them. So, ask yourself:

November 2011 | Graphic Arts Magazine

Next month, we’ll review specific examples of how you can help your customers. Because when your customers succeed, so do you.

Peter Muir is President of Bizucate Inc. (www.bizucate. com). His company specializes in improving corporate business strategies, marketing, workflow, service, sales and profitability. pmuir@bizucate.com

54

www.graphicartsmag.com

A

World of Paper... is just a phone call away.

SNZ Trading Inc. is the fastest growing paper distribution company in Canada. Established in 2005, our unprecedented growth from a mere 3,600 sq. ft. to a more than 40,000 sq. ft. facility in ve short years can be attributed to our customers’ loyalty and our high standard of customer service. At SNZ, we ensure your performance expectations are met and exceeded, and it is our commitment to help our customers succeed in their businesses.

Today, we stock all substance and size of paper and cover including coated two-side gloss and silk, offset paper and copy paper. We can also supply SBS, CCNB, Security Paper for Bank Notes, Passport, Cheques, Bank Drafts, Metalized Paper and Board, Cigarette Tipping Paper, Carbonless Paper and Hot Stamping Foil.

Experience the difference!

SNZ Trading Inc. SUPPLIER OF PRIME QUALITY PAPER

www.paperforbusiness.com

Ofce: (905) 370-1197 Fax: (416) 987-1997 Email: siraj@paperforbusiness.com 61 Rayette Road, Concord ON, L4K2E8