MAGAZINE Your perfect connection to the printing, graphic arts, sign and packaging industries
May 2020 | Volume 23 | No. 4 | $7.95
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Contents May 2020 | Volume 23 | No. 4
7
Advertorial: Delphax drives down TCO for its Elan 500
Free’ press for qualified users in Canada and the U.S Richard Lee
8 Why we need a National Association
Three important reasons to join the CPIA now Richard Kouwenhoven
11 How to attract and keep Gen Z talent
Who they are, what they feel, and what employers can do Diana Varma
14 COVID-19: Print industry updates Advertorial: Delphax drives down TCO for its Elan 500
7
Event re-scheduling and our industry’s remarkable response Staff writers
17 Digital Printing Update: The impact of COVID-19
How printers are adapting and its effects on digital trends Alec Couckuyt
20 Governments’ COVID-19 economic responses
Federal and provincial compensation details Bonny Koabel
22 3D Printing saves lives in Italy
Technology produces replacement valves for ventilators Peter Dulis
24 The power of direct mail and printed newsletters Digital Printing Update: The impact of COVID-19
17
Statistics tell a compelling story Tony Curcio
26 Planning and foresight in the midst of this madness Making the most of your quarantine at home Warren Werbitt
30 Getting hired and surviving your first job
Seven tips for navigating your way to success Joanne Gore
In every issue 3D Printing saves lives in Italy
22
Planning and foresight in the midst of this madness
For the
26
15 27 28 29
Print Industry News Creative & Design List of advertisers Classifieds
of print.
View from the publisher
Stay well – and stay well informed This pandemic has hit publishers hard, but it won’t stop our team from bringing you the latest industry news online every weekday. I’m also contacting thought leaders and asking them how we should proceed, post COVID-19. So far I’ve talked to 13 industry veterans (i.e. our Editorial Board). Over the next few weeks we’ll continue this dialogue, come up with a plan, and then we’ll survey you, our readers, to see what you think. Rest assured, we’ll be rolling out new opportunities, resources and marketing programs to help you. Yes, there have been event postponements and temporary print-shop closures. But there are also inspiring instances of printers adapting by repurposing their existing equipment to support front-line workers fighting this pandemic. Plus, many organizations partnered while industry websites have offered webinars and other resources to help us navigate these tough times.
and other helpful industry resources and services. The bottom line: We’re all stronger together. As Richard Kouwenhoven, current Chair of the CPIA, said: “I think the merger of the PIA and SGIA will create new opportunities for the industry on both sides of the border to collaborate. The North American print industry provides a great example of successful cross-border trade at all stages of the supply chain, and working together with our peers in the U.S. can only be helpful. It’s something the CPIA is certainly interested in pursuing in the future.” We’ll continue to keep you up to date with the news that affects you – including printing industry, governmental and COVID-19 developments. For now, however, we won’t be publishing any printed editions until we get a handle on this virus, and industry members are physically back at work and able to read them. At that time, we’ll make a final decision. As always, stay positive, stay focused – and above all, stay safe.
Here’s one example. The SGIA and PIA merged May 1 to become the largest printing association in the U.S. As a result, affiliates such as the Canadian Printing Industries Association (CPIA) and its seven provincial member groups across the country could reap substantial benefits – such as access to more market research, educational programs, training, events
Joe Mulcahy Publisher, Graphic Arts Magazine joe@graphicartsmag.com
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Submission deadlines are as follows: May 15 for June 2020 June 15 for July/August 2020 Publications Mail Agreement No. 40029380 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Graphic Arts Magazine 17-17817 Leslie St Newmarket ON L3Y 8C6 email: circ@graphicartsmag.com 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.
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Tony Curcio Paul Phillips Ryan Mulcahy
Account Managers
AIIM AIIM
Kallima
The Paper Express Shoppe
Maureen O’Sullivan Sandy Lee Tim Mulcahy
Bindery
Digital Marketing Manager
Art Director
Mark Garrett
Specialties Graphic Finishers Kimp
GRAPHIC ARTS MAGAZINE would like to thank our contributing writers: Tony Curcio • Peter Dulis • Joanne Gore • Richard Lee Alec Couckuyt • Warren Werbitt • Bonny Koabel Richard Kouwenhoven • Diana Varma 2020 EDITORIAL BOARD Evan Cambray, Fastsigns of Markham and Richmond Hill Ray Fagan, Heidelberg Danny Ionescu, HP Steve Klaric, KBR Marg Macleod, Association Manager DIA Scott Morgan, Master of Digital Media Paul Tasker, Spicers Marc Raad, Significans Automation Serge Trajkovich, RRGR Inc. Gillian Mothersill, Ryerson University GCM
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George Dedopoulos We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Ontario through the Ontario Media Development Corporation.
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Tony's Corner
Ten important things I’ve learned because of this pandemic 1. I was already an expert on social distancing. When I was dating in my 20s, most women I went out with practised “social distancing” on me after our first date! Usually it was hundreds of miles. So what’s the big deal with two metres? 2. Beer and liquor pick-up and delivery are now essential services. Who knew? 3. Your pets hate you. You’re infringing on their daily scratching and butt-licking routines because of the quarantine. Suggest you “chew-proof” your furniture now. 4. I finished 6 books in 6 weeks. Just ran out of crayons though. 5. Wishes fulfilled. We said we wanted weekends to last forever. Happy now? 6. I feel sorry for burglars. Everyone’s at home these days. It’s not fair! 7. Sane politicians. Our federal, provincial and municipal politicians have shown unity, leadership, cooperation, common sense and above all, compassion. 8. Frontline healthcare heroes. I’m not an overly religious person, but I believe there’s a special place in Heaven for these brave, dedicated and unselfish souls. 9. Proud to be in this industry. Our industry is stepping up big
time by re-deploying resources to fight this pandemic. Not a week goes by that I don’t run news items on our website detailing these remarkable efforts. 10. Proud to be Canadian. Most of us have shown patience and respect for each other by following the advice of our healthcare professionals on a daily basis. There’s no outrage claiming that our rights have been violated, and no compulsive lying by our lawmakers to make them look good. Finally, I believe we’ll all come out of this stronger and make renewed efforts to care more about each other. If we learn just one lesson from this seemingly endless scourge, it’s that our creator gave us the greatest gift we can possibly imagine – each other! If we don’t learn from that, then we are indeed a pathetic species. Moving forward, perhaps everyone should remember the 1961 hit song by Ral Donner. It was titled: You Don't Know What You've Got Until You Lose It. Until next time, always remember that we’re here to help.
Tony Curcio Editor, Graphic Arts Magazine tony@graphicartsmag.com
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6 | May 2020 | GRAPHIC ARTS MAGAZINE
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Advertorial
Delphax drives down total cost of ownership of its Elan 500 even further with free press for qualified purchasers Through its new #PrintingStrong COVID-19 Recovery Program, Delphax Solutions Inc. is offering printers in Canada and the U.S. who produce more than 12 million letter impressions per year the opportunity to acquire the OEM’s flagship Elan 500 HD Cutsheet Digital Inkjet Press for a minimum of two years with no equipment lease or purchase costs. Plus, the cost of consumables and technical support will remain at 2019 levels. The current Coronavirus pandemic is not only changing the way we live, it’s also changing the way we do business. Yes, some printers have filed for bankruptcy, but most are responding by turning bad situations into rare opportunities. They’re re-purposing their existing equipment, identifying and servicing new markets, adding new applications, and so on. And leading OEMs like Delphax are determined to help them continue to be successful – both now and in a post-virus marketplace. “Unprecedented times call for unprecedented actions, so we’re now offering our flagship Elan 500 high productivity production press on a pay-as-you-go Richard Lee, basis without the typ- CEO of Delphax Solutions ical financial burdens associated with premium capital equipment,” said Richard Lee, CEO of Delphax Solutions. “Ultimately, our PrintingStrong COVID-19 Recovery Program is aimed at substantially lowering total cost of ownership. Successful applicants will only be required to pay for consumables and
technical support, which will be held at our low 2019 rates. That being said, the system uptime of the Elan currently stands at over 90%, so calls for service are, in fact, quite rare.”
Making the switch to digital much easier Lee added that the economic fallout of the current pandemic means that printers looking to upgrade to digital inkjet systems will likely postpone or cancel their plans altogether. “We recognize that upgrading equipment , more cost- ef fec tive production, and moving to single-pass digital processes will be a sound strategy for many printers to recover from this situation. So we’re here to support them in any way we can – specifically by making high-quality digital much more affordable and dependable.”
Applications accepted now Current and new customers in Canada and the U.S. who produce more than 12 million letter impressions per year are eligible for the new program. For printers that may not reach that plateau, but are looking for a new digital inkjet produc tion
platform, there are still significant discounts available, as well the option of 0% equipment leasing on terms up to 60 months. The offer allows shops to grow faster while reducing the steps involved in transitioning from offset to digital. “We believe that our plan is good for the printing industry’s recovery, and makes good business sense for us as well,” Lee added. Driven by Memjet’s VersaPass technology with true 1,600 x 1,375 dpi resolution, sheet sizes from 8” x 8” to 18” x 26” on a wide range of substrates and weights, and throughput of up to 500 letter impressions per minute, the Elan 500 HD is an ideal choice for both variable-data and short-run applications. Plus, this CMYK cutsheet “workhorse” has proven its quality, reliability and repeatability at multiple installations across North America. Learn more about the Elan 500 HD at www. delphaxsolutions.com or contact 1-833-DELPHAX (1-833-335-7429).
A new B&W platform coming soon Also scheduled for release later this summer or in early fall is Delphax’s new monochrome cutsheet platform. This 400-impression-per-minute system is ideal for short runs, fast turnarounds, direct mail, personalization and book applications. Printers looking to adopt this new platform can also take advantage of pricing and leasing designed to once again suppor t recovery from the economic effects of COVID-19. Further details on this platform will be available closer to the launch date – but pricing, samples, and technical details are available to interested parties right now.
The Delphax Elan 500 HD Cutsheet Digital Inkjet Press
For more details about the #PrintingStrong COVID-19 Recovery Program, please e-mail PrintingStrong@delphaxsolutions.com or go to www.PrintingStrong.com.
@graphicarts
GRAPHIC ARTS MAGAZINE | May 2020 | 7
Organizations
Why the print industry in Canada absolutely needs a National Association future ‘storms’ our industry will experience. And quite often, clear skies and sunshine follow a storm! Secondly, our industry is in need of new talent at all levels
Richard Kouwenhoven is President and Chief Operating Officer of Canadian sustainable printing leader Hemlock Printers in Burnaby, British Columbia. He’s also the current Chair of the Canadian Printing Industries Association. Here, he explains why we all need a national association for the printing industry. Firstly, there is so much we can learn from each other Individual businesses become stronger when they learn from peers, and helping advance their workplace practices and application of new technologies. Stronger individual businesses in turn create a stronger, more resilient print industry. We have seen our fair share of challenging times over the past 20 years, and right now we are in the middle of an unprecedented health and economic crisis, one which no doubt will have long-term effects on our industry. While we all take a moment of pause, take stock and prioritize what’s important, we have an opportunity to start working collaboratively together as an industry. We can learn from each other in order to help us weather the current and
8 | May 2020 | GRAPHIC ARTS MAGAZINE
We need adaptive, technologically oriented production staff who will help our businesses become more productive and realize the full potential of the technologies available to us. We need nimble, creative problem solvers who can help us adapt our sales, service and management models that remove waste and add value to the customer experience. These young problem solvers are out there, and are graduating from a number of graphic arts post-secondary institutions. Yes, jobs are scarce at the moment with the economy in hibernation, but it will come back eventually and the need for businesses will only become more important. Attracting new talent is a critical part of the solution to help our industry adapt to these rapidly changing times. Thirdly, we need a voice that can represent our industry at the federal level Looking at some recent industry statistics, our industry employs more than 50,000 people across 6,000-plus organizations. Our industry members work primarily in small and mediumsized businsess which represent the economic heart of the Canadian economy. The existence of strong regional associations with a formal connection to a national organization, is critical to providing a cohesive and representative voice for our industry to educate and influence the federal government of the day.
What is the CPIA doing to address these needs? Is the CPIA effectively following through on the three opportunities identified above? Frankly, not to the level we would like! That’s for certain. Our board is a group of volunteers dedicated to making our industry better. We all want the CPIA to assume these key roles to take our industry to the next level. Our focus to date has been to set-up the organization for long-term success with the right structure, before we start on a path of specific initiatives. Like you, we’re also constrained by time and resources to move forward on the many initiatives we would like to see from our organization. But patience is a virtue, and we’re all confident that the right steps are being taken – even if they are initially small steps. What we need is engagement from the industry Are you a part of a regional association? If so, do you see opportunities for improvement to the benefits you receive from your membership? What would you like to see from your national association? Are you willing to volunteer some of your time for the betterment of the industry? Please let us know by emailing admin@cpia-aci.ca. The CPIA Board will be actively working on developing stronger ties with our supplier community, as well as the graphic arts educational institutions in Canada in the coming months. We will also be looking at hosting a webinar later this spring aimed at helping businesses with their COVID-19 responses. Thank you for taking the time to read this article (you made it to the end!). We’re very interested in ideas and input that will help the printing industry thrive, while providing customers with effective print communications across Canada and around the world.
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Feature
How to attract and keep Gen Z talent in your organization First there were the Boomers. Then came Gen X. The Boomers had kids (Gen Y, better known as the Millennials) and then Gen X had their own kids (Gen Z) born between 1995-2010. As this generation comes into maturity, they’re graduating from school and entering the work force. Welcome Gen Z! Let me begin by saying that generational categories such as the ones listed to the left are a great way to group a population for marketing purposes as they help us understand likely behaviours and preferences. However, we are all individuals. Although shared commonalities exist between members of the same generations because of time - specif ic environmental and societal factors, there are huge gaps in homogeneity due to gender, race, culture and socioeconomic status, among other defining factors. With that in mind, here is how university professor Sean McDowell, Ph.D., identifies Gen Z: 1. Digital natives: They’ve grown up with the internet and they’re the first generation to have grown up using smartphones. (They’re sometimes referred to as ‘iGen’ for this reason.) They value constant feedback with clear metrics and measurability. 2.Entrepreneurial: They’ve witnessed other young people successfully start businesses and as many as 72% of them believe they will start their own businesses. 3. Diverse: They’ve experienced diversity and are overwhelmingly positive about it
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4. Less religious identification: In 2015, nearly one third of all incoming higher education students did not identify with any particular religion (compared to 6.6% in 1966). 5. Blurry: The lines between work and home, public and private, and the disassembly of the traditional family structure mean that Gen Z has grown up in a grey, blurry world. 6.Overwhelmed: Many feel the pressures of school and work, in addition to maintaining an active online presence. Over two thirds say they feel overwhelmed. 7. Lonely: There has been a steady increase in anxiety levels of Gen Z no matter where they live (urban, suburban and rural all report increases). Although they’re tech savvy, they crave real human connection. 8.Progressive: Interestingly, although this generation is less likely to drink, smoke or take drugs, they’re also more progressive in areas like marijuana legalization. 9.Individualistic: They’ve become accustomed to the world being customized to their liking; from playlists and cell phone cases to accounts they follow on social media and when, where and how information is streamed to them. It’s my sincerest belief that there are no “good” or “bad” generations. For example, Millennials often get a bad rap for being lazy and self-absorbed (TIME Magazine labelled Millennials the “ME ME ME Generation”) while Gen X is seen as feeling lost between two huge generations (the
latchkey kids) and Boomers are often portrayed as not understanding technology (ok boomer). But there are smart, creative, hardworking individuals in every generation. Each group has great things to offer, as well as their own unique shortcomings. Understanding the environment that each generation grew up in, as well as societal expectations and differences means that workplace coaching will look different for each group. Below is one key way I believe workplaces can help coach Gen Z, thereby attracting and maintaining talent within this generation.
Gen Z’s mental health Gen Z believes in the power of support for mental health, which is important for this group more than any other generation in recent history. There’s been a steady rise in anxiety-related disorders since 2011, aligning with Gen Z’s maturation into teenagehood. Although there have been home, school and societal stressors across all generations, Gen Z seems to be affected differently by it all. But why? This is a topic of great discussion in universities, whose seats are currently filled with Gen Z students. Although there are no definitive answers, the author of Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World, Cal Newport, offers a hypothesis about the increase in anxiety for Gen Z: the smartphone. Specifically, Newport believes that the increase in solitude deprivation in a superficially ever-connected world is to blame. The smartphone is directly
GRAPHIC ARTS MAGAZINE | May 2020 | 11
Feature responsible for filling every spare moment that could be spent in reflective thought with a ping or ding. Our phones are designed as ‘digital slot machines’ that trigger hits of dopamine when we receive new information. Each click or swipe brings with it the possibility of new information and our brains love and crave this novelty. The discomfort of sitting with one’s thoughts and ‘being bored’ never needs to happen in the age of the smartphone. Author Ryan Holiday echoes this need for time alone with one’s thoughts in order to live a contented life. In his book, Stillness is the Key, he draws from thousands of years of insight from great philosophical leaders and from just about every religion on the planet. Furthermore, Gen Z wants to stay connected to the world through the many, many channels available to them (think YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, among other new services popping up regularly). They see themselves as multitaskers who are able to manage multiple devices and apps at once to stay hyperconnected to the world. But it’s taking a toll. Newport calls Gen Z “the canary in the coal mine” for what will happen to our mental health if we continue to let our devices dictate the quality of communication in our lives, instead of allowing them to act as one tool in our toolbox of ways to satisfy our human needs of communication and connection. So fear of missing out (FOMO), being constantly connected to a stream of twoway information 24/7/365, unrealistic expectations about what happiness looks like in their own lives and others’ lives, the compulsive desire to share their own (often manufactured) experiences with the digital world, the fact that they often don’t know what makes them happy outside of their digital lives (what high quality, analog leisure looks like), and lastly the problems associated
12 | May2020 | GRAPHIC ARTS MAGAZINE
with creating very little space for reflection and solitude to reconcile their thoughts and emotions on all of the above (phew...) has led to a perfect storm of anxiety. This never-ending bombardment and pressure would be overwhelming for anyone. The above may be a harsh depiction of an entire generation, but it’s a reality for many who’ve grown up with smartphones, not having experienced daily teenage and adult life without one. Many experts agree that the smartphone has molded a generation into an anxiety-ridden group who needs mental health support from their friends, family, schools and workplaces. What employers can do to help ● While Gen Z is used to making themselves available 24/7 to friends and family via their mobile devices, employers should help them set clear boundaries as to when to respond (and when not to respond) to work-related emails and phone calls to avoid burnout. ● Help Gen Z do less multitasking (which studies have shown time and time again to not actually be possible) and coach them in developing solutions to remove distractions, prioritize important work and focus on one task at a time for maximum efficiency and higher quality work. This should include an evaluation of the physical configuration of the office, providing both collaborative open work spaces, as well as private areas for more intense and focused individual work. ● Set clear expectations around deliverables, deadlines, time management, as well as the amount and frequency of feedback (Gen Z is used to and often in need of a great deal of feedback). ● Offer competitive Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), benefits and personal leave policies to attract top talent who may be facing mental health
challenges. ● Study the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) to understand not only your legal responsibilities to support workers with mental health challenges, but also what you can do above and beyond the minimum to support and retain talent. ● Offer coaching that helps employees understand big picture goals and helps them reduce anxiety about world events and the future in general (in keeping with the stoic philosophy, help them understand what they can and cannot control to reduce anxiety). We all want the same things Every member of every generation comes to work for the paycheck, but they also want more: a sense of community and doing work that contributes to a goal bigger than themselves. Furthermore, every member of every generation is facing their own individual challenges and crises relative to their personal situations. Gen Z is no different and will face similar life challenges as all generations before them, albeit in a faster-paced, higher-tech world. But no matter to what generational group you belong, we’re all human. McDowell sums it up nicely: “ And let us not forget that [Gen Z] has the same deep needs for love, significance, meaning, and belonging as every previous generation.” So above all, let’s continue to be kind, understanding and empathetic to the needs of all individuals in our workplaces. Welcome Gen Z, we’re glad you’re here.
Diana Varma is an Instructor at the School of Graphic Communications Management at Ryerson University and the owner of ON-SITE First Aid & CPR Training Group, a health & safety company that provides training to the Graphic Arts Industry.
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COVID-19 News
COVID-19: Printing Industry Update The current Coronavirus pandemic is not only changing the way we live, it’s also changing the way we do business. Here’s a brief summary of recent industry efforts to fight the virus, event re-scheduling, and other related news items. More detailed information can be found at www.graphicartsmag. com and in this May online issue. NEW INITIATIVES • Delphax is offering printers in Canada and the U.S. who produce more than 12 million letter impressions per year a chance to acquire the OEM’s flagship Elan 500 HD Cutsheet Digital Inkjet Press for a minimum of two years with no equipment lease or purchase costs. Plus, the cost of consumables and tech support will remain at 2019 levels. • Trade printer SinaLite is creating low-cost face shields that come with a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) visor and meet FDA requirements. Indoor and outdoor vinyl floor graphics and removable vinyl decals are also available to promote social distancing, hand washing, covering coughs, etc. • At the Sainte-Justine Children’s Hospital in Montréal, employees are making protective visors for non-medical personnel to wear. The clear part of the visors is made from GBC’s 10 Mil Clear Covers. • The Association for PRINT Technologies released a free online Disaster Recovery Toolkit that provides best practices to help printing businesses. • The FuturePrint Summit will now take place online only June 2 – 4 and will provide a free platform to connect the international printing industry. • SGIA, NAPCO, PIA and their affiliates have launched a COVID-19 Resource Channel that provides up-to-the-minute news and other helpful tools. • Mimaki USA released its Wide Format Investment Program that will offer up to 6 months of payment relief at a 3.99% fixed interest rate for 60 months. • Drytac released a series of tips to help your graphics and signage withstand deep cleaning during the pandemic. • Sandy Alexander, a U.S. printing and marketing company, is producing 5,000 PETG face shields per day to help front-line healthcare workers. • The UK-based Global PrintExpo will now launch as a fully virtual exhibition in June. It will work the same way that a live tradeshow does, except that anyone can visit the show online 24/7, 365 days a year, from anywhere in the world. • Canon and Thomas Printworks have partnered to help U.S.
14 | May 2020 | GRAPHIC ARTS MAGAZINE
foodservice providers. They’ve teamed up to create thousands of high-impact printed public service announcement banners and carry-out menus as restaurants have been forced to shift to take-out solutions. • Color-Logic has suspended its enrollment fees for its Licensed Printer SMART Program. Printers whose renewal came due in February, will have their enrollment fees suspended until August. • Kodak is supplying tanker loads isopropyl alcohol to New York State for production of hand sanitizer for use primarily in the hardest-hit area, New York City. • Konica Minolta is uniting globally to support communities and help customers. The OEM is re-directing everyday innovations – such as digital workplaces, security solutions, infrared thermography solutions, on-demand teaching materials, and diagnostic imaging equipment – to help customers solve urgent issues arising from the current pandemic. • Durst is producing “community masks” at its Brixen headquarters in South Tyrol, Italy. The masks are for employees at Durst and its sister company Alupress, and will soon be available to other companies. The production expertise will also be available to interested printers worldwide. • Xitron now has a plan that allows printers to purchase necessary RIP and workflow software with little cash outlay and interest-free payments. NEW AND RE-SCHEDULED EVENTS • Dscoop Edge set for March 29 to April 1 in Orlando, Florida will be moved to a later date, still to be determined. • The 13th annual Converters Expo will now take place August 24-25, 2020 at Lambeau Field Atrium in Green Bay, Wisconsin. • The 2020 Digital Signage Expo which was to occur at the Las Vegas Convention Center March 31-April 3, has now been postponed until late summer or early fall. No specific date was released. • The SGIA announced a new webinar series designed to address critical issues facing the printing industry amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The free COVID-19: Ask the Experts webinar series will be offered twice a month in May and June and will feature key updates on a variety of topics to help businesses overcome operational challenges. • Xplor International has rescheduled its Xplor2020 Conference to September 17-19 at the TradeWinds Island Grand in St. Pete Beach, Florida. • The International Sign Association’s popular ISA Sign Expo 2020 will now occur August 23 – 25, with pre-conference sessions on August 22, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.
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Print Industry News Xerox abandons $34 billion takeover bid of HP
Agfa opens Offset Technical Competence Center
In one of the most controversial (and exhausting) ongoing industry melodramas, Xerox has finally announced that it would be dropping its hostile takeover bid of HP. Xerox, valued at about $8 billion, had offered to finance a $34 billion cash- and-stock acquisition of HP, which was valued at about $31 billion at the time. The war between the two industry giants started in the fall of 2019, and included an attempt to take over the HP board with Xerox’s own nominations that, not surprisingly, was soundly rejected by HP. Speculation was that, with a global recession on the horizon due to COVID-19, HP was in a much better position to weather the expected economic consequences than its much smaller competitor. The decision also means that HP and Canon can continue their current, mutually beneficial relationship. Canon CEO and Chairman Fujio Matarai previously insisted that if the takeover was successful, Canon would “cut its ties with HP.”
Agfa has opened a new state-of-the-art centre for of fset technology in Wilmington, Massachusetts. The OEM’s Offset Technical Competence Center (TCC) is a fully-equipped lab that features Agfa’s integrated prepress and pressroom solutions to demonstrate numerous high-performance commercial, packaging, newspaper and UV printing applications that also offer sustainable benefits. The TCC will showcase innovations that reduce waste, eliminate chemicals and lower ink consumption while saving energy. It was designed to provide a library of application knowledge and customer support for Agfa systems and new product introductions. The investment is open to printers for demonstrations and is aimed at “lowering the total cost of print manufacturing.”
Agfa’s North American Regional President Gunther Mertens (left) and Guido Hauquier, Agfa’s Global Director of Offset Applications cut the ribbon to open Agfa’s new TCC.
Heidelberg layoffs could total 2,000 Heidelberg has begun a wide-ranging “action package” that could see up to 2,000 jobs lost across the globe as well as possible plant closures. The OEM currently has about 11,000 employees w o r l d w i d e. T h e n e w s t r a te g y, characterized by the OEM as “painful changes,” is aimed to refocus on its most profitable business units. CEO Rainer Hundsdörfer said that planned job and operations’ cuts were still in the discussion phase and further details “could not be disclosed at this time.” Heidelberg plans to use the additional liquidity to eliminate nearly all of its net debt and to substantially improve the company's financing structure. Heidelberg has sales of about $2.6 billion globally.
Entries now open for 2020 Premier Print Awards
Global PrintExpo to launch as a virtual tradeshow in June
The Printing Industries of America (PIA) is now accepting submissions for the 2020 Premier Print Awards competition, marking the program’s 72nd year honouring print excellence. The international competition is open to all companies involved in the creation or production of print communications, as well as students and student groups from high school, vocational school, or college print production programs. Because of COVID-19, the entry deadline for this year’s competition has been extended to July 31, 2020, and may be submitted at www.awards.printing.org. An earlybird discount is available for entries received and processed before June 15, 2020. Due to the shifting nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, the decision to hold a live awards gala will be made at a later date. Entries are all competing for the coveted Best of Category
The U.K.-based Global PrintExpo will be the world’s first virtual tradeshow and conference for the printing industry. The Global PrintExpo Virtual Exhibition will open in June of 2020 and will work in the same way that a live tradeshow does, except that anyone can visit the show 24/7, 365 days a year, from anywhere in the world (without the cost of transportation and hotels). The 10,000 square metre venue and all the exhibitor stands will be rendered to real physical dimensions online. Visitors will register and be able to navigate through the hall and visit stands – complete with 3D products, HD videos and literature downloads, generating real-time sales enquiries. Exhibitors will be able to update the products in their booths with a range of interactive content that visitors can explore and download. For more information please visit www.GlobalPrintExpo.online.
Renewed anticipation building for drupa 2021
With the new opening dates of April 20 – 30, 2021 in Düsseldorf, Germany, drupa, the world’s largest printing industry tradeshow, is still top of mind with most industry leaders worldwide. “We were already in the final stages of preparing for drupa 2020. However, given the current exceptional situation, we believe the decision to postpone was both right and unavoidable,” said Hiroaki Shimosaka, GM of the Graphic Systems Business Division at Fujifilm. “The announcement in March has minimized the economic damage to exhibitors and we are grateful that the decision was made before the impact could become even more drastic. We are therefore preparing for drupa 2021.” Claus BolzaSchünemann, CEO of Koenig & Bauer, added: “drupa is the leading trade fairand the highlight of an entire industry. We at Koenig & Bauer have already put a lot of energy and passion into drupa. We would like to share this with you – also in 2021 – and of course on the way there. Stay tuned, it's worth it!”
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“Benny” Award, which is only bestowed to print projects that exhibit the highest level of craftsmanship and execution. Full program details and a catalogue of entr y categories is available at www.printing.org/ppa.
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Print Industry News Global PrintExpo Virtual Exhibition will open in June of 2020 and will work in the same way that a live tradeshow does, except that anyone can visit the show 24/7, 365 days a year, from anywhere in the world (without the cost of transportation and hotels). The
FuturePrint Co-Directors Frazer Chesterman (left) and Marcus Timson.
10,000 square metre venue and all the exhibitor stands will be rendered to real physical dimensions online. Visitors will register and be able to navigate through the hall and visit stands – complete with 3D products, HD videos and literature downloads, generating real-time sales enquiries. Exhibitors will be able to update the products in their booths with a range of interactive content that visitors can explore and download. For more information please visit www.GlobalPrintExpo.online.
FM Future to launch FuturePrint Virtual Summit June 2 – 4 Event organizer FM Future has announced that the first FuturePrint Virtual Summit will take place online June 2 – 4, 2020. Free for all attendees, the objective is to provide an online platform to connect the international printing industry – and to facilitate knowledge sharing, networking, product and service updates, as well as provide inspiration and support during and beyond this challenging period. “In March, FuturePrint launched a series of webinars for April under the theme ‘Stay Safe, Stay Connected’, and these generated some surprising interest,” said event Co-Director Marcus Timson. “So, we then thought why not extend this to provide a more significant level of content, across a wider spectrum of print? Timson and Co-Director Frazer Chesterman previously ran the FESPA trade shows from 2003 up to 2011, then launched FM Brooks, EcoPrint, and the InPrint Shows.
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2020 InterTech Awards accepting applications to July 20 The Printing Industries of America (PIA) is seeking innovative print and graphic communications technologies to compete in its 2020 InterTech Technology Awards. The annual competition hosted by the PIA honours groundbreaking technologies poised to change the way companies provide services and produce jobs. Though an entry discount is available through to May 29, 2020, all submission fees must be paid by the early-bird deadline to receive a discounted rate. Entrants have until the July 20 deadline to submit their application, officials said. Honourees receive the InterTech Lucite Star Award and recognition among industry peers. Additionally, they are featured in industry publications, news releases, and conference presentations. Due to COVID-19, the decision to hold a live awards gala will be determined at a later date. Full details can be found at http://www.printing.org/intertech.
InterTech Lucite Star Award
BMI publishes State of the Book Industry report The Book Manufacturers’ Institute (BMI) has released this year’s State of the Book Industry report delving into current market data and emerging trends. The economic and print-market outlooks are based on available data as of early April, 2020. Because of the dynamic nature of the economy and print markets as a result of COVID-19, these projections could change significantly, said BMI. The full report is free for BMI members. Interested parties in the print sector can download an executive summary at www.BMIBook.com under the Resources tab. Topics covered include an analysis of how the printing of books fits into the larger print economy, economic forces impacting book manufacturers, key trends in book readership, consumption and demand, benchmarking data for incomeand operating metrics, and important management issues for book printers in 2020. Ultimate releases whitepaper on uture-proofing workflows Montreal-based Ultimate TechnoGraphics’ new whitepaper on the design of a future-proof workflow for business success today and beyond, was written by industry analyst and author David Zwang. Future-Proof Print Production reveals how printers can grow margins and expand their products and services by implementing a long-term strategy to capture their share of developing and changing markets. “Part 1 of this whitepaper looks at how the market and technologically-driven changes have placed new demands on print, publishing and packaging service providers, and will continue to for the foreseeable future,” said Zwang. Reading this report, said Ultimate, will give printers the tools to differentiate between efficient and inefficient solutions to ultimately get the mostof their investments now and for years to come. The new w h i t e p a p e r i s available for download here.
David Zwang
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Cover Story
Canada's adaptable digital printers respond and the acceleration of digital trends The month of May is usually when Graphic Arts Magazine shares an update on digital printing and its impact on our industry. This year would have made for a great overview opportunity since this is the year that we would have attended drupa 2020, which was originally scheduled to start next month. Every four years major vendors consider this event as a major jumping-off point to launch or announce their latest hardware and software products, setting their evolutionary tone for the years to come. This in turn drives the printing industry to consider the impact of these evolving technologies on their business models and adjust their strategies and business plans accordingly. With digital printing, especially inkjet, reaching the tipping point of going mainstream, many in the industry were looking forward to attending drupa 2020 with the intent to use this event as their ideal platform for research and development efforts. Then COVID-19 hit. In a matter of weeks, the virus threat went from a growing concern in January and February, to a full-blown worldwide crisis with a complete lockdown in Canada in the second half of March – except for essential services. Almost overnight the graphic arts industry, as many other industries, went from contemplating their next mid-term to long-term strategic planning, to survival mode. However shell-shocked, the printing industry showed a remarkable agility to adapt as parts of the industry got designated as an essential service. Think of packaging printing for food and pharmaceuticals, commercial printing for direct-marketing messaging, wide-format printing for floor decals, banners and posters, etc. What struck me even more so was the printing industry’s ability to transform its manufacturing capabilities to provide tools to help the fight against COVID-19. Here are a couple of examples that really stood out.
The creativity and agility of the printing industry C17media in Richmond Hill repurposed its wide-format equipment to make t h o u s a n d s o f f a ce s h i e l d s f o r healthcare workers.
On March 31, C17media, a printmedia shop based in Richmond Hill, set up to help in the fight against COVID-19 and started a campaign called “Support Canada’s Frontline.” Spearheading the effort was Chris Pereira, President of C17 Group. He decided to repurpose the company’s wide-format equipment fleet to make medical face shields for healthcare workers. By mid-April they delivered their first batch, and soon received their Health Canada license as a medical device manufacturer.
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Chris revealed what drove his organization to such a drastic change: “It’s surreal how much has changed since mid-March. I have spoken with a lot of entrepreneurs and now is not the time to sit back and ride out the storm. Plan, adapt and execute. Most businesses will not return to normal for a very long time – and no one is coming to save you.”
PDI modified its production lines to produce protective shields and visors.
Another example is PDI, based in Kirkland, Quebec. Right from the beginning of the lockdown PDI got involved in helping to fight the crisis and repurposed part of its Wide-Format Division. They modified their production line in record time to deliver protective shields to essential services. These shields are being used, for example, at reception desks at hospitals, pharmacies and clinics, as well as at cash registers and checkouts in grocery stores, etc. Next to these protective shields they also produce protective visors for face shields. Jamie Barbieri, President and co-owner of the PDI Group, and Martin Blais, Vice President of PDI Wide-Format Solutions, were impressed by how their employees put their heart, ingenuity and great dedication into producing more protective shields and visors each and every day. On the west coast it’s equally remarkable how sustainable printing leader Hemlock Printers, based in Burnaby, BC, had stepped up its efforts early on to help fight COVID-19. Regarded as a social, purpose-driven organization, the company also used its manufacturing capabilities to help its
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Cover Story communities. They’re printing Public Health Agency of Canada COVID-19 workplace posters for businesses and non-profits free of charge. Hemlock’s social-purpose partner, Novex Delivery Solutions, is donating the “no-contact” carbon-neutral delivery of those posters. Hemlock is also using its wide-format equipment to print floor decals (to indicate proper space apart while physical distancing), plexiglass shields and other signage products that protect employees and customers. As Richard Kouwenhoven, President & COO of Hemlock Printers, said: “It has become clear that our fight against this virus will take place over the weeks and months ahead, and we remain committed to doing our part, working in close partnership with our staff, suppliers, customers and the wider community.” Mi5 Print & Digital, based in Mississauga, Ontario, turned their design capabilities into creating medical visors, safety shielding and even flat-pack corrugated folding emergency beds. “I was confident that with our technology and capacity to
The acceleration of digital printing trends due to COVID-19 There’s no doubt that this crisis is having – and will have – a profound impact on society as well as on our industry. Until recently we were projecting 3 to 5 year trends based on the digitization of the overall communication process, of which our printing industry is part. It’s our belief that the current crisis will accelerate some of the digital printing trends we’ve been identifying. In the next section we’ll take a closer look at five trends and their possible impact on the future of the digital printing industry.
1. Faster turnaround times and shorter run lengths The astounding speeds by which the above-mentioned organizations were able to adjust, retool and manufacture “non-common” print products, is a clear indication of their overall adaptability. Those companies that are now proving their agility will be the ones sourcing equipment and systems that will further enhance that advantage. These printers understand more than ever that they are part of the omni-channel communications universe, and speed (i.e. faster turnarounds) and personalization/versioning (i.e. shorter run lengths) will more than ever become a distinct competitive advantage. We’ll notice an increase in the adoption rate of digital printing presses, especially inkjet-based platforms, as well as integrated workflow systems.
2. Increased automation – machine learning and artificial Intelligence (AI) design and manufacture retail POP products quickly, that we could be very helpful right now in the COVID-19 crisis,” said Derek McGeachie, President & CEO of Mi5. Hueneye, based in Montreal, partnered with Imprimerie Maxime, also based in Montreal, to produce single-use, recyclable face shields for front-line grocery workers. Michael Green, President of Hueneye mentioned that they can increase their weekly production to 100,000 units. Ellis Packaging Limited based in Pickering, Ontario, produced 10,000 meal boxes for front line medical workers…..and the list goes on. These are just some examples of organizations that have repurposed their equipment fleets and offered products and services to help in this time of crisis. There are obviously many more that used their equipment in a creative way to come up with solutions helping the fight. The question one can now ponder is, what will all this mean for the printing industry once we get back to “normal” – whatever that “normal” might be.
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The goal of automation is to eliminate as many “hand-offs” or “touchpoints” in the production process as possible to increase the efficiency of the production process while reducing or eliminating errors and waste. The automation acceleration will occur on both the equipment level (hardware) and the workflow level (software). At the equipment level we’ll see an increasing adoption rate of high production digital presses and finishing equipment, both demanding high uptime ratios. At the workflow level we’ll see an accelerated demand for highly automated, fully integrated workflow systems. The combination of both a highly automated equipment fleet and a fully integrated workflow system is at the origin of an acceleration in machine learning and AI. When the complete print manufacturing process (from order intake to shipping/edelivery, fulfillment and billing) is fully integrated, the complete process will be mapped with data points. This in turn makes it a lot easier for the system to interpret the collected data gathered from each of these data points, “learn” from it, and
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Cover Story improve both the workflow and the manufacturing process. This means that we no longer can see equipment and workflow isolated from each other. As stated, the goal of automation is the elimination of errors and waste. One aspect of waste that will get much more emphasis is the notion of time. Too often, equipment performance is linked to only “speeds and feeds”, ignoring the actual uptime of the equipment. Uptime is defined as how often the equipment is available for production. With the trend of “faster turnaround times and shorter run lengths” gaining in importance, uptime will become one of the defining characteristics in the choice of digital presses and finishing equipment. Uptime of 90% and higher is becoming the norm, supported by an ever-increasing degree of self-diagnostics and self-maintenance. Integrated workflow is the other major contributing factor of time saving. There’s no better example of that than the automated workflow modules for packaging, where sizes, forms, run lengths, colours, substrates, deadlines, etc. vary substantially by project. Advanced workflow software is already available that will select and imposition jobs based on the above criteria, mapped against the available presses and finishing equipment, while maximizing number-up by sheet. In some cases, different jobs with different sizes, different colours, different run lengths, different forms and different schedules can be impositioned and nested on the same sheet, and be allocated to a specific press and/or finishing equipment. This complex process of calculating the numerous combinations with the sole intent of maximizing equipment fleet utilization and minimizing waste will be done in seconds, rather than hours. So, expect an acceleration of the automation processes and an increase in the leveraging of machine learning and AI.
3. Accelerated shift of skill-set requirements Given the above, there’s no doubt that we’ll see an accelerated shift of human intervention away from the manufacturing floor to the pre-manufacturing and post-manufacturing area. We have already seen the introduction of robots in the production process of wide-format products, where they execute and speed up the repetitive work, increasing efficiency and productivity. Digital presses now require almost no operator intervention compared to conventional offset presses. Remote diagnostics can monitor these digital presses and help prevent costly breakdowns – in some cases even eliminating them before they happen. The human factor is clearly shifting towards the added value of the production program development, the controlling and monitoring of the manufacturing
process, and the integration of the pre-manufacturing and post-manufacturing functions.
4. Accelerated convergence of business verticals Before the impact of COVID-19, we were already witnessing an accelerated phase of convergence in the printing industry. The advances in technology and the digitization of the printing process had already set in motion a convergence of business verticals. The lines between commercial printing, direct-marketing printing, wide-format printing, packaging printing and label printing, started to blur. The previously mentioned examples of companies reaching outside of their comfort zones to manufacture products to help front line workers with medical face shields, single-use face shields, protective shields and other print and display products to keep the public informed, revealed how our industry is indeed able to convert to non-standard production in absolute record times. This clearly underscores the dynamics and flexibility of the printing industry to adapt. In the aftermath of this crisis, we’ll see the lines between the verticals further deteriorate and the different verticals will converge even faster, creating new business opportunities.
5. Increasing management sophistication There’s no doubt that over the last couple of decades, the printing industry has gone through accelerated technological changes that have fundamentally altered the conventional business model. We went from a “heavy iron on the floor” mentality to becoming part of a sophisticated communications industry. Considering the business impact of the previously mentioned trends, one can only imagine the challenges managers in the printing industry will face. Add to this the accelerating factors caused by the COVID-19 crisis, plus the uncertainty of what the new “normal” will look like while navigating these continuous technological evolutions, and it’s easy to see how managing a printing business will be an increasingly sophisticated undertaking – and it will only get more sophisticated. In conclusion, there’s no doubt that the COVID-19 crisis is wreaking havoc on our society and our economy, including the printing industry. The crisis lays bare the underlying trends in our industry as described above. It will require management sophistication to get through this pandemic, to restore your business, and to continue the transformational change from a graphic “arts” model to a graphic “science” model.
Alec Couckuyt is an experienced printing executive who’s held key roles at Canon Canada, Agfa Graphics (Belgium, Canada, Germany), Transcontinental Printing, Symcor and U.S.-based EDS. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics from the University of Antwerp in Belgium and can be reached at aleccouckuyt@gmail.com.
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GRAPHIC ARTS MAGAZINE | May 2020 | 19
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Canada’s federal and provincial governments’ COVID-19 economic response The following article discusses COVID-19 financial compensation measures that were put in place by the Federal and Provincial Government as of April 1, 2020. These measures continue to change as the COVID-19 crisis continues to evolve. To fully benefit from the compensation it is recommended that you review this information with your accountant or bookkeeper. Federal government support for businesses https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/economicresponse-plan.html Wage subsidy – up to 75% for existing employees if sales have decreased by 30% or more On Friday, March 27, 202 the government introduced a 75% wage subsidy to all qualifying businesses in order to prevent massive layoffs. To be eligible for the wage subsidy, an employer must experience a drop of at least 30% in gross revenues due to COVID-19 in March, April or May when compared to the same month in 2019. The temporary wage subsidy covers 75% of gross T4 wages to a maximum of $847.00 per week per employee. The wage subsidy is based on yearly maximum earnings of $58,700.00. The program will be in place for 12 weeks and is retroactive to March 15, 2020 and ends on June 6, 2020. The federal government is working on a portal which will be available in the next 3-6 weeks to administer this program. Companies in the meantime will need to have the cash flow to meet payroll during this time period. The details for the wage subsidy program when available can be found at: Wage subsidy – up to 10% all other businesses The 10% wage subsidy is open to all other businesses that do not qualify for the 75% wage subsidy. The subsidy will be equal to 10% of remuneration paid during that period, up to a maximum subsidy of $1,375 per employee and $25,000 per employer. For example, a company has five employees earning $16.00/hour or $640/week, over 13 weeks the pay is $8,320.00 per employee. The company would deduct $832.00 per employee from payroll taxes over that time equalling $4,160 in total. The subsidy is equal to 10% of the remuneration you pay from March 18, 2020 to June 19, 2020, up to $1,375 for each eligible employee and to a maximum of $25,000 total per employer.
Note: Associated CCPCs will not be required to share the maximum subsidy of $25,000 per employer. The wage subsidy is taxable and will need to be reported as income in the year in which the subsidy is received. Employee EI compensation for reduced work hours https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/ services/work-sharing.html The EI Work Sharing Program, which provides EI benefits to workers who agree to reduce their normal working hours as a result of developments beyond the control of their employers such as COVID-19. Under the EI Work Sharing Program employees agree to work a reduced number of hours per week and are compensated by EI for the reduced hours. The federal government is extending the eligibility to 76 weeks, easing eligibility requirements, and streamlining the application process. For more information on the EI Work Sharing Program see: Canada Emergency Business Account The Canada Emergency Business Account was announced on March 27th and offers small businesses a $40,000 interest free loan for the first year. For more details contact your bank or see the following link: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/economicresponse-plan.html Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP) ensuring businesses have access to credit The Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP) will allow the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) and Export Development Canada (EDC) to provide more than $10 billion of additional support, largely targeted to small and mediumsized businesses. Relief measures include: ● Providing working capital loans of up to $2 million ● Flexible repayment terms, such as postponement of
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Column principal payments for up to six months, ● Reduced rates on new eligible loans In order to qualify, contact your bank and they will need to make a referral to BDC https://www.bdc.ca/en/contact_us/pages/default.aspx or EDC. https://www.edc.ca/en/contact-us.html Flexibility for businesses filing taxes The Canada Revenue Agency will allow all businesses to defer, until after August 31, 2020, the payment of any income tax amounts that were owed between March 18, 2020 and the end of August. This relief would apply to tax balances due, as well as instalments. Penalty and interest relief on corporate tax, HST and payroll tax Penalty and interest relief applies to any penalties and interest charges that your company receives on HST, payroll and corporate tax late payments due to extraordinary business circumstances such as COVID-19. To learn more go to: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/aboutcanada-revenue-agency-cra/complaints-disputes/ cancel-waive-penalties-interest.html GST/HST and customs duty payments All GST/HST as well as customs duties owing on imported goods are deferred until June 30, 2020. The deferral will apply to GST/HST remittances for monthly, quarterly and annual filers. For GST and customs duty payments for imported goods, deferral will include amounts owing for March, April and May. These amounts were normally due to be submitted to the CRA and the Canada Border Services Agency as early as the end of this month.
Provincial government support for businesses Employer health tax deferrals The provincial government is providing assistance with Employer Health Taxes. Beginning April 1, 2020 and for a period of five months, up until August 31, 2020, the province will not apply any penalties or interest on any late-filed returns or incomplete or late tax payments. Therefore EHT payments from April, May, June and July will not be due until August 31, 2020. In addition employers with annual payrolls of up to $5 million will be exempt from EHT on the first $1 million of total Ontario T4 payroll 2020. This increased EHT tax exemption limit will increase company savings from $9,945 to $19,500 in 2020. The EHT exemption limit will return to $490,000 on January 1, 2021.
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Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) Businesses covered by the WSIB’s workplace insurance are automatically eligible for the following relief package: ● Schedule 1 employers with premiums owed to the WSIB will be allowed to defer reporting and payments until August 31, 2020. ● The deferral will also apply to Schedule 2 businesses that pay WSIB for the cost related to their workplace injury and illness claims. In addition, no interest will be accrued on outstanding premium payments and no penalties will be charged during this sixmonth deferral period. Property tax deferrals The provincial government is allowing municipalities to defer property tax payments. As a result, property tax payments are being deferred in all cities. Deferral times differ per city. If you have submitted a series of post-dated cheques to the city to pay your property taxes they will be held for the deferral period. To find out the deferral period have a look at your city’s website or call or email your city councillor to find out the details. In the City of Toronto there is a grace period without penalties for 60 days starting March 16, 2020.
Federal government support for the self-employed Canada Emergency Response Benefit The Canada Emergency Response Benefit was announced on March 27th and will provide a taxable benefit of $2,000 a month for up to four months. Funding is available for any selfemployed workers who are forced to stop work as a result of COVID-19 and do not have access to paid leave or other income support. To read the entire federal and provincial government announcements, please see the following links: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/economicresponse-plan.html https://budget.ontario.ca/2020/marchupdate/action-plan.html
Bonny Koabel CPA, CGA is President of AKR Consulting Canada a Mississauga, Ontario firm specializing in GovernmentGrants, Subsidies, Tax Credits, Refunds and Rebates since 2003
GRAPHIC ARTS MAGAZINE | May 2020 | 21
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3D Printing saves lives in Italy I’ve been fascinated with 3D printers ever since I started writing about them 15 years ago. In 2010, I wrote about a fascinating new technology being developed at that time at the University of Manchester in England, where scientists were in the process of developing a technique through which inkjet nozzles would spray live human cells onto a patient. Ideally, this would speed up the healing process because doctors could seed a patient with replacement tissue that would grow to the size and shape required. This was used to treat burn victims who have suffered severe disfigurements. Today, 3D printing is enabling prototyping, customization, research, and manufacturing for many sectors of the healthcare industry. So, in the era of the Coronavirus, it was remarkable to see 3D printing come to the rescue once again in the healthcare industry.
expert Massimo Temporelli, who quickly re-engineered the design and began producing valves using FabLab’s 3D printing service. There are patent and validation issues that arose from using these non-original spare parts, but to avoid people dying, exceptions had to be made. Because of the significant demand for additional valves during this Coronavirus period, the Brescia hospital was able to save lives because of 3D printing. It has been forecast that 3D printing in the medical field will be worth $3.5 billion by 2025, compared to $713.3 million in 2016. The industry’s compound annual growth rate is supposed to reach 17.7% between 2017 and 2025. Medical applications for 3D printing are expanding rapidly and are expected to revolutionize health care. Today you will find a number of uses for 3D printing in the medical industry: tissue and organ fabrication; creation of customized prosthetics, implants, anatomical models, surgical tools and many more.
Just-in-time 3D manufacturing
As reported in the Daily Mail UK News last month, a 3D printer was used to save Italian coronavirus patients' lives by producing a replacement valve for a broken ventilator, and all in just a few hours after the hospital's supplies fell short. These ventilators provide patients with oxygen when they are unable to breathe on their own, as used in severe Coronavirus cases.
Massimo Temporelli
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As it turned out, the Chiari hospital in northern Italy's Lombardy region, ran out of the spare valves that are used on their ventilators, and time was of the essence. A collaboration between 3D printing experts and local business owners came to the rescue, rapidly fabricating the replacement parts that were needed. Many thanks to 3D printing
The speed of 3D printing means that it’s now possible for hospitals to quickly create devices as needed in response to patient demand (as we saw in Italy). Traditional medical devices can take weeks to design and manufacture, especially if they need to be customized for a patient. The time now needed to print parts is often much less when compared to traditional manufacturing methods, but there is still significant time required for the conversion of scan data to produce a printable file. So, for more urgent trauma cases it may not be an ideal solution.
Conclusion In 2020 the 3D printing has become a useful and transformative tool in a number of different fields, including the health industry. The industry continues to grow at an incredible pace, with the potential to impact many markets. And while 3D printing technology is still relatively new and there are still many pros and cons of using 3D printing for medical devices, as we’ve seen in Italy, the pros are starting to outweigh the cons. Peter Dulis is an award-winning photographer and large-format printing executive, having worked with Canon Canada for the last 14 years. A proven leader with outstanding communication skills, Peter is available for consultation or keynote speaking engagements and can be reached at pdulis@ rogers.com Follow his travel photography adventures at www.photographyadventures.ca.
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Heidelberg B30 Folders w/2 right angles Polar Programmable Cutters Heidelberg Platen Press Heidelberg Cylinder 22x33 Muller Martini 6 Pocket Stitcher Wiro and Spiral Binding Machines Konica Minolta Bizhub C1060 Xerox 4112 B/W Copier
GRAPHIC ARTS MAGAZINE | May 2020 | 23
Market Research
Statistics underscore the power of direct mail and printed newsletters Amid all the noise, clutter and complexity of our digital world, printed direct mail is still one of the most creative and effective ways of engaging potential customers. If you don’t believe me, take a look right now at your inbox. Are you overwhelmed? How many emails have attracted your attention? Will you be reading all of them or a select few? According to Canada Post, when it comes to virtually any marketing campaign, direct mail gets noticed, opened and read because our brains are hard-wired to pay more attention to it due to its tactile nature. In fact, studies show that marketing campaigns that integrate direct mail with digital elements elicit 39% more attention (i.e. time spent) than digital campaigns alone. Today, savvy commercial printers, marketers and agencies realize that they absolutely must incorporate direct mail into their promotions to be successful. A huge 66% purchase rate I’d be willing to bet that the inbox on your computer is currently full of marketing messages and other offers that can be distracting at best, and annoying at worst. Physical mailboxes aren’t! And as mentioned, direct mail is tangible, so it’s much more engaging than an image on a computer screen – which is much easier to forget than a printed message you can physically set aside for future perusal. Combine all of these factors and it’s not surprising that about 66% of consumers here and in the U.S. have purchased a product because of direct mail. Yes, email can be effective. But today it’s a very crowded battleground for an audience’s attention. Most of us have dozens or even hundreds of unopened emails, and realize that more are coming. How many will you open or never read? Printed newsletters, on the other hand, garner better readership and elicit subsequent actions. Today, successful business owners are revisiting this powerful and tangible marketing tool. Plus, with their
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more informative and entertaining style, newsletters can dominate when it comes to better engagement with customers and potential clients. Don’t forget, with a simple mouse click, recipients can either bypass your email newsletter without even opening it, or worse, delete it. And, if you catch them at a very busy time, some might even opt out of receiving your emails altogether. A better response rate Your printed newsletter, on the other hand, will at least be touched and seen. According to several online searches, email newsletters can average click-through rates from .5% up to 1.6%. However, a printed direct-mail newsletter can generate a 3% to 5% response rate. To give you another comparison, Mailchimp pegs the average click-through rate for all emails across all industries at 2.62%. Statistics also show that emails have a small “opening window” that begins to plummet after the first hour of sending. For example, how likely are you to go back and open an email you skipped over earlier? However, nearly everyone sorts through his or her printed mail at least weekly, if not daily. Plus, many people set aside printed mail that they deem important, for future reference. Studies have also concluded that because our brains associate text with the physical world, most people find the process of focusing while reading digital print extremely challenging. Give your prospects a colourful printed newsletter that they can physically hold and interact with, and concentration is seldom an issue. Finally, a printed newsletter also symbolizes professionalism and a commitment to your clients that’s difficult to convey with e-newsletters on a computer screen. At the end of the day, you need to balance the inexpensive nature of e-newsletters (i.e. no printing needed) with the many advantages of a printed format – not the least of which is showcasing your shop’s creativity and exceptional print quality. Finally, if you feel you don't have the time or the staff to create an engaging monthly newsletter, we can help. Please see the next page. Tony Curcio Editor, Graphic Arts Magazine tony@graphicartsmag.com
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How to Make a Great First Impression Whether making a sales call, meeting your child’s teacher, or volunteering at an event, first impressions matter. Here are a few tips for making your first impression count: Attitude is everything. Wear a smile, sit up straight, listen attentively, and give positive reactions. All of these things will show the person you are greeting that you are happy to meet them. Be on time. Tardiness can easily be interpreted as a lack of respect. If a delay is unavoidable, be sure to notify the person you’re meeting before your scheduled appointment time. R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Aretha Franklin was on to something with her 1967 hit song. If you plan on building a relationship, it’s important to “show a little respect” and make friends with everyone you meet along the way. Talk less. Listen more. Having two ears and only one mouth is a good indicator that listening is more important than talking. Avoid monopolizing conversations, or you may come off as
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someone only concerned with looking out for their own interests. Get organized. Do you have everything with you that you need? Go through a mental checklist before you arrive or consider writing a list of everything you’ll need the night before if you know you’ll be scrambling in the morning. Come prepared. Similar to getting organized, spend some time to do a little research before your meeting. If you’re headed toward a business meeting, gather background information about the company you plan to visit. Meeting your child’s teacher? Prepare your list of questions ahead of time so you can cover what’s most important to you. Ditch the fix-it mind-set. Be slow when offering recommendations. Instead, make sure you fully understand a situation before offering a solution.
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Call Publisher Joe Mulcahy at 1-877-513-3999 to learn more about this helpful new service, available from Graphic Arts Magazine in 2020.
Column
Planning and foresight...in the midst of this madness The second restart is you. This is where you take some time to think about yourself, what you really want to do, and what really makes you tick. The third and perhaps the most important on another level is your business. What are you going to do, and when? Right now you have the time to jot down all the things you like and don’t like about your business. And I mean everything – people, services, equipment, technology, and yes, your clients. Don’t worry – no one has to see your notes. And remember not to overlook all those “gut feelings” that you had (and now have) regarding everything about your business. Are they still relevant today and will they continue to guide you as we move beyond this pandemic? Right now (during this social distancing) is the ideal time to press your restart button. This is when you get to do everything (or almost everything), and more importantly plan ahead so you can make the moves you want. It’s not easy. You may have to layoff that employee(s) that doesn’t add value to your business, implement a new cost structure, or think about adding new services. You may wish to abandon old methods and processes that always seem to lead to headaches, or even graciously let to go of clients who invariably cause you more problems and headaches that they’re worth.
Stay positive At press time, Canada’s confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus were surpassing 69,000, with more than 4,800 deaths linked to the global pandemic. However, through all this fear and uncertainty, I believe what’s most important is to remain positive. It’s so important that when you restart, you feel good, guilt-free and absolutely confident about your decisions. Your future vision must crystal clear. So here I sit in the middle of this craziness, trying to think of my next print topic to write about. And guess what, I can’t think about printing. I can’t think about much. Who would have thought we would be living in an episode of The Twilight Zone? I’m at a loss for words – which is something I’m definitely not accustomed to. Why? Because the world is changing right in front of us and my mouth is hanging open – but not for long! This is where we sit – but hopefully for a moment only, when our minds get the best of us, and all we see is the bad and the ugly. But what about the good? That’s what I want to talk about. And no one said this was going to be easy. I’m asking you to pause for a moment and listen to what I’m saying. The good in this frustrating pandemic waiting game, for the first time that I know of, is a real “reset” on all fronts for virtually everyone in this industry. Our first reset starts at home where most of us are spending time with our families for a long period – which most of us don’t do other than during a vacation.
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And your plan should, at the very least, be a blueprint or an easy-to-follow roadmap moving forward. What will your business – and our society – look like after the pandemic and beyond? What continuing adjustments will you have to make? I truly believe that, as difficult as life is right now, there is indeed a “light at the end of the tunnel.” And that light never goes out – ever. At the end of each day, that’s what really keeps us going. And remember that even after even the most ferocious of storms, often comes a rainbow. Please feel free to reach out to me for whatever reason.
A passionate printing industry veteran of 28 years (and passionate fisherman), Warren Werbitt will continue to ‘troll’ the industry, focussing on important and often controversial issues that impact printers. He can be reached at warren.werbitt@gmail.com.
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Creative & Design
Neenah launches a 100% paper-based alternative to styrene Neenah (Alpharetta, GA) has introduced Neenah Imagemax Signage – a new “breakthrough” 100% paper-based wide-format product. This latest addition to Neenah’s wide range of environmental products is FSC, Green-e, and SmartWay certified to meet the growing demand for a sustainable alternative to traditional styrene. It’s a smooth-coated substrate designed to produce “remarkable printing results” via UV, UV-gel, latex and screenprinting techniques. Available in all standard wide-format calipers, it’s ideal for applications such as hanging signage, POP and POS signs, shelf-talkers and directional signage. Neenah Imagemax is also static-free for smoother, faster printing and minimized nozzle drop-out, up to 20% lighter than styrene, has Neenah Imagemax Signage 94% brightness for clearer, longer-lasting image reproduction that won’t yellow, facilitates printing without banding, has faster cut times and eliminates possible fingerprints. Neenah’s Imagemax Signage Toolkit promotion includes printed samples of each caliper alongside a styrene sheet. Special treatments include white ink, contour cutting, creasing, and challenging printing scenarios such as solid gray and gradients.
Arctic Blue Gin package wins Product of the Year Award The Association of International Metallizers, Coaters and Laminators (AIMCAL – Greenville, SC and Amsterdam, The Netherlands) presented its 2020 Product of the Year Award to Hazen Paper Company Arctic Blue Gin: As the package’s viewing angle (Holyoke, MA) for changes, the holography flashes and moves like its custom hologa true animation. raphy on a transfer-metallized carton designed for Arctic Blue Gin. The holograph creates the illusion of northern lights and was printed on MetsäBoard Pro FBB Bright paperboard. Metsä Board also designed the Arctic Blue Gin package. It created the concept, structure, graphics and embossing for Arctic Brands Group Limited, a Finland-based spirits company. Specialty paper converter Hazen designed the holographic effect, the opaque white plates for rendering the effect, and incorporated a PMS spot-colour green plate to highlight some details in the package. As the viewing angle changes, the holography flashes and moves like an actual animation. The stunning optical effect is created with
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a sub-micron embossing grid in the transfer-metallized layer. This ultra-thin coating layer provides visual impact typical of much thicker structures. The result is as close to an actual northern lights’ flare as printed materials can accomplish, said the companies.
Crown Brand Building Packaging wins INX Can Design Contest Crown Brand Building Packaging of Mexico won the inaugural Colored by INX Can Design Contest – in a landslide! Its entry, INDIO Beer’s Pueblos de México Unido Edición Muertos, received 795 of the 1,076 votes conducted on the INX International Ink Company’s Facebook page from April 6-13 of this year. INDIO is a dark beer that’s been brewed and sold in Mexico since 1893. Representing 74% of the votes that were cast, INDIO’s promotional label required bright, saturated colours to create a contrast INDIO Beer’s Pueblos de that emulated the importance of this México Unido Edición Muertos. celebration to all Mexicans. Contest eligibility required use of the INX Metal Color Catalogue and at least two colours from the INX Color Perfection Library. The winning entry took advantage of the vast spectrum of colours in the catalogue, and made the can stand out with transparent, opaque and bright colours. A new update later this year will increase the INX Metal Color Catalogue to over 600 removable metal colour swatches.
SwissQprint adds orange and varnish applications SwissQprint (Kriessern, Switzerland) has released new orange ink and varnish options for its large-format and Karibu roll-to-roll printers. The new channels can be retrofitted or re-equipped on existing LED printers at any time. The orange can be used in combination with process colours, or directly as a spot colour. Its colour values are essentially the same as Pantone SwissQprint sample 021. The varnish for the OEM’s utilizing orange ink Karibu wide-format printer can be applied as partial coats or optional multiple layers to create appealing visual and tactile effects that accentuate patterns (on wallpaper, for example) or produce elegant lacquer lettering on dark roll media. A varnish coating overprinted on process inks also makes the ink layer more resistant to water and solvents. Of course, the varnish can also fully cover the process layer to provide surface gloss and an easy means of sealing.
GRAPHIC ARTS MAGAZINE | April 2020 | 27
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When making submissions, please forward to the following email addresses: ADS NEWS CLASSIFIED ARTICLES INSTALLATIONS SUBSCRIPTIONS
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Imagesetter and Processor with spare imagesetter and processor. Being used presently however converting to CTP. $750.00 ONO. Contact Tony at Print Shop Ltd. (709) 368-2561.
High Water Python 74-BV30-IEC Computerto-Plate Equipment with MIPR512 Computer System; S/N: PY612; Year 2009; Asking $2,500 • Tel.: (855) 729-0029
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY Printer’s Parts & Equipment, established 1973, is looking for a results-driven sales representative to actively seek out and engage customer prospects. PP&E has an extensive product line that makes it easy for representatives to perform and maximize revenues. Industry experience, and car is required to visit prospects and customers. Please apply in confidence to info@printersparts.com.
Printing Company For Sale Established in 1991, this company is located in Northern BC. It serves its loyal client base by offering both offset and digital services. Business has low overhead and a huge potential for growth. Only reason for sale is due to the death of a part owner. For serious inquiries, please give us a call at 250-261-2469.
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FOR SALE Printing Company for Sale This established company is located in North Bay, Ontario. It serves a loyal client base by offering both 4 colour offset and digital services. Building and equipment included for a reasonable price. Staff would like to continue employment. Business has low overhead and the potential for growth. Reason for sale is owner retirement. Business has been in operation for over 50 years. For serious inquiries txt : 705–493-1045
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GRAPHIC ARTS MAGAZINE | May 2020 | 29
Column
Navigate your search, get hired and survive your first professional job Companies of all sizes and sectors are fine-tuning their attention towards the Millennial and Gen Z employee candidate pool. Recruiters and hiring managers are learning new ways to attract, train, keep, and advance the biggest generation in the Canadian workforce - as Boomers embark on their retirement exodus. Generational differences are shifting the hiring landscape, traditional workplace rules are being overhauled, and job seekers are caught between old-school workplace expectations and new-school ideals. If you’re a Millennial or Gen Z job-seeker, these tips will help you navigate your search, get hired and survive your first professional job.
Create a target list
There are 30 million companies on LinkedIn and 20 million open job listings. 90 million senior-level LinkedIn influencers and 63 million in decision-making positions make it possible for job-seekers to align their wish-list to the right people, companies and groups. 70% of millennial workers would rather telecommute than come to the office, according to Canadian Business. As the world adjusts to a new normal, companies that previously scoffed at this highly sought-after work-life balance may now be more open to the idea, opening up even more opportunity.
Figure out how you help
The answer to the question ‘why should I hire you’ needs to get to the point – and separate you from the herd – quickly. The top soft skill that companies need the most on LinkedIn is creativity, while the top hard skills are blockchain and cloud computing. Create a few versions of your ‘how you help’ impact statement, one about 10 words, and a longer one - about 25 to 30 words - using keywords that differentiate you. For example, my personal impact statement is: “I’m a B2B marketer who’s passionate about print.” Choose your words wisely. According to Hubspot, the most overused profile word is ‘specialize’.
Become a LinkedIn all-star
When it comes to networking and job-finding, there’s a reason why LinkedIn tops the list. According to LinkedIn Business statistics, there are 87 million Millennials on the platform, with 11 million in decision-making positions. 46 million of them are students and recent college graduates. LinkedIn profiles with professional headshots get 14 times more profile views, says inc.com. Head over to Costco—or anywhere passport-picture taking is offered – for an affordable, professional-grade digital head-and-shoulders shot. Be
30 | May 2020 | GRAPHIC ARTS MAGAZINE
true to your brand. Dress the part. Wear your glasses. Be confident. Smile.
Inspect your social media presence
Do you live your life from one selfie to the next? Minimize any negative impact by removing or limiting access to images and posts that could put you in a bad light. Do a full review of your privacy and notification settings and update profiles with your new headshot, impact statement and email address or contact info.
Craft your resume
It takes more than a resumé to land a job, but you won’t land a job without it. No matter where you are in your career path, or how long it’s been since you last dusted off your CV, take advantage of the templates, tools, technologies and bestpractices at your disposal to convince your target list how you can help them – and why they should hire you.
Present yourself professionally
When heading out to a job interview, whether it’s in-person or virtual, your physical presence speaks volumes. If you have bedhead (or hathead), noticeably unkempt nails – or appear haggard, frazzled, or frayed – you are not sending a positive message. Keep it clean, neat and professional – check your background too – and send the message that you are on top of your responsibilities and can be trusted to handle those of the company.
Tips to survive the first three months
The first three months of any job are a whirlwind of new people and new processes all blended in with new and old expectations. Respect workplace boundaries and learn how to balance your professional and personal relationships. Learn the basics of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and become an expert in mail, calendar, collaboration and meeting platforms. Be five minutes early for everything, whether live or virtual. Be ready to take notes, clarify and ask questions and write down the answers for future reference. Be organized, using a consistent and logical file structure for easy collaboration – and effective time management. Finally, take the time to learn from anyone with tenure over 10 years. Their ways may seem outdated, but their experience and wisdom – blended with your energy, drive, passion and ideas – will help foster a new era of business excellence. Joanne Gore is a B2B marketer who’s passionate about print and has spent the last three decades helping companies maximize their marketing and communications efforts. Founder of Joanne Gore Communications, she helps companies tell their story to a new generation of print and business buyers. Email: joanne@joannegorecommunications.com Follow her on Twitter: @joannegore121.
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