irish Printer magazine by Jemma Publications

The Voice Of The Industry

Volume 42 | Number 4

April 2010

Paul Keegan Low Profile, High Expectations ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: ■ Bryan S Ryan sign Kodak deal ■ Outrage over print contracts ■ Pre-IPEX preview ■ New print company in Kilkenny ■ More inkjet printers for the market ■ Digital Print Business to roll out the Xeikon range

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leader & contents

VOLUME 2 NUMBER

NEWS

Seen but not heard? When TV and radio personality, Pat Kenny, confessed to being confused about the VAT issue relating to print being sent abroad, it became clear that those outside the industry’s realm have little knowledge or understanding of the day-to-day struggles of the sector. But who is to blame them? Despite my years in the publishing sector, I was oblivious to the entire issue of procurement or, more pertinantly, the amount and effect of work needlessly sent out of the country. When I tell avid GAA fans or ordinary taxpayers that the sporting association and Revenue send print work abroad which could lead to job losses here, their natural response is one of disbelief and to a point, anger. Who wouldn’t be? Apart from our government. We all know about the woes of those paid under €30,000 in the public and civil service, of carers whose benefits have been cut or that 250 pubs are expected to close this year. The reason we know all of this is because their stories are told and heard each day. The hardships endured by the print industry rarely make news briefs or airtime. Do people automatically think the print industry is dead with the advent and power of online forces? It is plausible. With the high-profile examinership cases of Wood PrintCraft and Future Print, the sector earned a few column inches and a 19-minute debate on Pat Kenny’s RTÉ One show. In the blue corner was Martin Mansergh, Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW). In the red corner was Brian Reilly, managing director of Future Print and Gerry Andrews from the Print and Packaging Forum. The issue of job losses due to work sent abroad was met with an argument about ‘protectionism’ from the government representative, as, he said, they could not get involved in the EU tendering process. Could not, or would not? His resistance to hearing how other countries, and in particular France, are interpreting the rules to help their print industry fell on the deaf ears of the Tipperary minister. He seemed more interested in voicing the fact that he gets all of his print work done in his home town, compared to his competition. Another sound-bite score for Fianna Fáil, and yet another failure of the government to register what is happening in the real world. Brian Reilly capitalised on this spin himself, with a full page article on the following day, written by himself, in the Irish News of the World. This is the type of media coverage that he, and the likes of the Print and Packaging Forum, is trying to generate and hence their general meeting in Dublin taking place as we go to print. The aim of the meeting is simple – gather everyone together and devise a plan to make people listen to their plight. Its effectiveness is down to each printer, whether you are willing to join this effort. If the shout is loud enough, someone will hear. It’s up to you. Your editor Gráinne Burns g.burns@jemma.ie

4 5 6 9

Lifeline thrown to Futureprint Bryan S Ryan sign Kodak deal GAA send contract abroad Digital Print Business sign new sales agency deal

12 14

Ricoh wins DIT contract Customer Focus

F E AT U RES 17

COVER STORY Paul Keegan, managing director of IIP, talks openly about his business plans and what needs to be done to rectify the industry.

IPEX PREVIEW Irish Printer looks at what the major suppliers are showcasing at the forthcoming event in Birmingham.

NEWSPAPER REPORT London’s Calling. Chief executive officer of the Irish Post tells of the challenges and opportunities facing the UK-based paper.

R E G U L ARS

39 32

PRODUCT NEWS Canon launches new large-format machines and new CtP system for Agfa

COMPANY PROFILE Derek Maher explains why he established a retail unit and how he plans to recoup his investment

ENVIRONMENT Are pulp and paper production are major contributors to global warming?

C O M M ENT

Editor: Gráinne Burns Layout/Design: Jim Heron Production manager: Jim Heron Circulation: Nicola Hickey Administration: Josie Keane, Marian Donohoe Managing director: Simon Grennan Chairman: Frank Grennan Printed by: KPS Colour Print, Knock. Published by Jemma Publications Ltd, Grattan House, Temple Road, Blackrock, Co Dublin, Rep. of Ireland. Tel: (01) 764 2700 Fax: (01) 764 2750 Email: sales@jemma.ie Jemma Publications publishes the following titles: Irish Printer, Licensing World, Irish Hardware, Construction & Property News, Plant & Machinery, Off Licence and Hotel & Catering Review.

PEOPLE IN PRINT Peter Doyle from Agfa Ireland answers the tough questions.

CAPRANI’S COLUMN Keeping print in the family - The Duffys and Purcells

Subscription Rates: Ireland: Ireland: 74+VAT / Northern Ireland: 74 UK: 1 Year 99.79 Europe: 1 Year 116.42 Rest of World: 1 Year 153.19. Note: 2 & 3 Year Subscriptions are also available. Discounts: Offered on orders over 10. Rates effective: January 2010. Subscription Order Line: Tel: +353 1 764 2700.

Irish Printer April 2010

NEWS

Future Print in examinership Former Junior Minister denies he owes the company money Future Print has successfully sought High Court protection from its creditors, with an examiner appointed to come up with a rescue plan within 100 days. David Carson of Deloitte has been drafted in as examiner, after a report prepared by chartered accountants, Grant Thornton, showed that the company has a reasonable prospect of survival. Managing director of the company, Brian Reilly, said that this period will allow them to source new investment. ‘This gives us an opportunity to attract fresh investment and secure the future for the 112 staff employed in this magnificent print facility in Baldoyle.’ In its petition to the High Court, the company stated that there were a number of factors affecting trade and cash-flow including a shortfall in requested bank funding; the lower VAT rate in Northern Ireland; higher production costs in the Republic and a tightening of credit by the company’s suppliers. During his contribution to a debate on RTÉ Radio One with Pat Kenny, Brian Reilly accused the Revenue Commissioners of ‘economic treason’ by spending €225,000 tax forms printed in Spain. ‘That is what it amounts to, because they’re ignoring their own rulings - it’s perfectly legitimate to regionalise a contract or to break it up into one year, two years or three years. You can do that to enable keeping the work to stay here,’ he said.

With Revenue missing out on the income tax on Irish print workers’ salaries and from VAT on print supplies, Brian said live on air that they would travel anywhere to get other work done. ‘I get the impression that if these guys could buy turf in Iceland, that’s where they’d go, rather than here,’ he said. He also revealed that staff had taken a 26 per cent pay cut in recent times. A Revenue spokesperson said they had no responsibility for the awarding of the tax forms printing contract, which was put out to tender by the National Procurement Service (NPS).The contract was awarded to Vasform SL, based in Bilbao in Spain, which submitted the lowest tender price of €225,000, according to the NPS, who also said that splitting the contract up would reduce value for money and have a ‘negative impact’ on the Revenue’s ability to test the quality of the scannable forms. The Revenue contract was previously held by Serla Print in Dublin. Meanwhile, former Fianna Fáil junior minister Ivor Callely has denied he owes €17,500 to Future Print. He said that there was on issue with some bills and that the amounts demanded are incorrect and the problem is currently being resolved with Future Print themselves. Callely used the company to print political literature for his re-election campaign in 2007.

Now or never for industry, say organisers At the time of going to press, a general meeting took place of all printers within the industry to discuss ways of overcoming the current situation. The meeting, which took place at the Red Cow Hotel, was organised by the Print and Packaging Forum in a bid to gather all interested parties within the sector to devise a plan to support the industry and create a PR campaign. ‘This meeting is about the Irish printing industry’s fight for survival.We are hearing stories from individuals who are struggling to survive and we want to create a

plan to get our voices heard at a national level,’ said Gerry Andrews from the forum. An email invitation was extended to printers across the country with Gerry stating now is the time for operators avail of to a helping hand. ‘The industry is at a crossroads, and we are hoping that this meeting will provide the platform to generate a campaign to highlight our difficulties and raise awareness about work going abroad. This is an opportunity for every printer to have their say and it really is now or never.’ Check out next month’s Irish

Printer for a full report and pictures from the event.

Industry – an Open Book?

The forum has also come up with the idea of producing a book which will include the letter or story about each print company in the Republic of Ireland. This book will then be presented to government ministers and the Taoiseach, Brian Cowen. Copywriters will be employed to contact each print company, ask them about their facility, the obstacles faced over the years and

Webprint wins more contracts Webprint Concepts has won two lucrative contracts in recent weeks including the printing of a new newspaper in Kilkenny. The Kilkenny Reporter was launched at the beginning of April, and has a weekly print run of up to 20,000 copies. The 48-page full

colour compact newspaper is staffed mainly by former employees of the Kilkenny People. The paper was established by Sean Hurley, former editor of The Kilkenny People and Jim Rhatigan, former editor of The Kilkenny Voice.

other material. After compiling the information, a copy of the letter will be sent to the respective companies for approval. The book will also contain shorts from employees and others who work and are affected by the downturn in the industry. ‘It is a novel idea that will hopefully attract attention – both in the media and with the government. We need to make it clear, in black and white, how their decisions are affecting each business in this industry – whether it’s the inability to get finance, to work going abroad,’ says Gerry Andrews.

Webprint also won the contract to print Cork-based papers, Mallow Star,Vale Star and Weekly Observer. According to Webprint’s website, the key factors in winning this important contract were ‘keen prices, demonstrated consistent high quality colour reproduction capability and attention to detail in all aspects of product and service quality.’

Irish Printer April 2010

NEWS

Bryan S Ryan to distribute Kodak NEXPRESS Digital Production Colour Press Range Bryan S Ryan is to distribute Kodak’s range of NEXPRESS presses following a new agreement between the two companies. According to Kodak, Bryan S Ryan was chosen as its distributor because of their forward thinking attitude and ability to develop the Kodak brand in Ireland, one of the company’s key and growing markets. Kodak also stated that Bryan S Ryan is ‘perfectly placed to convey to its customers the cutting-edge innovations of the Kodak NEXPRESS family range and the commercial benefits they deliver.’ Bryan S Ryan’s success to date was also a determining factor, which is ‘built on adopting state-of-the-art technology,’ with their technical expertise and ‘excellent understanding of the challenges faced by Irish printers, they have ensured the company has remained profitable despite the economic downturn’.

Personal Expertise

With commercial print business manager and former Kodak employee, Will Doherty, leading the Kodak account, Bryan S Ryan is highly confident the partnership will prove hugely successful. ‘It’s clear that there is a huge market in Ireland for technology as advanced as the KODAK NEXPRESS Press,’ says Doherty. ‘The NEXPRESS Press is

“the printers” digital press.’ According to Doherty, it has the look and feel of a press and with the changing face of print in Ireland, Kodak’s digital production colour press is the perfect platform to allow print providers to capitalise on what is becoming a print-on-demand market. The unique service model is also very popular as it allows the press operators to maximise up-time and control job costs.There is no click charge with the NEXPRESS Press so printers can manage their costs more closely. Plus the system’s Fifth Imaging Unit lets printers add a raft of applications, such as dimensional printing, inline-coating, gamut expansion, spot colours, off-line glossing and secure MICR printing. ‘We are confident that the NEXPRESS Presses will be a big hit among the Irish print community,’ says Doherty. ‘The machines represent an excellent opportunity for print houses in the region to develop new products and services, enter new markets and create new commercial opportunities.This agreement represents a logical and exciting step for us. The KODAK NEXPRESS Press will enable us to provide market-leading digital print solutions to the commercial print sector in Ireland, which will help strengthen our position in the industry.’ For more information on the Kodak NEXPRESS range call Will Doherty on 086 046 6088.

Effect of online media to be analysed

Communications minister Eamon Ryan is to hold a national consultation on the impact of the internet, blogging and online content on print and broadcast media. The consultation will reportedly begin shortly and will inform government policy on the future funding of online content and the implications for public service broadcasting, as well as wider media regulation. All sections of the media will be invited to submit proposals and research. This move follows concerns raised by publishers over RTÉ’s free online news content at a time when they are struggling to generate revenue for its online content. A number of publishers have introduced a pay-wall for their online content, as well as charging for iphone applications. The Irish Times launched its news iphone application last month at a cost of €1.59, and is now top of the paid-for applications in Ireland. Ryan said the forum will examine the funding of newsrooms in an internet world.

Irish Print Forum

The Print and Packaging Forum has asked Irish Printer to clarify that they are in no way related to the recently formed irishprintforum.ie. The founders of irishprintforum.ie, Trevor Lewis and Philip Geraghty, have also asked us to clarify information that they posted on their website and submitted to this magazine last month. This information related to their listed objectives for setting up the forum, which included a number of those originally outlined by the Print and Packaging Forum upon its establishment. These objectives were taken without permission of the Print and Packaging Forum, and have since been taken down off their website.

minister for communications, energy and natural resources, Eamon Ryan

C&R Print to be wound up this month At the time of going to print, it is understood that an application is being made to the High Court in Belfast for the winding up of C&R Print (Belfast). Once the company officially goes into liquidation, a liquidator will be appointed. Eighty-one people lost their jobs after the company, which bought Graham & Heslip (G&H) out of administration for stg£100, ceased trading after just five months in business. The company was established last October by the former managing director of G&H, Diarmuid McGarry, and Adrian Glenn, director of Impression Print & Design. It was reported that suppliers owed large sums of money by Graham & Heslip refused to do business with the new company.

Insolvency practitioner John Gordon of Napier & Sons said that they looked at the possibility of making 40 of the workforce redundant and continuing trading but said an increase in the cost of paper was the final straw. It is understood the company owes around stg£900,000, including stg£500,000 in redundancy, pay in lieu of notice, arrears of wages and holiday pay. The directors are also understood to have given personal guarantees over the lease on the Alanbrooke Road premises and over some of the machinery. Graham & Heslip went into administration owing stg£3.1m to unsecured creditors with McNaughton Paper owed stg£790,370.

Irish Printer April 2010

NEWS

Y j

Irish company misses out on GAA contract The GAA has awarded the contract for printing the 2010 Championship tickets to a European company, despite promises earlier this year that the would ‘look favourably on all Irish offers’. The news of the contract came in the same week that GAA president, Christy Cooney, made a plea to county boards to hold training camps at home to support the ailing Irish economy. Earlier this year, the GAA refuted a claim made by the Print and Packaging Forum that a large proportion of its work was sent abroad, stating that over 90 per cent was done within the Island of Ireland. In response to this, the Forum met representatives from the GAA, during which they aired their concerns and following

this meeting were positive that print companies would benefit from future work. The news that this contract was going abroad has angered many, including John O’Loughlin from Aluset who tendered for the work. Responding to a claim by the GAA that there was a difference of 40 per cent between the only Irish company and the competition, John said that no one indicated to them that there was such a large price gap or gave them an opportunity to tender. Speaking to Irish Printer earlier this year, a GAA spokesperson said the reason they moved the printing of tickets before was a quality issue. ‘It is the GAA’s mantra to support all matters Irish, including printing, but in respect of this contract there were quality and

pricing issues, which of course are very important for any business. The championship begins again in May and the tender is up for this contract, and of course we will look favourably on all Irish offers.’ This claim of quality issues was firmly denied by the company and the Forum.

‘It is disappointing that this contract has gone abroad and especially as the Irish company was not given the opportunity to negotiate the quote. We still argue against their figures that 90 per cent stays in the country, as clearly a lot more is going abroad’ said Gerry.

National Print Museum hosts Golf Classic

W The Leading ladies! Pictured at last year’s event is the Smurfit Kappa News press team.

Winner of Irish Print Awards Print Finishing Category 2008

The annual National Print Museum Golf Classic will take place on Friday, April 30 at Clontarf Golf Club. Reflecting the economic downturn, organisers have reduced the entry fee from €500 to €300 for a team of four, with individual players welcome to play for €75 per head. The tees have been reserved from 9am to 3pm, with a meal provided to all players at the end of the game. According to Freddie Snowe, the focus this year is the continuity of the golf rather than the event as a major fundraiser as it is important to keep this social

outing for the industry. ‘This will be the 18th Print Museum Golf Classic and is one of the few opportunities for printers and their clients and friends to get together in a relaxed fun way whilst supporting a very good cause.’ Smurfit Kappa News Press has been confirmed as sponsor with organisers appealing to those who are able to financially assist to ensure the day is a success. At the time of going to press, over 20 teams have signed up for the event. Please contact Magali at 016603770 for further details.

You don’t need to know all the answers, just where to find them.

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Irish Printer April 2010

NEWS

Digital Print Business adds Xeikon to its portfolio Digital Print Business, headed by Paul Hopkins, has been appointed as the sales agent for Xeikon digital colour presses covering all of Ireland. Distributors, Punch Graphix UK, appointed Digital Print Business to roll out the press range, adding to its portfolio and ensuring its position as a complete digital solutions provider. Digital Print Business also supplies a complete range of papers from Paper Assist and a dedicated MIS system for digital print companies, Timeharvest. With a number of Xeikon machines already installed in Ireland, Paul says that Irish printers are realising that digital suits working practices today. ‘Whilst there are Xeikon presses in Ireland, we believe that there is significant potential for these products in the current market. Digital is the only technology for printers to invest in right now. We believe that it is particularly suited to the Irish market because of the run lengths involved, and the ability of digital to provide a high degree of personalisation to a printed product.’ Xeikon is a global leader in the supply of professional digital printing equipment, with systems tailored for general commercial, transactional/transpromo, and digital label production. The presses are uniquely equipped to output a2/b2 format images, and are able to produce full colour printing on both sides of the sheet as a standard feature.

Experience and Expertise

Paul gained his vast digital expertise during his 17 years at the James McNaughton Paper Group where he established Ireland’s first digital paper division in the early nineties which was subsequently rolled out in its UK operation. In early 2008 he created his own digital print services company, Digital Print Business, with interests right across the digital print environment. Paul has been

Xeikon 4000

The Xeikon 4000 offers printers all they need to enjoy the benefits of digital printing from day one: easy set-up and quick turnaround, great flexibility, top quality and countless personalisation possibilities.

Xeikon 5000plus

Paul Hopkins with a newly installed Xeikon press at Redstart Imaging

working in a consultative role with leading independent merchant Paper Assist for a number of years. ‘Even in those early years in the paper environment I could see the trend towards shortrun and personalised print work. I was eager to develop a dedicated service for this market and, following this deal with Xeikon,we now have the full portfolio.’ Newly established company, Redstart Imaging in Bray, typifies the new print business model. ‘Companies like Redstart Imaging are tapping into the requirements of modern-day print purchasers. Customers are not looking for print per se, but marketing solutions that can generate business for them in turn.’

Next Big Thing

Online purchasing, web to print, cloud based technologies and the social media generation are having an increasing influence on print buying trends. . Ambiguity over quality is ‘no longer an issue,’ as too has offerings with A2 and B2 capability as well as speed, he adds. ‘It is my belief that litho may become niche in the coming years as print buyers migrate to new ways of sourcing print and market-

Time to Harvest MIS The TimeHarvest MIS system has been making a lot of waves in recent times, and in particular with its core product, DigiQuotePRO. This programme has refined the quoting process to a degree that enables a client to receive a branded pdf quote by email just minutes after the client rings with an order query. The company has devised a practical approach to streamline the administration process of orders and quotes to a level that allows digital jobs, of all shapes and sizes, to be proc-

essed with maximum efficiency, whilst still displaying ‘standard’ jobs as orderable items via the internet. TimeHarvest’s online solution, Web-to-Print INSTANT! also goes further by allowing simple, repetitive work to be viewed, quoted and ordered online with ease. Printers receiving orders from both conventional and online environments are often faced with the dilemma of having separate sheets for each process. TimeHarvest handles this with its JobControl systems, which shows

The ability to handle scalable print media widths up to 508mm, combined with a 483mm imaging width allowing 2-up A4 and 3-up A5 printing on a range of substrates. Printing speeds of up to 130-A4 pages per minute and the high-precision LED-based imaging head, featuring true 600 dpi at 4 bits per spot, generates impeccable image quality output.

Xeikon 8000

Xeikon 8000’s state-of-the-art technology has been developed to optimise print productivity and quality. Aside from providing real 1200 dpi imaging quality, the 800 offers an extended roll width and guarantees upgraded printing speeds of up to 230 A4 pages per minute.

Xeikon 3000/3300

With true 1200 dpi at four bits per spot the Xeikon 3300 produces photorealistic graphics and pin-sharp security features. With a top speed of 19.2 m/ min it is one of the fastest digital label presses in the market, and is ideal for short to medium runs while it has a duty cycle of 700,000 m/month.

Xeikon X-800 Digital Front-End

For job preparation, all Xeikon presses are equipped with the truly open, scalable and modular X-800 Digital Front-End (DFE), combining extensive pre-press functionality including a high-speed RIP with impressive variable data printing processing. The Xeikon 600 is also available

ing solutions. It is clear that the link between marketing, online and printing is digital.’

Meet Paul at IPEX:

Paul will be at both Xeikon (Hall 11-Stand C230) and Time Harvest (Hall 9 – D343). To arrange to meet Paul, you can contact him at 086-0483577 or email paul@ digitalprintbusiness.ie. all jobs on one screen using a ‘traffic light’ approach to show completed tasks.With affordable rental models that utilise server-based ‘cloud’access; TimeHarvest is unique in that it is so cost effective. For more information, please see www.timeharvest.com

See it in action stand 9-CD360

Pressroom solutions. Seeing is believing…

…visit Fujifilm at Ipex and see how you can optimise your offset business. We will be using a ‘virtual pressroom’ area to demonstrate how our comprehensive range of pressroom solutions can improve the efficiency and productivity of your pressroom, as well as showcasing our ‘lo-chem’ and processless plate solutions. So come and see how our technologies and trusted business advice can give you the power to succeed. Stand number 9-CD360. www.powertosucceed.eu/offset

QUALITY PRE-PRESS & PRINTING PRODUCTS

POWER TO SUCCEED

Innovation

- the heart of a healthy business

New ideas flourish faster when their enabling technologies are versatile, cost effective, efficient and well

supported.

New Ways for Print www.gossinternational.com

NEWS

IRISH PRINTER APRIL 2010

REPROCENTRE DRIVES PRINTING INNOVATION Reprocentre Group has launched a new 64-page catalogue showcasing its extensive range of products and services. Over 3,000 copies will be distributed across the island of Ireland for people with interests in workflows, presses, finishing equipment as well as digital solutions for the sign and packaging sector. Serving customers from both in Dublin and Belfast, the company has a 40 year history of supporting all types of print. ‘Over the last number of years we have added to our portfolio of products and services and we wanted to showcase the entire range we offer. Many of our new customers in digital signage and packaging are familiar with our industrial inkjet offerings from HP and Agfa, but don’t know about KB&A presses or Horizon finishing equipment. Likewise, our longstanding customers in commercial printing and newspapers need information on new technologies’ says managing director, Brian Crawford. ‘Having reviewed how we deliver information, we decided a printed cat-

alogue offered the best solution’ Reprocentre counts numerous leading brands in its portfolio, all of whom are supported by the service division, which has a well earned reputation with over 10 experienced engineers. Illustrating the company’s position in the market place, there are a number of customer testimonials throughout.The catalogue will be distributed to coincide with IPEX in Bermingham. Should you wish to receive a copy, please contact the Reprocentre at 01-4093100 or email sales@reprocentre.ie.

SMURFIT KAPPA AGREES SWAP DEAL WITH MONDI Smurfit Kappa has agreed an asset swap deal with the Mondi Group in a move to better streamline its operations. Under the deal, the group will buy Mondi’s corrugated operations in the UK, while Mondi will buy Smurfit Kappa’s Western European sack converting operations. The company says the total cash cost of the asset swap is €51m. Mondi’s corrugated operations in the UK are made up of three corrugated box plants, while Smurfit Kappa’s Western European sack converting operations comprise four plants in France, three in Spain and one in Italy as well as a number of sales offices. Chief executive officer of Smurfit Kappa, Gary McGann, said the deal will strengthen the group’s position in its core corrugated packaging grade and will enhance the efficiency of its integrated sys-

tem in the ‘increasingly attractive UK market’. South African paper group, Mondi, is an international paper and packaging company, with production operations across 31 countries and revenues of €5.3 billion in 2009. The group’s key operations are located in western and emerging Europe, Russia and South Africa and employed 31,000 people on average in 2009. The group is principally involved in the manufacture of uncoated fine paper (UFP), packaging paper and converted packaging products, as well as speciality products. ‘The acquisition is in line with Mondi’s strategy to strengthen its leading market position in industrial and consumer bags in Europe and further increase the forward integration of kraft paper into bags,’ Mondi said in a statement.

Irish Printer April 2010

NEWS

Canon appoints Bryan S Ryan as strategic partner Bryan S Ryan has signed a new agreement with Canon Ireland to become its strategic partner for the professional print market in Ireland. The agreement will see Bryan S Ryan expand its long-standing existing reseller relationship with Canon and sell its full professional print range into the professional print market in Ireland. Bryan S Ryan has an existing relationship with Canon to sell its multifunctional devices (MFDs), document solutions and both distribute and sell the full range of Canon imagePROGRAF large-format printers. The deal will bolster Bryan S Ryan’s existing Canon reseller role and builds on their success in the professional print market over the last few years. Bryan S Ryan is the only Advanced Solutions Partner of Canon in Ireland. ‘We are delighted to have signed this sales agreement with Bryan S Ryan as it means we will have a bigger footprint across the country and a dedicated and focused partner working in the professional print market. Canon continually looks to produce innovative devices that enhance the way our customers do

business and we believe that Brian Whyte and his team are best placed to help us deliver this vision to printers across Ireland,’ says Maurice Teague, country manager, Canon Business Imaging. Bryan S Ryan will be at the Canon stand at IPEX 2010 which takes place between May 18-25 in the NEC, Birmingham, where Canon will underline its commitment to professional print services.

Greater Offering

Dave Taylor, sales director of Bryan S Ryan with one of Canon’s presses

Chief executive officer of Bryan S Ryan, Brian Whyte, said that the deal strengthens their company’s long-term plans for the marketplace. ‘The move by Canon to appoint us to fulfil the professional print market’s demand for digital printers and solutions speaks volumes for their confidence in us to represent them in

,this important marketplace. Our investment in our staff and technology means that we can offer an unrivalled service in the marketplace. Our 28 field-based engineers means we have nationwide reach. So anything we sell, we can back it up with service on the ground. As Canon’s only Advanced Solutions Partner in Ireland, our staff has the knowledge and expertise about Canon’s professional print range – in terms of hardware and software.’

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Irish Printer April 2010

NEWS

Ricoh sign deal with DIT Ricoh Ireland has implemented a fully managed document solution for the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) across all six campus locations. Ricoh’s tailored solution includes a suite of new print and copy stations, a flexible web payment service and a sustainable printing initiative for DIT’s 22,000 students. DIT’s on-campus printing services varied from location to location, with differences in contracts for maintenance and purchase of consumables. Ricoh has installed 60 new multi-functional products throughout the six DIT campuses. By streamlining the number of machines and consumables, DIT expects to significantly reduce costs associated with print and document production. In line with green policies in other areas in DIT, Ricoh has introduced more ‘sustainable’ printing practices. This includes duplex printing as standard, a reduction in unnecessary colour printing and lower energy consumption. Ricoh has also introduced a new e-payment system which allows students to top

up their print accounts by phone or website. ‘Since partnering with Ricoh Ireland, we’ve been able to develop a more student-friendly printing service. The benefits on our bottom line have been immediate and the impact on the environment will be long lasting,’ said Bridget Gleeson, IT support manager, DIT. ‘We’re very excited to be working with DIT during an exceptional period of change for the organisation. As demand for its courses continue to increase, so too have the demands on its student printing network. Ricoh has been very impressed by the proactive approach in DIT to its print and document management requirement,’ said Áine O’Shea, managed services print manager, Ricoh Ireland.

Pictured outside DIT on Aungier Street are Áine O’Shea, Ricoh Ireland, Allen Brereton, DIT and Bridget Gleeson, IT support manager, DIT.

PORTMAN GRAPHIC

WILL BE AT IPEX, WILL YOU?

We are once again pleased to show our existing and prospective customers what we have to offer as ‘Recession busting offers’ New Komori Printing Presses – Featuring our new entry level ‘ENTHRONE’ B2 press Used Printing Presses of all manufacturers New and used bindery machinery, including all new automated short – medium run perfect binding BUSCH – Pile turning, banding & label finishing equipment KAMA – die cutting B3 & B2 format IBERICA Die cutting – B1 format Pitstop – digital creasing & perforating machinery MB – Highly automated folding solutions VERSOR – Carton folding solutions GW – High Speed Guillotines ranging from small format to extra large

CONTACT US AT IPEX: IAN MURPHY: 0872485573 JASON O BRIEN: 0871214732 63B. Cherry Orchard Industrial Estate, Dublin 10, Ireland. Tel: 6233977 Fax: 6233981 Email:portmang@iol.ie

IRISH PRINTER APRIL 2010

NEWS

IN NEXT MONTHâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ISSUE OF IRISH PRINTERâ&#x20AC;Ś With a large contingent of Irish printers expected to travel to the Ipex event in Birmingham between May 18-25, Irish Printer will continue its show preview. In the run-up to the show, suppliers will be announcing further product innovations and demonstrations and we will be analysing those that are of interest to you. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss it.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY IPEX 2010 When? 18-25 May Where? NEC Birmingham Features? Ipex is the global technology trade event for print, publishing and media, creation and design, pre-media, digital printing solutions, output, press technology, post-press systems, packaging, converting and used equipment.

easyFairs Packaging Ireland

When? 16-17 June Where? RDS, Dublin Features? easyFairs Packaging Ireland is a trade-only event

where FMCG manufacturers, marketers and retailers can easily identify innovations, source solutions and strike up relationships with future suppliers.

FESPA 2010

When? 22-26 June Where? Messe Munich Features? FESPA Munich 2010 aims to bring together all members of the global imaging and outdoor signage markets in an interconnected event which celebrates both the individuality of each sector and the convergence between the markets.

The following tenders were published on www.e-tenders.gov.ie Tender: IRL-Dublin: printing and related services Published by: IarnrĂłd Ă&#x2030;ireann-Irish Rail Due Date: Not given Abstract: Printing services. IarnrĂłd Ă&#x2030;ireann Irish Rail (IE) is undertaking a review of its printing services acquisition and management, and is considering the options available to meet its various business needs. IE is seeking to establish framework agreements with one or more competent service providers to provide solutions to its companywide printing requirements. Print services are required for a range of operational, commercial, maintenance and project requirements. This includes all corporate stationery, weekly issues of internal operating notifications, annual print of customer timetables, along with the design, publication and distribution of various informational and promotional materials. Tender: Supply and delivery of printing services until 2011 Published by: Coillte Teoranta Due Date: Not given Abstract: Coillte now requires expressions of interest from interested parties to be admitted to a framework agreement for the provision of printing services for the period until 2011. The types of printing services required are as follows (but are not limited to): Letter heads/business cards/complimentary slips, NCR books, promotional brochures/leaflets, manuals, newletters.Further information on specification will be provided at tender stage.

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Enfocus Software - Customer Support

IrIsh PrInter APrIl 2010

NEWS

Customer Focus Custodian Print Consultancy was established in 1992, and is one of the biggest print buyers in Ireland. Last year, the company signed up to the Print Irish campaign to help promote awareness and encouragement of purchasing print within the country. Director Ciaran Reilly talks about the factors that influence their decisions. IRISH PRINTER: WHAT ARE THE MAIN FACTORS THAT YOU CONSIDER WHEN DEALING WITH PRINT COMPANIES? CIARAN REILLY: In our market we are

working off next-day turnarounds and in many cases have projects printed across a number of different print media, so we need an extensive supply base. We tend to focus on printers who can add value and offer innovation as opposed to printers whose only unique selling point is a cheap pricing structure, but delivering value and savings are also very important. IP: HOW MANY QUOTES, ON AVERAGE, DO YOU OBTAIN FOR EACH JOB? CR: It depends on the project, sometimes we

Ciaran Reilly

CR: We have a large panel of printers that

we work with but there is always a spot for companies that are ahead of the rest. IP: DO YOU CONSCIOUSLY TRY AND MAINTAIN AS MUCH WORK WITHIN THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND? CR: We do to a large extent because of the

know exactly who the right fit is for a job, but on average four to five.

tight deadlines we operate. There is also a loyalty factor to printers who have helped us out in the past. Although it’s not always possible to keep everything here.

IP: HOW RESPONSIVE ARE PRINTERS TO THESE REQUESTS – IN TERMS OF RESPONSE TIME, FLEXIBILITY OF JOB TURN-AROUND ETC? CR: Some printers are great.They know how

IP: DO YOUR CLIENTS REQUEST WHERE SOME JOBS ARE TO BE PRINTED? CR: Very rarely, they trust your judgment as

to manage expectation and listen to what you are really looking for. If they cannot make it happen they are upfront and honest. Others are not so good. IP: ARE PRINTERS IN THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND NOW AS COMPETITIVE AS THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN NORTHERN IRELAND? CR:Yes I think so, but again, it depends on the

type of project. On any given day a printer can undercut another North or South. IP: DO YOU DEAL WITH ONLY A FEW PRINTERS, OR ARE YOU OPEN TO QUOTES FROM NEW BUSINESSES?

long as you are transparent. IP: EVEN FOR SOME OF YOUR BIGGER CLIENTS, HAS THE AMOUNT OF WORK REQUESTED DECREASED AND IS IT GENERALLY REQUIRED IN SHORT TIME-FRAMES? CR: The number of the projects has increased

but print volumes have decreased, and so has the cost of print. Clients are becoming more tailored in the way in which they target their consumers. The challenge ahead for both printers and print management companies is not to focus purely on ink on paper manufacturing but to see how clients’ businesses are evolving and try and adapt your service offerings to suit.

More than Equipment Print and Finishing Equipment (PFE) have come full circle since they were first established over 25 years ago to provide Duplo Finishing Equipment and reconditioned finishing equipment to the print sector. Today’s economic climate has rejuvenated this market, with PFE’s reputation for providing a full service and guarantee to all reconditioned machinery that passes through their door and to the end-user. However, that is only a small part of the business, as PFE, under the guidance of managing director Duncan Groom, offers a complete package of equipment to the sector. Reflecting the changing requirements of its customers, PFE established a special digital print division in recent years, with cutting, creasing, booklet-making, perfect-binding and the Duplo SCC (Slit-Cut-Crease) machines to cater for this sector. Duncan, who has been with the company for the last 18 years, says that with companies downsizing and affordability of equipments, investing in finishing is a more cost-effective solution for companies. ‘With shorter-runs and companies trying to reduce manninghours, it makes a lot of sense to invest in finishing equipment, especially with the just-in-time trend of late. Finance is an issue for many operators but, there are plenty of entry-level machines at affordable prices, that can reduce costs in the long-run.’ Sourcing their equipment from world renowned suppliers, such as Duplo, Eurocutter, Ideal Guillotines and EuroFold, has ensured PFE’s leading position over the years. Duncan, Pat Doherty and Conor Power will be at the Duplo stand to answer all of your questions, and demonstrate the equipment on the stand.

Print and Finishing Equipment

Advertorial

Print and Finishing Equipment have something to PUR about Thomas Neville, production manager of McGowan’s Print, with Duncan Groom, managing director of Print and Finishing Equipment

McGowan’s install the new Duplo Pur Binder McGowan’s Print Innovation has installed the new Duplo, DPB-500 Pur-Binder, only the second company in Ireland to have this equipment. Colorman Ireland installed the same machine earlier this year, with Print and Finishing Equipment expecting further interest in the technically advanced machine following its showcase at IPEX. McGowan’s installed the machine at the beginning of March, and are already reaping the awards of the investment, as Tony Roe, managing director of the company states. ‘We’ve had very positive feedback from our clients and I suppose the yardstick is that there is a real increase in that type of book we are now asked to produce.’ All types of work are now produced on the machine, from annual reports and year-books to product catalogues, with a 60 per cent increase in the demand for these perfect-bound books since the installation, according to Tony. The company, which already has an array of equipment from Print and Finishing Equipment (PFE), decided that the PUR-binder was an essential piece of machinery for their portfolio. ‘We had seen an increase in the demand for perfect bound books and we needed a solution to enable us to do it in-house but to a good standard. We had

The reasons for PUR

done our research and we are confident that, in this machine, we have found a way to finish the books without outsourcing and with an excellent end product,’ says Tony. McGowan’s were using an old hot melt perfect

binding system which they thought worked for their own requirements, however, Tony says there is no ‘comparison to the newer system as it was slow and labour intensive ’. Following research of the market, Tony says that PUR was the only solution for their customer demands. ‘We did the research and we felt we were having pain with the previous system, which was much less productive and of far inferior standard. We primarily chose it for speed and the fact the end-product is stronger and will allow us to bind much thicker books than previous without having pages fall out when the spine is cracked.’ Trust in PFE’s ability and expertise was another major factor, with the company providing training to four staff that can operate the machine during their respective shifts. This investment is also another element to futureproofing the company for the new business of print, as Tony explains. ‘We feel it’s essential to invest to ensure you’re ready for whatever changes the market throws at you. We haven’t stopped and it’s one of the reasons we feel we have weathered the downturn as well as any others could.’

The Duplo DPB-500 Pur-Binder

In an increasingly competitive marketplace, printers are trying to differentiate themselves from the competition. Designers and end-users are also demanding heavier content pages, thread sewing and the ability to lay Books Flat and high book pull strength or bonding as they seek durable, hard-wearing and secure products. Printers are faced with other major obstacles, with the primary one of shorter-run lengths now determining their work practices. This is coupled with production problems including difficulty in binding digital stock, increasing use of UV coating and heavier coated stocks. The solution? Pur-binding is now viewed within the industry as the means to alleviate these problems, and is the most cost-effective machine now available on the market. What does it do? The Duplo DPB 500 PUR uses a closed tank system, which pumps the glue under pressure to nozzles on the binder.The advantage of this system is that it is a clean and easy to use process with no time wastage and loss of expensive glue. This closed tank system also makes PUR more suitable for shorter runs. Savings? The Duplo DP 500 has a complete automated set-up through its touch-screen controls. The machine has an automatic set-up of four creasing tools for creasing of cover, and has an automatic glue pressure control with a 20-job memory. The automatic book thickness ensures that only the correct number of pages is bound and has automatic PUR side gluing. Check out www.pfe.ie for further details, or call to the Duplo stand at Hall 20-C676 for a demonstration of the machine.

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IrIsh PrInter APrIl 2010

COVER STORY

An ex-army officer and retail entrepreneur, Paul Keegan does not fit the traditional profile of a managing director of a print company. The founder of Irish International Print isn’t exactly a fan of the sector either, but knows what needs to be done to save it from the slough of despond, as he tells Irish Printer. When Paul Keegan heard that Brunswick Press was ‘struggling,’ he made the unprecedented move of contacting managing director Peter Allman and, over a very long cup of tea, a ‘co-habiting’ deal between the companies was devised. ‘I had been hearing all sorts of rumours that they were struggling. I had never spoken to Peter before, and am sure he was surprised to get such a call. He realised quickly that there was merit in saving jobs by moving in with us and simply buying our production to do work.’ It’s a simple model, and one that can be replicated by any company that has the capacity and premises to facilitate. Yet, Paul knows there remains a lot of scepticism from within the industry about this arrangement. ‘People have always thought we were crazy the way we operated, especially at the start. However, our attitude is just because it hasn’t been done before, that does not mean it won’t work. It’s a strategy to save a good traditional company and keep it going. Our doors are open to any operator that wants to talk about business.’ Brunswick Press is operating as a single entity out of IIP’s premises, and place a job with the company for a percentage of the cost they sell

Paul Keegan...

Low Profile, High Expectations

IrIsh PrInter APrIl 2010

COVER STORY

work at. It’s a flexible operation as IIP get full utilisation from their presses, with Paul stating that once Brunswick ‘has weathered the storm they might decide to move back into their own premises, but that decision is up to them.’

the firSt fOraY

This arrangement with Brunswick Press is only one element to IIP’s

PAUL KEEGAN ON… Having a non-union business… It is not about being anti-union. We can’t have work and staff standing around and not working on specific machines as it’s not in their job spec. We need a multiskilled work-force which can operate all machines, and ﬂexible in their work practices. Such restrictions are crippling the industry and will continue to do so unless it’s changed. The business of Print... There is a resistance to change but I can understand where many are coming from. When you see the likes of Future Print and Wood PrintCraft, two companies which we aspired to when we started, in trouble, we have to look at where it has gone wrong. People have been running to stand still and no one gets the time to think beyond next week or month as everyone has financial commitments. Peers… A lot of managing directors tend to work in isolation and try to run a production facility on their own. There isn’t a huge amount of management expertise in the print industry and I am not trying to denigrate any of my competitors, as there are some very good companies that we look up to. But it’s about us being able to talk to one another without feeling threatened by others, as we all have something to learn from each other. Print Associations… I have been managing director of the group for 15 years and we have never been invited to join or meet the Irish Print Federation (IPF). In my opinion, there needs to be some kind of support group for owner managers, managing directors and directors of print companies, who can get an opinion from someone they can trust. There is no trust between managing directors and no one wants to talk to anybody. Our policy from day one has always been an open door policy. No one should be deterred from picking up the telephone and asking a direct question. Prices… There is work out there at ridiculous prices, with lots of people doing stuff twice the cost of paper. We need to be doing work three or four times the cost of raw materials to really make a profit. None of

operation, which last year recorded a turnover of €6.5 million. Having invested in a 50,000 sq ft facility in Poppintree in March 2008 with 56 staff (38 in production) at their disposal, Paul says that growth is the only viable option. He won’t settle for less, and judging from his past experience in other sectors, he won’t be holding on to this company for mere sentiment. Having established, run, sold and closed companies since he left the

us are getting it, but we need to aim for it. There isn’t a manufacturing industry in the world that would spend €3 million on a piece of kit and sell work cheaper to a client. That is just not proper business practice and that is where we are going wrong. In 1995, if the cost of material was €1,000 we got €4,500, now its selling for €1750. People should not be afraid to lose a job and get prices up. Unions need to take this on board and communicate with staff that we need to take steps back to go forward. The Future… We will see fewer players in the industry. For the size of this country, we need 10 printers in the €10 million turnover range, two to three in the €15 million range and the rest below the €5 million range. Every printer should be involved to discuss a review of wages, how things are run and so forth. This needs to happen sooner rather than later. Print Brokers... We dealt with print brokers when they came to Ireland but we felt we had to withdraw from that market as the prices we were offered were ridiculous. We don’t have a major problem with print brokers, but we have to get a fair price for the job. The Banks… At the bank, you are automatically labelled as one of the print industry and not judged on your own merit. There are plenty of good print companies which cannot get access to the banks as they are seeing the state of the wider market, hearing some of the horror stories and don’t want to provide funding. Equipment… IIP has invested almost €10 million in equipment in recent years, including the new premises, infrastructure and IT. In 1991, they bought two new five- and sixcolour B1 Komori Colour presses. ‘There is no business for a 10-colour in Ireland, unless you have a 24/7 operation,’ says Paul. He also adds that printers need to maximise use of their equipment. ‘The problem is that we are all buying expensive printing presses and direct to plate, and only run them for six to eight hours a day and leave them standing for the rest. In other countries that equipment is sweated around the clock.’

IIP has almost 120 pieces of kit including a fully-equipped Xerox digital division and: Pre-Press Department B1 proofing: Fiery XP12 colour server Xerox Docucolour 2060 Xerox 8000 Plate room B1 Computer to Plate B1 Imagesetter Quartz 85 Agfa DL 3000S B1 Sovereign 5000 B2 Du Pont Studio Sprint Press Large format planning tables Lithographic Printing 5-colour Komori Lithrone 40 6-colour Komori Lithrone 40 4-colour process + 2 colour Print Finishing 8 station Muller Moll pocket folder gluer MBO SRA2 folder UFO A3 folder MBO B1 folder Challenger A3 Folder with on-line perforating Duplo DC1100 Bourg BST10 X 2 Economy 25/40 stitcher Heidelberg cylinder x 3 Wizard numbering/perforating unit Shrink-wrapping Polar Programmatic guillotine Fully Programmatic guillotine x 3 Hunkler Mailing Line Bobst Gluing Line Celloglazing Direct Mail Facilities Lexmark Optra Se3456 Lexmark Optra A3 Xerox docutek A3 digital press 3 Canon 640p digital printers C4 Kern 8 station Kern 8 station with polly bagging Xerox 2060 digital press 4 Colour Duplex with full variable data Polly bagging line Xerox DocuColor 8000 Xerox 4635 Xerox 135MX Micro Qualifier Image Qualifier Bowe System combination inserting used for Transactional mail Xerox 180

Irish Printer April 2010

army, Paul’s business acumen was clear to everyone, including Dick Gibney who was managing director of a print company in Coolock and approached Paul for help in 1994. ‘It was a small business with a turnover of €400,000, but there was a problem with the production and sales manager trying to set up a competing business. I went in as general manager, let the two guys go, but after analysing the company I knew the business could not be salvaged.’ This short stint provided Paul with an insight into the print industry, as he spotted potential for development of direct mail, having gained experience in this area in previous businesses. And so IIP was born in a 2,000 sq ft facility in Harmonstown in1995, with seven staff and Dick Gibney as a shareholder who ‘provided all the print knowledge and experience’. Dick’s shares were subsequently bought out in 1999 by Paul and current group sales director, John O’Loughlin, with Dick continuing to work in the company.

Learning Curve

The first 18 months were a learning curve for Paul. ‘We knew that if we got a grip on purchasing requirements, salaries and overheads, we could make it a success. In our first year of trading we had a turnover of €550,000 and that grew rapidly. We were punching way over our weight and landing contracts we had no right to go after, so we ruffled a few feathers. We went about aggressively winning contracts and there was an attitude that we should not have touched them but it’s an open economy.’ Direct mail has been the lifeblood of IIP, with their first major contract with Eircell in 1998 providing the cornerstone for this offering and was one of the first print companies in Ireland to offer the complete service. ‘We were offered a job with Eircell which we took with both hands even though we didn’t even know if we could do it. Our attitude has always been to win the job and worry about doing it later. It involved 500,000 pieces and we were able to do it in six days. Such jobs would normally take 12 weeks to produce with different agencies involved. It gave us the confidence to tackle anything, which we do.’

Semi-state issues

With a capacity to control 50 million pieces for direct mail, and ability to do more, Paul says it’s frustrating to deal with An Post. ‘With An Post everything has to be pushed, and they have this attitude that we are just

COVER STORY

another customer.We deal with Royal Mail a lot who can be with us within hours to deal with any projects. With deregulation, An Post will lose a lot of business, especially if they don’t recognise the value of direct mail.’ Offering direct mail and doing it properly are two very different things, as Paul states. IIP has four full-time computer graduates concentrating on data management, while they also have a 50 per cent share in a Polish company, IIP Polska, dealing with data profiling. This division received its ISO 207001 last December, so they expect future growth in the company.

Turning Point

Despite growth, Paul is someone who knows when to walk away, as was the case in 2004 when they were approached by a multinational to sell the business. ‘At that time, the industry had gone ridiculous with prices, and they decided it was time to walk away. We spent seven months in due diligence but it fell through in the end, as there was a problem with their UK subsidiary and they decided not to go with the deal. We didn’t have the foot on the pedal during that time and was in business sold mode and we decided to run it as a lifestyle business, where John and I took a wage and didn’t go after silly prices.’ That approach only worked for so long, and in 2006, the duo deciding to ‘reinvigorate and rapidly grow’ the business. ‘It was a case of not being able to grow the business through sales and there was a glut of 10 colour presses coming into the market with big moratoriums. The print industry was being destroyed by silly prices and cheap credit so we looked at the companies that matched our own capability.’ With that came the acquisition of the Aluset and Kalamazoo operations, which were run by the same group and specialised in security printing and stationery respectively. This coincided with IIP’s own breakthrough into security printing and it was one of the first companies in Ireland to receive the ISO 207001 and APAC’s, the UK bank clearance security.

Union Issue

The take-over of the two companies also raised the issue of IIP as a non-union house. ‘It was not a question of us being anti-union but it was about forgetting what happened 10 or 20 years ago and being flexible. We need a good work ethic in this country. There were a lot of old working practices in the companies with some people who wouldn’t and couldn’t change.’ Early cost-saving measures in 2007 has saved

the company during these times, and they are looking to recruit in the coming months, with sales already up seven per cent year-onyear. IIP also has a sales office in the UK that is ‘performing very well against budget’ and two sales agents in Northern Ireland, with most of this work in the security print sector. ‘We can’t do everything, but we just capitalise on our expertise and equipment, such as broadcast emails which are now more in demand.’ The company only deals with four main suppliers, McNaughton Paper, Swan Paper Grapho Colour and the Reprocentre. The fear of paper price rises does not scare Paul either. ‘Paper has been the same price for as long as I have been in the industry. Printers have to realise that, instead of blaming suppliers, we have to get our print prices up. Everyone has to make a margin.’ This drive for margin is why IIP has a stringent sales practice, which obviously works as they are nearing their target of €7.25 million turnover this year. ‘We all have to have the same sales standard practice, which is added value. Customers think print is a 24/7 operation, ring at 4pm on a Friday and expect it first thing on Monday. We charge the client for weekend work, as we have to pay for that work as well.’ Despite his reservations and views on the industry, Paul says he is rejuvenated and more ‘up for the print game’ for the first time in years. ‘There are opportunities if people grasp the nettle. This is the only business I have never made money out of, but there is now a real chance to make proper margins.’

The Business background

During his time in the army, where he was primarily involved in logistics and accountancy, Paul established a small business in selling and distributing corporate gifts. That business ‘grew out of all proportions pretty quickly’ and he was approached by a UK Plc to run Country Hampers Ireland, which he eventually bought out. Within 18 months, he turned the company’s fortunes around with a turnover of €3 million, and sold it. He also established and ran a freezer distribution company and a chain of citycentre newsagents and toy-shops, all of which were time consuming and ‘not really profitable’ so he closed two and sold one. Following a short stint with a print company in Coolock as general manager, he set up IIP in 1995, and as they say, the rest is history.

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IrIsh PrInter APrIl 2010

IPEX Countdown

The doors of IPEX will open in a matter of weeks, with thousands expected to ﬂock to the seven-day Birmingham event. Despite difficult trading conditions, print operators are eager to explore the various options, innovations and products that can benefit their business, today and in the future. Individual suppliers have sent out invitations to all Irish customers to visit their respective stands, with a big number expected to make the short hop to Birmingham. Here is a snapshot of what the companies are offering on their stands, as well as the other features and events taking place.

The IPEX Countdown May 18-25, NEC Birmingham

FEATURES: •The Knowledge Centre (Hall 11) This information hub provides professional and up-to-date advice with everything from environmental policy to print buying. A number of organisations have signed up to offer this advice including Two Sides, FSC, Fogra and the Newspaper Society. A key part of this will be the Seminar Theatre which will feature presentation from exhibitors and organisations on such topics as environment, education, business, applications and associations. •Printers’ Profit Zone (Hall 9) The Printers’ Profit Zone will feature masterclass sessions on sales, profit and finance from some of the biggest names in the business. Some of the seminars include: Raising Capital, Legal Tax Loopholes, Customer Finder, Profitable Marketing and Practical Sales Management, Cost Control, Access to Capital and Valuing Your Print Company. •Great Print Debates The Pira/Ipex Great Print Debates take expert commentary, lively debate and audience interactivity to a completely new level. Each panel of experts - thought leaders and highprofile industry representatives - will debate

eXhIbItors top ten Exhibitors (by percentage of ﬂoor space occupied) Company •HP •Heidelberg •Xerox •Canon •Fujifilm •Kodak •Freidheim •Ricoh •Konica Minolta •Océ

Space (m²) 3,000 2,448 1,980 1,980 1,675 1,521 1,476 1,432 1,088 1,050

the most pressing questions facing the printing industry today. Some of the issues include: What will the printer of the future look like? More than ink on paper: how should printers be selling print? Green Print: Is it worth it? WHAT’S HOT AT IPEX? Digital print technology and product development will dominate this year’s IPEX show, as too will innovations in the litho sector. Most suppliers are using IPEX as the platform for launching their new range of products and services and here are some of the main attractions. •Agfa will be showcasing its new inkjet range including the :Jeti 1224 UV HDC as well as low migration inks for high-speed inkjet printing. •manroland is making a bold statement at IPEX, replacing its traditional showing of presses with a range of programmes and innovations to assist printers. The company is to showcase its entire process know-how as a pressbuilder, linked with data and materials logistics. •Canon will be launching its new imagePROGRAF large-format machines, as well as the first pan-European viewing of the imageRUNNER Advance Pro series of light production engines. •Fujifilm will be showcasing its B2 sheet-fed

inkjet press, the Jet Press 720 and version 3.0 of its XMF cross-media workflow solution. Under its ‘Power to Succeed’ banner, they will demonstrate how its technologies, solutions and business advice will give printers the ‘power to succeed’ in today’s tough economic climate. •WRH Marketing/Ferag will be demonstrating its new EasySert inserting line, the StreamFold quarterfold system and JobTrim three-side trimmer, which will have its global launch at Ipex. •Xerox will be showing enhancements to the 650/1300 Continous Feed Printing Systems and they are also hosting a Real Business Live! Theatre, where there will be presentations on such topics as profit generating print jobs and 1:1 marketing. •Ricoh is launching its new Business Driver programme, an exclusive package of business development services for production print customers, with such initiatives as web-toprint services, e-learning and consultancy services. They will also showcase their suite of printing presses. •Heidelberg is expected to announce its new digital partner at IPEX, while they will also show some new innovations, including the Eurobind Pro and enhancements to its postpress range. •Kodak is launching its Prosper 5000XL press and Trillian SP plates, while they are also presenting a host of other innovations including the Flexcel system for packaging and Nexpress SE3000 digital colour production press.

Irish Printer April 2010

IPEX Countdown

Canon prepares for largest ever IPEX presence Hall 10 – Stand CDEF270

Canon will have its largest ever Ipex presence this year, showcasing its complete professional print portfolio.The 2000m² area will be divided into zones, reflecting the production challenges that customers face within the graphic arts and CRD sectors. ‘Printers are clearer than ever that their long-term success depends on their ability to make positive change happen for themselves. Ipex gives Canon a perfect opportunity to help printers make the leap into new areas of business they may never have thought of,’ said Trevor Dodsworth, head of product marketing, Canon Business Solutions. Canon Ireland will be joined by accredited reseller Bryan S Ryan on the stand, to assist all Irish customers attending the show and will personally show the Canon range. •Press Launch There will be a number of solutions demonstrated, including several imagePRESS colour and monochrome presses and a number of customer jobs will be run using Helix Production Workflow. A first for the pan-European audience, the new imageRUNNER Advance PRO series of light production engines will be available, offering new-to-digital printers an affordable and scalable point of entry to the benefits of digital production. Following the recent launch of three new imagePROGRAF large-for-

mat printers, they will also be showcased on the stand. These include the 24-inch imagePROGRAF iPF6350, imagePROGRAF iPF6300 and the 44-inch Canon imagePROGRAF iPF8300. •Support Services All devices will be connected to a real production, services and support hub, allowing visitors to see how Canon responds to the real technical and production challenges faced by professional print environments. Such support packages include its Advanced Operator Maintenance, designed to optimise up-time and profitability in today’s just-in-time print business. •Path to Profit Canon’s Path to Profit is a key feature of their stand at Ipex.Visitors are guided physically and visually along the digital print value chain towards the services and applications that will help them to differentiate themselves from competitors and escape print’s ‘commodity trap.’ •Workshops Canon will also offer business support and advice to show-goers, with a timetable of short Essential Business Builder Workshops, with consultants on hand to deal with queries and offer solutions. •Leap with Canon Following its pre-show campaign, Leap with Canon, visitors will be able to see what real Canon customers have been producing with their technology. Such customers will have made the ‘leap’ in terms of redefining their offer or pursuing innovative business models, applications or revenue streams to take business forward. Check out the Leap Customer Gallery.

What presses are on the stand?

•The imageRUNNER Advance C9070 PRO series of light production engines •The Canon imagePRESS 1135 and imagePRESS 1125 mid-volume digital monochrome production engines •Canon’s flagship imagePRESS range of digital colour production engines •The clear toner Canon imagePRESS C1+ will also be on the stand •The 36” imagePROGRAF iPF755 and 44” iPF820 for CAD and graphic arts markets •The three new imagePROGRAF large-format printers, including the 24-inch imagePROGRAF iPF6350, imagePROGRAF iPF6300 and the 44-inch Canon imagePROGRAF iPF8300

IrIsh PrInter APrIl 2010

IPEX Countdown

rICoh europe

The Ricoh ‘Just Ask’ experience at Ipex 2010 will take visitors on the full journey of the production printing process from tand capture to output to finishing. Organising its presence to reflect the stages of the document lifecycle, the visitor’s journey flows through Ricoh’s four key zones: Capture, Prepare, Manage and Output. Through live demonstrations, Ricoh and InfoPrint Solutions will be showing print service providers how to add value through efficient, productive and flexible hardware and software applications. Live demonstrations include: • Integrated Solutions - Ricoh is dedicated to helping print service providers understand how new and emerging applications and solutions can help them boost their bottom line including Unity Book Publishing’s Print Production Handbook, TransPromo communications and transactional printing, personalised calendars, paperback book printing illustrated manuals, and direct mail. • Printing Solutions - New light production full-colour digital presses, the Ricoh Pro C720 and Pro C720S, are designed for lower volume commercial and corporate printing environments. • For high productivity full-colour printing, the Ricoh ProC900 and C900S will be showcased. It also includes the latest Ricoh image processing technology combined with the EFI Fiery RIP or Creo C-80 controller for high image quality and productive

hall 12 – s

d130

workflow integration. • Ricoh Pro 1357 - This newly launched production print device has been designed to suit the needs of the data centre market. • Ricoh Pro 1357EX - The Ricoh Pro1357EX is a highly specified production printing device built to accelerate the production workflow at an optimal Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). • Ricoh’s monochrome Pro range, which also includes the Ricoh Pro and Ricoh Pro 907 are fast, reliable and durable production systems with high quality professional imaging and the most complete portfolio of inline finishing options on the market. • Kodak Digimaster EX-300 and Kodak NexPress SE2500 which delivers digital colour production for high volume commercial, photo and enterprise printers. Solutions Available: • Ready4Print for Colour Management - The scalable system delivers consistent colour output to a defined standard. It can manage colour across multiple devices in multiple locations. • NowPrint for Web-to-Print. NowPrint and NowPrint ASAP are hosted Softwareas-a-Service platforms built to serve a range of print service provider needs, from a small print on demand outlet with two orders per day to the largest print service providers who may be receiving two orders per second, with no need for an on-site server or a large IT team. The options are scalable and avail-

Nora Smith from Ricoh Ireland will be at the stand to answer all your questions and show you personally all of their offerings. Nora can be contacted at 087 6920875 or email nora.smith@ricoh.ie.

able on a try before you buy basis through the Ricoh business development programme – Ricoh Business Driver. • Colour Controller C-80, Powered by CREO Colour Server Technology. Meeting the needs of print service providers in the commercial print and professional print markets, the advanced Colour Controller C-80 enables Ricoh customers to increase the productivity of their systems. Its powerful built-in variable data printing (VDP) capabilities make it easy to profit from the fast growing VDP market, and to consistently produce high quality colour output through professional colour management and colour matching tools.

manroland promIses groundbreakIng IpeX presentatIon hall 17 – stand f921 manroland has stepped away from the traditional trade-show format, Web solutIons focusing on programmes and innovations and not presses, to assist the modern day printer. ‘In line with our successful drupa 2008 presentation, we are moving away from the traditional trade-show concept. With state-of-the-art and creative presentation forms, we offer an overall view of a customer’s business taking the complete machine life cycle into account,’ says Gerd Finkbeiner, chief executive of manroland. The company is to showcase its entire process know-how as a pressbuilder, linked with data and materials logistics in ‘a thrilling and ultra-modern presentation’. The focus is on a customer’s model and products, including production flexibility, differentiation possibilities, reduced investment, operating costs and sustainable production. ‘manroland AG has taken an innovative approach to presenting our world class solutions at the forthcoming Ipex 2010. A combination of cutting edge presentations and customer focused concepts and solutions will impress visitors and give them the manroland approach to Value Added Print (VAP). There will be a strong focus on efficiency, product differentiation, EcoLogic technology solutions and top performance,’ says David Little, sales and marketing manager, manroland Ireland. Similar to the last drupa show, the sheetfed sector is to showcase application examples in the VAP Tunnel where customers will be informed in detail how innovative solutions can increase the quality and efficiency of printing.

In the Web Solutions Centre, the web-fed sector will be showing solutions focused on autoprint and production flexibility. Using media forms, print examples and references, experts are to explain how these solutions can be implemented and the technology involved. Besides that, customers will be given a comprehensive overview of manroland’s portfolio of newspaper and commercial printing systems. manroland will also demonstrate with the ecometer how sustainable printing works, and present its wide variety of services in the PRINTVALUE competence centre.

IrIsh presenCe

‘In conjunction with the show, we will also be presenting live demonstrations at local printers and the opportunity for interested parties to attend technology forums in manroland Offenbach. These forums will offer the opportunity to cover topics in greater detail than is possible at the show. manroland is very conscious of the challenges facing customers in this present economic climate and the need for companies to implement greater efficiencies with an attractive return of investment. manroland will distinguish itself at IPEX as a high performance business partner by offering innovative solutions and the know-how to assist customers to meet the challenges facing the industry,’ added David. David and the manroland Ireland team will be at the stand, and if you want to arrange a meeting or tour of the stand with David, contact 087 1200557.

IPEX Countdown

Irish Printer April 2010

Worldwide launch by Ferag Stand 18-C860

Processing technology for all market segments

At Ipex, the StreamFold quarterfold line will be producing with JobFolio components.

EasySert

The easy way to insert with the wide application spectrum

StreamFold

The fast inline quarterfolder for 60,000 cph

New: JobTrim

The compact three-side trimmer with the attractive set price

Visitors to the WRH Marketing/Ferag stand at IPEX will be able to see the global launch of the JobTrim three-side trimmer. They will also be showcasing other post-press systems for the newspaper, semicommercial and commercial sectors including the EasySert inserting line and the StreamFold quarterfold system. ‘Printers everywhere, regardless of their sector, are seeking ways to improve productivity and quality while reducing wastage and costs – in short they want greater efficiency,’ says Lee Whatmough, who heads WRH Marketing UK and Ireland. ‘At Ipex, Ferag will be demonstrating how printers can achieve those aims by incorporating highly effective added-value processes within the post-press arena. In particular, there will be systems that offer a very attractive price-performance ratio for the middle to lower market segments.’

EasySert

Live on our stand C-860 in hall 18 at IPEX Birmingham 2010 Also:

Line installation, training, 24/7 support, spare parts and more, for maximum productivity

Reference installations

Ferag technology in production: obtain information and check-in for your visit on our stand

ValuePlus

EasySert is aimed at commercial operations and newspapers of all sizes. EasySert incorporates JetFeeder hoppers (there can be up to 40 hopper stations in one line) and Ferag’s UTR conveyor system, which eliminates potential problems caused during copy transfer by using the same set of grippers with individual copies throughout the entire process. This level of control enables inserting into the main jacket at speeds of 25,000 copies an hour, with a finished product that can be up to 400-pages tabloid.

StreamFold

OFFERING MORE THAN EXPECTED

WRH Marketing UK Ltd 6, Stansted Courtyard, Parsonage Rd Essex, UK CM22 6PU Phone +44 (0)1279 635 657 Fax +44 (0)1279 445 666 info@wrh-marketing-uk.com www.wrh-marketing-uk.com

Ferag’s new StreamFold system meets the growing need by newspaper printers to produce quarterfold work efficiently and at high speed (up to 60,000 copies an hour). StreamFold can be utilised in a wide variety of situations, from the production of newspaper supplements and inserts to giving the printer the capability to take on work that cannot be handled by the press’s current folder. StreamFold can be integrated within any Ferag line, via its UTR conveyor technology, while the use of JetFeeder hoppers enables efficient off-line production.The mobile quarterfold component can be linked to any Ferag delivery station, enabling StreamFold to be fed from any press’s folder delivery that has been integrated into the mailroom via a UTR conveyor.

JobTrim

As well as the global launch of the JobTrim three-side trimmer, the company will also be providing information about their ValuePlus brand and associated range of services.

21_300_Anzeige_90x270_Ipex_e 1

19.03.10 10:25

Irish Printer April 2010

IPEX Countdown

A host of new solutions for Agfa Hall 11 – Stand D220

Agfa is maximising its presence at Ipex with a host of new solutions and products for the market, giving visitors a chance to see first-hand the latest offerings from the company.

The new :Jeti 1224 UV HDC Inkjet Printer

Some of the product launches include: • A new 4-up violet chem-free CtP system, designed to help smallto mid-size commercial printers eliminate plate production errors, reduce waste, water usage and lower maintenance requirements. The full system includes an :Avalon V4 CtP engine (36 pph at 1200dpi with 175 lpi), :Azura V (violet) chem-free plates and a dedicated clean-out unit (:VCF85).The system is ideal for commercial printers that use up to 10.000m²/year of plates on smaller presses (4-up) with jobs of 150lpi to 200lpi. • The company will also release :Apogee 7. The new version of the

:Apogee workflow management suite includes :Apogee Impose, an Agfa-developed imposition module that relies on live job information rather than templates to perform imposition. In addition, :Apogee 7 allows print buyers to go beyond the web-to-print screen to create new jobs in the prepress stage with WebApproval. The new version of :Apogee also includes APPE 2.5, Adobe’s latest version of its native PDF renderer. The programme allows printing companies that have digital inkjet printing capabilities to manage file distribution to different printers with their own specific application. Agfa will demonstrate the benefits of :Apogee 7 at IPEX and will hold a User Group Conference on May 23 at the IPEX booth to provide an in-depth look at :Apogee 7. • Agfa will also showcase the new :Avalon N8 system which is designed primarily for 8-up commercial offset printers. This new system allows :Azura TS plates to run 50 per cent faster with increased image contrast. The :Azura TS thermal plates use a process via a clean-out unit (COU), making plates press-ready without chemical processing. • Agfa has launched UV curable low migration inks for the :Dotrix Modular LM high-speed, single-pass UV inkjet press. The :Agorix LM UV inks can be used for digital printing applications on primary and secondary food packaging substrates. The new :Agorix LM UV inks use advanced photo initiator systems resulting in low odour, low migration and low set-off risks. The inks are formulated using Agfa Graphics patented Complete Cross Linking Technology. • Also on the stand will be the :Jeti 1224 UV high definition colour (HDC) inkjet printer. This press features a unique, linear motor driven vacuum bed for accurate dot placement in both flat bed mode or with the optional roll-to-roll (RTR) feature. The :Jeti 1224 UV HDC is the first :Jeti printer to use the Ricoh Gen 4 variable grayscale print head technology. Throughput is rated at 110 m2/hr in express mode, 54 m2/hr in production mode and 36.2 m2/hr in high quality mode.

Goss offer ‘New Ways for Print’

stripping, blanking, foil stamping and hologram stamping with speeds of up to 7,500 sheets per hour.

Hall 7 Stand C456

Goss is concentrating on innovations to help customers optimise existing operations with their theme ‘New Ways for Print,’ at IPEX. This theme – as exemplified by key technologies such as the Sunday 5000 press, Ecochill drying, Triliner enhancement and Goss Folia production capabilities – will be demonstrated on the Goss Stand. Goss will also be showcasing products from the Shanghai Electric Printing and Packaging Machinery Group including the YAWA, AKIYAMA, FEIDA and PURLUX.

Goss Sunday 5000 press

The 96-page Sunday 5000 press has become the touchstone for larger printers/publishers looking for an industrialised production model.

Goss Folia press

Launched at drupa 2008, the press has undergone continued development and market evaluation and as a result, they claim to have developed the fastest perfecting ‘sheetfed’ press available.

Leading-edge automation

Goss is also exhibiting a range of springboard technologies designed to enable customers to improve ecological credentials, production capabilities and financial viability. These include the latest Ecochill drying technology.

Goss packaging solutions

The Goss Vpak press uses sleeved and gapless technology to change impression-cylinder diameter and hence repeat length.

Akiyama MEGA Jprint perfecting

Goss will also run the MEGA Jprint press live at IPEX. The MEGA Jprint was developed to improve the productivity and flexibility of sheetfed perfecting.

YAWA

die-cutting

and

foiling Able to handle paper, cardboard, corrugated board, plastic and other materials, the products provide automatic inline creasing, embossing, thermal embossing, die-cutting,

Goss Purlux 1200

saddle-

stitching The Goss Purlux 1200 saddle-stitcher is a complementary solution to Goss Pacesetter technology. As the latest generation of saddle-stitchers, the Goss Purlux 1200 saddle-stitcher maintains high value in a design that specifically targets the need for fast and regular job changes.

Feida

automated guillotine

systems Feida equipment has been developed to offer high productivity post-press operation to sheetfed printers. The system exhibited at IPEX features complete control, with minimum physical effort, over lifting, jogging, cutting and restacking of printed sheets at a speed of up to 48 cutting cycles per minute. The guillotine itself features a positioning system with fast and accurate adjustment and high clamp pressure for clean cutting with maximum safety. A wide cutting throat has the capacity to cut any sheet substrate, from paper to board, with a maximum pile height of 165 mm.

IrIsh PrInter APrIl 2010

IPEX Countdown

fuJIfIlm push the ‘poWer to suCCeed’ hall 9 – Cd360

The Acuity Advance HS

Under the banner, ‘Power to Succeed,’ Fujifilm is planning to demonstrate how its technologies, solutions and business advice will give printers the ability to trade in today’s tough economic climate. This will be presented in the form of various highlights: •The company will showcase a range of solutions designed to optimise the offset print process. The company will demonstrate how its range of thermal and violet plate production solutions, and in particular the Brillia HD PRO-T2, can help printers increase productivity, reduce costs and minimise waste production. Their low-chem plates will also be on show for violet and thermal imaging applications. •In its ‘virtual pressroom,’ Fujifilm will highlight how its founts, washes, sprays, auxiliaries and coatings can help improve quality. •Fujifilm will also demonstrate how a ‘best-of-breed’ digital production solution, with business advice, can give printers the ‘power to succeed’ in digital print. This involves showing how production presses, includ-

ing A3+ applications, can be developed by using Fujifilm technologies, such as web-to-print. •Fujifilm will also be showcasing its ground-breaking new B2 inkjet press, the Jet Press 720, ideal for shortrun printing.This new inkjet press brings the benefits of digital print to a much wider range of print applications. •A considerable area of the stand will be devoted to wide-format print production. The company will exhibit the new Inca Onset S20 printer, the latest Acuity Advance HS wide-format device, and the new, recently announced Uvistar UV inkjet roll to roll machine, in addition to its Euromedia range. •Fujifilm will be launching version 3.0 of its XMF cross-media workflow solution. This latest version has been specifically designed to accommodate the integrated production demands of larger print companies and provides a range of new options including advanced imposition and colour management capabilities, and an improved version of its innovative 3D proofing module. •Fujifilm will also be showcasing the latest version of its online job approval module, XMF Remote version 5.0, which offers many developments to enhance the printer/client interface, including improvements to automation and job submission. •The company will also be presenting its latest flexo plate developments. Following the technology announcement at drupa 2008 of a new Fujifilm Direct Laser Engraving (DLE) flexo CTP plate, at Ipex 2010 the company will show how its core Polymer Material and Imaging Technologies will create revolutionary new solutions for flexo packaging print applications. •Fujifilm will be showing how printers can lower their environmental impact by maximising the efficiency of their production processes and introducing technologies that give them the ‘power to succeed’ whilst minimising material use and waste disposal.

ChampIons In prInt for kba KBA will present the latest sheetfed offset technologies for commercial, book, plastics and packaging printing in small, half and medium-formats, together with the associated integrated DPB ADVERT.pdf 1 19/04/2010 12:30:20

workflows and branch software. This is all being presented under the established banner ‘KBA: Champions in Print’. •Rapida 106: Flying JobChange The 18,000sph Rapida 106 will

once more be representing the KBA benchmark in mediumformat sheetfed offset. The press is a highly automated six-colour version with a DriveTronic SIS sidelay-free in-feed, DriveTro-

nic SPC dedicated plate-cylinder drives for simultaneous plate changing, on-press plate recognition and pre-registration. •Rapida 105: the robust allrounder in medium format It is to be presented in a fivecolour configuration with automatic plate changing. •Rapida 75: energy-saving wonder with new features For the B2 market, the Rapida 75 has a whole host of new features at IPEX, many of them adopted from the larger sister presses. These are to include a new feeder, air blowers to support sheet guidance, a new sheet brake in the delivery, transfer cylinders without drum shells, automatic format presetting and remote maintenance via the internet. •Genius 52UV: green printing for small formats The exhibition portfolio is rounded off by a five-colour Genius 52UV press in B3 (20in) format with UV-coater and extended delivery.

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Irish Printer April 2010

Product news

Canon launches three new imagePROGRAF LFPs Canon has launched three new imagePROGRAF large-format printers (LFPs), targeted at the photographic, proofing and fine-arts markets. The 24-inch Canon imagePROGRAF iPF6350, imagePROGRAF iPF6300, and the 44-inch imagePROGRAF iPF8300 all feature Canon’s new 12-colour LUCIA EX pigment ink system. The new models are able to produce prints with increased accuracy and an extended colour gamut approximately 20 per cent wider than the previous Canon fine-art series of imagePROGRAF LFPs (iPF5100, iPF6100, iPF8100 and iPF9100). The new ink system has been developed in response to the growing demand for high quality, large-format prints. The new inks feature an innovative polymer structure that results in greater scratch resistance and protection from colour fading, whilst reducing bronzing and metamerism to produce more consistent, durable prints. Denser, sharper blacks and smooth colour gradations are able to reproduce the finest shadow area details, meeting demands for more sophisticated print quality. An additional in-built mechanical rigidity in the new imagePROGRAF models enables more precise ink placement, resulting in improved line and text accuracy and colour uniformity. An in-built high-performance, multi-sensory colour calibrator can also precisely detect, adjust and compensate for print head density variations to provide an unsurpassed level of colour reproduction and matching.

New Features

Users are able to take advantage of the exceptional print quality of the new imagePROGRAF devices with the third-party RIP compatibility from GMG, EFI, ColorGATE, ONYX Graphics, Eisfeld (PosterJet), CGS, DEV studio and SCP, providing a range of print applications, including proofs, designs and commercial photos. The imagePROGRAF models are able to use third-party media, alongside the Canon recommended stocks, by utilising the Media Configuration Tool to calibrate paper settings to achieve an optimum print output. Compatible ICC profiles of popular media types are downloadable

The 24-inch Canon imagePROGRAF iPF6300

from the Hahnemuehle, Ilford and Sihl websites. Additionally the new range of Canon imagePROGRAF LFPs are fully compatible with Colortrac and Contex large-format scanners to offer a complete scan-to-print solution. To support high-volume printing and streamline workflows, the Canon imagePROGRAF iPF8300 and iPF6350 come equipped with an 80 GB high-capacity hard disk drive (HDD) that allows for faster spooling of large files as well as the ability to reprint jobs directly from the printer. To ensure the highest level of productivity and reduce overall print time, all new models are also equipped with a standard gigabit Ethernet network interface and an automatic dualblade cutter. The new machines are now available from Canon and its accredited re-seller, Bryan S Ryan.

HP launches new VDP solution for large-format HP has announced the commercial availability of HP SmartStream Designer 4.0, a software solution that extends the variable data printing (VDP) capabilities already established in small-format printing to a wide range of large format applications. These new capabilities help print service providers (PSPs) create more innovative and better targeted campaigns with lower production costs and faster turnaround times. HP SmartStream Designer 4.0 streamlines pre-press processes and helps PSPs create, integrate and preview all versioned jobs with any combination of fixed data, variable

text and image elements. It is also an easyto-use impositioning tool for HP large-format printers, whether the job includes versioning or not. ‘There is enormous opportunity for variable data printing,’ said Yariv Avisar, vice president and general manager, Scitex Large format Solutions, HP. ‘HP SmartStream Designer 4.0 unlocks this opportunity in the large-format market and helps our customers grow their business by expanding their services and increasing the value of print jobs.’ HP SmartStream Designer 4.0 is available

as part of the HP SmartStream Solutions digital workflow portfolio, which enables graphic arts customers to create a variety of digital print applications using components developed by HP and its partners.’ The HP SmartStream Designer solution can take targeted marketing campaigns far beyond the world of large format. Using different media designed from the same SmartStream Designer files, PSPs can create multi-application campaigns ranging from large-format posters for point of sale to flyers and postcards for loyalty and special-offer campaigns.

Irish Printer April 2010

Product news

Agfa Graphics reveals new CtP system Agfa has launched a new 4-up violet chemistry-free CtP system, designed to help smallto mid-size commercial printers eliminate plate production errors, reduce waste and water usage, and lower maintenance requirements. The full system includes an :Avalon V4 CtP engine (36 pph at 1200dpi with 175 lpi), : Azura V (violet) chem-free plates and a dedicated clean-out unit (:VCF85). Existing photopolymer processors can be adapted to serve as clean-out units, making Agfa’s Azura V system a versatile, lower cost solution. The :Avalon V4 is available both in a semi-automatic as well as a daylight working fully automatic configuration. The new chemistry-free system is ideal for commercial printers that use up to 10.000m²/ year of plates on smaller presses (4-up) with jobs of 150lpi to 200lpi. Because :Azura V plates are not chemically processed, all conventional processing variables are eliminated hence corresponding processing concerns and errors are excluded. This results in plate production with high

de Beeck, senior vice president of marketing and sales, Agfa Graphics. The system will be available in the third quarter of 2010.

New flatplan tool Apogee Media 6 The Avalon V4 CtP engine

stability. The :Azura V plates are cleaned out with gum and do not require extra rinsing water, yielding an improved ecological footprint. ‘Our new violet chemistry-free CtP solution is based on Agfa’s own photopolymer technology, proven in newspaper production. We wanted to bring the extraordinary success we had with this technology to the commercial printer. Agfa has been the world’s leading developer of innovative and successful chemistry-free solutions, first in thermal technology and now in violet technology,’ said Marc Op

for

Agfa has also released a new version of :Apogee Media 6, which includes an interactive flatplan that allows users to drag and drop pages and click-through to other modules of the editorial workflow, giving them complete (remote) control of the publication content and layout. Version 6.0 provides a new graphical dashboard with direct access to reservation areas, digital assets, page annotation, ad placement, article editing, image cropping, InDesign layout, preflight, soft proofing, print section management, reporting, etc. Agfa said this would reduce publication time ‘as editors can remotely track progress at a glance and guide content creators to deliver on spec, on budget and on time.’

Fujifilm launches Web-to-Print functionality for XMF cross-media Fujifilm has added Web2Print (W2P) capabilities to its XMF workflow solution, to help printers manage both offset and digital print production environments. The workflow solution already has a comprehensive feature set (including remote functionality and 3D virtual proofing capabilities), driven by its Pure PDF architecture which ensures ultrafast productivity. ‘Providing web-to-print functionality at the front-end of our XMF workflow has been of huge importance as it allows us to offer printers an even greater choice of how they conduct business with their customers. EFI provides an excellent web-to-print solution and we are delighted to be partnering with them,’ says John Davies, business strategy manager, Fujifilm Europe.

‘The phrase “web-to-print” often underplays the benefits that an online portal brings to a print company. In addition to online ordering, printers can take advantage of a marketing platform, an additional business transaction system and, for certain types of work, access to markets they would otherwise not address, generating new revenue streams,’ said Davies. Fujifilm will be demonstrating a fully integrated W2P capability utilising EFI’s Digital Storefront and XMF at IPEX, and outputting work to either offset or digital print platforms depending on customer choice. Fujifilm’s XMF suite of workflow solutions manages the whole range of print production requirements including online job submission and approval via XMF Remote, print man-

agement via XMF Production Workflow, and W2P job procurement through its partnership with EFI. XMF is unique in being built from the ground up around JDF and the Adobe PDF Print Engine.

New Tools

Fujifilm has developed a tool to allow screen printers to deliver consistent colour output and optimise production efficiencies across both screen and inkjet technologies to deliver the wide variety of print demanded by customers. The new tool, Pro-File, will be revealed at FESPA in June. ‘We think it is important to show visitors to FESPA just how they can take the screen methods they have been using for

many years, and combine these with new digital technologies that are now available, to provide their customers with consistent, but cost-effective material. Our new Pro-File system does just this,’ says Keith Harley, European marketing director at Fujifilm Sericol. The Pro-File system combines three best-in-class components - Fujifilm Sericol screen inks, Fujifilm Acuity digital printers, and ColorGATE software. This combination enables screen printers to deliver consistent colour and quality print output across proofs, screen and digital print through process-independent colour management, providing users with a flexible, cost-effective solution to meet the increasing demands for print to comply with ISO 12647-2 (FOGRA 39).

KEVIN KELLY PRINT FINISHERS LTD OPENS ITS DOORS A new print ďŹ nishing company, formed by Kevin Kelly and Ray Killeen, has commenced trading in Finglas. The company, occupying the former Fergus Kelly & Co premises, aims to provide the same services previously provided by its predecessors. To meet the needs of the market, they have also invested in new automated machinery, with plans for further expansion of services in the future. Ray and Kevin tell the story, in their own words, of why they started the business and what their plans are for the future. RAY KILLEEN: The closure of Fergus Kelly & Co was not only a blow to me personally, as I had worked there for 15 years, but it was also a huge blow for the entire printing industry. I saw the company as a cornerstone in the printing trade. Every service that you could think of in the print industry was provided for by Fergus Kellyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. We aim to revive this business and offer the same level of service. KEVIN KELLY: I left the industry in 2006 and never envisaged returning to this business. However, as the owner of the building, I was left with no tenant and the current economic conditions made it all but impossible to sell or rent the building. The most sensible thing to do was to start up a new business. We managed to purchase some of the machinery from the liquidator, but, we lost out on some core equipment. We did not see this as a setback, as we simply purchased newer and better machinery. Two new machines, essential for the production of ring binders, carpet/paint swatch books, files and for the production of calendar tent boards, arrived in from Italy to replace the ones sold overseas at the auction. We have purchased more up-to-date and automated machines and this will put us in a better position as we go forward. We have a refurbished Heidleberg cylinder being installed by DieCut Ireland at present, while two of our three die cutting platens will be refurbished by the same company shortly, as will our auto Bobst die-cutter.

Ray Killeen is production manager at Kevin Kelly Print Finishers.

RAY KILLEEN: We purchased a significant amount of wire-binding machines and have a considerable capacity for the production of calendars and books. We also have two laminating machines. The Lamtex machine laminates from SRA4 up to B1 and the GBC Centurion is a fully automatic laminating machine with the ability to laminate up to A0. We have three semi-automatic gluers which give us the capacity to mount strut and assemble showcards and point of sale promotional items. We will be attending IPEX with the view to purchasing a large-format auto gluer as this will give us the ability to mount larger-format digital and litho prints.

ADVERTORIAL KEVIN KELLY: Going forward, we will provide the traditional services such as Eyeletting, Punching, Foil blocking, Indexing, Drilling, Gluing, Taping, Riveting, Tabbing, Sewing, Wire-Stitching, Loop Stitching, Tip Gluing and Ribbons. These are essential for providing a comprehensive print finishing service. Kevin Kelly Print Finishers have foiling and embossing capacity up to A0 sheetsize. We also offer bookbinding from hand crafted leather restorations to thesis and hard-cover binding and specialise in Presentation Packaging manufactured from hard board or corrugated board.

With over 40 years of print finishing experience and know-how between them, Kevin Kelly and Ray Killeen are well qualified to provide a top-class, efficient and value-for-money service to the printing industry.

Unpacked and ready to go. Kevin and Ray have invested in new automated machinery to meet the demands of customers.

Kevin Kelly Print finishers have a comprehensive recycling policy. We believe that recycling and effective waste management not only saves the environment, but also money. All plastic wrapping and sheeting is baled. Hard plastics such as drums and plastic roll cores are granulated and shipped for reuse. The factory is heated using a biomass boiler, which uses waste wood such as broken pallets for fuel. All waste paper and board is baled and recycled by Ozo Recycling Ltd. All walls and ceilings have been painted with reflective paint to reduce the number of lights needed.We purchased an electric forklift instead of diesel as this was the more environmental route to choose. Staff training in waste management was also initiated to encourage turning off lights and machines when not in use.

For Further information, please telephone, Kevin Kelly Print Finishers at 01 834 3468/ 864 3286, 087 943 7759 or fax number is 01 836 2229. Check out www.kevinkellyprintďŹ nishers.com or email ray@kevinkellyprintďŹ nishers.com

OFFERING THE FOLLOWING SERVICES. Foil Blocking and Embossing up to sheet size AO Matt and Gloss Laminating of digital and litho prints from SRA4 to AO. Mount and Strutting of showcards mobiles and point of sale items. Diecutting all materials and sizes. Presentation Packaging. Ring Binders, Slip Cases and Files. Wire o binding Calendars and Books. Full collating service up to A1 sheet size. Coil/Spiral Binding, Index Tabbing, Eyeletting, Glueing, Assembly. Polypropylene Packaging. Bookbinding and Restoration.

T: 01 834 3468/ 864 3286, M: 087 943 7759 F: 01 836 2229. www.kevinkellyprintfinishers.com email: ray@kevinkellyprintfinishers.com

n e w s PA P e r r e P o rt

IrIsh PrInter APrIl 2010

The Irish Post – the face of the Irish in the UK The Irish Post has long been the foundation and connection between the Diaspora dotted around the many communities in the UK. Chief executive officer of The Irish Post, Kieran Moloney talks to Irish Printer about the various challenges and opportunities as the paper recently celebrated 40 years in existence. The Irish Post recently celebrated 40 years – did many believe that it would last this long? Kieran Moloney: The principle driving forces behind the establishment and success of The Irish Post were Tony Beatty and the founding editor Brendan MacLua who saw an opportunity to serve the needs of the Irish Community in Britain by championing the causes and celebrating the successes of their fellow Irishmen and women. The challenge is to keep the paper relevant, vibrant and appealing to the ever growing and dispersed Irish community for the future.The longevity of The Irish Post is testament to how the Irish community has settled and indeed thrived over the years. The team at The Irish Post is dedicated to the newspaper and in fact an original staff member from 1970 is still a fundamental part of the team reporting on the Irish community in the Midlands in a freelance capacity.

IP: Was The Irish Post the first Irish related paper in the UK and has there been much competition during the years? KM: The Irish Post was the first title to successfully launch a dedicated service to the Irish community in Britain. There are now various competing products, mostly regional and monthly in nature, however, The Irish Post remains the only national ABC certified weekly title dedicated to the Irish community and is available across the whole of the UK and Ireland. Before The Irish Post there were many attempts to provide the Irish in Britain with a newspaper, particularly in the 19th century. The Irish Vindicator was published weekly from September 1871 from Fleet Street. As well as shortlived community newspapers there were also numerous Irish political journals in Britain – The Irish Democrat and the Connolly Association monthly.

IP: When the paper was launched in 1970, there was a strong ex-pat community. However, during the boom many returned home with few emigrating. Did the paper suffer much during those days – both from an advertising point of view and circulation?

Pictured with a copy of the first edition of The Irish Post (dated February, 1970) is Kieran Moloney, chief executive officer of The Irish Post, Rose of Tralee, Charmaine Kenny, Irish Ambassador, Bobby McDonagh, Sinead MacLua, daughter of the late Brendan MacLua, co-founder and first editor of The Irish Post and Dan Linehan, chief executive officer of regional papers with Thomas Crosbie Holdings.

in any publication’s strategy, so yes. Building on our popular entertainment section is one way in which we are reaching out to younger readers new to Britain looking for the latest gig news, where to go and how to meet new people. We have also made strong links with newly established networking groups such as the IIBN (Irish International Business Network) and IN-GB (Irish Network-Great Britain) in addition to retaining our relationships with the longer standing organisations such as the county associations.

IP: In terms of design and content, have there been many changes over the years? KM: The product is constantly evolving to both take advantage of technological enhancements and to remain fresh and vibrant.The Irish Post was first produced by sending hard copy, both typed and handwritten to the printers in Slough who produced a 28-page paper with only spot colour on the front, back and middle pages which were, naturally, and green. In 1991, the production was brought in-house replacing manual typewriters for Macintosh computers. This gave greater control over the look and layout of the paper. In 1996, a radical redesign of the paper took place in conjunction with the Editorial Centre in Hastings introducing more colour pages with a move to the Derby Telegraph printers. Further redesigns/revamps took place in 2000 and 2005. The paper achieved full process colour throughout as a 64-page product when it moved to its current printers, Mortons Ltd in Horncastle.

IP: What are the biggest challenges and opportunities facing the paper now?

KM: Those that returned to Ireland during the Celtic Tiger years made up a very small figure relative to our market. The target market is the Irish community in Britain which now consists of, in addition to those that emigrated over the decades from the 1950s onwards, hundreds of thousands of people who although born in Britain are very much proud of their Irish roots and heritage.

KM: A growing Irish population in Britain is great news and a great opportunity for a publication like The Irish Post, which has become a trusted brand over the last 40 years. The issues affecting and needs of the Irish Community in Britain have changed significantly for the better since the newspaper was first launched in 1970. The challenge is to keep the newspaper relevant, vibrant and appealing to a community which is dispersed beyond the areas traditionally identified as Irish and very much integrated with and an integral part of British society.

IP: Where does the paper have its best stronghold – London, Liverpool, Manchester or other areas?

IP: Will the paper restrict its online content to entice people to pay for the paper?

KM: The paper sells most copies in the South East, Midlands and North West regions of Britain. Readership is strongest in the south East of England – an area of majority settlement of 1950’s and 1980’s emigrants. The older local communities are in cities like Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow and London..

IP: With more Irish people now travelling to London in search of work, are you now targeting this new generation of potential readers and how are you doing this? KM: Engaging and reaching out to younger readers is an important part

KM: This is one of the hot topics within the industry currently. Our approach will be part of the strategy developed by our parent company, Thomas Crosbie Holdings.

The Irish Post Numbers 20,393…..weekly ABC certified circulation 12……Full-time staff at the paper Stg£1.30/€1.95…..price of the paper 1991….Paper was sold by Jefferson Smurfit to Thomas Crosbie Holdings

PRINTXCHANGE OFFERS AN EASY W2P SOLUTION

ADVERTORIAL

Web-to-Print (W2P) may be the buzz word, but Printxchange is the means through which Irish companies can develop and grow their online business. Established and developed by IT expert Cheryl Woods and print equipment supplier, Pat Doherty, they answer your questions on the opportunities and obstacles with W2P.

questions, as one of our staff resolves the problem and returns the corrected file to you.This online process can be recorded for you so that you can refer to it for future work.

Stephen Reddy from Printrite having follow-up training on the Printxchange system

Q: I am a small print operator, but I don’t understand the essence of Web2Print. Can you explain what Web2Print is? A: Whether you are a small or large printer, you cannot avoid the digital era and the impact that digital production is having on the print industry. Web2Print (W2P) is a commercial pre-press process that bridges the gap between digital content online and commercial print production. This process allows a printer to create, edit, and approve computer-based online templates during the pre-press phase. W2P is targeted towards commercial users or to the general public, and both groups may access public or private online storefronts or catalogues offered by print houses. Within these storefronts, customers can choose pre-designed templates where they can alter the typeface, copy, images, and layout within a template, or approve a template layout and design that has been created by another person. While most W2P applications allow clients to customise pre-designed templates, it also possible for clients to upload their own unique content for automated print production.

cessible to new ones. As online purchasing becomes increasingly popular, the storefront section of Printxchange allows printers to display printed products on a website and attract customers worldwide.

‘

P: How can W2P help my business? A: Printxchange will save you time and money and remove most of the administration burden associated with customers ordering print. Artwork arrives print-ready so no more proofing nightmares. Printxchange lets you develop existing relationships and makes you more ac-

The after sales service and technical support offered by PrintxChange has been second to none, this product has been an invaluable asset to our business

’

Colm Smith Operations Manager Trilogy Dublin

P: Will my staff need to be trained in this programme? A: Printxchange provides full training to you and your staff, not just on the creative side but also on the administration and managing of the system. P: We are not really IT orientated in this company – can I make this work? A: Yes. With a Printxchange deployment you do not need IT specialists to run the system. Apart from the onsite training provided to your staff, we offer a comprehensive after-sales technical support system. Using the latest technology we offer screen2screen support. For example, if you are having a problem with any particular template, you can mail the file to us. By clicking on a link we send you, you can then view your job on our screen, watch, listen and ask

P: How do I process the orders when they come in? A: When a customer places an order via Printxchange, the sequence is as follows. Firstly, the customer receives an email with the details of the order he has just placed. The same email is sent to the printer and placed in the Printxchange production queue. With our system the whole process is managed from start to finish. The printer and his customer can track the job from receipt of the PDF to the dispatch of the finished job. If the printer has an existing MIS, we can integrate Printxchange into their system.

the customer can upload a database containing the data, which populates the product and the customer can preview and place the order. This makes ordering print a lot easier for your customer and much less time consuming for you.

‘

P: How can I get paid for these orders? A: In two ways. If the printer is dealing with a regular client with credit facilities, the system can be set up to accept an order number or client reference. If it is a non-account client, Printxchange can facilitate online credit card payments. P: Can I do the work on my litho and digital press? A: Yes. As Printxchange provides the printer with print ready PDFs, he can send these either to his digital press or to his CTP system for offset production. P: What benefits can this programme be to my current clients? A: The benefits that you can offer your existing clients are enormous. You can upload your existing customers’ artwork on to your deployment and create a branded log-in area for your customer. This means that when your customer logs in, all of his print products will be shown on a page that displays his logo or business name. The customer can select any of his products and make changes, if required, to the product and place an order. Also with variable data products,

Our Web2Print deployment from PrintXChange has Revolutionised the way we do business particularly now that we have more digital than offset

’

Gerry Reddy Managing Director of Printrite Finglas

P: How much will I have to pay for this system? A: As Printxchange is offered by deployment, there is no capital investment required. There is a set up cost of between €5,000 and €7,000 depending on the printer’s requirements. Included in this is the set up on your web site, site skinning and one-week operator training. Alternatively, there is a monthly hosting fee, the cost of which can be tailored according to the printers’ requirements. This hosting fee, on average, amounts to approximately €1 per order processed on Printxchange. P: Is all my information and that of my customers secure? A: Yes, all the data is held on servers in a secure server facility at Lumison PLC, which is one of the largest ISP facilities and has highest possible levels of security. There is also a two-way nondisclosure agreement between Printxchange and our customers. P: How can printers learn more about the Printxchange system? A: We can offer a live online demonstration which can show you the full features of the Printxchange system. We are also happy to visit prospective customers to discuss how Printxchange can work for you by using your existing artwork to provide a live demonstration.

Tel 085 1077820 or 041 9884131 Web www.printxchange.ie Email: cheryl@printxchange.ie

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The Perfect-o Solution Derek Maher, founder of Perfecto Print and Graphics

easier to get all work done in-house, plus I would rather keep it here for quality assurance. He is working with all the major paper companies, adding that he is careful to keep quantities to a minimum to maintain control on costs. Perfecto primarily deals with short-run work, including wedding stationery (‘which is doing quite well’) menus, letterheads and general print, with Derek stating that it doesn’t make sense to compete for some work such as business cards. ‘The market has gone crazy for business cards and the like with some of the ridiculous prices now offered. Some printers think that by going in with these offers they will get more work, but that rarely happens. The value of print has gone down, as has people’s perception and expectations of price for the final product. By keeping our overheads down, we can be as competitive as possible but you have to draw the line somewhere.’

goiNg forward

While most operators talk about overcapacity, or more often the need to cut it, Kilkenny man Derek Maher has another view of the market-place following the establishment of his new retail outlet, Perfecto Print and Graphics. He tells Irish Printer about the ease and cost of setting up, and his idea of taking the Perfecto model outside of the Marble City. Despite being out of the loop for many years, Derek Maher knew exactly what kind of environment he was getting into when he decided to open Perfecto Print and Graphics, a relatively small retail outfit on the busy Carlow road in Kilkenny. ‘I worked in the trade for a number of years but had to leave for family reasons. I did bits and pieces and always kept myself informed of what was happening within the sector. However, I do think there is still room and scope for small operators like me who will service the general needs of areas such as Kilkenny.’ Whilst only opened since the beginning of March and located on one of the busiest roads in Kilkenny, Derek says that a lot of business to date has been driven by passing footfall. His father, Peter, is also driving awareness about the premises by dropping in marketing material to local businesses. Derek adds that it is his name that is generating most of the business, as he is well known for his print work in the city. ‘I helped Michael Brett, who is my father-

in-law, set up Kilkenny Print and Graphics in 1991 and dealt with a number of customers on a daily basis. There are a few other print companies in the city, but in terms of size I won’t be competing with them.

However, I do think there is still room and scope for small operators like me who will service the general needs of areas such as Kilkenny.

oN a sHoe-striNg

Derek purchased a Xerox Docucolor 250 from National Business Machines, and he is already planning to upgrade in the coming months. ‘It is a grand entry-level press but looking at the level of work we are doing at the moment, it is too slow and now running 12-hours continually. We haven’t targeted graphic designers or businesses in surrounding counties, so we want to be in a position to offer that service in quick turnaround times.’ They sourced their other equipment, including a Morgana folder, creaser, guillotine and booklet maker from Printing and Graphic Equipment. ‘We were able to set up the company and get the equipment for around €60,000, so we are not operating with any huge investment around our necks. For any bigger orders, I farm out some of the work but with the capability of digital now, it is

Derek has been careful to withhold any major investment, and instead has set up partnerships with other small partners to offer sign and other wide-format work. ‘I work with someone who has sign making facilities, and it is a partnership that works well. There has definitely been a steady surge in this type of work. For example, one auctioneer told me he spent €78,000 in advertising last year, so this year he is investing that money into larger signs outside the houses. There has also been demand for POP and POS material, even for the smaller independent retail shops.’ Whilst Derek says he is ‘happy enough’ with trade to date, and is finding new business with the likes of canvas prints, he says the banks have not helped his cause. ‘I was lucky enough that I didn’t have to go to the bank for finance at the start as I don’t think I would have got it. I have been waiting months for a cheque book, so every time I have to pay a supplier I have to organise a bank draft. It is just baffling the way they are working with businesses these days.’ Derek also availed of the services offered by Kilkenny Enterprise Board to help him set up the outlet. Running the business 12 hours a day, Derek has hired a part-time operator, and adds that he believes this model of business can work in any town. ‘There is no reason why a model like this cannot work in surrounding counties or further afield.There is still room for small operators in towns like Kilkenny that offer good quality print at good prices. It’s all down to running on tight margins and keeping on top of credit.’ Only time will tell if this belief holds true.

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Paper Tigers Hear Them Roar Can it really be true, as so many tree huggers believe, that pulp and paper production are major contributors to global warming? Laurel Brunner investigates. At a UN conference in 1987, sustainability was defined as developments that ‘meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs’. This roughly means that we should look after the planet for our children, so in the context of media, is paper-based print really so terrible? There is so much misinformation buzzing around the wires that we thought it might be useful to find out just what the paper industry is doing to protect one of the planet’s most marvellous resources. It turns out that, in Europe at least, the paper industry isn’t evil after all. It’s doing a great deal to preserve trees, which of course makes perfect sense: without trees there can be no paper. Forests are a crop to be planted and harvested and replanted; the general rule is three saplings planted for every tree cut down. To find out more about the implications for print on paper we went to one of Europe’s largest mills, an integrated pulp and paper plant owned by M-Real, one of the best-known names in the paper business.

The real M-Real Located at Husum in northern Sweden, the MReal example demonstrates just how far the paper manufacturers are going to ensure that the carbon footprint of paper production is minimised. M-Real’s Husum factory employs around 1,000 people, many of whom come from the village of Husum, population 1,700, as well as further afield. The factory was built in 1919 but it wasn’t until 1972 that it started to produce paper as well as pulp. The plant sits at the confluence of two rivers which flow into a deep harbour. It uses 1.5 cubic metres of this oxygen-rich water per second to produce paper that is then ready to ship off across the Baltic. The wood arrives by ocean, rail and road; such is the volume required that if everything arrived by lorry, then one would need to pass through the gate every six minutes. The plant runs continuously to produce coated (26%) and uncoated (51%) papers, plus market pulp (23%), which is dried and baled pulp that is sold on to other paper manufacturers. M-Real’s annual turnover in Husum is around 602 million. Every year this mill turns 3.1 million cubic metres of wood into pulp and paper. The wood comes mainly from Scandinavia and the Baltic states, and consists of long fibred pine and spruce, and short fibred birch and aspen. The main product is copier paper of which over 240,000 tonnes is produced here each year: three reams of 500 sheets each leave Husum every second! The plant is ISO 14001 (since 1997) and 9001 accredited, and Energy Management System certified (2006). In 2005 M-real received FSC and PEFC Chain of Custody certification and the aim is to continuously increase the volumes of certified wood. These management systems and COCs are audited annually by Det Norske Veritas (DNV).

The Trees

M-Real’s Husum plant produces both coated and uncoated papers, as well as pulp which can be sold on to other paper manufacturers

Paper manufacturers and other buyers of wood products cannot afford to strip forests which would force them to search ever further afield for their raw materials. The cost of transportation alone makes such a business model ridiculous, so

forests are carefully managed to support customers who use this renewable and sustainable resource. Organisations such as the FSC and PEFC are working hard to ensure that forests beyond development markets such as Scandinavia are managed in a sustainable way.The objective is to ensure that wood harvested from the world’s forests is replaced and managed, sustaining the forests and their ecosystems for future generations and of course for future use. Only 9%, primarily in the USA and Europe, of the world’s forest is certified. However, in markets like Scandinavia responsible forest management has long been the norm. Developing markets must start managing their forest resources responsibly or they could find themselves with no local raw materials for paper making, and dependant on producers of market pulp shipped in from Europe or America. All over Europe forest areas are expanding and fortunately people are starting to understand the role that trees play as consumers of CO2. The forestry industry has worked hard to improve its competitiveness and profitability with more efficient harvesting and replanting of trees.This means more trees and more effective management of the forests. Contrary to popular myth not using paper could result in fewer trees planted, and a net overall fall in the number of trees and forests. If people stop using wood-based products such as paper, there is no incentive for forest owners to continue in the business of growing and harvesting trees. Instead of replanting they might just as well turn the cleared land over for other purposes, such as oil refineries perhaps!

The Sweden Situation In Sweden, where forestry is one of the country’s biggest industries, there is a total wood stock of 3,000 million cubic metres, while industry fells 70 million cubic metres a year. There is, however, annual growth of 100 million cubic metres. That is an awful lot of trees.They get harvested at a rate of one tree per minute, and trees have to be thawed, debarked, chipped to specific sizes and screened before being mechanically and chemically treated

This article is part of the Verdigris series of stories about understanding the environmental impact of print. The Verdigris project is supported by Agfa Graphics, Canon Europe, Digital Dots, Fujiﬁlm, HP, Kodak, Océ, Ricoh, Splash PR and Unity Publishing.

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and the need for steam by ten tonnes per hour. And there’s more: in 2008 a railway was introduced to bring in wood by train instead of lorries, and hot water produced by the plant is piped to Husum village for heating buildings and the village football pitch. Waste to landfill has tumbled from 80,000 tonnes in 2000 to virtually nothing now. M-real is actually digging up and reusing old waste because now they have the technology to do this benignly, so waste to landfill is now a negative number rather than positive one. The main product from the M_Real Husum mill is copier paper, with over 240,000 tonnes produced here each year

Paper Proﬁles to turn them into paper. The bark is sold for reuse, for instance, in landscaping or it is burned to produce energy. At the M-real plant in Husum a wood chip pile of 45,000 cubic metres lasts around three days. Every 24 hours this plant chews through 8,700 cubic metres of debarked logs and 100,000 cubic metres of water (around 1,200 litres per second), to produce 2,000 tonnes of pulp.The M-real Husum mill produced its 25th million tonne of pulp in 2005. The life cycle of paper-based products such as print is fully integrated: the resources used are constantly renewed and carbon emissions minimised. The trees are obviously consumers of CO2 and print products are arguably CO2 sinks. Paper can be recycled up to five times, and once its component fibres are too short to be used as paper, they can be used as fertiliser, for insulation or in worm farms.The water used in paper manufacture is cleansed and returned to the rivers whence it came. M-real, for instance, installed a biological effluent treatment plant in 2004/2005 and the water returned to the sea is pure enough for salmon to swim and breed in. Of the energy used at Husum, 95% comes from renewable sources, including the waste from the pulping process, which contributes to all steam energy and 30% of the electrical energy needed. Most energy used is biogenic, meaning in this case that it is produced from wood waste, although a small proportion of fossil fuels are still required. In working out its carbon footprint for the Husum plant, M-Real only includes fossil fuels in calculations because only fossil fuels have direct and immediate impact on global warming. Biogenic carbon is part of the natural carbon balance on the planet, and doesn’t affect concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Waste and Water M-real Husum has environmental permits for its air and water emissions control and is continu-

ously evaluating everything at the plant that could possibly have an impact on the environment. The biological waste water treatment system has decreased oxygen consuming substances by almost 60% since 2004/2005 when it was installed. A gas cleaner installed in 2008 has reduced nitrous oxide emissions to air from burning sludge by 200 tonnes per year. Since the mid-1990s carbon dioxide emissions at the Husum factory have fallen by almost 50% because of increased bark burning capacity, improved evaporation and energy savings which have significantly reduced oil consumption. M-real ran an internal climate programme between 2005 and 2009, to reduce 10% of the plant’s total steam energy need. This saved 4,000 cubic metres of oil, equivalent to about 12,000 tonnes of CO2. Electricity usage fell between 2005 and 2007 by 23,000 MWh, a fall of 2.5% and during 2008/2009 by around 20,000 MWh.The target for 2010/2011 is to decrease the electricity needs by 17,000 MWh

A gas cleaner installed in 2008 has reduced nitrous oxide emissions to air from burning sludge by 200 tonnes per year

The Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI) is a non-profit organisation that represents some 800 pulp, paper and board producing companies and 1,200 paper mills from 18 European member countries. Together they represent 27% of world paper production. In 2007, the organisation launched a framework, CEPI’s so called Ten Toes, for carbon footprinting paper products. This model for creating paper profiles is used by many paper companies including UPM, Sappi and Stora Enso, which owns M-Real. A paper profile is an open declaration of a paper’s environmental credentials, written using a common format. The idea is to describe the environmental details on a product-by-product basis using CEPI’s framework. The model has ten parts including the obvious elements such as measuring greenhouse gas emissions from forest product manufacturing facilities and carbon sequestration, as well as less obvious ones such as avoided emissions. Deforestation accounts for around 12% of GHG emissions, however, most of it occurs for reasons other than paper manufacturing. The work MReal and many of its competitors are doing has drastically reduced the print and paper industry’s GHG emissions. The CEPI framework is designed to reflect the interests of CEPI’s members and doesn’t get the attention it deserves, but it’s an important support to what the manufacturers are doing. More significantly it’s a valuable start to the carbon footprinting of print products. Paper is a holistic medium for communications and it isn’t the demon it’s often made out to be. Companies such as M-real and its competitors, along with CEPI, have plenty of ammunition to counter the misinformation and ignorance abounding within environmental organisations. Now is the time for paper tigers to wake up and growl.

IRISH PRINTER APRIL 2010

Ireland’s Print Industry at the crossroads Initiated by Gerry Andrews of the Irish Print & Packaging Forum, a special call to action for the Irish Print industry was held at the Red Cow Hotel on Tuesday, 20 April. The object of the meeting was to draw attention to the Irish Printing Industry’s fight for survival. As indicated in the advance notice to attendees this meeting would give printers an opportunity to discuss and change government policy and fight to retain work in Ireland. Over 100 people attended the meeting and they represented a very good cross-section of printers and suppliers from within the industry. Chaired by John O’Hanlon of the Regional Newspapers Association of Ireland, the meeting drew very good contributions from the floor and a full report will appear in the May issue of Irish Printer magazine.

1. John O’Hanlon and Gerry Andrews set the stage

2. Brian McArdle of Swan Paper had a point of view 3. Martin Lockley of manroland listens intently 4. John Kavanagh of Kavanagh Bookbinding and Kevin Byrne of the School of Printing 5. Lorcan O’hÓbáin and Terry Cummins from the Irish Printing Federation 6. Keen interest from Criona Turley of Wood PrintCraft Group 7. Paul Keegan of Irish International Print was pleased to attend the meeting 8. Warren Turner of Turner Print Group always in touch with industry challenges

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IRISH PRINTER APRIL 2010

PICTURES IN PRINT

Paddy MacMonagle at

Paddy MacMonagle, of Killarney Printing Works, celebrated his 90th birthday on Tuesday April 20. Paddy, who is justly known as the doyen of Ireland’s print industry, is in robust good health with a razor sharp mind which tests all his countless printing and graphic art friends throughout the length and breadth of Ireland. Some of these friends sprung a surprise birthday party on ‘Paddy Mac’ in Foley’s restaurant in Killarney on Wednesday, April 14. The evening, which was organised by John Harold, chairman of the National Print Museum, also celebrated the continuous involvement by Paddy MacMonagle in the Irish Print Awards from its inception in 1978. A highlight of the Irish Print Awards each year was the ‘Grace before Meals’ and for 31 successive years this was written and delivered by Paddy in Irish, English and Latin. On the evening, John Harold, on behalf of the National Print Museum, presented Paddy with a copy of the museum’s recently republished book, Irish Type Design, by Dermot McGuinne.

6 5

7 1.John Harold, Colourbooks, Frank Grennan, Irish Printer and Paddy MacMonagle. 2. Paddy MacMonagle (centre) with his nephews Seán and Don. 3.Back row: John Bermingham, Vincent Caprani, Frank Grennan, Séan Galavan, Claire McCarren, Frank Corr and Freddie Snowe. Front row: Sue Grennan, Fr Brian McArdle, Paddy MacMonagle, John Harold, Mary Caprani. 4. Sean Galavan, Paddy MacMonagle and Claire McCarren. 5. Fr Brian Allen OFM, Paddy MacMonagle and John Harold. 6. Frank Grennan, Paddy MacMonagle and Sue Grennan. 7. Paddy MacMonagle and John Harold.

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IRISH PRINTER APRIL 2010

PEOPLE IN PRINT

PEOPLE

IN PRINT

PETER DOYLE SALES MANAGER W I T H A G FA I R E L A N D

Peter Doyle is a familiar face in the print industry, having spent the last 31 years working in the sector and 20 of those with Agfa. As the company prepares to launch its latest innovations at IPEX, Peter tells Irish Printer of his past experience and gives a insight into the market-place of the future.

IP: HAS AGFA CHANGED THROUGH THE YEARS THAT YOU HAVE WORKED FOR THEM, AND IF SO, HOW? P D : Agfa has always been at the forefront of technological developments and responding to what customers require. Within the first few years I was here, and coinciding with the move to desk-top-publishing (DTP) and the advent of Apple Macs, Agfa acquired the American Compugraphic Corporation in 1988. Over the years they have acquired other companies, such as the printing plate business of Hoechst, some divisions of DuPont and more recently Gandi Innovations. Research and development is obviously a huge part of our business, and especially in the area of plates, such as :Energy Elite and the developer-free :Amigo TS. and :Azura TS. The :Apogee range of workflow solutions has also been very important to our overall product range.

IP: ARE YOU SOLELY IN CHARGE OF AGFA BUSINESS IN THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND AND NORTHERN IRELAND? P D : Yes, but very much as part of a team. I am part of the Ireland and UK team which together with the Nordic countries makes up Agfa’s Region North, which is part of our European region. Thus I have tremendous resources to call on, from sales, applications and service support. We also have partners which include the Reprocentre Group, IPS and Allied Graphics in Northern Ireland. Service is provided by a combination of the Reprocentre and our own service teams.

IP: HOW DO YOU VIEW THE PRINT MARKET ON THE ISLAND OF IRELAND? (a)In the commercial print area?

P D : As it’s continually stated, over-capacity is a real issue for printers, as is pricing, operating costs and, of course, the fact that there has been a lower demand for print. Futureproofing a business is important now, but we can understand how many print companies cannot see beyond each month, let alone have a vision for a long-term future. (b)In Newspaper printing? P D : We have seen huge investments in the newspaper sector in the last five to 10 years and Agfa has benefited greatly from this. Newspapers are being adversely affected by reduced pagination. Online web content will continue to have an effect but newspapers are trying to reinvent themselves to attract new audiences. It’s difficult to see any major investment in this area for the foreseeable future, but let’s see what new technologies come in the next few years. (c)In Wide-Format? P D : The wide-format area, and in particular inkjet printing, has gradually grown over the last number of years and we foresee accelerated growth in this area.

IP: WHAT DO YOU ENVISAGE WILL HAPPEN IN THE PRINT INDUSTRY? P D : The market will be the deciding factor in the future of many print companies. There is no point in selling something that is no longer financially viable, and so it’s important for printers today to look at the markets where there is potential growth and match that with their own capabilities.

IP: WHERE DO YOU SEE POTENTIAL MARKET GROWTH, AND HOW ARE YOU TRYING TO MATCH THAT DEMAND? P D : Inkjet printing is without doubt a growing area, and I believe that it will replace screen printing and has the potential to do the same to flexo printing over time. The technology and capabilities are endless, and one of the main reasons why Agfa acquired Gandi late last year. Their portfolio of midrange large-format printers with the :Jeti range complements our own inkjet business very well between the M-press high speed flatbed press and our :Anapurna wide-format portfolio.

IP: WHAT ARE AGFA’S PLANS FOR IPEX? P D : We have innovations right across the board, but the emphasis this year is on developments that can assist printers in making their operation more productive and cost effective. This is evident in our new suite of software packages and also in our plate ranges. There will also be a strong push on our environmental impact at IPEX, not just with our chemistry-free plates but our commitment to reducing our environmental impact across all aspects of our business.

IP: WHAT NEW PRODUCTS/DEVELOPMENTS WILL AGFA HAVE AT IPEX? P D : The major share of our floor space will be taken up with our digital printing/inkjet products. The new :Dotrix 6-colour inkjet press will be demonstrating a variety of new applications and another area is dedicated to displays and samples from the :M-Press press. For wide-format we will have two :Jetis and two :Anapurnas which will be presenting the work with our successful inks range. For Prepress, we are releasing the :Apogee 7 Suite which includes the new Apogee Impose software. We will also introduce :Azura V for violet platesetters. There is still a lot of ambiguity amongst print companies regarding the issue of chemistry-free so we will be talking through each of the processes and options available to suit their needs.

IP: HOW DO YOU VIEW THE PRICING POLICY OF AGFA PRODUCTS IN THE FUTURE? P D : Like most companies, we have implemented significant cost-saving programmes across the company and, as shown by our year-end results, this has proved effective in ensuring our position and, more importantly, strength in the market-place. Prices are under pressure like never before however, with fluctuating costs in terms of raw materials and operation costs, it is impossible to predict the effects this will have on the enduser price in the future.

Notwithstanding the rigours of the Black-and-Tan war and the Civil War, Paddy Duffy remained a gentle and kindly man, and was a most popular bindery overseer during my apprenticeship years in Alex Thom’s in the 1950s.

CAPRANI’S COLUMN Who do you think you are?

Last month the Marine Hotel, Sutton, Co Dublin, was the venue for a rather unique print-related clan gathering. Almost 200 members of two well-known Dublin print ‘dynasties’ – Duffys and Purcells – gathered to celebrate and to introduce children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to a combined and colourful family history. That history could be said to have begun with a young bookbinder from Dollards, Paddy Duffy, who took part in the 1916 Rising, was imprisoned in Frongoch, and later returned to Dublin to continue fighting in the War of Independence alongside his brothers, Joe, Jim, Mick and Tom (the last two named were prominent members of Michael Collin’s Active Service Unit). Notwithstanding the rigours of the Blackand-Tan war and the Civil War, Paddy Duffy remained a gentle and kindly man, and was a most popular bindery overseer during my apprenticeship years in Alex Thom’s in the 1950s. His son Tommy also worked in the bindery and another son, Paddy Junior, was my first machine-room foreman there. To complete the family lineup were Paddy Senior’s two charming and pretty nieces Kathleen and Nancy Duffy, and his nephew Jimmy (a fellow machine apprentice). Also among the hundreds of staff members were the brothers Martin Joe (machine-room) and John Purcell (guillotine operator). And romance was in the air. John Purcell and Kathleen Duffy married. Today their children are very well respected in the industry – John Purcell (Colorman), and Bernard, Martin and Geraldine in the management set-up of Abbot Labels (Baldoyle). Also present at last month’s clan gathering were Pat and Tom Duffy (Duffy Book-Binders, Seville Place) and Jimmy and Kieron Duffy (both formerly of Access Printers), and the aforementioned Nancy and Kathleen (a hale and hearty 89). Among the few absentees was Kathleen’s grandson

John Purcell III – that very week he’d just commenced working on a 10-colour Heidelberg in Sydney, Australia and in a sense emulating his great-great-grandfather Tom Duffy who’d worked for a time in Australia back in the 1890s. Hey, maybe that’s where and when this little family story should have commenced? Anyway congratulations and best wishes to all the clan from this column.

And Did you Know....

..That prior to the introduction of the euro in 2002 the German Federal Republic’s 100-Mark banknote carried a reproduction of a portrait of Sebastian Munster (1488-1552). Born at Ingelheim, Sebastian was a Franciscan monk, scholar, humanist, translator, astronomer and casmographer all in one. But was that the reason he was depicted on the banknote? Not really. The then German central bank, the Bundesbank, had the great scholar printed on the banknote simply because of the hairs of his beard. Seriously! You see, experience had shown the bank that the reproduction of the very fine linear structures of the hairs of the head and the beard is something that forgers find especially difficult to copy.

And Also...

…That right up until the late 17th century a community of Benedictine monks in Sicily revered and proudly displayed at their monastery a much-worn letter with a printed label attached stating that the missive had actually been written by the Blessed Virgin. Exhibited in a crystal case to protect from sunlight, the letter was probably their most honoured treasure. I’m glad I wasn’t the one who pointed out to the poor monks that to be authentic the epistle would have had to be written on parchment or papyrus, and not on linen-rag paper, a substance that did not come into existence until years after the death of the Virgin. Paper as we know it was invented in China about 105AD, when Ts’ai Lun (the Emperor’s minister of public works) found that the inner bark of the mulberry

tree could be broken into fibres and produced in a sheet form. The Chinese later experimented with pounding rags, hemp, and old fish nets. When some Chinese papermakers were captured in battles between the Arabs and the Chinese, they were encouraged to continue their art and to teach it to the Moors. A paper industry was established at Baghdad in 795AD, and as a result of the Crusades and the Moorish conquest of North Africa, Sicily and Spain, paper-making spread to Europe.

And from the Branch Office Boozer...

…Over the years our regular barman, Jim, had accidentally overheard and picked up some of our hot-metal terms, even if he didn’t understand them – archaic and now obsolete words like reglet, nonpareil, pica, demy octavo, duodecium etc. To be perfectly honest, we frequently and deliberately peppered our conversation with such words whenever he was within earshot. Then, just for the devilment, last month we ordered a round of drinks as follows: ‘Jim, when you’re ready please – four “rozziners,” three “shownts” and “na penta di stouta per due.” (A ‘rozziner’ is an old Irish slang word for a measure of spirits, probably from Gaelic raisin, a ration; a ‘shownt’ is a Shelta or Travellers’ word for a pint of beer; and ‘na penta di stouta’ is IrishItalian-Ciociaro dialect for a pint of stout). To our great surprise Jim never batted an eyelid and duly returned with a Paddy and a Power’s whiskey, a brandy and a gin and tonic (the ‘rozziners’), two Smithwicks and a Heineken (the ‘shownts’) and two pints of stout (‘na penta di stouta’). ‘Fair play to yeh Jem’ said Short-Arse. ‘How did yeh know what we ordered?’ ‘I’ve been serving you lot for years. Think I don’t know your favourite tipple by now, no matter what sort of feckin’ printer lingo ye use?’ Touché.■

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Discover the Agfa Diamonds at IPEX 2010

The dictionary defines diamonds as ‘brilliant’ and ‘valuable gems’. Much like the powerful range of solutions for digital printing and prepress which we will be introducing at IPEX 2010, all with your business in mind. With a focus on inkjet, we will be showing productive new wide-format models for sign and display applications alongside our :Dotrix digital press – the complete solution for packaging and POP. Prepress also sees a major upgrade of the world’s best-selling :Apogee workflow and exciting new developments in chemistry-free and developer-free plates. And if you book a VIP demo with us at IPEX this year there’s a chance you could go home with a real Antwerp diamond! To discover all these Agfa Diamonds and to request a demo, visit www.agfagraphics.com for more details.

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Agfa Graphics IPEX - Hall 11

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