Quick Print Pro, Colourfast Group Ltd 36 Cheltenham Place, Brighton. BN1 4AB Tel: 01273 674321 Email: editor@quickprintpro.co.uk Web: www.quickprintpro.co.uk
EDITORIAL
Marina Peirce
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
Groome
EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER Maureen Foulkes
Lara Groome, Andrew Foulkes, Rebecca Leach and Dan Tester.
Peter Foulkes
DIGITAL IMAGING & PHOTOGRAPHY
Martin Christie
MAGAZINE PRODUCTION
Dean Cook www.magazineproduction.com
Subscriptions printed at Colourfast plus PYO (Print Your Own) file distribution and eZine available on Issuu
Namesake or not that other Fawkes was also very busy this time of year. Parliamentary parlour games with the political roundabout in full swing can prove very printfull for us quick print pros. Cast a few marketing feelers into all your local parties and canvass for banners, posters, flyers etc.
Charge the new going rate. With price increases from suppliers, pass this on. You owe it to your customers to offer a continuous service. Blame it on world events, everyone else does.
Peter watch-your-bottom-line Foulkes
Fedrigoni
PTE
Quick Print Pro (QPP) — ISSN: 2050-5140 — is published monthly by Colourfast Group Limited, 36 Cheltenham Place, Brighton. BN1 4AB. A company registered in England Number: 2517164.
Copy Shops, On-Street Instant Printers, In-House Print Room Managers, FM and Conventional printers specialising in On-Demand, Short Run, Variable Printing, CRDs (Corporate Reprographic Departments), PSPs (Print Service Providers), Graphic Arts Businesses, Sign Suppliers and CAD Bureaus. QPP is available online and on your
www.QuickPrintPro.co.uk
Trade
Practice
preferred suppliers
These
Sign-up for free to our newsletter and discover all the latest news in print, upcoming events, special offers, new product launches and innovative trade and end-user campaigns. Just visit: www.quickprintpro.co.uk
The law on workplace pensions has changed and every employer in the UK must put certain staff into a pension scheme and contribute towards it.
This is called ‘automatic enrolment’.
It’s important that you understand what you need to do — and when you need to do it. This will depend on your circumstances and those of your employees. To work out what you need to do and when you need to do it contact our auto enrolment scheme advisers on: 0800 132100 or email alan.hudson@meridan.co.uk
Help is on hand from the Printing Industry Pension Scheme which has been running since 1986. Meridan Financial LLP is the appointed advisers for the Printing Industry Pension Scheme (PIPS) and are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Not all Auto Enrolment services are regulated by the FCA.
In 2021, the Independent Print Industry Association (IPIA) became a pioneering gateway for its members to benefit from the Government’s Kickstart scheme; it even shaped the way the programme was administered. It helped place 33 young people with 25 members and today, more than 80% of them have permanent positions in the printing sector.
“Our industry has a skilled but ageing workforce and often struggles to recruit young people at a roots level. Through Kickstart, we feel very proud to have not just contributed tangibly to the sector but also helped transform the lives of some bright young people who otherwise were facing long term unemployment,” says Brendan Perring, General Manager of the IPIA.
The IPIA itself created two Kickstart roles, taken up by young women called Kaci Cole and Bidhya Rai, who are being trained in graphic design and having their eyes opened to the scope of print.
“They’ve loved it, got a real buzz from it, which tells me that the industry is an exciting prospect for young people, it just needs more work by us, other trade associations and the industry in general to sell it to the next generation,” suggests Brendan.
Kaci’s already convinced about print and describes it as ‘flamboyant and exciting and a lot bigger than she first thought’. Both she and Bidyha agree that
their time with the IPIA is giving them confidence, and a supportive and understanding environment in which to progress their skills. “It’s been a very good overall experience for me, and I feel lucky to have found such a good organisation,” says Bidyha.
Lucy Swanston created a marketing assistant role for a Kickstarter at her agency Nutshell Creative. She says: “I feel very passionate about getting young people into our industry and upskilling them and think the IPIA did an amazing thing acting as a collective gateway to enable small businesses like mine to benefit from this national initiative; we couldn’t have done it without them.”
Dan Bristow, Director of Clear As Day echoes Lucy’s thoughts, reporting it had been a great scheme and super beneficial at enabling him to grow his company when times were hard during the pandemic. He says it’s also proved a good opportunity for young people like Hugo Mercer, who started at his firm in April 2021 and who is now permanent, and also for George Bennett, who was still on his six month Kickstart placement.
Stockport based IPIA member, Spectrum Print and Plastics, signed up to the scheme in Spring 2021 with Michael and Daryl Dalrymple-Owen. Managing Director, Kath Doran, is always exploring what else they can do in addition to work experience and apprenticeships to get young people into the
The winners of the 2022 Strategic Mail Performance Awards, sponsored by Canon, have been revealed, with some of the leading lights in the UK’s print and mailing industry recognised for the outstanding results they have achieved for their clients. The winners were announced at the SMP Awards evening held at the Mail Rail Museum in London.
Selected as best in the industry and picking up Golden Envelope Awards were, The Lettershop Group, APS Group and Join the Dots, with The Dragonfly Agency lucky enough to scoop up two. Precision was crowned overall Platinum Envelope Winner for the demonstrable innovation and results the print and mailing house achieved across a number of client campaigns. This year’s judging panel included Lucy Swanston, SMP chair and Managing Director of Nutshell Creative Marketing; Amanda Griffiths, Head of Communications Planning and Insight at Royal Mail; Philip Ricketts, Wholesale Commercial Director at Royal Mail; Jack Gallon, the Creative Director of MBAstack; Rik Moore, Strategy Director for the Kite Factory; and Kevin Green, the Partnering Director at Read Group.
SMP Chair, Lucy Swanston said: “We were delighted with the level of interest this year’s awards attracted, with entries from the print industry nationwide. Without exception, the 2022 entrants evidenced real results from genuine innovation — demonstrating that printers, mailing houses, agencies and printer managers can originate award winning campaigns as well as deliver them. We asked entrants to show us outstanding mail performance and our expectations were well and truly surpassed.”
“It has been an amazing night and a big thank you must go out to Canon as the official main sponsor of the Awards, and to all our other networking sponsors — Blake, BlueCrest, Bowe Systec, eProductivity Software, HP, JICMAIL, The Software Bureau, Quadient, Vivid, and Xerox — without which this recognition of excellence in the industry would not be possible.”
Awards judge, Rik Moore, Managing Partner Strategy at The Kite Factory, said: “I found the SMP Awards judging day really inspiring. It was great to see
industry. Kickstart came at a difficult time during Covid-19 and was not a big financial commitment. “It’s overall been a good thing. Our Jobcentre was marvellous at vetting candidates and full marks to Brendan and the IPIA for shielding us from some of the administrative challenges of being an early adopter,” she says.
The IPIA member that initially proposed the idea of an IPIA Kickstarter consortium was Lance Hill, Managing Director of Eight Days a Week Print Solutions (EDWPS). When the scheme came out, his firm was getting busier and it seemed the perfect opportunity to give someone the chance to come off universal credit. He says they have struck gold in the two individuals he took on in April 2021. He claims Callum Draycott and Sam Riley have made massive differences to his business, they’ve given him the additional capacity he needed and two extra pairs of hands.
Lance says: “Kickstart was one of the few positive things to come out of Covid. It was a good idea and well incentivised. It was always my intention to create a career path for a young person and we’ve done it for two people. At interview, both lads saw print as a dull and dying media form but now see it as slick and clever, using data and technology to drive customer communications.” www.ipia.org.uk
how best in class practitioners are helping unlock the potential of mail through many different tactics, be that advancing sustainability best practice, using broader campaign flighting and QR codes to drive connectivity across the consumer journey, through to the way certain brands have used the medium consistently over time to great effect, to name but a few. You come away brimming with ideas about what is possible.”
The winning campaigns for the SMP Strategic Mail Performance Awards were: Platinum envelope winner; Precision for Subway; Golden Envelope Winners; The Lettershop Group for Group Sky Winback; The Dragonfly Agency for Knight Frank; The Dragonfly Agency for People’s Postcode Lottery; The APS Group for Isle of Harris Gin Gift Pack; Join the Dots for RSPCA www.thestrategicmailingpartnership.co.uk
Large format print and installation expert MacroArt is shining a light on career opportunities in the print and events industry, directly targeting local schools and colleges with detailed information about apprenticeship vacancies across its business.
Working in partnership with Learn2print, a prominent training provider to the printing and graphic communications industry, MacroArt’s new brochure sets out the range of apprenticeships within the business, from pre-press and press roles to print finishing.
Courses are expected to run for 26 months, with a six month end point assessment by GQA, giving apprentices the chance to gain experience across several departments, potentially culminating in a rewarding future career.
One of MacroArt’s recent graduates, Callum Thorne, is already working to become a fully trained Project Manager within the business, demonstrating the true value of a genuine apprenticeship pathway to permanent employment.
Ben Sullivan, a Technician Apprentice, is also experiencing the benefits of MacroArt’s strong, supportive programme.
“My apprenticeship experience at MacroArt has been a great journey,” said Ben. “When I first started at MacroArt, I was very anxious and lacking in confidence. However, over the duration of my apprenticeship, I have received brilliant support from all staff and great training from my manager and other mentors and gained so much confidence, together with great knowledge and skills”
Lee Garnett, MacroArt’s Continuous Improvement Manager, is keen to emphasise the great opportunities that these apprenticeships can provide; “What we offer is a bespoke training package tailored to enhance skills quickly, to build confidence in new starters. We have a strong skillset in-house and a friendly, inclusive environment to help anyone settle in well and feel part of a team. All we look for, and all applicants need, is a can do, will do attitude from any walk of life.”
apprenticeships, MacroArt are collaborating with Learn2print to produce a range
such a rich source of talent within our local catchment area.
“We are committed to developing talented people from the local community and beyond and look forward to welcoming our next apprentices through this drive and seeing how they can help continue to develop the Art of MacroArt.” www.macroart.co.uk • apprenticeships@macroart.co.uk
Ashgrove are pleased to announce that they have recently been made a Keencut Gold Partner! Keencut’s premium range of UK-made manual wide format cutters are quite simply the best in the world. Ashgrove tested several other cutters with Keencut performing best for performance and value.
Choose Keencut when you need to cut a large variety of large format materials, from paper to foamex board and even some Dibond. Keencut’s Evolution 3 Range is a cut above the rest. Highly accurate and reliable. Cut length options between 1.1m and 5.1m. Smartfold, Benchtop and Freehand versions. Standard head ideal for multiple materials from paper to foamboard. Optional rocker head for occasional cutting of Dibond. Optional fabric head for delicate materials. Ultra-high precision 0.2mm accuracy. Optional bench also available.
In-house large format finishing: Banner Vinyl, Film, Honeycomb and Corrugated Plastic, Foamboard, Paper, Tissue, Woven Material, Cardboard, and Polystyrene.
When the going gets tough and you need to cut rigid boards including Dibond and Steel Composite panels, it’s time for the Keencut’s Steeltrak Range: Heavy-duty, accurate equipment; 1.65m, 2.1m and 2.5m cut heights; can be wall mounted or freestanding; will cut and/or V-groove 4mm aluminium composite panel; and wasy to set up and install using step-by-step instructions.
How To Best Cut Poster Papers And Films: Choose From The Ashgrove Keencut Technic Range; Cut lengths between 1m and 3m; Quality rotary cutting action; Table edge and table top versions; Stand option.
View The Full Cutter Range And Technical Specs. www.ashgrovetrading.com • 01779 470606 • email info@ashgrovetrading.com
print finishing supplier offers a vast range of print finishing products for binding, laminating, Xyron Pro adhesive applicators, guillotine paper cutting, stapling, folding, creasing, booklet-making, duplicating machines and much more.
Elmstok also specialise in pre-owned and refurbished equipment. All are fully inspected and stored in their warehouse available for immediate dispatch, or viewing can be arranged before a purchase is made. Buying pre-owned can save you up to 50%, sometimes more! Trade in offers are also available for customers wanting to upgrade their equipment, with new stock arriving on a daily basis.
Ordering online is simple. Select your product, add to your cart and choose how you want to pay. Cards and BACs payments can be accepted, or if you prefer to speak to the team at Elmstok in person then please phone or email. www.elmstok.co.uk • 01945 463434 sales@elmstok.co.uk
Pinnacle InterTechPRINTING United Alliance, the member based printing and graphic arts association in the U.S., has announced the recipients of the prestigious Pinnacle InterTech Awards Program. Award recipients from across industry segments are being showcased in the online gallery, which can be found at www.intertechentry.printing.org/gallery .
The PRINTING United Alliance Pinnacle InterTech Awards Program recognises best in class products created for and by the printing industry. The Pinnacle InterTech Awards are open exclusively to PRINTING United Alliance supplier members and, this year, judges selected seven award recipients.
The Pinnacle InterTech Awards exemplify new technology that is deemed by veteran industry judges to be truly innovative and likely to have a significant impact on printing and graphics companies. The seven technologies selected to receive a 2022 Pinnacle InterTech Award are as follows (listed alphabetically by company, with the technology named first): Barbieri Electronic for Barbieri Spectro LFP qb textile edition; Canon Production Printing for Canon FLXfinish+; Design ‘N’ Buy for DesignO; Kodak for MAGNUS Q4800 Platesetter; Vivid Laminating Technologies for VeloTaper; W+D North America for W+D BB1000; and X-Rite Pantone for Mantis Video Targeting Technology.
“The Pinnacle InterTech Award program celebrates the inventiveness of suppliers and recognises technology advancing our industry,” says Dawn Nye, programme
manager, PRINTING United Alliance. “The judges had the tough task of singling out breakthrough innovations from many excellent entries. We congratulate all who participated and those who were designated with this award.” www.intertechentry.printing.org www.printing.org/join
The British artist behind a touching sketch of Queen Elizabeth II reunited with Prince Philip that went viral on social media is now selling the print to raise money for children’s charity the NSPCC.
Kerri Cunningham, 34, who lives near Preston, Lancashire, usually creates poems and sketches based on her life as a busy mum of three under the business and pen name Murphys Sketches.
But as the news was breaking of the Queen’s death, she thought back to a photograph released when Prince Philip died, showing the Queen and Prince Philip sitting on a picnic rug.
Kerri said: “They were just two people who loved each other, in their happy place. It really moved me at the time. When it became clear the Queen was very poorly, I knew what was coming and I imagined them together again on that picnic rug. I shared my sketch on Instagram as a tribute and thought that would be the end of it.
“But so many people liked and shared it that it became impossible to keep up with. I kept getting lovely emails from people asking if they could have the sketch. The volume of emails was huge but it didn’t feel right to make a profit from something I only ever intended as a mark of respect.
“Then a family member mentioned the Queen had been a patron of the NSPCC till she was 90 and seeing as my husband and I have three young children, it felt right to raise money for such a good cause.
“The next hurdle was how to manage the process. I do everything manually so there was no way I could manage hundreds of orders. I put a message out on Instagram to see if I could find a printer who would help me do this, so all profit went straight to the NSPCC.
“Emma from THEMPC got in touch and we had a crazy Facetime call on Saturday evening with all our kids roaming around. I got a good feeling and within a few short days Emma, her husband Paul and their team had set up a website, sent me print samples and we were off. We’ve had over 1,100 orders in the first 48 hours.
“This might be my only opportunity to do something really good for charity and raise a serious amount of money to help children having the toughest time. And I’m sure the Queen would approve.”
Emma and Paul Marsh own promotional print firm THEMPC, based in Basingstoke, Hampshire.
Emma said: “When I saw Kerri’s plea for help, I knew we had the business capabilities she needed. Plus, we have three young children and already support local children’s charities through our business so it felt like we were perfectly aligned.
“Paul’s worked so hard to turn this around. He’s been up till midnight most evenings this week
in. The comments we’re getting show people are buying the prints for family as well as themselves. We’re just excited and honoured to be part of something good during such a sad time.”
Kerri’s sketch, which was created using black pen and coloured pencils, shows the back of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philp and one of their beloved corgis. Prince Philip has his arm around the Queen and the image is captioned ‘Hello again Lilibet’ — the Queen’s childhood nickname that Prince Philip often used.
A second sketch is also available, showing the Queen with one of her corgis and two rainbows. Many people saw two rainbows in the sky the day the Queen died.
All proceeds are going to the NSPCC. Neither Kerri nor THEMPC are making any money from this endeavour.
To purchase Kerri’s sketches of Queen Elizabeth II, visit www.print.thempc.co.uk
With our range of 100% recycled stocks, you can help spread the magic of Christmas without impacting the environment.
Drytac, the international manufacturer of selfadhesive materials for the large format print and signage markets, has announced the global availability of its improved ViziPrint Impress Clear UVL film.
ViziPrint Impress Clear UVL is an optically clear gloss PET printable film designed for trouble free installation of graphics onto glass and other smooth flat surfaces. It incorporates Drytac’s low tack hybrid adhesive technology, creating a strong bond in both high and low temperatures without leaving residue behind when removed.
Drytac has now incorporated a new thinner face film, which makes the media easier to work with. Compatible with UV and Latex printing, ViziPrint Impress Clear UVL uses a mechanical bond to gently adhere images to surfaces and can be repositioned and reapplied multiple times. Drytac’s unique
adhesive technology eliminates bubbling and ensures the product is unaffected by moisture.
PVC-free, 100% recyclable and resistant to both wear and tear and water, ViziPrint Impress Clear UVL can be used to create vibrant and stunning prints for both indoor and outdoor use, including graphics for window advertisements and screen displays, as well as eye catching stickers on white goods.
“We are delighted to be offering ViziPrint Impress Clear UVL to our customers around the world,” says Amanda Lowe, Global Marketing Director at Drytac. “This is one of our most flexible film products as it allows users to take on all sorts of work.
“Add in the fact that the film can be easily removed without leaving any residue, and ViziPrint Impress Clear UVL is the ideal solution for use in all manner of creative applications.” www.drytac.com
Together with Konica Minolta, the first AlphaJET Democenter has been established for customers in a dedicated Centre of Competence at Konica Minolta’s premises in Paris.
A first customer for AlphaJET has also already been announced. ISRA, an industrial cooperative that operates in the packaging sector and prints cards with or without chips aimed at the retail, transport and authentication and access control markets, has chosen the advanced MGI AlphaJET system to optimise its entire production flow and benefit from the advantages of Industry 4.0.
By purchasing MGI AlphaJET, ISRA confirms the five year innovation plan that is part of the “France Relance” initiative, a massive €100 billion investment plan to support businesses, rethink production models, transform infrastructure and invest in training. ISRA has always been focused on innovation: the company has recently developed the very first “zero plastic” ISBIO paper, which has now become popular among big brands and luxury customers thanks to its eco-friendly appearance and its fully recyclable material.
customised and flexible mass production and unique value added opportunities, are at the heart of the partners’ digital water based four colour inkjet press. It produces up to 1,800 B1 sheets per hour, with the highest Inkjet print resolution of 1,600 dpi.
The substrates compatibility ranges from a minimum 135 gsm thickness up to 2mm. They include coated and uncoated papers, folding carton, e-flue cardboard and synthetics from B2 to B1+ size.
The eco-friendly single pass production includes CMYK water based pigment inks, eco-spot UV coating and green-foil (flat, raised and embossed) stamping, OPV lamination effects.
The factory 4.0 AlphaJET digital inkjet press is certified de-inkable by INGEDE for: CMYK water based inks, Eco-UV-Coating and green-foil, on certain substrates, as well as FOGRA certified.
A break through patented flat paper transport with: Electromagnetic substrate transport with Smart Trays systems for perfect registration and
and spot UV coating registration using intelligent scanners and colour calibration with complete automation. IOT system and MGI connect cloud based platforms. Competitive total cost of ownership – no tooling, no waste, no preparation. Software enhancements include interactive digital proofing validation with a digital value added sales assistant, pre-press automated workflow, and state of the art cloud solutions using MGI Connect.
Edmond Abergel, Chief Executive Officer of the MGI Group, said: “The MGI AlphaJET offers unlimited opportunities. The single pass factory 4.0 from printing to finishing using water based and UV inks is a breakthrough innovation for printing and packaging industries. One equipment operator, one press and one single factory.
Olaf Lorenz, Senior General Manager, Digital Transformation Division at Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe, said: “The global launch of the MGI AlphaJET is a significant step forward as we continue to accelerate our digital transformation journey – both internally as well as externally. www.konicaminolta.co.uk
Epson has strengthened its position in the dye sublimation printer market with the launch of two new 44-inch, dye-sublimation products. Designed for low to medium volume printing, the SureColor SC-F6400 four colour, and SureColor SCF6400H six colour are ideal for applications such as textile production, personalised products, and high end photo reproduction. The printers offer a range of significant improvements, including increased productivity and reduced wastage.
Based on Epson’s revolutionary Micro TFP PrecisionCore technology, which is designed to deliver exceptional image quality, both printers offer different advantages, depending on the needs of the user. The SC-F6400, increases productivity by 20% compared to its predecessor the SC-F6300. The SC-F6400H provides an extended colour gamut by offering the use of CMYK, plus a choice of either fluorescent pink and fluorescent yellow, light cyan and light magenta or orange and violet. This means that, as Epson’s first six colour 44-inch dye-sublimation printer, the SC-F6400H opens the door to an expanded range of potential applications for both textile and rigid substrates. Users in the production of fashion, homewear, sportswear, soft signage and promotional items will find this enhancement of particular interest.
The SC-F6400 and SC-F6400H offer several other advantages to business users including new, higher capacity ink packs that contain 45% more ink (1.6L), reducing replacement frequency and waste. The ink packs only need to be shaken and inserted, no more pouring and stirring, which can create mess.
The printers also feature a new 4.3-inch touch screen which is 30% larger than the previous model. Simplified maintenance routines minimise downtime and software bundles are included to help businesses run more efficiently and better analyse costing and profitability. Both products offer users a complete solution including hardware, software, printhead, ink, sublimation papers, warranty, plus the SC-F6400H includes a bundled take up reel. www.epson.co.uk • Environmental Vision 2050: http://eco.epson.com/
Plockmatic Group, based in Stockholm, Sweden, has announced the release of the MPS XL Multi-Purpose Stacker — a flexible, cost effective stacking solution designed to attach to a selection of Xerox production printing systems.
The Plockmatic MPS XL Multi-Purpose Stacker provides a simple docking/ undocking system to enable the easy transportation of printed work, while the motorised Stacking Table makes it easy to lift and manage heavy paper stacks. MPS XL attaches to the Xerox Production Ready Finisher Plus and is currently available for the new Iridesse; the new Versant 4100; and the new Versant 280.
The MPS XL provides the link between the printer and the finishing device that will help to create the complete application, helping digital print providers turn over sized sheets into profitable, professionally produced printed work. Sheets fed into the MPS XL can easily be moved to another finishing device, for example the Morgana AutoCut Pro from Plockmatic.
Conventional stackers can only handle a small number of long sheets. The MPS XL supports true production quantities. It also allows for thicker paper stock up to 400 gsm. Key benefits include:
• Facilitating paper stacking and handling during the finishing process
next step in the finishing process.
Commenting on behalf of Plockmatic, Jakob Ekeberg, Vice President of product, said: “The market is evolving towards new digital applications that require longer sheets, so print room operators need a solution that will allow them to stack, handle, and transport them.
The MPS XL makes printing and transporting
long sheets as easy as standard size sheets. The product offers a unique combination of features — stacking, lifting, and transporting — in a single product that cannot be found elsewhere.”
The Control Panel allows the user to control the MPS XL and the printer from one simple interface. The MPS XL can communicate jams and soft stops to the upstream Xerox printer, allowing the operator to pause and resume the printer directly
The Infeed Unit contains an active infeed roller, active side joggers, and a fan to help cool and stack paper. The infeeder roller receives paper from the upstream printing device and pushes the paper into the stacker while the active joggers toggle every few sheets to improve stack quality. Fan speed is automatic, based on information received from the printer, however, it can also be controlled from the control panel by the operator.
The Stacking Table accepts papers as small as 210 x 210mm / 8.27 x 8.27’’all the way up to paper that is 330mm/13” wide and 1200mm/47.2” long. The table automatically steps down in small increments as sheets are stacked. The table has two sections, where one section slides in and out of the other section. In its compact form the table is 715mm/28.1” long. www.plockmaticgroup.com
At Corrugated Week 2022, HP unveiled the HP PageWide T700i Press — a new 67 in. (1.7 m), digital web fed platform that helps converters achieve greater operational efficiency for high volume production of digital single face lamination, corrugation, and folding carton applications.
HP is continuing its investment in the packaging market to create new opportunities for packaging converters and brands to benefit from the analogue to digital transformation.
The HP PageWide T700i Press, which is expected to be available for installation in late 2023, will be configurable to meet specific customer and market needs and includes a variety of in-line options for manual or continuous unwinding, priming, varnishing, and delivery in both roll and sheet format. Select configurations will be capable of up to 1,000 feet per minute (300 m/ min) supported by HP’s single pass Thermal Inkjet technology with true water based inks for printing packaging which can be recycled, further supporting the converter’s circular economy goals.
The new press platform supports increased plant capacity and reduced manufacturing costs for paper based packaging production and will enable packaging converters to print with significantly accelerated turnaround times and lower minimum order quantity requirements that optimise inventories, while focusing analogue print capacity on longer runs. For converters facing increasing supply chain pressure, this press represents a substantial opportunity for business growth by enabling improved economics, greater production versatility, and more sustainable packaging solutions.
”We listened to the needs of our customers and the market when designing the T700i Press. Now more than ever, converters need greater flexibility to respond to dynamic market trends and challenges, and digital packaging continues to fundamentally transform the packaging supply chain for high volume and mainstream production,” said Annette Friskopp, Global Head and General Manager, HP PageWide Industrial. “The HP T700i Press enables customers to achieve production cost savings and shorter lead times and enables them to go after higher value print jobs”.
The new press will feature the next generation HP Thermal Inkjet printheads
capable of robust industrial production. The proven inkjet technology builds on HP’s previous generations of thermal inkjet to enable customers to achieve consistent and repeatable six colour offset print quality at high speeds for high graphics packaging. T700i Press customers will benefit from HP’s manufacturing scalability and vertical integration across HP’s Industrial Print businesses, creating a distinct advantage for their business.
The HP PageWide T700i Press will be the second press format built in collaboration with Koenig & Bauer, after first unveiling the 110-inch HP PageWide T1100S Press in 2015, later followed by upgrades including the HP PageWide T1170, T1190, and the latest T1195i Press. “Koenig & Bauer is one of the world’s leading traditional press manufacturers, with over 200 years of experience in press engineering and developing innovative solutions that meet customers’ quality expectations,” said Christoph Müller, Koenig & Bauer executive board member. “Together with HP’s leadership and innovation in the field of thermal inkjet technology, the HP PageWide T700i Press was developed to once again combine our complementary technological strengths to provide packaging converters with unprecedented flexibility and quality consistency.” www.hp.com
Mimaki has announced a new three litre External Ink Supply Option for the Mimaki JFX600-2513 large format flatbed UV inkjet printer. This new ink system has been designed to enable JFX600-2513 customers to maximise production efficiency and improve automation for a more streamlined, productive print operation.
This optional unit will be commercially available globally in January 2023, with visitors to Viscom Italia 2022 in Milan, Italy (13-15 October) getting a preview of this new, production-enhancing system. Show attendees will be the first to see just how much this new three litre ink tank capacity reduces the frequency users are required to refill their JFX600-2513 ink supplies. The system even enables ink replenishment during the printing process, further reducing printer downtime and improving productivity.
The three litre ink system has been developed with one of Mimaki’s core objectives for the future of its technology portfolio at the forefront — to support the automation of its customers’ printing processes. An automatic white ink circulation system included in the three litre ink unit eliminates the need for manual shaking. Additionally, weight sensors enable operators to measure the remaining ink levels
of the JFX600-2513 more accurately, preventing unnecessary ink waste.
JFX600-2513 printers are also compatible with the proprietary Mimaki MDL command, allowing customers to communicate with their print production systems or peripheral devices via IoT protocols. The MDL command enables automated operation of the respective printing processes, such as the transportation of print media (workpieces).
In combination with the new three litre ink option, the MDL command will support extensive, continuous, automated printing sessions.
Designed for high volume print productions,
the Mimaki JFX600-2513 large format flatbed UV inkjet printer is built for efficiency and productivity with its 16 print heads and maximum output size 2500mm x 1300mm x 60mm, designed for printing to standard 8’ x 4’ sheets. Capable of direct printing onto a wide variety of media, including resin, glass, and metal, and of course, large format signboards, the printer can accommodate substrates of up to 60mm in thickness. The JFX600-2513 also features 2.5D printing, enabling layers of UV ink to be printed to create a textured surface for use in higher value printing applications. www.hybridservices.co.uk
The NEW Morgana DigiFold Pro XL, with its cost efficient vacuum top feeder, is an easy to use automatic paper creasing and folding system that eliminates unsightly cracking on digital stock.
Built with our unique, open design, the suction feeder handles stock sizes from 210 – 1300mm in length, useful for applications, such as covers for landscape booklets, book covers for oversized perfect bound books, multi-panel brochures and many other applications made from these long sheets. An additional static crease option can be installed to enable the full range of crease and perforation options.
Running efficiently to fold up to 6,000 A4 sheets per hours and in crease only mode up to 7,500 sheets per hour, making this is our most productive creaser/ folder to date.
Inevitably the media has been dominated by events in Downing Street this last month. But, for Martin Christie, the standout highlight was the video of Larry the cat seeing off an urban fox, showing that at least one inhabitant of no.10 knew how to justify his salary.
The uncertainty of who was actually in charge from day to day was otherwise rather one historical event in the halls of power, and one which may very well have more long-term implications than the fate of a here today gone tomorrow politician, to quote a famous interview.
The House of Lords, that venerable estate often referred to as god’s waiting room and sometimes more attuned to nineteenthcentury ways than those of the twenty-first, had a genuinely extraordinary guest speaker — a robot. Not just any robot, but Ai-Da, claimed to be the world’s first ultra-realistic humanoid. Ultra-realistic, seriously? Despite the attempt at an empathetic face and an occasional blink, with a mechanical arm and a claw hand, she/it looked a lot more like a subtle attempt at assimilation by the Borg. I doubt Captain Jean Luc Picard would have been fooled for a second if she had stood on the bridge of the starship Enterprise.
The Lords, however, gave this thing due respect and recognition to the extent that when it was asked a particularly awkward question, it fell silent and just looked at the floor, leaving many to assume it was actually the new prime minister.
In fact, Ai-Da is an artist who, according to her creator, uses Artificial Intelligence to produce original work from a learning algorithm. There is no doubt that some of the creations are quite stunning visually. Still, as I discussed last month, there are many in the arts, including photography, uncomfortable with this process and questioning whether it can be genuinely creative. It is a debate that will run deep as it has philosophical as well as technical aspects.
We are all familiar with computergenerated images on the screen when wobbly sets and dodgy stunts were replaced with impressive artificially created characters and backgrounds. But those techniques have now enabled facsimiles of people very hard to distinguish between the truth and the fraud, at least at first glance. So while many are created for amusing cameos on social media, there are, of course, troubling implications for a future separating fake from reality. It not only affects the visual arts, but I keep getting paid electronic ads for automated blog creators that can spew out algorithm-based
nonsense in seconds like a sausage factory.
I suspect some of the press releases we receive use these systems as I can never decipher what they are about, containing as they do too many adjectives and very few descriptive nouns. There’s one promotion with a real person’s head and the title ‘This tool writes copy for you’, proving that a machine lacks a sense of irony or understanding of the double entendre.
itself but the possibilities of misuse of it. In the last century, the science fiction writer Isaac Asimov introduced a law of robotics to be installed in the brain of every thinking machine — that no robot could cause harm to a human or allow harm to be done to one. Stories and films that followed speculated that the machines would become so smart they would plot against their creator and take over. Unfortunately, the reality is that we are much more likely to let them take over through ignorance and laziness.
At this point, I should assure readers that this column is not only written by a human being but checked for sense and spelling by another one and laid out by a third. Now, this may seem like a great waste of human resources, but at least if you don’t like it, there is a someone you can complain about and hold to account.
I may be shouting against the wind, but if you have followed this column, you will know that my argument is not against the use of AI
We have to deal with both of those conditions, working as we do at the sharp end of customer demand and with products often created by them using AI in one form or another. Unlike other retail shops which have products on the shelf for people to choose from, our output doesn’t exist until we turn it into hard copy reality. So at the counter, we have to deal with people with sophisticated mobile phones but no idea how to find anything or save it at sufficient quality to make it usable, or alternatively apparently technically aware but lacking any real
understanding. The latter is likely to be more impatient as they don’t understand why you can’t just press a button and make it happen. It doesn’t seem to matter whether they are young or old; they share the same qualities in equal measure. How often do you hear the phrase ‘but it looks good on my phone’?
Of course, there are also a good many people — though we probably don’t see too many of them — to whom the whole concept of sending information by electronic means is a complete anathema. How they survive in a world where buying a bus ticket can be a technical challenge is a wonder. Nevertheless, they will arrive with an old carrier bag with dog-eared originals of various materials expecting you to turn them into reproduction gems.
There is another customer — one who had something done; they can’t remember when, but you must have it on file somewhere, and they are sure you will remember it. It is less of an issue nowadays when people have the files in emails stored on their phones — even if they don’t know where it is. Previously the archives were written to dozens of discs, catalogued and stored for future reference, but sorting through them to find anything was laborious. Of course, it’s easier now when a single hard drive can contain thousands of files, but the problem of finding the correct one remains.
This is one area where AI can definitely be a friend rather than a foe with much more intelligent searching potential, as long as you have a system in place for the logical saving of items in the first place.
Both Adobe Bridge and Lightroom have excellent ways of organising files in shared folders and catalogues for ease of access and future reference. These are being further refined to make it easier to share with work colleagues as a group rather than swap memory sticks or emails which will inevitably result in duplicate copies of the original, which may be modified or flawed.
Workflow is one of the big things Abobe has been introducing, but it’s hiding away in one of the working space options in Bridge alongside Essentials, Libraries and Output. I recommend you have a look and use the little button that says Learn More to guide you through how it can help. But it can certainly make work easier by organising regular tasks, and by the nature of its automation, less chance of making mistakes. And, of course, there is the additional safety check that you can view all the information about the file — when it was created, modified etc. — as well as its shape, size and format.
In October, Adobe introduced a whole raft of updates across the Creative Cloud programmes, so it’s worth checking you are both up to date and aware of what they are; they often keep some features very useful for us in the shade and highlight more eyecatching items.
While all programmes have a print output option, none are specifically designed around a commercial printing environment, which is why, particularly with large format, production would use a RIP (Raster Image Processor) software to supervise workflow. But much of that can now be done in Photoshop or Lightroom, not only in laying up but in often quite subtle adjustments of colour, density etc., in order to refine the final print. That way, if there is an issue with the output, it is much easier to trace whether it is a problem with the printer or what you have sent to the printer. There is less that can go wrong, whether you select the wrong option or the software reads the wrong instructions.
Lightroom won’t be most people’s first choice for printing as it was primarily designed for photographers processing lots of images in one session rather than individual customers’ files. Nevertheless, as a photographer, I have been using it from the very first edition, usually swapping into Photoshop for the final edit, as there were a number of things LR just didn’t do. Now, however, with version 12, there aren’t many things that it doesn’t do.
One of the crucial advantages of editing any file in LR was that it was non-destructive — something you could only do in PS by using multiple layers that became complex and easily deleted or merged to make any further adjustments impossible. You must have had the dilemma of the dreaded question ‘do you want to save changes’ before saving a file, only to find you made the wrong choice and wiped out all the history of painstaking work and possibilities of revision.
Lightroom saves all of that, and unless you actually want to overwrite the original file, it makes you save it as another or several other versions so that it is easy to go back and start again, or with so-called virtual copies, at any point in the process. But because it didn’t use layers, it wasn’t possible to exploit some of the tricks you could perform in PS, like using selections and masks to
isolate people and features and edit them individually. These possibilities have been slowly appearing in dribs and drabs in recent versions; now, there’s a virtual flood. Not just select people but their hair, eyes, teeth etc., all automatically recognised by smart learning algorithms, and not just people but anything that is familiar can be isolated and modified. Of course, anything that’s a little more unusual or less well-defined will need a little bit of human attention to detail, but this will save a lot of time as often customers want someone taken out of a group shot or made more prominent when they are in shadow or bleached out by sunlight.
It’s not just restoring valuable old photos, which is a premium service, but it opens up the possibility of almost while you wait for tweaks that will make all the difference to images that are most often supplied badly composed and exposed by the nature of instant photography. When you would have previously rolled your eyes when they said, ‘can you do anything on the computer’ knowing it would take hours of painstaking correction, now you can say, ‘sure, no problem, give me half an hour!’
One of the other things that was difficult in LR compared to PS was cloning and healing. Now the awkward patching tool has been replaced with proper content-aware capabilities, which is a massive step forward as moving from one program to another to perform relatively similar tasks was a pain.
As ever, there’s far more that I could possibly detail in these pages, so do check out the new features on the Adobe website, from the helpful prompts in the programmes themselves, and the many recommended YouTube tutorials, a few of which are listed below.
Matt KloskowskiDrytac, the international manufacturer of self-adhesive materials for the large format print and signage markets, has announced the promotion of Amanda Lowe (formerly Amanda Brown) to the position of Global Marketing
Amanda takes on the new role having served as Drytac’s Global Marketing Manager since January 2019. She joined the company in 2017 as Marketing Coordinator and has played a major role in the full re-branding of the business, working closely on Drytac’s new website, data sheets, literature, videos, guides
Amanda also launched the popular Drytac Blog, posting informative and
educational articles every month, as well as the Case Study programme, with more than 70 pages of case studies now available to view on the Drytac website.
In addition, Amanda manages and executes Drytac’s participation at trade shows around the world, while she also works with the sales team to run other events and open houses, offering customers greater insight into Drytac and its range of market leading solutions.
Prior to joining Drytac, Amanda worked full time in merchandising within the retail sector. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Apparel, Housing, and Resource Management, majoring in Fashion Merchandising and Design, from Virginia Tech.
“I’m delighted to take on this new role and very much look forward to the opportunity of working with our marketing team to drive further awareness of Drytac and its leading products in regions worldwide,” Amanda said.
“I am incredibly passionate about the business and the high quality products we offer to customers, while I am also very proud to be part of a team of knowledgeable staff that share my desire for the business to continue to grow.” www.drytac.com
With Sue reporting to CEO, John Mills and Karl to COO, Graham Tweedale, the newly created roles will assist Xaar in the next phase of its transformation. They will add to the strength and experience of the wider leadership team, ensuring the Group delivers on its customer focused strategy.
Sue has extensive international, cross sector HR experience, having worked for Marks and Spencer plc, E.ON and Headlam Group plc amongst others.
In her role as Chief People Officer, she leads Group HR, and together with her team Sue will ensure Xaar delivers on its ambition of becoming an ‘employer of choice’, a key part of the people pillar within the Group’s Sustainability Roadmap launched earlier this year.
“Xaar already has a strong set of values and
Scodix, the provider of digital embellishment solutions for the graphic arts industry, has announced the appointment of Ewout Maartense as Sales Manager for the Benelux territories, reporting to Franz Repp VP Sales EMEA. As a newly created position, the move underscores Scodix’ growth as the company states that by the end of 2022 it will have doubled its sales and marketing teams in just a year.
“2022 is a continued year of worldwide expansion for Scodix,” comments Mark Nixon, Scodix VP Global Sales & Marketing, “We have an incredible portfolio of embellishment systems with presses tailored to all types of print and especially packaging businesses, so almost anyone can benefit from our incredible range of enhancements. With Ewout’s pertinent background, we’re delighted to welcome him to the team and further develop our business in the Benelux territory”
Maartense comes to Scodix with extensive experience within the industry. Following positions at Apple, Scitex (later CREO) and Kodak, he most recently worked for Landa. Nixon adds, “His knowledge of the region and relationships with printers and packaging companies is second to none. With his commercial experience we know he’ll be a hugely appreciated addition to the team.”
Scodix now has a worldwide network with 40 partners and more than 360 installations across the globe. Offering economic, productive and sustainable embellishment to the market since 2012.
Maartense comments, “The Benelux territory is well known for their cool
great people who are clearly passionate about its products, and I’m delighted to be part of the team driving the People Strategy across the Group,” said Sue. “We’ve already rolled out a number of exciting initiatives — such as our Early Careers Programme — as we invest in both our people and our community. By continuing to develop our People Strategy we will cement Xaar as being both a great place to work and one where everyone can build their career.”
As Group R&D Director, Karl heads up a 75 strong development team, bringing together the engineering skills from across FFEI, Megnajet and Xaar’s printhead business to deliver on its development roadmap, and enable sustainable growth for both OEM and UDI customers.
Time to dust off your decorations and share some seasonal joy — “Merry Christmas Everybody”. Lead by example and publish your own party plans for personalised printed cards, special seasonal offers, cool calendars, mistletoe mugs, stockings stuffed with stationery and everything else we can add some glitter to.
right! The countdown is officially on, which means printers need to start thinking about their seasonal offering. Whether that’s Christmas gifting or 2023 office essentials, now is the time to start reaching out to customers to discuss their seasonal needs. Take a look at these Route1 Print top picks below and make a head start on those Christmas orders!
Greetings Cards: Help your customers celebrate the Christmas season with a branded festive greetings card.
Calendars: The New Year is just around the corner. Be prepared with a range of calendars.
Diaries: Offer a range of diaries that make fantastic Christmas presents, practical and brandable!
Wall Planners: On display all year round, New Year 2023 wall planners will become an essential for your customers this season.
More Festive Favourites: Sell a choice of Route1 Print top picks for a print perfect Christmas. Cast your eyes over the encouraging blog that will guide you through a Christmas range that will help your customers create show-stopping print pieces this season. Explore Now. Free next-day delivery • Free 30-point artwork check • Trade customers only • White-label packaging www.route1print.co.uk
Time to share your seasonal open hours to encourage your customers to do the same. C’mon, get personal this Christmas. Don’t stop at Christmas the following New Year is worth planning some promotions now. How about a complimentary Calendar in a neat 4pp card give away? Good card though, quality does stand up.
Print on these very Hip Flasks! Stainless steel 7oz capacity hip flask with hinged screw top. Perfect as a gift for someone who has a favourite tipple. Personalised via the leatherette wraps using CPM or WoW processes. The leatherette is precisely cut and features a self-adhesive backing. Simply print the wrap, apply to the flask and optionally apply second smaller strip to the reverse for a tidy, high end finished product. So, cheers to all at The Magic Touch for the best received promotional product we used last year, so will be sending out to our newest customers next month. Great team mementoes for hen and stag parties, golf tournaments, and rugby tours or even to help keep the chill out when walking the dog.
Using TMT CPM paper and the ‘white toner’ you print the leatherette wrap which has a self-adhesive backing to wrap around the 7oz hip flask. The whole thing printed, in a box, comes in at around a fiver. RSP? Anything up to £25 for a one off.
OK, back to the drink in hand, check you have some TMT CPM transfer paper and an OKI white toner printer, and then simply add the new 2021 hip flask, which now includes a funnel and gift box — stainless steel silver matt colour £4.50; Hip Flask black or brown leatherette wrap two piece (Pack of 10) £15. We ordered ours on the web, but you can phone or email. www.TheMagicTouch.co.uk • 01582 671444 • sales@themagictouch.co.uk
READY TO ROCK AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE? Not quite yet? With bonfire night this month it actually is time to look for some innovative Christmas company greetings.
Get ready for Christmas Jumper Day on 8th December. Fun to wear and promote personalised print at the same time. Or, how about sending your favourite customers, or targeted new ones, some delicious Christmas Jumper Biscuits from EML?
More tasty ideas at www.eatmylogo.co.uk
The Giant Bauble has a large capacity to be filled with gifts or With a 12cm diameter this truly is a Giant Bauble! Customise the bauble with a photo insert for a personalised and bespoke gift. Refresh your photo bauble range with a selection of on trend caps and string! Compatible with UPrint predie cut insert sheets these bestselling photo baubles are made in the UK. ORDER NOW! www.adventa.com
We’ve seen a rising demand from businesses to give their employees, partners, and clients a customised Sprout pencil on a Christmassy card, thanking them for the past year’s collaboration and wishing them Happy Holidays. It’s a greeting that gives back into the new year and beyond as the pencil can be planted to grow into a beautiful plant. Choose (or design) a lovely single card for your pencil.Choose the seed that you want your Sprout pencil to grow into — perhaps it’s time for thyme? And decide the text you want printed or engraved on the pencil. You can also choose one of their pencil packs with 3, 5 and 8 graphite or colour pencils as a Christmas gift. www.sproutworld.com
With
The Fedrigoni Group and Mohawk Fine Papers, Inc. have entered into a manufacturing agreement to expand the reach of their specialty papers globally. Shared core values of craftsmanship, innovation, and sustainability make this a natural and valuable opportunity for both organisations.
The Fedrigoni Group is the first global player in the manufacture of high added value specialty papers for luxury packaging and other creative applications and world leader in premium labels and self-adhesive materials. Mohawk, founded in 1931, is family owned and operated, manufacturing some of the world’s most recognised specialty papers for designers, consumer brands, and printers. Mohawk’s early innovation in digital printing and sustainability secured its leadership position in these two significant growth sectors.
“The agreement with Mohawk is a further element in our growth strategy in a market with excellent prospects such as specialty papers, especially for luxury packaging, where we intend to consolidate our global primacy. Many synergistic opportunities are also present for our self-adhesive materials division, which will expand its leading position in premium labels for the wine market in the US”, comments Marco Nespolo, CEO of Fedrigoni Group. “This is an important step forward to reinforce our
“We are pleased to build upon our family’s legacy of manufacturing and distributing paper recognised and trusted around the world for the many uses of our customers”, states Thomas O’Connor, Jr. CEO of Mohawk. “Like Mohawk, the Fedrigoni Group is focused on expanding the specialty papers market. Our partnership will allow us to continue our commitment and focus on the development of increasingly high performing, innovative, and sustainable solutions.”
Further strategic alignment comes from the Crane and Fabriano brands, which produce stationery products that inspire consumers to write, sketch, and paint on some of the most beautiful papers in the world. The two brands will actively participate in this new collaboration and will mutually explore opportunities to grow market share.
Mohawk also recently closed a new financing agreement with CIT Northbridge Credit, which supports and strengthens Mohawk’s plans for continued growth. Within the frame of their manufacturing partnership, Fedrigoni participated in the new financing through a convertible instrument. The alignment between Mohawk and Fedrigoni carries the potential to formalise a strategic transaction over the next several years. www.fedrigoni.com
Fedrigoni UK has announced the launch of its new reference tool ‘Selected’, providing the packaging industry with a new guide, showcasing the compendium of trending packaging application methods to its range of materials
The tool spotlights 60 of Fedrigoni’s best papers and boards for packaging use, with each specially selected to show how colour, texture and finish can elevate an image, illustration or typographic design on pack. Penny Greenwood, Paper & Packaging Consultant at Fedrigoni UK, commented: “We created this tool to inspire designers and let them explore the possibilities our papers can offer packaging design.”
‘Selected’ demonstrates a variety of ways to print with the latest processes – UV, for example, foil stamp, blind emboss and die-cut. Neatly displayed through 36 showcards and 12 carton box mockups.
The new toolkit was created by Design LSC, with input from the Fedrigoni team, in which previous conversations with customers presented an opportunity to illustrate the multiplicity of Fedrigoni paper. The team spent time to create the perfect examples, experimenting boundlessly to create demos that consider the latest packaging trends of pastel hues paired with black, bright and bold palettes and textures.
As a part of the collection, Fedrigoni showcases one of its latest innovative papers, Splendorgel Extra White High Barrier Technology. Splendorgel HBT for short, is a significant challenger to its
applications from fresh grocery packaging to garden labelling, to out of home advertising such as billboards.
Penny Greenwood adds: “This labour of love from Design LSC and the Fedrigoni team is an
example of how to push the boundaries of brand packaging designs, and equally focus on elevating current trends in the sector. We found new and ambitious combinations to recommend and showcase the versatility of Fedrigoni paper.”
‘Selected’ was designed by Luigi Carnovale from Design LSC. www.designlsc.com • www.fedrigoni.co.uk
As Mimaki’s exclusive distributor for the UK and Ireland, the virtual Print Trade Expo is a great opportunity to present the very latest Mimaki technology, at a convenient time and day to all quick print pros. The open all-hours exhibition is perpetually packed with the latest printing and cutting products to assist print service suppliers of all sizes.
Available now! Mimaki’s newest solvent printer/cutter with inline X/Y Slitter for maximum productivity.
Discover the latest Mimaki small format flatbed LED UV printers — available now from £19,995.
Receive a free cutting plotter worth £3,495 with Mimaki’s latest 1.6m UV printer
Get up to £3,000 when you trade in any old solvent or latex printer against the Mimaki JV100-160.
Incredible full colour 3D print with unmatched detail and gamut, for just £34,995
Discover Mimaki’s brand new solvent printer, with integrated X/Y Slitter, bulk ink & media changer.
Join Hybrid on social media, sign up to their newsletter and be the first to hear about special offers, get valuable blog content and discover new products, applications and inspiration.
Xeikon, the supplier of digital production solutions held a dedicated event to showcase the wide range of graphic arts applications achievable with its digital toner printing technology. Xeikon Café Graphic Arts took place at the company’s headquarters near Antwerp, Belgium.
“To kick off the last quarter of the year, we want to offer all print professionals the unique opportunity to get inspired by what Xeikon has to offer” said Dimitri Van Gaever, Market Segment Director at Xeikon.
The event’s keynote was hosted by online print guru and industry expert Bernd Zipper. He discussed what challenges and opportunities commercial printers will face over the next years. “The past has already shown that the printing industry is extremely resilient. Why? Because print plays a vital role in creating communication that lasts and sticks”, commented Bernd Zipper. “Digitalisation of print will help printers to stay agile and develop new applications. On top of that, it will help them to meet their sustainability goals for the future.”
During the event, attendees saw live demos on: Xeikon SX30000 running a wide variety of commercial print applications; Full wall deco solutions built around the Xeikon CX500; Xeikon CX300 for promotional heat transfer; and Xeikon PX3300 for durable floor signage.
To top it all off, attendees had the opportunity to see how Xeikon builds their presses in the factory and to browse through the stands of industry partners to stay informed on their latest developments. With its environmentally friendly toner technology as the cornerstone, Xeikon has developed end to end solutions for many applications in the graphic arts markets which are at the forefront of the digital transformation of the industry.
During Xeikon Café, visitors were able to follow Tech-Talks on new innovations for: book printing; point of sales and retail signage; direct mail; wall decoration; printing labels for commercial printers
“We have introduced several new innovations in the past two years, but of course, given the circumstances, we could not present them live so customers could touch and feel the print, and gain the confidence to invest,” continues Dimitri Van Gaever. “With this Café, Xeikon is enabling the printing industry to come together to see our solutions live in the spirit of our ‘discover, learn, connect’ vision, and experience the future of digital production in graphic arts.” www.xeikon.com
THE PRINTTRADESHOW THAT’S ALWAYS OPEN
Business Finance successfully held their Sustainability Showcase event, with delegates and participants collaborating to explore more affordable, sustainable approaches to materials, workflow, and print and cut technology in the drive towards net zero.
Held on two consecutive days at swissQprint’s UK headquarters in Bracknell, over 40 attendees from 23 businesses came together to find out how to achieve a more effective and sustainable print production process to meet clients’ environmental needs.
Visitors were able to assess swissQprint’s industry leading flatbed printer, the Nyala 4, and the Karibu high end roll to roll printer, alongside Zund’s versatile S3 L-1600 precision digital cutter. In addition, they explored sustainability issues
across the production process, including reducing energy consumption, minimising waste, and using environmentally friendly materials in their printing through using the latest hardware and software.
As well as live print demonstration sessions, the UK leader in papers, packaging, and visual communication distribution, Antalis, highlighted to
guests the range of sustainable materials for large format print applications, showcasing how their Green Star System™ helps make eco-responsible choices much easier to navigate.
Print and packaging finance experts Compass Business Finance provided insight on how today’s print service providers can achieve a more effective and sustainable production process.
Erskine Stewart, Managing Director of swissQprint, celebrated the event’s success: “Sustainability is core to all our businesses, and what is clear from the coming together of so many print service providers is that there is a real appetite for effective advice and support in how practical steps can be taken to improve operations from an environmental perspective.” www.swissqprint.co.uk
The government’s new growth plan proposals could leave nature with much weaker protection. Vital habitats including swathes of ancient woodland and veteran trees could be bulldozed and built upon with barely a second thought.
We’re at risk of losing decades of progress made for nature, including hopes of better protection for our ancient woods.
The proposals are all in the name of growth. But destroying our environment will never be real growth or progress. A future where our woods and wildlife have disappeared and climate change is escalating is a future we cannot afford.
Despite widespread public outcry, Government’s early responses to criticism
do nothing to reassure us. So far, valid concerns have been brushed off with vague platitudes.
The nature and climate crises are getting worse. Government should be focusing on strengthening protection and restoring the natural world — not ripping up the protection we already have.
A healthy environment, with thriving woods and trees, is the foundation for prosperity and quality of life. We cannot live without it. Please ask your MP to press for urgent and explicit commitments from Government that nature will continue to be protected and restored. It’s easy with our simple form.
Contact your MP by clicking or scaning the QR code and by magic your own MP will be selected for your support.
East Yorkshire based printing and signage company Greens the Signmakers has revealed how its investment in an HP Latex R2000 printer has helped the business take on new work in profitable markets and significantly enhanced its environmental credentials.
Celebrating its 60th anniversary in business in 2023, Greens offers a wide range of printing and signage services to customers both locally and across the UK, with the business counting the likes of Halfords, Carpet Right and Currys among its high profile clients.
Managing Director Lawrence Green is the third generation of the family to lead the business, building on the desire for the company to continue to expand and grow, as well as add new services to its offering in order to satisfy changing demand across its customer base.
Equally as strong as this drive to succeed is a will to establish the company as one of the leading eco-conscious printing businesses in the UK. Inspired by Charlotte, his eight year old daughter, Lawrence has sought out ways for Greens to grow as a business while improving its environmental credentials at the same time.
A key part of the strategy was to invest in new equipment that would deliver both of these goals. Lawrence reached out to HP for advice and after
being talked through a number of options by HP’s expert staff, Lawrence and the Greens team soon identified the HP Latex R2000 as the ideal solution.
“The R2000 is the perfect all rounder for us as a business and was the obvious choice when it came to making the investment,” Lawrence said. “Once up and running, it will just keep going. We tend to do a lot of flatbed work in the day, while we will leave a roll in to print overnight, meaning when we arrive at work the next day, we have something to.
“In contrast, with our UV kit, when we run recyclable materials through it, it is much harder, and sometimes not possible at all, to recycle after it is printed. Now we are running the new R2000, the vast majority of what we supply doesn’t have to end up in landfill; we can control the full life of the product, which was not possible before.”
HP has created a new video telling the full story which is now live on YouTube. www.hp.com
This time, more than any other time, remember to get organised with some World Cup promotional print. Offer your customers a fixture list wall chart similar to the QPP one in this month’s magazine. We bought the artwork files with permission to publish from a very entrepreneurial artworker. Pricing made the time saving an easy decision and we are happy to share this referral. Choose from different files or ready printed. Order A3 and A2 printed versions and artwork files scan or click
on the QR codes.
For anything else celebrating the World Cup get printing now on shirts, hats, banners, badges, mugs and of course cups. Take care with official logos, copyright and all that good stuff; text and images will do the job.
Vintage artwork makes for great memorabilia, just ask my Uncle Willie, or don’t be shy in copying a good idea — check out the eye test at Specsavers.
For World Cup 2022 Cup and Balls: reseller area, catalogues and price list requests through, Neil Corkill: neil@sgball.com
Based in Bath, Minuteman Press has specialised in supplying high quality printed products to customers for 24 years. As a customer centric business, Minuteman Press prides itself on its creativity and the value offered to customers with a passionate team dedicated to delivering the very best quality and standards throughout the print and finishing stages.
Minuteman Press prides itself on delivering the best possible results to customers in the shortest lead times. The team used a wide selection of different technologies, including a range of printers and a flatbed cutter with a camera system. These technologies allowed Minuteman Press to offer a comprehensive service, however, some work had to be outsourced or bought in from other suppliers. The cost was not significant but meant that lower margins were made on projects and lead times could be affected, something the team were keen to improve on.
The Minuteman Press team first discussed investing in their own laser cutter in 2019. The topic was revisited a handful of times in the following years, and in 2022 the decision to bring laser production in-house was made.
The Sign and Digital exhibition proved to be the perfect venue for Minuteman Press to explore laser production, with four manufacturers present at the show, including Trotec Laser. It was on Trotec’s stand that David Ghent, Managing Director, and
Kieran Blacknall, Visual Communications Manager, saw the Q500 dual source laser cutter in action. Talking with one of Trotec’s experts at length, he was impressed with the knowledge and advice that was shared with him about laser processing.
Kieran booked a demonstration the following week at Trotec’s Showroom near Bristol. During the demonstration, Kieran tested a range of different materials on the Q500. Impressed with the versatility of processing coupled with the machine build quality, Minuteman Press invested in a dual source Q500 laser cutter which was installed in June 2022.
Since installation, the Q500 has added a new dimension to Minuteman’s processing, adding new ways to bring customer projects to life, with all
workflow, allowing team members to efficiently work with the laser.
Kieran and the team credit Trotec for helping them choose the optimal machine for their needs. The addition of the Q500 laser cutter means the team are now able to have complete control over project timings and quality control, with all work now produced in-house.
Minuteman Press has used the Q500 to process a range of materials, including creating signage with Trotec’s TroLase laminates and incorporating LaserLeather into projects, with textiles being a completely new venture for the team. www.troteclaser.com
Tony’s Chocolonely announces partnership with Precision Proco. Precision Proco, part of the Precision Proco Group (PPG), has welcomed confectionery brand Tony’s Chocolonely to its portfolio of innovative and inspirational clients.
Precision Proco works with some of the UK’s most recognisable ecommerce and consumer goods brands to deliver high quality print materials. Originally three long established print companies, Precision Printing, Prime and ProCo joined forces in August 2020 to reimagine how corporate print is delivered - from leading the charge on waste reduction to delivering cutting edge applications.
Tony’s is a leading chocolatier with the defining principle of putting an end to modern slavery and illegal child labour on cocoa farms in West Africa. With their five sourcing principles they are showing that it is possible to make delicious chocolate and be a successful chocolate brand without exploiting cocoa farmers at the start of the supply chain.
Precision Proco supports Tony’s by executing personalised orders in the UK–online Tony’s customers can customise packaging designs, add recipient names and upload photos to be printed on their bespoke Tony’s wrapper.
Prior to its partnership with Precision Proco, Amsterdam based Tony’s worked with a Print Service Provider (PSP) in the Netherlands to fulfil UK orders. However, the chocolate maker decided to change provider for UK distribution following significant cost increases and delivery challenges created by Brexit. Tony’s was keen to maintain its trusted use of HP Indigo when searching for a new UK based provider, having already relied on the technology for a number of years.
“Precision Proco are experts at what they do and can provide us with a complete print and fulfilment solution — from high quality personalised wrappers and packaging, to understanding our choco fans better. This reduces complexity and costs, which enables us to give our choco fans the very best experience whilst maximising positive impact” comments Ben Greensmith, UK Country Manager of Tony’s Chocolonely.
Precision Proco relies upon its fleet of HP Indigo printers to deliver high quality personalised and sustainable wrappers for Tony’s, including the HP Indigo
10000 and HP Indigo 12000 digital presses, making use of technology such as HP SiteFlow to deliver thousands of personalised bars every day to individuals and businesses across the UK.
Precision Proco’s use of HP Indigo technology not only ensures delivery of consistently high quality and personalised labels, but also provides an end-toend sustainable packaging solution for their highly ethical customer, Tony’s.
Peter Jolly, Country Manager, UK & Ireland, HP Indigo, also added: “It’s been wonderful to witness this exciting new partnership between PPG and Tony’s Chocolonely. We are pleased that Tony’s is continuing its journey with HP Indigo — we know a key reason for this is that our technology allows the company to reduce its carbon footprint through leveraging end to end sustainable packaging solutions”.
Direct mail specialist celebrates quartet of award successes. Yorkshire based direct mail provider, Propack, has won an award for its ethical practices, as well as being shortlisted in three more prestigious awards programmes.
Founded in 1995, Propack is a provider of technology led print and direct mail solutions, creating innovative campaigns for its clients, producing in excess of 25 million mail packs per year from its 30,000 square foot bespoke site in Huddersfield.
Propack was named Shooting Star in the monthly award programme hosted by Huddersfield Town A.F.C. Propack was nominated by the judging panel for its commitment to ethical and sustainable mailing practices through its in-house postage brand, Ethical Mail®.
The firm has also been shortlisted in the TheBusinessDesk.com’s Yorkshire Business Masters Awards for recent investments to its Huddersfield based factory and workforce, as well as being named as a finalist in two categories of the Prolific North Marketing Awards for its work with palliative, neurological and bereavement support charity, Sue Ryder.
In addition, Propack has secured a shortlisting in the 2022 Digital Printer Awards, in the Web-toPrint category, for its work with Christians Against Poverty (CAP) on its print on demand storefront.
Propack’s award successes have come from its
work throughout the pandemic and beyond, to support its clients and deliver the best campaigns possible achieving stellar results.
The nominations recognise Propack’s £2.7m investment into new technology and equipment for its site as well as its work within the third sector with Sue Ryder and Christians Against Poverty.
Its campaigns with Sue Ryder and CAP have achieved incredible results, with Sue Ryder’s average gift donation values exceeding forecasts by 140 per cent and the creation of a print on demand solution that delivers circa 2,500 orders per year, on time, on brand and on budget for CAP.
Managing director of Propack, Jason Clough, said: “I am incredibly proud of the team for delivering consistent and impressive results that have helped secure these award nominations and the win from Huddersfield Town A.F.C.
“This recognition solidifies my commitment to growing our operations here in Yorkshire, expanding our workforce and ensuring that our stellar client delivery continues for years to come.
“We are lucky to have such wonderful clients, and I am grateful to see our efforts being recognised by these four highly respected organisations.” www.wearepropack.co.uk
How can inkjet drive growth for your business? The Xerox® Baltoro® inkjet platform can streamline, automate and accelerate work. Our platform’s seamless expandability, green-button simplicity and lowest total cost of ownership create more opportunity for you: We call that inkonomics. Learn what inkonomics can do for your business at www.Xerox.ie/BaltoroTCO
T: 01442 867600
E: sales@abbotprint.com
W: www.abbotprint.com
Manufacturers of business stationery, books and pads.
ASHGROVE TRADING
T: 01779 470606
E: info@ashgrovetrading.com
W: www.ashgrovetrading.com
Ashgrove is the UK’s friendly and personal specialist supplier of innovative products and solutions for cutting-edge digital printing and finishing techniques, making printers’ lives easier and making print better.
T: +44 (0)1279 638 500
E: sales@atlantic-tech.co.uk
W: www.atlantic-tech.co.uk
Reliable Service & Support. The largest independent printer service and support provider in the UK, supplying an extensive selection of top brands including Azon UV Flatbed, Mutoh Roll to Roll Solvent and UV Flatbed printers. Proud to offer a national service and support for Solvent, UV and Latex printers from these leading brands: Mimaki, Ricoh, Azon, Roland, Mutoh and HP.
T: 0870 224 2612
E: marketing@artsystems.ltd.uk
W: www.artsystems.co.uk
Colortac Scanners, HP Designjets, MakerBot 3D printers, Canon wide format printers.
T: 01277 281900
E: sales@bakerlabels.co.uk
W: www.bakerlabels.co.uk
Baker Labels can handle exceptionally large or surprisingly short print runs and aim to have your order ready within four days of proof approval. The sales and customer service team can assist you in selecting the most appropriate material, adhesive and finish depending on the end use of the product.
T: 01484 542 795
W: www.calf-hey.com
Label manufacturer, trade-only, plain, printed, laminated, barcodes, numbering, one- to full-colour, we do it all, total label solutions at trade prices. Call for free sample pack
T: 01727 852211
E: info@caslon.co.uk
W: www.caslon.co.uk
Business card cutters, Digital print finishing,, Finishing products and systems, Foiling equipment, Print finishing equipment and Thermographic equipment & supplies.
T: 0116 2600777
W: www.cjbpe.co.uk
E: sales@cjbpe.co.uk
CJB Printing Equipment Ltd was formed in 1994 by two directors with over 40 years of combined experience in the printing industry. We are an independent leading supplier of a large comprehensive range of print finishing equipment. The company is now a substantial two-generation family concern with an ever-growing reputation for supplying quality new and used equipment.
T: 01273 674321
E: sales@colourfast.co.uk
Can print and deliver for you in Brighton.
T: 01723 584091
E: sales@duraweld.co.uk W: www.duraweld.co.uk
Manufacturer of presentation products to package, present and protect printed paper and multimedia. Ring Binders, Tabbed Dividers and Indexes, Files and Folders, Wallets, Polypropylene Boxes, Multimedia Packaging, Self Adhesives and Presentation Ring Binders. Customise to your requirements through screen or litho print, pockets and accessories. Quality service, competitive prices and fast turnaround.
T: 01945 463434
E: sales@elmstok.co.uk
W: www.elmstok.co.uk
A leading worldwide supplier in document presentation systems and finishing equipment including Binding Machines and Supplies, Manual and Electric Guillotines, Laminating Machines and Supplies, Paper Drills and Punches, Folders, Booklet Makers and Shredding Machines.
T: 0116 267 6269
E: admin@flexpress.co.uk
W: www.Flexpress.co.uk
Trust, in any relationship, is paramount so you’ll find Flexpress provide a good, honest trade print service and keep our promises; this is how, since 1989, we’ve grown to become one of the most respected printers in the UK. Everything we do is produced by us right here in our own production facility using the very latest stateof-the-art equipment.
T: 020 7407 6174
E: london@gfsmith.com
W: www.gfsmith.com
Paper and card suppliers of prestigious printing and presentation media.
T: 020 8997 8053
E: info@ifsl.uk.com
W: www.Ifsl.uk.com
A leading supplier of finishing equipment including the Horizon market-leading automated system range in many of the key finishing disciplines — including folding, perfect binding and saddle stitching. 35 years serving the digital and litho print industry.
T: 01553 818818
E: sales@listawood.com
W: www.listawood.com
UK manufacturer of promotional products including mousemats, ceramics, liquid filled products, USB Flashdrives and magnets. 100% trade only.
T: 01553 818848
E: tradesupplies@listawood.com
W: www.listawood.com
A one stop shop for consumables and equipment for dye sublimation and chromablast. Authorised distributor of Hix heat presses and parts.
T: 01273 911730
E: info@magazineproduction.com
W:www.magazineproduction.com
Comprehensive cost-effective white label design, production and print solution for independent publishers. In-house company newsletters, brochures and magazines — we can send print compliant artwork back to you for printing for your customers.
T: 0800 1381 882
W: www.plockmaticgroup.com
Manufacturer of a comprehensive range of finishing products and systems. Booklet makers & Trimmers, Collators, Business Card Cutters, Creasers.
NCR PADS LTD
T: 0330 111 5040
E: lets.talk@ncrpads.co.uk
W: www.ncrpads.co.uk
Bespoke printing in the UK for trade NCR pads, sets, books and continuous forms.
Wide format materials: 0800 623 623
Small format materials: 0800 212 943
Renowned supplier of copying and printing equipment to copy shops, carries one of the world’s largest and most comprehensive range of consumables, for both small and wide format machines, from A4 white paper to display graphic materials such as backlit films.
T: 01784 274300
E: ukenquiries@okieurope.co.uk
W: www.oki.co.uk
T: 01252 400270
E: sales@pens.co.uk
W: www.pens.co.uk
Trade pen supplies.
T: 0845 680 9000
W: www.perfectcolours.com
E: info@perfectcolours.com
HP Preferred Partner specialising in large and grand format printing and finishing solutions, supplying Durst, Jetix, HP, Canon and Epson LF printers. For more information or to book a free printer demonstration call or E: us.
T: 020 8810 5770
E: sales@pdcuk.com
W: www.pdcuk.com
PDC are the UK’s Coil/Spiral experts, we manufacture 45 coil colours in any length up to one metre, in diameters from 6mm up to 50mm and in a range of 45 colours. Call or E: for free samples and pricing.
T: 0121 313 1115
W: www.paper.co.uk
The Premier Paper Group is the UK’s leading independent paper merchant and through its business divisions and nationwide branch network, offers a great choice of products and services for professional print service suppliers.
Premier Paper deliver more than mere paper by providing first class services, sharing knowledge and information, they endeavour to become an integral and valuable part of quick print pros business.
T: 01933 411332
E: sales@raffleticketsdirect.co.uk
W:www.raffleticketsdirect.co.uk
One colour to full colour raffle tickets. Fast free express delivery. Cheapest prices in the UK at the best print quality. All tickets are glued within the stub (no metal staples used to fix books).
T: 01707 270001,
W: www.renz.co.uk
The leading manufacturer of punching and wire binding machines from desktop to fully automated systems. Largest UK supplier of spools and cut length wire.
T: 0114 294 5026
E: sales@route1print.co.uk
W: www.route1print.co.uk
• Free Next Day Delivery • Free 30 Point Artwork Check
• Trade Customers Only • White Label Packaging
Route 1 Print are passionate about helping quick print pros.
Offering dedicated account managers and a 10-second proofing tool, to white label packaging and unbranded sample packs, Route 1 Print is committed to making your frontline printing service easier.
T: 020 8734 2000
W: www.sharp.co.uk
4 Furzeground Way, Stockley Park, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB11 1EZ
SOVEREIGN (SOV PRINT LTD)
T: 01443 816414
W: www.sovprint.com
Sovereign are industry leading screen and digital print manufacturers of durable and bespoke Labels, Tags & Signage. We supply over 100 expertly produced products to industry, trade and commerce. Ranging from heavy-duty labels and stickers, to point of sale, machine fascia’s and high-quality bespoke signage.
STANFORD MARSH
T: 01905 458000
W: www.stanfordmarsh.co.uk
Official dealer for all main manufacturers, allowing us to supply best fit solutions for all users. Please visit our website.
T: 01924 402111
W: www.supremelabels.co.uk
Label Suppliers, Roll Labels, Laser Labels, Warning Labels, most formats available.
T: 01474 747575 • 01376 433300
E: info@techxerox.com
W: www.techbusserv.co.uk
Specialists in new and refurbished Xerox digital printers, Xerox consumables including toners and parts and reset chips.
T: 01582 671444
E: sales@themagictouch.co.uk
W: www.themagictouch.co.uk
Supplier of transfer papers, colour laser printers and heat presses to open up exciting opportunities to print on a limitless range of products.
T: 01530 510946
W: www.vivid-online.com.
Vivid offer a wide range of innovative and exclusive Laminating Systems ranging from Desktop to Wide Format Laminators. Visit the website to view the full range which also includes Binding and Print Finishing solutions.
T: 02380 574100
E: info@xeretec.co.uk
W: www.xeretec.co.uk
Xerox Technology, Document Consulting, Office Supplies
XEROX UK
T: 01895 251133
W: www.xerox.co.uk
Bridge House, Oxford Road, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 1HS
The Document Company supply a full range of office equipment.
T: 0191 256 6889
E: info@yourprintspecialists.co.uk
W: www.YourPrintSpecialists.co.uk
With an impressive portfolio of products to offer and a dedicated service team. Everything you require from wide format printers to the assisting software and finishing solutions. YPS are authorised suppliers of Mimaki, RolandDG, Epson, Flexa, Vivid, Drytac, Metamark and Toyo. YPS also offer training and support through Your Print Institute, a new initiative to help those entering the print industry gain skills and knowledge to help them succeed.
Large Format Scanners Stanford Marsh
Large Format MFP Solutions Stanford Marsh
Large Format Printers from HP Perfect Colours
Large Format Printers from HP Stanford Marsh
Laser Labels Supreme Labels
Latex Printers Atlantic Tech Leaflets Flexpress
LFP Servicing Atlantic Tech
MakerBot 3D Printers Art Systems
Magazine Design The Magazine Production Company
Magazine Production The Magazine Production Company
Magazine Printing The Magazine Production Company
Mimaki Your Print Speclialist
Mouse Mats Listawood Promotional Products
Mugs Listawood Promotional Products
Multifunction Devices
NCR Books
OKI Europe
NCR Pads Ltd
NCR Pads NCR Pads Ltd
NCR Sets NCR Pads Ltd
Newsletter Design The Magazine Production Company Paper – digital synthetic Ashgrove Trading Paper Drills & Punches
Perfect Binders
CJB Print Equipment
Plastic Pockets and Wallets Duraweld
Polypropylene Boxes Duraweld
PosterJet Software Perfect Colours
Presentation Folders Flexpress
Presentation Packaging (Printed) Duraweld
Print Finishing Equipment Caslon Printing Systems OKI Europe
Printing Systems Sharp Electronics
Promotional Products Listawood Promotional Products
Raffle Tickets Raffle Tickets Direct
Receipt Books Abbot Print
Recycled Media Premier Paper Register Sets Abbot Prin
Retail POS Route1 Print
Ring Binders Vivid
Ring Binders Duraweld
Roland Your Print Speclialist
Screen Printing Sovereign Screen Printing Labels Baker Labels
Shredding Machines — Document Shredders, all types Elmstok Signs (Printed) Sovereign
Solvent Printers Atlantic Tech Speciality Papers GFSmith
Stickers and labels, rolls, sheets or singles Baker Labels Sublimation Solutions
The Magic Touch
Supplies — Xerox Technology Business Services
Tearproof/Waterproof Paper Ashgrove Trading Thermographic Equipment and Supplied Caslon Tickets Raffle Tickets Direct Trade-in Equipment PrintersXchange Trade Printing Route1 Print Transfer Paper
The Magic Touch
Unbranded Samples Route1 Print
USB Flashdrives Listawood Promotional Products
UV Printers Atlantic Tech
Vinyl Labels Calf Hey Vinyl Labels Supreme Labels
Vivid Easymount Your Print Speclialist Wedding Stationery Stock GFSmith
Wide Format Digital Media Ashgrove Trading
Océ Imaging Supplies
Elmstok Paper Supplies
Paper Supplies Premier Paper Pencils Pen Warehouse Pens Pen Warehouse
Seasonal Print Flexpress Security Labels Calf Hey
Self Adhesive Labels Calf Hey
Self Adhesive Labels Supreme Labels
Self Adhesive Pockets Duraweld
Sensory Coaters CJB Print Equipment
Xerox Digital Press Xeretec
Xerox Digital Printing Press Portfolio Xerox UK
Xerox LFP Xeretec
Xerox Maintenance Technology Business Services
Xerox Refurbished Digital Printers Technology Business Services
After years of wondering why he wasn’t as bright as his younger sister or brother, a young salesman finally got up the nerve to ask his mother if he was adopted.
“Yes, you were son,” his mother said as she started to cry softly. “But it didn’t work out and they brought you back.”
Today my doctor told me that my DNA was backwards. I said, “And?”
A dentist married a manicurist. They fought tooth and nail.
I think the whole “Autumn-is-in-the-air” theme has gone too far.
Today my copier engineer offered me a “Cinnamon Spice” toner change.
Management of a large print services company gives the new field services manager his special budget orders: Cut costs, cut costs, and on top of that, cut costs.
So when the engineer gets to a customer site to fix an old, Canon copier, he knows there’s going to be a problem.
“The copier is covered under our maintenance contract,” the engineer says. “A co-worker and I determined the problem is with a very expensive board.”
He sends the diagnosis back to his new manager with a request for the expensive new part to be ordered.
“That part is too expensive,” says the service manager. “Go back and find something else wrong with the printer.”
Finland has closed its border. Now no one can cross the Finnish line.
This daft dog came up
me and said,
I wrote, “You’re an idiot,” on my mate’s cast. Just to add insult to injury!
It was Christmas Eve. A poor old lady was sitting alone, except for her cat, in her tiny house, in front of a small fire.
Suddenly, there was a flash of light, and the old woman’s good fairy appeared in the room.
The old woman was astonished, but the fairy reassured her: “Don’t be afraid! I am your good fairy. You are very poor, and all alone at Christmas, so I have come to grant you three wishes, to cheer you up.”
The old woman was about to speak, but the fairy held up her hand. “Wait!” she said. “Before you make a wish, think carefully! You will get exactly what you wish for, and no wish can be undone!”
So the old woman sat silently, staring at the fire and thinking. Eventually, she spoke: “First”, she said, “I want to be very, very wealthy.” Poof! Immediately, the tiny house was packed with pots full of gold coins, and sacks of banknotes. There was more money than anyone could spend in an entire lifetime.
The old woman looked around and smiled. She thought some more, and spoke again: “Next”, she said, “I want to be young and beautiful again, like I was when I was 18.”
Poof! The old woman disappeared. In her place sat a beautiful young woman, with smooth, white skin and long, golden hair. The woman looked at her hands and arms, felt her hair, and smiled.
“Third”, she said to the fairy, “I want you to change my cat into a handsome young prince, who will love me and take care of me all my life!”
Poof! The fairy disappeared, and the cat leapt up from his place by the fire as a handsome young prince. He reached out to the woman, pulled her to her feet, embraced her, and kissed her passionately.
Then he gazed into her eyes and said: “Hah! Now you’re really going to be sorry that you took me to the vet!”
That dolphin is so rude, but it doesn’t do it on porpoise.
Why don’t cows wear sandals? Because they lactose.
Why are oysters greedy? Because they’re shellfish. Why did the cow cross the road? To get to the udder side.
Why do bees have terrible hairstyles? Because they use honeycombs.
What’s the saddest kind of bird? A bluebird.
Pigs are no fun to hang around. They’re just a boar.
Why can’t you accuse a cat of counting cards? Because you’ll say he’s a cheetah, and then he’ll say you’re lion.
What did the Dalmatian say after lunch? “That hit the spot!”
Why did the kid cross the playground? To get to the other slide.
What did the limestone say to the geologist?
“Don’t take me for granite!”
What is a computer’s favourite snack? Computer chips!!
How do you make an octopus laugh? With tentickles!
Why couldn’t the pony sing a lullaby? She was a little horse.
What kind of award did the dentist receive? A little plaque.
Why do bees stay in the hive during winter? Swarm!
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana. Ladies, if he can’t appreciate your fruit jokes, you need to let that mango.
Geology rocks, but geography is where it’s at! Can February March? No, but April May.
Some aquatic mammals at the zoo escaped. It was otter chaos!
Long fairy tales tend to dragon.
My sister bet I couldn’t build a car out of spaghetti. You should’ve seen her face when I drove pasta.
I knew a guy who collected candy canes. They were all in mint condition.
Having the ability to fly would be so uplifting.
said, “Absolutely!”
“I don’t want to brag, dog, but I could watch someone do a hundred press ups!”
I just watched a fox do fifty press ups. Do you think you could do that?”
