August 2012 by PrintAction

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Gondwana Print Augmented Reality and more than 10,000 square feet of print, produced by Beyond Digital Imaging, bring Royal Ontario Museum’s Ultimate Dinosaurs exhibit to life

Technology Report: Labels Over 100 North American product launches are expected at this September’s Labelexpo show in Chicago, which is to include around 70 first-time exhibitors

NEWS Linzbach prepares for Heidelberg lead, Hoover joins Fujifilm Canada, and Marquis buys two Transcontinental book plants

CALENDAR September 2012 Japs-Olson hosts the Automation Solutions Network, MAILCOM kicks off in Las Vegas, and CMA discusses onboarding

FINISHING Building an Edge United Precision Cutting Technologies becomes a powerhouse resource for printers in Southern Ontario

AWARDS Stars of InterTech Printing Industries of America names its top picks for technologies most likely to be influential in print

Digital Printing

Features

Data Services & List Management

CONTENTS Volume 51, Number 8

e-tools

Variable Imaging

Columns

NICK HOWARD Break Through White Noise Why commodity printers, creative marketing printers and packaging printers can find success against the deluge of the World Wide Web

TRISH WITKOWSKI The Hands that Bind Some of North America’s largest finishing companies share their costs and challenges, secrets and successes, with demanding hand bindery

Archive

August 1987 Ben Johnson clocks 9.83 seconds, Michael Jackson debuts Bad, and Shorewood Packaging acquires a second Planeta

Resources 17 Services to the Trade Cover Illustration: Clive Chan

www.andrewsdm.com tel: 416.798.7557 email: info@andrewsdm.com 226 Industrial Parkway North, Aurora, ON Est. 1951

25 Marketplace AUGUST 2012 • PRINTACTION • 3

PERSPECTIVE

Inside the Crystal uterwear retailer Moosejaw in late-2011 released an augmented reality (AR) app for iPhone, iPad and Android devices that allows users to see through clothing featured in its winter Ocatalogue and view male and female models in their underwear.

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According to an article by mashable.com’s Lauren Indvik, relying on stats from the app developer (Marxent Labs), this X-Ray AR drove over 1-million impressions on Twitter, 160,000 video views, and 75,000 app downloads in just five weeks. Moosejaw, with a typical print catalogue distribution of 120,000, claims the X-Ray app helped increase its sales by 37 percent over the same period of the previous year. In February of this year, Starbucks released an augmented reality Valentine’s Day campaign for its Cup Magic app used on mobile devices. Customers who put app-enabled phones in front of their Starbucks beverage saw images of heart-shaped flower petals flying off of the cup. They could then send a video of the scene to their valentine via email or post it on Facebook. Starbucks‘ sales rose 16 percent in the associated quarter. With a more educational tone, the ROM’s new exhibit, Ultimate Dinosaurs, Giants of Gondwana, is a shining example for the effective use of augmented reality. Dave Moon, a Ultimate Dinosaurs is located in the basement of the Canadian contributor to ROM’s Michael Lee-Chin Crystal, where angular walls Wired.com since 2007, added to the complexity of installing nearly 10,000 visited the exhibition and square feet of print. wrote, “The use of iPads as interactive display elements that flesh out the skeletons was a big hit and a clever use of technology… the exhibit makes the best use of iOS devices that I’ve yet seen.” The public can download the ROM Ultimate Dinosaurs app, developed by Toronto’s Meld Media, directly from Apple’s iTunes store and bring it with them to the exhibit. This ROM app can also be used to interact with outdoor advertisements across the city, primarily displayed in transit shelters. As the roar over QR codes dies down, or perhaps already becoming an expected piece of an advertisement, the communications industry is beginning to see a proliferation in the effective use of augmented reality, connecting print to a myriad of World Wide Web and social-media platforms that are enabled by mobile computing and two years of astounding app development. Jon Robinson, Editor

Canada’s Graphic Communications Magazine. Proudly published for two generations. Editor Jon Robinson • 416.665.7333 ext. 30 • jon@printaction.com Associate Editor Clive Chan • 416.665.7333 ext. 25 • clive@printaction.com Contributing Writers Zac Bolan, Clint Bolte, Peter Ebner, Chris Fraser, Victoria Gaitskell, Dr. Martin Habekost, Nick Howard, Thad McIlroy, Gordon Pritchard, Josh Ramsbottom, Nicole Rycroft, Andrew Tribute, Trish Witkowski Publisher Sara Young • 416.665.7333 ext. 31 • sara@printaction.com Associate Publisher Stephen Longmire • 416.665.7333 ext. 26 • stephen@printaction.com Production Manager Anders Kohler • 416.665.7333 ext. 37 • anders@printaction.com Intern Tiffany Kay Garcia • 416.665.7333 ext. 34 • tiffany@printaction.com Advertising Sales Sara Young • 416.665.7333 ext. 31 • sara@printaction.com Stephen Longmire • 416.665.7333 ext. 26 • stephen@printaction.com Circulation ADPIC Subscription Services • 800.363.3261 • subscriptions@printaction.com PrintAction is published by Youngblood Publishing Limited and is Canada’s only national monthly publication serving the graphic arts industry. ISSN 1481-9287. Annual Subscriptions: Canada: $31.15 ($27.57 + $3.58 HST) United States: CN$69.99; Other Foreign: CN$139.99

Notice: PrintAction, Youngblood Publishing Limited, their staff, officers, directors and shareholders (hence known as the “Publisher”) assume no liability, obligations, or responsibility for claims arising from advertised products. The Publisher also reserves the right to limit liability for editorial errors, omissions and oversights to a printed correction in a subsequent issue.

PrintAction is printed by Sina Printing on Starbrite Plus 70lb Velvet Text and 80lb Gloss Text available from Unisource Canada, Inc. Youngblood Publishing Ltd. 610 Alden Rd., Suite 100, Markham, ON L3R 9Z1 Tel: 416.665.7333 • Fax: 905.752.1441 www.printaction.com Publications Mail Agreement Number 40010868 • ISSN 1481-9287 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to subscriptions@printaction.com We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage.

Photographed with the new Komori, George Mazzaferro, President, and at the console, Brian Auty, Plant Manager (right) and Borge Peterson, Lead Press Operator

OUR FAITH IN KOMORI CONTINUES

PRINT NEWS received. The system will then generate a PDF proof of the document and take the user along to the ordering process. Finally, once the order has been placed, the user can then notify his or her acquaintances via a shared news item. XMPie uStore Facebook Connect is an add-on available to customers with uStore 6.0 and PersonalEffect Print MI or higher.

DR. GEROLD LINZBACH is to become the CEO of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG this September, replacing Bernhard Schreier who has led the German press maker for the past 13 years. Linzbach holds a degree in chemistry and a Ph.D in chemical engineering from the University of Dortmund. In 1991, he was a member of Hoescht AG’s corporate planning team and later led its fibers operations (Trevira GmbH). In 1999, Linzbach helped found Aventis and became CEO and President of the Celanese Acetate Group based in the United States. From 2003 to 2005, he was responsible for the textile fibers division INVISTA, also in the United States. From 2005 to 2009, Linzbach served as Chairman and CEO of Symrise AG in Holzminden, Germany, before he was appointed as CEO of D+S Europe and its successor companies in Hamburg. Schreier, who has been at Heidelberg for 37 years, will stay on until the end of the year to aid the leadership transition.

KAZ YAMAMURA becomes President of Fujifilm Holdings America Corp., as well as CEO and Chairman of Fujifilm North America, overseeing the management of 11 Fujifilm companies operating in the United States. Now in his 36th year at the company, Yamamura is also Corporate VP and a board member for Fujifilm Corp. based in Tokyo. Go Miyazaki, meanwhile, has been promoted to President and COO of Fujifilm North America, where he is responsible for the company’s photo imaging, electronic imaging, graphic systems, optical devices and motion picture business, as well as operations for Fujifilm in Canada. XMPIE introduced a new feature for its uStore product, which allows printers to provide its clients with a new way to sell printed goods through social media site Facebook. Fans of a company can click on an application within the company’s Facebook page, which will then take the users to available document templates. It will then be populated with personalized information once permission has been 6 • PRINTACTION • AUGUST 2012

SERGE LOUBIER, President of Marquis Book Printing, moved to acquire two of Transcontinental’s book-printing plants in Quebec, including Transcontinental Gagné based in Louiseville and Transcontinental Métrolitho based in Sherbrooke. Prior to the purchase, Marquis specialized in short- and mediumrun book production out of three facilities, including: Marquis Cap SaintIgnace, Marquis Montmagny, and Marquis Laurentien in Saint-Augustin. The company also runs graphics and prepress production centres in Sherbrooke and Quebec City, as well as a sales office in Montreal. “These acquisitions are aligned to the Marquis business plan, which will see us continue to grow in Canada and in foreign markets from our base in Quebec,” stated Loubier. Transcontinental plans to remain active in specific book markets like four-colour web offset printing for educational book segments in Québec, Canada and the United States.

MACE HOOVER becomes Director of Sales for Fujifilm Canada, which is a new position established by the company based in Mississauga. As well, Stefan Biasi takes on more responsibility at Fujifilm Canada, following his promotion to Vice President, Graphics Systems and Photofinishing. He previously served within the Canadian operation as Vice President, Graphic Systems. Biasi held this role since 2006 and joined Fujifilm in 2003. With over 25 years of experience in sales and sales management, Hoover most recently served as National Sales Manager with Kodak’s Canadian operation focusing on graphic communications.

C.J. GRAPHICS, led by President Jay Mandarino, won three of the total six Benny Awards earned by Canadian printing companies in the 2012 Premier Print Awards, hosted by Printing Industries of America. C.J. Graphics received its bestof-category Benny Awards in Business Cards, Magazine Inserts and Product Catalogs (four or more colours, printers with 21–50 employees). The remaining Canadian winners include: Colour Innovations of Toronto in the Miscellaneous THE PRINTING HOUSE, headquartered in Specialties category; Friesens of Altona, Toronto, recently celebrated the one-mil- Manitoba, in School Yearbooks; and Met lionth order made through its TPHDirect Fine Printers of Vancouver in Presentaprocessing system, based on the number tion Folders (4 or more colours). of times customers have uploaded a job request. TPHDirect accesses a network of 70 printing locations across Canada, allowing customers to order a range of applications, from photo-books and large-format work to more traditional short-run toner and offset production. Marc Petitpas, VP of Marketing at The Printing House, presented an Apple iPad2 to Leanne Henshall, who placed the millionth order from Standard Life Centre located in Toronto’s financial district.

BRIAN BARNES, Production Manager of M&T Printing Group, and Steven Foglietta of Xerox, oversaw the installation of an iGen3 press as well as a new Nuvera EA system. The Xerox equipment was installed into M&T Printing’s Kitchener, Ontario, facility. Founded 44 years ago as a single print shop in London, Ontario, M&T now operates 10 locations across Southwestern Ontario. M&T offers toner and offset printing as well as wide-format production, graphic design, bindery and mail services. The company also runs a Web-to-print portal, with a division called Volumes, to service self-publishing authors and photo-books. MARC FORTIER becomes President of RP Graphics Group, which is a diverse commercial printing operation – with litho, toner, and inkjet production – located in Mississauga, Ontario. “Marc’s operational and marketing expertise is specifically focused on print production, database marketing and direct marketing,” said George Mazzaferro, owner of RP Graphics Group. As a result of Fortier’s appointment, Mazzaferro is moving to the position of CEO at RP Graphics. Fortier previously served as President of TI Group; Executive VP of Business Development and Digital Services at PLM Group; and GM and Director of Sales and Marketing at Transcontinental Yorkville Printing.

MARC JACQUES and Sophie Grenon of La Pub Express in Québec City, along with Michel Thériault, Equipment Sales Specialist with Fujifilm Canada, celebrate the installation of a Fujifilm Acuity Advance inkjet system – driven by a ColorGATE RIP. Marc Jacques, owner of La Pub Express, commented that he chose the Acuity because of its variable-dot head technology, as well as the ability to jet white ink and print directly onto rigid substrates. Founded in 1993, La Pub Express produces display applications like vehicle wraps, banner, pop-up, 3D lettering and panels. PACIFIC BINDERY SERVICES of Vancouver, BC, was the lone Canadian winner of a 2012 Product of Excellence Award, based on an annual competition hosted by the Binding Industries Association (BIA) – a special-interest group of the PIA. Pacific Bindery actually picked up two of the BIA’s best-of-category awards within the stitching and adhesive-binding categories. The BIA states that entries must be technically flawless to receive consideration for its Product of Excellence Award. PRESSTEK of Greenwich, Connecticut, signed a distribution agreement with Spicers Canada Ltd., which will supply Presstek’s 34DI and 52DI presses, Vector FL52 CTP systems, and related consumables. Based in Vaughan, Ontario, Spicers operates 15 distribution centres across Canada. “This collaboration will bolster our presence in the region and enable printers to capitalize on Spicers’ vast expertise and experience,” said Todd Phillips, Presstek Canadian Sales Manager. Presstek’s 4-colour DI sheetfed presses produce 300-lpi quality and stochastic screening, while, according to the company, also providing one of the lowest costs per sheet at run lengths of 500 to 20,000.

CENTRAL REPRODUCTIONS of Mississauga, Ontario, entered receivership, which is to be administered by trustee Paddon + Yorke Inc. The news comes just one year short of the company’s 30th year of operation, after its founding in 1983. Central Reproduction’s was a long-established commercial printing operation in the Greater Toronto market. In addition to its focus on the 40-inch sheetfed market, the company was an early adopter of toner reproduction technologies. In more recent years, Central Reproductions expanded its services into mailing and fulfillment and a range of creative services for print and online communications.

HADI MAHABADI, former Director of the Xerox Research Centre of Canada becomes a member of the Order of Canada for his contributions in promoting scientific development in Canada. Mahabadi became Director of the XRCC in 2004 and contributed to the milestone of the facility being granted its 1,500th US patent. The Order of Canada is one of the country’s highest civilian honours, aimed at recognizing a lifetime of dedication to the community and service of Canada.

Printers. Who needs ‘em?

PATRICK BOLAN, President of Torontobased Avanti Computer Systems has been appointed to CIP4’s Advisory Board. He will help direct the development of printing automation protocols, notably the Job Definition Format (JDF). Avanti produces print management information systems and has contributed to CIP4 for a number of years. The Advisory Board is CIP4’s governing body and Bolan will become a representative of the “full” level class of membership, comprised mainly of systems and software vendors.

ADAM CADMAN and Ash Khan, owner of a Minuteman franchise in Pickering, Ontario, celebrate the installation of a DigiXpress system purchased from Pressdown Services (PDS). The DigiXpress system produces full-colour envelopes K-NORTH, which sells and services Komori from 3 x 5-inches to up to 12 x 18-inches presses in Canada, reached an agreement at a maximum speed of 50 envelopes per to be the sole Canadian distributor for the minute. The machine is also capable of Finito line of adhesive blanket under- producing postcards, labels and banners. packing, as well as blankets with underpacking built into the blanket. The Finito PAPERLINX LIMITED of Australia, amid its No Stop product is based on a completely continuing restructuring, completed the new blanket design with high compres- sale of its operations in the United States sion of the top surface. The blanket is rec- and Italy. The company’s U.S. operations, ommended for producers of high-quality listed as Spicers Paper Inc. and Kelly Paper sheetfed printing and packaging. It is suit- Company, were purchased by Central Naable for both standard and UV inks. In tional-Gottesman (CNG) for US$76 milparticular, the blanket’s high compression lion, while the company’s Italian entity was rate makes it applicable for a range of officially purchased by Lecta for €45 milpackaging applications. lion. PaperlinX also entered two more purchase agreements to sell its South Africa EASTMAN KODAK saw more setbacks on its operation to local management for net road out of bankruptcy protection as its proceeds of around €5 million, while the second quarter revenues fell 27 percent company plans to sell operations in Slovacompared to that of 2011 as net losses kia, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia grew to US$299 million in the quarter. to the Heinzel Group for €19.6 million. The beleaguered company further saw creditor claims grow to US$20.5 billion CATALYST PAPER looks to exit creditor proas of August 2nd. Kodak’s efforts to gen- tection after receiving a commitment letter erate funds through the sale of 1,100 of with a Canadian chartered bank for a $175 its patents also hit a setback as the U.S. million loan facility. The company entered International Trade Commission upheld bankruptcy protection in January. Catalyst a decision against Kodak, stating RIM also announced the permanent closure of and Apple did not infringe on its camera its Snowflake recycled paper mill in Aripreview patent. The bidding process got zona and its subsidiary, the Apache Railoff to a slow start, with Google and Apple way Company at the end of September, bidding under a tenth of Kodak’s antici- after which the company will operate three mills, all in British Columbia. pated value of US$2.6 billion.

Actually, we do. We are currently seeking to acquire a few good print companies. Not selling but interested in taking your business to cWT ]Tgc [TeT[. FT RP] WT[_ h^d ½]P]RT h^da _a^YTRc We can even help you deal globally with our foreign exchange services. Interested? Want to know more? Let’s talk. Contact George Almbanis at 905 366 2551 ext 222 or email him at george@granitetowercapital.com

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AUGUST 2012 • PRINTACTION • 7

PRINT CALENDAR

SEPTEMBER 9

The 19th-annual MAILCOM 2012 conference kicks off at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas. This year’s event features a small exhibitor pavilion, as well as 110 educational sessions organized into 12 tracts.

IDEAlliance hosts its Spectrum 2012 at the Arizona Grand Resort in Phoenix. The annual conference is designed to integrate and engage all media production professionals, including an expanded network of Leadership Councils and Working Groups. $895

IDEAlliance begins a 3-month training window (online) for the recertification of G7 Professionals who currently hold a 2-year certification that is within three months – before or after – expiration. $150

Sustainability Forestry Initiative hosts its annual conference at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center. The conference features sessions exploring what SFI and its partners are doing today to maintain healthy forests and strong communities across the United States and Canada.

Labelexpo Americas 2012 begins at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center just outside of Chicago. The 3-day event is expecting over 400 suppliers and manufacturers, including 67 completely new exhibitors.

The 750,000-square-foot facility of Japs-Olson in Minneapolis, Minnesota, hosts PIA’s next Automation Solutions Network Meeting looking at best practices in JDF-driven print manufacturing. Japs-Olson employs over 700 people focused on directmail and commercial printing.

Canadian Marketing Association hosts a daylong seminar in Toronto about Onboarding, referring to mechanisms through which new employees acquire the necessary knowledge, skills, and behaviours to become effective team members and build customer loyalty. $745*

The Boston Marriott Peabody Hotel plays hosts to G7 Process Control Training, which builds upon the G7 Master program that, according to IDEAlliance, has qualified more than 860 companies worldwide.

Canadian Marketing Association hosts a daylong direct-marketing conference at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, with exhibits, called The Evolution of Direct Response Marketing. This year’s conference focuses on the roles that technology, channel, data and creative play in the delivery of successful programs. $799*

Dave Dezzutti, Technology Analyst and G7 Certified Expert at the PIA, hosts a workshop called Optimizing Color from your Digital Press in Sewickley (Pittsburgh), covering topics like RGB versus CMYK and DFE colour options. $1,095

Boston and its metropolitan area has a population of approximately 4.5-million people. The city is globally ranked number one for innovation, which may explain why the city also boasts one of the highest cost of living numbers in North America. Birthplace of printing notable Benjamin Franklin, Boston continues to be a big publishing centre, with companies such as Houghton Mifflin Harcour and Little, Brown & Company having headquarters in the city. Pricing listed at standard rates, with * denoting the availability of member of early bird discounts.

8 • PRINTACTION • AUGUST 2012

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PRINT FINISHING

Master Machinery Movers was established in late-2011 to facilitate the union of Duracut, United Press, Precision Systems and Graphic Equipment.

Building an Edge n melding together four vertical companies, and founding a fifth, Mitch Rich has spent the past two years shaping United Precision Cutting Technologies of United Precision Cutting Technologies, outside their Markham headquarters (left to right): into a powerful resource for Southern Members Wasworth Boston, Lowen Tenerife, Karl Boelling, Pho Lam, Danny Snyder, Andy Naskas, Ramon Cabel, Ontario printers. The foundation of his Ray Rich, Mitch Rich, Bob Nisbet, Ravi Lakeram, Gregory Robert, John White, Buddy Miaflores and Jim Soulias. revamped business strategy is built upon Duracut Machine Knife Company Ltd., which he began ment on a global scale, allowing operators to continually United Precision’s fifth business arm, Master Machinery jog piles, saving vast amounts of person-hours, and Movers Inc. – “We are our own biggest client.” in 1997 at age 27. Rich estimates he has sold 16 used cutters – scrapping By the end of 2010, as many industrial vendors strug- spurring a flood of guillotine retrofits. In the early days, the Gergek system was put on up- another five – over the past six to eight months. In gled in a crippling global economy, particularly hard on Ontario’s manufacturing sector, one of the partners wards of 80 to 90 percent of all cutters, new and used addition to the diversity of United Precision, he feels of United Press & Bindery Service was looking for an alike, until patents dissolved and guillotine manufac- Master Machinery Movers provides even greater stabilexit. “I saw it as a good opportunity for me to buy into turers began integrating their own computers. Gergek ity as attrition hits several Ontario manufacturing the service end,” remembers Rich, who took a majority systems, however, remain a viable component of many sectors, particularly print. “It seems like I get bankinterest in the operation, partnering with United’s re- cutters sold around the world. “We are now one of the ruptcy papers once a week, now. It is at an all-time high. biggest overseas exporters of that product, because We need for the industry to clean up and we also need maining owner, John White. Although Rich’s Duracut operation provides knives, emerging countries are trying to compete,” says Rich. people to understand that if they diversify correctly they are not going to lose their jobs.” knife sharpening and related consumables for several “They are sitting on all of our old iron.” Rich takes pride in treating United Precision’s 17 On the domestic front, Rich is content focusing on manufacturing sectors, such as steel, plastics and wood, he regularly bumped into White over the past decade Ontario, which he estimates to hold anywhere from 60 employees as if they too are partners in the business. while working with printers. Looking to create more di- to 65 percent of Canada’s printing market. “I have always “I have a very strong policy of paying people well and versity for United Precision, Rich then partnered with attributed success to the fact that we deal with people making sure they are enjoying life,” he says, “and you who are within arm’s reach,” says Rich, who reinforces will have the greatest team if you can accomplish that.” Precision Systems owned by Lowen Tenerife. Almost a year later, discussions with Buddy Miraflo- another key reason for United’s model. “Along with the The company’s highly experienced team is also a key res of Graphic Equipment and Machinery brought a resources of my knife company, it pretty much gave us a ingredient for future growth, as skill falls out of the fourth company under the United Precision umbrella complete list of every printer who is cutting paper. It al- industry and printers face the necessity of employing for the beginning of 2012. This four-company union lowed us to have this gargantuan customer base that we low-cost labour. “From a service perspective, this helps a company like was largely harmonious because many of all of its prin- just continue to sock the heck out of with service.” United Precision employs seven highly skilled service ours because we are going to people who do not know ciples had originally worked together for Frank Gergek, technicians, including Rich. Some of the technicians how to turn wrenches,” says Rich, who plans to soon add one of Canada’s quieter printing innovators. As modern offset lithography was taking hold in the had experience moving capital equipment, which was machine set-up services. United Precision, because of its industry, guillotines used a metal tape-measure mecha- a welcome skill by the end of 2011. Rich spent the better diverse service offerings, not to mention the specialized nism for sizing cuts. In the 1970s, Frank Gergek invented part of $50,000 in rigging costs during the first year of Duracut machine shop, sits in a unique position within a readout computer for operators to automatically adjust the United Press, Precision Systems and Duracut amal- Greater Toronto’s large manufacturing base. their paper-cutting sizes. It was a pioneering develop- gamation. This served as a catalyst for Rich to start up – Jon Robinson

10 • PRINTACTION • AUGUST 2012

PRINT AWARDS

Stars of InterTech

Handed out to industry vendors since 1978, the Printing Industries of America proudly proclaims the InterTech Award as a barometer of innovation, with more than 80 percent of recipients going on to find market success. For 2012, the panel of judges selected these 12 submissions as being potentially influential offerings for the printing community. – Clive Chan

Enterworks Enable

EskoArtwork i-cut Suite

Fujifilm J Press 720

A content asset management system to help centralize data and media assets. Once the assets are compiled into Enterworks’ central repository, it can be easily output to a variety of media, including print-ready files for catalogues, brochures as well as variable data files. The assets can also be used for selfservice printing portals as well as purely electronic media.

Despite its name, the i-cut Suite tackles more than the finishing stage of a sign or display project. It includes PDF preflighting, nesting impositions, tiling oversized jobs and billboards, as well as automating a wide-format printing and finishing workflow through XML data.

The Fujifilm J Press 720 has received a lot of coverage in the industry for combining sheetfed delivery with inkjet imaging. First making a splash at drupa 2008, the machine is now reaching customers’ hands. Having production speeds of up to 2,700 sheets per hour, the machine can use standard coated and uncoated stocks.

Heidelberg Prinect Performance Benchmarking This Internet-based tool allows printers to compare their operations to others using similar equipment around the world. Via remote services, Speedmaster presses transmit production data back to Heidelberg, where it is compiled and anonymous results are generated for participating companies.

QuadTech Web Inspection System (AccuCam) The image-based, closed loop system eliminates the need for colour bars or grey bars. Scumming, blanket smashes and colour variations are all detected. The system can even verify plating issues such as transposed plates or wrong versions. The result of the automation is a large reduction of operator intervention.

Utopia Digital Technologies Avatrex Transportable Imaging A substrate which allows print to be placed on uneven surfaces such as clothing, and also be removed with ease. A popular application is the production of custom designs applied to athletic shoes, which can be printed on consumerlevel printers.

Notable InterTech recipients 1979 – Xerox 9700 1980 – Heidelberg CPCI and CPC II 1982 – Butler Datamat Computerized Splicer 1983 – System Brunner 1984 – QuadTech TGS III Register System 1985 – Printing Research “Mark-Less” Super Blue 1986 – Web Printing Controls MicroTrack CCR 1987 – Baldwin Auto Newspaper Blanket Cleaner 1990 – PANTONE Color Toolkit

Keen MIS and Web-to-Print The Keen system is a subscription-based service that provides a turn-key Web sales portal for printers. The system has automatic file inspection of uploaded files to reduce bottlenecks in preproduction. It also processes payment information, shipping details and provides reports to management.

Kodak NexPress Red Fluorescing Solution A security ink feature that uses the NexPress’ fifth colour unit to produce an image that is invisible under normal lighting conditions, but illuminates under an ultraviolet light source. The degree the image illuminates can be controlled by the amount of toner applied during the process.

Sun Chemical SunPak LMQ SunPak LMQ (Low Migration Quality) inks are designed for packaging applications where migration to food products or surrounding environments is a concern. Produced in Frankfurt, Germany, the company also offers low migration inks and coatings for films and foils using flexo and gravure.

Techique Business Systems iTechnique The iTechnique system allows a print executive immediate access to his or her company’s production information using either an iPhone or iPad device. The app interacts with Technique’s MIS system to accomplish common tasks such as estimating, production scheduling and even analyze the goings on of a printing shop floor.

Xeikon X-800 with VariLane

X-Rite i1Pro 2

Designed for Xeikon’s 3000 series of label presses, the X-800 VariLane technology allows for the easy imposition of labels of different sizes and from different SKUs in the same run, post RIP. Prior to the VariLane, labels had to be equal in size, which also meant that the print lanes needed to be equal in size. Xeikon claims the software can save up to 30 percent in both time and waste during production.

A spectrophotometer which features three standard measurement conditions and enhanced optical brightener compensation. The new design allows for three standard measurement conditions (ISO 13655 M0: Tungsten; ISO 13655 M1: D50; ISO 13655 M2: UV Cut). The i1Pro 2 also features better self-maintaninece and self-correction ability.

1991 – Photoshop, X-Rite 938 SpectroDensitometer 1993 – Komori APC, Xerox DocuTech 1994 – Creo Computer-to-Plate, Heidelberg Harris Sunday, MAN Roland 700, 1995 – Baldwin IMPACT Blanket/Cylinder Cleaner, Xeikon DCP -1 1996 – Creo Thermal Laser Head, Indigo E-Print 1000 1997 – Océ DemandStream 8080DI 1999 – Agfa Apogee, QuadTech Color Control (CCS) 2000 – Heidelberg ImageControl 2001 – Presstek Dimension CTP

2003 – Epson Stylus Pro 7600, Komori Lithrone S40 2004 – FloClear Fountain Recycling, Xerox iGen3 2005 – KBA Rapida 205, LithoTechnics Metrix, Müller-Martini SigmaLine 2006 – Adobe PDF Print Engine, KBA Genius 52 2007 – Heidelberg Speedmaster XL105, manroland 700 DirectDrive 2008-2011 – Heidelberg Prinect Inpress, Hiflex MIS, MetalFX, Inca Onset, Kodak NexPress, Kodak Prinergy, Komori H-UV AUGUST 2012 • PRINTACTION • 11

NICK HOWARD

Breaking Through White Noise he growing speed and efficiency of the World Wide Web continues to blow my mind. As it evolves, the Web will bring greater opportunities to our lives as we become more accustomed to connecting with information and news in the moment. With its incredibly cheap cost and remarkable accessibility, now buoyed by maturing wireless and mobile structures, new businesses spawn seemingly overnight, created not with buildings and engineering but with computers and code. The Net has formed new economies, altered entire industries and mothballed all sorts of things. Apps are spreading like good-natured viruses, uncontrollable but providing incredible knowledge and productivity for everyone. In mid-June, Apple Computer announced its App Store had provided 30billion downloads since its inception. The company also reported that it paid App developers around US$2.5 billion in 2011 and $1.5 billion in 2010 – an economy onto itself, based on the integrated computing of a single company. An article in The Economist, called “Data, Data Everywhere,” reports that retail-giant Walmart handles more than 1-million customer transactions every hour, feeding databases estimated at more than 2.5 petabytes – the equivalent of 167 times the content in the books of America's Library of Congress. These staggering online retail numbers, again coming from a single company, were reported two years ago. In the same article by The Economist, Cisco forecast that by 2013 more than 667 exabytes of information will be flowing annually on the Internet – “The world contains an unimaginably vast amount of digital information which is getting ever vaster ever more rapidly. This makes it possible to do many things that previously could not be done. Managed well, the data can be used to unlock new sources of economic value, provide fresh insights… But they are also creating a host of new problems.”

Print breakthrough

For the printing industry, where many traditional commercial shops ultimately see the World Wide Web as a nemesis, this growing online white noise of digital information also provides opportunity to break through the clutter. White Noise, as used in this article, borrows from the definition that all sounds or tones combine to neutralize the message. Online white noise can bore you much in the same way a verbose blowhard might in conversation – you simply stop listening. 12 • PRINTACTION • AUGUST 2012

Regardless of which generation you are from, there is so much WWW material coming at you each day that it becomes difficult to effectively organize the information. The most powerful advertising agencies, those with enough resources to study the marriage of consumer and technology trends, are well aware of the Internet’s white noise. While online programs will continue to be a prime focus for their clients’ campaigns, these ad agencies are also beginning to appreciate print again. Differentiation is key for their advertis-

have come back to be more profitable than ever. A similar rebound has happened in the communications sector with the rejuvenation of the radio, once thought to be doomed by TV. “The Internet has already vastly changed the music and movie industries, with consumers now being able to instantly download tunes and films to their laptops. Traditional publishing is now having its turn in the bucket, with Kindles, e-readers, and iPads flooding the market,” said bestselling author Seth Gordin, speaking to Media-

Since the App Store opend in 2008, Apple has served up over 30 billion applications, all of which contribute to the digital noise which makes it difficult for marketing messages to get through. ing clients. Modern printing, now with so many ways to reproduce and finish a page, whether sheetfed or web offset, inkjet, or toner, is a pillar of differentiation. Remove that bombardment from the Web and instead place a printed piece at the door. It is unlikely to be a highly personalized piece of print, and might not be addressed to you, but even the most mundane mass mailers will be read as a standalone pitch – often kept for future reference, even if pointing to the Web. Sure, there is no real way to track how this print is digested, which is one of the reported strengths of the Internet, but I also have doubts about how much someone truly absorbs an email pitch just because it is clicked. The lure of the white noise – like the force of a growing digital black hole – pulls in more and more marketing dollars and continues to be the prime culprit of a shrinking print industry. Not every printer will be able to break through the white noise with innovative products. There will be no amazing bounce-back to print economies of years past and the reduction in the size of our industry is an entirely real issue now affecting all of us. Printers’ emotions today are fueled by many of the same challenges faced by railways some 75 years ago when scattered, mature yards owned long distance transportation, taking huge chunks of business away from the waterways. The once fascinating arrival of the railway systems, however, was superseded by air transport and even efficient cross-continent freeways for trucking. But the railways remained and today, after agonizing downsizing, they

The company had tried it before when Hartmut Mehdorn was named leader in 1995. He attempted to diversify Heidelberg’s famous press brand and was ultimately replaced by Schreier in 1999. That move was met with a sigh of relief from most Heidelberg employees because Schreier had risen through the ranks. However, it is clearly not the 1990s anymore. Unfortunately for Schreier and everyone else in the machine-building sector, world markets tumbled, the Euro took flight and the business power of a mature World Wide Web took hold. Key structures of the modern economy changed drastically over the past decade and big machinery, while still vital to large manufacturing industries, lost credit because of the transformations in how business and people connect. Despite huge losses from the dotbomb era, financial markets are again favouring the relatively low capital investment needs of online business 2.0. Heidelberg, as the world’s largest litho press builder by size and sales, is watched by many in the printing industry as a sort of Dow Jones index – particularly in a drupa year. Like most printing machinery builders, the company is going through its own painful downsizing. Linzbach’s priority certainly revolves around figuring out how to redeploy many of the company’s still vast resources – providing a fresh look at digital-printing opportunities, unburdened by the memory of millions lost on Heidelberg’s collaboration with Kodak – in light of the dying love for big iron and significant structural change brought on by a shrinking industry.

bistro about how sales of his new series, Idea Manifestos, are primarily driven through the online Kindle store. “I can reach 10 or 50 times as many people electronically.” “No – it’s not better, but it’s different,” wrote Stewart Pinkerton in his 2011 book, The Fall of the House of Forbes. In his wellwritten history of the eminent Forbes magazine, Pinkerton dedicated a great deal of type to discuss the interaction – and infighting – between Forbes and Forbes.com. Here, print and Web first collided with dire results as a result of growing pains. With its lower costs, Forbes.com was constantly pilfering accounts already booked for the print version. Commenting on Pinkerton’s work, Seth Godin appropriately opined, that like the Forbes magazine versus Forbes.com squabble, use of the Internet is not the complete Pigeonhole printers solution. I believe the vast majority of operations in the printing industry can be pigeonholed into three distinct groups: Commodity Changes ahead Recent changes at Heidelberger Druck- printers, creative-marketing printers, and maschinen AG, the world’s largest press packaging printers. Commodity producers invest to be the maker, indicate our industry may be starting to envision the future of lithography. most-efficient, and often cheapest, option The new leader of Heidelberg, Dr. Gerold of putting ink on paper. This includes the Linzbach, who will take over as CEO this most traditional litho printer on the planet September, does not have a press-maker as well as some of the most modern who background. He has an understanding of drive all of their business through the Web. the printing industry based on time spent Commodity printers offer one thing, price, with Hoescht AG, but his big-business ex- and they combat white noise only with perience is founded in the world of chem- lower costs. There is still plenty of cost-sensitive printing out there and this group gets icals and later textile fibers. After 13 years of leadership from Bern- the majority at the expense of slower and hard Schreier, the move to hire a CEO from less proactive companies. The creative-marketing printers leverage outside of the business suggests a new way of thinking at the top levels of Heidelberg. Continued on page 24

TRISH WITKOWSKI

The Hands that Bind I n a time when most of us in printing are admiring all of the advancements of inline and near-line finishing systems, it feels a bit strange to turn our focus on manual labour in the bindery. However, if we’re realistic about the printing process – about the variability of equipment offerings from printer to printer, the variety of forms and features a printed product can have, and the decreasing run lengths of targeted marketing techniques, it’s hard to ignore how hand bindery operations can play a critical role in the modern-day print production workflow. So, I reached out to some of my friends in the industry to see what they’re doing to address their hand bindery needs. It was very interesting to learn about the different ways in which commercial printers address hand work in comparison to a trade bindery, a long-run web printer and a dimensional marketing solutions provider. There was overlap in some areas, but a variety of interesting solutions and feedback emerged along the way.

Structural Graphics’ Piedras Negras facility along the Mexican border employs over 500 skilled workers for hand finishing work.

work to workshops, these organizations tend to charge on a per piece basis. They do a time test to see how many pieces a worker can complete in 15 minutes, then multiply that by four to complete an hour and charge a per piece price to get to the (often very reasonable) hourly rate. Workshops can be a welcome resource, since in

In-house, outsource or off-shore?

The first thing I wanted to know was how companies manage hand bindery work. Unlike other print-related services, hand bindery work is quite inconsistent with regard to the tasks that must be completed and the frequency of the work itself. So, how do companies plan for The pop-out accordion design requires the the fluctuations in staff dimensional sections to be manually popped while keeping the quality up opposite the direction of the fold. and staying on schedule? Joe Wagner, Director of Business Devel- many cases hand bindery work is not a opment for Baltimore commercial print good usage of in-house skilled labour, communications company HBP-Whit- given the expense and random availability more, offers his perspective: “A lot of com- of workers. Most surveyed have used inpanies are using workshops – organizations house employees for smaller jobs and in a that offer employment opportunities to pinch to help with a final burst effort to physically and mentally challenged people. finish a job on time, but temporary workThey’re great for certain types of jobs, like ers are often the in-house solution for hand collating, some hand folding and in- companies that don’t want to outsource serting, glue dots. They’re well managed, hand bindery services. Single source print and marketing servefficient, and extremely fast. They’ll put 50 people on a project and get it done in no ices provider GLS Companies of Mintime, and the workers have a lot of pride in nesota does most of its hand bindery work what they’re doing, which is important in-house. As a large operation with varied services, the company has found the need from a quality perspective.” Wagner does offer a word of caution to work closely with a growing group of about workshops, however. “To ensure trained bindery workers. Shipping and quality, you do need to give detailed in- Distribution Manager Mike Collins of structions so that they understand exactly GLS explains: “Skill and capacity is a difwhat is required. Also, beware of the snow ferentiator. We manage a growing pool of day. Workshops usually follow the school skilled workers. I see that hand worker resystem’s schedule, so if the school has a quirements are changing. Jobs are more snow day, the workshop will be closed, complex making it critical that each individual has good comprehension skills. It is too, which can be a real problem.” Regarding the cost of outsourcing hand not often that we have jobs where just any-

body can be called in to work on them.” Baltimore-based full service trade bindery, Bindagraphics, is one of the largest binderies in the U.S. and boasts more services than any other trade bindery in the world. So what do they do? “We use a lot of temps,” states Marty Anson, President of Bindagraphics. “For large jobs we hire temps and for small jobs we often use our in-house crew.” Long-run web printer and direct-mail solutions provider Specialty Print Communications (SPC) in Chicago has mastered the art and science of

Perhaps the highest form of hand bindery can’t really be classified as bindery at all. Ethan Goller, President of dimensional marketing solutions provider Structural Graphics states “Structural Graphics needs are typically unique, in that our hand assembly is more complicated than what I might define as hand bindery.” The company designs and assembles unique feats of paper engineering in the form of direct-mail solutions and sensory-stimulating, emotionally engaging print materials. “With that said, and mostly for our clients who are printers, we also do hand bindery work (folding, collating, stitching, polybagging, etc.) where the quantities are sufficiently large.” Structural Graphics has a Connecticut-based facility where it accomplishes hand assembly for small- to medium-sized projects, and a scalable hand assembly, lettershop and fulfillment operation in Piedras Negras, Mexico, operating with an average of 500 skilled hand assembly workers. What does it cost?

When it comes to the cost of labour for hand bindery services, the answer varies considerably This piece by Alexander Isley Designers for Durham depending upon the Academy features a hand-punched cover. kind of work, and where high-speed automated inline finishing, but the work is being done. even when the majority of your work is Hand assembly rates in the U.S. versus machine-processed, you can still have a Mexico, versus other countries, all differ, need for hand bindery work – which in and within each of those regions, geograSPC’s case, is usually accomplished in- phy within the country also has an influhouse. Truman Pope, VP of Lettershop ence. For example, hand labour in New Services for SPC, shares, “The time and York or New Jersey can sometimes be sigspace required for handwork is highly vari- nificantly more expensive than hand able, which is why massive jobs are typically labour in the southern states. Union outsourced to specialists. Because these re- labour as opposed to non-union labour quirements shift so dramatically, staffing is makes a difference, too. a major challenge. You need people who are In general, hand labour rates average capable of following process and procedure $12 to $16 per hour, and can go as high with great attention to detail, but much of as $21 per hour for highly skilled assemthis labour force is temporary workers. As bly work. On the low end, however, rates a result, strong supervision becomes the can go as low as $8 to $11 per hour dedifferential.” Continued on page 23 AUGUST 2012 • PRINTACTION • 13

Gondwan By Jon Robinson

ltimate Dinosaurs, Giants From Gondwana, is a world premiere event that opened to the public on June 23. It is the Royal Ontario Museum’s largest ever dinosaur exhibition with 18 skeletal casts of unique reptiles from the southern hemisphere, many of which were unearthed in the last 20 years, including: Giganotosaurus (a rival to T-Rex), Carnotaurus, Amargasaurus, Cryolophosaurus, Suchomimus, Majungasaurus, Ouranosaurus and Futalognkosaurus. Curator David Evans began planning the exhibition, sponsored by the financial firm Raymond James and housed in the basement of the ROM’s Michael Lee-Chin Crystal, around three years ago. (The 110-foot-long Futalognkosaurus, which would have weighed as much as 10 elephants, sits in ROM’s lobby to welcome all visitors.) The result is an immersive educational experience through the use of augmented reality that is facilitated by more than 10,000 square feet of print produced by Markham’s Beyond Digital Imaging – and the illustrations of paleo-artist Julius Csotonyi. “Certain elements of the project had to be done in a hurry to allow [the ROM] to continually integrate the dinosaurs onto the floor,” says Larry Chan, President and CEO of Beyond Digital. Within an incredibly complex timeline between April and June, several pieces of the large-format backdrops had to be installed first to allow ROM’s augmented reality supplier, Meld Media, to shoot background scenes. The large-format installation was made more complex because the Lee-Chin Crystal walls are angular, leaning both inward and outward, creating a depth dimension beyond the typical X-Y axis. Beyond Digital spent a couple of days verifying the dimensions of the exhibit, which required more than 100 print panels, including one stretch of 30-plus panels for an inward leaning wall over 120 feet long and 16 feet high. The installation team used what Chan refers to as a very sophisticated base of twos to measure the angles of the wall, understanding a variance of even one degree could ruin the entire project. “Normally you would not allow for more than a couple 14 • PRINTACTION • AUGUST 2012

of inches of bleed on top or bottom, but if the whole thing is 120 feet long you are talking about 1,500 inches,” says Chan. Before installation, the alignment process was perfected within Beyond Digital’s “Mega Dome,” a stretch of dedicated space for technicians to line up panels side by side and mark discrepancies that may be 1⁄ 8 of an inch. Chan founded Beyond Digital in 1998 to focus exclusively on large-format inkjet production – forgoing traditional screen and litho processes. This early-adopter experience paid off during the ROM project. “[The ROM] commented on how calm we are and how we did not have any issues moving along,” says Chan, who produced the project with an 8-foot HP Designjet system with latex inks. “We were pleasantly surprised by the resolution of the print... We would never use low-res such as you can rely on for billboards in our exhibition hall, but we have never pushed up to a limit like 1,200 [dpi],” says Dave Hollands, Head of Design at the ROM. “[The panels] are background, but they are very luxurious background and a big player in the experience.” ROM’s use of digital interactivity in Giants From Gondwana involves two prime stages, which Hollands refers to as reactive walls and skin-on viewers. Visitors point an Apple iPad at a skeletal cast and the device’s screen then shows an animated dinosaur with flesh and skin as the large-format print performs as a backdrop. This augmented reality scene runs in a loop with the dinosaur moving its tail, breathing and contracting its muscles, until the visitor hits a hot spot, such as its teeth, which causes the animation to turn its head and bare its jaws. The reactive wall aspect of the exhibition involves scenes placed directly in front of the large-format murals. Using Microsoft Kinect technology from the gaming world and an innovative Canon projector, capable of throwing large-scale images in extremely short distances, a visitor stands in front of a printed mural to activate the animated scene. “You may walk in front of a small group of herding animals, for example, and they will notice you and turn their heads. If you come a little bit closer, they will start to exhibit typical behaviour – stamping their feet, bobbing their heads, that sort of threatening posture,” explains Hollands. The scene will react differently depending on where the visitor is standing. “Quite frankly, I think augmented reality is in its infancy.”

na Print

AUGUST 2012 • PRINTACTION • 15

TECHNOLOGY REPORT

Featured technologies • Allen Datagraph iTech CENTRA HS • AVT PrintVision/Helios II

Label Production

• Domino N600i • Durst Tau 330

More than 400 companies will exhibit at this year’s

but of course the label and packaging sector

Labelexpo Americas in Chicago, taking place from

itself continues to breed innovation. Among the

• Epson SurePress L-4033AW

September 11 to 13. The show floor will be stuffed

400 exhibitors, around 70 will be first-timers at

• Esko CDI Spark

with new software and hardware, primarily because

Labelexpo, which will also feature over 100 new

• Flint nyloflex NExT

the show comes less than six months after drupa,

product launches in North America.

• Fujifilm FLENEX DLE

• EFI Jetrion 4900

• Gallus Print Shop • HP Indigo 20000

iSys Label APEX 1290

• INX AquaTech ION

At Labelexpo, iSys Label of Calgary plans to highlight its new EDGE 850, which is described as a short-run label press that hits speeds of up to 9.14 metres per minute (30 feet per minute). Employing EDGE2Print software, the EDGE 850 can print on a variety of die-cut, kiss-cut or roll substrates, while also automatically adjusting its form synchronization rewinder systems. According to iSys Label, the EDGE 850 is designed for in-house production of labels, where users can print 2,000 labels in less than 20 minutes to finished roll. The company will also highlight its flagship APEX 1290 press for short- to mid-run production. With media print widths ranging from three to 12.9 inches, users can print, slit and rewind 28,000 labels in less than 37 minutes. In business for over a decade, iSys Label concentrates on developing customized product configurations – typically direct thermal, colour LED or colour inkjet – to fit customers’ needs.

• iSys Label APEX 1290 • Mark Andy Series P7 • Muller Martini VSOP • Prime UV MiniScan 3C • Spartanics L-350 • Xeikon Color Control

AVT PrintVision/Helios II

iSys APEX 1290

iSys EDGE 850

At Labelexpo, AVT plans to highlight its new PrintVision/Helios II system designed for quality assurance and process control of presses and rewinders in the label and narrow-web market. The system is modular for including add-on modules like AVT’s new SpectroLab, which is a full inline spectrophotometer that works to ISO standards. SpectroLab provides absolute colour measurements with L*a*b* and density readings for spot colours. The PrintVision/Helios II system also has the ability to inspect Braille and includes the Remote Ink Control functions.

Muller Martini VSOP At Labelexpo, Muller Martini plans to highlight its series of presses aimed at the mid- and narrow-web market, which includes VSOP, Alprinta and Concepta, as well as various processing and finishing modules. The company will have a web-offset VSOP tower at the show to illustrate its interchangeable sleeves for print lengths that change frequently. The VSOP tower also includes a new ergonomic construction with easier machine access for sleeve changes, as well as new electronic control technology with fewer components for better machine reliability and a new external roller-setting feature. The VSOP and Alprinta-V, with widths from 520 to 850 mm, are described by the company as being infinitely size-variable for applications in packaging and label printing. Size changes are made by exchanging lightweight sleeves and carbon-fibre cylinders instead of full printing inserts and offer features like StretchCorrect that were developed to print stretchable films. Muller Martini VSOP

16 • PRINTACTION • AUGUST 2012

USED EQUIPMENT

Esko CDI Spark At Labelexpo, Esko is highlighting a series of technologies aimed at the label and packaging markets, including new versions of its CDI flexo computer-to-plate imagers and Kongsberg short-run converting systems. The company will also highlight the recent release of its Suite 12 software, with new tools for 3D functionality, mobile collaboration and Web-based packaging management. (See Esko Building, PrintAction June 2012.)

Xeikon Color Control At Labelexpo, Xeikon plans to highlight its new cloud-based Xeikon Color Control tool for label and packaging applications, as well as document printing. In addition to creating spot-colour tables, Color Control allows users to generate a new profile for every medium they print on and for every press. Having printed a target, the measured values are uploaded to a central server where a new profile is created, together with a library of named colours. Both are then installed on the Xeikon X-800 Digital Front-End where they can be applied to all incoming jobs. Xeikon also plans to highlight its entry-level 3030Plus press, which joins a labelpress line-up with the 3500 model (594 m2/hr), as well as the 3300, 3050 and 3030 models that run at speeds up to 31.5 feet per minute with 350 GSM stocks. Employing LED-array-based dry toner, the Xeikon 3030Plus handles media widths up to 330 mm and hits a top speed of 15 metres per minute, which Xeikon claims to be 50 percent faster than any other entry-level machine in its class. The press is also available with three application-specific suites for label and packaging: Self-adhesive labels, heat-transfer labels and recently launched folding-carton tools. Xeikon will also be discussing progress with its Trillium prototype press, employing oil-based High Viscosity Toner (HVT). For the flexographic market, Xeikon also develops platemaking systems under the ThermoFlexX brand name.

Xeikon3030Plus

Allen Datagraph iTech CENTRA HS At Labelexpo, Allen Datagraph plans to debut its iTech CENTRA HS label device, including toner printing and finishing modules, designed to fit needs between shortrun tabletop and high-end systems. Described by the company as a “first in its class digital label system,” iTech CENTRA HS is ideally suited for runs of between 1,000 and 5,000 linear feet (305 to 1,524 linear metres). The printer component is an LED toner device (Oki) that images consumer-quality labels at 1,200 dpi X 600 dpi, at speeds up to 30 feet per minute (9.1 metres per minute). The device has a maximum width of 12.9 inches (327 mm) and maximum roll diameter of 14 inches (355 mm) – and a wide degree of substrate flexibility. The finishing component of the iTech CENTRA HS allows users to laminate, die-less cut, strip the waste matrix and slit custom labels in one production pass. It works with materials from inkjet and thermal printers or a conventional flexo press in maximum roll diameter of 14 inches (355 mm) and up to 14 inches wide (355 mm). A Wasatch SoftRIP, with ICC colour management and tools like a consumable cost estimator, is included with the printer, which can also include a variable data option for sequential numbering, barcodes and graphic elements.

iTech CENTRA HS AUGUST 2012 • PRINTACTION • 17

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At Labelexpo, Durst plans to highlight its new UV-based Tau 330 inkjet press designed for short- and medium-run narrow web applications, covering web widths from 6.5 inches up to 13 inches. It reaches a top speed of 157 feet per minute (48 metres per minute) in full colour, which equates to full colour production of 2,880 linear metres per hour (9,432 linear feet per hour). The single-pass inkjet engineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s standard CMYK configuration can be enhanced with orange and violet to cover 90 percent of the Pantone colour gamut, producing a 1,000-dpi resolution by employing grayscale imaging. The Tau press can be equipped with a detection device and appropriate software functionality to accurately print on predie-cut labels. This function also allows for in-print variable information (1D and 2D barcodes, sequential numbers and other extensive variable data and images). The Tau 330 prints on a variety of materials, including aluminum foils for blister applications, while also handling industrial and security labels, durable electronics and automotive labels, paint, Durst Tau 330 specialty food and beverage containers.

Fujifilm FLENEX DLE The FLENEX DLE (Direct Laser Engraving) system is described by Fujifilm as a unique and environmentally progressive system, because of its two-step simplicity, utilizing polymer plates and laser engraving technology, while creating high-quality flexo plates. Scheduled for a 2013 launch in Canada, FLENEX DLE uses multi-channel fibre coupled with laser diode technology (FC-LD), where the channels are individually controlled FLENEX DL-25 for more precise 3D engraving of the plate surface. The FLENEX DLE plates use a highly cured polymer for high-definition print quality. Fujifilm also points to the environmental positioning of the system because its direct laser engraving does not create volatile organic compounds (VOCs). With a productivity of 15 minutes at 150-mm width and 60 minutes at 635-mm width, FLENEX DLE reproduces a 2,400-dpi resolution with 85- to 175-lpi screen ruling. Fujifilm will also feature its UVivid line of inks for flexography, at Labelexpo, including the launch of its new UVivid Flexo JD product. This is a high-gloss UV ink system incorporating a range of colours, process inks, metallic shades and specialty products. Fujifilm describes UVivid Flexo JD as having optimized viscosity and pour-and-print characteristics.

INX AquaTech ION At Labelexpo, INX International Ink is debuting its new AquaTech ION Class Label ink systems for paper, thermal and film extensions. The ink system is available in a Plus option for printers using anilox rolls of 1,000 up to 1,500 lines per inch, as well as a process series component. The ION-P system is formulated to run on various paper substrates like prime label, EDP and semi-gloss liners, while ION-T offers high heat resistance and is designed for direct and indirect printing across various paper substrates. The ION-F formulation is designed to have strong adhesion on most treated, non-porous film structures, including polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, cellophane, vinyls and foils. INX also plans to highlight its NW140 narrow web press.

Epson SurePress L-4033AW At Labelexpo, Epson plans to highlight its seven-colour SurePress L-4033AW inkjet label press, which includes a white-ink channel for printing on metallic and clear substrates, for example. The single-pass press is also available as a six-colour L-4033A model. Both systems are integrated with a Wasatch RIP and X-Rite (i1Pro bundle) colour management tools. With no pre-treatment or top coating required, a range of off-the-shelf substrates can be used at variable web widths up to 13 inches. At Labelexpo, Epson will also be discussing progress with its SurePress X prototype, which is to employ completely new Thin Film Piezo print heads â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the first Epson product to use LED-curable UV ink. SurePress L-4033AW

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TRADE PRINTING

EFI Jetrion 4900

At Labelexpo, EFI plans to highlight its recently released Jetrion 4900 inkjet system, which integrates the company’s 4830 print engine with inline laser die cutting. Using grayscale imaging, the Jetrion 4900 features a new 720-dpi mode for sharper reproduction of text and image details, while also producing an apparent resolution of 1,080-dpi. The 4900 features re-registration printing, which allows for five-colour dual-sided printing (CMYK+W) and printing on pre-printed or pre-die-cut rolls. With an imaging width of up to 8.3 inches (210 mm), the machine reaches average production speeds in five-colour mode of up to 70 fpm and up to 120 fpm in highspeed mode. EFI has also broadened the substrate range for the system, including materials from 3M, Avery Dennison, Flexcon, Raflatac, Ritrama, Spinnaker and Wausau. Employing a Fiery XF RIP, the 4900 can connect with EFI solutions like Digital StoreFront and Radius (MIS).

Gallus Print Shop At Labelexpo, Gallus plans to highlight its Gallus Print Shop concept, which is an end-to-end technology workflow for hybrid label production, using digital and conventional machines with specialized software. Gallus Print Shop includes technologies like Gallus ECS 340 press, Gallus ECS C converting system, and Heidelberg Gallus Linoprint L, which are then integrated through Heidelberg’s Prinect software and CERM management information system. Heidelberg’s inkjet-based Linoprint L is designed for printing labels, blister packs, and films. CERM software is highly geared toward label production, integrating into third-party systems like Esko, HP and Xeikon. Within this workflow concept, Gallus will be showing new features like automatic register control, hot-air drying and sheet delivery to its Gallus ECS 340.

Domino N600i At Labelexpo, Domino plans to highlight its newest four-colour N600i label press, which can be installed as a standalone system, or integrated with sheet- and web-fed presses, as well as finishing lines.The UV inkjet press – with four greyscale levels and droplet sizes as small as six picolitres – produces a native 600-dpi print resolution on coated paper and plastic label stocks. It hits speeds of between 50 and 75 metres (246 feet) per minute. The K600i can be configured for print widths ranging from 108 mm (4.26 inches) to 557 mm (21.96 inches), depending on how its print heads are mounted. According to Domino, unique features of the N600i include its i-Tech CleanCap system, which automates print head cleaning, as well as the ActiFlow ink-circulating system, which moves ink around the print head even when the press is not in production, minimizing downtime and providing more consistent print quality. The system is modular to allow for field upgrades as production needs increase. Domino K600i

Flint nyloflex NExT At Labelexpo, Flint Group Flexographic Products plans to highlight its nyloflex NExT exposure system, which uses high-intensity UV LEDs to produce precise surfaces on flat top dots, which naturally creates high print quality because of the resulting ink lay-down. The company will also introduce its new nyloflex ACE printing plates for label printing. According to Flint, because of the plate’s solvent resistance properties, it is well suited for solvent-based inks, as well as water-based inks and a range of UV inks. The two systems, nyloflex NExT and nyloflex ACE plates, can work together for stronger ink transfer and high white opacity. 20 • PRINTACTION • AUGUST 2012

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TRADE PRINTING

HP Indigo 20000 At Labelexpo, HP plans to highlight its Indigo WS6600, described as a high-volume narrow web press, reaching a top speed of 130 linear feet per minute (39.93 metres per minute) using HP’s new Enhanced Productivity Mode (removing the black channel). In four-colour mode, the WS6600 hits 98 feet per minute (29.87 metres per minute), carrying a maximum image size of 12.48 x 38.58 inches. HP will also discuss its upcoming Indigo 20000 press (scheduled for a 2013 launch) for flexible packaging applications. The 30-inch web-fed, liquid-toner machine will be available with up to seven-colour printing, including a white channel, and a 44-inch repeat length. The press runs at 88.6 linear feet (27 linear metres) per minute in five-colour mode (full process colour plus white) and at 147.6 linear feet (45 linear metres) per minute when running in Enhanced Productivity Mode. An inline priming unit on the press is used for compatibility with most standard flexible packaging substrates from 10 to 250 microns thick.

Mark Andy Series P7 At Labelexpo, Mark Andy plans to highlight its Performance Series presses, which were first introduced in 2009. The Performance Series P5 and P7 presses on display are to feature a new die station design, which the company claims will redefine changeovers by reducing die change times by more than 80 percent. New drying and UV LED curing technologies will be displayed, as well as a new short run label solution.

TRADE PRINTING

Spartanics L-350

PRINTING & EMBOSSING

Canada’s Largest Trade Finishers Specializing in: • FOIL STAMPING UP TO 50” • HOLOGRAM STAMPING • EMBOSSING • DIE CUTTING • FOLDING AND GLUING • UV COATING • SPOT UV COATING • FILM LAMINATING • HEAT SEAL LAMINATING All the above services are done in our 50,000 square foot building

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At Labelexpo, Spartanics plans to highlight its L-350 laser cutting system, which includes UV coating stations, lamination, slitting and sheeting options. It is described as a flexible machine suitable for use with both flexo overruns and in-line or off-line with digital presses. The L-350 features a single laser head design – suitable for a range of materials like polyester, polycarbonate, polypropylene, metalized and paper – with a 210-micron spot size in a 350-mm cutting field, at speeds up to 80 metres per minute. The L-350 features XY registration, single source 400W laser, and a top running speed of 100 metres per minute and converting options. Spartanics is also highlighting its L210 narrow web cutting system, with barcode reading capabilities for instantaneous job changeover. Like other Spartanics machines, only sealed CO2 supplies are used to power lasers, both to minimize costs for CO2 and to avoid the inherent issues of open CO2 delivery systems.

Prime UV MiniScan 3C At Labelexpo, Prime UV, which manufactures UV curing equipment for narrow, mid and wide web applications, is highlighting the MiniScan 3C for label and narrow web converters. The Prime UV MiniScan 3C is customized to fit any press, compact to fit in the smallest print station, and offers cool curing for heat sensitive materials. Prime UV reports to have thousands of UV and IR installations in the U.S., Latin America, Canada and overseas.

Witkowski Continued from page 13

pending upon the task and the available job pool. Given the current economic climate, there are people who are more than willing to work for $10 per hour to perform unskilled hand bindery tasks. In good economic times, that may not be the case. In Mexico and along the U.S. border, the rates range from $7 to $9.50 per hour., and even as low as $6 per hour for bare bones types of services. Often these extremely low rates do not include transportation (from the U.S. to the factory in Mexico and back), customs and brokerage fees, quality control, etc. Also, the deeper you go into Mexico, the lower the rates, but the higher the transportation expense. If you’re thinking about sending your smallish project to Mexico to save some bank, think again. “If you don’t have a big enough project, the freight costs of moving the materials to Mexico can be greater than the cost savings of doing the assembly work there,” says Goller. “This is true especially if the units being assembled don’t drop into the USPS, because usually the assembled piece takes up a lot more space than flat press sheets – and if the quantity is significant, you may be moving a lot of air. As a rough guideline, if there are less than 200 hours of handwork, you should consider doing the assembly in your local market.” In parallel, sending a job to China may offer a very low rate per hour and unlimited scalability, but tremendous cost in transportation and other fees associated with doing business overseas, as well as a much longer production schedule due to the distance involved.

ful. Training them to relax and use proper technique is not easy – each movement is time and money, and a wasted movement is money lost.”

UV, PRESENTATION FOLDERS, ENVELOPES

ENVELOPES

What are the challenges?

One of the challenges of hand bindery services is providing an accurate cost estimate for the service. “We rarely create the same thing,” says Anson, “it’s great when we have the time to make samples and do a time test, but that’s really not the norm. There is a great deal of guesswork involved in pricing hand bindery, and you won’t know if you got it right until the job is done.” Collins of GLS suggests planning as a potential hurdle: “Projects vary in size, creating challenges in space planning and execution. Lead time is also a big factor in being able to execute jobs. The customer expectation for delivery remains constant. Manufactured materials and customer supplied materials are variables that effect the job lifecycle. To execute on short lead times, upfront planning is necessary to be able to hit the ground running once all materials have been received.” For maximum quality and output, respondents agreed that the entire process must be scrutinized. “A lot of hand bindery services are un-skilled in terms of the work requirement, but productivity is something else entirely,” states Goller. “Efficiency, accuracy and productivity all have to do with lots of factors, like: Tenure, organization of the floor, material handling, industrial engineering, supervisory staff, application of the appropriate method for each operation, training procedures, QC and physical environment.” There is a lot to think about, and how you set up shop can make or break the overall quality and productivity on a job.

Is quality an issue?

Where are the opportunities?

If you are bringing the work in-house, how can you ensure that your temporary workers care about the work they’re doing? After all, they are responsible for the finished product, and spoilage is a huge concern when you’re bringing in people who are not employees of your company. “We incentivize our temps,” says Anson of his large trade bindery operation. “They are paid on a per piece basis, so if they are fast and efficient, they can make up to $16 per hour. There’s always a superstar or two in the group that takes a lot of pride in their ability to do quality work at a fast pace, and we reward them for their effort.” If the workers are grouped in teams, they incentivize the teams as well. The approach, although effective in motivating workers to produce can also have its pitfalls. “We [need] a lot of eyes in a supervisory role, since occasionally there are workers who try to fly through the work to get a higher hourly rate, and when that happens we need to be able to identify that person very quickly and release them to avoid any potential quality issues.” Operations often find that a contributing factor to the cost of hand bindery services is technique and efficiency of movement. Pope shares, “Cost, depending on the piece, can be 15 to 20 times more than the machine cost, and not all employees can to this type of work. Attention to detail without the help of machinery or automation is very stress-

With regard to the current demand for hand bindery services, four of the five companies I interviewed said they were experiencing a decline in demand for hand bindery services, or consistent to slightly increased demand, but with lower quantities due to the growing trend of smaller, more targeted print campaigns. One company did note an increase, suggesting that hand bindery services have allowed them to offer more services to its customers at a good value. When asked about where the opportunities are for hand bindery services, there were several suggestions, including sampling and product trials, kit assembly and fulfillment, and specialized solutions for highly targeted direct-mail campaigns. What is obvious is that hand bindery work won’t go away – there will always be a need for manual labour, as not everything can (or should) be automated. With supervision, clear instruction, training, and smart analysis to improve work process efficiencies, there is potential for profitability and growth in this service category. Trish Witkowski is Chief Folding Fanatic at the online community foldfactory.com. An educator, author, speaker and awardwinning designer, Trish has a specialized expertise in folding and is the creator of the FOLDRite system, and host of the popular weekly e-video, “60-second Super-cool FOLD of the WEEK.” Contact Trish at trish@foldfactory.com

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DIGITAL PRINTING

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Howard Continued from page 12

PRESENTATION FOLDERS

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their abilities – even with some of the most traditional processes – through innovative ideas of better seller-to-purchaser campaigns. These printers are clearly in the best position in the commercial space to break through the online white noise, primarily because of their ability to intertwine with the creators of mass marketing. The packaging printer, regardless of which sector they operate in, are also in an enviable position in their ability to break through the white noise. In fact, brand owners rely on this group to do just that. It is a mindset that has been fostered in packaging printers for decades and, as most pundits see, will continue to be so for years to come. The only true threat facing the traditional packaging printer is the wideeyed glaze of commercial printers who have access to a bevy of new technologies to enter the sector, particularly for shortrun work. Legacy packaging printers, however, hold key advantages in the substantial investment needs and also in areas like security and legislation required, for example, within the pharmaceutical space. While each of these groups generate very different margins for their work, I believe all three still have the ability to break through the online white noise. And I also believe all three will continue to buy printing presses as world markets stabilize. Of course, the ease at which printers invest is forming a noticeable gap depending on where the company is located. The right technology in the United States or Western Europe is likely to be totally different from what is needed in countries like China or India. Indeed, some secondary printing markets are reaping the rewards of low-cost production by taking work away from more developed printing economies. This is largely because print is not taken for granted as much in these emerging economies, even as their online white noise ramps up at enormous rates. For most printers in North America it is hard to imagine an economy without a mature printing industry, where the perception of print is much stronger. Unfortunately, as North American ad agencies regain positive thoughts about the impact of print, this may also be fueled by the fact that it does not cost nearly much as it did even a few years ago. And so printers who hope to break through and make better margins are searching out new technologies. However, they must be cautious in believing new printing processes are the ultimate way to reach this goal. I do not believe the process itself is ready to have material impact on the white noise, because, today, production-strength digital engines cost well over $1 million and run at under 3,500 impressions per hour. If the white noise of the Internet is what ails the marketing sector today, a smaller printing industry is the only remedy. Unfortunately, these means there is still a lot of procedures and recuperation needed before the industry can start its climb back, but there are people who still believe in a healthy outcome. Nick Howard has been involved in the printing industry since 1976. He manages Howard Graphic Equipment Ltd., which has been involved in the supply, sale, rebuilding and appraisal business since 1967. Nick can be reached at: nhoward@bellnet.ca.

24 • PRINTACTION • AUGUST 2012

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PRINTING & EMBOSSING

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EQUIPMENT SERVICES & REPAIR

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ENVELOPES

Email: classifieds@printaction.com • Tel: 416.665.7333 x37 • Fax: 905.752.1441 ____________________________________

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PADDING PRESS FOR SALE Turn of the century antique, mint condition. Made of cast iron and steel with screw wheel mechanism. In storage more than 50 years. Great for museum, print hobbyist or front lobby decoration. 51" high, 25.5" wide, 16" deep. $700 or B.O. Call Eric Thompson: (905) 831-2162 or Email E_concepts03@hotmail.com ____________________________________

WANTED Old printers type, cuts, engravings, presses etc. Turn your stuff in storage into cash. Call Don: (416) 267-2598 or Email don@donblack.ca and leave message saying you saw it in PrintAction ____________________________________

PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR (Sheetfed) Requirements: Strong knowledge of sheetfed printing process, computer skills in print MIS software. Schedule and coordinate the flow of work between Prepress, Printing and Finishing departments to ensure delivery dates are met and production time is maximized. Communicate with customers. Take orders Review Work Orders before releasing to Production and revise schedule according to Work Order specifications, established priorities and availability of workers, material and equipment. Actively contribute in carrying out the daily functions of Printing and Finishing departments as required based on workload, holidays, etc. Act as an internal technical resource for product applications and ideas. Provide leadership and guidance to other Plant employees and offer advice for process improvements. Email resumes to hrdept@weststar.com or Fax (416) 253-0612 ____________________________________ CSR WANTED CSR (Customer Service Representative) required. Requirements: Experience in estimating/production of sheetfed and web printing. Computer skills and excellent communication skills. Print management degree an asset. Email resumes to hrdept@weststar.com or Fax (416) 201-8885 ____________________________________ AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY! Dynamic “people person” with +5 years’ experience in Design/Pre-Press for position in Inside Sales/CSR for consumables/print to a Toronto/GTA business. Exceptional writing and oral skills, incredible customer service skills, computer literate and able to travel. To set up a meeting/interview, call (905) 321-3406 or Email taniadenis@hotmail.ca ____________________________________

FOR SALE Time for early retirement, this Toronto offset printing company was established in 1983. All equipment & accessories stock & supply inventory and very loyal clientele are for sale. Annual sales 200k approx. Fax Joe at (416) 766-8519 ____________________________________

SOUTHERN ALBERTA PRINTING BUSINESSES FOR SALE Two printing business for sale. 1) Family business established in 1973. Approximately 600K annually. All equipment and inventory. 2) Family business since 1972. Approximately 850K annually. Room to grow! Both located in Southern Alberta. Join the migration! Email deloresm@shaw.ca ____________________________________ FOR SALE Time for early retirement, this Toronto offset printing company was established in 1983. All equipment & accessories stock & supply inventory and very loyal clientele are for sale. Annual sales 200k approx. Fax Joe at (416) 766-8519 ____________________________________

Digital Press Operator Wanted THE ONTARIO LIBERAL CAUCUS SERVICE BUREAU is seeking a Digital Press Operator. The ideal candidate is customer service oriented, highly organized, has excellent communication skills and is able to work in a fast paced environment. Responsibilities include full operation of the printshop, managing workflow and printing, including: pre press, set up and confirmation of job specifications. Other key responsibilities include job prioritizing, reporting on problems, trouble shooting, scheduling and maintenance of machinery. Multitasking skills are essential, as is ensuring that quality standards and deadlines are met or exceeded. The Digital Press Operator will report to the Senior Press Operator and communicate with internal clients, external vendors/technicians as well as a team of design professionals. Other tasks include updating tracking system, ordering and tracking supplies and shipping. Requirements: • Experience in a digital print shop • Understanding of printing process and knowledge of digital presses: Xerox 800 Colour press, CANON large format digital printer, Riso 2 colour digital press; and finishing (Polar Cutter) • Knowledge of pre-press including basic imposition • Computer proficiency (knowledge of FreeFlow an asset)

• Time management and organizational skills • Good communication skills – both written and oral • Must have an eye for detail • Mechanical, technical and troubleshooting skills • Ability to lift heavy material and stand for extended periods of time • Willingness to work overtime • Interest in public affairs, politics

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Interested applicants may forward a resume to digitalpressoperator@liberal.ola.org Please note only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.

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Call: (416) 824-0236 (647) 835-6224 33 Denison Ave., Brampton, Ontario L6X 0H2 E-Mail: gr_trade@hotmail.com Tel/Fax: (905) 450-2748 AUGUST 2012 • PRINTACTION • 25