Print Pack MEA - November 2020 by Rysha Media

NOVEMBER 2020 Volume 1. Issue 1

www.printpackmea.com

RESET REFOCUS

RESTART HOW TO RESTART DURING A PANDEMIC

INTELLIGENT. NEW UX. SPEEDMASTER. Discover the new Speedmaster 2020 generation with innovative solutions for Commercial, Label, and Packaging Printing. Experience unprecedented performance thanks to a new scalable user interface. Enjoy intelligent assistance systems, which enable integrated automation and simplified production processes. Discover these innovations at heidelberg.com/nextgeneration

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Editorial EDITOR IN CHIEF Chris N. Fernando chris@ryshamedia.com

SALES AND MARKETING Ranbir Sen ranbir@ryshamedia.com

DEPUTY EDITOR Edward Frank edward@ryshamedia.com

SENIOR WRITER Priyan Sampath priyan@ryshamedia.com

GRAPHIC DESIGNER John Christy info@ryshamedia.com

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Prarthana Mary prarthana@ryshamedia.com

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C O N TA C T I N F O R M AT I O N Rysha Media LLC, Sharjah Media City (Shams), Al Messaned, Al Bataeh, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

Welcome to the Inaugural Issue of PrintPack MEA! Welcome to the first edition of PrintPack MEA magazine. It is the result of the work of many people committed to the creation of a top-notch magazine that focuses on the regional printing, packaging, signage, consumables and related industries. Today, our industry is facing different problems when compared to even a few years ago: market is tough, customers are more demanding, and technology is more complex. Thus, this magazine is the culmination of our drive to have an industry platform for presenting and discussing a wide range of topics that cater to our industry. Along with the magazine, we also have a very strong online presence through our website PrintPackMEA.com; our social media channels on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube; and our brand new and industry-first podcast show called PrintPack Connect. Through these channels we aim to bring thought-provoking

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While the publisher has made all efforts to ensure the accuracy of information in the magazine, they will not be held responsible for any errors whatsoever. Copyright @ 2020

PRINTPACK MEA | November 2020

feature articles, market research pieces, and dialogues with industry experts, some of whom are featured in our inaugural issue. And this is just the start! Though the development of this platform has been in the works for the past two years, I would like to emphasise that the fundamental nature of our content, such as in-depth analyses of topics related to our industry, and their consequences and benefits, remains solid. We hope you enjoy reading through the magazine. If you have any suggestions or comments, please feel free to write to us at chris@ryshamedia.com!

CHRIS N. FERNANDO EDITOR IN CHIEF

IN THIS ISSUE

NOVEMBER 2020 12 14 16 18

As Long As There Are Opportunities, Printers Will Need Their Employees Identifying New Ways to Engage With Customers The Pandemic Has Leapfrogged the Adaptation of Digital Services It's the Best Time to Innovate!

Businesses Should Accelerate Their Digital Transformation Efforts

The Importance of Qualified Workforce is Paramount

More Women Should Enter the Print Business

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REGULARS

06 NEWS 26 PRINTING PRESS WATCH 28 PACKAGING 30

SIGNAGE

32 MARKET WATCH 36 MOVERS & SHAKERS 38 PRODUCTS 5

NEWS

Heidelberg Announces Strengthened Position in the First Half of the 2020/2021 Financial Year

By systematically and swiftly implementing its transformation, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) has further strengthened its position in the first half of the 2020/2021 financial year (April 1 to September 30, 2020). With a number of measures adopted as part of the transformation program launched this March to boost profitability, enhance competitiveness, and secure the company’s future, Heidelberg has been able to more than compensate for the negative effect on earnings caused by a significant drop in sales due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, Heidelberg once again achieved a positive EBITDA excluding restructuring result in the second quarter of the current financial year, recording € 97 million in the first six months – a significant increase from the previous year (€ 69 million). The EBITDA margin for the half-year was 12 percent, compared with 6.2 percent in the same period of the previous year. At the same time, the net financial debt was successfully reduced from € 416 million in the previous year to € 157 million. In terms of sales and incoming orders, the gap compared to the previous year shrank in the second quarter of the current financial year. While sales after the first quarter were at –34 percent, this figure was only –24 percent in the period from July to September; incoming orders, meanwhile, improved from –44 percent to –20 percent. There was a positive development in demand in a number of markets, above all in the key single market China, where, compared with the previous year, the level of incoming orders increased from around –50 percent in the first quarter to around –8 percent in the second. This trend and the planned additional steps to optimize the company’s assets and portfolio and

reduce staff costs provide reason to be optimistic that Heidelberg will reach its announced targets in the year as a whole and continue to achieve sustainably profitable growth in the years that follow. “Our transformation is proving successful. We are delivering on our promise. By the end of the half-year, we had drastically reduced our debt and made significant improvements regarding our liquidity and results– despite the huge challenges our or-ganization has faced owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. Besides enhancing our financial stability, we are strategically positioning ourselves to meet our customers’ needs with an innovative, needs-based product and service portfolio, with our aim being to further boost incoming orders and sales. We will continue to benefit from this when the markets recover, as demonstrated by China,” says Rainer Hundsdörfer, CEO of Heidelberg. Heidelberg has also delivered on its promise to pay back the corporate bond. For example, the outstanding sum of € 150 million for the corporate bond that was originally due to expire in 2022 (coupon of 8 percent p.a.) was repaid in cash on September 9. This eases the burden on the financial result by approximately € 12 million a year due to lower interest payments. By implementing its transformation program, Heidelberg aims to achieve both short-term and sustainable savings of around € 80 million regarding material and staff costs in the current financial year. For instance, the organization has already been streamlined by taking socially acceptable measures such as establishing transfer companies. Of the announced reduction of around 1,600 jobs worldwide by 2023, just under 1,000 will be realized in the current financial year.

PRINTPACK MEA | November 2020

3D Printing, Innovation, and Supply Chain Resiliency More Important Than Ever At its global Innovation Summit, HP and members of its worldwide partner and customer community along with industry experts showcased the power of digital manufacturing to transform industries. Underpinning the event was a new HP study delivering insights on digital manufacturing technologies and trends such as industrial 3D printing. As a leader driving this digital transformation, HP’s Summit featured discussions with executives from Additive Integrity, Decathlon, Forecast3D, IDC, Nissan, SOLIZE Products, the World Economic Forum, and more. Surveying thousands of manufacturing executives across the globe, HP’s Digital Manufacturing Trend Report finds that companies are increasingly investing in advanced 3D printing solutions that provide the agility, speed, and flexibility necessary to grow their business and become more resilient in an ever-changing environment. One of the key insights from the global manufacturing industry is that regardless of sector or location, companies are looking to 3D printing to strengthen their supply chains, become more agile, and create more innovative product development and manufacturing strategies. This is underscored by rising investment in 3D printing, support for 3D printing as a viable alternative to traditional manufacturing, and a greater desire for closer ecosystem collaboration to drive adoption. Manufacturing decision-makers also see opportunities for accelerated innovation, recognizing that 3D printing is uniquely suited for the mass personalization of new products, and by also reducing waste and promoting a more sustainable economy. “The global manufacturing sector is clearly signaling a desire for greater supply chain resiliency, more manufacturing flexibility, increased speed of innovation, and stronger environmental sustainability,” said Ramon Pastor, General Manager, HP 3D Printing & Digital Manufacturing. “And they are seeing industrial 3D printing as a way to not only lower costs and go to market faster but as a unique competitive advantage that accelerates innovation for customers.”

NEWS

FESPA Launches Campaign for March 2021 Expo

All 1,024 Publishers Exempted From SIBF 2020 Participation Fees Under Directives of Ruler of Sharjah

FESPA has launched the promotional campaign for its March 2021 event, scheduled to take place at the RAI exhibition centre in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, from 9 to 12 March 2021. With its message of cautious optimism – ‘Bringing Colour Back’ – FESPA is setting out to deliver a safe, focused event that allows the specialty printing community to reconnect face-to-face after a year of unprecedented disruption, and provides a springboard for the sector’s sustained recovery. The event website is now live at www. fespaglobalprintexpo.com, offering initial information for exhibitors and visitors. The site includes venue details and floor plans, as well as evolving guidance around the comprehensive health and safety measures being implemented in response to COVID-19. Visitors can also now register their interest and access information about entrance fees and promotional codes for discounted entry. For exhibitors, the site features a new online ‘showroom’ where they can publish product information and technical content to support their participation, as well as managing inquiries from prospective buyers. The March 2021 event will comprise FESPA Global Print Expo for screen, digital wide-format and textile printing, alongside European Sign Expo for non-printed signage. Visitors can also enjoy the popular Printeriors and World Wrap Masters features, to be inspired by the latest materials and applications in interior décor and vehicle wrapping. FESPA CEO Neil Felton says, “By the time we open the doors on FESPA next spring, many businesses will have been in a state of suspended animation for more than 12 months, closed off to real-world connections and experiences. But it’s our human instinct to meet, network, discuss and discover. Talking to print businesses, there’s a definite appetite among decision-makers to get out, come up close to new products and unearth fresh ideas. They want to be re-energised and turn their focus to the future.” He continues, “At the same time, our exhibitors want the proven platform of FESPA to showcase a year’s worth of innovations and re-engage effectively with their customers and prospects, in ways that simply can’t be replicated online. We really can’t wait to play our part in bringing colour, energy and positivity back into our community, and to help everyone to move forward again.”

Under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, all 1,024 publishing houses at the 39th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) have been completely relieved from paying stand rental fees. Valued at AED 6 million, these exemptions represent an unparalleled show of support and encouragement to publishers worldwide, in a bid to empower them to fully bounce back into business and ensure the sustainability of their various customer offerings. HE Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, Chairman of Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), said: “Via this landmark decision, His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, sends a message to the world, to emphasise on the fact that the health and stability of societies are ensured by their cultural realities. Therefore, renewing the strength of the promoters and champions of culture is paramount, given our current realities. At the basis of a vibrant culture are books, and the Sharjah International Book Fair is its home. By fully supporting the participation of each and every publisher here at SIBF 2020, we become the first international book fair in the world to entirely exempt publishers from participation fees." The 39th edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2020) was a dream come true for book lovers. After months spent away from events, entering Expo Centre Sharjah is like stepping into a wonderland with millions of books on display for sale. This year a special category of books under ‘Award Winners and Bestsellers’, brought to SIBF 2020 by top English-language publishers from the USA, UK and Canada. Hall No. 5 is where you will find the stalls selling

a wide variety of award-winning titles. From this year’s Booker Prize shortlisted Burnt Sugar by Dubai-based Avni Joshi and last year’s Booker winner The Testament by Margaret Atwood, to many works by 1988 Nobel Prize winner Naguib Mahfouz – Sugar Street, Palace of desire, Palace Wall, Miramar and The Journey of Ibn Fattouma, the choice is vast. Two-time Booker winner Hilary Mantel’s Bring Up and Wolf Hall are displayed prominently, while The Parisian by Isabella Hammad, who won the 2019 O Henry Prize and was nominated for the 2019 National Book Award, had to be replaced more than once on the shelves as copies were picked up very quickly. American-Libyan author Hisham Matar’s In the Country of Men which was nominated for the 2006 Booker Prize, appeared to be equally popular with the fair goers. It won the 2007 Royal Society of Literature Ondaatje Prize and a host of international literary prizes. The book was also nominated for the 2007 National Book Critics Circle Award in the U.S and won the 2007 Arab American Book Award. The perennial bestseller however remains Nobel Prize winner Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude. It is proving to be especially popular among a new generation of readers who have been coming to the fair to discover his unique magical realism style of writing. At SIBF 2020, you can search for all of these great titles. It is a unique opportunity to browse through these and other great classics over the remaining days of the book fair. Strict precautionary measures to ensure the safety of visitors to the fair is being observed in line with UAE government’s efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19.

NEWS

Successful Launch of drupa Preview will Reinforce the Digital Network

DS Printech China’s In-Person and Online Platforms Debut Concludes Providing a much needed boost to the domestic digital and screen printing industry, the first edition of DS Printech China successfully concluded last week. 200 exhibitors presented the full spectrum of the digital and screen printing supply chain at the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center. The three-day fair attracted 8,853 visitors from 28 – 30 October, while there were over 130,000 online participants.

The digital platform drupa preview was opened on 27 October. Over 1.900 interested visitors took part in panel discussions and live web sessions as spectators, received valuable input on current issues via video keynote speeches and virtually connected with exhibitors and industry players. The three areas ‘Exhibition Space’, ‘Conference Area’ and ‘Networking Plaza’ reflect drupa’s cornerstones digitally, bridging communication needs between now and the next live event. The global pandemic has been a major challenge for the printing industry for months. This makes drupa preview a key tool, offering a platform in these difficult times for companies to showcase their innovative products and reach their target audiences. For exhibitors and visitors alike, this clearly marks a new beginning. “The drupa preview also has a special significance for Messe Düsseldorf: it shows that even in times of crisis we can offer solutions to keep the industries interacting and networking. We are working intensively on strengthening global communication not only through our local events, but also by expanding new, virtual formats”, explains Erhard Wienkamp, COO Messe Düsseldorf. “The response from exhibitors and visitors following the first preview was very positive”, says Sabine Geldermann, Project Director Print Technologies. “drupa preview offers a valuable basis for regular customer contacts, enabling ongoing interaction within our community

during this pandemic. Its digital format helps enhance our customer communications, focusing on the industry’s future topics. From now on, it is our goal to create a hybrid concept, perfectly combining the best of both worlds in order to ensure the April event can take place under optimal conditions.” Around 1.900 experts took advantage of drupa preview. The proportion of international visitors was at 70% (Top 5 countries: Japan, India, UK, the Netherlands and Germany). More than 14,000 pageviews also highlight the print community’s high level of interest in the content on offer. Around 1,400 exhibitors from 50 countries presented their products, solutions and applications within the Exhibition Space. All speeches and videos will shortly be available on demand at preview.drupa.com, providing an opportunity for everyone to benefit from the content presented, even after preview day. The next drupa preview day with further live web sessions will take place on 17 November, 2020. The digital format “drupa preview” will provide a preview of the next live drupa event with its three areas “Exhibition Space”, “Conference Area” and “Networking Plaza”. Exhibitors will present their companies and products, speakers will give insights into the drupa agenda setting and visitors and exhibitors will already be able to interact and network. With this new digital offering, drupa will provide the industry with continuous exchange and knowledge transfer.

PRINTPACK MEA | November 2020

DS Printech China is a rebranding of two existing events: the 30 year-plus CSGIA and Textile Digital Printing China. Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd is a new co-organiser for this year’s event, and Senior General Manager Ms Wendy Wen commented: “We are very pleased with the outcomes of the first DS Printech China. The reputation in the local industry of our partners, the China Screen Printing & Graphic Imaging Association and Guangzhou Teyin Exhibition Service ensured many of the big domestic players participated this week, while a number of international brands partook through their local offices. Having both the in-person and online events this year provided a much-needed opportunity for the industry to get together, and from the feedback from exhibitors and buyers, the fair has injected a sense of positivity into the industry for the future.” Ms Wen continued, “Holding the fair in Shenzhen, at the heart of China’s Greater Bay Area, was a strategic decision to ensure exhibitors could capture the business opportunities in the booming South China market. And from the positive comments from participants, we can say that this was the right decision. Exhibitors, in particular, were pleased with the buyer quality and reported how many of them were looking for new innovations. Furthermore, we implemented a new online platform this year to ensure international companies could still participate in the fair, while we also held digital printing forums at our Intertextile Shanghai events in August and September to provide more exposure for our stakeholders. While the pandemic has undoubtedly affected the global industry this year, we also see increased opportunities in the near future. Especially in China as many exhibitors have reported continued strong demand throughout the year, and especially for the digital printing sector as the demand for smaller MOQs and customised products has grown.”

NEWS

Unique Printing Technology for ‘Invisible’ Images Developed by ITMO Researchers

Over 69,000 Visitors Visit All In Print China 2020 The 8th staging of All in Print China recently concluded successfully at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC). At the first and the largest comprehensive international trade fair for the printing and packaging industry after the COVID-19 epidemic in China, 687 exhibitors from 10 countries including Austria, China, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the U.S. showcased their latest technologies. During the fiveday exhibition, 69,668 domestics and overseas visitors attended the event.

Every manufacturer dreams of a quick, easy and cheap way to protect their products from forgery. Software and video game developers have more or less solved the problem by taking user interaction online. But physical objects can still be forged and there is almost no way to make them password-protected. In this case, only special stickers or watermarks can be of help. “Currently, the market for polygraphic materials that can protect goods from counterfeit is growing exponentially,” explains Alexander Vinogradov, head of ITMO’s ChemBio Cluster. “Various QR codes and special signals are now used for these purposes, but it would be great to have a more accessible protection method that doesn’t require attracting substantial investments. At the same time, the uniqueness of products that can be detected using methods available at hand allows us to confirm their authenticity. Such methods have to be constantly updated, however, as sooner or later they are reproduced by opportunistic manufacturers. Using inkjet printing to counter forgery can make the production of packaging products significantly easier, but first, we would have to fine-tune the chemical composition of ink over a period of several years.” Researchers from ITMO’s ChemBio Cluster have been working for five years to achieve application of organized high resolution nanostructure with methods accessible to solution chemistry. The project was supported by the Russian Science Foundation, and the results acquired on the first step were enough to strike a contract with JSC RPC KRYPTEN that includes implementing the new technology into the company’s manufacturing cycle.

To achieve this, a number of theoretical and practical tasks had to be solved first. Namely, the researchers had to create special colloidal ink based on cellulose nanoparticles that could orient themselves in a specific way on a surface when ink is settled by inkjet printing. Nanorod-like crystals are programmed to position themselves along one axis turning into an optically active surface once the ink drops dry. This allows the necessary optical color effects to appear in polarized light. “We had to find a way to apply an anisotropic optical structure to a transparent substrate using an inkjet printer,” says Alexander Vinogradov. “In an anisotropic optical structure, cellulose nanoparticles spin around one of the axes comprising the so-called chiral nematic structure. Put simply, it means that nanoparticles in a multilayer system have a specific order instead of distributing themselves at random. The thickness of such covers created by ink settling is chosen to allow for interference in polarized light. Thus, colored optical feedback of a printed image that is unseen in daylight can be easily detected when subjected to light from any LCD screen, including that of a smartphone.” The ink created by the researchers has a base of special particles 10 nm wide and around 200 nm long. In a solution, these particles are organized chaotically and when they are applied on the substrate in the usual way they maintain this disorganized state. However, using special chemical synthesis methods and technological application parameters, the researchers were able to make the particles orient themselves along one of the axes when settled with an inkjet printer. They were also able to preserve the effect when drops of settled ink merged together in case of macro images.

PRINTPACK MEA | November 2020

“All in Print China has always been the ideal platform for the exhibitors to launch their new products and technologies,” stated Evian Gu, Senior Project Director of All in Print China at Messe Düsseldorf (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. More than 20 companies, including Fuji Xerox, Kyocera, and Charoen Pokhara debuted over 30 products at the trade fair. We are pleased that the COVID-19 virus is very well contained in China and we were able to stage All in Print China 2020 as scheduled”. Organizing an exhibition in these special times is a challenge for every trade fair organizer but we took all necessary epidemic prevention measures and acted in accordance with the requirements of the State Council and the Shanghai exhibition industry guide of COVID-19 control and prevention. We are very delighted that we were able to offer a convenient, safe and successful platform to the printing industry,” commented Marius Berlemann, General Manager of Messe Düsseldorf (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. For all the international participants not able to travel to Shanghai for All in Print 2020 due to COVID-19, the organizer offered the new online platform “All in Print Cloud” which remains open until November 10. It integrates presentations, matchmaking and industry exchanges functions for the printing and packaging industry and provides exhibitors and professional buyers with video/ live streaming promotions, supplier-buyer matchmaking, real-time communication and online inquiries. During the live trade fair, three online matchmaking conferences were held successfully on All in Print Cloud platform. The 16 exhibitors showcasing their products attracted 7,000+ visits from 17 countries/regions

NEWS

Egypt’s Printing Canon Middle East Extends its and Packaging Partnership with Mohamed AbdulExports Rise 20% rahman Al-Bahar Group in Kuwait in Nine Months Egypt’s Export Council for Printing, Packaging, Paper, Literary, and Artistic Works reported a 20% year-on-year (YoY) surge in its exports, registering $550 million during the first nine months of 2020, compared to $458 million, the Middle East News Agency (MENA) reported recently. The performance of exports improved largely with lifting coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions during the third quarter (Q3) of 2020, propelling exports to $96 million in September, up by 85% from $52 million in the same month a year earlier. During the July-September period, exports of printing and packaging materials grew by 88% to $270 million from $144 million in the prior-year period.

Onyx Graphics Announces Global Availability of ONYX 21 Onyx Graphics has announced the global availability of ONYX 21, the company's newest software version release. ONYX 21 introduces Swatch Books 2.0 to print, scan, iterate and report on the ideal color match, with options to add print mode defined colours in a single click. Intuitive PDF tile maps to streamline tile job workflows and help guide installation with the ability to produce tile maps before, during or after printing that can be automated using ONYX Quick Sets. Combined with new dynamic print label capabilities, ONYX 21 delivers innovative tools for print shop branding with flexibility to connect to existing business tools. "We're amazed at the response ONYX 21 has already received through our virtual launch events," said Matt Crawford, Director of Product Marketing at Onyx Graphics. "Customers are already seeing the impact of Swatch Books 2.0 with fast color matching, while new print label capabilities are providing opportunities both inside and outside their print shop." ONYX 21, covering the entire product portfolio of ONYX solutions including ONYX Thrive print workflow software; and all ONYX RIP products is globally available.

Canon Middle East has expanded its partnership with Mohamed Abdulrahman Al-Bahar Group to provide an ecosystem of innovative business-to-business imaging products and solutions in Kuwait. The extended partnership, which was announced during a virtual roundtable held in the presence of Anurag Agrawal, Managing Director, Canon Middle East and Canon Turkey, Abdullateef Hamad M.A Al-Bahar, Bahar Kuwait Group Holding Family Representative, Shadi Bakhour, B2B Business Unit Director, Canon Middle East, and Ihab Al-Khatib, Group General Manager, Bahar Kuwait Group Holding, addressed the rapidly changing business environment and the accelerated shift toward digital transformation across many public and private entities in Kuwait. More specifically, the partnership will answer the growing market need for seamless Managed Print Services (MPS), digitisation, as well as printing and archiving solutions for public, private, small and medium enterprises across multiple sectors including education, oil and gas, banking, healthcare, manufacturing, telecom and the government. Anurag Agrawal, Managing Director, Canon Middle East and Canon Turkey, said, “Kuwait is an important market for us, and our expanded partnership with Al-Bahar Group brings us closer to our customers in Kuwait and allows us to deliver on their evolving business objectives. As long-term partners, Canon is supporting the New Kuwait 2035 vision and development goals by providing the necessary digital-first, tech infrastructure for businesses to enhance their operations, provide better services and sustain the evolution of a healthy and competitive market on par with global

standards. This partnership underlines our commitment to our corporate philosophy, ‘Kyosei’ which means living and working together for the common good.” Ihab Al-Khatib, Group General Manager for Bahar Kuwait Group Holding, said, “We are very proud to be further associated with Canon Middle East and the Canon respected products here in Kuwait, as this expanded relationship shall bring to our dear customers additional access to a wide variety of print, document and imaging solutions. We are confident that the new technologies and solutions from Canon will enable businesses in Kuwait to be more versatile, efficient, and profitable.” Al-Khatib added,” The Canon brand and products enjoy vast demand and admiration in the Kuwaiti market, and expanding our partnership with Canon is a great achievement and a true reflection on the hard work that the Al-Bahar team has done in the past, alongside the team at Canon Middle East to serve our customers in Kuwait. All of us here at Mohamed Abdulrahman Al-Bahar are delighted with the expanded partnership and we are looking forward to continuing to develop this corporation further with Canon Middle East." Canon and Mohamed Abdulrahman Al-Bahar Group partnership already existed for the wide format print solutions, and with the extended partnership for Canon B2B products, the Al-Bahar Group will offer now Canon’s best-in-class enterprise solutions in Kuwait, that will help us with cost optimisation, seamless operations and the transition toward digital tools and services for our customers in this market.

IN TERVIE W

"As Long As There Are Opportunities, Printers Will Need Their Employees" Ludwig Allgoewer, the Head of Global Sales and Marketing at Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, speaks about business continuity post-COVID-19. How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your business? Covid-19 presents the world with new challenges. This applies to our industry as well as to Heidelberg. The pandemic increases the need for change processes, particularly in the printing press industry, which has already been experiencing massive upheaval for around ten years. The digital transformation of the Group, which Heidelberg initiated a few years ago and has continued to pursue systematically, was and is correspondingly important and correct. And the comprehensive financial stabilization and operational realignment of the Group initiated by Heidelberg in the past fiscal year was and is just as important and right. We are fighting the crisis with our own resources. We are doing so on the basis of our strong core business in sheetfed offset printing – and are focusing on systematic digitization and innovative customer solutions. What were the key learning from this pandemic? With the Print Media Industry Climate Report, Heidelberg informs its customers about important market developments from

a data pool of around 5,000 connected presses worldwide, thereby strengthening their ability to act during the crisis. Print shops in the packaging and label markets have so far managed to come through the crisis in a very stable manner. They are highly resistant to the crisis and are even growing further compared to the previous year. Customers and suppliers like Heidelberg are even considered to be systemically relevant in these areas. The reluctance to invest has naturally had a greater impact on the Commercial Printing division due to the lockdown in many countries, as it is highly dependent on advertising spending. However, this market is also picking up again regionally. Once the situation returns to normal, we expect to see a stable print volume again worldwide. The market development in China in particular gives cause for hope. There, it can be seen that with an easing of the COVID-19 situation, demand for print products will pick up again significantly and quickly, even if this is not yet immediately and directly reflected in printing press investments. In the other regions of the world, too, we have been experiencing a slight upturn since the summer, which we now need to consolidate further. Here, however, we still have to wait and see

PRINTPACK MEA | November 2020

what effect the current Corona figures will have. Did you come across new and innovative opportunities for diversification and monetization? We’re well on the way to becoming a digital, software-based company, and the current crisis underlines the necessity to make even more rapid progress now. Our contract business is a cornerstone of our future success. We know our customers have very different needs. Print Site Contracts are available in the form of lifecycle agreements or subscription agreements. Customers have a choice of four packages with different scopes of services and methods of payment. They range from a “Lifecycle Smart” contract that includes services and consumables to a “Subscription Plus” package that covers consulting, training, service, consumables, Prinect software, and equipment solutions. All four packages aim to maximize customers’ overall equipment efficiency (OEE), which represents the actual added value when compared to purchasing individual components. Tell us about ways through which businesses can reshape or hit the restart button?

Basically, there are winners in the crisis who are open to investments in these times. Then there are those who have been hit hard, but who have a plan. They are healthy and can invest. They say: I use this time, when I am 10 or 15 percent short of sales, to reposition myself.

its basic readiness to give onsite demos. Several successful livestreaming demos for individual customers as well as webinars for customer groups have already been conducted, among others for customers from Great Britain, Germany, Paraguay, USA, Taiwan, Latin America, Spain and Brazil.

And then there are of course those who will have a hard time. A virus does not change the world, but it is a catalyst that drives change and accelerates the necessary structural change. And we will be a strong partner for our customers as usual. Also, and especially in times like these.

Are there any new markets that have opened up with opportunities during the pandemic period? Printers in the Middle East realized that they have more demand to supply goods locally. Inmould Labels for example were mostly imported from Europe. The demand during the pandemic surged and the printers who were ready, managed to deliver the labels to the local markets. Many packaging printers had a similar situation as the demand for locally manufactured goods increased as well.

What sort of dialogues have you had with your employees, partners, clients about the way forward? As far as the current situation allows and taking health precautions, we make every effort in the interest of our customers and employees. We are, of course, trying to protect our employees to the best of our ability, while also serving all our customers. Our global sales and service network, together with the global logistics center, remains committed to ensuring reliable supplies to print shops. Wherever there are customer orders in place or a machine installed, we try to maintain operation and perform in an exemplary and safe way. We are able to process many inquiries and possible problems online via Remote Service. Insofar as possible, however, we will take every opportunity to send qualified service technicians on site in case of need. In order to keep running costs in check, we have put the factory on short-time work for the most part, but are still maintaining all the facilities needed to ensure the supply of spare parts and consumables. We will support and advise our customers in the best possible way, wherever they need us and as long as we are still allowed to do so. We value our customers and, as their partner, are confident that together we can get through these times. Additionally, from October 19 to 23, 2020, Heidelberg organized the "Innovation Week" - a digital event for customers and all interested parties, featuring product presentations of current highlights, world premieres, innovation talks and personal discussions via video chat. Under the motto "Unfold your potential" Heidelberg showcased the potential offered by the digitization of processes for the commercial, label, and packaging printing segments. The aim is to boost the productivity and competitiveness of print shops. Answers to the challenges facing the print media industry and how the industry is getting fit for the future was presented - with innovative technologies, new business models, and end-to-end solutions to boost performance. We have presented our customers with a portfolio that will enable them to master the current challenges of the market and continue to be successful in the future. Our Print Media Center Commercial and Packaging in Wiesloch-Walldorf have prepared themselves for online demand of our customers and have built up its own video and live streaming expertise in addition to

What sort of growth has the packaging industry seen, considering the growth of online deliveries and the e-commerce market over the past couple of months? In the COVID-19 pandemic the packaging sector is proving to be more stable than commercial printing, because they are systemically relevant. Just have a look on our Print Media Industry Climate Report and then you may get a better picture. Heidelberg is already the largest supplier to packaging printers. In financial year 2019/2020, half of our sheetfed offset press sales were generated in this segment. We sell almost as many printing units for the packaging market alone as our largest competitor overall. We also enter into long-term partnerships with strong partners. With MK Masterwork, for example, we are adding highly attractive finishing machines to our packaging printing portfolio. To sum-up: The growth market of packaging and especially folding carton manufacturing are part of our core business. Our product portfolio is leading the industry, and we are introducing innovations to further enhance it based on our customers’ demands. The optimization of folding carton manufacturing for the benefit of our customers is an integral part of our company strategy. What is the scenario of the printing sector in the region? Have you seen any major diversification in other areas by major players in the industry? In the countries of the Middle East we have seen that manufacturers of food packaging products decided to start their own printing facilities which created an opportunity for print suppliers like Heidelberg Middle East to sell new printing and finishing equipment, and a threat to packaging printers as they started losing some jobs. Furthermore we have seen some customers who decided to produce masks which created an opportunity for Heidelberg to sell mask making machines from MK Masterwork, and for the customers in the relevant area to diversify and to print packages for this new emerging industry. Tell us about how your products and solutions can help your customers diversify into new areas for business continuity? With our solutions for sheetfed offset and

digital printing, we support our customers in packaging and label printing as well as in commercial printing throughout the entire process – from quotation to invoice. In other words, across the entire value chain, including service, consumables and software. Heidelberg is currently the only company in the industry that is able to do this worldwide as a technology leader. Based on the customer's needs, we can put together an offer that perfectly meets their individual requirements. In doing so, our customers look at the added value of digital offerings for the print process. Because "printing" must be "smart". And Heidelberg offers exactly that. Because with our Smart Print Shop, we digitize printing. The Smart Print Shop thus forms the backbone of our digital solutions. In the future, we will therefore be systematically continuing to digitize processes, with a focus on operator-independent performance. The aim is no longer to achieve the highest printing speed, but the most efficient overall process. Increasing productivity is the greatest potential source of earnings for industrial print shops, which is why Heidelberg, as a technology leader, is pressing ahead with digitization of the pressroom. There are basically two different models: Heidelberg Transaction offers customized individual solutions, while Heidelberg Subscription covers all stages of production on a volume-based basis in the form of a production system. We are confident that we will continue to increase the share of contract business in total sales and thus stabilize sales. Do you believe the regional market still has potential and opportunities? With new markets opening up like KSA and Israel, do you believe there are more opportunities popping up? Regional markets will always have big potential. As local manufacturing and local demand for printing is increasing, printers have to make a smart choice: They should know how to invest and where to invest. Label and folding carton will be at the forefront – however, digital transformation and optimization will be the key for their success. The Middle East region has always been open to many markets, but we have seen during crisis periods that the opportunities come from within the region. Will companies replace full-time employees with contingent workers as a cost-saving measure? From my point of view I don’t think that this business model is applicable in the Middle East, as most employees are expats and they need a sponsor to be able to stay in the country. However, as long as there are opportunities, printers will need their employees. We have even seen some who are still hiring in the relevant area. In a post-pandemic world do you believe companies should focus less on roles and more on skills? No doubt that more roles will be given to employees – however, skills are very important in our industry. Skilled employees are essential to deliver quality products with high efficiency.

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IDENTIFYING NEW WAYS TO ENGAGE WITH CUSTOMERS Giuliano Bianchet, VP Sales Director EAMER, Print, Kodak, speaks about the effects of COVID-19 on the industry and how companies can hit the reset button How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your business? Our business has been affected like all businesses around the world. We have had to find alternative ways to engage with customers and prospects. Through virtual product launches, webinars, and other communication methods, we have continued to stay connected to serve our customers. What were the key learning from this pandemic? Communication is key. We are in constant dialogue with our customers, partners and employees throughout the pandemic. We are using this unique situation to identify new ways to engage with our customers. Did you come across new and innovative opportunities for diversification and monetization? In an effort to provide assistance during the pandemic, Kodak supplied isopropyl alcohol (IPA) to aid in the production of “NYS Clean” hand sanitizer for use in New York. And we continue to look at other ways to bring Kodak’s resources and technology in the fight against this pandemic. Tell us about ways through which businesses can reshape or hit the restart button? We would recommend that printers make smart investments in technology that enables you to keep up with emerging trends such as smaller print runs, personalization, and offering your customers a more responsive as well as more flexible service – without compromising quality.

What sort of dialogues have you had with your employees, partners, clients about the way forward? Our dialogues with employees have been around their safety, providing tools for on-going home working, and measures within the workplace for returning to work. Dialogues between our customers and partners have included a new way of working, via webinars, virtual meetings, and how we can help grow their business with Kodak solutions through virtual product demos and safe on-site meetings. Are there any new markets that have opened up with opportunities during the pandemic period? Packaging continues to grow, and Kodak is capitalizing on that opportunity with our new packaging presses powered by KODAK STREAM and ULTRASTREAM continuous inkjet Technology. What is the scenario of the printing sector in the region? Have you seen any major diversification in other areas by major players in the industry? The local print sector is under pressure due to the pandemic worldwide. However, printers who were well-diversified and efficient can survive and continue to do so. The packaging sector was declared as essential, and hence many offset and packaging printers were able to continue production. Governments have also offered support in terms of discounts in utilities, rent-free period etc. which has helped. Commercial printers need to make hard choices to meet

post-COVID business challenges. Those choices include eliminating or updating processes, reducing, or reallocating employees, as well as merger and acquisition decisions. Tell us about how your products and solutions can help your customers diversify into new areas for business continuity? To survive as a business in the current climate and diversify into new areas, products such as the KODAK NEXFINITY Digital Press, will enable printers to expand their offerings and enter new markets. The Uteco Sapphire EVO presses for packaging printers, which provide fast, cost-effective low to mid-run production, customization of packaging will provide the possibility to attract new brand clients. Do you believe the regional market still has potential and opportunities? With new markets opening up like KSA and Israel, do you believe there are more opportunities popping up? Yes, there will be many more opportunities in the region. Once the demand is back to pre-COVID levels, the print procurement will also follow. Special economic zones are being developed around the region to encourage manufacturing and trade. In a post-pandemic world do you believe companies should focus less on roles and more on skills? It will always be a top priority for organizations to recruit and retain employees with the right skills sets. Talented and highly skilled employees will be more competitive in our challenging and changing market.

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"The Pandemic Has Leapfrogged the Adaptation of Digital Services" Anurag Agrawal, the Managing Director of Canon Middle East and Turkey, speaks about how businesses can reshape themselves after a pandemic How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected Canon Middle East? The COVID-19 pandemic has affected organisations across the globe. Every organisation – large or small - has faced the challenge to respond to the current crisis, recover from it, and reimagine their business post COVID-19. Organisations that are successful in navigating these changes do have one thing in common: they are resilient. As a business our focus is on supporting continuity not only for us but also for our customers and partners. The challenge over the past months was to go where our customers are – by extending our support through whichever channel we can and by identifying creative ways to engage with them and drive work efficiency and minimise disruption. Looking ahead and as we witness a gradual pick up of the economy where activities and business opportunities are resuming, we are focusing on recovering and reimagining our business to cater to the rapid accelerated digital transformation with its opportunities that emerged from the situation. With digitisation trends, we will continue to adapt to new ways of working, fine-tuning where necessary and look into how to

best serve our customers in the future and prepare them to meet this new challenge to cater to new market demands. This process is important for multiple businesses across all industries. What were the key learnings from this pandemic? One of the key learnings from the pandemic is that change is the only constant. Over the years, Canon Middle East has invested heavily into digital technologies to deliver the richest and most innovative products and services to satisfy customers’ creative need. These technologies such as Managed Cloud Services, Business Process Consulting, mobile and cloud-based printing and scanning solutions, cloud-based document management accessible from anywhere, have helped us to ensure business continuity and operational excellence. With the rise of digital technologies and e-commerce, we will continue to enhance our ecosystem of products and services to cater to the evolving needs of our customers and partners. Did you come across any new and innovative opportunities for diversification and monetisation? We have been assessing solutions that will cater to the future needs of our customers. We have announced this month a new

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innovative solution to meet our clients evolving needs as a result of the pandemic. With the transition to working from home for most organisations, we are extending our Managed Print Services (MPS) to our clients to support their remote working models. The new Hybrid Workspace Solutions is built on the robust infrastructure of the uniFLOW Online platform and a wide range of compatible devices. This scalable offering can provide both new and existing Canon customers an easy way to incorporate home-office into their centralised device and information management strategy; all within one straightforward contract. This option allows employees to move seamlessly between multiple working environments and access a consistent experience, with all the documents and data they need readily available. In addition, as a result of the pandemic, we see an exponential growth in video content. Studies indicate that being forced to stay indoors and practice safe distancing resulted in 60% increase in the amount of video content watched globally, with additional projections indicating that over 80% of the global internet traffic in 2022, will come from video. We see this as an opportunity, this is where we add value as Canon with our

imaging products and services that make the content creation experience more innovative, seamless and enjoyable – especially for youth in the region who are demonstrating serious interest in these digital imaging products and solutions. How can businesses reshape themselves after the pandemic? Businesses need to be more agile in their approach. We need to innovate and research to better understand the needs of the market we serve. The pandemic has leapfrogged the adaptation of digital services and companies need to work on a hybrid offline and online model in order to survive and grow. Unique offerings need to be explored in order to stay afloat and customised end-to-end solutions could be a key route in order to reshape the business and expand client portfolios in what is now known as the ‘new normal’. What characterised our response is the speed with which we moved; we put in place clear protocols and guidelines, backed by advanced technological support, to ensure that our employees are well-placed to serve our customers even as they work remotely, and that our customers have the continued support necessary. For consumers, our foresight in developing our e-commerce platform allowed us to be more agile in responding to their requirements during the pandemic and ensured business continuity for us as well. Through our amplified online services, consumers have had multiple ways to connect with us and access our wide range of products with next day delivery option through e-store. This in turn allowed them to manage working from home, home schooling and other activities. And for our business customers, in addition to implementing the scalable and flexible MPS offering, we offered virtual experiences such virtual demos and consultations to identify their changing business needs. We also increased the number of engineers in our remote technical support team who are equipped to deal with most issues our customers may be facing, over the phone and through Canon’s unique remote support system that is inbuilt in the machines. Our aim has always been to stay closer and connected with our customers, and all these services we adapted to suit the current working environment, culminated in a quick and effective strategy to tackle the challenges brought on by the pandemic. What kind of dialogues has Canon Middle East had with its employees, partners and clients about the way forward? At Canon Middle East, we work and live together for the common good as per our corporate philosophy - Kyosei. Our employees, partners and clients are the core pillars of our business. During the pandemic, we ensured sustained communications with partners and clients and other stakeholders reassured them of our services. In order to plan ahead, we have adopted the Response, Recover and Reimagine model where we have embarked on a well-structured crisis response and evaluated contin-

gencies for immediate cost savings, with a focused approach on streamlining our systems to optimise our digital transformation initiatives and launched several initiatives to prepare us for the future. We have communicated our commitment towards serving the needs of our customers to our clients. We already have a hybrid model of servicing that enables our clients to operate remotely whether they work from home or office. We have taken utmost care of our employees as they are our responsibility. We are already preparing them for the changes in our industry with a variety of programmes and initiatives to upskill their knowledge. Are there any new markets that have opened up with opportunities during the pandemic period? Canon Middle East is focused on delivering a wide range of digital products and services ecosystem that enable us and our customers to succeed at home and in the office, and help companies work faster and smarter, thereby boosting efficiencies and driving growth. In the near future, we see that such services will be required across all the markets. In order to better prepare ourselves for the upcoming opportunities, we have enhanced our internal and external communications and maintained an authentic, positive and transparent approach to reaching out to our employees and clients. Our commitment to sustainability practices also continued throughout this past period and we view it as an integral part of the economic recovery phase. We are positive these measures will help us in terms of new opportunities. How do the products and solutions of Canon Middle East help its customers to diversify into new areas for business continuity? Canon offers a wide range of ecosystem of imaging products for businesses from input to output. The Canon Ecosystem is in fact the only brand that offers an endto-end ecosystem of imaging products and services, supporting our customers through every stage of their imaging journey, across a host of devices they require and equally supporting their business diversification and digital transformation objectives. On the business side, we recently launched the imagePRESS C10010VP setting new standards in Digital cut-sheet colour production. It is for commercial print businesses, creative agencies, or in-house print rooms looking to boost productivity, while delivering a diverse mix of high-quality printed output. We also launched the updated ColorWave and PlotWave large format printer series. Comprising three ColorWave models (3600, 3800 and 9000) and five monochrome PlotWave models (3000, 3500, 5000, 5500 and 7500), the series has been designed to support and encourage creativity in all organisations at every stage of the design process - from the visualisation of ideas, through the developmental process to final designs.

With most of business leaders, across all industries, intending to accelerate their digital transformation, Canon is geared up to support them with their digitisation journey through our Managed Print Services and Information Management solutions, which have several benefits such as reduced burden on IT staff, financial savings by improved monitoring, prevention of data breach and an overall reduced carbon footprint. Our business services also include Managed Cloud Services, Business Process Consulting, support and maintenance as well as Device Lifecycle Services. Canon Middle East is focused on delivering a wide range of digital services that enable us and our customers to succeed at home and in the office, and help companies work faster and smarter, thereby boosting efficiencies and driving growth. Most importantly our products and services are not only designed with a creative approach, they are also designed to work flawlessly. We have taken huge efforts to make sure that our products across various categories are ‘device agnostic’ and work on every platform. From mobile and cloudbased printing and scanning solutions to cloud-based document management that is accessible from anywhere – home, office or on the road. In a post-pandemic world, do you believe companies should focus less on roles and more on skills? Gone are the days when organisations could excel by providing only one particular service to their clients. Today, clients expect holistic and end-to-end enterprise solutions along with 24/7 support and service in order to better manage their own business. Organisations need to ensure they justify their returns on investments. In order to make it in the ‘new normal’, companies must have a flexible approach toward their employees instead of focusing on roles. There is a strong need to nurture multi-skilled workforce that can be flexible as well as innovative in their approach towards client challenges and problems. Do you believe the regional market still has potential and opportunities? With new markets opening up like Saudi Arabia and Israel, do you believe there are more opportunities in those markets? Saudi Arabia was one of the countries that implemented early and extraordinary preventive measures to tackle COVID-19 and mitigate its impact on society and the economy. Canon is committed towards Saudi Arabia’s social and economic growth and we had set up our direct operations in the Kingdom two years ago. Recently on Saudi Arabia’s National Day, we reiterated our objective of being closer to our customers, delivering high quality products and customer service, and creating a multitude of business opportunities to achieve the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. One of the ways was to enhance and strengthen our tech-based, hybrid operational model to enable more flexibility for our customers and support them transition to a digital working environment that ensures their business continuity.

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"It's the Best Time to Innovate!"

Abdelghany Eladib, the COO of SIG Combibloc Obeikan, speaks about the effects of the pandemic on the market and the corrective measures to steer businesses back on track How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your business? With national lockdowns, restricted airspace and closed borders, COVID-19 has brought widespread disruption to economies around the world. And this disruption has placed a huge strain on the world’s supply chains, particularly when it comes to the continued provision and movement of food. From farms and factories to distribution and retail, serious challenges have materialised at every stage of the supply chain. Not least of which has been the restriction and removal of key workers to protect lives, as well as surges in demand for many household goods and items, particularly packaged and shelf-stable food products. In many markets, food and beverage companies have been classified as essential, meaning a significant proportion of producers and manufacturers have had to stay open, maintain operations as normal and even increase production. All while navigating prohibitive lockdown conditions, following strict social distancing, and implementing stringent pandemic protocols. As essential suppliers to all food and beverage manufacturers, we made sure to keep the chain going while staying agile to constantly changing circumstances. For many industries, COVID-19 has hugely disrupted traditional supply chain models, particularly raw material sourcing and logistics. But at SIG, we believe we have a strong and resil-

ient supply chain that’s able to cope with the current situation, and is ready for any similar challenges we may face in the future. Together with our suppliers, we’ve managed to ensure a constant supply and availability of raw materials. Our supply chain also contains planned safety stocks that make us resilient to short-term challenges in inbound and outbound logistics, raw materials and consumables. And thanks to the extraordinary efforts of our teams, we’ve been able to operate at near full capacity. So, while we don’t know how long the current crisis will continue, we’re confident we can keep meeting our customers’ needs – even with spikes in demands. What were the key learning from this pandemic? As soon as the coronavirus pandemic hit, millions of people around the world turned to more digital and low-touch solutions. From online food shopping and videoconferencing to telemedicine and remote education, the adoption of online activities was immediate and necessary to continue working, learning, entertaining, procuring daily essentials and connecting with others. We, at SIG Combibloc Obeikan, have been adopting digitalization across our lines and operations for some time now but with the challenges of the pandemic, these have been proven useful to our customers. We can now support them from afar using our remote support with the help and expertise of skilled talent from across the world anytime

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and anywhere. According to insights from consultants McKinsey, the COVID-19 crisis has significantly accelerated the shift to digital and fundamentally shake up the business landscape. Even before the pandemic, McKinsey found that 92% of companies thought their business models would need to change given digitalisation. Today, the crisis has exposed just how vulnerable many businesses are with the only option now to radically accelerate their digital transformation. For businesses that have already embraced digital transformation, this digital reality won’t have come as a shock. In fact, they’ve been in a position to not only weather the storm, but perhaps emerge from this crisis stronger than ever. Put simply, producers and manufacturers that embrace digital solutions quicker will be better equipped to recover faster and be prepared for any future disruptions in their operations and supply chains. Did you come across new and innovative opportunities for diversification and monetization? As countries begin to reopen, all eyes are looking ahead to the ‘next normal’. Current consumer research shows that few expect to go back to their old behaviors any time soon, and will now shop with a greater awareness for food safety, transparency and responsibility. We can also expect a renewed vigor when it comes to new launches, with brands

and producers fighting back to emerge from the crisis even stronger. The same can be expected for manufacturers and their efforts towards digital transformation – accelerating the shift to more digital solutions, remote services and low-touch activities. Looking at the silver lining, this pandemic has triggered a more sustainable way of living and a shift in consumer behaviors. We witness the emergence of major trends with some appearing locally and others getting popularity in global markets. These include a rise in demand for immunity supplements including ice tea, flavored, water and plant based beverages and finally preference for home cooking and convenient food packages. We also witnessed an increase in demand for family size shelf stable milk since the pandemic has started accompanied with an increased global demand. As families are staying safe at home, purchases have been focused on shelve stocking for milk products. Many of our partners have been utilizing the flexibility of our machines to produce multiple products and diversify their offerings in the market. Tell us about ways through which businesses can reshape or hit the restart button? For businesses in the food and beverage industry, we can highlight few ways or opportunities to dive into the next normal and succeed. •

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Look at the behavior of the post-corona consumer and re-shift your strategy to cater to new needs: More online shopping. Increasing digital interactions. A greater awareness of food safety. Many of the behaviours seen during COVID-19 are likely to continue for some time with consumers cautious about returning to their old habits. But this caution is being countered with celebration and a demand for new and exciting products. This is the best time to innovate: Perceived value will be hugely important in economically challenging times while the demand for plant-based products, immunity supplements including ice tea, flavored, water is set to be strong with more preference for home cooking and convenient food packages. All these new demands pave the way for healthier and added-value products. It is time to be drive the digital acceleration: The coronavirus pandemic drove life online. And according to industry experts, this is likely to accelerate the digital transformation and fundamentally shake up the business landscape. Because those that embrace digital solutions quicker will be better equipped to recover faster and be prepared for any future disruptions. Finally, making the right impact: COVID-19 has put the spotlight on companies that are socially responsible – and those that aren’t. Now is the time for brands and producers to

consider their contribution to society and their impact on the planet. And, crucially, how they can effectively minimise the footprint of their products and processes. Finally, in a post-corona world, manufacturers need to be more flexible and agile than ever to stay competitive. What sort of dialogues have you had with your employees, partners, clients about the way forward? In the food and beverage industry, many producers and manufacturers were defined as businesses providing essential services. This saw many companies not only running day and night to maintain the supply of food but repurposing their production to make sanitising products, offering generous charitable donations, and pledging financial security to employees.

packaging, technology and solutions can add real value, enabling producers to provide more safe, convenient and differentiated shelf-stable products. What sort of growth has the packaging industry seen, considering the growth of online deliveries and the e-commerce market over the past couple of months? The COVID-19 crisis has plunged the world into an economic recession post government lockdown, leaving behind high unemployment and consumers with lower spending power. The packaging industry globally has seen 5 megatrends over the past few years, which include: • • • •

Sustainability Rise of e-commerce Packaged digitalization Change in consumer preference (Price vs. health conscious) Disrupted supply chain

At SIG, we responded with our own range of projects and initiatives to stand up to COVID-19 – to protect our employees, serve our communities, and support our customers and supply chains during a period of uncertainty. It’s been encouraging to see so many companies and organisations coming together to help overcome this crisis. Together with all our customers, partners and suppliers, we’ve been doing what we can to make sure a health crisis doesn’t become a food supply crisis. Our main focus remains on the health and safety of our employees and front liners.

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For the way forward, we have been enabling our customers to seize these opportunities to reach new levels of efficiency, productivity and agility in their business, while leveraging the power of our digital solutions, Smart Factory and Connected Pack solutions. We have also been sharing the latest consumer and product trends and have been working with our ACCELERATOR solution. This is a Modular Marketing Service that can help our customers to launch innovative new products at shorter time, lower costs and with a higher market success rate. In this collaborative journey, we support our customers in turning innovative ideas into final concepts through 4 stages: Ideation, Design, Piloting, and Promotion

Increased loss of business and unemployment, resulting to a marked drop in consumer buying power is impacting how people choose and shop products. Brands and producers need to consider whether their portfolios are aligned with the needs of post-corona consumers.

Are there any new markets that have opened up with opportunities during the pandemic period? In recent months, it’s been well reported how many people have been stockpiling grocery basics and essentials, such as packaged goods, toilet paper and cleaning products. Another immediate impact is that out-of-home consumption has dropped significantly while at-home consumption has increased. Online grocery shopping, meanwhile, has also risen in popularity. According to research from the International Food Information Council this has resulted in a marked change in eating habits with consumers buying more packaged foods, shelf-stable products and easy-to-prepare meals, as well as more snack products. It’s also lead to an increased awareness of product safety with consumer concerns focused firmly on hygiene and food safety. All of which are areas where SIG’s aseptic

The change in customer preference and disrupted supply chain has further been exacerbated by the pandemic. Consumers are more health conscious and are seeking better alternatives. But the question yet to be answered is at what price. As many economies go into recession and spending power remains low, consumers might resort to cheaper products. From a business perspective, supply chain disruption from lockdown has put massive economic constraint on costs, leaving companies to adjust their strategy accordingly.

With an increasing strain on budgets, many will be forced to continue basic or frugal shopping for some time. But it’s important to also remember that following a long period of monotony and restriction, with limited choices and a slowdown in launches, many consumers will actually be looking for new products and added-value experiences. It becomes clear that a one-size-fits-all approach to products won’t work today. Producers need maximum flexibility on their filling lines with the ability to quickly switch between different formats and volumes on the same machine. With SIG’s agile and flexible filling system, we can enable customers to fill every kind of product from affordable to premium. It’s quick and easy to switch between different formats, volumes, designs and products. For instance, customers can use a single filling machine to fill carton packs in our combibloc, combifit and combistyle formats with the same base dimensions, meaning they can make a product more or less premium in appearance and ingredients. Our machines even allow customers to fill up to nine different volumes with a single system – and it only takes a few minutes to complete the changeover. Also, if a customer sells internationally, or makes the same product under two different brands, he’ll be able to change pack designs without stopping production.

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Businesses Should Accelerate Their Digital Transformation Efforts Mohammed Amer, the Vice President and Regional Manager at Xerox MEA, speaks about the key learnings over the past few months and how businesses can hit the reset button to start over PRINTPACK MEA | November 2020

How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your business? The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted how businesses worldwide function. At Xerox, while the bulk of our markets were fully or partially shut down during the second quarter of this year, our team’s financial discipline enabled us to deliver positive earnings per share and cash flow while continuing to invest in key areas of growth. We made sure to stand by our employees and customers, making sure we communicate with them and offer our support every step of the way. Knowing that the pandemic will have a long-lasting effect on the workplace, we decided to act quickly be developing new technologies that help during such disrupted times. We made sure to have a futuristic approach, by commissioning the Future of Work survey and Make Now Work technologies that look to the future. What were the key learnings from this pandemic? We must always act fast, be prepared, resilient, and resourceful. Businesses who have quickly adapted to the pandemic since its onset in March are the ones who quickly bounced back up the curve. Moreover, communication, cooperation, and collaboration is key to moving forward. Forming solutions is certainly easier when working together with our teams and relevant organisations. Finally, the pandemic taught us that investing in remote work technology and digitization is not a choice but a must going forward. Did you come across new and innovative opportunities for diversification and monetization? Across Xerox, we used our heritage of innovation to contribute to the COVID-19 response and support. In the early days, we successfully worked with Voltran Medical to produce much-needed ventilators. We also developed and launched the Xerox Team Availability App to help customers better manage their staff dynamics. Xerox also pivoted on existing remote work and workflow solutions to help our customers change their work practices to support an agile work force. Tell us about ways through which businesses can reshape or hit the restart button? Businesses should be open to new and revolutionary ways of work. The future requires businesses to accelerate their digital transformation efforts and equip themselves with a progressive and innovative mindset. Cloud collaboration and automation software are fast-tracked tickets to succeeding in a COVID-impacted work environment. What sort of dialogues have you had with your employees, partners, clients about the way forward? First, the safety of our employees, partners, and customers is paramount, in the early days of the pandemic we worked quickly to follow local government advice to provide a safe engagement environment to operate in. Following this, we mobilized to talk to our customers to understand the changing environment by

launching an international “Future of Work” survey. Through this, we have listened to our customer’s changes in work practices, key concerns, and plans for the future, and based on this we can make our discussions with them more accurate to their requirements and how we can support them. Are there any new markets that have opened up with opportunities during the pandemic period? The pandemic has created an opportunity for international investors and companies to invest in the infrastructure of emerging markets. Such developing markets were hit by a storm due to COVID-19 and are currently navigating through the consequences. It would be a good opportunity to explore such markets that offer a ripe environment for businesses to invest in them. According to you, how can companies prepare themselves for a post COVID world? The post-COVID world is unprecedented and challenging, and companies have a lot to prepare for. The pandemic has certainly stimulated digital transformation and innovation efforts and companies will have to rely on technological advancements to ensure employees’ productivity. Expanding tech budgets to include remote IT support, reliable cloud software and online collaboration tools is something companies need to prioritize moving forward. Businesses can also start prioritizing investments in technology that can draw data, automate workflows, personalize at scale, and powerup a flexible and adaptable workforce Ensuring that employees have all the resources required regardless of their physical location is crucial in a COVID-impacted world. What sort of growth has the packaging industry seen, considering the growth of online deliveries and the e-commerce market over the past couple of months? The packaging industry saw significant growth over the years, and we have also noticed a significant growth in online deliveries and the e-commerce market. Smart packaging, for example, is still at the beginning of its development but is expected to reach over $25 Billion by 2024 because of its immense potential. Consumers demand authentic, safe, and intelligent products; and brands are constantly looking for ways to protect themselves from the threats of counterfeiting. That is where smart packaging leverages both brand owners’ and consumers’ needs. Smart packaging that can store, sense, compute and wirelessly communicate information — acting as if the package has a mind of its own. What is the present situation of the printing sector in the region? Have you seen any major diversifications in other areas by major players in the industry? The printing industry currently revolves around helping Print Service Providers become more digitally competent, to enable them to provide new value to their customers and make print more relevant to the consumer, in all its forms, with an underlying goal of driving sustainable and relevant print. Today, digital printing is the direction that the industry is taking, providing

a more green and sustainable form of printing since digital documents can be shared in numerous ways without the need to utilise actual paper material. The printing industry is also rapidly evolving in the workplace. Having thoughtful and user-friendly features in a printer are what the workforce is looking for now. We provide so much more than a machine – we provide a workplace assistant. Tell us about how your products and solutions can help your customers diversify into new areas for business continuity? The world around us is evolving fast, and for us slowing down is not an option. That is why we have a ‘Global Digital Support’ that assists our customers and partners around the world. With built-in, intuitive guidance, a robust online knowledge base, and experts on call, our customers can get fixes for mission-critical devices, fast. Our vision is to leverage our heritage of embracing innovation to help our customers find better ways of working. We achieve this by investing and creating new document technologies, products and services that improve our customers’ work processes and business results. For example, our ConnectKey portfolio delivers smart, connected workplace assistants that reflect the evolving needs of today’s businesses. Personalised workflows, one-touch access to the cloud and multi-layered security features are the new print, copy and fax. The Connectkey platform also allows for the bespoke development and use of apps which enable a new level of customisation to our customers, simplifying frequently used workflows and functions but is also able to be applied to more complex and extensive processes to help our customers become more efficient, productive and focus on their core businesses. Will companies replace full-time employees with contingent workers as a cost-saving measure? The pandemic resulted in economic uncertainty, which disrupted careers and exposed us to different work models. With many jobs lost, people started looking towards nontraditional and flexible work models such as contingent work or freelancing. Many organizations have responded to the pandemic’s economic impact by reducing their budgets and maintaining more flexibility in the workforce. They seemed to be able to achieve this by relying on contingent workers. It is likely that we will see more disruptions in the way the workforce is built. In a post-pandemic world do you believe companies should focus less on roles and more on skills? If there is anything the pandemic taught us, it is that most organizations no longer measure productivity in terms of the number of hours employees spend at their desks, but by whether the tasks get done in an efficient and timely manner. Therefore, our focus should be on upskilling our staff and ensuring that we are improving them, building on their expertise, and honing them.

IN TERVIE W

PRINTPACK MEA | November 2020

THE IMPORTANCE OF QUALIFIED WORKFORCE IS PARAMOUNT Ashish Panjabi of Jackys, speaks about the opportunities in the regional printing industry, the impact of the pandemic on the regional industry and more How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your business? Directly as a result of COVID-19, there was a slowdown in the short-term but as it became business as usual, we are seeing business beginning to return. What were the key learnings from this pandemic? The key learning was that you need to continue a dialogue with your customers and suppliers during these challenging times. Without a discussion, there is no possibility of reaching a result that works for everyone. Did you come across new and innovative opportunities for diversification and monetization? For the printing, signage and cutting segments that we serve, we have been seeing a lot of diversification in the interior and customization sectors – though this began well before the start of the pandemic. Large format printing, too, has opened new segments and new application opportunities from printing and cutting on a diverse range of products and materials. During the pandemic, we started with supporting many of our customers with creating safety and social distance signage and as businesses continue to open, safety dividers and face shields created by our Zund cutters. Tell us about ways through which businesses can reshape or hit the restart button? The core challenge many businesses need to realize is that they have to build a business that is sustainable. It is easy to push a lot of things under the rug and blame it on COVID-19. The fact is that many issues that people in the print industry faced,

existed well before COVID-19 but got exasperated once order cycles or cash cycles slowed down or ground to a halt. We, as a company, had identified several things that weren’t working for us before COVID-19 struck and started discussions with our teams about this. The fact that we changed our operating structures after COVID-19 was merely a reflection of the fact that the decisions had been taken earlier and we knew what changes we had to make for our business to sustain itself. What sort of dialogues have you had with your employees, partners, clients about the way forward? There are basic fundamentals that come into play when we have these discussions. They revolve around lower operating costs, increasing revenue opportunities and gaining more yield / efficiency out of ours and their investments or resources. We increased our focus on application training during this period for clients and with our suppliers, we organized several webinars for our customers to increase their knowledge as well. Automation is a big part of gaining efficiencies or increasing yield, so products like our Zund cutters have actually sold more in this period as it can replace labour-intensive work. What is the scenario of the printing sector in the region? Have you seen any major diversifications in other areas by major players in the industry? What we’ve seen is those who kept their cost base lean have done better. Several larger customers are struggling because they’ve over-committed and

are uncompetitive in their fields now. Tell us about how your products and solutions can help your customers diversify into new areas for business continuity? With Zund, we’re able to replace several labour-intensive jobs whether it be cutting, creasing or punching holes. We’ve seen customers expand from serving not only the graphics market but also move into serving manufacturing segments. With the HP Stitch textile printers, we’ve seen the growth of customized and local fashion. With the increased acceptance of online platforms, there are people using this technology for personalizing design work. Do you believe the regional market still has potential and opportunities? With new markets opening up like KSA and Israel, do you believe there are more opportunities popping up? The fact that Israeli technology can be imported will open the opportunity for many brands to come into the market. We have already signed with Massivit, a leading manufacturer of large scale 3D printers that is ideal for the visual display market. Will companies replace full-time employees with contingent workers as a cost-saving measure? If labour laws allow this, yes. In a post-pandemic world do you believe companies should focus less on roles and more on skills? The importance of a qualified workforce is paramount and with online training becoming more accessible, we should see better quality resources in our region.

WOMEN IN PRINT

MORE WOMEN SHOULD ENTER THE PRINT BUSINESS Sabine Geldermann, the Director of drupa and the Global Head of Print Technologies at Messe DÃ¼sseldorf, speaks about her leadership style, the reasons she chose the printing and graphics arts industry as a career opportunity, and more PRINTPACK MEA | November 2020

Tell us about your leadership style and philosophy. Everyone is only as good as their team. And a great team spirit comes from integrity and team work – in every respect, regardless of gender, nationality or background. Diverse talents add different strengths to each team and make it successful. In addition, the identification with the project, the passion for winning and the cumulation of all-important core competencies play a decisive role. As in many team sports, milestones, and victories bond together and drive success. What made you choose the Printing and Graphics Arts Industry as a career opportunity? How has your unique background prepared you for success in the industry? I started my professional career at leading international trade fair organizers such as Blenheim International and Miller Freeman. At Reed Exhibitions Deutschland GmbH, I most recently headed the Promotional Product Service Institute as Director PSI and was a member of the extended management board. Besides, I have been responsible for various international trade fairs during my career, such as IFM, International Franchise Fair, as well as the viscom and pro sign trade fairs. In addition to sales and marketing, I have placed a special focus on the strategic development of the brands and have continuously expanded them at national and international level. Before joining Messe Düsseldorf in 2013, I was a member of the divisional management of the largest technical scientific network for engineers, the VDI, Verein Deutscher Ingenieure e.V. My experience in the international trade fair sector, coupled with the technical expertise of the VDI, created the ideal basis for my current area of responsibility, drupa. What is your role in your current place of employment? I am Director of drupa and Global Head of Print Technologies at Messe Düsseldorf. Working in such a fascinating industry is a huge motivating factor for me. I am very proud of having the overall responsibility for drupa and our satellite trade shows in Asia. I am pleased to share this extraordinary and at the same time challenging task as a great personal experience with the industry.

What advice would you give to women looking to break into the field of print and related industry? My leading position as a female director is certainly an encouragement as well as a very positive signal given the fact that the printing industry is still dominated by men – at least concerning the CEO and management level. It is a given fact that the percentage of women in a technically driven, engineering industry is still low. A positive observation from my side is, however, that our industry is focusing much more intensively than in the past to recruit and involve talented women. Universities and associations for example are campaigning for natural science subjects and trying to increase the recruitment of female talents. Besides, in addition to the technical understanding of my area of responsibility, analytical and strategic thinking as well as marketing and sales skills are essential and play a decisive role. Women are generally very strong with these abilities – looking at many other industry segments on a global level. And these are competencies where new and diverse are especially valuable. I would therefore like to encourage more women to dare entering the print business as well and not let them be put off too quickly by the technical side of the field. What is the greatest transformation in the industry that you’ve witnessed in your career? drupa 2021’s slogan is “embrace the future”. Contrary to 2016’s “touch the future” it already shows that during the past years the printing industry has dived much more into future technologies. We are in the middle of a digital transformation that has a huge impact on what drupa is about to show in April 2021. Also, the industry has evolved in new areas of applications such as smart and intelligent packaging production as well as embellishment, industrial and functional as well as textile printing. These days, diversification is the key to success in a world where consumers are always connected, easily compare prices and loyalty declines. At drupa 2021 we will look into how other industries cope with global trends and their impact on our industry. Print and packaging will definitely have significant synergy effects, and prosper and grow due to the potential of packaging production. We’ll address competitive thinking and speak about how printing processes

will be impacted due to ongoing growth potential in packaging production in all vertical markets such as food, non-food, pharma and cosmetics. What are your thoughts on the next transformation in the print and graphics industry? The current trend and focus themes defined for drupa 2021 are of the highest relevance. These are various megatrends that have already influenced and will influence our industry: Industry 4.0, data-driven applications, automation, artificial intelligence, autonomous printing, smart factory, circular economy, sustainability and much more. We continue to pursue significant issues concerning the ongoing digital transformation, topics related to recycling management and sustainability or new business models in order to inspire and successfully advise companies – and this will be more relevant than ever after the impact of COVID-19. drupa brings the relevant future and trend topics of the industry into focus with top-class conferences: the five drupa hotspots. They will be enriched by renowned speakers who will illuminate development potential and new business models. Are you involved in any sort of volunteer work? Can you give us some details? drupa is involved as a sponsor in various projects: for example, in the cultural sector in cooperation with the Gutenberg Museum or in the promotion of young scientists with the drupa Prize. The drupa Prize is an award for a particularly commendable dissertation from the subject areas being researched at the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Düsseldorf. The drupa Prize is awarded annually. The endowment includes the production costs of the prize-winning work and a limited edition. Besides, since 2005, I am personally a member of the Lions Club Düsseldorf Rheinuferpromenade and engaged in various charity activities as a volunteer. Our activities focus on raising funds and donating those primarily to child aid projects such as hospices for children, the Children’s Eye Cancer Foundation or the Gerald Asamoah Foundation for children with heart disease just to mention a few. Our projects follow the principle mission statement “You can’t get very far until you start doing something for somebody else.” – Melvin Jones – Founder Lions Clubs International.

PRINTING PRESS WATCH

Palestine to Set Up a National Printing Press Before the End of the Year

UAE Printer Chooses Lombardi Synchroline Press Vinsak, the exclusive distributor of Lombardi presses in the UAE and the Indian sub-continent, has announced the installation of a new Lombardi Synchroline 430 press at Aquarius Printing Press in the UAE. Ranesh Bajaj, Vinsak, said, “We completed the installation at the end of August and the press has been in production since September 1. The new press features delam-relam, web turn, cold and hot foil stamping. With a wider deckle, compared to the regular presses, the advantage of this press is faster turnaround of jobs.”

The General Supervisor of Official Media, Ahmad Assaf, has said that the Palestinian people will have their first national printing press before the end of this year. He said during a tour of the premise of the press on the outskirts of Ramallah with the Indian Ambassador to Palestine, Sunil Kumar, that the national press building is a vital project for the Palestinian people and that a million and a half Palestinian students will benefit directly from this project as textbooks will be printed there in addition to all the stationary of the ministries and institutions of the Palestinian National Authority. Assaf referred to the generous support and care by President Mahmoud Abbas, without which the project would not have progressed in this way despite the difficult circumstances with the Corona pandemic and the financial crisis resulting from the Israeli occupation state’s withholding of the Palestinian tax revenues, stressing that despite all this, work is going on according to schedule and that the Palestinian people will have a national printing press before the end of this year. He said the printing press will be able

to meet all printing needs, including postage stamps, and everything related to national and sovereign symbols. For his part, Ambassador Kumar said that this project will be a model for the rest of the Indian projects offered to the Palestinian people, and it is a reflection of the common relationship between India and Palestine. He said that what was accomplished in this project and its continuation despite all the obstacles was a result of the efforts and constant follow-up by Minister Assaf and the culmination of joint work between the two sides. “We are confident that you will continue to work until the end of the project, which will be a model for Indian-Palestinian projects, and for projects presented by other parties as well,” he said, saluting President Mahmoud Abbas for his efforts in terms of guidance and direction so that this project could see the light of day. It is worth noting that the building of the National Printing Press is funded by the Palestinian National Authority, and the printing machines are provided as a grant from the Indian government.

PRINTPACK MEA | November 2020

Mathews Oommen, general manager, Aquarius Printing Press, said: ‘We are committed to employing dedicated staff, investing in the very best technology available and maintaining a close involvement with the industry. Our object is to deliver the world’s best labels that help our customers build and grow their brands and add value to our community. With this infrastructure, we are confident that we can cater to a wider printing and packaging requirements in the MENA region.’ ‘Vinsak has been highly supportive and instrumental in helping us to finalize on the Synchroline flexo machine. The team assisted us in installing and beginning production even during the times of the pandemic,’ said Oommen. Established in 1990, Aquarius Printing Press has grown over the last three decades. As part of expansion and diversification, an 8-color flexo press is already installed to cater to the pressure-sensitive labels segment. In the future, the company plans to cater to shrink sleeves and in-mold labels segments as well as evaluate board printing capabilities on the Synchroline.

PRINTING PRESS WATCH

Sassoon Holdings Launches 3D Print Global Venture

Troika Systems Calls on Printers to Measure and Control for COVID-19 Stability

US-based private equity firm Sassoon Holdings Group has announced details of a new global 3D print venture, through which it aims to access national markets in countries all around the world. MASS 3D will initially focus on Greece, with Sassoon Holdings planning to launch a flagship 3D service bureau in the capital city of Athens before the end of the current year. Sassoon Holdings then plans to build on this initial opening by also establishing 3D print centres in its native US, as well as in Italy, the UK and the Middle East within the next two years. “We have identified immense opportunity in Greece and are aiming to help develop the country’s technology sector, which will in turn generate jobs and attract foreign investments,” Sassoon Holdings’' chief executive David Sassoon said.

Egypt – CBE Governor Inspects Building of New Printing Press and Cash Center at NAC Tarek Amer, Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE), inspected, on Thursday, the construction works and equipment for the new printing press building and cash centre, which are being built at the New Administrative Capital (NAC). Amer also inspected the process of installing new production lines for the printing press and its operational experiments. An official CBE source said in statements that the construction work on the new printing press is nearing completion, in preparation for it to start work. The source added that the CBE Governor also inspected the Cash Center, which was established according to the highest international standards and the latest technologies. It is set to be fully mechanised. The new printing press includes four production lines, and will print all denominations of paper and plastic currency. The Cash Center will be the largest in the Middle East, and aims to include a new cash management system with the latest modern automatic systems.

Troika Systems, the leading manufacturer of 3D scanning microscopes for the print industry, has called on printers to take control of their print measurement and analysis to drive efficiency, productivity, and sustainability, reaping the benefits while eliminating unnecessary costs during the ongoing global pandemic. The outbreak of COVID-19 has placed considerable pressure on the print packaging supply chain. Packaging printers are facing a growing need to find a balance in volume, speed, flexibility and quality to meet surges in consumer demand and market shifts. Laurie Geldenhuys, Managing Director of Troika Systems, said: “We recognise the growing burden for packaging printers to remain agile in the face of fluctuating market demands. The importance to deliver right first time and minimise waste to maintain profit margins while achieving and exceeding customer expectations has never been so important. “By introducing a comprehensive print measurement and analysis solution, printers have greater control over their print processes, creating new levels of responsiveness and versatility,” stated Geldenhuys. Troika Systems has developed the industry-leading AniCAM and supporting software solutions to assist printers to

create efficiencies and boost sustainability within operations. The AniCAM is a quality-control measuring device that provides a 3D scan, geometric measurements, and a rotatable 3D view for a complete visual inspection of plates, anilox rolls, and gravure cylinders. Geldenhuys added: “With the AniCAM, print operators can take control of pre-press checks for plate and dot gain analysis, roll performance, ink density, make-ready waste and inventory management. By doing so, quality control and print performance is optimised, saving considerable press setup time and cost. “At a time when speed to market and efficiency are so crucial, and there is a clear need to ensure continuous improvement, printers must remain focused on both eradicating waste and addressing environmental objectives to maintain their competitive edge and customer satisfaction. Sustainability may have fallen from the top of the industry agenda in recent months to meet demand, but brands and consumers have accelerated the refocus. “The impact that COVID-19 had on the print packaging supply chain brought about uncertainty in a rapidly changing marketplace. With the AniCAM, printers can achieve control and measurement to support them in the face of ongoing supply chain unpredictability.”

PACKAGING

Package and Label Printing Market to Increase to $491.1 Billion in 2025

Arlon Graphics Launches New SLX+ Print Media Film New high-performance cast vinyl product from Arlon Graphics is now available for fleet and vehicle applications. An all-season cast film packed with outstanding features to make every part of your fleet and vehicle look amazing.

Covid-19 disruption is highlighting the increased importance of packaging for the global print industry in 2020 and beyond. Data from the latest Smithers print market study – The Future of Package Printing to 2025 – shows this market will reach a projected global value of $431.6 billion in 2020, with the equivalent of 11.4 trillion A4 sheets printed. This reflects a slowing of growth as countries across the world have reacted to the coronavirus pandemic. The packaging and labels sectors have shown strong resilience however, and some segments have even grown as consumers stockpile items, and move purchases to e-commerce channels. This contrasts with much larger drops in demand for publications, advertising and other graphic printing – accelerating trends that have been defining the print industry through the 2010s. Growth in package print will continue through to 2025, reaching $491.1 billion and 13.1 trillion A4 sheet equivalents in that year – representative of a 2.6% CAGR by value – according to the Smithers forecast. As they adjust to the new commercial realities, packaging and labelling will continue to be a key focus for OEMs, technology developers, consumables suppliers, and PSPs across the next five years. By value, corrugated is the largest packaging type, followed by cartons and flexible packaging. Corrugated printed packaging is expanding through its use in primary packs and shelf-ready secondary packaging, and especially in 2020 in e-commerce sales. The increasing use in customer-facing applications demands higher print quality, and variable data customisation – which is being met by a new generation of high productivity single-pass inkjet presses. Flexible substrates are benefitting from increased demand for low-cost, lightweight, convenient packaging; such as stand-up

pouches, including retort and microwavable formats. There will be further growth in demand through to 2025; and new challenges for printers, as alternative easier to recycle materials are introduced to address concerns over plastic waste. With the exception of screen printing, all packaging print processes will grow in value to 2025. Flexo will remain the most widely used print process with a particularly high share by volume due to its use for long runs on comparatively low-cost substrates. Over the next five years the major transition will be the wider adoption of digital (inkjet and toner) print across multiple segments, especially corrugated. This will align with buyer demands for shorter runs, more customisation, and faster turnaround; which PSPs can leverage to improve service levels. While well established in labels, there remain several market barriers to the further penetration of digital into other packaging segments. These include: • •

• •

Increased education across the supply chain of the benefits of digital Optimising designs for lower ink coverage, as inkjet inks and toners have a high price, even as scaling in supply reduces per-litre prices across 2020-2025 Converters adapting operations to manage the increased flow of SKUs that can be generated with digital print Making printing more sustainable, as brand owners introduce pack designs with less plastic and new substrates.

From a regional perspective, Asia, North America, and Western Europe make up 86% of the global package print market by value. Developing markets in Asia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa will see the highest growth in demand for 20202025.

PRINTPACK MEA | November 2020

“Arlon Graphics are delighted to launch our new SLX+ print media film. Engineered to perform in all conditions with superb print quality, fast application, and clean removal, SLX+ is a true Performance Evolution,” said Andrew Huddlestone – President EMEA, Arlon. The ultra-repositionable SLX+ with FLITE Technology with deep channel warranty and exceptional multi-surface adhesion facilitates the fastest and easiest installs. This is the ideal product for large amounts of fleet applications. “With the same high performance in hot temperatures and new cold-weather features, this fast adhesive bond film is designed to perform its best in a wide temperature range. Experience enhanced cutting & weeding to make even the smallest letters stand out on your vehicle graphics. Expanded with flexibility but dimensional stability, ensuring your graphic panels fit perfectly,” the company said. Combine SLX+ with Series 3210 overlaminate and let the graphics deliver optimum performance for longer. SLX+ is rated for outdoor durability for up to 10 years (unprinted).

PACKAGING

Arjowiggins Launches Paper Food Packaging

Fresh Food Packaging Market Projected to Gain Significant Value by 2018 - 2026

Paper manufacturer Arjowiggins has announced new paper packaging for the food sector to replace plastic and films. Sylvicta is an FSC and PEFC certified recyclable, compostable, and marine biodegradable paper packaging material. One area it is immediately targeting is everyday sandwich skillet packs which have paper board laminated with a plastic film to create a window. Christophe Jordan, managing director of the translucent paper business at Arjowiggins, said Sylvicta provides an effective barrier to oxygen and to mineral oils and fatty grease. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For our translucent barrier paper to be used in the current packaging lines producing pouches, sachets, and flow wraps, we need partners to further extend the inherent functionalities of Sylvicta. A perfect example of this is our collaboration with cutting-edge converter Sirane (UK) who has worked with us to develop ultra-high barrier packaging options by adding high moisture imperviousness and heat-sealability properties. We have also worked with other specialised converters to add metallisation to achieve even higher barrier properties. The true innovation is that these are all entirely sustainable solutions,â&#x20AC;? he added. The collaborations have provided numerous applications â&#x20AC;&#x201C; from pouches for dry fruits, bags for salads, sachets for solid soap, sacks for pet food and flow-packs for chocolate bars, to metallised papers for butter or margarine packaging.

Global Fresh Food Packaging Market was valued US$ 75 bn in 2017 and is anticipated to reach US$ 106 bn by 2026 at a CAGR of about 4.4 % during a forecast Fresh food packaging market is segmented by application, by material, by pack type, and by region. Based on the application fresh food packaging market is segmented into meat pack s, fruit, vegetables, seafood. In terms of material used fresh food packaging market is divided into a metal, paper & paperboard, plastics, glass. By pack type fresh food packaging market is divided into corrugated boxes, paperboard cartons, paper bags, and sacks. Regionally Into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America. A growing need for extended shelf-life of a pack and need for convenience food pack s drives the market for the fresh food packaging market. Increased disposable income and growing awareness among buyers about packaged food is further augmenting the fresh food packaging market. Quality, taste, and nutrition provided by fresh food packaging will gain popularity also the growth in the forecast period. Changing lifestyle and increasing trend of nuclear families will also boost the fresh food packaging market in the near future. Disposable management of the waste during the pack ion is restraining the growth of fresh food packaging market. Water-soluble packaging, edible packaging, and smart packaging, self-cooling and self-heating packing offer opportunity to fresh food packaging market. Plastic is dominating the fresh food

packaging market. Plastic is highly demanded in the fresh food packaging market. Moisture resistant and prolong shelf life is the factor owing to which plastic is in high demand but government norms on plastic usage for packaging are restraining the market. Paper packaging will gain market in future attributed to norms led by a government on plastic usage. Paper packaging offers properties such as biocompatibility and biodegradability of these materials are set to drive the growth of fresh food packaging market. Vegetables and fruits are the dominant application segment of Global Fresh Food Packaging Market. Environmentally friendly packaging along with high performance and lower cost as long as the pack travels for the longer distance it has to maintain the optimum level protection for more durability. Meat is the second largest segment of Global Fresh Food Packaging Market. Meat packaging prevents the impacts on quality including microbiological and physic-chemical alterations. Packaging protects foodstuffs during processing, storage, and distribution. By pack type, corrugated box packaging is leading one. Corrugated boards can be reused and recycled again and again as a source of pulp fibre. Pizza, home delivery food pack are packed in corrugated boxes. Sacks is the second largest segment in the fresh food packaging market. Sacks are generally used for vegetable packaging during transportation and distribution. Jute bags and leno bags are sub-segments of the fresh food packaging market. Sacks are strong and durable and have ventilating and absorbent properties.

SIGNAGE Powered by:

2021

ViewSonic Launches Direct View LED Displays with Sizes of up to 216-Inches

ViewSonic Corp has introduced its latest All-in-One Direct View LED Displays, a brand-new addition to the large-size presentation display and digital signage sector. Different from traditional LED displays, these new displays integrate display, image stitching, power supply, and control systems into one device that offers easy installation, operation, and maintenance. The elegant design of the All-in-One Direct View LED Display elevates the seamless viewing experience and easily merges with the surrounding environment in spaces such as lobbies, auditoriums, boardrooms, and conference rooms. “As a leading visual solution provider, we are pioneering new trends in the LED projector and presentation display markets and moving the development of LED technology forward by achieving this new milestone in LED displays," said Dean Tsai, the Head of the Projector & LED Display Business Unit of ViewSonic. Although traditional LED displays constitute a significant improvement over LCD solutions and do not come with image grid issues, they still use separated systems for display, power supply, image stitching, and control, making them too large and difficult to maintain and operate. The brand-new ViewSonic Allin-One Direct View LED Display resolves all the pain points of traditional largesized displays by providing innovative LED technology and integrating different systems into one device. Moreover, it supports wireless presentation and can operate as a large interactive display through being coupled with ViewSonic’s ViewBoard or touch monitor.

Overall, ViewSonic’s All-in-One Direct View LED Display delivers a fantastic visual experience, and harmoniously blends in with its surroundings due to its elegant design. Because of its all-inone design, it features easy installation, operation, and maintenance with a low total cost of ownership in the long run. For the magnificent viewing experience, the All-in-One Direct View LED display is available in four different sizes—108”, 135”, 163”, and 216”. It has a stunning and vivid 120% Rec.709 wide color gamut and up to 600 nits of brightness with eight levels of adjustment. Therefore, users can fine tune the brightness based on the environment. Achieving a natural and perfect merger with the surrounding environment, the ultra-thin and lightweight display features a thickness of only 35 mm. It’s as thin as a mural on a wall and blends in harmoniously with almost any interior design style. The super-slim bezel of only 10 mm provides an even more immersive viewing experience. For easy installation, operation, and maintenance, multiple pre-assembled and pre-calibrated panels eliminate the need for a complicated setup process. The pioneering modular design with wall mount or optional aluminum alloy floor stand allows for easy installation that is time and labor efficient: the installation can be completed by two people in just two hours. One power button provides easy operation, and there is a wide selection of instantly accessible I/O ports. The system supports swappable modules, control systems, and 100% full front-maintenance using an electric vacuum suction tool.

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Videotel Digital’s Touchless WAVE to Play Now Works with Interactive Players Videotel Digital, the leading manufacturer of industrial grade digital signage media players, looping DVD players, innovative touchless interactive solutions and directional sound speakers has now enhanced its Touchless WAVE solution to seamlessly integrate not only with both its VP71XD and VP90 4K HD interactive media players, but also with most digital signage media players with some simple customization. WAVE, a proximity sensor that requires no direct line of sight, was originally designed to touchlessly trigger a video/image content change with a looped message meant to address an active viewer when approaching the screen. Now, when incorporated with Videotel Digital’s interactive media players, WAVE can also allow an active viewer to interact with a kiosk or touchscreen without fear of contamination. “Any customer-facing business can now create informative interactive displays that allow customers to search for what they need without the need without fear of contamination. Videotel Digital’s technology offers a way to engage and educate customers touchlessly,” said Lisa Schneider, Videotel Digital’s EVP of Marketing and Sales. She added, “WAVE is really ideal for all types of interactive displays and kiosks where you want to provide a unique and safe touchless or contactless alternative.”

SIGNAGE

OKI Gives Retailers the Power of a Print Shop InStore with Compact C650

OKI Europe has announced the launch of the C650, the world’s smallest A4 colour printer. Available from January 2021, the C650 delivers the performance, media handling, and cost-efficiency of a class-leading workgroup device in the format of an A4 colour desktop printer. Designed for any business that has limited space, the C650 will fit comfortably in the smallest of spaces while printing high volumes quickly and in professional quality, making it ideal for use across a variety of sectors including retail, hotels, restaurants, healthcare, education, and construction. Powered by OKI’s pioneering digital LED technology, the C650 delivers highspeed printing in rich LED colour, perfect for handling everything from everyday documents to all manner of marketing collateral and signage. The device prints 35 pages per minute and can handle media as light as 60gsm and up to 256gsm, and from B8 up to 1.32m in length. The C650’s innovative Space Saving Technology includes full front access which significantly reduces the amount of space needed to operate the printer compared to a device with a similar footprint by uniquely ensuring all operations are performed from the front of the device. Reliability was a key area of focus in the C650’s development and the extensive use of high-value components in place of plastic makes this one of the most robust printers in its class, guaranteeing a long and hassle-free life. Separate toners and long-life drums enable a high duty cycle and maximum use of consumables ensuring the C650 keeps printing and printing, making it ideal for organisations requiring high volume printing and high colour coverage. OKI recommends the use of ABBYY FineScanner, the first AI-powered smart mobile scanner for scanning paper documents and get perfect digital copies to print and store. This adds scanning capabilities to the C650, removing the need for a separate desktop scanner or MFP taking up valuable space in your business. Customers can also subscribe to The Design Hub powered by Shoppa, providing a one-stop-shop for design and printing needs. This user-friendly creative platform empowers businesses to produce professional-quality, fully personalised visual communications and marketing collateral in-house, in a few simple clicks.

How Digital Signage Can Help Businesses Adopt No Contact Strategies

Digital signage display continue to help businesses meet their customers’ needs, especially while adopting necessary social distancing practices. During the COVID-19 pandemic, indoor digital signage proved to be very effective and convenient in informing, educating and helping the public. The technology has always been used to maintain visual updates, display different marketing materials, help guide customers and enable an engaging experience without the need for human interference or direct contact. Advanced LG Electronics (LG) digital signage displays are designed to help businesses transform into an improved and modernistic model. These signages help enhance customer experience and can be used for different purposes. Digital signage is known for its ability to entertain, inform and engage customers through compelling visual assets and by providing real-time assistance and guidance. These advanced and smart devices can be used in a variety of institutions and settings, from retail and corporate office entrances to educational classrooms and hospitals. In order to meet the evolving needs of businesses during these challenging times, LG Business Solutions provides digital signage that can make customer experiences seamless and communicating new updates instantaneous. The displays can accurately communicate key information and visual updates in vibrant colors and vivid details. Here are some of the different settings in which LG “Untact” digital signage can effectively help business adapt to new social distancing

measurements. Corporate offices can use advanced digital signage technology and interactive signage in their entrances to help guide and welcome visitors to facilitate the safe movement of people in crowded places. LG provides the perfect match for this setting with high brightness window-facing signage. This is one of the institutions that need to use digital signage the most. Medical facilities are busy places, especially during a pandemic, hence, they can use indoor displays to keep patients organized and informed during the wait time. For a hospital lobby, it is recommended to use an indoor high brightness LED signage, UHD signage or Ultra-Stretch for larger display screens. Marts, grocery stores or convenience stores can use interior digital signage to keep shoppers informed, address stock updates and store hours. Thankfully, digital signage has led to the enhancement of the quality of advertisement content, thus creating stronger impact on customers. They can use UHD high brightness signage for promotion announcements and other marketing messages that require a large display. Retail stores can also facilitate advanced services like self-check-out with touch signage. LG advanced displays and solutions are optimized to match different environments, industries and diverse customer needs to revolutionize the way people conduct business everywhere in the world. LG’s advanced digital signage displays are available across Middle East and Africa.

MARKET WA TCH

Demand From Packaging and Healthcare Segments to Help Polyolefins Market Stay Afloat

he global polyolefins market is expected to decline in 2020 due to weaker end-market demand from applications such as construction, automotive and industrial. However, the pandemic-driven feeble demand is partially offset by strong and increased demand from sectors such as packaging, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), and healthcare, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. When asked about the weak market demand for polyolefins, David Leggett, Automotive Analyst at GlobalData, comments, “The global auto industry is facing a pandemic-led sales decline of 16-17% this year. That translates to a much lower demand for materials such as polyolefins in automotive manufacturing. Although the global vehicle market is in the recovery phase, the outlook for sales remains uncertain while the pandemic and its adverse economic impacts, persist. The underlying level of demand is not forecast to recover to pre-pandemic levels until 2023.” While some industries are struggling, meanwhile, the strong gains of polyolefin use within FMCG and packaging may be due to consumer behavior.

Carmen Bryan, Consumer Analyst at GlobalData, notes, “The COVID-19 pandemic has led many consumers to report being more cautious when buying food and FMCG products. Many have reverted to more traditional packaging materials such as PET, despite ongoing environmental concerns, as these are perceived as safer and more hygienic. In fact, 53% of respondents to GlobalData’s survey in June noted that they are concerned about the safety of product packaging amid the pandemic – a concern that has remained relatively stable over the past few months, standing at 50% as of the October survey. This suggests the emergence of a new trend as single-use plastics that securely seal food and beverages return to popularity.”

the challenging economic conditions. Petrochemical companies are closely monitoring economic developments and would undertake a strategic review of the progress and development of key projects.”

John Paul Somavarapu, Oil and Gas Analyst at GlobalData, comments, “With the gradual appreciation of economic activity, the demand for polyethylene and polypropylene is likely to improve towards the end of 2020 and maintain the upward momentum from 2021. The pandemic has impacted the demand for polyethylene and polypropylene in the shorter term. Consequently, polyolefin producers have either lowered operating rates, halted operations, or declared force majeure to withstand

Somavarapu notes: “Although prospects for additional FIDs in the sector look challenging, companies look to focus on key projects and ensure the completion of these projects on priority.” Polyolefin capacity additions are largely concentrated in Asia – primarily China and India – that target self-sufficiency to meet the existing and growing demand in their respective countries. Other majors such as Russia, Iran, and the US also have a significant capacity addition.

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In response to the economic impact of COVID-19 on sectors worldwide, major petrochemical companies have preferred deferring final investment decisions (FIDs) or delaying project execution wherever possible. For instance, FIDs of PT Chandra Asri Perkasa Cilegon Polyolefin projects have been postponed from 2021 to 2022, while the PTT Global Chemical Belmont County project has been postponed to Q1 2021 from the initially planned 2020.

I N F O G R APHI C S The global market for e-commerce packaging is currently estimated at $43.1 billion and growing at a CAGR of almost 12% for a projected value of more than $75.1 billion by 2025. With more companies expected to develop packaging solutions specifically geared towards e-commerce, this is truly one of the most exciting areas of the packaging industry.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1 Protective mailers are finding greater favour for smaller, semi-fragile items, while the prevalence of luxury brands is driving demand for more premium forms of packaging.

2 Widespread use of corrugated and protective packaging, as well as protective and flexible plastics.

3 Widespread use of corrugated and protective packaging, due to the presence of heavy and/or bulky items and products susceptible to damage during transit.

4 Sales of both toys and sports equipment benefitted from COVID-19 lockdowns. E-commerce packaging market worth $10.91 billion, up 39% compared with previous year.

5 Had the market not been impacted by COVID-19, growth levels would have been considerably lower for all enduse sectors in 2020.

MARKET WA TCH

Printed Paperboard: Covid-19, e-Commerce and Beyond

otal value for printed packaging and labels will reach $431.6 billion in 2020 according to the latest exclusive data from Smithers. Covid-19 and the global lockdown has affected printed packaging volumes, but to a much lesser extent than publications or graphics work. While packaging print market growth will be limited this year it will continue to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.6% and reach $491.1 billion in 2025 according to research for the new study â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Â The Future of

Package Printing to 2025.

and innovation.

Packaging became the most lucrative print segment in the 2010s and hence an area of increasing focus for OEMs, consumables, and substrate suppliers. Within this cartonboard and corrugated are the two largest segments, representing 24.9% and 30.1% of the market by value in 2020.

COVID-19 The imposition of lockdown (shelter in place) rules in H1 2020, caused a boom in demand for packaged goods. Shoppers stayed at home and stockpiled many essentials, food in particular, leading to a peak in demand for printed folding cartons. One consequence of this, in the short term, was that run lengths of mainstream core products increased.

In the short term these two formats will benefit from Covid-19 and shifts in packaging demand, while in the medium term other trends, such as sustainability goals will foster further growth

PRINTPACK MEA | November 2020

While essential shops stayed open, others were closed and consumers were

"Like the corrugated sector, cartons are derived from renewable resources and can be readily recycled, so the sector is benefitting from the increasing focus on sustainability." concerned over infection risks. This led to a surge in online ordering and demand for corrugated e-commerce delivery packaging. Data from Adobe Analytics shows that in April and May 2020, US consumers spent $152.5 billion via e-commerce. For May alone it represented a 77% rise on the same month in 2019. While some trade will return to physical channels, much of the switch will be permanent and has accelerated the wider trend from brick and mortar retailing towards online. E-commerce More e-commerce selling is creating new revenue for corrugated suppliers, as well as microflute cartonboard formats. And for use of digital technologies to provide value-adding additions via on pack printing. Many converters are now offering bespoke e-commerce shipment boxes. These are designed to fit through standard dimension letterboxes, and often contrast muted exterior markings with brighter brand graphics and colours on the interior. Corrugated companies are also developing box-on-demand systems for e-commerce shippers, with rightsized packs printed and formed after an order is received. Printing can take place in the distribution hub and may contain additional promotional messages targeted at the specific customer. These kinds of workflows will increase demand for inkjet-printed corrugated.

79.6% of all output by volume. Offset litho printing is used in preprint, as well as sheetfed litho-lam. Inkjet is the fastest growing print technology, and several OEMs have built high-speed single-pass inkjet machines for both preprint and postprint, capitalising on the demand for shorter print runs and pack customisation. In the medium term an increasingly important aspect of corrugated is that it is seen as comparatively sustainable. It can be readily recycled; uses a high proportion of recycled content, where virgin fibre is needed it can be sourced from FSC or PEFC certified forests; and corrugated itself is biodegradable. The development of a wider range of functional and barrier coatings for corrugated is extending its use – with coatings to impart protection against water, oil and grease while not compromising the recyclability of the final pack. Folding Cartons Like the corrugated sector, cartons are derived from renewable resources and can be readily recycled, so the sector is benefitting from the increasing focus on sustainability. Printed cartonboard is being used to replace plastic in some packaging applications – such as plastic shrink wrap for beverage multipacks, and plastic trays in food packaging.

Corrugated Global corrugated print output has grown from $114.5 billion in 2015 to $129.8 billion in 2020. This growth has been underpinned by the increasing use of printed corrugated in retail-ready packaging, as well as in e-commerce.

The development of new barrier coatings and new uses of film technology is opening opportunities to use printed cartons in different ways. One example is the 2020 introduction by Unilever Finland of Ingman ice cream in a 1-litre carton made using Stora Enso’s FSC-certified cartonboard with a plant-derived polyethylene coating.

Flexo is by far the most widely used process for printing corrugated. In 2020 it accounts for 73.8% of the value of corrugated print output, and

Sheetfed litho is the dominant print process used on cartons it accounts for 74.7% of the total value in 2020. Gravure and flexo are the next larg-

est print processes. Digital print for cartons has grown from $0.43 billion in 2015 to $1.96 billion in 2020. Digital print is forecast to reach $3.67 billion in 2025, a 2020–2025 CAGR of 13.3%. There are a number of OEMs supplying B2 and now B1 format digital presses. These include the B2 sheetfed liquid toner HP Indigo 30000, now joined by a new B1 roll-to-sheet Indigo 90K. Other B2 presses, such as the Fujifilm Jet Press 750S and Konica Minolta KM-1, are used for small-format folding cartons, and other commercial print and graphics applications. Landa has the B1 S10 indirect press that can be used for cartons. Heidelberg also built the B1-sized Primefire 106, but in March 2020 it announced that the product was to be discontinued, due to lack of interest. Industry Impact As in other industries companies in the print and packaging supply chain are responding to the coronavirus crisis by focusing on liquidity as they prepare to face a severe economic recession of unknown depth and duration. This has led to a freeze on new hires, reduced capital expenditure, and suspension of dividend payments and share buy-back programmes. There are notable exceptions to this, such as Amazon, which has been recruiting significantly; and UK supermarket chain Tesco hiring 16,000 new workers to join its e-commerce home delivery business. For print OEMs, the first half of 2020 has been difficult. The introduction of shutdowns and safe working practices in manufacturing facilities has limited production capacity. Major trade shows, such as Drupa 2020, have been postponed or cancelled. These are normally key events for showcasing new technologies and developing sales leads. Several OEMs are launching new products via webinars and ‘virtual trade shows’ instead.

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

Multivac Group Appoints New EVP

Dr. Jürgen Vutz Joins Windmöller & Hölscher Supervisory Board

Multivac group has appointed Dr Christian Lau as its new executive vice president for manufacturing. He also becomes managing director of the two subsidiaries, Multivac Lechaschau, Austria and Multivac Bulgaria as well as chairman of the board of Multivac Taicang, China. Multivac, a specialist packaging company is an important employer in Tyrol with around 340 staff at its production site in Lechaschau, Austria. Dr Lau has been with the company since July 2010, and in his most recent role as executive vice president, he has been responsible for the thermoforming packaging machines business unit.

Screen Europe Appoints Juan Cano to Lead Flexible Packaging Division Inkjet manufacturer Screen Europe has appointed Juan Cano as Director Business Development Flexible Packaging, to lead and expand its new flexible packaging digital printing division. “Juan is an accomplished and highly experienced leader in the flexible packaging industry, with a proven track record in business development and sustainable sales growth of high-value, innovative packaging equipment. His experience and stature make him the right person to help expand our newly established flexible packaging digital printing platform”, says Bui Burke, Senior VP Sales Screen Europe. Earlier this year, Screen announced the launch next year of its Truepress PAC 830F, a new and innovative water-based inkjet digital printing press specifically designed for the flexible packaging industry. The Truepress PAC 830F will be the cornerstone of Screen’s ambitious flexible packaging printing division. Screen’s new flexible packaging printing technology builds on over 75 years’ experience in engineering of innovative printing solutions for the packaging industry.

Dr. Jürgen Vutz, CEO and managing partner at machinery manufacturer, Windmöller & Hölscher, in Lengerich, Germany since 2001, will join the company’s supervisory board beginning 1 January 2021. The position of CEO will be taken over by Peter Steinbeck, also a managing partner and currently CSO, responsible for sales and service. As of January 2021, the management board will be made up of Peter Steinbeck (CEO and head of sales and service), Dr Falco Paepenmüller (CTO) and Martin Schulteis (CFO). Both Dr. Jürgen Vutz and Peter Steinbeck were appointed to the management board of the family-owned company in 1999. Two years later, Vutz took over as CEO. In the course of his more than 22 years on the board, Vutz has had a decisive influence on the company. During this time, W&H has grown significantly through its continuous focus on market demands and the development of the company. Sales grew from approx. 300-million euros in 1999 to over 900-million euros in 2019 and the number of employees has increased from roughly 2,100 to 3,100. “The most important goal for me has always been to make W&H a stable and successful company for the long term. We have achieved a great deal and have set the right course for the coming years. We can proudly look into the future, full of optimism. Even with Corona challenging

PRINTPACK MEA | November 2020

us, W&H, the world market leader, is on its way to becoming a billion euro company. Now I can calmly pass the baton to Peter Steinbeck,” said the Dr. Vutz. Vutz’s appointment to the supervisory board will become effective on 1 January 2021 and he will remain closely involved in the further development of the company. Vutz’s long-time colleague on the management board, Peter Steinbeck, who is also responsible for sales and service, will become the new CEO effective from 1 January 2021. With this step, the company that celebrated its 150th anniversary last year has ensured continuity in its management team. The transition has been in the works for a long time. Dr Falco Paepenmüller was promoted internally in 2019 and the recent addition of Martin Schulteis last month completed the new team. The company will continue its current strategic course. “We are pursuing a long-term corporate strategy that will remain in place. This includes a strong focus on technology at our headquarters in Lengerich, an excellent components manufacturing plant in the Czech Republic and worldwide subsidiaries close to our regional customers. I look forward to the new responsibilities as CEO and to working together with my colleagues on the Board and the entire W&H team,” said Steinbeck.

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P R OD UC TS Epson Intros its First Roll-to-Roll Resin Signage Printers

Canon Launches new PIXMA TS7440 Series Printer Canon Europe has announced the launch of the Canon PIXMA TS7440 series, a mid-level, three-in-one A4 home printer with four colour FINE ink cartridges and an Automatic Document Feeder (ADF), ideal for productive homeworking or creative use. Packed with innovative features such as voice command and an LED status bar to check print levels, this versatile and affordable printer combines ease of use with high-quality printing.

Epson has expanded its presence in the signage market with the introduction of the SureColor R-Series. The 64inch SureColor R5070 and SureColor R5070L leverage six-color resin ink to deliver astonishing prints on a variety of substrates with consistent, repeatable colour. Ideal for print shops looking for versatility and productivity, the new printers deliver output ready for immediate lamination at true production speeds up to 290 square feet per hour. Both printers feature 1.5L ink packs for enhanced efficiency and the SureColor R5070L includes 3L per color with hot-swap technology for uninterrupted printing. The printers were introduced during Epson’s Insight Days showcase at PRINTING United Digital Experience on Oct. 26, 2020. “The new SureColor R-Series printers further expand Epson’s presence in the roll-to-roll wide-format signage market by offering customers industry-leading Epson print head technology coupled with the benefits of resin ink,” said Matt McCausland, product manager, Professional Imaging, Epson America Inc. “The new SureColor R5070 and SureColor R5070L use resin ink to address a true customer need – the confidence that each print – panel to panel, job to job – has repeatable, consistent colour.” The SureColor R-Series printers are the first of their kind to feature multi-purpose resin ink technology to consistently deliver professional quality wallpapers, fabrics, uncoated papers, and traditional signage at remarkable speeds. UltraChrome RS Resin ink

delivers instant-dry scratch-resistant output, ready for immediate lamination, at a lower cost per ml. Touting a new 2.6-inch user-replaceable PrecisionCore Micro TFP print head, the new printers are able to ensure projects with multiple panels have consistent, repeatable color. In addition, a new Quality Print Mode separates the delivery of optimizer and color ink to create a stable base layer for high-quality output with crisp lines and outstanding details. Designed to keep up with fast-paced print shops, the SureColor R5070L includes a hot-swappable ink system that automatically switches from an empty ink pack to a new ink pack mid-print for uninterrupted printing. To support productivity, the SureColor R5070 and SureColor R5070L incorporate a three-heater system to promote even drying with pre, platen and post heating. A 4.3-inch touchscreen control panel provides easy access to print functions including quick start heaters, media selection, color mode, and estimated print completion time. Thereplaceable fabric wiper system cleans the printhead and removes dust prior to printing and meaning manual maintenance is only needed monthly. The SureColor R5070 and SureColor R5070L include the new Epson Edge Print workflow software featuring an Adobe PostScript 3 engine for layout and print management, color management, and seamless workflow integration. Access to the Epson Edge Dashboard provides users with remote oversite and control of their Epson printer fleet.

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With built-in Wi-Fi and PIXMA Cloud Link capabilities alongside voice functionality, users can simply connect to an array of devices, such as a smartphone or tablet, and make the most of third-party solutions like Google Drive, Dropbox, or Google Classroom for a seamless workflow. The Canon PIXMA TS7440 series is an ideal addition to any homeworking environment, fulfilling the need for a versatile and efficient printer that works harder so users can work smarter. The Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) allows users to scan or copy up to 35 pages at a time without manual assistance, while the two-way paper feeding system enables simultaneous loading of varied paper types and sizes without manual operation during printing and scanning. This feature is beneficial for home workers who require a variety of documents at one time, such as a teacher preparing lesson plans and class resources. This smart device can also automatically detect paper size and adjust its functionality accordingly, allowing automatic two-sided printing as needed. The high-quality XL FINE cartridges hold a larger volume of ink with fewer cartridge changes required, perfect for printing lengthy contracts or documents at home. Reimagine creative possibilities with Canon’s PIXMA TS7440 series, which can hold a wide variety of media types using the rear paper feed. Capable of printing everything users need to get their side hustle off the ground or to pursue new hobbies, the Canon PIXMA TS7440 series can create borderless photos, transferable prints for fabric, and personalised labels.

Kodak Alaris Launches New Line of Low-Volume Production Scanners

Heidelberg Says its Speedmaster XL 106-D Helps Customers Move into Rotary Die-Cutting

Kodak Alaris is expanding its document capture portfolio with the launch of a new line of low-volume production scanners and a refresh of its web-based capture software. Built for today and ready for tomorrow, the new scanners and software are scalable to meet rapidly changing business requirements as organizations increase their focus on digital transformation. Based on the award-winning i2900 and i3000 Series Scanners, the new Kodak S2085f and S3000 Series are faster and more powerful while offering network connectivity and a better user experience. New models include the 85 page per minute (ppm) Kodak S2085f Scanner (A4 paper size) and the 100 ppm Kodak S3100f Scanner (A3 paper size). Both of these models are equipped with integrated flatbeds to easily capture information from business cards, to books, and more. Also new to the Kodak Alaris portfolio are the 60 ppm Kodak S3060 Scanner, the 100 ppm Kodak S3100 Scanner, and the 120 ppm Kodak S3120 Scanners, which are all A3 scanners. “Most businesses have a strong desire to automate business processes to save time and eliminate mistakes,” said Lee Davis, Associate Director, Scanner Analysis and Software Evaluation for Keypoint Intelligence. “But when it comes to automating certain kinds of processes, like those where paper-based information needs to be entered into a digital process, things get tricky. The new scanners and software from Kodak Alaris simplify this intersection, providing customers with an automated portal for integrating paper-based information into digital workflows and archives.” The S2085f and S3000 Series include an optional rear exit “straight-through” paper path for exception documents, which streamlines scanning of thicker and large-format documents and eliminates paper jams. All of the new scanners are EPEAT Gold Registered for environmental excellence. Users can extend the capabilities of document scanning with Kodak Info Input Solution v6. The web-based and mobile application enables faster capture and access to information at the office or remotely.

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) is continuing to systematically focus on its core business. In the growing labels sector, it will be concentrating on end-to-end digitized solutions in sheetfed offset printing. Speedmaster sheetfed offset presses, the XL 106-DD rotary die cutter, and the label systems of Heidelberg partner Polar are perfect for making wet-glue labels, cut-and-stack labels, and also inmold labels (IMLs). Heidelberg is now using an innovation initiative to step up its activities in this segment and is also further expanding its position on the growing labels market. Like all print shops, label printers are faced with the challenge of completing increasingly complex orders in less time. Shorter runs, faster delivery times, ever more specific customer requirements, and sustainability demands all call for highly flexible production based on efficient workflows. The Push to Stop concept from Heidelberg for navigated, automated end-to-end production of print jobs in conjunction with the Prinect workflow is therefore also proving popular in the labels sector. Heidelberg will be providing a virtual demonstration of one such solution as part of its Innovation Week under the banner “Unfold your potential” in mid-October. Anyone interested can access this event simply by providing brief registration details. The company will be showcasing a highly flexible production operation with the smartest Speedmaster XL 106 ever, including the special equipment packages for label printing, that is to say the lightweight paper, foil, and in-mold performance packages. “With its digitized sheetfed offset print-

ing solutions, Heidelberg will continue to play a leading role on the growing labels market in the future. We remain a reliable partner and supplier for our customers in this segment, working with them to overcome the challenges of this demanding market,” says Markus Höfer, Head of Product Management Label at Heidelberg. “Customers’ growing demands in terms of print speed, stable sheet travel, level of automation, and ease of handling when processing thinner substrates on the CutStar sheeter prompted us to develop a new generation of this system. The result is the new Push to Stop CutStar , which is based on a completely new platform with the latest drive technology, state-of-the-art control technology, a new blade geometry, and brand new peripherals,” reveals Höfer. The market for in-mold labels is enjoying annual growth rates of around four to six percent, and handling particularly thin materials is the key challenge during production. The IML Performance Package for the Speedmaster 106 is now also used in the new CutStar Gen. 4 for high-quality results on foils as thin as 50 µ, combined with an impressive production output. The fourth-generation sheeter is fully integrated into the Prinect workflow and also the Intellistart system on the press for production based on the Push to Stop principle. Air/format settings and format changes take place fully automatically, which means shorter setup times. The surface treatment integrated into the CutStar is another new feature, ensuring high end-to-end quality by improving ink adhesion.

EV ENTS DECEMBER 2020 Technoprint 03 - 05 Dec 2020 Cairo. Egypt Media Expo-Delhi 04 - 06 Dec 2020 New Delhi, India GITEX Global 06 - 10 Dec 2020 Dubai, UAE Taipei International Graphic Arts Exhibition 10 - 13 Dec 2020 Taipei, Taiwan Screen Print India - Delhi edition 17 - 19 Dec 2020 Delhi, India Print 2 Pack Expo 17 - 19 Dec 2020 Cairo.Egypt Print Pack Show 17 - 20 Dec 2020 Ahmedabad, India Print Fair 18 - 20 Dec 2020 Hyderabad, India ITCN ASIA IT & TELECOM SHOW 19 - 21 Dec 2020 Karachi, Pakistan JANUARY 2021 Bangladesh International Plastics, Printing & Packaging Industrial Fair 20 - 23 Jan 2021 Dhaka, Bangladesh

(ALC) 11 - 12 Jan 2021 Hong Kong Digi Sign Africa 13 - 15 Jan 2021 Cairo, Egypt SGI Dubai 2021 18 - 20 Jan 2021 Online Bangladesh International Plastics, Printing & Packaging Industrial Fair (IPF) 20 - 23 Jan 2021 Dhaka, Bangladesh London Art Fair 20 - 24 Jan 2021 London, UK Online 3D Bioprinting Conference 26 Jan 2021 Online FEBRUARY 2021 PRINTPACK India 03 - 08 Feb 2021 Greater Noida, India Portugal Print Packaging and Labeling 04 - 06 Feb 2021 Lisbon, Portugal Asia Coat+Ink Show 18 - 20 Feb 2021 Mumbai Online 3D Medtech Printing Conference 02 Feb 2021 Online

02 - 04 Mar 2021 Birmingham, UK Printing South China 04 - 06 Mar 2021 Guangzhou, China PrintTech & Signage Expo 04 - 07 Mar 2021 Pak Kret , Thailand Digital Textile Printing Industry Expo 06 - 07 Mar 2021 Lahore, Pakistan Screen Print India Expo - Mumbai 19 - 21 Mar 2021 Mumbai, India Digital Signage & Interactive Solutions Forum 08 Mar 2021 Online High Security Printing Latin America 08 - 10 Mar 2021 Mexico City, Mexico FESPA Global Print Expo 09 - 12 Mar 2021 Amsterdam, Netherlands Sign & Print Expo 16 - 18 Mar 2021 Gorinchem, Netherlands PRINT 23 - 25 Mar 2021 Rosemont, USA LabelExpo Americas 23 - 25 Mar 2021 Rosemont, USA

printwear and promotion live 24 - 26 Jan 2021 Birmingham, UK

Cprint 02 - 04 Feb 2021 Lyon, France

3D Printing Days 23 - 25 Mar 2021 Kielce, Poland

Inspired Design Basics for Non-Graphic Designers Sun, 03 Jan 2021 • 11:00 PM Online

Pharma Packaging and Labeling USA 17 - 18 Feb 2021 Philadelphia, USA

Indo Texprint 30 Mar - 01 Apr 2021 Jakarta, Indonesia

How 3D Printing is Changing Construction Mon, 11 Jan 2021 • 5:45 PM Online

Dpes Sign Expo China 21 - 23 Feb 2021 Fuzhou, China

Asian Licensing Conference

MARCH 2021 Sign & Digital UK

PRINTPACK MEA | November 2020

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