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RMGT 920PF-8P A1-Size 8-Colour Offset Press with LED-UV and Perfecting Device
November 2020
Rediscovering the joy of printing
Pride in Print’s new era Signee survey on now Printing after Covid-19 Auspack changes up
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INTRODUCING FUJIFILM’S MOST AFFORDABLE FLATBED PRINTER The Vybrant UF10 is a true flatbed printer offering high-quality printing on a range of rigid and flexible media, supported by four dedicated vacuum zones. With performance that is suitable for print volumes up to 7,500m² per year, the Vybrant is ideal for businesses looking to grow their wide-format capability. Using Fujifilm Uvijet inks, you can produce vibrant colours using minimal ink to help reduce production costs. For information or book a demonstration contact Craig Moore at craig.moore@fujifilm.com or call 0800 242 646 or check out wideformatprinters.co.nz 16m² per hour in production mode Versatile 6 channel CMYK with White Handles flexible and rigid media up to 51mm thick Four dedicated vacuum zones to minimize masking Long-lasting, low energy LED curing system Fujifilm Uvijet UV cured inks Anti-crash sensor and Anti-static bar
wideformatprinters.co.nz
November 2020 Cover Story Cyber NZ p20-22
Australia’s Greenridge Group has enjoyed a long standing relationship with RMGT supplier Cyber. Now, Greenridge has installed an RMGT 920 PF eight-colour LED UV press Features p8-49
8 Screen Horizon: Artificial intelligence has received the green light for development in a deal between Screen and Horizon 10 Fuji Xerox: Five Star Print goes from strength to strength with its Fuji Xerox Iridesse Production Press 12-15 Currie Group: We hear from three experts at HP Indigo on the opportunities HP provides across print, labels, and packaging 23 All in Print China: The massive trade show returned to Shanghai recently 26 Nekkorb Solutions: MPS works constantly on ways to improve production workflow for label converters
CONTENTS PrintNZ p16-19
16-17 Helping Hand: Pride In Print enters a new era next year. Iain MacIntyre has the details 18 Comment: Ruth Cobb reports back from the Palmerston North Golf Day held recently Wide Format Plus p29-37
30 Aarque: About Print has installed Wellington’s first HP R1000 Latex printer alongside a Summa F1612 cutter 32 Epson: Fabric features among Epson’s latest solutions for wide format printing with dye-sub and direct to garment printers 34 NZSDA Survey: Your opinion matters to the NZSDA so fill out the survey 35 NZSDA Signee Spotlight: A South Island sign shop expands its business
Advertiser’s index
Aarque 9, 31 APM 9 Currie Group 9, 13, 15 Cyber OFC, OBC Eamar Plastics 50 EPSON 33 Fuji Xerox 11 Fujifilm IFC Graphic Lamination & Coating 5 Graphic Machinery NZ Ltd 9 Konica Minolta 7 McHargs 23 NEKKORB Solutions Limited 27 NZSDA 37 Pride In Print IBC PrintNZ 19 VPR 50 Wholesale Print 44-45
36 Secretary Note: Melissa Coutts discusses the role of training in the industry
28 Classic Fellman: Sales expert Dave Fellman shares some lessons from an ancient language to help your sales 39 Kodak: Webstar makes the most of Kodak Sonora Process Free Plate technology 40-41 Real Media Collective: How useful are our industry organisations? Kellie Northwood has the answers 42-43 Profile: We talk to Asher Levy who has recently taken on a leading role at Landa Digital 46-48 drupa: Knud Wassermann explains how less print becomes more for the industry 49 Romano: Frank Romano looks back through history to ponder print’s future
NEW ZEALAND PRINTER PO Box 32-395, Devonport, Auckland 0744 EDITORIAL: 021 631 559 Bruce Craig, Editor: bruce@newzealandprinter.co.nz CONTRIBUTORS: Ruth Cobb, Melissa Coutts, Dave Fellman, Iain MacIntyre, Kellie Northwood, Frank Romano, Knud Wassermann CIRCULATION: subscriptions@intermedia.com.au
Suresh (l) and Rajesh Mudundi, of Five Star Print, with the Fuji Xerox Iridesse Production Press and PIXI Awards
ISSN 1171 7912
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Printer Media Group New Zealand: New Zealand Printer, ProPack.pro Asia Pacific: ProPack.pro Australia: Australian Printer, ProPrint MANAGING DIRECTOR: James Wells – james@intermedia.com.au GROUP PUBLISHER: Brian Moore – brian@newzealandprinter.co.nz © Copyright 2020: Contents of this magazine are subject to copyright and cannot be reproduced without written permission of the publisher.
November 2020
3
NEWS
Digital drupa preview draws in visitors
IN BRIEF GMG ColorCard has won a 2020 PRINTING United Alliance Product of the Year award in the Software, Colour Enhancement category. Rainer Schmitt, head of strategy and product management at GMG, says, “When GMG develops new products, we always look for new, influential applications where we can make life easier for anyone in the graphics production supply chain. We are happy, once again, that GMG ColorCard is recognised for digitising the colour workflow in the ink kitchen, making it faster, more repeatable, and economical.” EPSON has earned a platinum rating for sustainability from EcoVadis. The rating places Epson among the top one per cent of companies in the industry. The EcoVadis assessment focuses on four themes: the environment, labour and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement. Epson received the highest score for the environment, as well as high scores for sustainable procurement, labour and human rights, and ethics. EcoVadis provides a common platform for evaluating and rating more than 65,000 groups and companies across 200 industries in 160 countries. FLINT GROUP FLEXOGRAPHIC has appointed Martin Čadek to vice president of operations and supply chain management. Čadek has held various management positions for globally operating industrial and consulting companies. This has helped to shape his customer focused orientation, which will be pivotal for Flint Group Flexographic. He says, “I am delighted to be part of the Flexo team. I look forward to leverage my expertise, and working with the team, to help deliver reliable, high-quality products to our customers.”
Recently, drupa’s digital preview attracted over 1900 visitors, participating in panel discussions and live web sessions as online spectators. Organisers say the visitors received valuable input on current issues via video keynote speeches and virtually connected with exhibitors and industry players. The online event features three areas: Exhibition Space, Conference Area, and Networking Plaza. For drupa organisers, the digital preview works as a key tool, offering a platform for companies to showcase their products and reach their target audiences. Erhard Wienkamp, chief operating officer at drupa organiser Messe Düsseldorf, says, “The drupa preview shows that even in times of crisis we can offer solutions to keep the industries interacting and networking. We are working intensively
Digital: the online drupa event features exhibition, conference, and networking spaces on strengthening global communication not only through our local events, but also by expanding new, virtual formats.” Sabine Geldermann, project director for Print Technologies at drupa, says, “The response from exhibitors and visitors following the first preview was positive. The 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, combining the best of both worlds in order to ensure the April event can take place under optimal conditions.” She adds the preview attracted more than 14.000 pageviews, highlighting the print community’s high level of interest in the content on offer.
Kornit expands in Asia Pacific Digital textile printer manufacturer Kornit Digital has hired Ilan Elad as its president of Asia Pacific as the business expands in the region. Based in Tokyo, Elad will spearhead Kornit Digital’s go to market strategy and execution across the region. Kornit Digital says it hired Elad because of his specific focus experience on Asia and Oceania in the past 12 years. It says his market insights and leadership
instincts will serve Kornit’s commitment to growth and industry leadership in AsiaPacific territories. In recent months, Elad has also served as a consultant to Kornit Digital in support of several expansion opportunities. This has allowed him to become acquainted with Kornit’s global business. He says, “I have been aware of Kornit’s growing position as a tech leader for several years. I was genuinely
moved by the opportunity to join such an inspiring and disruptive organisation.” Ronen Samuel, chief executive at Kornit Digital, says, “His appointment reflects our high standards for giving fulfillers and brands the partner they need to generate new business, expand their operations, and elevate the textile industry to be the model of eco-consciousness, versatility, and profitable expression it can be.”
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November 2020
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NEWS
Durst develops clean air system Digital solutions manufacturer Durst has developed an air disinfection system to help fight Covid-19. The company says the system irradiates infectious aerosols, viruses, and germs in indoor environments. The UVC-R Air Disinfection System removes air from within rooms into an antiviral membrane. It then cleans the air with irradiated UV-C light and releases the disinfected air back into the room. They operate at a typical noise level of 25dB. Durst can personalise the units so they can appear as art works in environments such as banks, school classrooms, museums, and office buildings. Christoph Gamper. co-owner and chief executive at Durst, says, “We checked the efficiency of the UV-C sources in our laboratories and analysed the ideal exposure time and volumetric flow. An external laboratory for medical technology and disinfectants in Germany is currently in the process of verifying our results. At the same time, the efficiency of the Durst UVC-R is tested in real mode with
Clean air: Durst says it can personalise its disinfection systems ‘pseudo viruses’ or so called bacteriophages.” Durst Labs studied the main transmission paths and descent rates of droplets and aerosols that transport virus-containing liquid particles. The labs also recorded the effectiveness of countermeasures with continuous air exchange and UV irradiation. Key features of the system include closed, radiation-protected chambers with high performance UV-C modules; generation of ozone free UV-C radiation; suction nozzles over the entire surface on both sides of the system at the level of
Kodak honoured at BLI The 2021 BLI Awards have recognised Kodak’s highspeed continuous inkjet technology. The company’s Prosper Ultra 520 Press won the Outstanding Innovation category. This press delivers a top resolution of 600×1800dpi, using Kodak’s water-based nanoparticulate pigment CMYK inks. Kodak won recognition with awards for its Prosper QD Packaging Inks and Film Optimizer Agent and Prosper Plus Imprinting Systems. It also shared two more awards with its partner, the Uteco Group, for its packaging solutions. presses that are designed for the packaging segment. The Uteco Sapphire newzealandprinter.co.nz
EVO M Press, powered by Kodak stream inkjet technology, won along with the Uteco Sapphire EVO W Press powered by Kodak Ultrastream inkjet technology. Awards judges noted the Uteco Sapphire’s use of eco-friendly water-based inks with the ability to print on a variety of substrates ranging from paper to film. Randy Vandagriff, Kodak senior vice president, says, “These five awards including the two shared with Uteco, our industry partner, provide customers expanded digital solutions to grow their business in new applications which will fundamentally transform digital commercial and packaging printing.”
the aerosol origin; antiviral coating of the membrane surface; and whisper quiet operation. Gamper adds, “We see in Durst UVC-R not only a preventive measure to reduce the viral loads. Together with the South Tyrolean industrial designer Christian Zanzotti we have developed a portfolio, that can harmoniously be integrated into many interior concepts.”
IN BRIEF POLAR MOHR has announced the Polar AirGo Jog, which automates the loading and jogging process in postpress finishing. It works by adding a blower system to the jogging process. While jogging, two blower units blow air into the cutting layer, which makes it immediately ready for cutting. It offers a cycle time of around 60 to 90 seconds for the autonomous processing of a complete cutting layer. Polar says it can retrofit the solution on any cutting system. It offers intuitive operation via a new user interface and an affordable price. The company will make the new machine available from the middle of 2021. FUTUREPRINT has concluded its second edition with a range of talks online. The summit recorded attendance by over 3908 people from more than 80 countries. Popular talks featured content partners from the likes of Agfa, Bobst, Canon, Epson, HP, Inca Digital, Memjet, Mutoh, Ricoh, Roland, and Xaar. Graham Kennedy, director of Industrial Print Business at Ricoh Europe and content partner says, “The summit was a positive platform to be part of and the content across the board served to provide inspiration to all participants.”
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November 2020
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NEWS
Konica Minolta picks Holtsmark for local operation Former general manager at Konica Minolta Australia for strategy, transformation and technology Eric Holtsmark will lead the company’s new direct operation in New Zealand. He brings a wealth of experience in technology, production print and establishing new businesses. He says, “There is a huge opportunity in New Zealand made possible by a long history of success of the Konica Minolta brand in the region. This was largely driven by channel partners and customers that are dedicated users of Konica Minolta technology. “Opening a new direct operation in New Zealand provides a way for existing, loyal users to directly access Konica Minolta’s range of technology and solutions. “The new operation will also strengthen our strategic alliance with our distributor for the A3 office range of multifunction printers, Brother International New Zealand, so we are excited about that.”
Bringing a wealth of experience, Eric Holtsmark will lead Konica Minolta’s direct operation in New Zealand Konica Minolta New Zealand will offer a broad range of products and services locally, initially focusing on its core business in office and production print. It will also work with several strategic partners to provide software and solutions including print and document management
and data migration. The company has spent the past few months building a local, highly experienced team, hiring technicians and salespeople to ensure service and support for customers from day one. Konica Minolta Australia will also provide resources to support the expansion.
Yohei Konaka, managing director, Konica Minolta Australia, says, “Konica Minolta has many loyal customers in New Zealand, and we are happy to now see a direct presence in this country. Konica Minolta is one of the world’s most sustainable companies with a strong commitment to creating value for customers and society, and the communities in which we operate. “Having a local operation in New Zealand marks a new era for Konica Minolta and its customers and we’re looking forward to bringing Konica Minolta’s products, people, ideas and innovation directly to the New Zealand market.” The company adds it will take an active role in corporate social responsibility, in line with its global philosophy around adding value to the communities in which it operates. Chris O’Hara will take on the role of national production print manager.
Digitisation the key for Heidelberg The world’s largest offset press manufacturer welcomed several thousand registrations from more than 100 countries for its recent five-day Innovation Week. The online event involved hundreds of one to one discussions with decision makers, and around 100,000 video hits. Taking ‘Unfold Your Potential’ as its slogan, the event focused on transferring knowledge relating to the urgent issues in the sector. With product presentations on its latest highlights, innovation talks, and personal discussions via video chat, Heidelberg provided an overview of its offerings in the commercial, label, and packaging segments. The five days saw a combination of short, professionally produced videos and innovation talks 6
November 2020
Heidelberg’s Innovation Week focused on end to end production with the option of followup live chats in which the content presented could be discussed in more detail with around 300 Heidelberg experts from around the world. Ludwig Allgoewer, head of global sales and marketing at Heidelberg, says, “Heidelberg was able to register specialist customer contacts on
a similar scale to an international trade show. We are confident that the numerous customer discussions will also generate business contracts in the near future.” The presentations featured the optimisation of the process in offset and digital printing through to end to end production.
Heidelberg also provided supplementary information about offerings in the fields of Prinect workflow, consumables, and contract business. Rainer Hundsdörfer, chief executive at Heidelberg, says, “The priority is no longer simply achieving the highest possible printing speed. Instead, we aim to make the entire process as efficient as possible. Boosting productivity offers the greatest earnings capacity for industrial print shops. Digitisation is key to this and that is precisely what we demonstrated at Innovation Week. The response to our Innovation Week underlines how it is possible to use digital formats to successfully contact customers and get them excited about innovations, even in the middle of a global pandemic.” newzealandprinter.co.nz
RETHINK EFFICIENCY WITH THE ALL NEW ACCURIOPRESS C14000 SERIES
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To rethink efficiency, simply visit konicaminolta.com.au/AccurioPressC14000series
DIGITAL
Screen and Horizon to develop AI-based solution
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creen and Horizon have agreed to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) solution to further enhance Horizon’s Smart Factory. Currie Group supplies Horizon finishing solutions in New Zealand. Screen and Horizon aim to release this service to end users in January 2022. They say the changing nature of the printing industry calls for more diversity, small lot jobs, and short turnaround times. Despite improvements in efficiency and operating ratios for production processes, unexpected problems can still persist and often become ongoing challenges, hampering efforts to make the most of production efficiency. Factors that cause these issues include the equipment itself, the operating environment, print data, or operator skill levels. Using changes to settings and conditions can often resolve such problems and improve productivity. However. Screen and Horizon point out that frequently, experienced operators must handle these adjustments. This can create challenges related to the retirement of experienced employees and a requirement to train successors for their positions. In response to these industry issues, Horizon and Screen have reached an agreement to develop an AI engine that can acquire their combined expertise in digital printing and postpress systems and use it to optimise operations.
Working efficiently Peter Scott, managing director for Screen GP Australia and New Zealand, says, “AI is not about replacing skilled workers; it is about maximising their knowledge of processes so that future operators may work more efficiently, reduce waste and deliver faster turnarounds to customers. 8
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The AI-based solution targets increased work efficiency, reduced waste, and faster turnarounds
Horizon’s Smart Factory will add artificial intelligence to its capabilities
“JDF and CIP3/4 are good but are by no means universal. Horizon is recognised as the world’s leading finishing manufacturer and Screen as the pioneer of inkjet colour web printing. Together with Horizon’s Smart Factory programme, and capably supported locally by Currie Group, the new AI joint development is sure to take printers into future full of confidence.” The AI engine will be used to analyse operating data accumulated from different production lines by Horizon’s Ice Link and Screen’s Trust Network Service. The companies say this AI can optimise settings and conditions, identify steps to address potential issues and provide general operational assistance for individual lines. The overall goal of the service will be to support operators and to enable the creation of a production environment that any employee can use easily, safely, and efficiently.
Smart transition Both companies will continue to develop new technologies from the perspective of better integrating the print and postpress processes. Eijiro Hori, president of Horizon, says, “The transition to Smart Factory will be essential for print and binding facilities of the future. Since the latter half of the 1990s, our company has been leading the way in managing equipment operations using numerical
data acquired directly from systems. This new AI-based data analysis project is another step toward the realisation of our goal. “Statistical analysis of numerical data enables the setup of equipment using a very fine level of adjustment that has so far depended on the experience of operators. It also offers the ability to prevent potential issues before they occur. By effectively utilising AI, I believe we will be able to present a system with the capacity to operate and manage the entire production process from printing to book binding without interruption.” Takanori Kakita, president of Screen Graphic Solutions says: “Production in the current digital era means people, environment and processes are all interconnected and one company working alone will not achieve the transition to Smart Factory. Among the many areas that must be addressed, one of the most vital is seamless linking of digital print and postpress processes due to its direct connection to productivity. “By combining the specialised knowledge possessed by both companies, and utilising the power of data and AI, we hope to drive the evolution of production systems. Progress in this field will help to meet various societal demands, such as those calling for increased diversity in the workplace and the reduction of waste. It will also help to promote the realisation of mass customisation.” newzealandprinter.co.nz
NEW ZEALAND PRINTER DIRECTORY - PMS 308
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Craig Paul 027 655 4267 Ian Shemilt 027 241 5586 sales@curriegroup.co.nz
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Craig Paul 027 655 4267 Ian Shemilt 027 241 5586 sales@curriegroup.co.nz
l Printing & Packaging Equipment l Machinery Sourcing & Relocation l Import / Export Sales - New / Used l Policart Die Cutting Anvil Covers l Solema Graphic & Board Machines l Plant Valuations & Inspections
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Considering Cashing up Surplus Equipment? Craig Paul 027 655 4267 Ian Shemilt 027 241 5586 sales@curriegroup.co.nz
Contact: John Lunt Ph: +64 21 817 455 E: sales@gmnz.co.nz W: www.gmnz.co.nz
Print Service & Supply Businesses - Stay in Front Stay in front of your prospects, New Zealand Printer readers, with an ad in the New Zealand Printer Directory. Pay just $150 ex gst a month over 11 issues and get noticed by the people who need your goods or services. The Directory is published monthly near the Print Calendar at the end of the NZP news section. Email Brian Moore brian@newzealandprinter.co.nz for details
PRINT CALENDAR Interpack
Foodtech Packtech
Heimtextil
Feb 25 - Mar 3, 2021 Düsseldorf, Germany Considered the largest event in the packaging industry, Interpack specialises on the packaging process within the food, beverage, confectionery, bakery, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, non-food, and industrial goods sectors.
April 13-15, 2021 ASB Showgrounds, Auckland New Zealand’s largest food manufacturing, packaging and processing technology trade show will attract more than 250 local and international exhibitors and some 4,500 trade visitors to see the freshest ideas and latest technologies.
www.interpack.com
www.foodtechpacktech.co.nz
May 3-7, 2021 Frankfurt, Germany Postponed because of Covid-19, Heimtextil 2021 shares the fairgrounds with Techtextil, the international trade fair for technical textiles and nonwovens, and Texprocess, a leading international trade fair for processing textile and flexible materials.
Fespa Global Expo
drupa 2020
March 9-12, 2021 Amsterdam, The Netherlands Organisers have moved the show again. They still have the backing of exhibitors wanting to provide an innovative wide format. It will run alongside the European Sign Expo and Sportswear Pro exhibitions.
April 20-28, 2021 Düsseldorf, Germany The world’s leading trade fair for printing technologies has changed the expo landscape with its decision to move the show to 2021, meaning other shows such as the Melbourne’s PacPrint have also had to move. It has also shortened its run to nine days.
www.fespa.com
Labelexpo Americas March 23-25, 2021 Rosemont, USA America’s largest label show includes multisubstrate presses, digital presses, laser die cutting, prepress and plate making, decoration systems, multi-process ink systems, high technology label materials, films, sleeves, and wraps.
www.labelexpoamericas.com
newzealandprinter.co.nz
www.drupa.com
Print4All May 3-6, 2021 Fiero Milano, Italy A new show that goes beyond the traditional segmentation of the commercial, editorial, and industrial printing market today to offer a broader showcase and a more vast and varied selection of solutions.
www.print4all.it
www.heimtextil.messefrankfurt.com
NZSDA Conference and Sign Expo July 8-10, 2021 Auckland The now postponed conference, awards, and Sign Expo will still feature everything that would have happened this year. The awards event acknowledges outstanding design and craftsmanship across a range of signmaking methods.
www.nzsda.org.nz
PacPrint 2021 September 28 to October 1 Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre Since 1970, PacPrint has provided a platform for suppliers and visitors to get together and generate business opportunities through the latest technologies, solutions, and trends.
www.pacprint.com.au November 2020
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DIGITAL
Fuji Xerox Iridesse gets Five Star treatment
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uckland-based Five Star Print installed a Fuji Xerox Iridesse Production Press last year. The Iridesse is helping the company with its strategy for growth. Rajesh Mudundi, Five Star Print owner, says, “With the Iridesse, we had to think beyond what we could do. We wanted to change what we were doing and now, we have. Using the Iridesse, we can move into different sectors of the industry such as packaging. “Five Star Print now has the capability to concentrate on niche markets. We are not looking at high volume but more mid quantity and low volume. Our customers demand great print quality and the Iridesse delivers that. “Two major benefits that the Iridesse gives us are the different stocks it handles and the colours it delivers. The quality is excellent, whether it is spot colours or the metallics. You can add silver and gold for the finish. All together this gives the customers great value. For branding, this is a great value-add. “We experiment with the Iridesse. Its white, silver, gold, fluoro, and clear options mean that we can try anything. For example, we have recently worked on different craft papers and black stock with great results. We have just ordered some of the new pink fluoro colour and we are excited about what we will do with that. “You have to think outside of the square. We understand the need to engage with our clients to find what they are looking for. People looking for different options come to us for a consultation and we work with them, explaining what we can achieve with the Iridesse. “Sometimes, you need to take a risk on a new job and you might not make much profit that first time but once the customer sees you can deliver, then you can strengthen your partnership with them. 10
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enjoyed this success and we will enter more competitions where we can use them as platforms to stretch ourselves and to support the industry. It is an exciting time to be in this sector. “Fuji Xerox New Zealand provides great support. They give us their time and advice. During Covid lockdown, they were really helpful and understanding. Paul Thomas has always taken good care of us.” Suresh (l) and Rajesh Mudundi, of Five Star Print, with the Fuji Xerox Iridesse Production Press and PIXI Awards
Niche: Five Star Print has moved into packaging, printing boxes on the Fuji Xerox Iridesse Production Press
Innovative print company changes up to get more out of print
Award success Since Mudundi took over the business in 2012, Five Star Print has won several local community business awards. Last year, the company entered the Fuji Xerox PIXI Awards for the first time. It took the runner-up spots in the Point of Sale Marketing Category, the Marketing Campaign Category, and the Best Use of Creative Design Category. This year, it entered the Pride In Print Awards for the first time and received a special commendation for its effort. Mudundi says, “I travelled to Tokyo last year and saw some of the PIXI winners’ work. I thought, ‘Why not give it a go?’ We feel humbled to have
Marketing print Five Star Print has produced its own catalogue. Mudundi says, “We knew we needed to put more emphasis on our own marketing. So, we branded our catalogue and we have shown that to our customers. Alongside our online marketing, it has made a huge impact. All of our customers now know what we can offer them, they know what we are talking about. “Adding more services enables our business to reach new levels. Covid-19 has depressed some areas of the economy and we are working to retain the business we have and to capture new business. “The Iridesse enables us to control our production with small runs and high quality. For instance, it prints long banners so we can use that ability for packaging and with different stocks for packaging. We have experimented with the Iridesse and have created some amazing looks with embellishments, especially in packaging. We see niche packaging as an area for growth. “After the first lockdown, I could see people wanting to come back to work and to do business. “When customers think differently, printers can benefit but, to grab some of that market, you need to be ready to move and to have the capability to find new ways of doing printing. The Iridesse gives us so many options to show to our customers.” newzealandprinter.co.nz
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DIGITAL
The need to enhance print for engagement
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onsumers want print to be more engaging, with the increase of omni-channel communications. It is more important than ever that the printed piece plays a major role to engage with consumers in a targeted, meaningful and measurable way. Craig Walmsley, HP Indigo Australia and New Zealand country manager, says that this enables businesses to pivot from traditional markets and bring greater value to what was once a static piece. The HP Indigo portfolio focuses on the following three main market segments globally: • Commercial, including the introduction of the new HP Indigo 100K Digital Press, a B2 unit that can print up to 6000 impression per hour along with the HP Indigo 15K and HP Indigo 7K Digital Presses. • Labels and flexible packaging, which includes the HP Indigo 25K and 6K Digital Presses. • Packaging, which includes the HP Indigo 35K Digital Press. Walmsley says, “The HP Indigo market in New Zealand is extensive. If you look across those market segments, we’re by far the market leader in the industry, mainly driven by flexibility of the product portfolio. “We are making presses as productive as possible through automation, with less input and waste. The new HP Indigo 100K Digital Press, for example, drives up to 50 per cent more productivity.” Labels and packaging has been a significant growth area for the business over the last few years, with Walmsley saying that HP has been able to build new market segments in flexible packaging and high value labels applications. He explains, “We are constantly striving to meet the needs of the market; our clients are looking to ultimately differentiate
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With the changing distribution model for printers comes the need for print to be enhanced. So, where are the greatest areas of opportunity?
and diversify their product offerings. So, what HP Indigo does, which is unique, is being able to cater for that existing commodity-type work but also allow them to move into different segments and adding value to speciality applications to make it more engaging. “This is achieved through a combination of the ink portfolio with the special effects and additional features such as security.” Walmsley identifies how the newest HP Indigo technology has transformed operations for a local business. Queensland-based Allclear Print + Signs has been a long-time user of HP Indigo technology and recently installed the first HP Indigo 12000 HD B2 Digital Press in Australia. The press superseded an HP Indigo 10000 that the business ran for about seven years. Walmsley says, “They have been using HP Indigo technology since 2012. They’ve now got a B2 high definition press, which allows them to differentiate and continue on their quality journey. “They have been able to offer more than just a four-colour printed piece. With the HD technology, they have been able to lift the quality and feel of that document.” constant.”
Currie Group support Currie Group supplies HP Indigo Digital Presses in New Zealand and Australia. Walmsley says Currie Group has been instrumental in HP Indigo’s reach throughout New Zealand and Australia and that the company has supported and educated clients on the HP Indigo platform. “Currie Group is our exclusive channel partner for HP Indigo and it is one of our oldest and strongest HP Indigo channel partners globally,” he said. “The business’ experience comes into offering end-toend solutions and it has been a fantastic partnership.”
Craig Walmsley shares some insights from his 25 years of working in the print industry and his current role with HP as the country manager for HP Indigo in Australia and New Zealand He adds that worldwide user group Dscoop also plays a role in bringing together the HP Indigo network globally. He says, “Dscoop is a genuine user group that has more than 8000 members around the world. That allows them to connect and collaborate with each other through virtual conversations and get insights into what’s happening on a global level and take that to a local level. In terms of moving forward as an industry, Walmsley advises that businesses need to evolve from being in the commodity space to expanding their reach into value added applications and diversify where possible. He says, “We are seeing traditional commercial printers move into packaging, labels and in some cases flexible packaging which is exciting to witness the journey and evolution. “We’re an industry that goes through constant transformation and change is the only constant.” Software plays a crucial role in any business’s future direction . HP has concentrated Continued on page 14 newzealandprinter.co.nz
Š Copyright 2020 HP Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice.
DIGITAL Continued from page 12
HP’s Daniel Blau addresses the changing distribution model for printers globally
HP’s Joshua Symington speaks to the specific technical and workflow solutions available
on press knowledge with PrintOS, which allows the print manager to understand its consumables lifespan and productivity of the press, which in turn helps the production environment. With advancements in automation, HP has also taken it a step further by using the same software to educate an operator, salesperson, and the like take the data to market to make print more engaging and distinctive. HP solutions manager Daniel Blau points out that HP has focused on workflow solutions that automate processes as much as possible with digital printing. Blau says, “We are giving customers tools to access their presses, workflows, and work processes to automate as many tasks as they can, and PrintOS is the main driver behind that. Digital printing is all about volume where possible and we want to enable printers to be able to handle those volumes easily.” Site Flow is the main end to end workflow product for the company under the PrintOS banner and HP Solutions APJ sales manager Joshua Symington says the solution works in modern day businesses that want to handle increasing short run volumes but with a focus on personalised products. Symington says, “A major benefit of this technology is that it is cloud-based, running on Amazon Web Services (AWS), which means you get access to massive scale. You just can’t get that with locally-owned and
built products, without huge expense on server farms. With Site Flow the PSP also doesn’t need as much development capability as they may have needed in the past.” Blau says digital workflow is a key factor in almost any business’ model today and the print industry is no different. He says, “Almost every industry is being transformed and printing is heading down that path as well. “The truly successful PSPs of the future will be those who win market share, and a lot of that market share is going to become digital, if it isn’t already. The ones who survive are also going to be the PSPs who deal with specific, rich applications.” Blau lists the steps involved in print getting into digital transformation: • Smart use of the latest equipment that can communicate in a variety of ways such as passing on information and providing feedback. • Software and workflows that are integrated in order to be able to maximise efficiencies between them. • As close to ‘zero touch’ as possible, which involves the use of automated systems for maximum throughput. He says, “For print to be ganged and batched and printed on a specific day, an automated and efficient workflow system is necessary. It knows exactly how many jobs are coming in on any given day into a press and then makes it ready for finishing. This goes all the way to shipping, so the process is
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November 2020
automated from beginning to the end.” Symington says shifts in consumer buying patterns and print buying habits has resulted in the rise of personalisation and on demand printing. He says, “There is now a shift in the types of print being consumed and with that, a massive increase in the volume of jobs. So, PSPs need to be able to handle that and must respond to a brand’s needs very quickly in today’s market. “Targeting and personalisation is key for a customer, as is a move from the print and distribute model to a distribute and print model. Digital print allows jobs to be routed to printers worldwide, knowing the quality will be consistent and printed as close to the end consumer as possible, which is important from an environmental standpoint.” Symington sees a need for more integration of workflow systems into local print businesses. He predicts an exciting future in labels and packaging, with personalisation still in its infancy and opportunities for those in the long run offset or short run digital spaces to consolidate their workflows. He says, “One of our PSPs in the UK is working with Kellogg’s to create personalised cereal boxes. This isn’t your ordinary cereal boxes that you find in store; these have your picture on it and some personal information, and they get delivered to your door. So, you can imagine that when people order these online, the data needs to flow somewhere for the printer,” he said. “They have managed that through Site Flow, where work gets automatically batched together and imposed in the cloud. It is then printed and barcoded before getting sent out. We have only scratched the surface on what this technology enables in future for brands to be able to connect with consumers, and PSPs form a crucial component in this mix.” Blau adds, “Digital workflow is going to be the key factor in any PSP’s model. You are producing something physically that is tactile and that is the result of digital print. “But everything that comes ahead of this, and even after it, will have to be a part of the digital process.” newzealandprinter.co.nz
helping hand
PrintNZ heralds an exciting
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newly introduced sponsorship tier, addition of three new awards categories and the announcement of a new awards manager feature among developments that will enhance the Pride In Print Awards programme for 2020-2021. With the print industry’s gatekeeper organisation having recently assumed greater management oversight for the Pride In Print Awards, PrintNZ chief executive Ruth Cobb says the time had come to review and update pertinent aspects in order to better represent the current and future industry environment. She says, “One such initiative has been the introduction of three new company awards categories: wellness, sustainability and innovation. “Reflecting the overall development of our industry, these categories expand the awards programme from the traditional focus on the excellence of the products we produce, to also highlighting the businesses that are driving the future of the sector. “Entries are open to all companies in the industry and they will be required to demonstrate their vision, actions, outcomes and ongoing commitment in their chosen category. Each of those elements of course being integral factors in the success of individual businesses as well as contributing to the evolution of the sector overall, ensuring that print continues to have a great story to tell.” She believes another key initiative unveiled this year, the introduction of the Friends of the Awards sponsorship tier, is extremely timely given the current economic climate and outlook. She says, “As the premier awards programme for print, we rely heavily on the financial support of the industry’s suppliers as patrons and sponsors, without whom the Awards would simply not function. We are constantly looking to evolve and develop the programme and alongside
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IAIN MACINTYRE
Organisers have made some timely changes to the industry’s premier event
Winners: Dave and Jan Gick, of Logick Print, with the Pride In Print Supreme Award for 2020 that we have considered new options of funding. “Consequently, we are pleased to now announce the Friends of the Awards sponsorship tier. This will provide an opportunity for printers and peripheral businesses to our industry to contribute to the Awards and support us to better deliver the standard of programme the Awards have become well known for.”
New manager PrintNZ has appointed Tania McDougall as PrintNZ events manager, a role which will entail the major focus of managing the Pride In Print Awards. Cobb welcomes the appointment, saying, “Tania has extensive industry experience and connections having worked at BJ Ball Papers for the last 20 years, where she was predominantly responsible for brand management, marketing and events. “This experience makes her an ideal partner for the Awards programme and we are looking forward to having her onboard. Tania will work closely with both PrintNZ and the awards committee to further evolve
and develop the programme.” McDougall says, “I’m a bit of a paper geek who genuinely likes the touch and smell of a freshly-printed product. I know that the experiences and relationships I have built over the past couple of decades will help me greatly, and I’m excited to get immersed in the awards programme.” In a year of unprecedented, and unwelcome, disruption, the industry has proved resilient. Cobb says, “Covid-19 has caused disruption this year and accelerated change in our industry. With new management in place, boosted by the other enhancements we have introduced, we are in a great position to continue evolving with the changes and take the Awards campaign on to new and exciting heights.”
Continued support Fuji Xerox New Zealand became a Pride In Print Awards Patron in 2005 and remains as the sole Patron this year. Peter Thomas, managing director at Fuji Xerox New Zealand, endorses the new developments. He says, “We think these new awards will incentivise companies to adopt and showcase best practice in their business operations,
November 2020 newzealandprinter.co.nz
helping hand
g new era for Pride In Print
Tania McDougall, PrintNZ events manager, who will mainly focus on managing the Pride In Print Awards which is vital to maintain industry competitiveness and keep print locally in New Zealand.” He says the campaign continues to serve as the cornerstone to maintaining the print industry’s high standards. He says, “We acknowledge that since their establishment these awards have played a fundamental role in raising the quality of the industry output and raising public awareness of the many capabilities of print media. “We believe it’s important to support the print industry and continue to showcase the work of the leaders in this field. Our continued patronage of the Pride In Print Awards is the best way to ensure that recognition for the work of the print sector continues, which we believe is essential to support a vibrant and healthy industry. “We look forward to seeing the entries and winners of these awards every year and we are continually impressed with the calibre and creativity of what’s produced. “The standards lift each successive year, and I encourage every printer to get involved in next year’s competition to ensure they get the recognition they deserve.” newzealandprinter.co.nz
Peter Thomas, managing director Fuji Xerox New Zealand – the sole Patron of the Pride In Print Awards UPM Raflatac New Zealand continues as a Pride In Print sponsor. Philip Bracey, UPM Raflatac New Zealand country manager, considers the new categories adeptly reflect society’s strengthening environmental focus. He says, “We see in labels and packaging that sustainability is becoming a much more important consideration in product presentation. This change is largely consumer driven. Meeting these sustainability requirements has led to a wide range of innovative solutions. One example is UPM Raflatac’s Forest Film range. These are polypropylene and polyethylene labels materials made from trees instead of fossil fuels.” He expresses confidence in the future of the awards programme, saying, “The Pride in Print Awards provide a platform where excellence within the broader industry can be recognised and celebrated. I believe that the awards have been, and will continue to be, instrumental in driving quality improvements. “Externally, the awards are also an opportunity to remind advertisers, print buyers and brand owners of the relevance and importance of print as part of their marketing mix.
“We believe firmly in supporting the industry that we are part of and sponsoring the Pride In Print Awards is a demonstrable way of doing that. Further, we believe that, in our area of labels especially, there is a bright future for print and the Pride In Print Awards are an avenue to take that to a wider audience.” Recently, Lower Hutt-based Paper Source joined the Pride In Print Awards as a sponsor. Janine Field, general manager at Paper Source, describes the evolving programme as “heading in a direction for the long-term good of society”. She says, “Mental wellness in the workplace is such an important topic right now, because if companies do not support their workers through initiatives like this, they will lose out in the long run. “Sustainability has never been more talked about on a global scale, with more people getting onboard, realising that change is needed for future generations. Innovation will always be an important aspect of business and it is great that this will be recognised as part of Pride in Print.” Praising the campaign for providing an opportunity for the print community to both come together and be celebrated for its work, she is enthusiastic about her firm’s new involvement. She says, “As the Pride in Print Awards were held in Wellington last year, it gave us a chance to head along to the evening and see what it was all about. We knew several of our customers had entered items on our products and went to support them. Every time a winner was announced, and the paper sponsor was not listed, we knew it was on one of our products. “We decided that although it was a large financial commitment for a small company like ours, we needed to get involved in order to get the accolades for our products, like Colorplan and Extract.” Reinforcing the merits of that involvement, she adds, “It was amazing to be part of Logick Print’s Supreme Awardwinning project in 2020.” November 2020
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Palmerston North Golf Day Reg Dixon Trust benefits from keen golfers in the Manawatu
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n eager 44 players showed up for the Palmerston North golf day held at the start
of November. They were all keen for a change of pace and delighted with the fact that the golf day could proceed, one of the few industry events that have been able to take place this year. As we head to the end of what has been a difficult year for many, it was good to have the opportunity for a change of focus. The format was Ambrose, catering to the mix of players and everyone went home with a prize. Funds raised from the day go to the Reg Dixon Trust, which provides funding for training for members in the Manawatu Region. A huge thank you to the sponsors who supported the event: AES Graphics, B&F Papers, BJ Ball Papers, Fuji Xerox, Heidelberg, PCL Group, PPS Engineering Solutions, Screenprint Services, Spicers New Zealand and T S Wilson Jnr.
Our winners for the day Team
Score
1st PCL Group
58.25
2nd Aarque
60.38
3rd Hannah & Young
61.00
Longest Drive Men
Darryn Hartley Hannah & Young
Longest Drive Ladies
Jenny Ritchie Fuji Xerox
Nearest Pin, Men
Tim Sosene AES Graphics
Raffle winner
Brian Butler BJ Ball Papers
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November 2020
RUTH COBB
The winning PCL Group team, from left: Andrew Sievwright, David Griffin, John White, and Chris Dunn
Aarque runner-up, from left: Matt Davidson, Nick Beauchamp, Carl Mollett, and Matt Ahern
Hannah and Young in third place, from left: Gavin Pyne, Richard Hannah, Darren Hartley, and Brett Hannah newzealandprinter.co.nz
COVER STORY
Greenridge continues Australia’s Greenridge Group has a clear vision to further its business; and to achieve its goals, it has installed an RMGT 920 PF eight-colour LED UV press from Cyber
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he Greenridge Group prides itself not just in selling print – it aims to help businesses communicate with their customers. And Greenridge Group’s strategy to do this is fuelled by its ongoing partnership with Cyber, and the presses it has purchased from Cyber, including a new RMGT 920 PF eight-colour LED UV press. With sales offices throughout Queensland, the Greenridge Group is made of its flagship entity, Greenridge Press, as well as Cranbrook Press (Toowoomba), Westminster Printing (Brisbane), Creed and Lang Printers (Warwick), and the newly acquired business of Ultra Print (Brisbane). The business also has a communications division under Greenridge Connect, which assists with direct mail and electronic communications (email and SMS). Kyal Osborne, Greenridge Group print group general manager, says, “Growth through acquisition has been a good strategy for the Greenridge Group over the last few years. We’re a true commercial printer; we print publications, trade journals, books, magazines, and periodicals. We have a wide range of machinery, with presses from Cyber. “We have customers all the way up and down the Eastern seaboard and a lot of them are high-end users of quality products. We also have a number of communications contracts for transactional communications across the region.” Osborne, whose father, Mark, started the company under the business name of
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November 2020
The Greenridge Group’s Kyal Osborne (l) and Lyndon Baker test the capabilities of the RMGT 920 PF eight-colour press Toowoomba Business Services in 1992, was trained as an accountant before he joined the business in 2003. Since its inception, the company has evolved into TBS Printing, which was followed by Greenridge Press, and has continued to grow steadily for over 20 years, with a focus on quality and service. With multiple businesses in operation, Osborne said it was imperative for the business to have the right machinery to support growth. He says, “We’ve got a wide gamut of machinery – eight colour LED UV presses which are the flagship installs, other one and two colour offset presses, and a number of HP Indigo and Fuji Xerox digital presses. We have wide format machines as well, which include HP Latex and Agfa LED UV flatbeds. “We’ve now added the RMGT 920 PF eight-colour LED UV press to our fleet, which we purchased from Cyber. “We’ve had a long standing relationship with Cyber and have purchased many presses from the business. This is our second LED UV press
that we’ve purchased from Cyber. In the past, we’ve had a long association with RMGT presses. We got our first RMGT four-colour 52 press from Cyber back in the early 2000s and since then, we’ve added on many four or five-colour machines as well, as we’ve grown.”
The main workhorse The RMGT 920 PF eight-colour LED UV press is said to be single handedly driving the LED-UV evolution. It features a dry-to-dry printing system in combination with the RMGT nine-series press, offering businesses cost savings by reducing power consumption and installation space, whilst delivering on quality, productivity, ease of use, and environmental benefits – the nine-series press reduces carbon dioxide emissions to the lowest in the industry, according to Cyber. In addition, the press includes no odours, no need for overprint varnishing, a longer lifespan, printing on film and cardboard just like conventional offset presses, as well as reduced heat newzealandprinter.co.nz
COVER STORY
Cyber relationship generation, in addition to other features. The RMGT 920 PF eight-colour LED UV press marks the eighth press that the Greenridge Group has purchased from Cyber. Osborne says, “We started with RMGT in a 52 size. We then upgraded to a five-colour, then upgraded to a 750 size B2 press. We then purchased a couple of 750 five-colours, then upgraded to a 750 eight-colour – which was our first LED UV press. That was four or five years ago. “And we have now upgraded to the RMGT 920 PF eightcolour LED UV press. We’ve continually traded in presses to upgrade to newer and better models. “That just gives us extra capacity, having to run just one machine instead of multiple ones doing that one job.” Osborne’s interest in the RMGT 920 PF eight-colour LED UV press started preCOVID-19, when Cyber invited him to its open house demonstration in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in February this year. He took the trip over to see the press in operation and was impressed with its modern capabilities. He says, “The benefits that we could derive from the press were outstanding and we were keen to invest in this technology. As we’ve been acquiring other businesses and amalgamating them into our group, we’ve needed extra capacity. “The 750 has helped us throughout the last few years, but we’re starting to hit its heat capacity, so going into the 920 and the speed efficiencies we’d be able to derive from the technology is unparalleled. “It also alleviates any bottlenecks we have within print production as the 920 will be our main workhorse. It will do the majority of the colour production as far as print is concerned and it will be the flagship press for us, doing the lion’s share of our colour production.” Osborne also mentions that the press enables the business to move into areas beyond its current reach. newzealandprinter.co.nz
Greenridge has purchased a new RMGT 920 PF eight-colour LED UV press from Cyber
The RMGT 920 PF eight-colour LED UV press is available locally from Cyber New Zealand He says, “It’s a versatile press, so in addition to the colour production that we do, we can move into other areas like synthetics printing, which opens us up to printing on substrates like plastics. It’s a potential growth area for us to pursue with this technology.”
A strong foundation Cyber Australia managing director Bernard Cheong says, as Greenridge has always been a very forward looking business, its investment into the RMGT 920 PF eight-colour LED UV press was seeded early. He says, “When Greenridge was purchasing the RMGT 758GP LED a few years ago, we had a conversation about
‘what’s next’. As such, the RMGT 920PF-8 LED had been on their wish list from five years ago. “This investment fits in with their business strategy and is needed as it builds on its goals. Greenridge has been steadily growing, surpassing the KPIs that it has set for itself year after year. The utility on its existing RMGT 758GP LED was high, so the purchase of the 920 was a natural progression.” According to Cheong, this press was the most suitable for Greenridge’s business plans given that it is one of the most profitable presses to operate. He explains, “Its footprint is 33cm longer and 12cm wider, the plate size is 34 per cent Continued on page 22 November 2020
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COVER STORY Continued from page 21
A business leader with a forward vision: Cyber Australia managing director Bernard Cheong larger, and its throughput is doubled. The arrival of the 920PF-8 LED fixes both Greenridge’s capacity and cost issues – it kills two birds with one stone as it increases productivity and reduces the cost of production at the same time. “The RMGT 920PF-8 is suitable for ultra-short-run (digital printing) to long run jobs. We have commercial printers, publishing printers and packaging printers (light weight folding cartons) all running the same press. “This is a press designed by the printers for printers and this is what Greenridge wanted. We got it for them.” Cheong also mentions that the 920PF-8 LED has been one of the most profitable presses for the business. He says, “This is the most profitable press – we have many repeat users. One of RMGT’s users in Japan purchased 23 units of the 920PF-8 LED press in 10 years. One of our users in Malaysia purchased 4 four 920PF-8 presses and four 920ST-4 presses in six years. “CMYKhub in Australia has three 920PF-8 LED presses in operation and Greenridge is also now a leader in delivering quality solutions with the install of this press.” Cheong says having Greenridge as a long-time user of RMGT and now a user of the RMGT 920PF-8 LED opens up Cyber to more business here. He says, “Greenridge was one of the first customers of Cyber Australia when we started business in the country in 2004 and it has always been one of 22
November 2020
Outstanding: Bernard Cheong describes the RMGT 920 PF eight-colour LED UV press as “a press designed by the printers for the printers” the lighthouse reference users for us. “Many prospects have visited Greenridge and have spoken to Kyal and Mark, his father, prior to making their decisions. We are very fortunate to have their assistance and in return, we will bend over backwards to accommodate their needs. The Osbornes are more than just customers – they are family friends.”
Return on investment Osborne says the purchase of the RMGT 920 PF eight-colour LED UV press was a “good investment” for the Greenridge business as it provides good ROI. He says, “With an investment of this size, you need to be able to work out your return on investment. This machine provides us with the efficiencies we get from it and the added capacity we have in our production. That return was the right one for us for our direction forward – the return on the capital investment, the environmental benefits of it, the benefits of speediness through production – all made it a straightforward decision in the end.” As with many other press installations worldwide, Greenridge too faced a minor setback in the installation process as a result of global restrictions following the Covid-19 pandemic. He says, “Once we got through the worst part of that, we were able to work with Cyber to get it going out of Singapore which
was amazing because a lot of transport routes weren’t up and running yet.” With trained engineers all over the country, Cyber then used local Queensland personnel to do the installation. He says, “We were fortunate as Cyber usually flies out its engineers to assist local engineers and always has a team of local installers at hand. We were allocated two local engineers that were trained on RMGT presses and they are based in Brisbane so we got access to them and their skills.” He adds that the investment in this press has pivoted Greenridge for future acquisitions. He says, “The main driver is to grow our group of companies and having this press allows us to do just that. As we keep adding entities and growing our revenue streams, this machine will allow us to pursue these additional investments.” Cheong adds that from this install, other businesses can learn about the need to create new opportunities from investments in new and upgraded presses. He says, “There is a silver lining in every cloud – there are always opportunities. Greenridge had and has a sound business model and its future planned. COVID or not, it stuck to the plan and this will help accelerate its business growth. “Businesses that are not well run and operate old and outdated equipment will fade away at a more rapid rate, while progressive businesses will soar to greater heights. That’s the way of today’s world.” newzealandprinter.co.nz
TRADE SHOWS
All in Print hosts successful Shanghai show
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ith the eighth staging of All in Print China, concluding recently successfully at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, organisers say the platform has worked well in the year of Covid-19. Marius Berlemann, general manager of Messe Düsseldorf Shanghai, says, “We are pleased that the Covid-19 virus is well contained in China and we could stage All in Print China 2020 as scheduled. Organising an exhibition in these special times is a challenge. Understanding this, we took all necessary epidemic prevention measures. “We acted in accordance with the requirements of the State Council and the Shanghai exhibition industry guide of Covid-19 control and prevention. “We are delighted that we were able to offer a convenient, safe and successful platform to the printing industry.”
Shanghai trade show welcomes visitors despite pandemic’s shadow
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 US showcased their latest technologies. During the five-day exhibition, 69,668 domestic and overseas visitors attended the event. For international participants who could not travel to Shanghai for All in Print 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, organisers offered the new online platform called All in Print Cloud. The platform offered integrated presentations, matchmaking, and industry exchanging functions. Across the printing and packaging industry, the platform provided exhibitors and professional buyers with video and live streaming promotions, supplier buyer matchmaking, real time
communication, and online enquiries. During the live trade fair, organisers hosted three online matchmaking conferences on the All in Print Cloud platform. The 16 exhibitors showcasing their products attracted more than 7000 visits from 17 countries and regions. Evian Gu, senior project director of All in Print China, says, “More than 20 companies debuted over 30 products at the trade fair.” Complementing the exhibits at All in Print China, an extensive ancillary programme comprised more than 10 seminars and technical conferences. These included the ‘New Technology Conference’, the ‘2020 Asia Label Awards Ceremony’ and the ‘2020 Printing and Packaging Industry Economic Forum and China Printing Manager Annual Conference’. All in Print China will return to the Shanghai New International Expo Centre in 2022.
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newzealandprinter.co.nz
November 2020
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LABELS & PACKAGING NEWS
Esko updates web-based packaging platform Esko has unveiled WebCenter 20.0, the latest version of its web-based packaging management and collaboration platform. Roman Stepchuck, product manager at Esko, says, “With WebCenter 20.0, we set out with a goal of making prepress processes considerably faster while delivering a 25 per cent increase in performance. I am delighted to say we have succeeded.” WebCenter 20.0 includes new and additional support for end to end colour workflow for brands and their suppliers. Brand owners can create colour specifications directly in WebCenter. Stepchuck says, “We have also introduced an ‘Ad Hoc Approver’ function. Users can now send a file for approval to recipients who are not WebCenter users. In WebCenter 20.0, you can send files directly to an external email address.
Making prepress easier: Esko WebCenter 20 They can be forwarded on to other parties for approval, depending on permissions. This saves countless valuable lost hours in the approval process.” Paul Land, product manager at Esko, says, “We wanted to make the user
experience more intuitive and personalised. We have essentially designed the latest version of WebCenter to make your workflow more intuitive than ever before. “With WebCenter 20.0, we have introduced a new dashboard where users
can create a personalised view of their activities. We are now enabling users to switch on and off individual features. This will simplify and tailor the experience, ensuring they have easy access and navigation to all the information relevant to them in one place.” Esko has introduced avatars to make the experience more personal. Operators can access and edit all their files from the new single dashboard page. Lund adds, “Integration with the interactive tools packaging professionals use on a daily basis is also important. WebCenter was already compatible with Adobe Illustrator. With the new ‘WebCenter Tasks Plugin’, WebCenter 20.0 is also compatible with InDesign and Photoshop. In just a few clicks, users can open, edit, and upload changes, significantly streamlining the entire process.”
Virtual Digital Day delivers for Durst Recently, digital printing press manufacturer Durst hosted its first Virtual Digital Day covering label and flexible packaging. The online event, attended by customers from around the globe, included a virtual tour of Durst’s Customer Experience Centre and headquarters campus based in Italy.
A mix of partners, customers, and experts from Durst’s Label & Flexible Packaging Segment offered updates on latest developments and an experience of the new Tau RSC platform, its printing solutions and ink systems. Topics covered progress on the Tau RSCi beta test, Durst RSC Low
Migration Solutions, and hybrid label production with the new Omet XJet, powered by Durst. The event also featured digital embellishment and midweb finishing with an ABG solution. Helmuth Munter, segment manager for Label & Flexible Packaging at Durst, says, “Since
its launch at Labelexpo 2017, the Durst Tau RSC Technology has set new benchmarks in industrial digital UV inkjet label printing. Over 100 installations worldwide in less than three years shows that the Durst Tau RSC Platform printing solutions have been well received by the market.”
Circular economy a focus for labels UPM Raflatac says it has continued development work to bring new label solutions with recycled content to the market with a focus on recycled content PE and PP plastic label materials to replace virgin fossil materials. The company says its 2019 resource efficiency actions led to a total reduction of 560 tonnes of plastic labelling materials, complemented by a 230 24
November 2020
percent growth in linerless labelling, which eliminates the need for label backing material. Its label liner waste recycling programme has increased its number of global partners from 130 to 150. The company is also taking steps to make its own production facilities more sustainable, including implementing zero waste to landfill targets at all production sites. It has
made four of its 10 factories worldwide landfill-free. Two others landfilled fewer than 25 tons in 2019. It has also reduced plastic packaging waste in production. Robert Taylor, sustainability director for UPM Raflatac, says, “We believe that ‘labels matter’ for implementing a circular economy for packaging materials and we are proud to highlight the many steps our company has taken in this direction
as detailed in the newly published 2020 Global Commitment Progress Report. “But we know we have a lot more work to do to achieve our ambitious targets by 2025. As a supplier in the packaging value chain we know that a substantial acceleration of progress will be needed to achieve the 2025 targets and we look forward to the challenge ahead.” newzealandprinter.co.nz
in association with
LABELS & PACKAGING
Nekkorb adds automation to labels
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utomation in the labels sector continues to accelerate as converters look for an edge. Frank Brokken, managing director at Nekkorb, says, “The trend is global with technology and connectivity continuing to develop rapidly. Their implementation rates have risen across the business sector and in our industry, integration and automation of inline and offline processes has become a welcome reality. “It runs across all processes in production, from inspection operations to automated unwinds and rewinds, through to finishing processes such as turret rewinding to slitting, varnishing and cold foiling. “Management information systems (MIS) enable software integration of the various production stages, enabling smooth workflows for all processes and production stages. It is more than just prepress; it now enables automation for on press and other production stages.”
MPS innovations Nekkorb supplies Multi Print Systems (MPS) label converting equipment that enables label converters to benefit from the latest advancements in the technology. Brokken says, “MPS listens to its customers and continually improves its technology through innovation. MPS uses research and develops printing technology that results in less loss of valuable production hours and less waste of costly materials. The result is the ability to produce greater quantities at lower costs in the same amount of time and without compromising on quality. “What MPS offers is maximum productivity. The MPS label converting printing presses deliver high quality and efficient production. On top of that, MPS develops solutions that collect and analyse data so label converters can increase their efficiency and productivity.” To operate at their optimal level, workflow systems need accurate data. All new MPS presses 26
November 2020
MPS takes label converters to a new level with connectivity and automation
Connectivity press: MPS targets maximum productivity with its integrated approach to automation ship with an edge server allowing multidirectional data collection. It can also be retrofitted to the majority of EF presses produced back to 2018. This technology delivers information such as knowledge about production lines and operation. Brokken says label companies can integrate these streaming analytics to move from a reactive to a more proactive approach to operations excellence. He says, “The data stream enables you to know exactly what is happening, in detail, with the press at any given point in time. “Using the online dashboard, you no longer have to wait for productivity reports as all the important information about their production lines is collated on the virtual dashboard. “These streaming analytics increase your agility and responsiveness to what is happing in your label print operation. Comparing real-time production data with historical information gives you an up to date perspective on your business. Instead of reacting to old data, you can be proactive and take action by using the streaming analytics. It is about real-time processing and decision making. The MPS connectivity platform ‘Talk to me’ enables its presses to communicate with software and hardware on the printshop floor, allowing multidirectional data exchange. As a result, press operators and management can gain full control of the printing process and make instant data-driven decisions about each stage. Brokken says, “One of the big benefits is that it allows you to monitor performance
details and use this knowledge to identify bottlenecks and weak points in their production lines. Converters using MPS solutions have the opportunity to be faster and more flexible than competitors, gaining extra capacity due to the continuous implementation of the best practices, reductions of errors and downtimes.” He adds that, through the integration of MPS technology and prepress software, converters can significantly raise their production performance. The efficiency boosted by a single entry of data can reduce wastage and errors up to 80 percent and by automating the processes, the throughput time can be reduced up to 50 percent. These kinds of gains present converters with the capability to process over 40 percent more jobs using the same amount of printing presses and operators. He says, “When you can consistently be more efficient than estimated, this can lead to lower sales prices with the same margin. In a competitive market environment, they can put you ahead of the curve. “Besides the machine efficiency, enabling systems to communicate through MPS connectivity introduces label converters to consistency and quality of data used in different departments. This significantly reduces the need for communication between your prepress department, customers, and customer services, which results in savings of time and money. “For any enquiries, please contact Frank Brokken on phone 027 713 8987, email frank@nekkorbsolutions. co.nz or visit our website www. nekkorbsolutions.co.nz.” newzealandprinter.co.nz
NEKKORB Solutions provides high quality products and expertise to the print industry
PRODUCTIVITY QUALITY SUSTAINABILITY
NEKKORB Solutions Limited T: +64 9 8263441 M: +64 27 7138987 (Frank) +64 21 2346124 (Roy) +64 21 423464 (Natasha) E:
info@nekkorbsolutions.co.nz
W: www.nekkorbsolutions.co.nz
CLASSIC FELLMAN
Lessons from a dead language Dave Fellman says we can learn a lot from the ancient language of Latin as we aim to win more customer
O
ne of the things I most enjoy about writing for New Zealand Printer is the challenge of writing in your language. We speak and write English over here in the US, of course, but it is a different English than yours. And the way I look at it, I’m the seller in this situation, trying to sell you on my ideas about sales and business. That connects to one of the fundamental sales concepts I teach: It is never the buyer’s responsibility to communicate with the seller. It is always the seller’s responsibility to communicate with the buyer. That compound statement actually has a compound meaning. On one level, it is never their responsibility to stay in touch with you, it is always your responsibility to stay in touch with them. And on the second level, it is never their responsibility to understand what you are saying, it is always your responsibility to make sure that communication really happens. Having said all of that, I want to switch from English to Latin for the rest of today’s lesson. Latin was originally spoken in Italy, and through the influence of the Roman Empire became a dominant language. Some might argue that it is not a dead language, but it has been a long time since I heard anyone speak more than a phrase or two in Latin. Some of those phrases are important to selling, though.
Status quo I often ask printing salespeople to tell me what they compete with, and please note that I ask what, not who. It is true that you compete with other printers, but on the most fundamental level, you are in competition with the status 28
November 2020
quo, which is Latin for the current state of affairs. That may be the printer they currently buy from. It may also be the way they buy (online vs local, for example) or even the way they use printed materials in their business. Whatever the status quo, the fact is that most people prefer stability to change. Switching from language to science, this can also be explained by Newton’s First Law of Motion, which states that an object in motion will stay in motion and an object at rest will stay at rest, unless acted on by an outside force. In the printing sales application, you are the outside force. Your selling strategy, at least when you are prospecting, must be about turning rest into motion, or turning motion in your direction. I am hoping that you often hear some variation on ‘I am happy with my current supplier’. (If you are not hearing that regularly, you are probably not prospecting enough). So how can you create some motion when people tell you that? How can you get them to at least talk to you about the possibility of buying from you?
Cui bono The answer to that question may be contained in another Latin phrase, cui bono, which translates to: who benefits? Obviously you benefit if they talk to you and ultimately buy from you, but I want you to understand that selling is very rarely about what benefits you. It is almost always about what benefits them, right? So, as a buyer, how do I benefit by talking to you, the seller? How about this: ‘I have many years of experience in printing, both in getting the ink on the paper, and in
making sure that the printed piece works as well as it could or should. I would like to think that my knowledge and experience represent value to you’. Or this: ‘I am sure that you are dealing with a good printing company right now. I want to talk with you,to explore the possibility that we might be even better’. Here is another fundamental sales concept. The best way to get people to do what you want them to do is to position it as a benefit to them. If you can do that, and create even a little motion, you may get the opportunity to talk about the current state of affairs, and you may then be able to suggest something even better than the status quo.
Faciem valorem The last Latin phrase for today is faciem valorem, which translates to: face value. And the fundamental concept that goes with it is this — the best selling usually happens face-toface. When someone says ‘I am happy with my current printer’, I think you should translate that to: ‘I do not feel the need to talk to you, because I believe I am well served by my status quo’. They are not saying they do not want to buy from you, they are saying that they do not see a need to talk to you. So to tie all of this together. Yourchallenge is to convince them that there is value in, and that they would benefit from, a conversation with you. Hopefully the result will be lorem novus — a new customer. This classic Dave Fellman article first appeared in New Zealand Printer October 2016 Dave Fellman is the president of David Fellman & Associates, Raleigh, NC, USA, a sales and marketing consulting firm serving numerous segments of the graphic arts industry. Contact Dave at dmf@davefellman.com. Visit his website at www.davefellman.com newzealandprinter.co.nz
WIDE FORMAT +Plus
Fast fabrics feature among Epson’s latest releases Aarque is wide About Print l Signee survey now on l Training to the fore
WIDE FORMAT
About Print expands business with Aarque
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ecently, About Print installed Wellington’s first HP R1000 Latex flatbed and Summa F1612 F-Series cutter, supplied through Aarque. The company, owned and run by directors Jon Devonshire and Tai Walters, employs 10 staff, and produces a range of printed material for mainly corporate and government clients. Walters says, “We supply mainly cut sheet printing and sent out our wide format printing. Eventually, we could see the necessity to move that production in house. “We began looking for wide format solutions two years ago. We found machines that could ‘do this but not do that’. We needed a machine that can handle a range of substrates. “For us, the HP R1000 Plus Latex printer represents a great quality, easy to operate, wide format machine. The versatility of this printer appealed to us. It prints directly on to so many substrates. It means we avoid delays in gassing off which is needed for eco-solvent inks prior to lamination, Latex ink dries immediately, which makes prints ready to apply; great for our clients. It really saves time in the production process. “The installation went well, and it is dead set easy to learn, just plug and play. Jon Devonshire says the biggest concern is complacency because it is so easy to operate. “The print quality is sensational. We have printed items that we had previously outsourced and it is chalk and cheese by comparison. “The Greenguard certification is really helpful because we work with so many corporate and government work. Internationally, especially with government jobs, anything that has to do with print needs certification. When New Zealand moves that way, we are prepared. “Production is constant. 30
Wide format solutions enable About Print to push into new market sectors
About Print directors Tai Walters (l) and Jon Devonshire with the HP Latex R1000 Plus Printer We have been pumping work through it. We had clients waiting for it, so we have been busy since the installation.” The Summa F1612 cutting table has also gone straight to work at About Print. Walters says, “We saw the Summa as being more versatile than other tables. We had another table in mind, but we saw it working beside the Summa during a site visit in Sydney last year and we could see the difference. We posed the question to the business owner there and asked what he would buy. He said, ‘Another Summa.’ “The Summa uses a moveable belt as opposed to a fixed one and it has a smaller footprint. It suits the type of work we want to do, and it is running well. We are still going through a learning curve with it. Like the HP R1000, it is easy to operate.” He believes all businesses should consider diversification. He says, “Covid showed us that. We have learned that cut sheet and wide format are completely different. Wide format is like a new exciting industry for us. “Both new machines support bespoke packaging, an area we are pushing into. This also requires a different approach from cut sheet printing. With bespoke packaging, the sales team gets to sell an idea, a concept to solve a problem. We develop new packaging products for our customers which takes cost out of their distribution and presents their
product in the best light to their customers.” The two machines mark the first installation from supplier Aarque for About Print. Walters says, “Aarque is a one stop shop. We have continued to lean on them for ideas as we are new to the sector. They give us valuable ideas and guidance. We welcome their expertise and Aarque’s experience is extremely helpful.” The future looks busy. He says, “Overcoming the reset after Covid-19; that is common to everyone. We have plans in place for future development. At the moment, we are growing organically, more opportunities will come along and we will be positioned to meet that growth into the future. “The key is to surround yourself with good people. When you have the right people to deal with demand, you can push the business in the right direction. We all need to make a quid, but delivering equitable solutions for our customers delivers great outcomes for everybody. “We have great staff members. Day in day out, they are our responsibility. We operate a whanau-based operation. There is no leave declined for anything and when I pop into work on the weekend, I sometimes find staff here and I say, ‘What the hell are you doing here?’ They reply, ‘We just wanted to work on this’. They are one of the reasons I love coming to work.”
November 2020 newzealandprinter.co.nz
0508 22 88 73 | www.aarque.co.nz
WIDE FORMAT
Epson F-Series: fast with fabric
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Big and fast: The Epson SureColor F10060 dye sublimation printer t its recent launch in Australia, Epson featured a range of excitng new technology. Included in its latest innovations were two solutions aimed at the increasingly profitable textile market: the SureColor F3000 direct to garment printer and the SureColor F10060 dye sublimation printer. As Epson’s first industrial direct to garment printer, the SureColor F3000 targets the mid to large garment printer. It leverages dual printhead technology and a bulk ink pack system which lowers the cost of ink and minimises waste compared to using cartridge systems. It also comes with new automatic garment height adjustment and easy user maintenance features to increase production and reduce downtime for garment print shops creating custom apparel. The press can produce a full-size shirt in about a
Industrial: the Epson SureColor F3000 direct to garment printer 32
November 2020
Textile and garment printing on the rise with new Epson releases
minute, allowing shops to print hundreds of shirts per day. It can print on a variety of fabric types including cotton, linen, and rayon.
Dye-sub star As Epson’s first 193cm wide format printer, the new SureColor F10060 dye sublimation machine targets high volume producers who rely on speed, reliability, and efficiency for success. It suits a range of applications from soft signage and fashion to sportswear, home furnishings, and décor. Any print, signage, or packaging company will tell you how customers’ demand for fast turnaround times and cost-effective production continue to increase, alongside an expectation of reliable operation with consistent highquality output. Epson had all of these requirements in mind during the development of the SureColor F10060, offers the highest throughput of any Epson wide format printer released to date. Using four of Epson’s very latest 12cm PrecisionCore Micro TFP printheads that each incorporate four print elements, the SureColor F10060 adds active nozzle status monitoring and advanced self-cleaning to ensure consistent high-quality output at up to 255 square metres per hour. Supporting media rolls up to 193cm wide and 60kg, it boasts an 80-litre bulk ink
system; an extra large 155GB buffer memory; high-speed networking; and onboard Step and Repeat. Using precision feed management and a compact double-sided dryer, it offers speedy roll to roll production with consistent tension and parallelism for quality sublimation. Ease of operation features include a 23cm colour touch panel display and a transparent platen window with integrated lighting. Downloadable EMX profiles deliver fast set up with common media types. An integrated RGB camera enables easy profile adjustment and fast configuration with new media. A single operator can load the printer using an integrated media lifter and dual front and rear feed controls. It also features an industrial style signal lamp and an ink system with automatic hot swap. Epson Edge Print and Edge Dashboard software accompany the new Epson Cloud Solution Port that enables detailed production monitoring and advanced status analysis. It enables Epson to offer remote support and accelerated repair; problems can be directly analysed, and service agents dispatched complete with appropriate parts. The optional user self replacement of print heads reduces downtime during production. As with all Epson Large Format Printers, the Sure Color -F10060 is backed with a comprehensive service package. newzealandprinter.co.nz
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DIRECT-TO-GARMENT
The Great Kiwi Sign Survey
T
he time has come for you to have your say in the way the sign industry may head in the future. At the end of October, the New Zealand NZ Sign & Display Association (NZSDA) released The Great Kiwi Sign Survey. Never before has a survey been released to the sign and closely connected industries that enables glimpses into what the sign and print industry is looking like now and how it may trend in the future. The NZSDA has a vision for this survey: to lead and support change needed to future proof the signage industry. To better understand the relationships, the trends, common ground, and the demands on training requirements by assisting in developing solutions to overcome these challenging environmental and economic situations. Sent out to our members, non-members, plus other closely connected industries, the survey will enable us to reveal future trends now and years ahead. For a modern sign shop, it will establish reasons for change in specialising, diversification and expanding and we will be able to better understand the importance of supply and demand. We will learn what works well within our industry, what impact it has in other regions or cities and why. The survey also delves into the training and qualifications of our industry as it continues to raise workmanship standards important to us. We ask: is training and upskilling relevant and needed? Who within our industry is qualified in sign making and in what capacity and environment are they working in? Having some insight into these issues will guide us to what we need to assist with moving forward. It will also provide enormous insight for our associate members, industry suppliers, of the importance their role and 34
November 2020
Melissa Coutts urges you to have your say about the industry
how they can provide a more connected and individualised approach to their clients and customers. The feedback received from this survey will be invaluable for us as an association and our suppliers. It will help us to determine what areas we need to focus on to lead developmental changes to make a stronger, more connected, and future focused industry. The survey is sectioned into three parts. The first part is it’s all ‘About You’ giving us an overview of what your business looks like today. The second part is ‘Industry First’ which relates to business services, training, technologies and supplier connections. The final part is ‘The Future’. What are the future trends? Will sign and print industries compete or merge? Is sustainability top of mind, or
is it investing into technologies, or staff training? We have done our best to keep the questions as simple and straight forward as possible with mostly multi choice-options. It is important to know that only those that participate in the survey will go in the draw to win a Eken 4K HDR Action Camera or Bluetooth speaker and will also receive a detailed report on the valuable insights into our future. So, to be in the know; know your industry and where it is heading, we really recommend you just do it. Take five minutes from your day and have your say. To take part in our survey head to our website at https:// nzsda.org.nz/industry-updates/ and You can also find a link on our Facebook page at https:// www.facebook.com/NZSDA newzealandprinter.co.nz
Creating pathways for sign making training
T
he industry platform Signee comprises two programmes, both certified and industry recognised. Signee Industry, full programme involving online learning and workbook, targets those already employed within the industry but at an entry-level role or those looking to pivot direction from closely connected industries. Signee Gateway, available in high schools nationwide, works as stripped back version of the full Signee Industry programme with the bare essentials and basic knowledge of sign making for students. Released in October, this gateway programme contains NZQA credits for students to achieve. Both programmes offer similar processes and expectations, beginning with
The six pillars of sign making
Signee offers a platform for the future of the industry
a one-week work placement in school holidays or at a time convenient. Follow-up includes one day a week until completion or 10 weeks, whichever comes later. The high schools have responsibility for the reduced Signee Gateway programme cost of $600 plus GST. The reduced cost reflects courses included in the full Signee Industry programme that are not necessary or required at school level, or students may have already achieved these, for example through Working at Heights or First Aid certificates. The Signee Industry programme cost of $1,200 plus GST includes a comprehensive workbook, online learning, plus additional course requirements needed to meet industry expectations. Employers who take on any Signee receive a Trainer Guide to assist with the training and mentoring on a week by week basis.
These programmes cover the ‘six pillars’ of sign making and health and safety: Design, Manufacture, Application, Installation, Illumination and Traditional. The platforms’ release has created that very important link to our industry with pathways and connections to high schools, tertiary institutions and other industries, all we need now is the support of our members and the industry. We need employers from “full service” sign shops to offer their workplace environment, their mentorship and most of all their passion and time to show students or entry level employees just how exciting and diverse our industry can be. We are looking in the first instance for NZSDA members nationwide. To register your interest head to our Signee website at https://signee.nzsda. org.nz/employers-trainers/
Secretary Note
D
uring October, I was on the road again, this time managing an overnight stay in my home town of Timaru. It was fantastic to catch up with some of the members that we see at our annual events, and equally pleasing to meet the members that prefer to stay in their own backyard. Networking and conferences are not for everyone, nonetheless they welcomed my visit and listened intently to the visions and goals that the association has on its agenda moving into 2021. As I visited each sign shop, there appeared to be an overall feeling of positivity, good banter, and future planning among the leaders and staff which was great to experience and see in our regional towns. I also popped into a couple of print shops while in Timaru newzealandprinter.co.nz
MELISSA COUTTS, SECRETARY NZSDA
Education is key to a healthy signage industry
and Oamaru, as there is a growing interest and need to understand where both our sign and print industries are heading and the reasons why. I was lucky enough to get to visit a local print shop in Timaru, where they happily showed me around their premises and established signage section. Understanding some of the reasons why print shops are setting up signage divisions was beneficial to know, as it seems it is purely driven by customers’ expectations of wanting a one stop shop for all print and signage requirements. Setting up a sign shop is far more cost effective compared to setting up a print shop, however, it’s just not that easy to self-teach specific skills in sign making without knowledge and experience of the trade. Educating not only our own industry, but also those that choose to diversify into signage
will give a better understanding into the complexity of sign making. Obtaining the right skills and knowledge needed for sign making enables you to exceed your customers’ expectations by offering quality signage services and products that are fit for purpose. Industry recognised, the Signee Industry Programme ensures every sign or print business that invests into educating their staff has the expert knowledge and skills needed to retain the industry standards at a high level while adding value to any businesses. We need more highly skilled sign makers. Whether you are in business as a sign maker or a printer with signage offerings, by working together to educate, train and upskill will benefit everyone, ultimately raising quality of workmanship and standards in sign making nationwide. November 2020
35
Geraldine Signs adds a Branded Kiwi
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rom his workshop in Geraldine, Sean Davidson offers a global perspective on expanding his signage business. Since he took over the business three years ago, he has moved it to a new workshop space on Geraldine’s main road and in a couple of weeks, he will open another workshop in nearby Timaru. He says, “We are in the process of establishing a new brand called Branded Kiwi. The name came from one of our former graphic and web designers. Setting up Branded Kiwi was about us pivoting a wee bit to diversify the business, offering more services. “We noticed that we were spending more time working in Timaru, so it made sense to set up there under the Branded Kiwi name. Both businesses will run the entire service list that we offer.” Employing four full-time and one part-time staff member, Geraldine Signs and Branded Kiwi provide a range of signage and print work to their customers. He says, “Our main offering is full-service sign making. Of course, we do full vehicle wraps and fleet work too. Most of it is print and cut. “Having an in house graphic designer means we can design signage for customers. We do a good amount of logo work and brand management work, including rebrands and logo designs for local organisations and businesses.” Interestingly enough, the print side of things provides business too. For example, we design brochures and business cards. We outsource that work to print companies. We have talked about doing our own printing but there are so many great companies that we can work with that do trade rates. We believe in partnering with companies that do what they do best. We remain the central point of contact for the client and we maintain those relationships with care. It is 36
November 2020
Sean Davidson, owner and director of Geraldine Signs and Branded Kiwi
Mainland signee sees opportunities expand, even during a pandemic
a matter of one person, one contact. “Keeping to the skills we know means we can produce top quality sign work and offer other print work alongside it. We also outsource printing of clothing such as uniforms. So, when our clients come in and tell us what they need, we can provide the full range for them.”
Social awareness Brand awareness sits high on the list of customer requirements. Davidson says, “Our customers need people to see their brands. We have the capability to set up their website for them and help them run their social media. Our part-time person is a marketing and content creator. “We get asked about social media and how to get their business out there into the world. It is a necessary evil, but it also involves brand awareness and exposure; being in front of people’s faces all the time with repeated brand awareness.
Production and training As the business goes from strength to strength, the workload continues to increase. He agrees that is a good problem to have but he finds it hard at times to find qualified and experienced sign makers. He says, “It is great when we find someone that can actually do the work. To that end, we have employed an apprentice. We believe in training and see it as a significant part of the future for sign making.” Davidson encourages his team to accept new challenges and finds that they have a willingness to try something different. He says, “Everyone in the company enjoys the production process. Our graphic designers love it when they get to leave their computers for a while and go into the workshop to follow their design through. “We also really enjoy working with customers who let us push through and ‘go for it’ in terms of creating and producing amazing content, whether that is signage, wraps, printing, or web-based.” newzealandprinter.co.nz
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Contact 0800 0800 52 or email secretary@nzsda.org.nz Visit the NZSDA website for further membership enquiry at www.nzsda.org.nz
WIDE FORMAT NEWS
Summa unveils cutter software module Wide format finishing manufacturer Summa has announced GoSign, a new software module for its roll cutter series. Aarque supplies Summa solutions in New Zealand. The company says GoSign cutting software enables signage and print shops to manage their preferred workflow with greater flexibility. Summa intends to deliver software solutions that perfectly match its customers’ workflows to support and improve their way of working. It says that, since the launch of the GoSuite software platform two years ago, Summa’s inhouse software has increased the value of the Summa product range. The company believes that powerful software enables customers to make the most of their hardware and adds it will continue investing in the development of a performant, flexible and
Summa has designed it cutting software solutions to align perfectly with its hardware future proof software platform. The new cutter software module GoSign, a Windowsbased production tool, acts as a bridge between the design software and a Summa roll cutter. Its functions include: • Custom configuration of action sets for efficiency and automation. • Direct cut plug-ins for Adobe Illustrator and Coreldraw.
• Cutting pre-sets included with material manager. • Job log functionality for more data insights. • Flexible import of cutting files. • Optional Pro Pack offers extended and specific functionality, embedding the GoSign features. • Twin Workflow to increase production speed and efficiency by combining a Summa roll cutter and a Summa
flatbed cutter in one single workflow. • Barcode functionality to ensure plot files can still be modified to optimise cutting requirements. • Hot Folder job handling to automatically send files to the cutter. • Extended import of plot files such as DFX and PLT files, as well as files from free open source programmes. Summa has included the new cutter software module GoSign with every new Summa roll cutter. New and existing Summa customers can download GoSign from the Summa website. The company has also released a GoSign Pro Pack 30-day trial version. Steve Wilton-Jones, national equipment sales consultant at Aarque, says, “Summa’s software solutions align perfectly with Summa hardware. For further information on Summa solutions, please contact me on 021 719 634.”
Durst buys a stake in Vanguard Digital Printing Durst has acquired a majority stake in US printer manufacturer Vanguard Digital Printing. Matt Ashman, managing director for Durst Oceania, says the company could make Vanguard solutions available in the local market early next year. He says, “At the moment, we’ll be concentrating on Vanguard Digital’s home market. The business has not sold outside of the US market yet. “But certainly, the plans are, once we have aligned our sales structures worldwide, for Durst Oceania to bring Vanguard Digital solutions into the region. It is an indication that Durst, as an organisation, is constantly looking for new opportunities and that opportunities within wide format are still large and present.” Vanguard Digital Printing, now operating as Vanguard Durst 38
November 2020
Durst’s Matt Ashman (l) and Christoph Gamper want to bring Vanguard Digital Printing solutions to New Zealand Digital Printing Systems. maunfactures printing systems for the signage, decoration, corporate, industrial, and packaging sectors. With the acquisition, Durst says it has added new printer classes to its large format portfolio and can take advantage of Vanguard Digital’s global distribution
and service network and its technical resource, which develop robust solutions. Christoph Gamper, chief executive and coowner of Durst Group, says Vanguard Digital’s printing systems have achieved rapid growth and high customer acceptance in the North American market, positioning
Durst for further growth. He says, “Despite the global pandemic, we are positioning ourselves for the long term and are determined to invest in the large-format graphics market. In addition, with our technical expertise, Vanguard will continue to ensure that its products and services are industryleading, and a wider customer base will understand what it is like to be part of the Durst family.” David Cich, chief executive officer of Vanguard Digital will retain his title in the newly named company. He says, “It is with great humbleness and excitement that Vanguard Digital will now be a part of the world class industry leading Durst Group. Becoming part of the Durst Group family provides Vanguard Digital the opportunity to expand its portfolio of innovative market leading UV printers to the entire world.” newzealandprinter.co.nz
PLATES
Webstar goes process free with Kodak
T
housands of sheetfed offset printers around the world use Kodak’s Sonora Process Free Plates. The company reports that its process free plates also continue to grow in popularity with web offset printers. The team at leading New Zealand commercial web offset print company Webstar knows why. As part of the country’s largest print group, Blue Star Group New Zealand, Webstar operates state of the art print facilities in Auckland and Masterton. Specialising in high volume, high quality magazines, catalogues, directories, flyers, and promotions as well as direct mail, Webstar enjoys a reputation for top quality and service.
Sustainability Webstar is a Toitū Envirocare Diamond certified company, the highest level a company can achieve. Being a Diamond certified company requires an ongoing commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and improving the environmental sustainability of its production processes. In early 2020, Webstar replaced a conventional processed plate with the Kodak Sonora X Process Free Plate in its Auckland plant, where it currently runs two Rotoman 16-page web offset presses. The company intends to add a third in the near future. Kodak says the migration to the Sonora X Process Free Plate eliminates the consumption of water, energy, and chemicals from processing and removes the need to dispose of spent chemicals. It also enables the elimination of onpress waste from plate processing variability. All of this brings sustainability benefits and tangible cost savings. Steve Lonergan, technical innovations manager at Webstar, says, “We were able to newzealandprinter.co.nz
Eco-friendly Kodak plates deliver cost benefits to leading web offset print company
Achieving a leaner workflow: the Kodak Magnus Q800 Platesetter at Webstar’s Auckland plant handles 45 plates per hour remove two plate processors in the platemaking department, so that we additionally cut out the expense and have freed up the human resources that were required for care and maintenance of those machines.” Webstar has an objective to deliver the same print quality and run lengths as the old plate without compromising press performance, such as production speed or the amount of waste. Lonergan adds, “The Sonora X Plate has demonstrated its ability to satisfy our every wish in day to day use. We have already printed runs of more than 400,000 impressions with the plate on the Rotoman presses. I would rate the Sonora X Plate very highly in that respect. “It was incredible how smoothly we completed the transition from the wet processed plate to process free. Our printers experienced no problems, and they were quick to embrace the new plate. Even though somewhat more careful handling is called for with the Sonora X Plate, none of them would shed a tear for the processed plate we used to work with.” Switching platemaking to process free helps achieve a leaner workflow, allowing Webstar to get the plates to the presses faster. The company
says the Kodak Magnus Q800 Platesetter, on which the Sonora X Plates are imaged, has likewise opened the door to more platemaking speed and efficiency.
Smart workflow Two years ago, Webstar installed an X Speed Magnus Q800 Platesetter, which handles 45 plates per hour, and equipped it with a Kodak Automatic Pallet Loader. A high capacity Kodak Prinergy Workflow System located at the Auckland site controls and drives plate output on the Magnus Q800 as well as on two Kodak Magnus VLF Platesetters based at Webstar’s Masterton operations. Running plate output at both sites via just one Prinergy enables Webstar to save on IT infrastructure and labour costs. Lonergan explains, “We have an average monthly consumption of around 6000 plates at our Auckland site. Our team had to reload plates several times a day by hand with the old CTP system.” “Now, the plates on one pallet last us several days, and changing pallets is a simple matter. The automated CTP solution from Kodak and the Sonora X Process Free Plate combine perfectly, supporting our efforts to offer a top quality print service.” November 2020
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REAL MEDIA COLLECTIVE
Industry associations’ relevancy and
R
ecently I was asked ‘what’s the point of an industry association?’ This was not the first time I have had this question put to me, however it was interesting to note that three of the people who have asked me this question in the past few years have also reached out to us for help during this terrible pandemic. That said, the question did get me pondering: are we only relevant during a crisis? Or, are we relevant on a variety of levels but perhaps go unnoticed in the good times? In this column I am reflecting on why I think industry associations are relevant and the role these organisations must play as industry custodians for future generations. In my mind, industry associations are more important now than ever before although I am not sure ‘association-land’ has evolved as quickly as it needed to. Industries have needed very specific support over the past decade. Members of industries, like ours, are constantly confronted with the challenges of Industry 4.0, consolidation, diversification strategies as jobs and manufacturing go offshore, government leader fluctuations, hung parliaments plus more and have demanded industry associations be nimble, active and commercial. These are the attributes that many legacy associations have never needed to have, and this is to their detriment. As industry and economies tighten, businesses question every dollar spent. If there is no value, then the member subscription is often the first thing to be dumped from the budget. Industry associations that aren’t evolving, delivering relevance or leadership by example, are those that will lose critical member engagement and potentially find themselves with year on year membership declines and being forced to eat into assets to stay afloat. The Real Media Collective prides itself on being responsive. It is, after all, how we began. Two Sides was brought to Australian shores because a group of industry leaders sat together and wanted a responsive campaign to the misleading statements 40
KELLIE NORTHWOOD
The Real Media Collective chief executive Kellie Northwood gets to the nub of why industry associations matter and what they must do to stay relevant in increasingly difficult times
about paper’s environmental credentials. Despite requests to existing industry associations at the time, it was clear we needed to build this on our own. The campaign was launched, members joined and the industry developed a united message. Fast forward thirteen years and every new initiative the Collective has developed and delivered have all been a response to an industry need. It is this critical ingredient that maintains our relevance. Nothing we do, or invest in, is unimportant to assisting our members be more profitable, more professional, more educated and more informed. We help them achieve more in their businesses. We do this through deliverables and tangible outcomes – less words, more do. Threats and opportunities exist in every landscape and every industry. Despite the paper and print sectors facing challenges in recent years, there is still great opportunity to thrive. Building strong programs for members will always peak interest. Our Rebuild Together webinar series, launched in the middle of Covid-19 when people were webinared out and busy trying to mitigate a pandemic, realised over 23,000 engagements. Staggering figures and all because the content was relevant and it assisted
Fast forward thirteen years and every new initiative the Collective has developed and delivered have all been a response to an industry need. It is this critical ingredient that maintains our relevance. Nothing we do, or invest in, is unimportant to assisting our members be more profitable, more professional, more educated or more informed.
members in their business need. Our VoPP Mag, started as a 5,000 magazine print run, within three years it has tripled and is now circulated across New Zealand. Open Up to Mail started as a 1,000 people mailer and is now distributing to over 7,000. Our industry is in desperate need for tools, research, material and information to strengthen their businesses – build good content and you will find members become engaged and engaged quickly. Threats, in my mind, are from outlier associations. These are associations with big stables that offer a service, such as IR, to the print industry, yet do nothing to represent the specific needs of the industry. They don’t invest in industry initiatives, such as Women in Print, LIA or the trade shows. They don’t develop industry specific research or Industry Insights, they don’t host industry awards and more. They simply take member monies that fund other major industry representations. I firmly believe these outlier associations have filled an
November 2020 newzealandprinter.co.nz
REAL MEDIA COLLECTIVE
responsiveness in the modern era
Competitiveness parked at the door: The Real Media Collective members attend the 2019 AGM in Sydney initial need, however will soon be rejected by an industry such as ours – a loyal and fierce industry that prides itself in being represented as a print industry not as a manufacturing or small business industry. We want specific projects to grow our apprentice and talent acquisition programs. We want to protect our print museums, conduct site tours with innovative printers – big and small – to learn and share knowledge. It is true, the pandemic has changed how we do business, however there will be a return to events, face to face meetings and handshakes. Our member events are filled rooms with suppliers, producers, competitors all parking their commercial differences at the door and coming together as one industry, sharing ideas, jokes and stories. Every event we hold ends up with a room filled with our members. This provides me with a strong sense of inspiration that this is the future, together we’re a formidable industry and one newzealandprinter.co.nz
which will have a strong future, with events, Zoom hook-ups and face to face meetings. Consolidation, partnership and mergers are the future. We simply can no longer afford to duplicate executive salaries, marketing and event personnel, finance teams and more. Over the past two years the Collective has merged three industry associations together, established partnerships with other like-minded associations (Visual Connections, PrintNZ and Fundraising Institute of Australia) and continue to embrace dialogue with many industry associations looking to remove operating costs from their balance sheets and increase deliverables for their members. It makes sense and is one we welcome. In the same way consolidation is critical to work smarter, not harder, and deliver more for less, so too must we embrace being inclusive. Producers, suppliers and customers all part of one Collective is our vision to bring a strong unified voice for all of industry. We want to build campaigns that promote print, supported by research that is quantifiable – we want customers to have access to that content, to celebrate awards together and feel part of a strong industry sector. We also want to work with our suppliers and printers together to bring innovation and technology from suppliers to practice with print members. We want to learn from each other and share more across all the relevant agendas. We recognise there are specific needs to each member sector and for this we have individual committees that meet to work on specific projects. It is a strong solution that sees membership growth, better engagement and a united loyalty. We need to remember who we are, look to our Charters, stop trying to bring in outsiders or outlier associations, we need to bunker down. Build deliverables for our industry and our industry only. We also need to march to parliament and demand grants, support and funding for the hundreds of thousands of Australians we employ. We need to move on from legacy
What should I expect from my industry association? Relevancy: are their programs something my business needs or can use? And are these programs specific to my industry? Community: are their events something that connects my team and my business with the right people across my industry to assist my business to grow and achieve our strategic objectives? Advocacy: as an industry am I well represented across government, training and other bodies that allows me to gain access to information and opportunities my business can grow from? Frugal investment: is my industry association offering a future strategy and plan? Am I part of that plan? Do I have a voice in the future planning and sustainability of my industry? thinking and focus on creating our strong and sustainable future. The Collective is committed to achieving all that and more. To unite and lead this incredible industry to an incredible future and if that isn’t relevant to our industry and our individual members or businesses then I don’t know what is. We build relevance in what we deliver to help you achieve more. If we are not being relevant, please yell out loud and proud to keep us on our toes and delivering what you need. Every industry association is only here because of you, your voice, your needs are what we need to do our job. Kellie Northwood is the chief executive officer of The Real Media Collective, the industry association representing paper, print, mail, publishing and packaging sectors across Australia and New Zealand. Northwood is also the executive director of the Australasian Paper Industry Association. Contact: hello@thermc.com.au November 2020
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PEOPLE IN PRINT XXX
Challenges in joining E arlier this year, Asher Levy was named active chairman at Landa Digital Printing (LDP). Previously chief executive of Orbotech, Levy joined LDP at a time of great opportunity, but also faced unforeseen challenges with the Covid-19 pandemic impacting most global industries. Speaking about his first few months with the company, Levy provides an insight into this transition for the print industry, his role at LDP, and his future plans for the business.
Q: Given a long and distinguished career at Orbotech what were your reasons for joining LDP? Asher Levy: I was heavily influenced by my first meeting with Benny Landa in 2019. Benny visited us at Orbotech and gave a brief presentation about LDP. I was simply fascinated by what he shared. We then kept in contact and later in the year, Benny invited me to join the company as active chairman. I joined the company as Benny himself is very impressive. Secondly, I did some research of my own and looked at the company, the technology, the addressable market size and then the wider industry. At that point, I realised that the opportunity for nanography could be huge. In business, not many people can say that they were a part of a revolution, or a seismic change within an industry. Of course, I wanted to be a part of it.
Q: AL:
What are your responsibilities in the role of active chairman? In its broadest terms, it is to complement, support and to be a true partner to the chief executive. In the day to day, that means that I have an active role in business development planning, as well as helping to define all strategic initiatives as to long-term product and growth strategies. What’s more, it also means preparing the company for its next key initiatives, whether 42
Asher Levy, who recently took on the role of active chairman at Landa Digital Printing, joined the company to be a part of its lead in innovation
that be in raising capital or hiring senior personnel. In addition, and together with the chief executive and its founder, my role is also to underpin the company’s values and its culture.
Q:
Not long after you joined the company, the world was hit by Covid-19. How did that impact your first few months? Well, Covid-19 has had a huge and profound impact on the whole world, so it naturally dominated my time, especially as I was also acting as the interim chief executive. The pandemic’s impact was felt in every area of the business, with many questions for us to answer, such as, how do we now communicate with customers? How do we demonstrate our presses? What happens now that drupa 2020 has postponed? And critically, how do we continue to support customers in the field? And in answering those questions, I have to say that I was impressed by how the business responded. The management team did an amazing job in reacting quickly, making swift changes to limit any long-term financial impact. Travel was instantly shut down, including in Asia Pacific, and physical meetings became a challenge. Our comprehensive service infrastructure that includes both remote support offered by our centre in Israel, together with our experienced local engineers in the field, proved its effectiveness and adeptly handled, and is handling, the challenge of keeping our customers operational and trained up. We also quickly and nimbly transformed our ongoing onsite customer visits and press demonstrations to ongoing full scale online demo events – which on the positive side, has enabled more of the industry to publically access the information about our presses and technology that they want. In addition, our wider team also worked very quickly and smartly to address the other key challenges too. Crucially,
AL:
we hired experienced local engineers in the field to support our customers and to keep them operational. In hindsight, the pandemic definitely fast-tracked my on-boarding process, and this meant that I very quickly got to know the business. And while Covid-19 continues to be a challenge, I can’t think of one situation where the team wasn’t able to find a viable solution for a problem.
Q: AL:
What were your initial key observations about the business? There are many. If I start with culture, some companies make you feel like everyone is replaceable, but this isn’t Benny’s way. LDP is all about its people and this makes you feel very comfortable and welcome from day one. My other lasting impression has been one of opportunity. We’ve clearly got a superior solution that aggressively answers market needs, presenting a huge opportunity for us and for our customers. We’re now in the execution phase, which brings other challenges, but I now know that these are all within our control. I am confident that we have the talent and professionalism within our team to successfully conclude this phase, even within a pandemic.
Q:
LDP recently appointed Arik Gordon as chief executive, also from Orbotech. What can you tell us about him and his suitability for the role? Hiring a new chief executive was one of my first tasks and Arik was my first choice for the role. I feel very lucky to have secured him. Arik has a strong technology background with lots of relevant experience, but he also brings with him a unique combination of attributes. He’s a nice and genuine guy, but he’s also a great leader with a solid approach to people. He brings the most out of them. What’s more, and from our previous life at Orbotech, I can tell you that he’s also great at business
AL:
November 2020 newzealandprinter.co.nz
PEOPLE IN PRINT XXX
g a “seismic change” Q: AL:
What are some trends in Australasia that LDP intends to capitalise on? In the Australasian market, there are trends similar to many other global markets. For instance, we see growing demand to improve efficiencies in the production process – often, to support end customer requirements for faster turnaround of smaller quantities with a greater number of SKUs, whilst also reducing inventory. We also see an increased demand for environmentally-friendly products, end to end. Nanography offers a real solution to these challenges. With its unique digital printing process and water-based NanoInk, Nanography can print on any substrate without special treatment, and as a result, provide the efficiency, flexibility and quality that Australian print houses and brands are looking for.
Q:
AL:
Asher Levy addresses LDP’s future plans strategy. He is not afraid to challenge and he’s also able to think differently. A great fit for Landa.
Q: AL:
What are your main objectives for the next 12 months? In the immediate future, and like most companies, it is to be ready for when the market re-opens. Of course, there are still some great unknowns, especially with regards to the Covid-19 challenge and its potential impact on the world economy and our customer’s businesses. But from conversations with our customers, who are positive about the future, I’m very optimistic. So, to support them and to keep them running when the world starts to unlock, we will further strengthen our consumables model, which newzealandprinter.co.nz
Since LDP has received a capital boost in Nanographic Print, what lies in the future of this technology? Our focus remains on the roll-out of our Landa S10 and S10P for the commercial, folding carton and display and publishing sectors, as well as the continued development of our Landa W10 series press for the flexible packaging sector. Beyond that, with the substrate flexibility provided by Nanography, we expect the technology to touch all mainstream printing markets in the future: from web-fed publishing and corrugated, to labels and metal printing, and textiles.
will undoubtedly see increased demand. We will also continue to build a challenging yet reliable and achievable business plan for 2021.
Q:
LDP installed its first Nanographic Printing press in the APAC in January. What are some other company plans for this region? Landa’s first customer in the region is ZRP, one of the top three carton printing companies in China. It has around 40 offset presses installed across four plants, utilising state of the art production processes to deliver international quality in China for global brands. Subject to the pandemic, our current plan in the region is to continue shipping to China and to commence shipping to Australia sometime in the near future, but not before 2022.
AL:
Q: AL:
What can we expect from the company at the upcoming tradeshow? We definitely plan to participate in the next drupa. This is of course subject to the then prevailing public health situation. If we feel it is safe for our employees and our customers, we’ll be there. As for what visitors can expect, as you know, we like to surprise, but you can rest assured that it will be a good show. November 2020
43
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DRUPA
Individualisation: print, p
T
hinking forward to drupa 2021, the question arises: what role will commercial and publishing printing play in the future? They will of course play a role, but in a vastly different way than today. To a great extent the future of commercial and publishing printing lies in individualisation. The data driving this is online and forms the basis for print 4.0. Profound changes in the media landscape had a significant impact on print for advertising and publishing. A large slice of the advertising cake is taken by online and social-media channels, their worldwide share being estimated at 35 per cent, according to Smithers Pira, Calculation from World Press Trends Database. The economic indicators for commercial printing and publishing have long since been disconnected from the general economic situation. Economic upturns of recent years have not been mirrored and any growth of individual players has happened due to cutthroat competition.
Dramatic sales downturn The consequences of this disconnect have been, on the one hand, a continuing consolidation process and, on the other hand, an associated workforce reduction. Between 2005 and 2015, sales revenues in Europe declined by 20 per cent and the number of players fell by 14 per cent to 110,000 firms. By 2020, total market revenues are expected to slightly exceed €70bn ($124bn) and to level off thereafter. This trend is also reflected in the demand for graphic papers. In Europe, in 2018, there was an 18 per cent sales downturn in wood free paper and by summarising this number for the last 10 years, we arrive at a percentage downturn in middle double-digits. Numbers from the USA do not show a better picture, where commercial print volumes have shrunk by almost 50 per cent and returns by 46
KNUD WASSERMANN
Knud Wassermann explains how less print becomes more for the industry
Wassermann says the trend towards self-publishing continues unabated 80 per cent, respectively. On the contrary, in this same time-period the US economy grew by over 70 per cent. The only segment within the print industry to have profited during this time is packaging.
The transformation process If you continue reading, despite those sobering numbers, then you are courageous and indeed courage is what is needed to tackle the changes demanded by digital transformation and to prepare a company for the challenges that are still to come. In such a market environment, printing companies must reposition their offer and change their sales strategy. This involves focusing firmly on benefits for customers while understanding market requirements. During the 2019 Online Print Symposium in Munich, Michael Fries, former chief executive of Onlineprinters, said, “Whoever can clearly differentiate their business model, will be successful.” Besides, customers themselves have also changed considerably. Decision makers are more and more digitally aware, and it is key to be able to convey the benefits of print to young people, of which there are certainly enough. We need passionate employees in sales who appreciate the added value of print in a multimedia world
and who can impress customers with print. Horst Huber, Head of Werk-II, says, “At the Adobe Summit in Las Vegas, I had dozens of conversations with digital natives and they never questioned the importance of print. They want print but rather on-demand, in real time and fully personalised.”
Shaping change Obviously, the implementation of a new business or sales models can fail but failing is better than doing nothing. To freeze up in shock from the fear of change does not get you anywhere. Whoever stands still has already lost. Hence the motto: “Whoever is not ready to tackle change will be overrun by it”. The print industry is still too focused on the technology and is not thinking in business models. No question that technology is undoubtedly important, above all networked technology. But technology is still only a means to an end. There are enough successful business models and they have one thing in common: with the help of the internet and social media channels they enable individualised print products which offer more customer value. This is why online retailers are turning more to print. The German firm Adnymics has enjoyed resounding success by providing online retailers with
November 2020 newzealandprinter.co.nz
DRUPA
publish and be damned personalised packaging inserts which add more emotional impact to the ‘moment of unpacking’. A further example is MyPostcard. Users of its app can easily upload pictures from their Instagram feed or their personal photo albums; choose a layout; and finish their cards with a specific personalised message. MyPostcard then prints and sends these individualised items within 24 hours to anywhere in the world. Even the traditional catalogue is enjoying a comeback, albeit in a strongly individualised form. This is the case with the German online retailer Bonprix, which provides its customers with personalised mailings and folders based on their buying behaviour. The Bonprix monthly print volumes are running at 13 million A3 pages and the trend is upwards. Personalisation creates an added value which, in the case of Bonprix, translates directly into strong sales growth. This added value itself can also justify the higher costs for personalised print. Also, the trend in selfpublishing is continuing, with photobooks as bestsellers and notebooks being among today’s most popular analogue gadgets. A quote from Matthias Horx in Zukunftsreport 2019 is very pertinent: “If everything is always multipliable and available, then the unique, the specific, the tangible becomes the new luxury.”
Differentiation is a key success factor, says Michael Fries, former chief executive of Onlineprinters
Technology trends
All online can be duplicated, according to Matthias Horx of the Zukunftsinstitut Frankfurt
Offset printing is technologically speaking largely exhausted. Today it is all about process optimisation and increasing efficiency. A glance at the overall equipment effectiveness value shows why this is: The industry’s average lies at only 30 per cent. Slumbering within today’s machinery is a significant potential for increased efficiency and for better margins. How to make full use of this potential, whether with internal or external know-how, is a decision you have to make
for yourself. What is important is that this topic is focused and not ignored. Heidelberg follows this approach with its subscription model. It is also interesting to see how a paper producer like Sappi is devoting itself to the topic of increased efficiency. During the course of the company’s process analysis, it came to light that up to 25 per cent of all paper is thrown away. Its aim is to tackle this problem using OctoBoost, a cloud-based, modular platform and working together with their customers.
newzealandprinter.co.nz
The driver of transformation Within the industry, digital printing is no longer considered as something marginal or dispensable. It is a key part of the ongoing digital transformation and underlies many new business models. Inkjet printing will confirm its potential by pushing even more into offset application territory. Much is made possible by the Continued on page 48 November 2020
47
DRUPA Continued from page 47 current developments in inks on one side and the broadening of the paper spectrum on the other. The stated goal is, sooner or later, to be able to print with inkjet on coated papers.
Digital first editions It is interesting to see how inkjet is pushing more into the area of sheet fed printing. Current sheet fed systems don’t have quite an appetite for print volumes, which sooner or later should help the process to break through also in smaller markets. By combining with inline finishing solutions, sheet-fed systems bring a certain charm; typical print applications based on short runs can be very efficiently and flexibly produced. Canon has basically positioned its solution between toner-based digital print and offset and assures that for runs of 300 to 1300 copies inkjet printing can score points economically. It is fascinating to see how fully complete first editions of books, brochures and catalogues can be produced in an industrial digital print environment. Each product can look completely different in terms of content, size, or format. The production line is completely integrated and networked so that even despite the level of individualisation, a required level of efficiency is reached. Thanks to today’s already achievable levels of automation, ‘mass customisation’ is no longer a future dream.
The way forward: personalised online packages
Take the offensive Despite the huge changes going on, we now have tools at hand that for multimedia communications with print, can set the right accents. This means personalisation and individualisation captured on paper. To get there requires courage, tenacity, and a good dose of stamina. A visit to drupa 2021 can provide valuable inspiration. Don’t forget: today the business model decides over technology and not the other way around. See you in Düsseldorf in 2021. Knud Wassermann is editor in chief of Graphische Revue in Vienna. 48
Service: MyPostcard will send your photos as real postcards in 24 hours worldwide
November 2020 newzealandprinter.co.nz
Those in self-isolation during the current pandemic, compared to those that endured the 1919 Spanish Flu, have a world of choices beyond the printed word for finding information and therein lies the problem
ROMANO
Back to the future of print
I
n the course of researching a book I am writing about the history of the Ludlow Typograph, I came upon a tidbit from their 1919 annual report. In it, the company claimed an 800 per cent increase in sales. For those of you who are too young to remember, the Ludlow Typograph was a type caster for large metal type. It was used by newspapers and commercial printers around the world. It complemented the Linotype, Intertype and Monotype typesetters, which set text type primarily. Why did this piece of information draw my attention? 1919 was the heart of the Spanish Flu pandemic in the US and around the world. It began in 1918 and essentially ended in 1920. That pandemic killed an estimated 675,000 Americans, before it was all over. Millions of people died around the world. The situation was not unlike that of today. So why was this company in a niche market doing so well in the midst of a worldwide catastrophe, or rather, why were printers, their customers, doing so well? And printers were doing well. So well that workers rose up for higher wages and shorter working days. There were strikes and work stoppages. newzealandprinter.co.nz
FRANK ROMANO
Print thrived in the Spanish Flu pandemic in 1919, so what’s changed? Facebook, Instagram and don’t even get me started on TikTok.
Printing plants were at capacity and working overtime. Yet, today, printers are suffering as a result of the current pandemic. What was different? In 1918 to 1920 there were no regular radio broadcasts, no television and no internet. People who were self-isolating spent their time reading. Instead of binge watching, they were binge reading. Magazine publishing was booming. Book publishing was at capacity. Newspapers were expanding. The printed word dominated. A study I did years ago showed that the decline in newspaper readership began, not with the internet, but with television in the 1950s. The other day, The New York Times reported that they now make more money from electronic subscriptions than from print subscriptions. Fast forward to today, and we are all on our computers, Facebooking and Zooming or TicToking away. There’s broadcast TV and cable TV. There is music in any form you want. There are podcasts and online classes. In other words, alternatives to print permeate every nook and cranny of our lives. A few years ago, the editor of Business Week called me up and asked, “How many PDFs are on the web?” I gave him my standard answer: “How the hell do I know.” But I have a way of
finding things out. I assembled a team of grad students and we came up with a research approach. We estimated a few trillion PDF files on websites or attached to emails. And the point is? At one time, those PDF files would have been printed pages. Email replaced memos and letters. PDFs replaced reports and presentations. Remember all those black and white pages printed on offset duplicators or copying machines? They are now streams of binary digits floating in cyberspace. Today, some printers are doing well. They are in package printing or flatbed inkjet on a variety of substrates or they are into on-demand books. With so many people at home, folks are writing family histories and cookbooks and memoirs. Short-run book printing is doing very well. During the 1918-1920 pandemic F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife were holed up in France and he wrote The Great Gatsby. Who knows what great novel will come out of today’s nastiness. I think that someday, far in the future, the worldwide printing industry will band together and support the creation of a cyborg that will be sent back in time to kill the person who invented the internet and thus change history. I’m kidding. Or am I? November 2020
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