print illustrated v2-3 | Fujifilm by FUJIFILM print illustrated

Volume 2 Issue 3 Fall 2018

SHADES OF SUCCESS THE IMPORTANCE OF COLOR TO BRANDS

INSIDE NEW SUPERWIDE UV ROLL-TO-ROLL PRINTER PARTNERS: STRONGER TOGETHER

VOL. 2, ISSUE 3 n FALL 2018

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IN THIS ISSUE 01 PRINT MATTERS A letter from Todd Zimmerman

02 SHADES OF SUCCESS The importance of color to brands

06 JACKPOT

SHADES OF SUCCESS THE IMPORTANCE OF COLOR TO BRANDS

How Haig’s Quality Printing scored big with Fujifilm’s J Press 720S

08 STRONGER TOGETHER

Your partners are critical to your success in today’s ‘free-agent’ nation

12 BEYOND PERFECT How Seneca Label is pushing its clients to the next level with Fujifilm’s FLENEX FW Platemaking Technology

14 ALL ABOUT THE FL3 How the modular flexographic label & packaging press is making high quality print simple

16 ROOM TO GROW Printers focusing on customer demands in competitive label market

18 NEXT IN LINE Superwide UV roll printer is latest in Fujifilm’s epic wide format lineup

20 INFOGRAPHIC

Where do you stand in the eyes of your partners?

PRINT MATTERS A LETTER FROM TODD ZIMMERMAN

The demise of print has been grossly exaggerated. The truth is that print matters. In some ways, it matters more today than ever. It creates a level of ownership to an idea or concept, and it connects in a sincere and intimate way. Principles are fundamental truths. They’re the cornerstones on which businesses, countries and cultures are built. In our case, the collective truths within the printing industry are that we have established and continue to prove our value by delivering impactful, cost-effective solutions to our brand marketing clientele. Our proven role as a valuable media channel is built upon a comprehensive toolkit of technical and production expertise, problem solving acumen and professional sales skills. Aggregating and sharing this amazing collection of knowledge with the next generation of participants coming into the industry is a significant challenge, but one that we are committed to working with our

industries associations and customers to overcome. The truth is that print matters. In some ways, it matters more today than ever. It creates a level of ownership to an idea or concept, and it connects in an intimate, sincere and engaging way. Certainly, the vehicles of communication have changed and lithography, in some instances, has matured. But print continues to deliver a compelling ROI and a tangible impression in an increasingly noisy digital world. Automation, augmented reality, inkjet technologies and artificial Intelligence are growing components of our value proposition. Our collective challenge is to work as hard at sharing the value we create with the same level of commitment and passion

THE IMPORTANCE OF COLOR From iconic brands to new startups, message, logo and color are critical in helping brands set the theme for their products. Fujifilm is well-known for its green film packaging, although Fujifilm used orange and yellow as the main colors for its roll film in the beginning. In the early 1950s, Fujifilm was looking for a strong and distinctive image and extensively researched and considered various signature color candidates. The answer Fujifilm arrived at? Green. Green has a bright, positive image and with its youthful feel, it was especially appropriate for Fujifilm at the time. Fujifilm’s market research indicated that green appealed to a large majority of people and was considered an attractive color in most countries and cultures. Additionally, green was considered to have the potential in global markets to help give a creative impression and thereby helping build a strong and appropriate brand image. In the fall of 1958, Fujifilm began converting the packages of all its film products to green, starting with standard color film. Thereafter, Fujifilm and the color green became increasingly connected in the minds of amateur and professional photographers, helping to build a strong corporate image. Selecting and implementing this signature color proved to be one of the most successful marketing decisions in Fujifilm history. Clients depend on the color to be accurate, repeatable and consistent, and Fujifilm is proud of its many years of consistent color solutions. Fujifilm is an innovative solution provider to help you deliver on these requirements. Ask your Fujifilm valued advisors to discuss and set up a discovery session that will allow you to exceed the high demands of your brands and customers. DON SCHROEDER Director, Packaging Solutions FUJIFILM North America Corporation, Graphic Systems Division

as we put into the work we produce. We can all champion the tremendous positive value our industry delivers. While some may think our industry has been commoditized, we continue to believe that the print medium can, should and will continue to attract the biggest brands and the brightest talent. It’s up to all of us to keep print alive and well. We look forward to being part of the crusade. Warmest regards,

TODD ZIMMERMAN Division President, FUJIFILM North America Corporation, Graphic Systems Division Corporate Vice President, FUJIFILM Global Graphic Systems

Press Komori lS 840

Plates Fujifilm SUPERIA LH-PL thermal plates

Screening Fujifilm Co-Res Screening

Coating/Varnish Outside covers: Raised Gloss UV Coating Gloss Varnish Dull Varnish

Inks Outside covers: UV Chrome silver & UV 4/c process Inside covers & body: UV 4/c process www.FujifilmGraphics.com print illustrated ❘ FALL 2018 ❘ 1

SHADE SUCCE THE IMPORTANCE OF COLOR TO BRANDS

“I THINK BRANDS HAVE TO GET AWAY FROM THE ‘GOOD ENOUGH IS GOOD ENOUGH’ WAY OF THINKING WHEN MARKETING THEIR BRANDS. ‘GOOD ENOUGH’ IS A CREATIVE COP-OUT.” — VON GLITSCHKA, DESIGNER & ILLUSTRATOR, GLITSCHKA STUDIOS

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DES OF ESS IN HIS NOTED “Cone of Experience” learning pyramid, famed educator Edgar Dale visually spelled out the many different types of experiences we encounter as we prepare to synthesize knowledge and convert it to understanding. Included on the 11-step learning pyramid are pictures/visual symbols. Dale once famously said that people remember 20 percent of what they read but 80 percent of what they see. The comment, a source of constant debate over the years for a variety of reasons, is especially true today. In today’s highly connected world of community building, where brands continue to seek ways to bond with their audiences, one way to effectively reach them is to comple-

ment written content with visual content. Need proof? Several years ago, a team of neuroscientists from MIT found that the human brain can process entire images that the eye sees for as little as 13 milliseconds. The study, which was published in the journal Attention, Perception, and Psychophysics, asked subjects to look for a particular type of image, such as “picnic” or “smiling couple,” as they viewed a series of six or 12 images, each presented for between 13 and 80 milliseconds. The findings uncovered how vision helps find and process concepts at high speeds. As one research author said, “That’s what the brain is doing all day long—trying to understand what

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we’re looking at.” Today, color differences between content and a background are helping enhance our ability to focus attention on the content itself. According to a study by iScribblers, color can help increase recall by 82 percent, brand recognition by 80 percent, comprehension by 73 percent and readership by 40 percent. “Color is very important in branding and marketing because it is where first impressions of customers are based,” says Donald M. Schroeder, director, packaging solutions, FUJIFILM North America Corporation, Graphic Systems Division. “Color is one of the most important recognition indicators in producing a good identity for a company. Colors are more than just a visual aid because they convey emotions, feelings and experiences.” Simply put, that means choosing a color scheme can affect the outcome of overall business and success of the brand identity recognition, providing a positive experience for the consumer. Color serves as a powerful communication tool that can be used to signal action, influence mood and even influence physiological reactions.

“The purchasing intent of customers is greatly affected by the brand color because the color speaks for the brand’s identity and personality,” Schroeder says. “Brand loyalty becomes even more important as it allows buying behavior based on satisfaction with the brand.” Thanks to continually evolving digital reproduction methods, brands have endless possibilities with color applications and usage. They can apply color to nearly any surface in almost any way possible. In decades past, color was limited by reproduction methods, but all the old rules have fallen to the wayside since full color is less expensive than a 2-color spot print job. This is the kind of revolution that’s helping designers like Von Glitschka, founder, designer, illustrator at Glitschka Studios in Salem, Oregon. Von and his daughter, Savannah, work closely with a number of ad agencies, design firms and in-house corporate art departments looking to communicate their messages through visual storytelling. “The use of color in branding I’ve found works best when it conceptually ties into

the product, company or service being branded,” Glitschka says. “Alignment of color to core values will help create equity and association with that color to the company over time if all the other aspects of marketing stay consistent.” IMPACT BY DESIGN Make no bones about it, brand colors have as much of an ability to impact sales or performance as the product themselves. Take Heinz Ketchup, which learned the hard way when it tried a purple label. Although the intent of wacky-colored ketchup in squeezable packages was used to bring out the artist in kids to enhance their eating experience, the brand’s novelty experiment strategy hit a dead end. The fact is that today, even more than ever, color is playing a vital role in the telling of a brand’s story. “The end client may never notice or care, but design and print professionals should,” Glitschka says. “I think brands have to get away from the ‘Good enough is good enough’ way of thinking when marketing their brands. ‘Good enough’ is a creative cop-out.”

HOW COLORS INFLUENCE YOUR CUSTOMERS RED: Creates a sense of urgency, encourages appetite. It physically stimulates the body, raising blood pressure and heart rate, associated with movement, excitement and passion.

BLUE: The preferred color of men. It’s associated with peace, water, tranquility and reliability by providing a sense of security and stimulating productivity.

GREEN: Associated with health, tranquility, power and nature. Used to relax customers and stimulate harmony in your brain. Encourages a balance leading to decisiveness. PURPLE: Commonly associated with royalty, wisdom and respect. Stimulates problemsolving as well as creativity. ORANGE & YELLOW: Cheerful colors that promote optimism and/or trigger a sense SOURCE: WebpageFX

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of caution. Used to create a sense of anxiety that can draw in impulsive buyers.

BLACK: Associated with authority, power, stability and strength. Often a symbol of intelligence, but can become overwhelming if used to frequently. GREY: Symbolizes feelings of practicality, old age and solidarity. WHITE: Associated with feelings of purity, cleanliness and safety. Can be used to project an absence of color or neutrality. Helps spark creativity since it can be perceived as an unaltered, clean state. LACK OF COLOR: Today, many art directors are using a reduction of color and form. There are several examples of designers using simple sans typefaces with stark black.

This is where today’s printers can be an invaluable resource for brands seeking direction on their storytelling initiatives, especially when it comes to color. Schroeder believes that printers, print buyers and brand owners must all work together to understand the brand owners’ conviction on accurate representation of said brand logo and consistency. “Depending on the technology used to print said solution, it’s up to the printer to communicate the effectiveness of the brand produced on a particular substrate or printing method,” Schroeder says. “Printers need to help set the correct expectation and deliverable. Educating the brand and print buyer on how colors will look per each type of printing substrate and methodology used to print is where the printer becomes very informative and a trusted advisor.” And thanks to the continued viability of digital printing, brand education is becoming even more of a defining factor, especially for the graphic arts community.

“THE PURCHASING INTENT OF CUSTOMERS IS GREATLY AFFECTED BY THE BRAND COLOR BECAUSE THE COLOR SPEAKS FOR THE BRAND’S IDENTITY AND PERSONALITY.” — DON SCHROEDER, DIRECTOR, PACKAGING SOLUTIONS, FUJIFILM NORTH AMERICA CORPORATION, GRAPHIC SYSTEMS DIVISION “The possibilities of color and methods can be transformative to print collateral even on small limited runs,” Glitschka says. “What sold me on digital printing (I wasn’t a fan early on) was seeing it in action. I was floored. The capabilities changed how I look at everything. Simple promotional postcards showcasing digital printing like white on colored stock can easily impress the unaware and give them new insight into color use in context of printing.” Your takeaway—build trust with your clients. Brands tend to work with print providers that understand the meaning of

the value of making their color accurate and correct. Many brands don’t have the time or resources to police the brand on their own. “You have to partner with your brand and your vendors,” Schroeder says. “Many procure others to manage their brand; they expect the color to be accurate and effective time and time again on any print production runs across any output technology. By producing consistent, accurate, repeatable colors, with reporting and metrics to prove the production run was successful, is where the expertise of the printer builds trust with their client.”

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JACKPOT HOW HAIG’S QUALITY PRINTING SCORED BIG WITH FUJIFILM’S J PRESS 720S

SK GARO ATAMIAN what the secret to

success is and his answer is simple: Find what works and improve on it. As a second-generation printer working in one of the world’s fastest cities, Atamian knows that winning comes when you plan several steps ahead. That’s why when the Las Vegas G7 Master Printer was looking for another printer to add to its lineup, the team at Haig’s Quality Printing sought out FUJIFILM North America Corporation, Graphic Systems Division’s J Press 720S, the second generation sheet-fed inkjet press that is known for its versatility in handling even the shortest of press runs. “We are constantly looking ahead, not just what we’re currently capable of, but how we can improve upon our processes, and add value to our clients,” says Garo, senior VP. “That’s why we chose the J Press 720S. All of our work is driven by reputation. Every one of our clients needs their jobs immediately, and with the J Press 720S, we can manage their quick-turns efficiently for a wide range of applications.” With a 29.6-inch x 20.9-inch sheet and an output of 2,700 sheets per hour, the J Press 720S uses FUJIFILM Dimatix’s SAMBA™ single pass piezo drop-on-demand inkjet head technology to achieve a true 1,200dpi x 1,200dpi resolution with four-level gray scale, a specification unobtainable from any other inkjet press. Thanks to its four-level gray scale capability, the J Press 720S boasts color and quality never previously seen from an inkjet device. “The technology offered by the J Press 720S is finally what we wanted to offer our clients,” Garo says. “Every job is custom, and we needed a flexible machine to be able to handle different weights of paper and different kinds of sheets. In the past we lost opportunities with clients as we were not able to cost-effectively produce shortruns offset, so we never did them. And now, we are able to efficiently

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manage a variety of runs for our clients. The J Press 720S has expanded our capabilities—and our business.”

BETTING THE HOUSE As one of the largest, full-service independently-owned commercial printers in Nevada, Haig’s Quality Printing features an impressive and ever-growing client roster of well-known names in the entertainment business, casino industry and government entities.

Built from the ground up through a commitment to hard work and fidelity to company values, Haig’s continues to turn a manufacturing process into a unique art form. “Our clients expect quality, availability, timeliness and for us to never fail them,” says Haig Atamian, founder and CEO, who along with his wife, Nora, has continued to forge the printer’s legacy of success for more than 45 years. Part of the success lies in the company’s ability to offer the right solutions for each and every job. “We make it happen,” Haig says. “By leveraging solutions like the J Press 720S by Fujifilm, we are able to enhance the digital aspect with variable data, along with superior print quality.”

With the J Press 720S, the Haig’s team is able to conduct pre-production for every piece. That means the client can see the exact paper, the exact colors and all matching our ink keys. Print proofs, or pre-productions, are also now produced with ease. “The client knows what the final piece will look like before we begin production,” Haig says. “That’s huge for us and them. Our proofing presses simply aren’t used much anymore now that we have the J Press 720S. We quote jobs knowing we will not have to allow for waste. A significant advantage of the J Press 720S is no make-ready waste, ever.” In addition, Haig’s has successfully utilized various substrates on its J Press 720S with amazing results. That helps when your

equipment provides “perfect” registration. “A lot of our work is driven by value added, and must be perfect,” Garo says. “Everything is perfectly registered in our shop. We do a lot of enhancements, including special coatings and foil stamping; without perfect registration we simply could not do what a customer expects, versus what is possible. We take it to the next level, over the top.” Perhaps the biggest benefit is the production. Haig says the J Press 720S runs nearly non-stop. “We run upward of seven days a week, with uptime at 95 percent. The quality and color consistency are phenomenal, and our clients prefer the J Press 720S over litho.” (L-R) Haig and Garo Atamian alongside their J Press 720S, in Las Vegas.

“THE J PRESS 720S HAS EXPANDED OUR CAPABILITIES—AND OUR BUSINESS.” — GARO ATAMIAN, SENIOR VP, HAIG’S QUALITY PRINTING

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YOUR PARTNERS ARE CRITICAL TO YOUR SUCCESS IN TODAY’S ‘FREE-AGENT’ NATION It’s a simple concept, really: We are stronger together than we are apart. A team effort usually sidesteps an individual attempt toward most endeavors. Given the “free agent” nation where we now live, how have your company’s marketing strategies changed? Over and again, printers find they can no longer accomplish their goals without finding good partners. While engaging with and trusting partners is more critical than ever, it also is more challenging in today’s business landscape. One reoccurring theme is that

of long-term relationships. A true partnership has to last and be built upon trust. Commitment and quality remain the biggest challenges, so any partner you plan to truly bring into the fold of your company’s vendor portfolio has to consistently deliver on those characteristics. Another important quality is an ability to bring new and edgy ideas to your company. “The print industry is consolidating and, at the same time, printers are expanding their capabilities and entering into new

“I WOULD LOOK FOR A PARTNER THAT IS ALIGNED WITH WHERE I’M HEADED, COMMITTED TO THE LONG TERM AND FINANCIALLY STABLE. A PARTNER WOULD NEED TO EARN MY TRUST.” — PAUL LYNAUGH, VP, NORTH AMERICA SALES, FUJIFILM NORTH AMERICA CORPORATION, GRAPHIC SYSTEMS DIVISION

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SELECTING A PARTNER REQUIRES SCRUTINY AND SERIOUS CONSIDERATION. WHETHER YOU’RE LOOKING TO FILL A PARTICULAR NICHE, OR WANT A FULL-SERVICE VENDOR, ASSURING THE COMPANY’S CORE VALUES ALIGN WITH YOURS IS ESSENTIAL. markets,” says Paul Lynaugh, VP, North America sales, FUJIFILM North America Corporation, Graphic Systems Division. “Integrating new print technologies and venturing into new markets carries risk. Having a supplier partner that can bring new products, sometimes without additional capital or human resources, helps mitigate some of those risks. Without a trusted partner, these risks may be viewed as too great and could result in inaction and loss of competitiveness.” Partnerships and an ability to collaborate are vital to your business. As margins decrease and the competitive landscape has become increasingly difficult to navigate, partnering is a means to survival. It’s a slippery slope, however, as you must assure that your partner values your customers as much as you do and will be able to deliver

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at your quality level. “Partnerships are more challenging today,” says Thayer Long, president, Association for Print Technologies. “We are all being challenged with how to drive business in the evolving business environs. It requires making more disciplined decisions, faster. What ends up happening is that we are having more conversations with potential partners to see where the direction may take us.”

PARTNER SELECTION Indeed, selecting a partner requires scrutiny and serious consideration. Whether you’re looking to fill a particular niche, or want a full-service vendor, assuring the company’s core values align with yours is important. “A lot of our partner suggestions come through word of mouth,” says Brad Scull, president of Yorke Printe Shoppe in

Lombard, Illinois. “Chicago is a big market, but the industry is somewhat small. On occasion, someone will call on you who is new and might do something really special, like side sewing or a certain handwork. We will check them out and maybe try them once, but more so than not, we know about our partners through someone else.” Dave Leavey, VP and owner of Creative Printing Co., says he chooses partners based on how they perform and whether they can meet a true commitment date and deliver a quality product. “If they prove they can do those two things, then we allow them to do work for us.” Fujifilm’s Lynaugh determines whether the potential partner fills a niche or need that helps his company achieve its objectives, and then assesses if that partner is competent in what they do. “I would look

story, Leavey recalls a 40-year partnership with a local printer to print all of his litho work over 40 inches. “They are aware of our high standards and our critical deadlines, and they always come through when needed. It’s a true partnership.” Lynaugh says that many years ago, Fujifilm established a partnership with CGS. “At the time, CGS added capabilities to strengthen our ability to serve our customers. The relationship continues to be ‘winwin.’ We work together in bringing new products to market, and our sales people work with their sales people to implement

3 for a partner that is aligned with where I’m headed, committed to the long term and financially stable,” he says. “A partner would need to earn my trust.” And trust is a non-negotiable quality. Long reiterates the need for a partner to do the right thing, even when no one is looking, following a belief in a higher purpose other than self-gratification and self-aggrandizement. “Profit is a good motivation, but not a goal unto itself,” Long says. “Once I see that those qualities are inherent in the other party and are built into their fabric, so to speak, then, and only then, do I want to sit with them to determine how we might proceed.”

PARTNER SUCCESS

solutions to help our customers. We trust each other and we’ve grown together.” Long recounts a situation when his organization dealt with a partner’s new product launch that proved difficult. “They were unsure how to create partnerships around it. During a frank conversation, I advised them that they should not seek out partnerships if they felt it would compromise their integrity. In the end it worked out, but I was up front and honest with this partner, even to the extent that we might not have been able to work with them on this cool idea.”

WAYS TO BUILD A PARTNERSHIP

BUILD TRUST Visit and tour the potential partner’s business to see what they do, and look at samples of their work. Look at the type of work as well, and determine if they can provide what you need regularly. Look at the longevity of the staff. High turnover is a sign that the company isn’t a good place to work.

COMMUNICATE Your partner should give a quick response to quotes and questions, and be able to give you a schedule that can be met. Your representative—whether internal or in outside sales—needs to build a rapport with your people. You work with people you like, and you avoid people you don’t. Price cannot be the only driver of a partner relationship.

BE HONEST If your partner says they will deliver, they should. If there’s a snag, you should hear about it immediately. This keeps a vendor from impeding your customers and your schedule. Another part of honesty is integrity. Your vendor should always pay on time.

When asked to share a partnership success

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BEYOND PERFECT How Seneca Label is pushing its clients to the next level with Fujifilm’s FLENEX FW Platemaking Technology ONE OF SENECA LABEL’S largest accounts was blown away. When it saw the capabilities that the Fujifilm FLENEX FW, along with the C-Touch processor, were able to produce, the highly regarded cosmetics and nail polish brand was intrigued by the possibilities. “They wanted to push the limits,” says John Hoopingarner, VP at Seneca Label,

the Cleveland-based print service provider which supplies services to a list of well-known clients within entities including consumer and industrial goods, raw materials and specialty applications. The ability to push the limits was on par with what Seneca expected when it installed the FLENEX FW water-washable platemaking technology, which offers, among other features, enhanced print quality and longer runs. Fujifilm’s industry-changing FLENEX FW platemaking process, which is down to nearly 30 minutes, offers the highest flexo quality 200 lpi, and one percent process dot structure for print quality never before seen with flexo plates. The plates, which help eliminate costs attributed to solvent and thermal technology, are compatible with existing water-wash technology.

The truly innovative water-washable chemistry eliminates all solvents and wicking cloth while getting to press faster, running longer and producing outstanding print quality. After working with another plate supplier for several years, Seneca Label was looking to increase the efficiency and productivity from the process. When Fujifilm reps ran test plates of the FLENEX technology, the Seneca Label team immediately noticed the substantial gains that it achieved in pre-quality, specifically the flat-top dot. “It was pretty amazing,” says Hoopingarner, whose father co-founded Seneca Label in 1968 with his business partner, Paul MacMurdo. “With the FLENEX FW-L2 plates, we’ve been able to show our clients a much better label that’s

brighter, crisper and cleaner compared to our previous plates.” Today, Seneca Label is dazzling its clients with superior print quality. The third generation Hoopingarner family-owned company remains committed to exceeding its clients’ labeling expectations by producing roll, sheeted and fanfolded labels on a variety of papers, films and foils. The switch to the FLENEX FW plates has been rewarded tenfold. For example, in the case of its highly regarded cosmetics and nail polish customer, the client uses a lot of vignette types of screens. Seneca Label’s previous plates couldn’t hold the dots it needed. “The FLENEX FW plates have been stellar in their performance in holding min dots, and all the rigors of the printing process,” Hoopingarner says. “The depth we are now achieving on colors and within their graphic images has been extraordinary. In fact, they have recently won awards and other recognition for their packaging, which is a direct result of us switching to Fujifilm’s FLENEX FW platemaking system.” The platemaking technology has been an ideal fit all the way around for Seneca Label, which was only the second company in Ohio to use those plates back in the 1970s. Not only was the installation process seamless, but the ongoing relationship seems to be an even more perfect fit. “Seneca Label and Fujifilm have a great working relationship,” Hoopingarner says. “The support we receive from Fujifilm is phenomenal.”

“WITH THE FLENEX FW-L2 PLATES, WE’VE BEEN ABLE TO SHOW OUR CLIENTS A MUCH BETTER LABEL THAT’S BRIGHTER, CRISPER AND CLEANER COMPARED TO OUR PREVIOUS PLATES.”

— JOHN HOOPINGARNER, VP, SENECA LABEL

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All about the Edale

HOW THE MODULAR FLEXOGRAPHIC LABEL & PACKAGING PRESS IS MAKING HIGH QUALITY PRINT SIMPLE

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AXIMUM PRODUCTIVITY. Minimum downtime. Rapid changeovers. The FL3 press was designed with today’s label customer in mind. The narrow web label press, manufactured by Edale and distributed in North America by Fujifilm, was designed to handle a wide range of substrates that enable customers to stay on top of growing trends without the need to continually invest in new machinery. The FL3 sports features such as Edale’s unique UniPrint technology, which delivers industry leading print quality, along with Edale’s autonomous inking, impression and registration (Aiir) system, allowing for reduced waste, and minimal set-up time. Further innovations like the open architecture of the inking system enables rapid changeovers, while the market-leading web transportation system offers an extensive substrate range of 12–450 microns. “The Edale FL3 is one of the most automated and flexible platforms on the market,” says Shane Govert, product marketing manager, FUJIFILM North America Corporation, Graphic Systems Division. “The FL3 allows converters to improve efficiencies, reduce waste, and maintain consistent print quality.”

HERE’S A LOOK AT WHAT YOU GET WITH THE FL3 SHAFTLESS DUAL SERVO Independent servo motors drive both the print and web transport, which ensure high precision, control and quality. The FL3’s shaftless technology allows for ideal press performance to the customer application, delivering controlled tension and accurate registration across a wide range of substrates. UNIPRINT Edale’s UniPrint technology ensures optimal and consistent geometry whatever the print repeat. Maintaining an optimal relationship

THE FUJIFILM ADVANTAGE To optimize the FL3 as your complete Fujifilm solution, the FL3 can include: Illumina—The Illumina LED Retrofit System by Fujifilm converts any traditional UV or waterbase flexo press to LED-UV curing 300 Series UV Inks—Fujifilm’s 300 Series UV flexo inks are designed for use with all common flexo substrates FLENEX Plates—Fujifilm’s industry-changing FLENEX platemaking system with water-wash technology offers the highest flexo quality never before seen with flexo plates

between the anilox, plate and impression roll means the FL3 delivers consistent high quality and uniform dots. GEARLESS IMPRESSION The FL3 delivers unparalleled substrate flexibility without the need for any adjustment. This ensures the same optimal print quality and performance is achieved from 12 micron PET to 450 micron carton. AUTOMATED FINISHING The highly automated finishing technology is designed to reduce setup times and waste while reducing tooling cost and reliance on the operator. The reduction in tool handling also serves to create a safer work environment.

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ROOM TO

GROW PRINTERS FOCUSING ON CUSTOMER DEMANDS IN COMPETITIVE LABEL MARKET

THE FUTURE OF TODAY’S label market is pretty straightforward: Recognize. Adapt. Grow. In what continues to be a competitive marketplace, today’s label market is forcing printers to adapt to the ever-growing needs and demands of a diversifying customer base. That means, in many cases, not only learning what there is to know about attracting new customers, but also being able to keep in step with what your current customer base needs. To help you get a snapshot of where the marketplace is heading, we sat down with Ryan Nelson, Imaging Manager, Four Lakes Label, VJ Melapioni, President, Beau Label LLC, and Rick Duarte, GM, Pro ColorFlex. Q A

GIVE US A SNAPSHOT OF TODAY’S LABEL MARKET. FOUR LAKES LABEL’S RYAN NELSON:

I would say overall that the label market is strong. Though the economy at large is a bit flat in my opinion, I believe that labels are just as important as ever to brand your products to stick out from the competition. I believe the trend is leaning to digital printing for smaller runs since it allows a lower price tier than other methods and also offers much shorter lead times. BEAU LABEL LLC’S VJ MELAPIONI: The

label market as I see it today is sticky. I see it as being more stable than we had seen in previous years. As always, there is a great deal of price pressure and currently, label manufacturers are being squeezed from both customers and suppliers (we have seen two increases from material suppliers this year with a third coming). From the lean years of our not too distant past, customers are not maintaining inventory levels they had, pushing label manufacturers to produce with quicker lead times as well.

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PRO COLORFLEX’S RICK DUARTE: Growing and now more than ever, not limited to only labels. Flexible packaging continues to grow in the “label market” because of the high quality of print that flexography has reached with cutting-edge presses and printing supplies.

Q A

WHAT TYPE OF TECHNOLOGY IS IMPACTING THE MARKET? FOUR LAKES LABEL’S NELSON:

I think some of the technologies assist in more custom work, without making them so complex that they are not repeatable. A lot of the work is now built into devices like on-board color management tools, autoregistration tools and faster cleaning and make-ready through automation. Also, the digital presses are now competitive with Flexo and other methods of printing with increased press speed and faster curing. UV inks are changing to LED to offer higher curing with lower energy consumption that offers longevity and decreased energy consumption. Small improvements that impact throughput while maintaining quality and ship dates create hap-

pier customers and happier business owners. BEAU LABEL LLC’S VJ MELAPIONI: The

advancements in technology keep rolling in. There have been plate improvements such as the Flenex waterwash digital plate, delivering better quality in less time, LED curing has increased capabilities and efficiency, working with the LED lamps has improved inks, and I see digital printing continuing to evolve and improve with the use of UV inkjet. PRO COLORFLEX’S RICK DUARTE:

A synthesis of state-of-the-art prepress equipment, LED and digital presses and inks has had a very positive and strong effect to the current high demand for superior quality packaging products and labels. Q A

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR LABELMAKERS? FOUR LAKES LABEL’S NELSON:

The future is up to the customers, as well as the company owner’s ability to adapt to the demands pushing a competitive marketplace. Flexographic offers higher output at a lower cost on ink; however that trend is shifting with the compatibility of some of the modular devices and increased technologies that are lowering consumable costs and delivering the quality, price and lower overhead to allow the customers and buyers alike the ability to adapt to the future without changing everything that they have become accustomed to. PRO COLORFLEX’S RICK DUARTE: With higher quality, cost effective flexographic printing, packaging and labels continue to grow at substantial numbers. And as digital printing rapidly blends with conventional flexo printing, the combination of these printing processes broadens the possibilities for converters to expand and offer a wide and

while maintaining the quick turnarounds the consumers demand. This can also increase efficiency and lead to greater profits, allowing more time to get more orders out the door.

more efficient and competitive. We also need to work with our employees to give them the tools (training) and create an environment that enables us to achieve our goals.

FOUR LAKES LABEL’S NELSON:

BEAU LABEL LLC’S VJ MELAPIONI: In order

I feel label printers need to learn how to adapt to the customer’s demands while maintaining the core customers that demand the larger volume orders. Buying into the hybrid method or flexo/digital methodology is one solution that can offer competitive prices

for us to remain competitive as always, we have to be efficient and think outside of the box. Machinery must be well maintained to deliver consistent production levels and quality. We need to work with our suppliers to see what products are available to help us be

PRO COLORFLEX’S RICK DUARTE: Fast turnaround and high-quality labels keep supporting this instant fulfillment era. A good balance of conventional flexo and digital presses allows converters to succeed in satisfying customer’s demand for a wide range of label products.

more diverse range of packaging and labels to the packaging industry. Q A

WHAT DO LABEL PRINTERS HAVE TO DO TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE?

print illustrated ❘ FALL 2018 ❘ 17

NEXT IN SUPERWIDE UV ROLL PRINTER IS LATEST IN FUJIFILM’S EPIC WIDE FORMAT LINEUP

18 ❘ print illustrated ❘ FALL 2018

IF YOU’RE LOOKING to take that next big

step, the Acuity Ultra press just may align with your line of thinking. Known for its quality and reliability, the new superwide UV roll printer will make its North American debut in October at the SGIA Expo in Las Vegas. The Acuity Ultra is a major step up in output, in both quality and productivity. Larger businesses and major luxury brands will be impressed by the machine’s extra width up to 5 meters, the option to print multiple rolls simultaneously and its ability to print outstanding quality with no compromise on speed. So whether you’re looking at producing billboards, backlit signage or indoor displays, the Acuity Ultra has you covered. The machine’s massive format size, 2- or 3-up multi-roll

potential and ability to print on a broad range of materials enables you to profitably create trade show graphics, POP signage, high-value graphic art, backlit displays, interior décor, outdoor displays, outdoor signage, and more. Built around Fujifilm’s UV cured inkjet technologies, the Acuity Ultra offers near photographic levels of quality at impressive production speeds with the versatility to produce a wide array of applications—all at a cost set to shake up the superwide format marketplace. “The remarkable quality and low running costs are going to make the Acuity Ultra series stand out to print providers who are looking to capture more profitable flexible printing work,” says Becky McConnell,

N LINE product marketing manager, FUJIFILM North America Corporation, Graphic Systems Division.” With our high pigment concentration in Fujifilm inks, the prints are nothing short of breathtaking, and the cost to run the machine is going to be just as attractive as the prints to business owners.” Available in 5 meter and 3.2 meter models, the Acuity Ultra is available with up to eight color channels, featuring a high-density, low film weight Uvijet GS Fujifilm ink. The ink, which is UL GREENGUARD approved, is specifically designed to deliver the highest quality and is fully emission-compliant for interior graphic display work. Fujifilm’s commitment to environmental responsibility has been recognized through

UNDER THE HOOD

achieving UL GREENGUARD certification for its Uvijet GS range of inks for the Acuity Ultra. Certification means that a product has been rigorously tested and shown to have low emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

A CLOSE UP LOOK AT WHY THE ACUITY ULTRA IS FOR YOU. THE MACHINE, WHICH FEATURES A QUICK START UP AND SIMPLE OPERATOR MAINTENANCE, OFFERS:

QUALITY, AND THEN SOME... With a 3.5pl drop size—the smallest of any of Fujifilm’s wide format devices—you are ensured to have the highest possible quality. Based on conventional UV technology, it also runs at much higher speeds than LED cured machines, but as the vacuum table is efficiently water-cooled, there is not an excessive build-up of heat on the print plate—that means no shrinkage and expanded applica-

Print speeds up to 2,540 square feet per hour (236 square meters per hour) 6-color as standard (CMYK, Lc, Lm), optional white channels 3.5 picoliter grayscale printheads 0.004-inch to 0.08-inch (0.1 to 2.0 mm) media thickness capabilities Available in 3.2 meter and 5 meter models Robust machine build and linear drive system Chilled vacuum table for handling heat-sensitive materials tion potential. The Acuity Ultra is fully equipped to handle versatility with advanced features for flexible and productive printing, including an on-board backlighting feature that enables you to check image quality during printing.

THE ACUITY ULTRA IS FULLY EQUIPPED TO HANDLE VERSATILITY WITH ADVANCED FEATURES FOR FLEXIBLE AND PRODUCTIVE PRINTING. print illustrated ❘ FALL 2018 ❘ 19

INFOGRAPHIC

WHERE DO YOU STAND

IN THE EYES OF YOUR PARTNERS? What today’s buyers want more than anything else is for their vendors to be straightforward. They want sellers who research their business. Respect their time and abilities. Focus on the long-term, not a quick sell. Interestingly, according to Miller Heiman Group’s “The Growing Buyer-Seller Gap: Results of the 2018 Buyer Preferences Study,” 77.9 percent of sales leaders say their relationships are falling

short of that “trusted partner” or “strategic contributor” status. In the end, the path forward means engaging decision makers who are involved early in the selling process— those who exceed expectations. Where do you stand? Here’s a look at what the study, based on data from a global survey of 500 B2B buyers, uncovered on today’s sales assessment of customer relationship levels:

22% Approved Vendor

23.2% Preferred Supplier

32.7% Solutions Consultant

14.6% Strategic Contributor

7.5% Trusted Partner 10%

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20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

IMPRINTING AT THE SPEED OF BUSINESS

Samba Printbar Systems: PS4300 Reliable performance. Unmatched quality. With unsurpassed print quality at revolutionary speeds, the Fujifilm Samba PS4300 sets a new standard for variable in-line inkjet printing. The system utilizes ultra-reliable Samba printhead technology for outputs of 1,200 dpi up to 1,000 fpm. Easily integrate into your existing production workflow to bring a boost to your business as you offer a wide range of one-color personalized printing applications, including addresses, barcodes, graphics and more.

To learn more visit FujifilmInkjet.com/Samba