Specialty Inkjet Inks • Executive Q & A
Trends in Retail/POP Signage
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February 2018
Table of Contents
February 2018
Mall Business:
On the Cover:
POP/RETAIL GRAPHICS ON DISPLAY
07
Regardless of whether the “apocalypse” comes to retail, there will still be a healthy market for some kind of POP graphics, even if they start to blur into other kinds of display graphics.
Whether or not a retail apocalypse occurs, there will still be a healthy market for some kind of POP graphics. By Richard Romano
Departments
10 Inkjet Inks: What Makes Them So Doggone Special?
05 Printing Pulse 16 New Products
What makes inkjet in general so special is its variability, or the ability to print variable data on demand.
Columns
By Jeffrey Steele
04 Editor’s Note 13 Executive Q&A: Marci Kinter,
Meet Me at the Mall
By Jennifer Wilberschied
Board Member at SGP and Vice President of Government and Business Information at SGIA
15 Industry Insights Touch & Feel at the Expo
By Lori Anderson
By Jennifer Wilbershied
18 Sign Connection Creating a Thriving Workplace
By Burke Cueny
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ISA International Sign Expo The largest gathering of sign, graphics, print and visual communications professionals with programming and exhibits that offer serious solutions, real results, and provide opportunities for attendees to make powerful connections. March 21-24, Orlando, FL
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Pure Digital Pure Digital’s event format, content and style has been specifically designed to appeal to the creative industry including: creative directors, architects, interior designers, graphic designers, fashion designers, marketers and PSPs. April 17-19, Amsterdam, Netherlands FESPA 2018 Global Print Expo The global print expo will showcase screen, digital, and textile printing solutions. FESPA 2018 will again be co-located with European Sign Expo for non-printed visual communication solutions. May 15-18, Messe Berlin DE
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Specialty Inkjet Inks • Executive Q & A
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Editor’s Note
Meet Me at the Mall What attracts you into a store? Is it music? Is it the name? Or, is it the signage?
T By Jennifer Wilberschied Editor Jennifer Wilberschied is a seasoned journalist who brings her awardwinning talent and fresh perspective to the ever-changing print and graphics industry, exploring the issues, challenges, and technology revolving around the commercial, digital, sign, and wide-and grandformat markets.
This past holiday season, I spent countless hours at the local mall, which just so happens to be the largest mall in the state of Illinois, as well as one of the largest in the United States. I must have walked miles and miles perusing the various stores, in search of perfect gifts for all of my loved ones. But, what was my reasoning for changing my course and entering a specific store? Was it the name or brand? Was it the music they were playing? Was it the clientele that was browsing? Nope! It was the signage in the window or in the front of the store, still viewable to passers by. Window graphics, digital signage, or a big red 50% will absolutely entice this shopper to enter –no doubt about that. I encourage you to be aware of your surroundings when shopping at a mall, or any store. What attracts you to walk into a store as it pertains to signage. And, what turns you off about signage? Anything? What can the signage industry do better to help their clients reach you best?
zhudifeng/iStock
hroughout my life, I have spent more than a few thousand hours at the mall. I even owned a game called “Meet Me at the Mall”. It was kind of similar to the super popular at the time “Mall Madness” but not as “high-tech”. I recall many hours spent each summer with my mom searching for back to school clothes. At first, she had complete control over how much we bought and how much we spent. As I turned into a teen, however, she would give me a budget and I could buy whatever I wanted. I ended up buying less clothing but at higher prices. My closet suffered a great deal as I ran out of outfits within one week of school . But that is neither here nor there…
Make sure to flip to page 7 to our story by Richard Romano titled Mall Business: POP/ Retail Graphics On Display, to read more about this special market and what retail graphics can do to stay relevant.
Good Chemistry Inkjet ink chemistry is moving forward at a much faster pace than what we’ve ever seen before. These advances mean higher-quality inkjet printing, more vibrant colors, and more media options for production inkjet. Learn what makes inkjet inks so darn special on page 10.
Find this article at PrintingNews.com/12392841
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Printing Pulse Avery Dennison Announces Wrap Class Schedule in More than 35 North American Locations in 2018 Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions announced that the 2018 Wrap Training schedule is available and registration is open. The total number of workshops available has expanded to 44 at more than 35 locations throughout North America. The Basic/Intermediate and Advanced classes will be taught by expert installers Justin Pate of the Wrap Institute and John Duever of Vinyl Images. “Both beginner and advanced installers can really benefit from taking one or both of the Avery Dennison workshops, because what we teach is always evolving to match the growth of the wrap industry,” said Pate. The Basic/Intermediate Classes, sponsored by Mutoh, focus on Avery Dennison digital films used in a wide variety of applications, such as walls, floors, windows and full print vehicle wraps. PrintingNews.com/12390820
New Study Outlines OOH Opportunities in Smart Cities The development and implementation of smart cities will create opportunity for the out of home advertising industry, according to a new study released by the Outdoor Advertising Association of America. Connected technologies matter most for OOH as the future of smart cities evolves. “The smart cities phenomenon is creating real opportunities for the OOH industry,” according to the report, prepared by Gordon Feller, Meeting of the Minds, a group that brings together urban sustainability and technology leaders. “As cit-
ISA Sign Industry Quarterly Economic Report Anticipates Strong 2018
ies embrace for big changes wrought by the digital wave, city leaders are making
The sign, graphics, and visual communi-
investments in ‘commonplace’ physical assets: streetlights, traffic lights, parking
cations industry is poised for continued
meters, bus stops, and more. A consequence of becoming smarter creates busi-
above-average growth in 2018, according
ness opportunities for the OOH industry.”
to the ISA Sign Industry Quarterly Eco-
PrintingNews.com/12390034
nomic Report. The report assessed four segments of the industry: two supplier markets (printing and electrical/digital
Safehouse Signs Expands High-End Capabilities and Drives Efficiency with EFI VUTEk LED Printer Safety and identification signage production company Safehouse Signs has boosted its throughput and quality, adding LED digital inkjet production with an EFI VUTEk GS2000LX Pro wide-format printer from Electronics For Imaging, Inc. The new investment at Roanoke, Virginia-based Safehouse Signs is one of the many major upgrades in technology and infrastructure under owner Kevin Hudson, a veteran financial services executive who purchased the 40-yearold company late last year.
digital signage and architectural signage). It also forecasts commodities. The report showed growth in all segments is forecasted to continue above trend through the end of 2018. The end markets segments are also poised to end the year on a strong note, with architectural signage looking at the largest quarter-on-quarter change. For suppliers into the printing industry,
“We were looking for capabilities we didn’t have, and the new VUTEk is much faster and prints at higher resolutions than our other digital equipment,” Hudson said. “As a manufacturer, it is important for us to offer a wide range of products to our distributor partners. The capabilities of this new printer help us do that, plus it creates new growth opportunities with higher-end specialty graphics and point-of-purchase displays.”
the positive outlook from 2017 will carry through into 2018 without taking much of a hit. Interactivity of digital signage and gamification has also allowed retailers to create more immersive experiences. PrintingNews.com/12390032
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signage) and two end markets (electric/
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Printing Pulse FASTSIGNS International, Inc., Ranked #1 Franchise Opportunity in Category FASTSIGNS International, Inc., franchisor of FASTSIGNS announced it was named the #1 franchise opportunity in its category on Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500 following record growth in 2017. Overall, the brand jumped to #70 on the ranking, up from #95 in 2017, and is the only concept in its category to break the top 100. In 2017, FASTSIGNS opened 43 locations in the U.S. and Canada, as well as three in the U.K. The brand signed an additional 53 franchise agreements in North America, as well as one agreement in the U.K. and a Master Franchise Agreement to develop 16 centers throughout Malta, Italy, and Greece. FASTSIGNS also celebrated the opening of its 600th domestic location in December in the Sacramento, California, area. “2017 was a record-breaking year for the brand,” said Catherine Monson, president
4over Launches Strategic Print Advisory Program for Commercial Printers With their new Strategic Print Advisory Program, 4over is helping commercial printers generate revenue growth and expand their customer base without the stress of overhead costs. By incorporating
and CEO, FASTSIGNS International, Inc.
new technology, products, and services
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to their repertoire, printers will be able to drastically reduce labor and equipment
PIA and SGIA Launch 2018 Conference and Event Partnership SGIA president & CEO Ford Bowers will launch “Color 2018,” the first in a series of conferences jointly presented by Printing Industries of America and SGIA. While this is the first formal agreement between the two organizations, the arrangement builds on a long history of collaboration on programming, including the Continuous Improvement Conference and legislative activities. Under the agreement, PIA and SGIA
pains on their businesses. The program’s main objective is to determine growth strategies that don’t require taking on additional debt. They’ll work closely with printers to foster new revenue streams with products and services such as EDDM, Printer Bridge (W2P), Large Format and more, offering and implementing support and training along the way to ensure their success. In-depth
will present the following conferences in 2018: President’s Conference — March 3–7, San Antonio The 70th Annual TAGA Technical Conference — March 18–21, Baltimore Continuous Improvement Conference — April 8–11, Chicago “This partnership is equally advantageous to SGIA and PIA members. Where our constituencies were, at one time, very distinct, the printing industry is being shaped by the convergence of technologies and markets. With this series of conferences, we’ll be addressing important common issues,” said Bowers.
consultation will also be provided in the buying and selling of equipment, printto-broker conversions, merger and acquisition solutions, and succession planning with acquisition workouts. The program is currently live and ready to assist. PrintingNews.com/12391071
PrintingNews.com/12391070
Azonprinter and modico Expand Their Collaboration to North America After years of collaboration in Europe, Azon and modico US began demonstrating the Matrix series wide format flatbed digital inkjet printers at trade shows in North America starting the fall of 2017. n ns The award-winning Azon Matrix UV series offers UV-LED inkjet printing solutions ble with optional bed sizes of 22.4” x 47.2” / 22.4” x 70.9” / 42.1” x 94.5” which are capable p pliof handling heavy materials up to 220 pounds for indoor, outdoor and industrial appliecctly cations. Azon MATRIX series extends productivity and creativity by printing directly g onto any type of material such as PET, ABS, polycarbonate, TPU, PVC, wood, stone, glass, canvas, ceramic, aluminum, and leather. PrintingNews.com/12391579
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Backlit graphics have been a perennial favorite for retail and POP applications.
Retail locations are not in decline everywhere—in major cities such as Boston and New York retail locations are growing. In these places, interior and exterior barrier graphics—those that indicate where construction is taking place or identifying a coming retail location—are a common site.
Mall Business:
POP/Retail Graphics ON DISPLAY Whether or not a retail apocalypse occurs, there will still be a healthy market for some kind of POP graphics, even if they start to blur into other kinds of display graphics. By Richard Romano
A
s I write this during the peak of the holiday shopping season, data on the health of the retail sector have been mixed. On one hand, on an inflation-adjusted basis, retail sales for November 2017 were up about four percent over November 2016,[1] which is the best November retail has had since 2010. On the other hand, long-term analysis of retail data has found that sector to be fairly troubled; real retail sales have been running just under +2.5% and per-capita retail sales are still below pre-recession levels. Then, in early November 2017, a Bloomberg article[2] foretold a looming “retail apocalypse,” a phenomenon that now even has its own Wikipedia entry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retail_apocalypse). And if you’ve been to a mall recently, you likely have seen evidence of this: major retail chains are closing locations and some are disappearing outright.
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For us, though, the most important question is: what does it mean for the market for retail graphics?
between the online and offline retail environment. Retail trends are still about more than store demographics. “Although you might have some brand owners that decide to reduce the number of shops, within those shops, the communication with the end customer remains critical—becomes even more critical,” said Geert De Proost, director, solutions marketing, for Esko. “You have conflicting trends. On the one hand, maybe some branches will be
Spirits in the material world It depends on what we mean by retail. “There is definitely a reduction in traditional retail,” said Larry D’A mico, director of sales & marketing for Durst U.S. “Sears Roebuck, Macy’s, that kind of retail is declining and there are store vacancies, but other areas seem to be growing and making up for it. Look at convenience stores at gas stations. Those are pretty hot, and they have 10 times more graphics than they used to have.” There has also been an influx of web-only retailers moving into the bricks-and-mortar space. Amazon. com opened some large retail locations, most conspicuously on 34th Street in Manhattan, but it’s not the only virtual business staking out a claim in the material world. “Internet retailers in the clothing segment need a place where people can touch and feel and try on certain products,” said D’Amico. There is a kind of irony in this; for years, big boxes like Best Buy bemoaned the fact that they were increasingly serving as showrooms for Amazon, and now the reverse could very well end up being the case. But the idea of a “showroom” is an important one. New trends in, for example, clothing have the potential to make physical retail even more important, as the move toward “fast fashion” continues. “Take a Nike or other big brand store,” said Einar Ek, go to market manager–digital finishing for Esko. “Rather than having a few square feet to show everything, they would have products ready for testing, so when your 15-year-old son goes down to try on [sneakers], he’s only going to go back and buy them on the computer. It’s not really about the service inside the store. The kids go test them, then personalize them on the web. The business models of these brands are about to change. It’s about e-commerce.” It foretells a continued symbiosis
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Some retail graphics, especially in malls, serves as a combination of advertising, POP, and wayfinding.
closed, but on the other hand there will be more intensity around POP displays to engage the passerby with the product that is on the shelf. There is no argument about the marketing value of in-store signage and display.” “I believe PSPs are anxious as there’s always the risk of customer loss, particularly with the impact to high-volume buyers of wide-format-produced POP, which is where much of the losses occur,” said Dan Johansen, marketing manager, wide format solutions, Commercial & Industrial Printing, for Ricoh. “With those risks present, now more than ever it’s important for PSPs to make sure they’re diversified with other market segments and products to soften these reductions.”
February 2018
50 shades of gray The key word here is “diversification.” Commercial printers long ago learned the value of having a diversified product and service mix, which enables them to nimbly exploit new areas when certain products start to decline. This, after all, has been a large part of the reason many of them moved into wide-format and display graphics in the first place. At the same time, many of the traditional print “silos” have been breaking down, and there is less and less of a clear distinction among retail, display, industrial, commercial, and even packaging printing. “The real trend we see is that instead of signage and retail as segments as we knew them, now there is a gray zone in the middle that is getting larger,” said Ek. “These printers are very flexible so they would jump from one market to another. As digital printers move to corrugated, suddenly that opens the door to packaging. You see them cross each other’s boundaries. It’s very difficult to talk about sign, display, and packaging today. It’s really about the application that you make.” For a lot of brands, POP graphics are complementary to packaging, and often use the same substrates, especially corrugated. This means that even if the volume of retail graphics goes down, there is still the packaging element, which will remain regardless of whether commerce is physical or electronic. “It’s really about working with materials,” added Ek.
Materials in the spirit world Speaking of materials, new and changing substrates are opening up new opportunities for retail graphics providers. One of the hottest trends in display graphics is what are known as silicone-edge graphics (SEG). This is where textile-based signage has a rubber gasket sewn around the edge which allows it to be snapped inside a lightweight aluminum frame. They are easy to install, look elegant, and can be enhanced with various lighting effects.
“Silicone-edge graphics and backlit displays are everywhere,” said D’Amico. “I see a lot of companies building boxes and doing special things with lighting. Some people are using dye-sublimation and some are using UV, and they’re getting better and better quality.” SEG-based or not, the growth of soft signage is not slowing down. “A change that’s been ongoing for a few years and is continuing to grow is the move to fabric-based soft signage to replace everything from traditional vinyls to backlits,” said Johansen, “because it saves print buyers huge sums in shipping across the country.” New fabrics and digital textile inks are emerging, but in the signage space UV can easily carve out a niche, since the primary drawbacks to UV fabric printing—stiffness and poor wearability—are not an issue for display graphics. “Retail and POP have become virtually all UV, with the exception of dyesub for some portion of soft signage, although there is a broad variety of fabrics that print very well on UV devices,” said Johansen. “This is where hybrid printers have had a significant impact as they can address both flexible and rigid POP and retail products, including both indoor and outdoor signage for retail. We believe UV-based printing in this segment will make up the majority of impressions.”
Graphics graphics everywhere...
Mall wonders Regardless of whether the “apocalypse” comes to retail, there will still be a healthy market for some kind of POP graphics, even if they start to blur into other kinds of display graphics. New materials and display technologies also offer ample opportunities. “New substrates are coming to market at a rapid pace, expanding the market by offering both new and exciting options for what we print on, as well as new places where our printed graphics can be used,” said Johansen, “including floors, walls, customized retail fi xtures and for personalized, locally facing campaigns.”
“It’s all about walls, floors, and windows,” said D’Amico. “That’s been an ongoing trend for the past couple of years. More signage in different places, utilizing the square footage they’ve got and looking at some unique aspects of it using the materials that are available today.” If you have been to a retail location recently you know that virtually every surface can be covered with graphics. The opportunity here is not just being able to print on all of these assorted materials, but to come at display graphics from the service side of things. Take window graphics. Quality is obviously important, but installation can be even more so. “Maybe it could be the most important thing is to have a window graphic changed overnight,” said Ek. “Then it’s less about print quality than it is about how quickly can you change it. Do you have a good service team, and can we rely on you because the sale starts tomorrow morning at eight o’clock.”
In-store graphics lend themselves to unique installations. In fact, installation expertise may be a higher priority for a retail customer than print quality.
With Esko’s Visualizer, users developing POP and packaging graphics can “visualize” how a particular design will look in a virtual retail location.
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m e Th s e k a M t Wha e n o g g So Do ? l a i c e Sp Inkjet Inks:
What makes inkjet in general so special is its variability, or the ability to print variable data on demand.
By Jeffrey Steele
W
hat makes inkjet inks special? Ask Adam Tourville, that question and he has several definitive responses at the ready. “What makes inkjet in general so special is its variability, or the ability to print variable data on demand,” said Tourville, account manager, inks, for digital ink solutions with Avery Dennison.
Another way the inks are special is that they are very highly technical, he said. The print heads are very specific to what is required. “The inks are tailored to each print head and each printer,” he reported. “And one of the other things that’s really special about inkjet ink is the particle size. They’re actually nanoparticles, so they’re very precise. That precision enables good
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print quality and jet-ability.” Tourville is by no means alone in his assessment that today’s inkjet is a very special product. While industry experts may differ on the most special aspect or latest trend in the inks, they all agree inkjet offers increasing ways for print service pros to profit. Randy Paar, manager of marketing – digital graphics for Canon Solutions
February 2018
Roland’s ECO UV inks make colors pop like in this PET bottle example.
America, has a different view of inkjet’s specialness. He reports in general terms, the near-instant polymerization that occurs during the curing process, compared to an evaporative drying process with solvent or latex inks, allows UV printed graphics to immediately be finished, packed, shipped and—most importantly—invoiced. It’s an exciting time to be in the inkjet business, added Erik van Deurzen, senior director, product marketing, Production Print Solutions with Canon Solutions America. “Inkjet ink chemistry is moving forward at a much faster pace than what we’ve ever seen before. These advances mean higher-quality inkjet printing,
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more vibrant colors, and more media options for production inkjet.” All of these advances translate to producing a wider range of applications and considerably better color coverage, he concluded.
Latest developments One of the most noteworthy and overarching developments in inkjet inks is the increasing diversity of inks brought to market, said Reed Hecht, product manager, professional imaging with Epson America Inc. “Ten years ago, the majority of inks Epson produced were aqueous ink types,” he said. “Today, Epson has expanded into various other ink types to meet increased demand in a variety of market applications and segments.” Among additional trends and developments in inkjet is the introduction of specialty colors that can make the printed images more realistic than ever. So said Daniel Valade, product manager, color products and cutters, for Roland DGA. “When light cyan, light magenta, and light black are added to a traditional CMYK setup, PSPs can benefit from much smoother gradations, improved gray scale and more natural skin tones.” Lily Hunter, Roland DGA product manager, textiles and consumables, noted fluorescent inks, such as Roland’s Texart SBL3 formulations, have become popular not just for sportswear, but also for accessories and home décor. For his part, Paar believes the most significant new development in the industry is the advent of UV gel inks that, he said, “literally have the physical characteristics of a gel. This enables printing without dot gain and avoids issues with coalescence that can muddy up the colors. This gel characteristic enables more ink to be jetted before the curing process, thereby increasing print speeds dramatically.” The Oce Colorado 1640 printer is the only device currently utilizing this new ink
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The inkjet ink color spectrum is growing from the looks of this Mimaki color library.
technology, Paar adds. Flexibility was once solely the domain of solvent inks, but newer formulations of UV inks enable greater pliancy, said Josh Hope, senior manager with Mimaki USA. “Mimaki offers LF-140 flexible ink for the tabletop UJF Series UV flatbed models,” he said. “This ink prints onto and adheres very well to substances such as leather.” Susie Mendelssohn, North American sales manager and international marketing manager Inx Digital, believes one of the most important developments is the move of the traditional market toward the digital segment. “This involves not only the printers, but the equipment manufacturers too,” she said. “We also re-
focusing on the packaging market, and for a number of reasons, Mendelssohn said. Some forecasts suggest a 20 percent growth in the packaging market over the next five years. “In addition, prototyping and short-run customization continues to grow,” she noted.
Leveraging the trends Virtually any technological development offers opportunity for someone to gain more sales, reap greater revenues and enjoy richer profits. The evolution of inkjet inks is no exception, and that someone profiting is the PSP. “By staying on top of the latest marketplace technology and trends, [PSPs] can leverage those trends to charge more for their products,” Tourville said. “They can command greater margins. A lot of our customers find niches in the market where inkjet really hasn’t been a factor before. By doing so they can be a market leader, with shorter lead times and higher quality.” Hecht argues along the same lines. Exploring new inks providing capabilities not offered by their current inks lets PSPs invade markets they haven’t serviced before. That can greatly expand the range of printing they offer and the profits they reap, he said.
Roland SBL3 dye Sublimation Inks coming off this Textart RT 640 Printer.
ceive an increasing amount of requests to work with many of the traditional printer manufacturers when they place new digital equipment in the field.” Many in the industrial segment are
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Roland Eco Sol MAX 2 inks .
Compared with solvent and latex systems, UV gel ink technology will deliver to PSPs a very significant profit opportunity in the years ahead, Paar said. That, he reported, is “to dramatically lower ink costs, while increasing overall productivity.” PSPs can now increase their range of media options and applications printed on production inkjet devices, van Deurzen added. “They can also consider moving color applications from toner devices, which tend to have a higher cost-per-piece printed, to a production inkjet device, without sacrificing color
quality. With today’s production inkjet printing, you can now get print quality, ink coverage, and paper options comparable to toner. And if you print larger production runs, you can print at a lower cost with inkjet, while maintaining high productivity and uptime.” A huge benefit of UV printers and inks is that they permit customization and personalization of almost any substrate or 3D object with vibrant, detailed graphics. So said Jay Roberts, Roland DGA product manager, UV printers. “Being able to transform standard or blank products by adding unique printed design dimensional effects allows for the creation of products with a higher perceived value than typical mass-produced offerings. Roland’s advanced UV printers, such as the flatbeds offered within our VersaUV LEF series, make it easy and cost-effective for users to expand their product offerings and increase sales by producing a vast array of customized items. The impact of devices like our LEF-12i, LEF-200 and LEF-300 printers is evident in both the POP market and boutique printing, as customers continue to promote personalized offerings [and] the ease and immediacy of making such items.” If possible, PSPs should explore whether or not manufacturers provide a total solution, or just part of a solution, Hope said. Having access to a manufacturer that understands all ink technologies will help PSPs determine the best solution for their needs.
Mimaki’s Coloronik electrifies, even on leather surfaces.
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Executive Q&A: By Jennifer Wilberschied
Marci Kinter Board Member at SGP and Vice President of Government and Business Information at SGIA “Our greatest asset is the willingness to embrace change.”
PN:
Tell us a little about your company, the segment of the market it serves, and what you consider to be your “core” users/ customers. Kinter: There are really two answers to this question. From the SGIA perspective, I work for those facilities engaged in using digital technologies to create all types of products. My area of expertise for these companies is within the environmental, safety and health, and other government regulatory/ legislative arena. For the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership Program, or SGP, I serve as the chair of the Technical Committee. SGP, the sustainability certification program for the printing industry, focuses on all print processes, however, the majority of those certified do have digital printing capacity at some level.
PN:
How did you get involved with the company? What is your background before that? Kinter: With SGIA, the short answer is that I was brought on in 1989 to develop and launch the association’s
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government affairs program. The late John Crawford was instrumental in recognizing the need for a formal program. For the SGP program, SGIA was one of the chief supporters and proponents of moving forward to develop a sustainable benchmark for the print industry. We participated in the original stakeholder group that formed the basis of today’s program.
When the digital print revolution launched, the analog printers who embraced this change flourished, and continue to flourish.
PN:
What do you consider your greatest achievement in this market to be?
needs to be a sustainable benchmark for the industry that is achievable and relevant. As with any program, it is important that the requirements make sense to the industry served. SGP provides this balance.
Kinter: For SGIA, the greatest achievement, and I know this may sound a bit out there, is the recognition that there is more than one print technology—offset lithography. Prior to 1989, the focus of all regulatory agencies was on litho, and with the launching of SGIA’s government affairs effort, that changed. Recognition that there were other print processes, fi rst screen and then digital, helped to shape the regulatory landscape that exists today. We were able to develop and implement regulatory programs that reflected the use of the ink technologies used by our industry sectors. Th is may seem trivial, but in the long run has made such a difference in how the industry is regulated. For SGP, the recognition that there
February 2018
PN: If there was anything
you could change, either about your career regarding the print industry, your company, or the market, what would it be and why? Kinter: This is a particularly hard question for me as I did not come from the industry. Prior to joining SGIA, I was working for the shipbuilding industry in a similar capacity. I truly enjoy working in the industry and with the print facilities that I represent.
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PN:
What do you consider the greatest challenge to be for the industry right now? Why? Kinter: Workforce development. We see this everywhere. The need to find, and most importantly keep, a qualified workforce. Those entering the workforce today have different values and objectives. They are seeking to work for companies that do care about the community in which they operate. And, these new workers want to see proof— not just words. It is interesting to read the articles about the millennial workforce—they are looking for work that allows them to contribute positively to society and how their work for you fits.
Kinter speaking on how companies can incorporate sustainable business practices into their supply chains at the 2015 SGIA Expo.
PN: What do you consider
enough to see the change from using letters and faxes to emails and the internet. With the proliferation of electronic forms of communication, including the ever-evolving social media platforms, I still find that face to face communications are important
the greatest asset to be for the industry right now? Why?
Kinter: Our greatest asset is the willingness to embrace change. I believe that the digital print industry is a great example of this. When the digital print revolution launched, the analog printers who embraced this change flourished, and continue to flourish. As new technologies are developed and introduced, companies are seeking ways to incorporate into their capacity to take full advantage of these new technologies.
“Those entering the workforce today have different values and objectives. They are seeking to work for companies that do care about the community in which they operate.”
PN:
In your opinion, what have been the biggest changes to the way we communicate with one another in the past few years? How would you recommend this industry take advantage of that?
and play a major role in our industry. Conferences and trade shows provide our industry a way to touch, feel, and work with new technologies as well
Kinter: I have been around long
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as network and learn from our peers. This type of communication cannot be replaced.
PN:
What is the biggest piece of advice you would give to printers and others involved in this industry? Kinter: Corporate social responsibility is not ever going away. Sustainability as a business ethic will continue to grow and expand. Companies that are taking advantage of working to implement these strategies into their business operations will continue to see operational reductions; gain the loyalty of their employees; and continue to differentiate themselves in the market space. Companies should now start to consider how they are not only going to become a more sustainable organization but also how are they going to prove that they are doing so. This “proof” is becoming more and more critical as corporations continue to develop sustainable supply chain strategies.
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Industry Insights:
Touch & Feel at the Expo N
By Lori Anderson President & CEO of the International Sign Association Lori Anderson is president & CEO for the International Sign Association (ISA), which serves the international on-premise signage and visual communications industry. ISA’s programs include educational conferences, government relations, technology research, and the International Sign Exposition.
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o matter how good the printed material, there is no better way to explore a new product than to see it in action.
So, when John Poiry from Stars, Stripes, and Signs outside Toledo, Ohio needed to shift from traditional hand lettering, he needed more information. He came to ISA International Sign Expo 2017 on a mission: to find a new, thriving area to explore. “The whole industry is moving to decals and stickers, where you put them on and peel them off,” he said. “So we are moving our company to be able to do that. This was a great place to come and see what’s available. And there was a lot available.” Being able to touch and feel the products led the “wheels to start turning,” he said. It also raised questions—and being able to interact with exhibitors provided more insight than “watching it on YouTube or reading the blogs. This is definitely what’s needed.” He left with great ideas to expand into large-format printing and new vinyl products. “There is a vinyl for every application and ISA Sign Expo is the place to see it,” he said. Whether your business needs to explore an entirely new direction or just see what add-on products or services might make sense, ISA International Sign Expo 2018 promises to provide that inspiration. The tradeshow floor has been expanded, offering more products than ever before. That’s why companies like Canon come to ISA Sign Expo to showcase their products. John Kaufman of Canon said ISA attendees—all 20,000-plus of them—come specifically to the event looking for new technologies and ideas. Being able see those products—and to engage with manufacturers’ representatives to ask questions—is invaluable. Canon, along with many other exhibitors, hosted sessions in their booths, demonstrating products and providing opportunities for questions. “We run the machines during the presentation as well, and open up the drawers to let them see inside of it and how the machine works, so it gives them a great oppor-
tunity to see the product,” he said. It provided a great way for Canon to make its U.S. debut with new products. 3M also introduced a new product in 2017, winning an ISA Innovation Award for its metallic film. “By coming to the show, you can get a printed sample to take with you and see what the effects are,” said Kimberly Tostin of 3M. “You can also go to our demo wall and try out the film yourself.” It provided a chance to see the film being installed and to ask installers about working with the material. Imagine that being multiplied by 600 exhibitors showcasing the breadth of the industry, from digital signage to printers, software, and substrates. For print specifically, the fabric area continues to present great possibilities. ISA Sign Expo 2018 will include the new Print on Fabric Pavilion, with the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) sharing its expertise in trending applications like banners, awnings, popups, truck sides and covers, and trade show displays. You will leave that area with fresh ideas for products, applications, and new markets through education sessions and conversations with industry experts. It is pretty clear that we’re in a fast-moving industry and the pace of change can be overwhelming. You may already be having difficulties keeping up with the work coming your way. Taking a few days away from the office might seem too hard to do right now. But one thing is sure: If you are not exploring new opportunities, you can be certain that your competitors are. If you’re not investing in the newest technology, you will be left behind. I hope you are making plans to join us at ISA International Sign Expo 2018, March 22-24 in Orlando, FL. Learn more at www.signexpo.org. Over the coming weeks we expect to hear more about the amazing products that will debut at ISA Sign Expo 2018. I have no doubt that the products on display will spark plenty of imaginations.
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New
Products
Mactac PERMACOLOR ColorGard LUV Overlaminating Films Known throughout the wide-format graphics industry as the
GPA Specialty Synthetics and Photo Papers
best overlaminating films on the market, PERMACOLOR Col-
GPA announced the addition of five product families to their
its ability to eliminate color shift ing and a 58# smooth white
wide format offering. These new specialty synthetics and
Kraft liner, Mactac’s ColorGard LUV family of high perfor-
photo papers continue to show GPA’s dedication to their cus-
mance acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive films are pre-
tomers, and will assist in expanding the range of profitable
ferred by distributors, graphic designers and end-users alike.
solutions they can offer their own clients. With this latest
ColorGard LUV films are available in a variety of surface fin-
collection of unique substrates, graphic arts professionals
ishes, including the LUV8000 Gloss Series, LUV8100 Matte
can create even more attractive graphics that allow their
Series and LUV8200 Lustre Series. They can be laminated
client’s messages to take center stage. It includes materials
to photographic prints, transparencies, UV screen printed
for creating brilliant lightbox displays, easy-install window
images and latex, solvent, eco-solvent, water-based, and UV
graphics, opaque display graphics, resilient signage, and
inkjet prints to impart protection from abrasion, moisture
large photo prints. They are ideal for industries ranging from
and other potentially damaging effects in both indoor and
retail, restaurants, boutiques, automotive, corporate, schools
outdoor environments.
and higher education, government, and more.
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orGard LUV overlaminates from Mactac, have improved. With a new 3.2-mil clear PVC facestock that is known for
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ROWE Scan 850i 55” and 60” Wide Format Scanners Paradigm Imaging Group will be offering the new ROWE Scan 850i scanner in two (2) width sizes: 55” and 60” wide and come equipped with lightning scan speeds up to 15 inches per second - in color! The new ROWE Scan 850i can even scan thick originals up to 30 mm (1.18”). The electrically powered height adjustment operates fully automatically at the push of a button. With an optical resolution of 2,400 x 1,200 dpi and the unique patented technology of ROWE Scan Matrix Plus, the ROWE Scan 850i promises a scan quality unmatched in the market. With its superior Scan Sensor Technology, it provides excellent scans even when the document is folded or thin. The ROWE Dynamic Stitching continuously controls the scanned document data of each sensor and set them together in real time. PrintingNews.com/12387421
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New
Products Estimator-Cloud Wide Format Estimator Wide-Format-Cloud, is not only assessable with any PC, Mac, tablet or smart phone from any location with an Internet connection, but with its one screen user interface is the industry’s fastest and easiest to learn and use complete system on the market. Estimator WF cloud easily handles Roll-Fed, Sheet
iEcho Technologies BK3 Pro Series Pro 3000
and Hybrid printers and allows the estimator to quick-
iEcho BK3 digital cutters packaged as the Pro Series Pro 3000 provides
ly switch between presses to determine the most cost-
a cutting solution that fits the needs of every print provider with the
effective piece of equipment.
ability to grow and expand to meet new challenges and opportunities
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down the road. With a 5’x10’ cutting bed, camera registration, three simultaneously installed cutting tools and a bevy of optional tools and blades available, this cutter can tackle any project simply and reliably. Supported by RIP solutions from Flexi and Onyx and cutting solutions including Enroute and DisplayGenie this cutter is flexible and capable enough for the most demanding work. PrintingNews.com/12386524
EFI Midmarket Print Suite for Superwide Format The newest version of EFI Midmarket Print Suite brings significant improvements for superwide format printers:
Achieva XtremeJet High Performance Dye Sublimation Transfer Papers and Inks The Mosaica Group, a Midwest-based supplier supporting
• Specific superwide format database • Fiery XF discovery tool with wizard for quick and easy setup • Workbench now available on the start screen providing live up to the minute information including Suite components and custom PaceStation widgets
wide format, digital, sublimation, offset and other pro-
• More robust complex scheduling capabilities
cesses, is now the master distributor of Achieva XtremeJet
• Improved estimating capabilities through Pace
dye sublimation transfer papers and inks.
• Advanced capabilities to allow the shipment of multiple jobs to the
XtremeJet dye sublimation transfer paper is the newest flagship product available that’s capable of taking an extremely high ink load without compromising fast drying times. Utilizing a unique new coating technology, XtremeJet releases on average more than 20 percent more ink than other transfer papers being used in the market,
same address through EFI Process Shipper and Pace • Enhanced communication between Pace and Metrix allowing for job ganging and job scheduling • Enhanced product support by allowing DSF Adhoc products to flow through PrintStream to Pace • Sage Apogee support and bi-directional communication.
resulting in significant ink savings without sacrificing
Furthermore, the Midmarket Print Suite facilitates better communi-
color performance, vibrancy or density. More important-
cation between the sales and production teams through a collaborative
ly, case studies demonstrate an increase in productivity
online environment, creating a seamless flow of information and ac-
of over 30 percent due to an increase in transfer speed
countability through every function of the print production process.
through the heat press.
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February 2018
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Sign Connection:
Easy and Effective Ways to Create a Thriving Workplace
A
successful business is built on the employees who work for it. Every good owner, in the sign business or otherwise, knows that a happy workplace makes for better teamwork, which naturally will translate into improved sales. Growing the top line requires more than focusing on sales, marketing, and customer service. Overlooking or avoiding your internal setting can result in disillusionment and, what’s more, poor morale. Creating a work environment that is engaging, challenging, and efficient, not to mention, pleasing to the eye, will foster positivity and energize your staff.
By Burke Cueny Vice President of Marketing and Communications Alliance Franchise Brands
Communication
Inter-office events
Our business is signs. We literally pave the way for communication. And, sometimes, we need to make our own “signs” to guide the team in the right direction and toward a common goal. Cafeteria and break room messaging is one way to communicate company values and goals. Internal newsletters can be used, not only to advertise company news, but also to announce an Employee of the Month, introduce new hires and share birthdays, births, and achievements. For larger companies, a staff directory puts faces to names—and a group photo can make everyone feel like they’re an important part of the team. If you have new additions to the company, make sure they have a buddy or mentor that they can rely on in those first few weeks to show them the ropes. The more everyone knows about each other and their personalities, the more it builds mutual respect and trust.
Whether it’s a holiday party or a spirit day, themed events can create a sense of community and comradery. These are special days that reward employees for their hard work and commitment. Hosting a barbecue, an ugly sweater contest, chili competition, or pot luck are all opportunities to celebrate the company’s achievements.
Team-building
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The sign industry is hands on. Why not channel that element into special, employee-only events? Set aside an afternoon or full day just to connect on a level that is outside of work. Retreats, company volunteer days, indoor rock climbing, or obstacle courses reveal individual strengths that otherwise go unseen in the office. Murder mystery dinners and softball games implore employees to use teamwork to problem solve. Also, don’t brush off the power of a great special guest. Inviting someone like a motivational speaker, a noted author in your field, or even a comedian can inspire your employees to think outside the box.
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Décor We are in the sign and graphics business—Let it show! Embellish the office with pictures from its founding, wall-graphics, your logo and corporate colors, photos of your employees, inspirational quotes—create a mural! Infuse energy and whimsy into lifeless walls. Your décor should reflect your values, which shouldn’t be anything less than encouraging.
Organization This one is easy. Providing a workspace that is clean and organized can significantly cut back on stress. Having all your office supplies in one place and a spotless breakroom is a basic office place must. Go the extra mile—offer special coffees during the holidays, keep a refrigerator stocked with water and provide “real” dishware and cutlery. Empower, respect and appreciate: The idea is to create an environment and a work “lifestyle” that applauds your staff, brings them together as a team, and positively impacts the bottom line. “The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don’t play together, the club won’t be worth a dime.” — Babe Ruth
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