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Matthais Miederer · Sales Manager · Scodix · DURST Next

At Durst's Print Next event in Brixen, Wayne Beckett speaks with Matthias Miederer, Regional Sales Director DACH at Scodix, about the continued evolution of digital embellishment and why the technology is becoming increasingly relevant across commercial print, packaging, and wide-format applications. Having spent more than a decade working with digital embellishment technologies, Matthias reflects on his journey through the industry and explains why joining Scodix represented the next logical step. Today, he is responsible for the DACH region, one of Europe's most important markets for value-added print, where printers are increasingly looking beyond commodity production towards higher-margin applications. The conversation explores the launch of Scodix's newest platform, which significantly expands the range of printable substrates. From lightweight commercial papers to corrugated board, rigid materials, Dibond, and acrylic, the new press enables print service providers to address a far broader range of applications with a single investment. For many businesses, this opens opportunities to serve new markets while creating greater flexibility across existing production. Wayne also asks an important question that many print service providers may be considering themselves: if you don't already offer digital embellishment, where should you begin? Matthias believes the starting point is not the technology itself but the business case. Digital embellishment is fundamentally about creating additional value, allowing printers to differentiate their products, command higher margins, and generate new revenue streams rather than competing solely on price. The discussion also highlights the growing opportunities within packaging, where shorter production runs and increased demand for premium finishes continue to drive interest in digital embellishment technologies. As brands look for ways to create greater shelf impact without sacrificing flexibility, solutions such as those from Scodix are becoming increasingly relevant. A fascinating conversation about innovation, value creation, premium print, and why digital embellishment continues to open new opportunities across multiple print markets.

Peter Senoner · Künstler · DURST Next

At Durst's Print Next event in Brixen, Editor Morten B. Reitoft speaks with South Tyrolean artist Peter Senoner about the fascinating intersection between art, technology, and innovation. During Durst's 90th anniversary celebration, visitors are welcomed by Peter's remarkable artwork "Picadilli," a unique hybrid piece created in collaboration with Durst. Built from multiple printed and hand-painted layers on wooden panels, the artwork blurs the boundaries between traditional craftsmanship and advanced digital printing, creating a single visual expression where technology and artistic creativity become inseparable. Peter explains that technology is never the goal—it is the tool that allows an artist to realise ideas that would otherwise remain impossible. Whether through digital printing, layered materials, or new production techniques, technology expands the artist's vocabulary while preserving the uniqueness of the creative process. Every finished piece remains one of a kind and cannot simply be reproduced. The conversation explores the similarities between artistic creation and technological innovation. Both require curiosity, experimentation, collaboration, and the courage to challenge existing boundaries. Peter believes this shared mindset made Durst an ideal partner, as both artist and company continuously strive to move beyond what is already known and discover new possibilities. The collaboration was made possible through the LUMEN Museum, where Peter's exhibition created the connection with Durst. From there, an idea evolved into one of the visual highlights of the company's 90th anniversary celebration, demonstrating how industrial technology can become an integral part of contemporary artistic expression. A thoughtful conversation about creativity, collaboration, and why some of the most exciting innovations happen when artists and engineers begin speaking the same language.

Jens Hopfgartner · International Business Development · Trafalgar · DURST Next

At The Durst Next event in Brixen, Wayne Beckett speaks with Jens Hopfgartner from Trafalgar about one of the most talked-about technologies at the event: humanoid robots and what they could mean for the future of industrial manufacturing and the printing industry. While the robot accompanying Jens attracted attention from almost every visitor throughout the event, the conversation quickly moves beyond the novelty. The humanoid on display is designed to demonstrate the direction robotics is taking, while industrial versions are already being prepared for real production environments. According to Jens, manufacturing facilities will be among the first places where humanoid robots become commercially viable, long before they find their way into everyday households. The discussion explores why production environments are ideally suited for this new generation of robotics. Flat factory floors, structured workflows, and trained operators create ideal conditions for robots that can move autonomously between machines, transport materials, load and unload equipment, and take over repetitive or physically demanding tasks. Rather than replacing people, the ambition is to allow employees to focus on work that requires experience, creativity, and decision-making while robots handle the heavy lifting. One of the most interesting aspects of the conversation is the role of artificial intelligence. Jens explains that the true value of these systems is not found in the mechanical body itself, but in the software controlling it. AI enables robots to understand their surroundings, learn from experience, adapt to changing environments, and communicate directly with manufacturing systems. Instead of performing only one repetitive task, future humanoid robots will be capable of carrying out a wide variety of activities throughout an entire production facility. The interview also touches on the timeline for adoption. While robots in private homes may still be many years away, industrial applications are developing rapidly. Standardised production environments make implementation significantly easier, and advances in AI are accelerating development at a pace few would have predicted only a few years ago. For printers attending The Durst Next event, this technology offered a glimpse into what future production facilities may look like. Combined with intelligent workflow orchestration platforms such as Kyveris, autonomous robotics could become a natural part of connected manufacturing environments where machines, software, and people work together more efficiently than ever before. A fascinating conversation about robotics, artificial intelligence, automation, and why the factory of tomorrow may arrive much sooner than most of us expect.

Michael Deflorian · VP Kyveris & Software Solutions · DURST Group · DURST Next

At The Durst Next event in Brixen, Wayne Beckett speaks with Michael Deflorian about Kyveris, Durst's ambitious vision for the future of intelligent, connected print production. Following Christoph Gamper's keynote and a series of in-depth customer sessions, Michael explains how the industry's understanding of Kyveris is rapidly evolving. What initially appeared to be another workflow platform is now emerging as something far more comprehensive: an open ecosystem designed to capture production knowledge, connect machines, orchestrate workflows, and ultimately enable autonomous manufacturing. During the conversation, Michael outlines the five pillars behind the Kyveris strategy. The foundation remains Durst's expertise in hardware and application knowledge, but the next layers introduce connected workflows, intelligent orchestration, artificial intelligence, and eventually robotics. Together, these technologies are designed to transform isolated production devices into a continuously learning manufacturing environment where every job contributes new knowledge to the system. One of the central themes is Industrial Intelligence. Michael explains that the objective is to create consistent production results regardless of machine, operator, factory, or shift, while simultaneously reducing waste in both materials and production time. By capturing the knowledge that today often exists only in the minds of experienced operators, Kyveris aims to make expertise available throughout an organisation, creating more predictable production and helping businesses overcome the growing shortage of skilled labour. The discussion also explores Durst's modular philosophy. Rather than requiring customers to adopt an entirely new ecosystem, Kyveris has been designed as an open platform where printers can implement individual capabilities at their own pace. Whether the need is production planning, workflow orchestration, AI-assisted decision-making, or eventually autonomous material handling through robotics, each business can build its own journey towards higher levels of automation. Michael also discusses the role of artificial intelligence and robotics in future print production. AI will help analyse production data, optimise workflows, recommend process improvements, and continuously refine machine performance, while autonomous mobile robots and robotic systems will increasingly handle material movement throughout the factory. Together, these technologies represent Durst's long-term ambition to create highly connected manufacturing environments where people, machines, and software work together more efficiently than ever before. A fascinating conversation about industrial intelligence, artificial intelligence, connected manufacturing, and why Kyveris may become one of the industry's most significant developments over the coming decade.

Philip Mödinger · Corporate Development · DURST Group · DURST Next

At The Durst Next event in Brixen, Editor Morten B. Reitoft speaks with Philip Mödinger—one of the young driving forces behind Durst's innovation initiatives and the development of the Kyveris Sandbox. At just 26 years old, Philip has already taken on significant responsibility within one of the printing industry's most innovative companies. In this conversation, he shares what attracted him to Durst despite having no previous background in printing, why ambition matters, and how being given ownership and trust has allowed him to contribute to projects that may shape the future of industrial production. Rather than discussing only technology, the interview explores an equally important topic: attracting young talent to the printing industry. Philip explains that younger generations are not looking simply for jobs—they are looking for responsibility, the freedom to experiment, and the opportunity to make a real impact. He believes the industry has enormous potential to attract talented people, provided companies are willing to empower them and allow new ideas to flourish. The conversation naturally turns to Kyveris, where Philip has played an important role in translating a long-term vision into something customers can experience today through the Kyveris Sandbox. He explains that the objective is not simply to build software or hardware, but to solve real production challenges by combining intelligent software, connected machines, workflow orchestration, artificial intelligence, and automation into one integrated ecosystem. One particularly interesting part of the discussion focuses on collaboration across generations. Philip argues that innovation does not come from replacing experience with youth, but from combining the knowledge of experienced industry professionals with the energy, curiosity, and willingness to challenge assumptions that younger employees often bring. Listening, learning, and then pushing ideas forward is, in his view, the key to meaningful innovation. Asked whether Durst is becoming a software company or remains a hardware company, Philip offers perhaps the simplest answer of the day: neither. Durst's future lies in solving customer problems, regardless of whether the solution is software, hardware, automation, or an intelligent combination of all three. A refreshing conversation about ambition, innovation, leadership, and why the future of the printing industry depends as much on people as it does on technology.

Chris Schowalter · Global Sales Director software · DURST Group · DURST Next

At The Durst Next event in Brixen, Wayne Beckett speaks with Christian Schowalter, Global Sales Director Software at Durst, about one of the company's most ambitious initiatives ever: Kyveris and the vision of creating truly intelligent, connected manufacturing. Celebrating Durst's 90th anniversary was not only an opportunity to reflect on the company's remarkable history, but also to present a clear vision for its future. Christian explains that while Durst will continue to build world-class printing systems, the company's long-term ambition extends far beyond hardware. The goal is to become the partner that helps customers move towards highly automated, data-driven, and ultimately lights-out production. The conversation explores what Kyveris actually is. Rather than being another workflow product, Kyveris is an open industrial intelligence platform designed to connect machines, workflows, business systems, operators, and, eventually, robotics into a single ecosystem. Christian explains that collecting data is only the beginning. The real value comes from creating a common data layer where information from different systems can be understood, shared, and transformed into actionable intelligence through artificial intelligence. One of the key principles behind Kyveris is openness. Durst is developing the platform to be vendor-neutral, allowing equipment from different manufacturers to participate in the same connected production environment. Christian believes this open approach is essential if printers are to benefit fully from automation and AI, as modern production environments rarely consist of equipment from a single supplier. The interview also discusses Durst's acquisition of callas software, a strategic investment that strengthens the company's expertise in PDF processing, workflow automation, and OEM software development. Christian explains how callas plays an important role in Durst's broader software strategy while continuing to serve partners throughout the printing industry, reinforcing the company's commitment to openness rather than creating closed ecosystems. Looking ahead, Christian discusses Durst's ambitious target of connecting 600 companies to the Kyveris platform by 2030. While challenging, he sees ambitious goals as an essential part of driving innovation and ensuring that the entire organisation continues to think beyond today's products towards tomorrow's manufacturing environment. A fascinating conversation about software, artificial intelligence, open ecosystems, and why Durst believes the future of printing will be built on connected intelligence rather than standalone machines.

Matt Aitken · Managing Director · IVE Group · DURST Next

At Durst's Print Next event in Brixen, Editor Morten B. Reitoft speaks with Matt Aitken, Executive Chairman of IV Group in Australia, about why his company has rapidly embraced Durst technology and what he believes sets it apart from many competitors. Although traveling from Australia requires more than 25 hours in the air, Matt explains that attending Durst's customer event was never really a decision. Having already visited Brixen several times, he sees the event as an opportunity to connect with one of the industry's most innovative companies while gaining insight into the technologies that will shape the future of print. IV Group has become one of Durst's fastest-growing customers, investing in six Durst machines within just a few years. Matt explains that the decision was never simply about replacing equipment—it was about finding a technology partner that shares the company's long-term vision. As customer demands continue to evolve across retail graphics, point-of-sale, brand activations, exhibitions, and fashion, IV Group wanted a partner committed to continuous innovation rather than maintaining the status quo. The conversation also explores Kyveris, Durst's new platform for intelligent workflow orchestration. While still in its early stages, Matt believes the concept has enormous potential to help print businesses become more efficient through connected production and data-driven decision-making. At the same time, he raises an important issue that many printers will recognize: balancing the benefits of sharing production data with the need to protect commercially sensitive information. Having worked with connected manufacturing systems for years, he believes confidentiality and trust will be essential to the platform's success. Throughout the interview, Matt returns to one central theme: remaining relevant. For him, investing in Durst is not simply investing in machinery—it is investing in a company that consistently looks ahead, challenges itself to innovate, and continues to push the industry forward. A fascinating conversation about technology partnerships, innovation, data, and why forward-thinking print businesses choose partners that are already building tomorrow's solutions.

Paul Albano · Fujifilm Print US · Product & Portfoilo Marketing · Fujifilm Revoria PC2120 reveal

At Fujifilm's Open House in Hanover, Illinois, just outside Chicago, Morten B. Reitoft speaks with Paul Albano, Product Manager for Fujifilm's toner production presses, about the thinking behind the new Revoria PC2120 and how customer feedback helps shape future product development. As a product manager, Paul serves as the link between customers and Fujifilm's R&D teams in Japan. The conversation explores how ideas, requests, and production challenges from print service providers worldwide are translated into new features, improved workflows, and smarter automation. Morten and Paul discuss key innovations in the Revoria PC2120, including AI-assisted automation, media profiling, substrate handling, quality control, and workflow improvements. Rather than focusing on a single specification such as speed or print quality, Paul explains why modern production presses are increasingly about combining automation, intelligence, consistency, and ease of operation to improve productivity and return on investment. The discussion also touches on Fujifilm's global organization and how technologies developed across healthcare, imaging, and other divisions contribute to innovations in production printing. Finally, Paul shares why listening to customers remains one of the most important parts of his role and how continuous feedback helps drive future product development. A great conversation about product management, customer-driven innovation, automation, and the future of toner production printing.

Eric Vessels · Taktiful · Product Enabler & CXO · Fujifilm Revoria PC2120 reveal

At Fujifilm's Open House in Hanover, Illinois, just outside Chicago, Morten B. Reitoft speaks with Eric Vessels, Chief Experience Officer (CXO) at Taktiful, about the company's mission to help printers create more value through digital embellishment. The conversation centers around Taktiful's newly launched Digital Embellishment Manifesto, which argues that the print industry has spent too many years competing on price instead of promoting the unique strengths of print. Eric explains why he believes print's greatest advantage is its tactile nature and why embellishment should be viewed as a business strategy rather than simply an aesthetic enhancement. Morten challenges Eric on whether the manifesto is an industry movement or a clever marketing initiative, leading to an open discussion about thought leadership, profitability, and the role Taktiful hopes to play in helping printers build stronger businesses. The two also discuss Fujifilm's Revoria platform, fifth and sixth colors, digital foiling, raised UV, and how new technologies are making embellishment accessible to many more print service providers than ever before. The conversation concludes with fascinating insights into the psychology of touch and why tactile print has such a powerful influence on customer engagement and purchasing decisions. A thoughtful conversation about digital embellishment, print psychology, profitability, and why the future of print may lie in rediscovering what has always made it unique.

Andrew Gunn · Fujifilm Print US · Global Product Marketing · Fujifilm Revoria PC2120 reveal

At Fujifilm's Open House in Hanover, Illinois, just outside Chicago, Morten B. Reitoft speaks with Andrew Gunn, Director of Production Solutions at Fujifilm North America, following the launch of the new Revoria PC2120. Rather than simply discussing another product launch, the conversation takes a broader look at how production printing continues to evolve. Andrew explains that while expanded color capabilities—including the new green toner—and CMYK+ applications create exciting new opportunities, the real story behind the PC2120 is automation, workflow optimization, and making production easier for print service providers. Morten challenges Andrew on several aspects of the new platform, including whether the biggest value lies in the specialty colors or in the improvements that affect every printed sheet. Together, they discuss intelligent automation, AI-assisted workflows, media profiling, substrate handling, inline finishing, and the practical business benefits of reducing operator intervention. The conversation also turns to the wider market. With many printers carefully considering their next investment, Andrew shares Fujifilm's perspective on the future of toner production printing, the continued importance of offset, and why Fujifilm believes innovation is driven by continuous improvement rather than dramatic disruption. Finally, the discussion explores Fujifilm's broader strategy across commercial print, workflow, offset plates, packaging, and production printing, offering valuable insight into how one of the industry's largest technology companies views the future of print. An open and honest conversation about innovation, automation, business strategy, and the thinking behind Fujifilm's newest production press.

Mark Vruno · The Cannata Report · Product Reporter & Editor · Fujifilm Revoria PC2120 reveal

At Fujifilm's Open House in Hanover, Illinois, just outside Chicago, Morten B. Reitoft speaks with Mark Vruno, Editor of The Cannata Report, about the evolving role of office technology dealers and the opportunities emerging as production print continues to grow. The Cannata Report serves the independent dealer channel in the United States, covering more than 1,500 office equipment dealers that increasingly look beyond traditional office printing and managed print services. As print volumes continue to change, many dealers are expanding into managed IT services, cybersecurity, production print, and other value-added business opportunities. In this conversation, Mark explains how dealers work with multiple manufacturers, why production print has become increasingly important, and how the traditional office technology market continues to evolve. The discussion also explores the role of industry media and how publications like The Cannata Report help dealers identify new revenue opportunities and adapt to changing market conditions. Morten and Mark also discuss one of the key themes from Fujifilm's event: the growing opportunity in digital embellishment. As embellishment technologies become more accessible and affordable, they offer dealers and print service providers a way to differentiate themselves, increase profitability, and move beyond competing solely on

Ray Stasieczko · The End of Day With Ray · Industry Debater · Fujifilm Revoria PC2120 reveal

At Fujifilm's Open House in Hanover, Illinois, just outside Chicago, Morten B. Reitoft sits down with Ray Stasieczko for a candid conversation about the printing industry, media, journalism, and why healthy disagreement is essential if the industry is to move forward. Rather than focusing on technology, the discussion explores the role of industry media and analysts. Morten and Ray reflect on how differing opinions don't have to create division—they can instead lead to better questions, stronger reporting, and more meaningful conversations for the benefit of the industry. The conversation also touches on the continued convergence of commercial print, industrial print, and graphic communications, and how changing markets require both journalists and analysts to challenge conventional thinking. As manufacturers diversify and business models evolve, independent voices become increasingly important in asking difficult questions and encouraging debate. Having recently had an open and honest discussion themselves, Morten and Ray talk about the importance of respecting different viewpoints while remaining willing to challenge each other professionally. It is a conversation about constructive conflict, friendship, and why the best ideas often emerge from open dialogue rather than unanimous agreement. A refreshing and personal discussion about journalism, industry analysis, professional relationships, and why challenging the status quo is sometimes exactly what the printing industry needs.

Eddie Davin · bigDAWGS Print Three · Product Challenger & CEO · Fujifilm Revoria PC2120 reveal

Christine Yardley · Print Panther Direct · President & Panelist · Fujifilm Revoria PC2120 reveal

At Fujifilm's Open House in Hanover, Illinois, just outside Chicago, Morten B. Reitoft speaks with Christine Yardley from Toronto, Canada, about creativity, digital printing, embellishment, and why she believes print can still be considered an art form. Known for her passion for digital print, specialty colors, foils, varnishes, and embellishments, Christine shares how she combines technology and creativity to create print that captures attention and delivers value for customers. The conversation explores the role of design and prepress, the opportunities created by expanded color gamuts, and how Fujifilm's new Revoria PC2120 can help printers produce more vibrant and engaging applications. Morten and Christine also discuss toner versus inkjet, the importance of understanding customer needs, and how embellishment can help print service providers differentiate themselves in a competitive market. Drawing on examples from healthcare communications, proposal presentations, and highly customized marketing pieces, Christine explains why creativity remains one of the most powerful tools available to printers today. A lively conversation about print, creativity, technology, and the endless possibilities created when great ideas meet great production.

Kevin Abergel · Taktiful · Keynote speaker and enabler · Fujifilm Revoria PC2120 reveal

At Fujifilm's Open House in Hanover, Illinois, just outside Chicago, Morten B. Reitoft speaks with Kevin Abergel from Taktiful about one of the printing industry's most talked-about opportunities: digital embellishment. Together with Eric Vessels, Kevin presented market data, industry trends, and real-world business cases showing why digital embellishment continues to attract attention from printers looking for higher margins and stronger differentiation. While only a small percentage of print service providers currently offer digital embellishment capabilities, Kevin argues that this is exactly why the opportunity remains so attractive. With relatively limited competition and growing demand for added-value print, printers have a chance to move away from commodity pricing and create applications that deliver significantly higher profit margins. The conversation touches on research from NAPCO Media and WhatTheyThink, investment trends in embellishment technologies, and the growing use of fifth and sixth colors. Kevin explains how capabilities such as white, clear, metallic effects, specialty colors, and other print enhancements can help printers create more engaging products and stronger business results. The discussion also explores why many embellishment opportunities remain untapped. From economic uncertainty and equipment investment costs to education and market awareness, several factors continue to slow adoption. Yet the data suggests growing interest from print providers looking to differentiate themselves rather than compete solely on price. For Kevin and the team at Taktiful, the mission remains clear: help printers understand the value they already have at their fingertips and turn print enhancements into profitable business opportunities. An engaging conversation about margin, differentiation, customer value, and why the future of print may be about much more than CMYK.

Mark Brown · Standard Finishing · Regional Sales Manager · Fujifilm Revoria PC2120 reveal

At Fujifilm's Open House in Hanover, Illinois, just outside Chicago, Morten B. Reitoft speaks with Mark Brown from Standard Finishing Systems about the important role finishing plays in creating value-added print products. Most people know Standard Finishing Systems through its long-standing partnership with Horizon and its broad portfolio of finishing solutions, but as digital printing continues to evolve, finishing becomes an increasingly important part of the conversation. From booklet makers, saddle stitchers, perfect binders, and slitter-cutter-creasers to rotary die-cutting solutions, finishing is often the final step that transforms a printed sheet into a product with real impact. The discussion explores how finishing and embellishment increasingly work hand in hand. As more printers invest in technologies that enable special colors, coatings, foils, textures, and other enhancements, finishing equipment must be capable of handling these applications without compromising quality. Mark explains how modern finishing systems are designed to work with even highly embellished products while maintaining productivity and precision. The conversation also touches on how finishing can become a gateway to new business opportunities. Whether producing uniquely shaped products, premium business cards, packaging prototypes, direct mail applications, or specialty marketing materials, finishing technologies help printers expand beyond traditional applications and create products that stand out. A particularly interesting part of the conversation is the discussion about where embellishment ends and finishing begins. From soft-touch business cards with gold foil to uniquely shaped printed products, Mark shares how finishing technologies help bring creative ideas to life and turn print into something customers want to touch, keep, and remember. As vendors continue to bring new printing technologies to market, partnerships between press manufacturers and finishing suppliers become increasingly important. Mark also shares perspectives on the integration between printing and finishing technologies and why collaboration across the industry is essential to delivering complete solutions to customers. A great conversation about finishing, embellishment, workflow integration, and why the final step in production is often where the real value is created.

German Sacristan · Keypoint Intelligence · Analyst & Panel debater · Fujifilm Revoria PC2120 reveal

At Fujifilm's Open House in Hanover, Illinois, just outside Chicago, Morten B. Reitoft speaks with German Sacristan from Keypoint Intelligence about some of the biggest trends shaping the future of digital printing. Fresh from a panel discussion at the launch of Fujifilm's new Revoria PC2120, German shares his perspective on the technologies currently driving conversations throughout the industry. While faster presses, expanded color capabilities, substrate versatility, and automation remain important topics, German believes that Artificial Intelligence may ultimately have the greatest impact on the future growth of print. Interestingly, the discussion moves beyond AI as a production tool. While predictive maintenance, workflow automation, and efficiency improvements are already becoming reality, German sees an even bigger opportunity in using AI to simplify the creation of personalized marketing campaigns. For years, brands have recognized the value of personalized communication, but the complexity of producing highly targeted campaigns has often limited adoption. AI has the potential to remove many of those barriers and make sophisticated, data-driven print campaigns far easier to execute. The conversation also explores the relationship between toner and inkjet technologies. As inkjet quality continues to improve and manufacturers push into applications traditionally dominated by toner and offset, the question naturally arises: Will inkjet eventually replace toner? German explains why toner continues to play an important role for many print service providers, particularly where specific quality requirements, substrate flexibility, investment levels, and production volumes remain key considerations. Finally, Morten and German discuss how printers are currently adopting AI. While there is tremendous excitement around the technology, Keypoint Intelligence's research suggests that most print service providers are still in the early stages of exploration, experimenting with AI tools and learning how to apply them both operationally and commercially. A thoughtful conversation about AI, personalization, toner versus inkjet, and the opportunities that could help drive the next phase of growth for the printing industry.

Mark Hinder · CEO · YourPrintStrategy.com

Morten Reitoft reconnects with Mark Hinder, CEO of YourPrintStrategy.com, for a candid conversation about strategy, data, investment decisions, publishing, and the future direction of the printing industry. After more than three decades in leadership positions with companies including Xerox, Konica Minolta, and Ricoh, Hinder has embarked on a new chapter focused on helping print companies make better-informed business decisions. Through YourPrintStrategy.com, he works with printers, publishers, and industry stakeholders to develop strategies based on business realities rather than technology hype. The discussion explores the importance of data quality, CRM systems, business intelligence, and why many companies still struggle to turn information into actionable insights. Hinder argues that technology investments should begin with a clear understanding of a company's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats rather than starting with the equipment itself. The conversation then moves into the publishing sector, where Hinder sees significant opportunities for digital printing to reduce waste and improve supply-chain efficiency. Using the example of bookstore returns, he explains how traditional publishing models continue to generate substantial inefficiencies and why digital production could play a much larger role in the future than many people realize today. Morten and Mark also discuss industry consolidation, procurement practices, artificial intelligence, changing business models, and the need for more open discussions about the commercial future of print. Throughout the interview, Hinder emphasizes that successful businesses need more than great technology—they need a clear strategy, strong data, and the discipline to continually reassess their direction as markets evolve. This is a thoughtful discussion about business strategy and the future of the printing industry from someone who has spent decades helping companies navigate change.

Davy Verstaen · Appstore & Partner Manager · Enfocus · Power to Move

At Canon's Power to Move event in Venlo, Morten Reitoft speaks with Davy Verstaen from Enfocus about one of the hottest topics in the printing industry today: how AI, workflow automation, and mass customization are finally coming together to create real business opportunities. While many companies talk about personalization and mass customization, Verstaen demonstrates how to implement these concepts today using Enfocus Switch, AI-powered content generation, and integrated production workflows. Visitors to the Canon event receive highly personalized products, including posters, postcards, and AI-generated storybooks, all produced through automated workflows that combine technologies from Canon, Enfocus, XMPie, Onyx, and other partners. The conversation explores the practical realities behind AI-driven production. While the programming itself can often be completed surprisingly quickly, the real challenge lies in prompt engineering, consistency management, and the creation of repeatable processes that deliver predictable results at production scale. Verstaen shares how months of refinement and testing were required to ensure that AI-generated content consistently met quality expectations. Beyond the demonstration itself, the discussion examines how workflow automation is evolving from traditional rule-based systems toward intelligent automation. Increasingly, printers are connecting Enfocus Switch with AI platforms to automate tasks such as order processing, data extraction, job preparation, and workflow orchestration. Rather than replacing existing automation systems, AI is becoming an additional layer that helps organizations handle more complex and variable processes. The interview also addresses the economics of AI, the role of third-party integrations, and the opportunities available to printers willing to embrace new technologies. For Verstaen, the combination of workflow automation, AI, and personalization represents one of the most exciting developments the industry has seen in years. This is a fascinating conversation about moving from talking about mass customization to actually producing it.

Hans Gut · Head of Global Partnering · Hunkeler/Müller Martini · Power to Move

At Canon's Power to Move event in Venlo, Morten Reitoft speaks with Hans Gut, one of the most respected figures in the finishing and postpress industry. With decades of experience helping shape the evolution of print production, Gut shares his perspective on the industry's transformation and the increasingly important relationship between printing, workflow, automation, and finishing. As production environments become more digital and more connected, the role of finishing has evolved from a downstream process into a critical component of the overall manufacturing workflow. The conversation explores how companies such as Hunkeler and Müller Martini continue to adapt to changing market demands, shorter run lengths, greater personalization, and the need for ever-higher levels of automation. Gut discusses why integration between printing and finishing is becoming essential for achieving productivity, quality, and profitability in modern print operations. The interview also touches on industry consolidation, technological innovation, and the opportunities created by digital printing technologies that continue to expand into new applications and markets. Throughout the discussion, Gut offers valuable insights gained from a lifetime spent helping customers improve production efficiency and build sustainable businesses. As always, Hans Gut combines strategic vision with practical experience, making this a fascinating conversation about where the industry has come from—and where it may be heading next.