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Christine Jones Harris · Principal, Corporate Development · Jones Healthcare Group

Visiting Jones Healthcare Group was a blast. Not only because of how they use their Koenig & Bauer presses, or the vast number of die-cutters, and folding/gluers from various vendors, but also because of visiting a company that has specialized in healthcare are set by very high requirements and safety point of view. Jones Healthcare is a global company with facilities in both the US and Europe. Besides the printing part, Jones Healthcare also develops packaging solutions for medicine, and if not enough, they also do the actual packaging of medicine. An amazing story about a family company that has a rather unique story, but watch and listen.

Embellishment done right! · Marcus Short, Ricahrd Pacey & Jordan Pugh · Qualvis Print & Packaging

It's difficult to decide how to start this story. It's about a print and packaging company in Leicester investing in new technology. A new Koenig & Bauer press and a new folding/gluer, also from Koenig & Press. In a way, enough, but there is more to it, because the configuration of the printing press is as such unique, and as Richard Pacey explains, maybe the only one in the world. A seven-color with three coaters. But doesn't that lead to the more obvious question, why? And that's really the story. Qualvis is a print and packaging company that has specialized in high-end packaging. As we sit in the meeting room before the filming, tons of samples are placed on the table, and, of course, we look at them. Marcus Short asks us - so how do you think it's made? It looks like overprinted coldset, yet it has a different shine, and it's still the best option. And here is what Qualvis has developed over the years. Instead of using cold foil, Qualvis has developed Q-lustre. It's a flexo-printed, reflective silver color, UV-dried, and ready to be overprinted, just like a cold foil. The result is a stunning print with a metalization that actually doesn't have any metalization, as we know. It's more sustainable because it doesn't use a foil carrier, the company claims, and customers like what they see. Combined with a fast folding/gluer, the company's existing blue Koenig & Bauer Rapida press, and a few BOBST die-cutters, the company is well set for the future, and the three gentlemen we speak with are all game and ready. This was a fun job!

Packaging from Shutterfly · Pat McGrew · Print Sample TV #103

In this Print Sample TV episode - and can you believe it, already #103 - your one and only, Pat McGrew share her photobook purchasing experience from Shutterfly. It's about branding, but also getting your photobook delivered without weather conditions :-)

The Box Itself Becomes the Collector’s Item · Pat McGrew · Print Sample TV #104

Your host, Pat McGrew, shows you an amazing box, made by Italian Stampa Media. Both the magazines that go into the box and the box itself have become a piece of art, and hopefully inspire hundreds, if not thousands how to use print in branding and marketing. Great work!

Touch · Pat McGrew · Print Sample TV #105

Pat McGrew shares the amazing work of Sappi, which shows the power of touch in print. What do the different print and embellishment types do to remember something? Sappi claims that 50% touching a premium package twice makes shoppers 50% more likely to purchase

Mark Nixon · Global Strategic Account Director · AVT

In this conversation, Morten B. Reitoft from INKISH sits down with Mark Nixon to explore a career that began on the shop floor of a printing company at just fifteen years old and has since evolved into a global role within print inspection and automation at AVT. Mark shares the accidental but formative start that pulled him into print, the appeal of the smells, the pace, and the constant problem-solving, and how those early experiences shaped a lifelong connection to an industry that changes minute by minute. Together they reflect on how print differs from many other manufacturing sectors, why its technical complexity is often underestimated, and how careers in print rarely follow a straight, pre-planned path. The discussion moves into Mark’s transition from market-creating companies to a business focused on efficiency, repeatability, and waste reduction, and how inspection systems have shifted from being seen as a necessary evil to becoming a core part of lean, profitable production. They talk openly about quality control, customer expectations, and the idea that it is better to prevent problems from reaching the customer in the first place than to argue about them afterward. Mark explains how modern inspection goes far beyond finding faults, integrating deeply with workflow automation to identify, remove, and replace errors before delivery. The conversation also looks ahead, touching on where inspection technology is heading, the growing importance of speed, intelligence, and customization, and the role of close collaboration with customers and other technology providers. Mark reflects on joining an independent, established company that now operates with a startup mindset, the opportunities that come with it, and how decades of experience across different print technologies can be brought together to drive the next phase of innovation. It’s an honest, wide-ranging discussion about print, technology, business, and the value of staying curious in an industry that never stands still.

Colin Sinclair McDermott in conversation with Morten B. Reitoft

In this conversation, Editor Morten B. Reitoft speaks with Colin Sinclair McDermott, also known as the Online Print Coach, about his background in the printing industry and his work coaching print businesses worldwide. Colin shares how he entered the industry in the 1990s, lost a business during the 2008–2009 recession, and how those experiences shaped his mission to help other printers avoid the same mistakes. They discuss common challenges across the industry, including time management, owner bottlenecks, stress, personal financial risk, and the difficulty of delegating and letting go. A key theme is the importance of understanding business fundamentals such as break-even points, profitability, productivity, and core financial metrics, not just being a skilled printer. The conversation also explores cultural differences around failure in Europe versus the US, the value of coaching and accountability, the role of trade organizations and OEMs in education and promotion, and why the print industry must strengthen its capabilities in sales, marketing, and leadership. Colin reflects on networking, public speaking, and major industry events such as Printing United, drupa, FESPA, and Dscoop, and how visibility, education, and honest conversations can help move the industry forward, even if progress sometimes feels slower than desired.

Building a Packaging Powerhouse Through People, Process, and Technology with Koenig & Bauer

Paul Densley, Managing Director of Castle Color, shares his journey from the newspaper print industry to leading one of the UK’s most respected and technically advanced packaging companies. In this film, Paul talks openly about Castle Color’s philosophy of people, process, and technology, and how that mindset has shaped everything from investment decisions to customer relationships. He explains why Castle Color focuses on being an embedded supply partner, how continuous training and process understanding sit at the core of the business, and how technology is used to enhance people rather than replace them. The conversation goes deep into Castle Color’s expertise in fiber-based packaging, including cartons, advanced barrier coatings, and highly specialized blister card technologies that are guaranteed to seal. Paul outlines the company’s diverse customer base across food, healthcare, hygiene, personal care, and sporting goods, and explains why the type of packaging matters more than the size of the customer. Paul also reflects on Castle Color’s disciplined approach to machinery investment, including rigorous testing, supplier comparisons, and the long-term impact of choosing the right technology partner. He shares real-world experience of consolidating production onto fewer presses while increasing productivity, retaining and retraining staff, and building strong, long-term relationships with suppliers. Looking ahead, Paul discusses the future of fiber-based packaging, sustainability, and how Castle Color plans to continue pushing the boundaries of packaging technology and design over the next decade.

Is AI a useful tool or a threat to a brand? · Gee Ranasinha · CEO · Kexino

Happy New Year, and welcome to INKISH’s first interview of 2026. Morten Reitoft is joined by his good friend Gee Ranasinha for a wide-ranging conversation about AI, with a particular focus on generative AI and what it really means for marketing, creativity, branding, and trust. They unpack the difference between machine learning, generative AI, and agentic AI, discuss why tools alone don’t replace human judgment, and explore how brands risk becoming generic if technology is used without intent. The discussion moves from AI in marketing and design to bigger questions about authenticity, differentiation, security, and the future value of human creativity in an AI-driven world. I asked ChatGPT if it believes that Generative AI can be a threat to brands - and here is its answer: Yes — generative AI can be a threat to a brand, but only under certain conditions. Generative AI becomes a threat when it is used as a shortcut rather than a tool. If a brand relies on AI to produce content without clear direction, taste, or accountability, the result often drifts toward generic, formulaic output. Over time, this can erode distinctiveness, making the brand harder to recognize and easier to replace. When everything starts to look and sound “AI-made,” audiences subconsciously read it as inauthentic, low-effort, or interchangeable. The real risk is not the technology itself, but the loss of human judgment. Brands are built on consistency, intent, and emotional resonance — things that require someone to decide why something should exist, not just how it can be produced. If AI is allowed to define tone, visuals, or messaging without strong brand governance, the brand can slowly hollow out, becoming a polished shell that says nothing meaningful. Used correctly, however, generative AI is not a threat at all. It can accelerate ideation, lower production friction, and help teams explore more options in less time. When guided by clear brand principles, human taste, and strategic oversight, AI can strengthen a brand rather than weaken it. In that sense, AI raises the floor of execution — but it does not raise the ceiling. Brands that continue to stand out will be the ones that use AI to move faster, not the ones that let AI decide who they are. In short: generative AI threatens brands that surrender authorship to it. Brands that treat it as an assistant, not a substitute, will be just fine.

Trevor Schroeder · Director of Product & Solutions · PageWide T700i · HP

This video features Trevor Schroeder discussing how HP approaches print as a set of distinct segments, shaped by long experience in areas such as photo printing, publishing, direct mail, and commercial print, and more recently by rapid growth in packaging. He reflects on the industry’s shift from analog to digital and how similar transformations are now playing out across all segments, with inkjet packaging standing out because of its speed, quality, and ability to handle very high volumes. Labels and packaging are described as a significant growth opportunity within HP’s portfolio, combining inkjet and liquid electrophotography technologies.

The conversation explains how packaging differs from other print segments due to supply chain complexity, large repeat volumes, and increasingly unreliable forecasts. Digital printing, supported by more interconnected software and ERP systems, enables faster responses to changing demand. Schroeder also addresses material and substrate challenges, including long or unpredictable lead times and strong demand driven by the shift from plastic to paper, particularly in Europe. These trends require manufacturers to reassess strategies, understand their customers’ needs, and invest in the right equipment.

The video also touches on material science collaboration across the value chain, ongoing consolidation in the packaging industry, and the importance of manufacturing efficiency beyond the press itself. Digital production is presented as a way to optimize entire plant workflows, free up constrained capacity, and unlock growth within existing assets. The discussion concludes with insights into HP PageWide Industrial’s focus on high-throughput, integrated systems and platform-based investments designed to adapt to evolving packaging and corrugated market demands.

Even Lucanish · Product Marketing & Business Development · PageWide T700i · HP

This video features Even Lucanish explaining how digital packaging solutions are designed to complement, not replace, large-scale analog production. He emphasizes that the packaging industry still depends on long runs, which is why significant effort has gone into ensuring that the economic crossover points between digital and litho production make practical sense. The discussion focuses on how digital presses can add capacity, modernize older equipment setups, and improve overall efficiency within packaging facilities.

Lucanish describes the T700 as a strong fit for the litho-lamination market, particularly for integrated producers or larger independents with single-face laminators. The press is positioned as a complementary asset that allows shorter runs to be shifted to digital, while longer runs remain on litho equipment, reducing setup times and improving utilization across the plant. He explains how higher laminator speeds, enabled by roll-fed digital printing, can increase throughput and unlock additional capacity in existing operations.

The video explores the concept of crossover economics, noting that jobs under roughly 30,000 sheets are often more cost-effective digitally, especially when multiple SKUs are involved. Digital printing allows multiple graphics to be produced sequentially in a single continuous run, effectively combining many short runs into a single longer digital run. Beyond cost, color consistency is highlighted as a key advantage, with digital production delivering repeatable results over time without manual adjustments.

Lucanish also addresses broader adoption challenges, explaining that packaging has been more cautious with digital than commercial print, but that real-world installations have helped demonstrate its benefits. He points to easier staffing and training, tighter integration with MIS and ERP systems, and long-term platform upgradability as essential factors. The video concludes with a comparison of the T700 and T1100 platforms, outlining how form factor, corrugator compatibility, and versatility determine where each solution fits within the packaging and corrugated markets.

Chris Pereira · President · C17 Media

This video follows the development of a print operation in Toronto that evolved from print brokering into complete in-house manufacturing over more than a decade. What began with basic commercial print needs gradually expanded into wide-format production, vehicle graphics, and specialized automotive and motorsport applications. The conversation explains why depending on external vendors became a limitation—particularly around scheduling, consistency, and accountability—and how bringing production in-house changed both operational control and long-term planning. Growth happened incrementally, through measured investments in equipment, space, and people rather than rapid expansion. A significant part of the discussion focuses on workflow and automation. As job volumes increased and margins tightened, software became critical to meeting timelines and controlling costs. The video outlines how imposition is handled using Ultimate Tech software, where layouts are automatically generated based on material type, sheet or roll size, flute direction for corrugated work, and production method. This reduces manual intervention, material waste, and ink usage, while improving repeatability across jobs. Ultimate Tech is shown as one component in a broader workflow that also includes web-to-print, ERP, preflighting, and accounting systems. Rather than being implemented all at once, the workflow was built piece by piece, with adjustments made over time as requirements became clearer. The video also addresses early limitations, the evaluation of alternative solutions, and why the final setup reflects practical production needs rather than theoretical efficiency.

Brad Ranson · VP Sales & General Manager · Komcan

Komori is distributed and supported by Komcan in Canada, and VP Sales & General Manager, Brad Ranson, explains in this film how Komcan add value to the customers, by having spareparts and a professional service organization, but listen to Brad Ranson for more information.

Oscar Pepermans · Owner · Rutgers Printing & Packaging · RAPIDA 76 Customer

Rutgers Printing & Packaging Solutions outside Haag in the Netherlands is a great example of a company that uses the latest technology to specialize in the packaging niche, where the smaller RAPIDA 76 Format is a huge advantage. The format is slightly bigger than a standard B2 format, that enables Rutgers to have an even better sheet utilization of the packaging made by the company. The owner, Oscar Pepermans, has a strong belief and commitment to his company, and has, besides Rutgers, also developed an online platform serving customers in the Benelux. Before the Koenig & Bauer investment, Rutgers had a Rapida 75. Still, Oscar Perpermans has mentioned it several times, while INKISH emphasizes how great the new Rapida 76 is and how much more productive it is. Great company, great products they produce :-)

Benson Hong · President · BDPrint · First Komori Lithrone GX40RP Installed

BDPrint has five offset presses, and the newest and latest edition has been up and running for just a few weeks, so it almost smells like a new car :-) And what a machine - it's enormous - and it's a type of machine we haven't seen so often, namely Komori's Lithrone 40GXRP, which offers a flat 5+5 + double coaters. The configuration has a few advantages, one of which is that the gripper only grips the paper once throughout the entire machine, leaving more space for sellable print. Benson, BDPrint's President, is pleased with the machine, and it fits with his four other machines, which are a mix of Mitsubishi and Komori. The 150-person trade printer in Toronto is busy, expanding into folding carton and building an entirely new three-story-high HQ, which, from the 3D models we see, is impressive. Besides the offset presses, we also saw Cobo-stacks, MBO-folders, BOBST die-cutters, and more - a truly well-equipped printing house, that for sure will take good use of the new building when ready. Great hanging out with Benson and the Komcan team :-)

Felix Fischer · Managing Director · Die Pharmadrucker

Felix Fischer · Geschäftsführer · Die Pharmadrucker

Ein kleines, familiengeführtes Druckunternehmen in Deutschland konzentriert sich vollständig auf den Pharma- und Kosmetikdruck und verfolgt das klare Ziel, der schnellste Produzent von Beipackzetteln und Gebrauchsanweisungen zu sein. Das Unternehmen entstand aus einer Konzession zum Druck einer lokalen Wochenzeitung, die den Grundstein für die Druckaktivitäten der Familie Bernecker legte. Über Jahrzehnte hinweg blieb der Zeitungsdruck führend, doch in den vergangenen zwanzig Jahren hat sich die Branche stark verändert. Trotz des Erbes und der langfristigen Ausrichtung hat die jüngste globale Instabilität gezeigt, dass äußere Einflüsse kleine Unternehmen schnell beeinträchtigen können. Die Spezialisierung auf Pharmazie begann vor etwa zehn Jahren, obwohl entsprechende Arbeiten bereits zuvor durchgeführt wurden. Mit der Zeit führten Kundenanforderungen und die verfügbaren Produktionstechnologien zu einer stärkeren Ausrichtung auf dieses Marktsegment. Es ist schwierig, in Westeuropa qualifizierte Arbeitskräfte zu finden – bedingt durch demografische Entwicklungen und die abnehmende Zahl junger Menschen, die eine Tätigkeit im produzierenden Gewerbe wählen. Das Unternehmen zieht junge Mitarbeiter durch flache Hierarchien an, muss jedoch in deren Ausbildung investieren. Pharma-Druck bleibt trotz seiner Ähnlichkeit mit herkömmlichem Drucken, Schneiden und Falzen hochspezialisiert. Verarbeitet werden extrem leichte Grammaturen – 40 bis 60 g/m² –, die eine technische Anpassung, neue Prozesse und Schulungen erfordern. Das Versprechen schneller Lieferungen, häufig innerhalb von 24 Stunden und typischerweise innerhalb von 10–15 Arbeitstagen, hebt das Unternehmen deutlich hervor. Seine geringe Größe und der Fokus auf Kleinauflagen ermöglichen diese Geschwindigkeit. Zur Unterstützung dieses Modells stellt das Unternehmen von Offset- auf Inkjetdruck um und eliminiert damit Druckplatten, Chemikalien sowie verschiedene mechanische Prozessschritte. Diese Umstellung verbessert die Durchlaufzeiten, den Wartungsaufwand und die Nachhaltigkeit. Die Falzarbeiten sind hochkomplex – oft mit mehr als zehn Falzungen – und nur wenige Maschinenhersteller können diese Anforderungen erfüllen. H+H wurde Partner, weil beide Unternehmen die gleichen Entwicklungsziele verfolgen. Die Konfiguration umfasst einen rotativen Querschneider, gefolgt von einer komplexen Falzmaschine. Die M9-Falzmaschine automatisiert die Einstellung der Taschen, was insbesondere für jüngere Mitarbeitende attraktiv ist, die eine Touchscreen-Bedienung erwarten. Die Bediener müssen weiterhin Feinjustierungen vornehmen, doch die Rüstzeiten werden erheblich verkürzt. Das Unternehmen versteht sich als Entwicklungspartner und trägt zur Optimierung sowohl der Falz- als auch der Dünndruck-Inkjet-Lösungen bei. Die Implementierung erforderte enge Zusammenarbeit, präzise Kommunikation und schnelle Reaktionszeiten seitens des Technologieanbieters. Der Produktionsaufbau bietet erhebliche Vorteile: höhere Geschwindigkeit, weniger Prozessschritte, weniger Bedienpersonal, geringeres Fehlerrisiko und höhere Wertschöpfung in einer einzigen Linie. Der Umstieg auf Inkjet eliminiert zudem Hitze als Produktionsfaktor, was als bedeutend hervorzuheben ist.

Precision Finishing Powering Growth: How Grupo Gama Delivers World-Class Packaging

Alejandro Celis – Director de ventas para división de impresión Fuji México – PRINTING United 2025

FUJIFILM posicionó su participación como estratégica, destacando que el PRINTING United de 2025 es “un evento clave para nuestra industria… estamos encantados de conectar con socios y clientes, compartir nuestra visión y mostrar cómo nuestras innovaciones … están diseñadas para resolver los retos reales que enfrentan”. Aunque aún no se han publicado cifras completas de ventas o contratos cerrados durante el evento, Alejandro Celis, Director de ventas para división de impresión Fuji México, comentó que la amplitud de la exhibición, la experiencia de realidad aumentada (permitiendo “ver por dentro” máquinas como la J PRESS 750HS y la J PRESS FP790) y la cobertura mediática sugieren una presencia muy robusta y bien valorada. Además, la combinación de tecnologías enfocadas en productividad, sustentabilidad (por ejemplo tintas AQUAFUZE con certificación medioambiental) y versatilidad de aplicaciones (commercial print, packaging, roll-fed wide-format) posiciona a FUJIFILM como un actor clave para los negocios de impresión que buscan crecer en un mercado cada vez más demandante.

Edgar Climaco · Sales · Ventas Rollem Int. · PRINTING United 2025

Spanish Language Rollem International presentó sus soluciones avanzadas de acabado de impresión, con especial enfoque en sus sistemas de troquelado rotativo de la serie Insignia, diseñados tanto para entornos digitales como offset. Entre los equipos más destacados estuvieron la Insignia7H Die-Cutter, capaz de procesar hasta 5,000 hojas por hora, y la Insignia6 PLUS Die-Cutter, ideal para cambios frecuentes de trabajos, así como el Chameleon Folder/Gluer, con diseño modular para plegado y encolado versátil. Además de los troqueladores, Edgar Climaco, representante de ventas para Rollem, destacó otras soluciones como el Jetstream XY Slitter Scoring System, el Champion 990 Slit Score Perf Model y el Semi-Slitter Kiss-Cutting System, orientadas a aplicaciones de corte, ranurado y perforado de distintos volúmenes y productos, incluyendo etiquetas y empaques. La compañía ofreció demostraciones en vivo y asesoría técnica, permitiendo a los asistentes observar cómo estas tecnologías pueden optimizar la eficiencia y rentabilidad en la producción de materiales impresos. La participación de Rollem en la expo reforzó su liderazgo en soluciones de acabado de impresión y generó gran interés entre profesionales del sector.