Think Smart Factory · Canon to Horizon end-to-end · Yui Kawano & Yasuo Taketsugu

In this film, Yui Kawano from Canon Marketing shows an end-to-end solution together with Yasuo Taketsugu from Horizon International. This is a brilliant example of how workflow & automation enable printers to automate the entire print and binding process. This film also shows the amazing power behind JDF, where not only files but also production data is delivered directly from an MIS system. The entire production workflow is managed in the JDF and setup printer as well as the binder.

Think Smart Factory is a Must Attend Event · Raymond Duval · Director · Ultimate TechnoGraphics

At the Think Smart Factory event in Kyoto, we got the chance to talk to Raymon Duval from Ultimate Technographics, and as you can hear and see in this INKISH film, he is as positive about the event as we are. Ultimate TechnoGraphics has been around for some time and is known for, among other automation solutions, Impostrip. We hope to bring you more film from these great people in the nearby future :-) In the meanwhile - enjoy the interview with Raymond Duval.

Think Smart Factory · Day 3

This is our video documentation of the third- and last day at Think Smart Factory. Clearly fewer people at the show-floor, but still good. That is good for us since it gives us more space at the stations with demonstrations. Today we got the chance to do a longer interview with General Manager Yoji "Joe" Otsuka from SCREEN, and we have a short snippet of our conversation with him in this daily show report. We hope you enjoyed the films we have published so far, and you can for sure look forward to some great interviews, great presentations of technology, and well a factory tour from Horizon. We can't wait to show you!

Think Smart Factory · Day 2

The second day at the Think Smart Factory event in Kyoto was as good as the first one - maybe even better. Many people at the show-floor, exciting presentations, and a chance to dig into even more of the workflows. In our first film, we promised to show you all ten stations here, but there are simply too many people around the stations to do this in a 'live' style. So we have recorded all ten stations, will make them into separate films that you can enjoy one by one afterwards.

Think Smart Factory – We are the Robots

Robots is an indispensable part of the Industry 4.0 future, and of course, Think Smart Factory in Kyoto show a few options. Here its the S-Cart from Nidec used on the show-floor. Enjoy the self-driving future :-)

Think Smart Factory · Day 1

What a start. Think Smart Factory is a new event, and without comparison, one of the best-executed events we have ever attended. Think Smart Factory is an event where all focus is on showing end-to-end solutions. There are ten different stations where you can see the flows from the paper intake to the output of a finished product. Clearly inspired by Hunkeler Innovationdays where it's also about equipment, but with an even more expressed dedication to show the entire workflow. This is a rare opportunity to see the entire process from when a job-ticket is created to the finished product delivered. But check out of show-report and look forward to seeing all ten workflows presented here on INKISH. Expect also interesting interviews with industry leaders from the show floor. Finally, you will get a new show report every day, and also articles on NEWS. Enjoy!

Think Smart Factory · Kyoto November 11th-13th 2019 · Yoshihiro Oe · Horizon International

Think Smart Factory is an upcoming event in Kyoto, Japan. As you can hear in this presentation, of the event, by Yoshihiro Oe, General Manager from Horizon International, the event is not so much like an exhibition. Rather than having booths where each exhibitor presents its products and services, Smart Factory is an opportunity to see equipment working together and see end-to-end productions. The "end-to-end" also includes the workflow part that is typically before print, of course. The event is developed by a group of companies including: Canon Marketing Japan. Inc. / DAC ENGINEERING Co., Ltd. / FUJIFILM Global Graphic Systems Co., Ltd. / goof, inc. / HP Japan Inc. / Hunkeler AG / JSPIRITS Inc. / KONICA MINOLTA JAPAN, INC. / RESOLOGIC. Inc. / Ricoh Japan Co., Ltd. / RYOBI MHI Graphic Technology Ltd. / SCREEN Graphic Solutions Co., Ltd. / TECNAU INKISH will be covering the event, and we can't wait to get to Kyoto. As Yoshihiro Oe also states in this interview, Kyoto is wonderful this time a year. Hope to see you there!

What is Industry 4.0 – presented by David Zwang · WhatTheyThink

What is the Smart Factory or Industry 4.0? In this opening session, David Zwang and WhatTheyThink will give you a look into what this is. Not only What They Think, but spiced with a lot of knowledge from one of America's very best. Do look forward to hearing David Zwang give you an introduction to why this is important for any printer!

Web-to-Print is more than www · Morten B. Reitoft · Smart Factory · Learn With Us

Most people think of Web-to-Print as the huge online stores like Flyer Alarm, Onlineprinters, Saxo Print, Vistaprint and others - but there are many other options - let’s talk about the API’s - different business models, and more… Morten Reitoft, INKISH

Next Generation · Bryan Takano · Horizon International · IGAS 2022

End Papers, Gauze & Barcode Printing · Colin Flinn · Business Development Manager · Horizon USA

Colin Flinn · Fast Forward · Innovation Park · AGV Robots · Remote

This is our first cherry blossom season here at our new facility. We just moved north of Kyoto onto the shores of Lake Biwa. We opened up the new Horizon Innovation Park. And that's where myself and the Horizon International team are now located. Right now, we can do demonstrations on every Horizon system. Some people would say that the printing industry is declining. We would say that it's changing. It's undergoing an evolution. Or it's more short run, more variable, more digital. The Japanese spirit is all about going from the smallest bit to the largest finished product, all in-house. Everything from the rollers to the circuit boards are produced right here. It was in 2019 when we held the first "Think Smart Factory" in Kyoto, Japan. What we want to show, automated solutions integrated from prepress to your press to your finishing in order to optimize your workflow. And what our workers can do during assembly is they can call those little robots to go to the warehouse, bring the necessary parts that they need. Our customers want to really feel the paper for themselves. They want to see the finished product. Here, the machines operating. As manufacturers, we want to present solutions and hear from our customers. Right now that's not always an option. Since the beginning, we've been adopting the newest technologies to be able to replicate that experience. They never expected that they would get this high quality. It's also opening up new doors. Because we get to take them on tours of our facility. Which you would never get to do when you're just at a trade show. Right now, we have a new training zone. Where we can have people from all over the world come and get hands on training with the machines. But when that's not an option, we have a training team here to help them out when they're in a pinch.

Sometimes so Liberating Getting Back to the Basics · Horizon Screen Print Demo · Japan

At the Think Smart Factory Event in Kyoto, we found this presentation of a simple-to-use screen printing solution - also produced by Horizon. Everybody talks about highly technical solutions and the move to digital print. Still, for hobbyists and for small shops, the basic investment and the time to produce a garment with print isn't high or time-consuming. This film also shows the craftsmanship that is the foundation of many of the products we produce. We like this short video showing t-shirt print 100% analogue.

Building Technology on Solid Legacy · Yoji “Joe” Otsuka · GM, Sales · Screen Graphic Solutions

Yoji Otsuka is the General Manager, Sales for Screen Graphic Solutions. In this conversation, he speaks over his American name "Joe" that he also uses on his business card, but more importantly how Screen has become one of the leading and most prominent suppliers of Inkjet presses. Screen Graphic Solutions was founded in 1943, but has roots back to 1868 - so what did Screen do before producing Inkjet machines? Yoji "Joe" Otsuka explains that the legacy of Screen's products and services are important elements in why Screen has become so popular. As we mentioned on numerous occasions before - we LOVE the Conversations format where editor Morten Reitoft have a longer and always very friendly conversation with a guest. We met with Yoji Otsuka at the Think Smart Factory event in Kyoto last year - enjoy it. It's a good one!

Customers Want Even More Automated Factories · Hans Gut · VP Marketing & Partnering · Hunkeler

At the Think Smart Factory event in Kyoto, we got the chance to talk to VP Marketing & Partnering, Hans Gut from Hunkeler. Hunkeler and Horizon have been working together for years, and of course, it makes sense for both companies to exhibit at each other's events like Think Smart Factory and Hunkeler Innovationdays. Where Hunkeler has focused on reel-based finishing equipment, Horizon has focused on sheets - and of course, their equipment interfaces with both printers, and other finishing equipment. In this interview, Hans Gut speaks about the automation opportunities, and that the need for even more automation is a huge demand from printers. Enjoy this interview!

Disruption is our Friend · Mark Hunt · Director, Strategic Alliances · Standard Finishing Systems

Mark Hunt is the Director of Strategic Alliances from Standard Finishing Solutions. Standard Finishing Solution is the American distributor of Horizon and Hunkeler, and we met him at the Think Smart Factory event in Kyoto. In this INKISH interview, Mark Hunt speaks about the transition both Hunkeler and Horizon have been in since they started working with both companies many years ago. Obviously, the market has changed, and in the interview, Mark Hunt concludes that both companies are VERY well fit for the future of digital printing. Enjoy!

Road to automation · Yoshihiro Oe · General Manager, Global Business · Horizon International Inc.

At the recent Think Smart Factory event in Kyoto, Japan, we got the chance to talk to General Manager, Global Business, Yoshihiro Oe. In this film, we talk about the event itself obviously, but we also get the chance to talk about what has led to automation. As Yoshihiro Oe explains developing many different machines is one thing, but tomorrows demand for automation, and smarter factories require the development of new technology. After seeing and experiencing both the Horizon factory as well as the Think Smart Factory event, we at INKISH are pretty convinced that Horizon and their partners are onto something that will be a gamechanger in the binding industry. Enjoy the film - and the many that will follow in the following days!

Mathias Erlandsson · Over The Skype · OMIKAI

When we talk about the smart factory approach in the print sector, the starting point is a functioning ERP system that is specifically geared towards future requirements. State-of-the-art cloud technologies open up completely new perspectives, as Mathias Erlandsson, founder and CEO of Omikai Systems AB explains in an Over the Skye conversation with Andreas Weber, CEO INKISH D-A-CH. "The requirements in Sweden are very similar to those in the DA-CH region“, explains Matthias. It depends on ease of use, transparency in all areas and a kind of omnichannel availability of the structured data that is dedicated to the needs of a successful and sustainable print business. It’s not only about production, but also management and administration, and above all about a much better go-to-market. The most important thing is not to have to deal with technology any more, but rather to develop the right digital mindset: Open, flexible. thinking ahead, geared towards the context and collaboration. The two conversation partners consequently open a dialogue that anyone interested can join. --- Wenn wir über Smart Factory im Print-Sektor sprechen, so ist der Ausgangspunkt ein funktionierendes, ganz spezifisch auf zukünftige Anforderungen ausgerichtetes ERP-System. Hier ergeben sich durch zeitgemäße Cloud-Technologien ganz neue Perspektiven, wie Mathias Erlandsson, Gründer und CEO von Omikai Systems AB im Over the Skye-Gespräch mit Andreas Weber, CEO INKISH D-A-CH, erläutert. „Die Anforderungen in Schweden sind denen in der D-A-CH-Region sehr ähnlich“, legt Matthias dar. Es komme auf Einfachheit bei der Nutzung, Transparenz in allen Bereichen und eine Art Omnichannel-Verfügbarkeit der strukturiert aufbereiteten Daten an, die beim Geschäft mit Print anfallen. Und das nicht nur in der Produktion, sondern auch in Management und Administration, und vor allem beim Go-to-Market. Das Wichtigste sei nicht, sich noch mehr mit Technologie beschäftigen zu müssen, sondern den richtigen Digital Mindset zu entwickeln: Offen, flexibel, vorausdenkend, auf den Kontext und auf Kollaboration ausgerichtet. Die beiden Gesprächspartner eröffnen folgerichtig einen Dialog, dem sich alle Interessierten anschließen können. LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathias-erlandsson-aa780b15/

Andreas Weber & Jacques Michiels · Over The Skype · INKISH

Over The Skype with Jacques Michiels, CEO INKISH Benelux https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacquesmichiels-benelux/ The INKISH webinar series on #SmartFactory / Industry 4.0 in the team of Yves d'Aviau de Ternay, CEO INKISH France, Morten B. Reitoft, INKISH HQ and Jacques Michiels, CEO INKISH BENELUX, sets standards. Indeed, the experts have made a lot of plans to develop future scenarios for the print industry. The conversation was about the following questions: - What is it that drives you? How do you get it? - Where are we standing? Where do we have to go? - What exactly is important about the #SmartFactory? What is it all about? - What are the benefits for print shops? - What are the total findings from the webinar series? - What are the most important recommendations for action that can be derived? The webinar concept is very extensive and quite complex. But it's not just a topic from experts for experts. What is the best way to get started in order to optimally deal with the situation? Our colleague Rainer Wagner from LATAM noted that the topic of AI / artificial intelligence was neglected. Is that correct? Is it still too far from thinking in the print industry? How will you and Yves follow up on the topic? What happens next? The answers are extremely conclusive and extremely interesting. But see for yourself! --- Over The Skype mit Jacques Michiels, CEO INKISH Benelux https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacquesmichiels-benelux/ Die INKISH Webinar-Reihe zu #SmartFactory / Industrie 4.0 im Team von Yves d'Aviau de Ternay, CEO INKISH France, Morten B. Reitoft, INKISH HQ und Jacques Michiels, CEO INKISH BENELUX, setzt Massstäbe. Die Experten haben sich in der Tat viel vorgenommen, um Zukunfts-Szenarien für die Print-Branche zu entwickeln. Das Gespräch rankte sich um folgende Fragen: - Was treibt Euch an? Wie kommt ihr drauf? - Wo stehen wir? Wo müssen wir hin? - Was genau ist am Thema #SmartFactory wichtig? Was verbirgt sich dahinter? - Welcher Nutzen entsteht für Druckereien? - Was sind die Erkenntnisse aus der Webinar-Reihe in Summe? - Welches sind die wichtigsten Handlungs-Empfehlungen, die sich ableiten lassen? Das Webinar-Konzept ist sehr umfangreich und durchaus komplex. Aber es sit ja nicht nur ein Thema von Experten für Experten. Wie findet man am besten den Einstieg, um sich mit der Sachlage optimal auseinanderzusetzen? Unser Kollege Rainer Wagner aus LATAM merkte an, dass ihm das Thema AI / Künstliche Intelligenz zu kurz gekommen ist. Stimmt das? Ist es vielleicht noch zu weit weg vom Denken in der Print-Branche? Wie werden Yves und Du das Thema weiterverfolgen? Was passiert als nächstes? Die Antworten sind äußerst schlüssig und hochinteressant. Aber sehen Sie selbst!