Mark's quest for American exhibitors or stories allowed him to talk to Elie Khoury, who talked about a jam-packed show. Alwan Color Expertise shows a spectrometric color management system that enables a printer to match print output with a reference image/color - interesting!

In this interview, you will learn from a profoundly passionate owner of a super interesting company - talking really nicely about the products, the people, and the collaboration with Weilburger Graphics. LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-wiesendanger-256744225/

At Drupa, we're at the Weilburger Graphics booth, talking to partners, including the Italian ink producer, Colorgraf. They've collaborated with Weilburger Graphics for over 35 years, offering a range of inks for various applications. The ink company, founded in 1951, has expanded from sheet-fed inks to UV and flexo inks, aiming to provide a comprehensive product lineup. They emphasize technical support and passion in their work. Discussing market trends, they see sustainability and investment as key future challenges, believing in quality growth. They hope to pass the business to the next generation.

At Drupa, Jacques from INKISH.TV interviews William, a distributor from China for Wildbucket. William explains that 20 years ago, major printing machinery producers entered the Chinese market, creating a demand for high-quality varnish that local producers couldn't meet. Now, while Chinese producers have improved, William's strategy is to stay ahead by introducing new technologies not yet available locally. One key area is water-based varnish, which is more environmentally friendly compared to solvent-based options. William aims to promote this green technology in China, supporting the sustainability agenda in the printing industry.

Jacques from INKISH TV talks to Mariania from Greece at the Weilburger Graphics booth. Mariania's trading company, established in 1948 and based in Athens, supplies the Greek graphic arts industry with all printing-related products except paper and plates. Despite long-standing industry challenges, they’ve adapted well. Their collaboration with Weilburger Graphics began at Drupa 2000, focusing on varnishes, and has grown into a strong partnership. They also represent Zeller+Gmelin inks and provide comprehensive support to their customers, ensuring high-quality products and excellent after-sales service. LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariania-samanides-964995120/

Jacques from INKISH interviews Ralf from a print-finishing company, Rieker Druckveredelung, at Drupa. Ralf's company, based in Stuttgart, Germany, specializes in high-end print finishes like raised effects, spot varnishes, and laminations, catering to luxury printed products. Established in 2006 and managed by the fourth and fifth generations, Rieker combines the right materials and techniques to meet client demands. Despite the rise of digital technologies, they find analog systems more cost-effective for high-volume work. They offer a wide range of coatings to enhance packaging and printed materials, helping them stand out on the shelf. LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ralph-c-rieker-83b10235/

The interview features Morten B. Reitoft from INKISH speaking with Bruno Müller from Müller Martini about the significant transformations the company has undergone over the past 35 years. Bruno Müller discusses the evolution from his early days in the newspaper division to adapting to major shifts in the industry, particularly the decline in newspaper production and the rise of digital printing technologies. Bruno highlights the company's focus on listening to customer needs and adapting its culture, products, and strategies to market demands. He emphasizes the challenges of managing spare parts for older machines, which were not originally designed to last as long as they have. This has necessitated a shift in the company's approach to production, moving towards modular designs that use common components to streamline operations and reduce complexity. The interview also touches on the recent acquisition of Hunkeler, describing it as a strategic fit that complements Müller Martini's strengths and enhances its product offerings. Bruno Müller notes the importance of evolving business models in response to digital technology advancements, which is crucial for staying relevant and competitive in the printing industry.

In this interview, Pat McGrew talks to Dr. Frank Schaum from Heidelberg about the JetFire. The JetFire is the first Inkjet product launched in collaboration with Canon, and it came as a huge surprise to most at Drupa—even considered the most interesting news at the entire show. Now it's time to listen to Dr. Frank Schaum in his conversation with Pat McGrew!

Tom Baker is responsible for selling MBO post-press equipment in the UK, and he explains in this film that things are pretty OK. The Cobo Stack has also been a success in the UK - but dig in and listen for yourself!  

The first time we met Brett Stow was during the planning of our trip to Minneapolis. Still, as there was a snowstorm in Minnesota, we didn't get the chance to meet each other in person, but that changed at Drupa, where we got the chance to meet at two booths of companies represented by Brett Stow—namely KAMA and Perfecta. In this interview, we met with Stow at the Perfecta booth, to discuss how the products fit into an American context—enjoy!  

BST is a well-known brand in more than just the printing industry; they provide various inspection systems that ensure printers deliver what's expected. Though a competitive market, Global Sales Director Sajid Malik explains that BST has a huge market share—also because of its long history. Interesting insights!  

In this combined interview and walkthrough, Head of Sales Jannik Müller shows the folding opportunities of H+H and explains how water is also used to soften the folds - crazy fast and crazy amazing!  

Stefan Schülling came to MBO with a background from the ink-side of the industry, and the journey he has been on the past year is impressive. Now leading MBO. Along with a new streamlined organization and being integrated with the Komori organization, there is plenty to do, and at drupa, MBO shows new products and updates to existing lines. But listen for yourself :-)  

Eduard Martin from Schwabenprint is a busy man, and in this interview, we get a chance to talk to him about how a customer almost invited him to set up an operation in the US. Now it's up and running, and we talk about equipment - and Eduard Martin's talk explains why he chose the Hohner solution for his booklets. Speed and setup time are just two parameters, but listen for yourself! Enjoy!  

Paul Zamfir is Managing Partner with Printman in Romania - a distributor we met at Weilburger Graphics's booth a few days ago. Now we meet him at the Post Press Alliance booth, and of course, I had to ask him whether he has favorite products among all the machines we see - see the film to get the answer :-)  

Still among the most impressive 3D printers in the market, and in this combined interview and walkthrough by CEO Erez Zimerman, you get a bit of both - one exciting takeaway is that large format printers delivery instore and outdoor is among the segments Massivit addresses as large 3D printed 'products' can be used in combination and draw traffic - the booth give excellent examples. But also for prototyping and even for mold production, Massivit now has solutions!

Mark's quest for American exhibitors or stories allowed him to talk to Elie Khoury, who talked about a jam-packed show. Alwan Color Expertise shows a spectrometric color management system that enables a printer to match print output with a reference image/color - interesting!

Owner of a diverse printing company on a small Island between the Jutland and Zealand in Denmark has its challenges—or opportunities. Morten Christensen is the second-generation owner of Samsøposten, which essentially started as the local newspaper; however, today is a diverse business of print, textile, merchandise, and content creation—and as 'old-school' as a phone book. The company heavily depends on the mechanical, electrical, and engineering skills that Morten Christensen has, as he operates a combination of new and old equipment. We visited the company as part of our "The New Offset Machine, that doesn't exist," he has two Koenig & Bauer 74Karat machines printing when jobs are too big for his HP Indigo machines. Super interesting to visit a company that, by many vendors, is off-radar, as the products Samsøposten needs are either too expensive or less aligned with the business he operates. Also a great discussion - not on film - about how brands don't offer service, parts, and consumables to machines acquired out of the, let's say, more traditional channels. Maybe a company that is more similar to most companies worldwide than most of us believe. LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/morten-christensen-a25191134/

In the presentation, The New Offset Machine that Doesn't Exist, Hans Jürgen Geiß discusses Druckhaus Bechstein as a full-service provider and printing company. He also discusses how faster setup time on his offset machine brings digital print back to offset. LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hans-jrgen-gei-5a9736131/

In this session, Anthony Thirlby talks to Editor Morten B. Reitoft about The New Offsetmachine, which doesn't yet exist—what is important? What is not? LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-thirlby-26b6367/

Pete Dolfis, sales VP (Americas) for Tecnau, walks INKISH through the Stack 1212 cut-sheet stacking solution for B2+ format digital print output. The streamlined machine reduces manual handling and requires no guillotine cutting. It's ideal for applications such as letters, books, brochures, postcards, and posters!

In the middle of our presentations from Standard Finishing at PRINTING United, we suddenly see Rosemarie Garvey from Blooming Color. Of course, we ask her for a short statement about Horizon; as we know, Blooming Color focuses on HP, Horizon (sold by Standard Finishing), and Ultimate - so listen to her words here.

At PRINTING United, we got to look at the new Horizon BQ300 - perfectly explained by Paul Steinke. The BQ300 is still a one-clamp solution but still manages 500 books an hour and has been updated to be integrated with the I.C.E. IoT solution from Horizon + a few other interesting things - but listen to Paul Steinke :-)

Johan Laurent from Standard Finishing gives us a presentation of the Stichliner MK V, which was introduced as a web solution only - but at PRINTING United, we get to see the sheet module that makes the stitching solution capable of both web and cut sheet. The Stitchliner has many super interesting features, i.e., individual scoring of every sheet in a book block, variable stitch length, and much more - and fast - not to forget. But listen to Johan Laurent and learn from the master :-)

EFI Reggiani’s Paolo Torricella walks us through the sustainable ecoTERRA direct-to-fabric digital printers. Samples of the water-based pigments with binder inks look absolutely stunning!

Kyle Pucci, imageXpert's director of application engineering, says the JetXpert Print Station is an all-in-one inkjet development tool that handles drop-watching, prototype printing, and print. The technology won a 2024 Pinnacle Award.

Screen has long been recognized as one of the leading Inkjet printer OEMs in the market. At PRINTING United, we got the chance to talk to VP of Marketing Mark Schlimme about their continued focus on web-fed Inkjet printing and how the new Truepress JET S320 fits the bill as a machine that can be used as a backup for the popular 520 series. It was great listening to Mark Schlimme, so please enjoy!

Self-proclaimed “women-in-print champion” and visionary Lisbeth Lyons Black talks with INKISH’s Mark Vruno about her first two years at the WIP Alliance. An important new membership initiative kicked off last month.

At PRINTING United, we got to catch up with Holly Steedman from IST Intech. IST Intech is owned by IST Metz, known for its UV solutions for many different types of printing presses, and IST Intech is a UK-based company that focuses on integration partners. So IST Intech is more about a special solution that can be used, not only in the printing industry but in any industry, utilizing LED-UV. IST Intech also entirely focuses on digital print solutions. In this interview, we learn how IST Intech and the Business & Technology Development Director get more and more customers in the American market. Holly Steedman is always interesting to listen to, and you will also often see her speaking at various conferences - so stay tuned!

In this film, Holly Steedman from IST Intech shows us how to control LED-UV lamps. Controlling the lamps will save energy and extend the lamp's expected life span. Still, combining the above with having lamps controlled to the PDF printed may even open up entirely new opportunities. It's super interesting to learn, and as Steedman explains, the technology is already available in many of the lamps supplied by IST but not utilized in the controller software that can have been developed by other people—smart!

Robert Lugg works for the company GIS. GIS is deeply involved in digital inkjet development and delivers hardware and software. As laymen, we often talk about Inkjet as a single and straightforward technology, but it really consists of various elements from the controller, to the driers, to ink, to the ink supply system, to the printhead, and probably many more things. GIS delivers software and ink-supply systems to Inkjet partners, and at PRINTING United, the software that turned the IST Intech lamps on/off, as you could see in the episode with Holly Steedman (IST Intech), was developed by GIS. Listen to Robert Lugg here, and learn :-)

In this interview, we talk to Tom Piere from FourPees and focus on the progress of Atomyx, which we covered in Gent earlier this year. More partners have been unboarded, and even the first paying customers are now onboarded. The company looks pretty confident when listening to Tom Peire in this interview. For those who don't know Atomyx, this is a platform that is built to seamlessly connect web applications and services, so you can have one brand of MIS coupled with a Web-to-Print solution of another brand, coupled with a Workflow system from a third brand and so forth. This is without intense IT investments. This obviously requires that the OEMs enable this functionality, but more and more customers have already done so, and more are on their way. Tom Peire announced a couple of new partners in this interview - enjoy!

In this last Bonjour from PRINTING United 2024, we have the pleasure of having Chris Manley from Graphco and Eric Vessels from Taktiful. There was lots of fun and announcements of great sales by Graphco - and, of course, we had to talk about Eric Vessels not being part of WhatTheyThink anymore. This last Bonjour was hosted by Pat McGrew & Morten B. Reitoft.

EFI display graphics expert Tomer Ohavi shows off vibrant samples from the latest printers in the VUTEk product line. Speed and quality combine for that “wow” factor . . . .

U.K.-based Kernow Coatings, one of the smaller exhibitors at PRINTING United Expo, has an exciting story. Housed in a Wisconsin warehouse, its coated substrates for a wide range of narrow and wide-for digital print applications are available from U.S. paper distributors. Dan Lawellin: LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dlawellin/

Adrienne Palmer, chief editor of DTF Printing, serves on the advisory board for the Women in Print Alliance. On the heels of a sold-out luncheon at PRINTING United Expo ‘24, she discussed the organization’s grassroots beginnings a decade ago.

Klaus Lammersiek has a background with HP and Scodix, and both will be valuable experiences in his only seven-month-old job as Head of Digital Transformation. Digital transformation is as much about educating and bringing staff forward as creating digital solutions for customers. Of course, digital transformation is not only about digital print but also using digital technology to optimize processes—and, well, become more profitable. It was great talking to Lammersiek!

Özkan Meral is the Production Manager at Kohlhammer, and as Editor, Morten B. Reitoft has been with the company for a week. We talk about the many processes, the many people, and the many things that both make the job fun and challenging. Kohlhammer has also invested in several Cobo-Stacks from MBO, and Meral explains how only one person can manage some jobs running on three folding machines. Besides the efficiency, it also saves operators from health issues related to heavy lifting. Super interesting. Language: German Subtitled: English

Despite being in what’s in Germany called “Ausendienst,” or new sales, Andreas Meissner explains that his relationship with the model train manufacturer Märklin goes back almost 30 years. In the interview, Editor Morten B. Reitoft asks whether being close to a customer can have a negative effect as buyers and sellers have opposite interests. Listen to his great answer and how he sees the opportunities in the market. Language: German Subtitled: English

There is no doubt that there is a warm and mutual relationship between the Photographer and Artist René Staud and Kohlhammer. His world-recognized art using cars as objects is generously lent to Kohlhammer and decorates the walls and the staircases. At the event, René Staud talked about working regionally with printing companies and how essential paper is for him when producing books. We are incredibly pleased that we got the opportunity to speak with René Staud, so please watch and enjoy :-) Language: German Subtitled: English

With almost 20 years of experience, Peter Kohler has a good idea of what goes on in Kohlhammer Druck. We talked with him, and here we go.

At the Kohlhammer event on Friday, September 27th, 2024, a few people were invited to present their businesses and what they do. One of the people was Alexander Cartellieri from Hahnemühle. Besides the company’s impressive age (established in 1584), he also spoke about the unique papers produced and sold only through art shops in about 10,000 outlets worldwide. Cartellieri explains the processes in this interview and how the paper is excellent for digital print, like Inkjet. We also talk about the collaboration with René Staud, who uses Kohlhammer as a supplier for high-end books of the highest quality—a super exciting interview. Language: German Subtitled: English

The function Frank Knöller holds hold with Kohlhammer Druck is, from time to time, stressful, as things need to get ready on time. Knöller gives an example of a weekly printed magazine where files come to print on Tuesday and must be delivered to the post on Wednesday and are delivered to the reader on Thursday. Though not all jobs have such delivery time, it gives you an insight into the work of an “Innendienst” employee. Frank Knöller is very happy about the Kohlhammer event, allowing him to show his wife and two daughters the company for the first time. Nice :-) And Frank - great meeting your family! Language: German Subtitled: English

“It’s always about people, but a party is, of course, an opportunity to also meet each other in a more relaxing environment,” Franzisi explains, and as Editor Morten B. Reitoft has been with the company for a week, the interview circles around topics like people vs. technology, growth, and operating in a competitive environment. Steffen Franzisi is a straightforward leader with high expectations for his people and great expectations for the future - analog, digital, or whatever serves the customers best. Interesting interview. Language: German Subtitled: English

One of the many people who made the Kohlhammer event possible was Ionnis Makridakis, and we HAD to stop him for an interview to learn about what he does when he is not preparing events. With a big smile, he explains that he fixes everything, from machines to the maintenance of the building—and as he explains in this interview, he likes the many different jobs he has. Great! Language: German Subtitled: English

We, of course, start our interview with Osman and why he is attending the Kohlhammer event. Ricoh is one of more suppliers of digital printing equipment, but he is also very much aware that Kohlhammer may be a significant potential customer for Ricoh. It was super interesting talking to Philipp Osman, which also, off-camera was interesting, but that you, of course, can’t know :-) Language: German Subtitled: English

In this film, we walk through the BOBST Novacut, a die-cutting machine in several configurations. Area Sales Manager Cody Call shares his vast knowledge with Editor-in-Chief Morten B. Reitoft. The film explains, among other things, how the three paper-handling systems work—all doing a fantastic job but also coming at a price. It's a great walkthrough; we hope you like it!

In this film, we walk through the BOBST Visionfold machine—an entry-level folding/gluer that enables customers to produce high-quality boxes with fast setup and medium speed. Edward Ziemba explains the features to Editor-in-Chief Morten B. Reitoft as they go through the machine. Enjoy!

When you contact Infinity Foils and Phillip Guillaume, you get stamping forms made of bronze or brass or hot or cold foils for analog and digital equipment. We got a chance to talk to Guillaume at the BOBST Open House in Santa Fe Springs, and as always, it's great to talk to people who know the market and products and help customers with opportunities.

When INKISH is invited to Open House, it's, of course, for making interviews and sharing the event, but it gives us a lot of time to learn from the specialists working with the OEM. Here is . McElwain is an IoT specialist and is also profoundly involved with BOBST Connect, which is not only an IoT platform but is becoming more and more essential for printing companies and converters. In this interview, we get an opportunity to learn and understand more about how BOBST utilizes its IoT platform to benefit customers. Super interesting, and in the future not an option, but a must! LinkedIn

It must be super exciting for Rob McCann, as he is moving from the US to Switzerland with his family to start a new position with BOBST—namely, the Tooling Director. In this interview, Rob McCann talks about how IoT is not just nice to have but a must to have. We, of course, also ask about how he will be bridging services, tools, new machines, etc., together as the entire ecosystem seems to be more and more integrated. Super interesting interview!

At the BOBST Open House today (November 6th, 2024), we got the chance to talk to Owen Koehler from Böhlerstrip - and if you are in the packaging business, you most likely know the company for being a very competent supplier of knives used for the die cutting forms. Here we learn about the different brands and when customers use the various products. Super interesting, and I must admit, an area that we didn't know much about, but that makes it just even better listening to Owen Koehler.

At Printpack India 2025, Wayne Beckett from Inkish spoke with Noel Dcunha, Managing Editor of PrintWeek India, about the exhibition's rapid growth and the evolving print and packaging market in India. With the addition of new halls and a significant rise in exhibitors, Printpack India is on a trajectory to expand even further. Projections for 2027 aim to exceed 100,000 square meters of space. Noel Dcunha highlights the booming packaging sector, sharing insights from industry professionals who report substantial business growth. The show has seen an influx of visitors, with estimates reaching 140,000 to 150,000 attendees. PrintWeek India has been actively covering the event, publishing two daily e-bulletins featuring installation updates and industry trends. As the only remaining PrintWeek publication under Haymarket, PrintWeek India continues to thrive due to the strength of the Indian market. The magazine has embraced digital transformation, expanding its reach through online platforms, webinars, podcasts, and the prestigious PrintWeek India Awards, where print samples are judged by industry buyers rather than printers. With a circulation of 13,000 print copies and an online database of 45,000 industry professionals, PrintWeek India reaches 350 cities nationwide. While there are no immediate plans to expand into regional languages, the publication continues to refine its offerings to serve India's vast print industry. Noel Dcunha acknowledges the challenges in growing circulation but remains optimistic about the future. With an estimated 220,000 serious print-related businesses in India—compared to just 16,000 in the UK—the industry is poised for further expansion. Printpack India continues to solidify its place as a global industry event. PrintWeek India remains at the forefront, documenting its growth and evolution.

At Printpack India 2025, Wayne Beckett from Inkish wraps up the final day of an incredible exhibition by speaking with Naresh Khanna, owner of Indian Printer & Publisher (IPP). Reflecting on a week filled with industry insights, cutting-edge technology, and promising business developments, both discuss the evolving role of Printpack India within the global print and packaging industry. Naresh Khanna highlights India's robust and resilient printing and packaging sectors, attributing the event’s success to the country’s strong economy and industrial growth. He notes that while Printpack India remains a premier event, the market is becoming more fragmented. Specialized regional shows, such as dedicated events for labels, plastics, and specific printing technologies, are emerging across different states. The conversation shifts to the rapid development of the Noida region, particularly Uttar Pradesh. With its massive population and rising industrialization, Uttar Pradesh drives significant demand for printed materials. As infrastructure expands—including a new airport being built by Swiss developers—the potential for growth in printing and packaging remains vast. Projections for Printpack India 2027 aim for an additional 40,000 square meters of exhibition space, and visitor numbers could reach 180,000-190,000, but Naresh Khanna remains skeptical. While new permanent halls are planned, challenges remain, including infrastructure limitations, shifting industry specialization, and changing business dynamics, where companies increasingly invite customers directly to their factories instead of showcasing at exhibitions. Despite this, both agree on the irreplaceable value of exhibitions—not just for major brands like Heidelberg, Komori, and Canon but also for small innovators who provide unique solutions that can significantly impact businesses. Printpack India continues to serve as a vital marketplace for discovering new technologies, fostering partnerships, and exploring the future of print in one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. As the event concludes, Wayne Beckett thanks Naresh Khanna and his team for their collaboration throughout the week. He looks forward to continuing to engage in this dynamic and evolving industry.

On the final day of Printpack India, Wayne Beckett from Inkish catches up with Amitabh, Managing Director of Print and Supply, to discuss the show’s success and the state of the Indian print market. Despite a slightly lower footfall than expected, Amitab emphasizes the quality of visitors, noting that the attendees were highly relevant industry professionals seeking valuable insights and business opportunities. A key topic of discussion is Print and Supply’s role as the Indian representative for Edale, the renowned British manufacturer of flexographic and digital hybrid printing presses. While importing UK-made equipment presents cost challenges due to high exchange rates, Amitabh highlights Edale’s reputation for top-tier engineering, often called the "Rolls-Royce of the printing industry." The company focuses in India on sales, after-sales support, and marketing, ensuring strong local representation for the brand. Wayne and Amitabh also delve into the rapid growth of India’s label and packaging sector, which has surged in recent years. Amitabh attributes this expansion to the country’s strong economic performance and consistent year-on-year growth despite global challenges. Another major development is Print and Supply’s partnership with Xeikon, which was formalized at Drupa last year. Amitab explains that there is no conflict of interest between Edale and Xeikon. Canon-owned Edale specializes in flexographic technology, while Xeikon focuses purely on digital presses. This allows Print and Supply to offer a complementary portfolio, addressing India's increasing demand for digital printing solutions. With a bright future ahead and the increasing adoption of advanced print technologies, Amitabh is optimistic about the Indian market’s trajectory. As the show wraps up, he returns to finalize deals, reinforcing the strong momentum built during Printpack India.

On the final day of Printpack India, Wayne Beckett from Inkish meets with Pawandeep, the Managing Director of OMET India, to discuss the company’s growing presence in the Indian market. Pawandeep reflects on a highly successful exhibition that exceeded expectations with the quality of visitors and strong engagement throughout the event. OMET, an Italian manufacturer of high-end printing presses, has expanded its footprint in India since 2019. Despite the challenges of selling European presses in a highly competitive market, Pawandeep explains that the growing base of label printers has fueled demand for more sophisticated machines. OMET’s unique selling point lies in its ability to provide fully customized printing solutions, offering a combination of flexo, offset, gravure, and digital printing in a single press. With six different platforms, 13 variants, and hundreds of customization options, OMET ensures that no two solutions are alike, tailoring each system to the customer’s needs. Beyond the technology, OMET India is actively addressing the industry’s skills gap with its "OMET Throughput" program, which focuses on machine maintenance, training, and new product development. This initiative helps printers maximize their investment by ensuring operators are well-trained and equipped to handle advanced printing techniques. Looking ahead, OMET will exhibit at Label Expo Barcelona, continuing its momentum in the global print industry. With India’s massive market potential and focus on high-value, complex printing applications, OMET is well-positioned for further growth.

At Printpack India 2025, Wayne Beckett from Inkish speaks with Javier Singh, President of IPAMA, about the remarkable growth of the exhibition. With over 600 exhibitors, including 562 offering live demonstrations, this year’s event has surpassed previous editions, reflecting the industry's rapid expansion. Javier Singh attributes this surge in participation to the team’s dedicated efforts in promoting the exhibition and focusing on future growth. Attendance figures are soaring, with an expected 140,000 to 150,000 visitors, putting Printpack India on par with major global events like Drupa. Notably, international visitors have also increased, with 16,000 attendees from countries across Africa, Latin America, the Gulf, Russia, and Asia. As demand continues to rise, expansion plans are already in motion. The venue provider is set to construct new permanent halls, adding 42,000 square meters of space by the next edition, with plans for an additional 25,000 square meters. Despite the event's massive scale, organizers had to turn away 86 exhibitors due to space constraints—something they aim to resolve in 2027. With projections for the next edition targeting 100,000 square meters of exhibition space and up to 200,000 visitors, Printpack India is cementing itself as a premier international printing and packaging trade show. Singh reassures that India is ready to welcome the world, making the event a key destination for global industry professionals. As the show continues to grow, the future of Printpack India looks brighter than ever, with expectations to reach new milestones in 2027.

At Printpack India 2025, Wayne Beckett sits down with Abrar Agboatwala from Hi-Tech Printing Services to discuss his inspiring journey from London’s corporate world to the family business in Mumbai. After completing his education and working in management consulting in the UK, Abrar boldly returned to India, bringing his strategic expertise to his father’s company, which specializes in pharmaceutical and food packaging. Now, four months into the business, he is learning the printing industry's technical aspects while leveraging his operational efficiency and customer coordination skills. Attending Printpack India for the first time, Abrar is on a mission to upgrade his company’s equipment, particularly in folder-gluers and blanking machines, as automation becomes increasingly essential in the Indian print sector. This conversation highlights the importance of attracting young talent to the print industry and the growing role of automation in India’s packaging market. Abrar’s story is a testament to the potential of blending modern business acumen with traditional manufacturing expertise to drive innovation and efficiency.

At Printpack India 2025, Wayne Beckett catches up with PK, Head of Division for Graphics Communication at Fujifilm India, to discuss the company’s latest innovations and the booming print market in India. Fujifilm India, a significant part of the global Fujifilm business, spans multiple industries, including medical, photography, and graphic communications. The company has a strong presence in India, regularly exhibiting at key industry events like Printpack. This year’s exhibition has been especially exciting for Fujifilm, with the launch of two new digital presses aimed at making high-quality print more accessible. These additions to their portfolio bring cutting-edge technology from their high-end segment to the mass market, democratizing digital printing solutions. The 100 ppm and 85 ppm presses are already generating strong interest, particularly in high-demand applications such as wedding photobooks, commercial printing, publishing, and even packaging. With digital printing rapidly expanding in India, driven by shorter run lengths, personalization, and increasing disposable income, PK highlights how both digital and analog technologies continue to thrive. The affordability and accessibility of digital solutions are driving faster adoption, while analog printing remains dominant in cost-sensitive, high-volume production. The excitement at the Fujifilm stand is undeniable, with every machine on display already sold. With their new five-color 85 ppm model featuring pink, clear, and texture options, print providers now have more flexibility to add value without the traditionally high investment costs. As the show comes to an end, Fujifilm is already planning for the next phase—delivering these machines to customers across India. This conversation underscores the dynamic shift in the Indian print industry, where innovation, accessibility, and automation are driving unprecedented growth.

At Printpack India 2025, Wayne Beckett speaks with Sajid, Managing Director of Bindwell, South Asia’s largest manufacturer of binding machines. Bindwell plays a crucial role in India's thriving book industry, with seven out of ten books produced in India utilizing their technology. Based in Bengaluru, the company also exports to Africa and Southeast Asia, offering a full range of binding solutions from single-book production to large-scale textbook manufacturing. The book market in India remains stable and continues to grow, particularly in the educational sector. While the pandemic pushed many institutions toward digital learning, there has been a notable return to printed textbooks, reinforcing the importance of physical books in education. Indian publishers are also expanding their reach, exporting textbooks to Africa, where demand is rising despite challenges like paper availability. Bindwell is not only focusing on domestic growth but also setting its sights on the global market. With innovations such as their "Book of One" and short-run digital binding solutions, the company is preparing to engage with international partners at Hunkeler Innovation Days. Their goal is to explore collaborations that can help shape the future of digital book production in India and beyond. Sajid emphasizes that Bindwell’s presence at Hunkeler Innovation Days is more about building an ecosystem than immediate sales. They aim to engage with potential partners, understand global trends, and ensure that India’s digital print market develops in the right direction. With a strong foundation in India and ambitions for international growth, Bindwell is poised to make an impact in the evolving bookbinding and digital printing landscape.

At Printpack India 2025, Wayne Beckett speaks with I D Singh, CEO of Erhardt+Leimer India, about the company’s groundbreaking new equipment developed and manufactured entirely in India for the global market. For the first time, Erhardt+Leimer has designed a complete machine outside of Germany—a nonstop unwind and rewind system for the narrow-web label printing industry. Singh highlights the system’s key components, including a butt splicing unit for continuous unwinding and a turret rewind station with slitting functionality, significantly reducing job completion times. The first installation has already been completed for Albia, a French company, on a Nilpeter machine in India, marking a major success for this innovative solution. With Erhardt+Leimer’s global footprint spanning Europe, the USA, China, Japan, and Southeast Asia, this India-developed equipment will soon be exported worldwide, with initial installations planned for Indonesia and Poland. While awaiting CE certification for European and US markets, the product has been engineered to meet stringent international safety and automation standards, utilizing European B&R control automation. This milestone marks a significant step for India’s manufacturing and engineering capabilities, as Erhardt+Leimer India takes the lead in developing advanced automation solutions for the label printing industry. For those interested in the latest innovations in print automation and productivity-enhancing accessories, this conversation provides key insights into the future of narrow-web technology.

At Printpack India 2025, Wayne Beckett catches up with Ray Hillhouse, VP of Sales and Marketing at Plockmatic, to discuss the company’s latest innovations and the evolving landscape of print finishing in India. With a growing demand for automation, Plockmatic is introducing its digital die-cutting products in partnership with Monotech Systems, a key dealer and manufacturer in the Indian market. The company also showcases an inline booklet-making system connected to the Ricoh 9500, marking an important step toward more automated finishing solutions. Hillhouse explains how India’s traditionally labor-intensive finishing market is shifting toward inline and automated processes, driven by the increasing adoption of digital print technology. As businesses seek greater consistency and efficiency, solutions like booklet makers and digital die cutters are essential to meet the demands of high-quality, automated production. With a strong presence at Printpack India, Plockmatic is represented by multiple partners, including long-time dealer Hortegraphics and Kiwi, which is showcasing the Intec-branded die cutters. Hillhouse notes the exhibition's overwhelming interest and high footfall, comparing its scale to Drupa and highlighting the market’s enthusiasm for new finishing technology. Looking ahead, Plockmatic is preparing for Hunkeler Innovationdays in Lucerne, where it will showcase the new BM 7000 booklet maker and introduce new products from the ColourCut digital die-cutting range. For those interested in the future of automated print finishing and the rapid changes in the Indian market, this conversation provides key insights into Plockmatic’s latest advancements and strategic direction.

At Printpack India 2025, Wayne Beckett spoke with Nick Price, BHS's Head of Sales for Asia Pacific, about the company’s expansion into digital printing for the corrugated and broader packaging market. Traditionally known for its corrugating solutions, BHS is now developing innovative in-line and offline digital printing systems, allowing customers to produce high-quality graphics directly on packaging materials. Price highlights that these new digital printing solutions are set to launch by the end of the year, with initial installations taking place in Germany, the US, and China as part of an alpha and beta testing phase. With manufacturing in Shanghai, the new product range is designed to meet the demands of the Southeast Asian, Indian, and Australian markets, providing a strong return on investment and enabling businesses to bring their printing in-house. BHS is leveraging its infrastructure and engineering expertise across the Asia Pacific to ensure comprehensive support, including spare parts, print heads, and inks. The first machines will be installed in China in the coming months. The company aims for a full market rollout by the second half of 2025, leading to widespread installations in 2026. For those interested in the future of digital printing in corrugated packaging and the evolving role of automation in the industry, this discussion offers a first look at BHS’s latest advancements and strategic vision.

At Printpack India 2025, Wayne Beckett sits down with Lakshminarayanan, also known as PR, General Manager of Müller Martini India, to discuss the company’s strong presence in the Indian print finishing market. Established as a 100% owned subsidiary in 1997, Müller Martini India has built a robust team focused on after-sales service, supporting customers in India and neighboring countries like Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. PR highlights the company’s diverse product portfolio, including saddle stitching, softcover binding, and hardcover binding solutions. With a well-balanced market presence, Müller Martini continues to see steady demand, particularly from high-value book production segments, including medical and export-oriented books. Last year, the company achieved significant success at Drupa, closing over $1.5 million in deals, which have since been executed. As India embraces automation, Müller Martini's Connect solutions are gaining traction, though PR notes that adoption is still in its early stages. With an impressive 100% market share in hardcover bookbinding for diaries and premium books, Müller Martini remains a dominant player in the industry. For those interested in the evolution of print finishing and automation in India’s thriving book market, this conversation provides key insights into Müller Martini’s leadership and future strategy.

At Printpack India 2025, Wayne Beckett will meet with Jitender Rohilla, the General Manager of Komori India, to discuss the company’s impressive growth and dominance in the Indian market. With a market share of 85% in commercial printing and around 60-65% in packaging, Komori continues to strengthen its position as a leading offset press manufacturer. Jitender Rohilla highlights Komori’s focus on publishing, commercial, and packaging sectors, emphasizing the increasing demand for high-end printing solutions. With India’s printing industry rapidly expanding, especially in the food and FMCG segments, Komori is set to install 60 machines this year, including 16 packaging presses with specialized configurations. The GL 40 Advanced EX Edition has emerged as a standout model in packaging, while the GL 437 remains the best-selling press in the commercial segment, with 22 units sold last year alone. One key takeaway from the discussion is the high rate of repeat customers. With 70% of sales at the exhibition coming from existing clients, this is a testament to Komori’s product quality and after-sales service. With 13 machines already confirmed within the first three days of the show, Komori India is experiencing one of its most successful Printpack events to date. For anyone interested in the latest advancements in offset printing and the future of India’s growing print market, this conversation offers valuable insights into Komori’s strategies, innovations, and continued success.

At Printpack India 2025, Wayne Beckett will meet with Jun Sudo, President of Komori India, to discuss the company’s continued expansion and success in the Indian print market. With a strong presence in the commercial, packaging, and publishing sectors, Komori has solidified itself as a leading supplier of offset presses in the region. Jun Sudo highlights the company’s strategic growth, particularly in packaging, where demand for high-end, automated printing solutions rapidly increases. Introducing specialized models like the GL 40 Advanced EX and the SRA1-sized 637+ coater machine has allowed Komori to cater to India’s evolving market needs. Additionally, the shift toward automation is gaining traction, with customers increasingly opting for fully automated systems to improve efficiency and reduce waste. A key focus of the discussion is Komori’s commitment to sustainability. The company’s G-Series presses, designed for eco-friendly operation, have been instrumental in reducing power consumption and CO₂ emissions. Komori aims to reduce carbon emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieve full carbon neutrality by 2050, making sustainability a core part of its future strategy. The conversation also touches on Komori’s upcoming innovations in digital printing. While the IS29 has yet to gain a foothold in India, the company is preparing to introduce its latest digital press, the J-Trone 29, featuring Komori’s own engine, ink, and inkjet head. This marks an exciting step forward in Komori’s digital expansion, and the company plans to launch the product in the Indian market within the next year. This interview provides valuable insights into Komori’s technology, market approach, and sustainability initiatives for anyone looking to understand the future of printing in India.

At Printpack India 2025, Wayne Beckett catches up with Patrick Lehmann, General Manager of Hunkeler Far East, to discuss the company’s presence in the Indian market and the evolving landscape of digital finishing. With over 30 years at Hunkeler, including a background in R&D and extensive experience in global sales, Patrick shares valuable insights into the company’s journey in India and across the Asia-Pacific region. Hunkeler has had a strong footprint in India for over two decades, initially making its mark in the transactional and direct mail sectors. However, as digital print technology has evolved, the company has been actively educating the market on the benefits of automated publishing solutions. Despite a surge in low-cost solutions from Chinese and local manufacturers, Hunkeler remains committed to providing high-quality finishing equipment that meets the demands of high-volume and high-value applications. Looking ahead, Hunkeler is gearing up for its flagship event, Hunkeler Innovationdays in Lucerne, where industry leaders will get an exclusive look at the latest advancements in print and finishing automation. Patrick is optimistic about bringing key Indian customers to the event, reinforcing Hunkeler’s commitment to showcasing cutting-edge technology and maintaining strong relationships in the region. This interview offers a fascinating look at the challenges and opportunities in India’s print industry, highlighting the importance of innovation, quality, and long-term vision in a competitive market.

At Printpack India 2025, Wayne Beckett speaks with Naimish Patel, Vice President of Sales at OnPrintShop, about the company’s innovative web-to-print solutions and how they are transforming the global printing industry. With over a thousand customers worldwide, OnPrintShop has been helping SME print businesses move online since 2008, offering a scalable, SaaS-based solution for both B2B and B2C markets. Patel highlights OnPrintShop’s modern UI/UX, integrated AI-powered design tools, and multi-storefront capabilities that allow printers to serve corporate and retail clients without needing separate platforms. He also discusses the increasing demand for automation as print companies worldwide face labor shortages and the need for greater efficiency. Integrating with payment gateways, shipping providers, MIS systems, and imposition tools, OnPrintShop enables seamless order collection and production workflows, reducing manual touchpoints and increasing profitability. A key feature of OnPrintShop is its advanced estimating tool, which connects directly to MIS systems to pull real-time cost rates and generate instant online quotes. With automation becoming a major focus in the printing industry, Patel shares how OnPrintShop is helping printers streamline operations, enhance customer experiences, and scale their businesses globally. For those looking to optimize their web-to-print capabilities and drive digital transformation in the print industry, this conversation provides valuable insights into OnPrintShop’s technology and future vision.

It is always a pleasure talking to Matthias Heinz from CTRL-S. At Hunkeler Innovationdays, you should also take the opportunity to learn from what CTRL-S is offering. In this film, COO Matthias Heinz explains how you can use CTRL-S to automate your production—not only your prepress.

You join Jacques Michiels for an interview with COO Matthias Heinz from Ctrl-s as we explore the fascinating world of its spiderwebs on the way to a lights-out production. In such scenarios, staying ahead with automation and seamlessly connecting all your operating systems is crucial. But the question arises: Do you need an integrator or a software compan y? Let’s dive in and discover what Ctrl-s has to say about this.

In the previous Ultimate Tech interview, we discussed the new version of Impostrip. We were honestly so busy that we didn't get a chance to talk to Julie Watson about the latest version of Ultimate Bindery, but Pat McGrew took the chance to talk and get the update, and here we are!

Gavin Chapman explains to Pat McGrew why eProductivity Software has chosen to exhibit for the first time at Hunkeler Innovationdays. Many customers looking for new hardware are often also looking for new software. Dig in, and learn for yourself!

Nick Bruno speaks with Pat McGrew at #HID25 about the coatings they offer in the digital space and explains that they have learned a lot from the offset space and have also worked with several partners throughout the years. They also discuss the competitiveness and sustainability perspective of using coatings over laminations, so dig in and learn!

Interviewed Frank de Jonge, the Commercial Director at Neos. Frank gave fascinating insights into some fully digital and integrated products that could provide customers with a tailor-made solution. De Jonge shared a fascinating application in which they could turn your traditional litho press into a digital solution that offers the best of both worlds.

Bluecrest technology solutions, or where maximum levels of personalization meet with zero error tolerance. To be considered a trustworthy partner in this niche, it is essential to excel in producing engaging print and mail communications and delivering cost-efficient and error-free personalized printed collateral to the mail or e-box. We learn more by talking to the Vice President of Global Production Print, Kevin Marks.

IST Intech is part of the IST family and has specialized in custom- and digital LED UV solutions - here Pat McGrew talk with Global Sales Director Koen Santegoeds.

We spoke about the changes Bui has seen in Hunkeler Innovation Days over the years and how this growth benefits its business partners. We covered Screen's Truepress Jet 520HD mono press and the opportunities it opened up in the pharmaceutical industry. It offers offset-quality printing, meeting all readability standards. Its Primer- free, high opacity ink coverage on thin papers as well as automatic defect removal with complete traceability

Hunkeler Innovationdays 2025 is about connecting, and you, of course, see Hunkeler equipment connecting printing presses with binding equipment everywhere. You also see Hunkeler equipment at Hunkeler's large booth in hall 2. In this video, Matthias Annaheim and Jonas Zürcher deliver a well-prepared presentation of GEN8EVO and the cut-sheet product now under Zürcher's young, steady hand. It was an excellent presentation and great to learn from; well done, chaps!

CEO Carol Werle explains how Dalim Software transformed into how Dalim is today. Jonathan Seybold and the Seybold conferences were instrumental to where not only Dalim is but the entire industry. Super interesting interview done by Pat McGrew.

Pat McGrew talks to Tom Peire from Four Pees about the different "hats" he wears - Tom Peire and Four Pees have a very clear vision, and following his doings is very interesting.

Great to talk to the newly appointed sales director for Komfi, shedding some light on their newly built business strategy that will emphasize more the worldwide rollout of their product portfolio through direct representation and also new partnerships. We learn that they see a bright future and growth for print embellishment, for which they offer a great array of solutions. Exciting to hear that this Chech company is establishing itself even more as one of the go-to brands for digital and traditional printed products. It's exciting go-to

Interview with Hönle about the necessity of having quality lamps but also reliable quality measurements when using UV curing and drying, particularly when you want to secure the quality output of digital and conventional printed products. Good overview and introduction to this german based company that has been in the business for many decades.

Wayne Beckett talked to Phil Gaskin from Xmpie at the Hunkeler Innovations days about their cross-media, variable data one-to-one marketing software and how they offer solutions to help businesses create and manage highly effective direct marketing and cross-media campaigns.

Mike Rottenborn is the CEO of Hybrid Software Group, and in this interview with Pat McGrew, Rottenborn gives an overview of their offerings and more. As always, listen to Rottenborn and learn more about Hybrid Software. Enjoy!

This week’s episode of Taktiful Tuesdays is a special one — not only are we live from the Sharp demo center in Montvale, NJ, but it's also our first-ever standing up episode. Big moves only. I’m joined by my longtime friend and industry pro, Dino Pagliarello from Sharp, for a conversation that touches on everything from six-color digital embellishment to family winemaking traditions. We dive into innovation, automation, tactile print (of course), the power of partnerships, and why experimentation and play matter more than ever in the print world. If you’ve been curious about how print shops are differentiating with tactile embellishment or just want to hear how Sicily and a dusty bottle of vino sparked a family tradition, this one’s for you. In this episode: - The creative and technical balance of embellishment - What partnerships like ColorLogic and Duplo mean for Sharp - Why automation is shaping the next era of print - Dino’s advice for newcomers to the industry - A quick detour into homemade wine and the beauty of gathering If you’re heading to Amplify or Printing United, keep an eye out for us (and maybe a bottle of Dino’s wine). Subscribe, share, and leave us a comment — especially if you've ever crushed grapes barefoot. 🍷

In the grand premiere of “Taktiful Tuesdays”—yes, we’re making Tuesdays a thing now—host Eric Vessels rolls out the virtual red carpet for none other than Kevin Abergel, CEO and founder of Taktiful, and Morten Reitoft, the editorial wizard behind @INKISH. This episode shines a spotlight on their shared dream to jazz up the printing world with a dash of digital dazzle. Their master plan? To educate and empower print service providers (PSPs) and converters worldwide—because who doesn’t want global empowerment on their résumé? They’re all about helping businesses leverage cutting-edge technologies to stand out from the crowd and, naturally, boost those profit margins. Both teams are buzzing with excitement about the partnership and are committed to delivering high-quality, impactful content that might just make the paper it’s printed on blush.

In this exciting episode of Taktiful Tuesdays, Eric Vessels, Chief Experience Officer at Taktiful, chats with Richard Romano, Senior Editor at WhatTheyThink, about the future of digital embellishments and the critical need for industry standards. 🎨✨ They dive into: ✅ The evolution of digital embellishments ✅ Challenges printers face: selling, pricing, and educating customers ✅ The importance of creating universal standards for gloss, foil, embossing, and more ✅ Insights from Taktiful & WhatTheyThink’s groundbreaking industry surveys And of course, they redefine “Taco Tuesday” as “Taktiful Tuesdays” 🌮😉 📊 Get involved! Participate in the digital embellishment survey (link below) and help shape the future of printing. As a thank-you, receive a free executive summary with actionable insights and a link to last year’s study. Don’t miss this insightful (and delicious) conversation! 🙌 🔗 Links: Take the digital embellishment survey: www.surveymonkey.com/r/Taktiful25 Watch the Digital Embellishment Panel: https://youtu.be/vqiiQJ3qPT8 Learn more about Taktiful: www.taktiful.com Printing Outlook Survey: https://store.whattheythink.com/downloads/printing-outlook-2024 Subscribe for more episodes of Taktiful Tuesdays, where we bring you the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in the printing industry! 🚀

Welcome back to another engaging episode of Taktiful Tuesdays! In this installment, host Eric Vessels sits down with his longtime friend Frank Mallozzi, the President of Konica Minolta’s Industrial Print and Production (IPP) Group. This conversation takes you on a journey through Frank’s unexpected return to the industry and his mission to drive innovation in the world of industrial printing. After a successful 25-year career at EFI, where he last served as the Chief Revenue Officer, Frank contemplated retirement. However, a call from Sam Errigo, CEO of Konica Minolta, changed his plans. Intrigued by the opportunities within Konica Minolta’s IPP Group, Frank felt the familiar spark of passion reignite. He couldn’t resist the challenge to lead a division focused on groundbreaking technologies in the printing industry. Frank shares insights into the three key segments that the IPP Group is concentrating on: 1. B2 Inkjet Technology: Exploring advancements in the shift from analog to digital printing, and how Konica Minolta is at the forefront of this transition. 2. Electrophotographic Label Printing: Discussing their significant market share in this area and the introduction of new products that enhance quality and efficiency. 3. Digital Embellishment: Delving into what Frank refers to as the “crown jewel” of their offerings, emphasizing its potential to revolutionize how businesses add value to print materials. Throughout their discussion, Eric and Frank address the challenges that come with introducing new technologies to the market. They emphasize the importance of educating customers, not just about the products themselves but about how these innovations can create new revenue streams and differentiate them in a competitive landscape. Frank underscores that success in this arena isn’t about competing on price but about offering unique value that customers can’t find elsewhere. The conversation also highlights the potential partnership between Taktiful and Konica Minolta. Both Eric and Frank express excitement about collaborating to provide education, training, and software solutions aimed at simplifying the adoption of digital embellishment technologies. They believe that by combining their strengths, they can make a significant impact on the industry and help customers overcome common hurdles. In a more personal segment, Frank opens up about the lessons he’s learned over his extensive career. He speaks passionately about the power of networking, the importance of execution over mere strategizing, and the value of leading by example. Frank recounts his own experiences, such as becoming the youngest director at Ricoh Corporation and recently completing his MBA after 35 years—a testament to his belief in lifelong learning and five-year planning. Eric and Frank wrap up their conversation by reflecting on the significance of relationships in business. They note how their professional paths have crossed over the years and how maintaining strong connections has been beneficial both personally and professionally. Their story serves as an inspiring example of how networking and mutual support can lead to exciting opportunities and collaborations. Don’t miss this insightful and heartfelt episode that not only explores the future of industrial printing but also offers valuable leadership lessons and career advice. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or new to the industry, there’s something in this conversation for everyone. Stay connected with us: • Taktiful: www.taktiful.com • Konica Minolta: www.konicaminolta.com Make sure to subscribe to our channel and hit the notification bell so you don’t miss out on future episodes of Taktiful Tuesdays! Join us as we continue to bring you in-depth discussions with industry leaders, innovators, and visionaries shaping the future of print.

Ready to see what’s next for digital print? In this episode of Taktiful Tuesdays, Eric Vessels, CXO at Taktiful, sits down with Andrew Gunn of FujiFilm to pull back the curtain on the evolving world of digital embellishment. Curious about how to move beyond CMYK, unlock new ROI opportunities, and truly stand out from the competition? Andrew shares insights on the cutting-edge Revoria lineup, Fujifilm’s Aspire program, and the power of industry collaboration—plus why curiosity, passion, and asking the right questions matter more than ever. Want to know what’s coming and how to position your business at the forefront of print’s future? Tune in and discover what’s possible when technology, training, and creativity converge. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more Taktiful Tuesdays—your go-to source for the latest in digital print innovation.

Join Eric Vessels, Taktiful’s Chief Experience Officer, as he dives into an exciting conversation with Ryan Moskun, Marketing Manager at Harris & Bruno International. From Ryan’s journey into the print industry to groundbreaking digital embellishment technology like the ZRX, this episode is packed with insights, music, and a touch of humor. Stick around for Ryan’s life-changing advice at the end—you won’t want to miss it! 🎸 Digital Print Meets Rock & Roll 🎸 #TaktifulTuesdays #DigitalEmbellishments #HarrisAndBruno #PrintInnovation #ZRX

Welcome to Episode 6 of Taktiful Tuesdays! Eric Vessels from Taktiful sits down with Warren Werbitt, aka "The Print Whisperer," to dive deep into the world of print, entrepreneurship, and the passion that drives the industry forward. 🌟 In this episode: 🔹 Warren shares his journey into the printing industry, starting from his father’s small print shop to becoming a renowned industry leader. 🔹 The viral video that made Warren a print icon and lessons on authenticity in building a personal brand. 🔹 Insights on the latest trends in printing, including embellishments, AI, and the evolving technology shaping the future. 🔹 Why relationships, authenticity, and passion are the keys to a successful business. 🔹 Warren's new podcast, Printing's Alive, and his ongoing mission to connect and inspire print professionals everywhere. Whether you're a printer, marketer, or just curious about how print impacts our lives, this episode is packed with inspiration and actionable insights! 👉 Follow Warren: LinkedIn: [Insert Warren's LinkedIn link] Website: [Insert Warren's website link] 🎙️ Tune in every Tuesday for more engaging industry conversations on Taktiful Tuesdays! 💬 Drop a comment below: What's your favorite printing industry trend right now?

In this episode of Taktiful Tuesdays, host Eric Vessels sits down with the renowned print industry analyst and consultant David Zwang to explore the rapidly evolving world of digital embellishments, workflow automation, and what’s on the horizon for the printing industry. Topics Covered: • How digital embellishments moved from niche novelty to industry game-changer • Why packaging leads the way in eye-catching, tactile print innovation • Common production workflow inefficiencies and strategies for optimization • The power of automation and data-driven processes in modern print manufacturing • The importance of industry standards (including the Ghent Workgroup) for consistent, reliable results • Practical steps for PSPs to implement new technologies—and boost profitability • A fun wrap-up on their favorite cocktails (tequila and mezcal, anyone?) If you’re looking for insights on enhancing print with special effects, upping your workflow efficiency, and staying competitive in a connected, digital world, this episode is a must-watch! Subscribe for more Taktiful Tuesdays episodes, where we break down the latest trends and best practices in the print industry. Like & Share if you found this conversation valuable. Thanks for tuning in—see you next Tuesday!

Welcome back to Tactiful Tuesdays! 🎉 In Episode 9, I’m chatting with the talented Kendra Roberson, a soon-to-be graduate from Cal Poly’s Graphic Communication program. Kendra shares her journey from high school graphic design enthusiast to exploring the vast world of print, digital embellishments, and industry networking. We dive into: ✅ How mentorship and industry events shaped her career path ✅ The power of networking in the print & digital space ✅ The role of digital embellishments in accessibility and design ✅ Hands-on experiences at drupa, TAGA, and EPS Connect ✅ Her work with DCR Design and LA Metro Plus, she shares key advice for aspiring designers and when she’s available for hire! 👀 Don’t miss this insightful convo with someone who’s making big moves in the industry. 🔗 Connect with Kendra: 📩 Email: Kendraroberson03@gmail.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendraroberson 🚀 If you enjoyed this episode, hit LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and COMMENT below! What’s your biggest takeaway? Let’s discuss. 👇 #TactifulTuesdays #GraphicDesign #PrintIndustry #CareerTips #DigitalEmbellishments

Welcome to a special episode of Taktiful Tuesdays! We’ve hit episode 10, the dime episode, and I’m thrilled to have Bill Duerr, President of Hatteras, join me for a deep dive into leadership, innovation, and the future of print. Bill shares his insights on how Hatteras stays competitive in a changing industry, the power of listening to customers, and the company’s investment in digital embellishments with the new Harris & Bruno ZRX press. We also get into AI’s role in print, company culture, and - because we love a good story - Bill’s gnarly 11-day surf adventure in Indonesia. If you’re in the printing world, a business leader, or just love hearing about innovation and leadership, this one’s for you. 🔥 Topics Covered: ✔️ How Hatteras stays competitive in a consolidating print industry ✔️ The role of AI and automation in print workflows ✔️ Investing in new technology & digital embellishment ✔️ Building a strong company culture through leadership ✔️ Bill’s epic surfing and Jiu-Jitsu journey 💬 Drop a comment! What emerging tech excites you the most? 🔔 Subscribe for more insights on print, tech, and leadership

In this episode of Taktiful Tuesdays, Eric Vessels sits down with Ken Hanulec, Vice President of Worldwide Marketing at EFI, to discuss the game-changing innovations in the digital print world. From the revolutionary EFI X5 Nozomi and its impact on on-demand box production to the Pro 30H hybrid printer and the growing role of sustainability in print technology, this conversation is packed with insights you don’t want to miss. Ken also shares his thoughts on digital embellishments, the analog-to-digital shift in the industry, and practical advice for print service providers looking to stay competitive in a fast-evolving market. Plus, they dive into personal favorites—travel destinations, grilling tips, and even a little football talk! 🔗 Resources Mentioned: Learn more about EFI: www.efi.com EFI ESG Sustainability Report: https://www.efi.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/09/EFI-Impact-Report-2023.pdf EFI PackSize X5 Nozomi in action:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6OFLXDnSoc 🔥 Don’t forget to subscribe and join us for more engaging conversations every Tuesday! #DigitalPrint #EFI #PackagingInnovation #Sustainability #TaktifulTuesdays

In this special episode of Taktiful Tuesdays, host Eric Vessels sits down with the legendary Frank Romano, a true luminary in the world of print. With a career spanning over six decades, Frank has played a pivotal role in the evolution of the printing industry—from hot metal type to digital printing and AI. 🚀 What’s Inside This Episode? - Frank’s journey from working at Mergenthaler Linotype to founding Typeworld and editing Pocket Pal - The impact of automation and AI on print and graphic design - The Museum of Printing’s latest acquisition: a 1700s English Common Press and a rare 1873 Sholes & Glidden typewriter - Why direct mail is making a comeback and the future of digital embellishment - Frank’s favorite place in the world and the one piece of history he treasures most 🖨️ Upcoming Event Alert! Join Frank Romano & industry leaders at the Museum of Printing in Haverhill, MA, for a two-day digital embellishment workshop (April 22-23, 2025). More details inside! 🔥 If you're passionate about print, history, and the future of design, this episode is a must-watch! 📌 Like, comment, and subscribe for more insightful conversations with industry pioneers!

Marketing has come a long way from the Mad Men era to today’s hyper-targeted digital landscape. But have we sacrificed creativity for data? In this episode of Taktiful Tuesdays, I sit down with Gee Ranasinha, CEO of Kexino, to talk about the evolution of marketing, the pitfalls of over-reliance on metrics, and the timeless principles that still drive success. We also dive into: ✅ The 95-5 Rule: Why most of your audience isn’t ready to buy yet ✅ Balancing brand awareness with sales activation ✅ How marketing lost its creative edge—and how to reclaim it ✅ Why bad marketing isn't a tech problem—it's a strategy problem Gee brings 35+ years of experience in branding, storytelling, and marketing strategy, plus a great sense of humor (and apparently, he plays piano too?!). 👍 Like & 🔔 Subscribe for more insights on marketing, print, and business growth. 📩 Follow Gee on LinkedIn for bite-sized marketing wisdom: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ranasinha/ 📌 Learn more about Kexino: https://kexino.com/ What’s your take on the state of marketing today? Drop a comment below! ⬇️

Welcome back to another episode of Taktiful Tuesdays! 🎉 This week, we’re diving deep into the world of digital embellishments, print design, and creative innovation with none other than Matt Redbear - a design powerhouse and thought leader in specialty printing. From his roots in analog photography to pioneering modern digital embellishments, Matt shares his expert insights on: ✨ The magic of blending artistry with technology ✨ How to make print more impactful and interactive ✨ The importance of negative space and subtle embellishments ✨ How AI and automation are shaping the future of print If you're a designer, brand, or print enthusiast, you won’t want to miss this conversation. Plus, we geek out over vinyl records, creative inspiration, and more! 🎶🔥 🔗 Follow Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/redbear/ 🎧 Listen to Matt's favorite album: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQLm_x6LH5c&list=PLiljtHvabeo2aHy9c9m_5ARKuZbtsBNgZ 📩 Want to learn more about digital embellishments? Drop us a comment or visit Taktiful’s website: https://www.taktiful.com/ 💬 What’s your favorite design trick for print? Let us know below! ⬇️ #printdesign #DigitalEmbellishments #TaktifulTuesdays #GraphicDesign #SpecialtyPrinting

In this episode of Taktiful Tuesdays, we sit down with industry veteran Ken Huizenga, a print production expert with over 40 years of hands-on experience. From running sheet-fed presses in the ‘80s to embracing cutting-edge digital print and embellishment technology, Ken has seen it all. We dive into: ✅ How print production has evolved over the decades ✅ The growing demand for faster turnaround times and higher-quality print ✅ The role of digital embellishments in shaping the future of print ✅ The skills modern press operators need to succeed ✅ Why preventative maintenance is key to keeping your press running smoothly And on a fun note, we also talk car racing, whiskey, and the thrill of going fast - on and off the press! 🏎️🥃

Welcome back to another episode of Taktiful Tuesdays! 🎉 This week, host Eric Vessels sits down with the legendary Daniel Dejan - a graphic arts industry veteran, creative director at Dejan Associates, and co-founder of MarketWise Academy. With over four decades of experience in print production, paper selection, multi-channel marketing, and digital embellishment, Daniel brings a wealth of knowledge to the table. In this episode, we dive into: ✅ How print has evolved alongside digital media ✅ The profitability challenge for printers in a rapidly changing tech landscape ✅ The rise of digital embellishments (raised varnish, foil, haptics) and their impact on marketing ✅ Why the power of touch makes print more memorable than digital ✅ The future of print in a data-driven, AI-enhanced world 📢 If you're in the printing, design, or marketing industry, this episode is packed with insights you don't want to miss! 🔔 Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes of Taktiful Tuesdays! #PrintingIndustry #DigitalEmbellishment #TaktifulTuesdays #Marketing #PrintMedia #AI #Haptics #GraphicDesign

Sixth generation and with a lot of confident for the future. We met with Philipp Jänecke at the IST UV-Days - dig in and learn :-)

Sometimes the sheer size of an organization makes you breathless, and SunChemical, as one of the largest ink- and varnish suppliers in the world, is just interesting to learn about. Here at IST UV-Days 2025, we got a chance to talk to Product Manager, Volker Linzer, who happily shared his views - dig in.

Wayne talks to Jesper Ellebæk about the services offered by Jesmore in Denmark, who specialise in designing and manufacturing machinery precisely tailored to meet the unique demands of the printing industry.

Jochen Christiaens talks to Wayne about the work that Imagexperts are constantly undergoing with the major inkjet OEM’s.

Wayne has an interesting chat with Robin Asmuss from Mercedes Benz. Robin is responsible for the selection of internal paint for Mercedes and explains why UV curing so so important to them.

Wayne talks to Ian Isherwood from Fujifilm about the importance of UV drying in flexo and offset printing, and how Fujifilm is continually developing new energy-saving systems for its customers.

Stahl acquired Weilburger Graphics about a year ago, but continues to be committed to being at events like the IST UV-Days. In this interview, Senior Marketing Manager, Magnus Berheide, talks to Editor Morten B. Reitoft about Stahl as a company, and how they develop various coatings for the packaging and printing business. Magnus Berheide is great to talk to and has a clear idea of where Stahl is positioned in the market, despite it being difficult to market and communicate a consumable, but listen for yourself - great to learn from!

At the IST UV-Days 2025 event, we also met new European players, and in this interview, Editor Morten B. Reitoft talks to Hironori Yanagase from T&K Toka. T&K in the name stands for Technology and Kindness. Hironori Yanagase explains that their inks are a bit more expensive than others, but that they can sell because of a higher quality, higher densities, and better curing capabilities is among the KPI's Yanagase shares with us.

Jörg Fischer from KURZ explains to Editor Morten B. Reitoft the advantages of thinner PET carriers on both hot and cold foils. It's good for the environment and production, as customers agree that the thinner foils simply run better on the foiling equipment. Kurz is one of the companies in our industry that also has a very well-developed recycling system, which Jörg Fischer also speaks about in this interview.

Fujifilm has been busy over the past years - new brand introduced - check (Revoria), several acquisitions - check - New products launched at various events - check - you can see where this interview is heading. Fujifilm is and has been busy for years becoming a major player in almost all segments in the industry, and here is Manuel Schrutt, with enormous experience and now responsible for a global business and marketing strategy for Fujifilm packaging. Dig in and learn!

Why don't you sell more? Does this tease enough for why you should watch this interview with Managing Director, Tim Sterbak from IST Metz?

Printed electronics is a fascinating part of the printing industry and Phillip Holzl explains how Elantas can use their products to help PSP's move into this exciting sector using their vast range of products.

Wayne talks to Antonio regarding Actega's product development in South America and how that market is potentially bringing new products to the USA and to Europe.

Reinhard Sommer talks about Böttcher's product range and how they offer a variety of products for the UV coating market.

Waynes catches up with Paul Bennington from the Bluetree Group and discusses how important UV drying is to their business. Paul explains that without these kinds of systems getting products out the door would be almost impossible.

It was an absolute pleasure talking to Lars Beck from Kocher + Beck today at IST-UV Days 2025 and understanding more about the business of tooling. Kocher + Beck produces a range of various tools for customers around the world from its six sites around the world. Great talking to Lars Beck.

Richard Müller works in Business Development with Saxoprint in Germany. Saxoprint is one of the leading German online printers and obviously has a strong focus on efficiency. At the Heidelberg 175th anniversary, we talk about hardware, but Richard Müller and his team also strongly focus on software connecting technology.

Being responsible for the Home of Print is a big task - almost 10,000 m2 of technology - not just put in vacant places, but as Nick Trabold carefully designed to show applications, and what Heidelberg can do. Super interesting chat with Trabold, so dig in and learn :-)

David Schmedding is Heidelberg's CSO. In this interview with Editor Morten B. Reitoft, they talk about sales, Heidelberg's new confidence, partnerships, anniversary, and the future. I hope you like the very open-minded interview!

Rob Bosman is the Sales Director at Contiweb, and it's always nice meeting Rob. At Heidelberg's anniversary, Contiweb shows the same solution as INKISH filmed with Seaway Printing a few months back, namely the Contiweb autosplicer. The machine enables continuous print product, and though we would have thought this to be particularly good for long runs, Bosman explains how great the Contiweb solution is for both analog and digital printing.

A chapter has been turned in Heidelberg's story—more openness, partners, and a new approach to customer collaboration with the new Home of Print. Jochen Bender, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, speaks with Editor Morten B. Reitoft about the celebration, how he sees the future, and many other super exciting topics. Please enjoy!

Harm Jan Hulleman is the EMEA Sales Director for Tecnau and is a partner to Heidelberger Druckmaschinen. Tecnau has since PRINTING United 2023 developed partnerships with several companies, including Heidelberg. Though Tecnau is known for its web-based paper processing and finishing equipment, Tecnau also delivers cut-sheet equipment, and that's what the partnership is also about. With Heidelberg's Jetfire 50 and later Jetfire 75, fast and efficient finishing is required, and Tecnau provides the right technology.

Enjoy this lovely conversation with one of the legends in our industry, Ferdinand Ruessch. Officially started his retirement process, but he can't leave, which has been his professional life for almost fifty years. Editor Morten B. Reitoft and Ferdinand Ruessch in a friendly conversation about colleagues, competitors, change, and doing business now and then. Great to learn from!

Müller Martini took over years ago, binding equipment from Heidelberg, and since then, the relationship has been tight. In the Home of Print space, you'll find Müller Martini showcasing the newest and latest within stitching. We, however, also get around the situation in the US, how Müller Martini see opportunities in emerging markets - super interesting, as always, talking to Adrian Mayr.

Interview in Dutch - subtitles in English. We starten onze reeks - de VIGC talks from drupa 2024 - bij Hybrid Software en hebben een toffe babbel met Bert van der Perre, hun Associate Director of Sales. Wie hebben het o.a. over 3D visualisatie oplossingen, SaaS, grafische automatisaties en natuurlijk ook over één van hun stokpaardjes, Workflow. Enjoy. -- EN -- We start our series - the VIGC talks from drupa 2024 - at Hybrid Software and have a great chat with Bert van der Perre, their Associate Director of Sales. We talk about 3D visualization solutions, SaaS, graphic automation and of course also about one of their favorite subjects, Workflow. Enjoy.

Interview in Dutch - subtitles in English. Onze grafische industrie in het algemeen en Drupa in het bijzonder is altijd gedreven geweest door technologie. Hoewel hardwareleveranciers vaak software hebben ingezet, en dat vandaag de dag nog steeds doen om zich te onderscheiden van hun concurrenten, ziet de klant, namelijk de drukkerij, dit nog té vaak als een bijzaak. We zien echter meer en meer dat de bedrijven die hun digitale transformatie centraal stellen in hun bedrijfsstrategie, diegene zijn die onze industrie richting geven en transformeren. We hadden dus wel wat vragen voor Tom Peire, CEO Four Pees. -- EN -- Our graphics industry in general and Drupa in particular has always been driven by technology. Although hardware suppliers have often used software, and still do so today, to distinguish themselves from their competitors, the customer, namely the printing company, still too often sees this as an afterthought. However, we are increasingly seeing that the companies that put digital transformation at the center of their business strategy are the ones that guide and transform our industry. So we had some questions for Tom Peire, CEO Four Pees.

Interview in Dutch - subtitles in English. Print & Sign in Gorichem klingt als een klok en bekend in de oren bij de meesten uit de branche uit de Benelux. Velen onder ons zijn er wel al eens geweest of plannen dat te doen in 2025. Maar - and pay attention here ! - , naamwissel naar “Visualise Expo”… Een nieuwe naam dus, en ook een nieuw gezicht van de drager van deze grafische vakbeurs. Wij ontmoeten samen Martijn Brandse. -- EN -- Print & Sign in Gorichem sounds like a bell and is familiar to most people in the industry in the Benelux. Many of us have already been there or are planning to do so in 2025. But - and pay attention here! - , name change to “Visualize Expo”… A new name, and also a new face of the head of this graphic trade fair. Together we meet Martijn Brandse.

Interview in English - subtitles in Dutch. Ook Agfa heeft er voor gekozen om zonder beursstand, dus beperkt aanwezig te zijn op Drupa. Een wat merkwaardige vaststelling voor velen, maar waarschijnlijk ingegeven door het feit dat ze sinds vorig jaar afscheid hebben genomen van hun Offsetdivisie. Ik ontmoet Mike Hosten dus op neutraal terrein waar we het hebben over zijn DPC onderdeel binnen de Agfa groep en hoe zij Drupa en de evoluties in het grafische speelveld verder vorm zien krijgen. — EN — Agfa has also chosen to have a limited presence at Drupa without an exhibition booth. A somewhat strange observation for many, but probably due to the fact that they said goodbye to their Offset division last year. So I meet up with Mike Hosten on neutral ground where we talk about his DPC part within the Agfa group and how they see Drupa and the developments in the graphic playing field taking further shape.

Interview in English - Dutch subtitles. Good introduction to Logica, and it's “MES” - Manufacturing Execution System. Different to MIS or ERP , it is a comprehensive, dynamic production system in which your production processes from raw material to end product are monitored, traced, documented and controlled. The all-important OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) is the result of the exercise. David Triulzi explains more. -- NL -- Goede introductie tot Logica, en het is "MES" - Manufacturing Execution System. Ietwat anders dan MIS of ERP is het een uitgebreid, dynamisch productiesysteem waarin uw productieprocessen van grondstof tot eindproduct worden gemonitord, getraceerd, gedocumenteerd en gecontroleerd. De allerbelangrijke OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) is het resultaat van de oefening. David Triulzi geeft meer uitleg.

Interview in English - subtitles in Dutch. Jan de Roeck talks passionately about the innovations and cloud strategy that Esko is rolling out with their new online platform. What did they bring to Drupa and what should we pay attention to? Short and clear overview of what you need to know when you visit, and certainly good to get an impression if you can't make it to Düsseldorf. -- NL -- Jan de Roeck vertelt vol passie over de innovaties en cloudstrategie die Esko uitrolt met hun nieuwe online platform. Wat brachten ze mee naar Drupa en waar moeten we op letten? Kort en duidelijk overzicht van wat je moet weten als je langskomt, en zeker goed als eerste ​​indruk als je niet naar Düsseldorf kan komen.

Interview in Dutch - subtitles in English. Agfa verkocht in 2023 haar Offset divisie aan de Duitse Private Equity groep Aurelius, die er wel nog een mooie toekomst in zien. Guy Desmet is de Head of Marketing & Application Worldwide, we vragen hem wat zij naar Drupa meebrachten, hoe zij duurzaamheid zien evolueren en wat de status is van hun hoofdactiviteiten. De productie van (digitale) offsetplaten blijkt nog steeds hun hoofdfocus te zijn. We bespreken ontwikkelingen op dit gebied (on press / off press) en meer. Eco3 is vastbesloten om haar markt en klanten verder te bedienen en blijft trouw aan de grafische industrie. -- EN -- In 2023, Agfa sold its Offset division to the German Private Equity group Aurelius, which still sees a bright future in it. Guy Desmet is the Head of Marketing & Application Worldwide, we ask him what they brought to Drupa, how they see sustainability evolving and what the status of their main activities is. The production of (digital) offset plates still appears to be their main focus. We discuss developments in this area (on press / off press) and more. Eco3 is determined to further serve its market and customers and remains loyal to the graphics industry.

Interview in Dutch - subtitles in English. Hoe bescherm je de marges het best en hoe pak je een steeds competitievere markt aan? De Multipress MIS-software van Dataline Solutions klinkt – zeker in de Benelux – bekend in de oren. De huidige Print Service Providers (PSP's), printproducenten, hebben vaak zeer specifieke behoeften/eisen. Het zwart op wit kunnen aantonen van de “monetaire” meerwaarde voor een organisatie, van haar investering zeg maar, is iets waar Dataline dan ook trots op is. Dataline geeft een ​​succesgarantie af, na een speciale prestatiescan, “in bloed getekend” aldus een zelfzekere Dirk Deroo. -- EN -- How do you best protect margins and how do you tackle an increasingly competitive market? The Multipress MIS software from Dataline Solutions sounds familiar - especially in the Benelux. Today's Print Service Providers (PSPs), print producers, often have very specific needs/requirements. Being able to proof in black and white the “monetary” added value for an organization, its investment, so to speak, is something Dataline is proud of. Dataline issues a success guarantee after a special performance scan, “drawn in blood” according to a confident Dirk Deroo.

Interview in Dutch - subtitles in English. Sinds 2021 is SwissQprint Benelux de jongste telg van de 6 dochterondernemingen van het Zwitserse hoofdhuis. We gaan wat dieper in op hun aanwezig op Drupa en wat dat zij voor de Benelux markt naar voor schuiven. Modulariteit en stabiliteit zijn enkele van de core values van dit kwaliteitsmerk. Een leuke babbel met GM Wim Vandendriessche. -- EN -- Since 2021, SwissQprint Benelux has been the youngest member of the 6 subsidiaries of the Swiss head office. We go into more detail about their presence at Drupa and what they propose for the Benelux market. Modularity and stability are some of the core values ​​of this quality brand. A nice chat with GM Wim Vandendriessche.

Interview in Dutch - subtitles in English. Kennismaking met de exclusieve verdeler in de Benelux van het Zwitserse Zünd. We bespreken de trends in het "vrijmaken" van drukwerk en industriële applicaties. Termen als automatisatie, robots en connectiviteit zijn ook in de afwerking zeker niet meer vreemd, integendeel. -- EN -- Introduction to the exclusive distributor in the Benelux of Zünd. We discuss the trends in the "liberating" of printed sheets and industrial applications. Terms such as automation, robots and connectivity are certainly no longer strange terms in the finishing department, on the contrary.

Interview in English - subtitles in Dutch. INKISH Morten Reitoft talks to CEO Louis De Nolf about the ins & outs of preparing and delivering value for a trade fair such as Drupa and as an event partner and advertising agency. -- NL -- INKISH Morten Reitoft gaat in gesprek met CEO Louis De Nolf over de ins & outs van het voorbereiden en leveren van waarde voor een beurs zoals Drupa en als een event-partner en reclamebureau.

Interview in English - subtitles in Dutch. As a distributor of the Danish PrintVis software in the Benelux, Rainbow is the point of contact to explain the strengths of this solution. How do they see the graphics market in the Benelux and what solutions do they propose? The INKISH/VIGC talks give the various strategic partners the unique opportunity to tell their story during the long-awaited and largest trade fair in the graphics industry. -- NL -- Als distributeur van de Deense PrintVis software in de Benelux is Rainbow hét aanspreekpunt om de sterke punten van deze oplossing toe te lichten. Hoe zien zij de grafische markt in de Benelux en welke oplossingen stellen zij voor? De INKISH/VIGC talks geven de verschillende strategische partners de unieke kans om hun verhaal te vertellen tijdens de langverwachte en grootste vakbeurs in de grafische industrie. Wij luisteren naar de uitleg van Hans Boerkamp.

Interview in Dutch - subtitles in English. Ricoh is gewaardeerde strategische partner van het VIGC en mag niet ontbreken in onze de Drupa talk series. We ontmoeten niemand minder dan de sympathieke Nederlander Eef de Ridder, die ons – tussen het sluiten van belangrijke deals door – graag te woord staat, jawél in het Nederlands, om hun uitgebreide aanwezigheid op Drupa toe te lichten. HENKAKU blijkt een belangrijk leidend principe te zijn bij Ricoh. Nog nooit van gehoord?… kijken maar! -- EN -- Ricoh is a valued strategic partner of the VIGC and should not be missing in our Drupa talk series. We meet none other than the sympathetic Dutchman Eef de Ridder, who - between closing important deals - is happy to speak to us, yes in Dutch, to explain their extensive presence at Drupa. HENKAKU appears to be an important guiding principle at Ricoh. Never heard of it?… check it out!

Interview in Dutch - subtitles in English. Igepa heeft op Drupa 2024 geen eigen beursstand, maar is samen met enkele partners op diverse locaties op de beurs vertegenwoordigd. Hun mensen zijn echter alomtegenwoordig, inclusief Serge de Crits uiteraard. We nemen hem even apart en hebben een gesprek over het belang en de kracht van de groothandel. De dagen dat ze enkel papierboer waren liggen al ver achter hen, ze hebben zich ontwikkeld tot een belangrijke partner en industriële aanbieder. -- EN -- Igepa does not have its own exhibition stand at Drupa 2024, but is represented at various locations at the exhibition together with a number of partners. However, their people are omnipresent, including Serge de Crits of course. We take him aside and have a conversation about the importance and power of wholesale. The days when they were just paper guys are long behind them, they have developed into an important partner and industrial supplier.

Interview in Dutch - subtitles in English. Screen is een klinkende naam in het grafische landschap, maar deze maakt eigenlijk slechts 15% uit van de omzet van deze Japanse tech-gigant. We vragen naar de inzichten met betrekking tot onze thuismarkt België en Nederland. Vlotte babbel met een ervaren Martijn van den Broek. -- EN -- Screen is a household name in the graphics landscape, but it actually only makes up 15% of the turnover of this Japanese tech giant. We ask for insights regarding our home market Belgium and the Netherlands. Great chat with an experienced Martijn van den Broek.

Interview in Dutch - subtitles in English. Canon (production printing) is één van de trouwe strategische partners van het VIGC. In hal 8a werden we hartelijk ontvangen voor een vlotte babbel door marketing manager Benelux, Dennis Hoogendoorn . Met graagte geeft hij ons toelichting wat Canon naar Duitsland heeft meegenomen en wat de belangrijkste nieuwtjes zijn die we daar kunnen zien. -- EN -- Canon (production printing) is one of the VIGC's loyal strategic partners. We were warmly welcomed in hall 8a for a quick chat by Benelux marketing manager Dennis Hoogendoorn. He is happy to explain to us what Canon has brought to Germany and what the most important news is that we can see there.

Reitoft welcomes Taketsugu and thanks him for joining despite the late hour in Japan. Taketsugu, representing Horizon, is busy preparing for Drupa, the major industry show in Düsseldorf. Reitoft expresses admiration for Horizon's continuous innovation and commitment to R&D. Taketsugu affirms that Horizon is still developing new ideas and is committed to achieving its smart factory concept, which began in 2019 and remains a work in progress. They discuss Horizon's use of robotics, AGVs, and robot arms, all integral to their smart factory initiatives. Taketsugu explains that the demand for such technology is growing, particularly in Europe and the US, where automation is sought for repetitive tasks. Although Japan's printing industry lags in adopting new technologies, Taketsugu mentions that labor shortages due to an aging population are driving a gradual increase in demand for automation. The conversation shifts to Horizon's iCE LiNK platform, which integrates both hardware and software, emphasizing the importance of data collection for operational efficiency. Taketsugu highlights the collaboration with software vendors to enhance data utility, which benefits both Horizon and its customers by providing insights and predictive maintenance alerts. Reitoft inquires about data security concerns. Taketsugu reassures that Horizon only collects machine data, not personal data, and emphasizes customer transparency. They discuss Horizon's long-standing partnerships, such as with Hunkeler, which continue despite industry changes like acquisitions. Taketsugu shares that Horizon will showcase 18 different solutions at Drupa, including bookbinding technologies and various automated systems. Reitoft praises Horizon's modular equipment design, which allows for scalability and integration based on customer needs. Reitoft acknowledges Horizon's market-driven approach and the importance of customer feedback in its development process. Taketsugu mentions Horizon's expansive booth at Drupa, which will feature live presentations and demonstrations by knowledgeable staff. Finally, Reitoft and Taketsugu discuss the overall market outlook. While the printing industry's volume may be shrinking, opportunities within specific segments, such as books with increasing titles but shorter runs, are growing. Taketsugu highlights the feasibility of short-run and on-demand printing, which aligns with current market trends.  

Reitoft welcomed Tobias Köngeter from Wirbelwild to INKISH. Köngeter introduced himself and his company, which he owns with his wife. In Southern Germany, Wirbelwild's name is a play on the words 'world wind' and 'wild.' Köngeter explained that they started the company because they couldn't find software to create highly individualized printing products, so they decided to develop it themselves. Köngeter and his wife, both from creative backgrounds, found repetitive tasks in pre-press work, such as calendar layouts, boring and risky. They wanted software to handle complex and creative printing tasks that existing software like InDesign or QuarkXPress couldn't manage. To achieve this, Köngeter learned programming, which allowed them to develop the necessary software and turn Wirbelwild into a company providing layout automation solutions. Köngeter introduced ManyPrint Solutions, a cloud-based layout automation software that processes data dynamically without predefined templates. The system can import data from various sources, adapt layout rules dynamically, and produce outputs in multiple formats, including printing PDFs, InDesign files, HTML files, videos, and audio. He explained that ManyPrint Solutions is open to various data inputs, flexible in layout generation, and versatile in output formats. He highlighted a product called the Running Diary, which generates personalized brochures with running route recommendations, maps, and individualized videos based on the user's location. Köngeter announced that Wirbelwild would exhibit at Drupa in Hall 8B, sharing a large stand with Konica Minolta. Visitors can see demonstrations of their products and their integration with Konica Minolta's printing machines. Reitoft admired Köngeter's achievements and planned to visit their booth at Drupa. Köngeter provided final details on their exhibition and expressed his excitement about showcasing their innovative solutions at Drupa.  

Morten Reitoft and Tim Sterbak discuss IST Metz's preparations for Drupa 2024. Sterbak, from IST Metz, shares his excitement about their participation and reveals that they have extensively redesigned their entire product portfolio, incorporating significant innovations. Sterbak mentions IST Metz's collaborations, such as their work with Heidelberg, where IST lamps are installed on a CX104 and their partnership with Weillberger for sustainable coating solutions. He highlights that IST Metz will showcase various new products, including mercury lamps and LED solutions, which have been redesigned for better efficiency and performance. Sterbak explains that IST Metz is focused on making their products more sustainable and energy-efficient. They produce their lamps in-house, ensuring high quality and longevity. He mentions introducing a new "Free Cure" solution that eliminates the need for inertization and photoinitiators, making the curing process more efficient. Reitoft inquires about the redesign process, to which Sterbak responds that it involves improving heat management and durability. They aim to make their products more efficient and environmentally friendly. He discusses IST Metz's approach to providing tailored solutions for different applications, using a modular system to meet specific customer needs. Sterbak introduces "Smart Cure," an AI-driven system that optimizes the power usage of curing systems based on job parameters. This leads to significant energy savings and extended product lifespans. The system can adjust power levels automatically, ensuring optimal performance and reducing the carbon footprint. Sterbak expresses his enthusiasm for Drupa, noting that it will be his first time attending the event. He invites visitors to IST Metz's booth to see their innovations and discuss solutions tailored to their needs. Reitoft praises Sterbak's presentation and looks forward to seeing IST Metz's contributions at Drupa. The conversation concludes with Reitoft thanking Sterbak and mentioning upcoming events, including the next non-event in December.  

Morten Reitoft and Theo Buchmeyer discuss Manroland Goss's participation in the upcoming Drupa 2024. Buchmeyer emphasizes the importance of attending Drupa for the company despite the absence of their "brother" company. He sees it as a key opportunity to showcase new products, meet customers, and build new relationships. Reitoft praises Manroland Goss for adapting to market changes through refurbishment and technological innovations, ensuring the continued relevance of their web offset presses. Buchmeyer confirms the significant install base of over 3,000 active presses worldwide and their plans to support these with retrofits and improvements. They discuss Drupa's role as a statement of commitment to the future of the print industry and the importance of maintaining connections with customers. Buchmeyer highlights the company's efforts to integrate digital tools like VPN and IoT boxes for monitoring press performance and predicting downtime, enhancing productivity through tools like Manroland Sense, an artificial intelligence tool for predictive maintenance. Buchmeyer acknowledges the growth of digital printing but emphasizes that offset printing remains a robust, productive process for mid to large runs. He predicts a coexistence of both technologies, offset retaining its place in the industry for the foreseeable future. Manroland Goss's booth at Drupa will focus on its new VarioMAN packaging press, showcasing its flexibility and cost-efficiency in reducing production costs and carbon footprint. It will also demonstrate maintenance tools and emphasize the importance of sustainability and extending the economic life of its installed presses. Reitoft and Buchmeyer discuss the continued relevance and growth of web offset printing in certain markets, noting that some customers are expanding their volumes through consolidation and new titles. Buchmeyer concludes by emphasizing the importance of supporting the existing install base and showcasing Manroland Goss's upgrades and innovations at Drupa.  

Matthias Miederer and Morten Reitoft discuss the developments at KAMA and their plans for Drupa 2024. Miederer, who started working for KAMA as the Head of Product Management earlier this year, explains his role in strengthening the link between sales and development. He introduces KAMA as a supplier of post-press finishing solutions, focusing on tailored solutions for short to medium-run finishing, especially targeting the digital printing market. Reitoft showcases a product from KAMA's customer, Studio on Fire, emphasizing the added value and quality KAMA's equipment brings to print products. Miederer agrees, highlighting the company's commitment to providing efficient finishing solutions that help customers offer more to their clients and gain new jobs. They discuss KAMA's new product, the Hammerhead, a digital embellishment machine capable of coatings/varnishes and metallization. Miederer explains that the Hammerhead continues KAMA's tradition of building solid, robust machines while integrating efficiency and speed for digital embellishment. The machine offers a B2 platform ready for B1 and can run at 5,700 sheets per hour, making it flexible and suitable for various production needs. Reitoft asks about the potential market for digital embellishment. Miederer acknowledges the slow growth compared to digital printing but sees increasing interest and adoption. He emphasizes the need to educate graphic designers and the benefits of digital embellishment in offering flexible, tool-free, and unique finishes compared to traditional methods. They then discuss the FlexFold, KAMA's high-speed folding and gluing machine with a high level of automation. Miederer highlights its quick setup times and suitability for the pharmaceutical market with built-in Braille functionality. He mentions that KAMA will showcase the ProCut 76, FlexFold, Hammerhead videos and samples, and animations of new robotic solutions at Drupa. The conversation wraps up with Reitoft noting the importance of KAMA's solutions and looking forward to seeing Miederer at Drupa in two weeks.  

Morten Reitoft and Shlomo Nimrodi discuss preparations and expectations for Drupa 2024. Nimrodi, who recently traveled from Seattle to New York, emphasizes balancing daily business operations with Drupa preparations. He notes that his recent US trip involves meeting with the sales team and potential clients, some of whom plan to attend Drupa, to finalize deals. Nimrodi reflects on the changes in Highcon's team since the last Drupa in 2016, highlighting the positive impact of new team members and their energy. He describes Highcon's strategic pivot towards industrial-scale packaging for corrugated and folding cartons, moving away from more niche markets. This shift aims to mainstream digital die-cutting and meet the market's needs more effectively. At Drupa, Highcon will showcase significant improvements, including a 50% increase in productivity through technological advancements and process changes. They will introduce the Beam 3, the Beam Writer (an offline device for faster job setup), and upgraded versions of their existing equipment. Highcon will focus on customer applications and their products' substantial productivity and efficiency gains. Nimrodi discusses the importance of customer feedback and involvement in product development, particularly with the new Vulcan model. This collaborative approach ensures that Highcon's innovations align with market needs and helps mitigate risks. He also highlights the success of the Beam Writer, which allows customers to increase productivity without the need for additional machines, offering a cost-effective solution. The conversation ends with Reitoft thanking Nimrodi for his participation and expressing mutual appreciation for their ongoing collaboration. Nimrodi acknowledges the value of Reitoft's contributions to the industry and looks forward to seeing him at Drupa.

Morten Reitoft and Julie Watson discuss Ultimate Tech's preparations and excitement for Drupa 2024. Watson highlights the company's recent activities, partnerships, and technology introductions. She explains that while Printing United was significant for introducing new technologies like the AI-driven cutting buddy and new nesting technologies, Drupa remains crucial for showcasing its latest innovations to a global audience. Watson mentions the upcoming releases, including the 2024.1 version of Impostrip with enhanced job organization features and compatibility with PDF X4 from the Ghent Workgroup. She also discusses their container version of Impostrip on AWS, demonstrating their commitment to cloud-based solutions. Ultimate Tech will showcase its full-featured solutions across multiple platforms (Linux, Mac, Windows). Reitoft asks about Ultimate Tech's integration capabilities, particularly with their Ultimate Bindery software, which automates finishing processes and supports over 85 devices. Watson explains that their drivers validate jobs and automate device setups, allowing seamless integration and reduced manual intervention. They discuss Impostrip/Bindery's scalability, highlighting its ability to handle high volumes of short-run digital print jobs efficiently. Watson emphasizes the importance of starting with automation and gradually integrating more processes and devices to enhance productivity. Watson also discusses integrating their solutions with other systems, such as MIS and Web2Print platforms, using APIs for open connectivity. She mentions their collaboration with Omikai to showcase an end-to-end workflow solution at Drupa. Reitoft and Watson conclude by discussing the logistical ease of being a software company at Drupa compared to hardware manufacturers and the historical significance of Ultimate Tech's participation since 1990. Watson shares a personal anecdote about her family’s long-standing involvement in the industry.

Morten Reitoft and John Blyth discuss the upcoming Drupa 2024, reflecting on the excitement and challenges leading up to the event. Blyth mentions that it's been eight years since the last Drupa, and there's a significant amount of anticipation and celebration around the event. He highlights Ricoh's readiness to showcase its innovations and commitment to its client's success through partnership and transformation. Reitoft notes that it's Ricoh's fourth Drupa, emphasizing the company's relatively recent emergence as a major player in the industry. Blyth recalls joining Ricoh 12 years ago when the company was still establishing its presence, and he expresses pride in Ricoh's rapid development and expansion since then. Blyth explains that attending Drupa was an easy decision for Ricoh, as it provides a unique opportunity to showcase their refreshed production printing hardware range, including the Pro Z75 (the world's first B2+ inkjet sheet-fed device with aqueous ink and auto-perfecting) and the new flagship high-speed inkjet Webfed device, the Pro VC80000. Ricoh aims to create a memorable experience with their "House of Hinkaku" theater, featuring a multisensory show highlighting their commitment to transformational innovation. Reitoft asks about the meaning of "Hinkaku," which Blyth explains as "transformational innovation," emphasizing fundamental and far-reaching change. This ethos underpins Ricoh's approach to innovation, which involves collaboration with partners and clients to meet their specific needs. Blyth mentions the importance of aligning their products with market needs through consultation and feedback programs. He recalls the successful launch of the Pro Z75, highlighting the collaborative effort between Ricoh's Japanese R&D team and European staff. Reitoft compliments Ricoh's booth design, noting its contemporary and minimalist style with Japanese influences, including a theater structure reminiscent of a Japanese temple and calming gardens. Blyth confirms the booth's bright accent colors, including pink and purple, and hints at a Japanese flavor in their offerings. The interview concludes with Reitoft thanking Blyth for his time and looking forward to seeing him at Drupa.

Mathew Faulkner and Morten B. Reitoft discuss the upcoming Drupa event and the significance of print technology. Faulkner expresses excitement about Drupa and praises the printed materials being produced for the event. Both reflect on the evolution and impact of inkjet technology, noting its importance and versatility in the industry. Faulkner highlights Canon's advancements in wide-format printing, particularly the UV gel technology and the ability to produce both gloss and matte finishes in one workflow. He discusses the growth potential in digital print for interior decor, packaging, and other applications, emphasizing the opportunities for short runs, customization, and on-demand printing. They also touch on the importance of automation and workflow efficiency in handling personalized print jobs and the role of Web2Print solutions. Mathew Faulkner explains Canon's booth at Drupa, which will feature a sensory experience showcasing the power of print to evoke emotions and transform businesses. Faulkner delves into the emotional impact of print, referencing psychological theories and how print can create meaningful customer journeys. Reitoft appreciates Canon's innovative applications and encourages attendees to visit Canon's booth at Drupa. The conversation ends with Faulkner expressing his enthusiasm for the event and its opportunities for the print industry.

Editor Morten B. Reitoft welcomes the audience to the final pre-Drupa Live event, the fourth in a series. He acknowledged previous technical issues in Casablanca and hoped for a smoother session - which we got :-) The program will feature Matthew Faulkner from Canon as the first guest and will be broadcast on multiple platforms (LinkedIn, Inkish TV, YouTube, and Facebook), encouraging audience engagement through questions. Reitoft discusses the impact of Drupa's cancellation in 2020 due to COVID-19 and the industry's anticipation for the 2024 edition, which is two weeks away. He describes the planning process, which began a year ago, and the creation of a physical brochure called "Drupa 24" featuring high-profile industry figures like Montserrat Peidro, Ulrich Stetter, Anthony Thirlby, François Martin, John Sommers, Paul Hudson, and Sarah Kilcoyne-Guilliam, offering their perspectives on the event. A daily segment called "Bonjour," a casual show featuring industry guests over croissants and coffee, is mentioned, with hosts like Pat McGrew. Key guests for these segments include Dr. Andreas Pleßke, Annette Friskopp, Daniel Erni, Ralf Sameck, Christoph Gamper, Julie Watson, Yasu Taketsugu, Jennifer Kolloczek, Volker Leonhardt, Diego Dias, Jordi Giralt, Erik Normann, and Tim Sterbach. Reitoft highlights the extensive coverage planned for Drupa, with over 300 films and episodes featuring industry insights on technology, business, sustainability, IoT, robots, and workflow. INKISH and its content partners will be key sources for updates on the event. They also introduce the INKISH In-Flight magazine, a 144-page printed publication available as a physical copy or a digital file, with an option to have it delivered to hotels for €15. The speaker expresses excitement for Drupa and its opportunities for networking and technology showcases, transitioning to the first guest, Matthew Faulkner, with a brief introduction.

The conversation is an interview with Andreas Weber, discussing his involvement with the printing industry and his contributions, including writing a book on Drupa. Weber mentions his experience of being a part of Drupa multiple times and his excitement about it. He highlights the significance of Drupa in the printing industry, its historical context, and its impact on the German economy. Andreas shares insights on the book he co-authored to celebrate Drupa's 40th anniversary, reflecting on the exhibition's history and its role in advancing the machinery business in Germany. Weber and Reitoft discuss various topics, including the internet's influence on trade shows and the printing industry, the importance of cross-media campaigns, and the challenges of adopting innovation in the industry. Andreas stresses the need for the industry to evolve with new business models and embrace print and digital media. Weber also points out the industry's reluctance to adopt innovative ideas, citing an example of an on-demand newspaper project that failed to gain publisher support despite clear demand. The conversation touches on the economic importance of trade shows like Drupa and the changes in visitor numbers post-COVID. They also discuss the value of print media in an increasingly digital world and the potential threats and opportunities posed by digital transformation. The interview concludes with Andreas Weber expressing the need to reanimate the pioneering spirit of Drupa's founders to support the industry's future.

"We are only at the beginning," Noam Zilbershtain says when talking about the opportunities with digital print - and we are talking to a very confident General Manager. Noam Zilbershtain is a super nice and open person who walks into you - easy to talk to, and still with great opinions about the market and how he and his team can drive HP in the right direction. We also get a chance to talk to Noam Zilbershtain about the war in Israel, about liking people, and, of course, he gets an option to mention football :-)

In the second interview with Gershon Alon, we go a little deeper into what Production Beat is. One of the most important changes is that Production Beat is vendor-agnostic. You can add any machine to Production Beat and measure everything - machines with HP technology and even legacy hardware, as HP offers readers and sensors. Super cool!  

In the first of two interviews with Gershon Alon, we ask him what differentiates the normal interpretation of workflow/automation, and how HP sees it. This interview is supposed to lead up to our second interview, where we talk about Production Beat, but also to understand the four pillars Bob Raus explains in the interview we did with him - also from the HP PreDrupa event in Indianapolis. Dig in!

At the HP PreDrupa event, the new HP Indigo 120K was released - a machine offering high quality and higher productivity than previous generations. 6,000 B2 sheets an hour, and many new AI features built into the machine, making it even easier to operate. Anat Ruhrberg and I have a walk while we talk about the 120K and the new 18K - two impressive machines targeting two different markets. Jump in :-)  

Though HP didn't bring an Advantage T2200 to Indianapolis, you could still learn a lot - on the product site, they released a plus pack that enables the press to run colors at 800 feet per minute, the same speed as monochrome - so with that said we got an opportunity to learn more about the print heads that are rather unique to HP. But rather than having me explain these, here is Rolando Martinez - enjoy!

Every time we have an opportunity to talk to Bob Raus, we take it - not only is Bob Raus very knowledgeable, but he also has the ability to make things understandable - so listen to him. At PreDrupa he explains about the four pillars are founded of.

The Tech Fair is a tiny yet important corner of the DSCOOP hall, where HP's PreDrupa event also took place. HP's Nimrod Cohen allowed us to learn what Tech Fair is about, and in short, this is where new products and ideas are shown. The examples at the PreDrupa were direct print on aluminum cans, HP Indigo transfers, Conductive print, and much more, but listen to what Nimrod Cohen shared with us in this video!

At the HP PreDrupa event in Indianapolis, HP revealed products to be seen at Drupa. Eli Mahal works with HP's labels/flexible products, so we talked about the Indigo 200K, continued to the 35K, and ended with the Indigo V12. The V12 is, by the way, almost out of beta and broadly available - but listen to Eli Mahal - a great walkthrough :-)

Does HP have a responsibility for driving the entire industry? This is a slightly rephrased question, but nevertheless, global marketing HP Industrial print Richa Panda explains how and why it's important to have a leadership role in the industry—and how HP spends a lot of time segmenting the company's customers to ensure the best possible communication. A super interesting interview—enjoy!

What is the biggest difference between exhibiting at events like DSCOOP, theINK, PRINTING United, and the almighty Drupa? We ask the question and get a perspective from a company that seems to be becoming more involved - and as always - it's all about automation, automation, and automation. Enjoy! LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raymondduval/

Ran Rotem is the General Manager of 3 Print. He explains in this interview their role as distributors in the seven territories across Europe - and we, of course, also get to talk about Drupa 2024. Great meeting Ran :-)

Do you think HP is good at listening to their customers? Pat McGrew gives her insights into this complex question. Fortunately, HP addresses most of the talk of the trade, but the hot topics like workflow/automation and how to get more customers into our industry are not discussed much. Enjoy!

How does HP gather data from customers to understand future needs and requirements? Listen to what the head of HP Deutschland, Markus Weiss, explains at the HP PreDrupa event in Indianapolis.

FESPA Netherlands is the knowledge and network organization for the visual communications industry for print and sign companies. It is part of the umbrella Fespa organization, which is organizing its trade fair again here in Amsterdam. Founded in 1962, FESPA is a global federation of 37 national associations, each of which plays a local connecting and supporting role for the local LFP and Print & Sign sector. Since it is Amsterdam's turn again this year, we thought it was only appropriate to offer the sympathetic Dutch association the right to speak. * Interview in Dutch, subtitles in English. -------- (NL) FESPA Nederland is dé kennis- en netwerkorganisatie voor de visuele communicatie-industrie voor print- en signbedrijven. Ze zijn onderdeel van de overkoepelende internationale Fespa-organisatie die hun vakbeurs hier in Amsterdam opnieuw organiseert. FESPA werd opgericht in 1962 en is een mondiale federatie van 37 nationale verenigingen, die elk lokaal een verbindende en ondersteunende rol spelen ten behoeve van de lokale LFP- en Print & Sign-sector. Omdat Amsterdam dit jaar dus weer aan de beurt is, vonden wij het niet meer dan gepast om de sympathieke Nederlandse vereniging het spreekrecht aan te bieden.

Printbox is a Polish-based IT company increasingly making a name for itself in the large digital print space with its open architecture solutions and API connectivity. PSPs are increasingly considering the possibilities of what Web2Print software can offer them for photo products, calendars, photo books, and more. We find out. LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/konradchmielewski/

ROQ has come to Fespa with a 100% digital presence! This might seem odd for a longstanding and well-known supplier of screen printing equipment. Roq has managed to address the needs of its customers, who are looking for fast turnaround and automation in direct-to-garment (DTG). This DTG setup can output +200 photo-quality prints per hour, João Sá explains, and only one operator is needed for loading and offloading.

Interviewed by Poligrafika, Anna Naruszko Produced by INKISH

Interviewed by Poligrafika, Aneta Łukaszewska Produced by INKISH LinkedIn Profile Vanessa Urbanek: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-urbanek-9066562b3/

Interview Poligrafika, Aneta Łukaszewska Production by INKISH LinkedIn Profile Folker Stachetzki https://www.linkedin.com/in/folker-stachetzki-bb7421209/

Interview by Stratego Group, Alexia Rizzi Production by INKISH LinkedIn Profile Marco Capoferri: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marco-capoferri/

Interviewed by James Wells from Intermedia, Australia Produced by INKISH. LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikehorsten/

Arlon is an American established name within the broad fleet and vehicle graphics solutions segment. Their offering varies from full or partial vehicle wraps, fleet markings, and window films. Arlon has its EMEA headquarters in The Hague (NL) and therefore plays a home match here in Amsterdam. In our pleasant conversation with their Vice President, Adam Bratter, we learned that Quality is at the core of everything they do, and that is reflected in their products. A pleasant introduction to Arlon Graphics.  

Colorjet is an established name in its home country, India. Given their success and long-term experience with inkjet and textiles, the management has decided to take the step to Europe. We want to allow them to briefly introduce themselves here at Fespa. INKISH meets Colorjet - Colorjet meets the INKISH audience. LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arun-varshney-1229a26/

Dynamic companies have dynamic staff, so we meet Carmen Eicher, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer for the swissQprint group. As a Swiss-based supplier of high-quality printing and cutting solutions, they have given their best and emphasized their brand's impeccable quality and reliability, resulting in a 36-month full warranty as their new promise to the industry. Now that many new players are entering the market, this is a welcome and strong KPI for end users. So, let's find out more about this bold "move" and strategy.

The President and Chairman of the Brother Group, Mr. Toshikazu “Terry” Koike, has decided to make the trip to Fespa Amsterdam and to be here himself. This is not without reason, as they are really entering new horizons with their Global Brother Strategy. Industrial printing is brought to the forefront, as Mr. Koike, “Terry”-san, explains to me, integrating and redesigning office solutions as part of their R&D and, by doing so, creating a new and larger portfolio of industrial printing solutions.

The Italian family business Elitron is increasingly making a name for itself. CEO Paolo Malatesta and his team are ensuring they move up the rankings and join the top names in the industry. Growth across borders is a work in progress and we’re very happy to welcome them on our channels as well. LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paolo-malatesta-82860711/

Brother takes the industrial printing market very seriously and has identified it as one of their key focuses for the future of the global brand. Folkert Stachetski is their European Marketing Manager. He takes us through some of their innovations, and of course, we also talk about how they see connectivity. All this while we wait for an interesting interview later today with the President and Chairman of the Brother Group, Mr. Toshikazu “Terry” Koike. So stay tuned for more.

Some first-timers at Fespa Amsterdam, so a good time to get acquainted and learn more about them. As we speak, we are witnessing a big surge of foreign manufacturers out of India, China, Middle East, all trying to get a piece of the sweet European pie. So, we met with Kimala, a Polish cutting, milling, and CNC machinery manufacturer. We learned that it is not just in their slogan when they talk about Innovation, efficiency, and reliability of constructing their equipment. LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakub-jarzabek-77521a149/

Let's talk about inkjet print heads here at Fespa 2024. Much of the equipment on display at the show uses Ricoh technology, so who better to talk to than Graham Kennedy, their Director of Industrial Print Solutions himself. Enjoy.

In this engaging conversation, Stephan discusses Tessitura's innovative technology designed to seamlessly connect hardware and software within the printing industry. Tessitura specializes in creating a "transporting and translation medium" that facilitates communication between various systems, such as MIS (Management Information Systems), workflow systems, machines, and reporting services. This integration extends to both modern and classic machines, offering a comprehensive solution for improving operational efficiency and data accuracy. Stephan highlights the origin of the company's name, "tessitura," an Italian musical term meaning "the weaving" or "comfort range of a singer," reflecting the company's mission to interweave different technological systems harmoniously. Most Tessitura team members are musicians, adding a unique cultural layer to their technical endeavors. The conversation delves into the practical benefits of Tessitura's technology, emphasizing its ability to provide production leaders with a transparent overview of production progress, enhance quality control, and facilitate accurate cost calculations. Stephan points out the challenge in postpress operations, where performance often relies on guesswork. Tessitura solutions offer a way to gather precise data, enabling better operational decisions and efficiency. Moreover, Stephan explains how Tessitura's technology simplifies the integration process between different vendors' systems, eliminating the need for costly and time-consuming custom project work. The company's approach significantly reduces development time and expense using a specialized interface that translates and transports data between systems. The discussion also touches on Tessitura's participation at Drupa, showcasing its integration capabilities, classic machine integration solutions, and tools for enhancing shop floor transparency. Stephan invites interested parties to visit their booth for more information. Despite being a relatively new player in the industry, Tessitura has made a significant impact. The market's reception has been mixed, with some clients quickly recognizing the potential of Tessitura's offerings while others are slower to appreciate the innovation. Stephan's narrative illustrates Tessitura's commitment to breaking down technological barriers and fostering a more connected, efficient printing industry.

In this engaging conversation on inkish, Stefan and Jannik from MBO and H+H, subsidiaries of the Komori group, discuss their companies' expertise and innovations in the printing and post-press industry. MBO, acquired by Komori in 2020, specializes in post-press solutions, focusing on making printing companies more productive and efficient through advanced mechanical engineering. H+H, a part of MBO since 2000 and based in Bielefeld, Germany, excels in creating machines for folding pharmaceutical leaflets and other thin paper products, boasting capabilities of folding up to 24 times in parallel. The dialogue also touches on the future of printing, emphasizing the importance of robotic solutions like the CoboStack for enhancing operational efficiency and addressing labor shortages. As they prepare for Drupa 2024, both companies hint at showcasing their latest innovations and customer-focused solutions, demonstrating their commitment to advancing the printing industry's capabilities.

The conversation is between Morten and Ralf, who discuss Koenig & Bauer's participation at Drupa, which is highly significant in the printing and packaging industry. Ralf expresses his excitement about showcasing their latest technologies at Drupa, where they are among the largest exhibitors. Ralf highlights that Drupa is a platform for showcasing equipment and introducing digital innovations that could significantly impact the printing and packaging sectors. The company aims to demonstrate a comprehensive view of the future possibilities in these areas, including workflow solutions and digitalization, emphasizing its role as a full-spectrum provider capable of offering the best solutions to its customers, regardless of the technology (digital printing, conventional printing, flexo printing, etc.). The conversation also touches on the company's long history, over 200 years, and its continuous innovation, including forming partnerships with other industry leaders to stay at the forefront of technology. Ralf mentions their strategic focus on being a trusted advisor to their customers by offering a wide range of solutions tailored to their needs. Moreover, Ralf speaks about the company's focus on packaging and commercial printing markets, with investments in new technologies and workflow solutions aimed at reducing make-ready times, demonstrating a commitment to both sectors despite the perceived decline in commercial print. The digital transformation within the company and its offerings is highlighted as a critical component of its strategy, aiming to meet the evolving needs of its customers and the industry at large. Koenig & Bauer intends to showcase these advancements and solutions at Drupa, indicating a significant step towards the future of printing and packaging and inviting attendees to witness what they describe as a "firework" of innovation.

The text is from a live broadcast involving technical difficulties and discussing technology, automation, and partnerships. Initially, audio issues prevented Matthias from hearing the host, leading to a delay in the live broadcast. Once the connection issues are resolved, they discuss the technological challenges and Matthias's absence from a previous event despite promising to attend. Matthias explains his decision to attend the next event not as an exhibitor but in partnership, highlighting the importance of showcasing full automation in the industry through collaborations with machine manufacturers, software providers, and other partners. He mentions that these partnerships are still being finalized, focusing on automation, positioning, workflows, and hardware. The conversation underscores the complexities of modern technology and the significance of integrated solutions in the automation sector.

The text is an interview focusing on the role and responsibilities of the Senior Director of Marketing Innovation for Production Print at Canon EMEA. It highlights integrating technology and market knowledge to serve a diverse customer base across the EMEA region. It emphasizes the importance of information exchange and travel for understanding industry changes and customer needs. The discussion also touches on the significance of in-person events for industry learning and networking, Canon's development over the past eight years, and its approach to showcasing technology and inspiring new business opportunities at Drupa. The interview showcases Canon's commitment to industry advancement, highlighting its extensive product portfolio, real-life workflow solutions, and areas of interest like publishing, commercial print, labels, packaging, and more. Canon aims to demonstrate technology's versatility and provide business innovation consultations at Drupa to help visitors explore growth and diversification opportunities.

This film is a lively discussion between Jean and Morten, focusing on the evolution and impact of inkjet technology in the packaging industry. Jean, a specialist in inkjet and digital packaging at Keypoint Intelligence shares insights on the rapid changes and growth within the sector, emphasizing the adoption of digital printing in corrugated and flexible packaging. The conversation highlights the advantages of digital printing, such as improved uptime, speed, and quality, and how these benefits drive a shift in the industry. Jean also discusses the importance of sustainability and connected packaging, showcasing how digital technologies enable brands to track their products more efficiently. The dialogue underscores the anticipation for Drupa, the world's leading printing and packaging fair, and the opportunities it presents to showcase the latest packaging technology advancements.

In this conversation, Morten interviews Anna, an editor from Poland, about her experiences and insights into the Polish printing industry. Anna shares that Poland is known as the "Printing House of Europe" due to its large and active printing industry. Despite Poland being a relatively new member of the EU, it has a significant market, with around 40 million people. The EU's support, particularly in subsidizing printing companies, was not only for business development but also to protect democracy by ensuring the free dissemination of information. Anna discusses the transformation of the Polish printing industry from the communist era, where there were only a few government-controlled printing companies, to a thriving sector with approximately 2,500 companies, contributing significantly to the European GDP. This growth reflects the broader changes in Poland, from a period of limited freedom and technology to becoming a vital part of the European Union and the global printing industry. Anna also reflects on her experiences attending Drupa, the world’s largest printing equipment exhibition, highlighting how the event has evolved. She notes that the upcoming Drupa is expected to be different, with more emphasis on cost-cutting and digital innovations like artificial intelligence and machine learning, indicating a shift in the industry's focus towards more sustainable and technologically advanced practices. This summary encapsulates Anna's journey in the printing industry, the evolution of the printing sector in Poland, and her perspectives on the future of trade shows like Drupa in reflecting industry trends and advancements.

In this engaging conversation, the speaker reminisces about their extensive experience with Drupa, the renowned print media fair, starting from their first attendance in 1977 as a young freelancer. Over the years, they have participated in various roles, from exhibitor to consultant and journalist, witnessing the evolution of Drupa from a simple exhibition to a vital platform that shapes the printing industry. They emphasize the importance of communication over products and highlight the transition towards more efficient, automated, and productive printing technologies. The discussion also touches on the industry's challenges and changes, including the impact of digitalization and the need for Drupa to adapt to attract younger generations and remain relevant in the future.

Enfocus est présent dans la maison et a amené ses spécialistes au salon. Laurent nous met à jour, sans effort, tout comme leurs solutions logicielles comme ils le prétendent fièrement. — Enfocus is in the house and they brought their specialists to the show. Laurent brings us up to speed, effortless, like their software solutions as they proudly claim.

Heidelberg, Ricoh et Duplo France se sont associés et sont présents sur un joli stand au salon C!Print. C'est une première pour Heidelberg ici à Lyon et c'est donc une bonne idée de parler de certains des nouveaux produits et services qu'ils proposent au marché français. Nous rencontrons Pierre Duneufgermain et apprenons qu'Heidelberg mise entièrement sur la technologie cloud et est prête à rationaliser les flux de production à partir d'un environnement Prinect et ouverte aux connexions depuis n'importe quel système moderne que le client pourrait utiliser, via une API ou d'autres connexions. ____ Heidelberg, Ricoh, and Duplo France teamed up and are present at a nice booth at the C!Print show. It’s a first for Heidelberg here in Lyon, so it is a good idea to talk about some of the new products & services they offer to the French market. We meet with Pierre Duneufgermain and learn that Heidelberg is all-in on the cloud technology, ready to streamline production flows from within a Prinect environment, and open to connections from whatever modern system the client might be using through API or other connections.

Duplo présente une première européenne et a choisi C!Print pour le présenter au public. Il fallait donc venir voir. Mathieu Stark nous raconte tout. — Duplo is showing a European première and has chosen C!Print to show it at the public. So we had to come and see. Mathieu Stark tels us all about it.

Bonjour C!Print, J3 et dernier jour du salon. En invité, ami de longue date d'INKISH et personnalité bien connue de la communauté graphique internationale, anciennement chez Xerox et Memjet, aujourd'hui patron de Gravotec, Arnaud Linquette. Gravotec est leader des solutions de marquage permanent et conçoit, fabrique et distribue des solutions innovantes de gravure, de marquage et de découpe. Avec plus de 60 000 clients dans 77 pays, cette entreprise 100% française est un leader du marché basé à Lyon (France). Retrouvailles - avant de se dire au revoir - pour cette 11ème édition de C!Print. C'était très amusant de vous voir tous ici, prenez soin de vous ! —— Bonjour C!Print, Day 3 and last day of the show. As a guest, a long-time friend of INKISH and a well-known personality in the international graphics community, formerly at Xerox and Memjet, now boss of Gravotec, Arnaud Linquette. Gravotec is the leader in permanent marking solutions and designs, manufactures and distributes innovative engraving, marking and cutting solutions. With over 60,000 customers in 77 countries, this 100% French company is a market leader based in Lyon (France). Reunion - before saying goodbye - for this 11th edition of C!Print. It was great fun seeing you all here. Take care!

Laurent Pineau, le patron d'AJ PLUS, est une personnalité bien connue des imprimeurs français. AJ PLUS est importateur de certaines marques connues comme Morgana, Plockmatic et autres. Laurent est fier d'être membre d'impriCLUB France et est très solidaire envers ses membres. Nous obtenons des réponses claires et concrètes à nos questions concernant son point de vue sur la situation et l'orientation du marché français. Merci Laurent! —— Laurent Pineau, the boss of AJ PLUS, is a well-known personality among French printers. AJ PLUS is importer of certain well-known brands such as Morgana, Plockmatic and others. Laurent is proud to be a member of impriCLUB France and is very supportive of its members. We obtain clear and concrete answers to our questions concerning his point of view on the situation and direction of the French market. Merci Laurent!

impriCLUB est le groupement de 106 imprimeurs français et fait office de centre de référencement, où près de 71 fournisseurs de l'industrie graphique sont référencés pour différents types de produits (papier, prépresse, valorisation des déchets, encre, numérique, packaging…). ) Un sacré client réuni dans un groupe au grand pouvoir d’achat. Didier Burguet est l'un de ses administrateurs et ce fut l'occasion pour nous de faire leur connaissance et d'en savoir plus. ___ impriCLUB is the group of 106 French printers and functions as a referencing center, where nearly 71 suppliers from the graphics industry are referenced for different types of products (paper, pre-press, waste recovery, ink, digital, packaging, etc.). ) A hell of a customer, united in a group with great purchasing power. Didier Burguet is one of its administrators and it was an opportunity for us to get to know them and find out more.

Stahl's est présent pour la première fois au salon C!Print, peut-être nouveau pour certains, mais l'un des acteurs majeurs de la fabrication d'équipements et de services d'impression textile. Rencontrons Andy Rogers pour mieux les connaître. — Stahl's is present for the first time at C!Print, perhaps new to some, but one of the major players in the manufacturing of textile printing equipment and services. Let's meet Andy Rogers to get to know them better.

Xavier Perez est le responsable marketing d'EXAPRINT, acteur du web to print bien connu en France et en Espagne. En tant que membre du groupe Cimpress, ils changent la façon dont les imprimés sont achetés, fabriqués et livrés au client, dans de nombreux cas en quantités d'un (1) seulement. — Xavier Perez is the marketing manager of EXAPRINT, a well-known web to print player in France and Spain. As part of the Cimpress Group, they are changing the way print is purchased, manufactured and delivered to the customer, in many cases in quantities of only one (1).

Belle rencontre avec Philippe Bouvier, le patron d'Euromedia, partenaire estimé d'HP et l'un de leurs plus gros distributeurs en France. Rencontrez un Philippe Bouvier très dynamique, qui partage ses réflexions sur la manière de servir le client. —— Nice meeting with Philippe Bouvier, the boss of Euromedia, an esteemed partner of HP and one of their largest distributors in France. Meet a very dynamic Philippe Bouvier, who shares his thoughts on how to serve the customer.

Nouvelle stratégie commerciale chez Roland DG où ils ciblent plus qu'avant le marché d'entrée de gamme. Lorsque ces débutants et adoptants grandissent et doivent adapter leurs machines et vitesses de production actuelles, Roland a tout ce dont ils ont besoin pour soutenir leur croissance. —— New commercial strategy at Roland DG where they are targeting the entry-level market more than before. When these beginners and adopters grow larger and need to adapt their current production machines and speeds, Roland has everything they would need to support their growth.

La direction internationale de l'impression grand format HP a décidé de venir à Lyon pour prendre la température de ce qui se cuisine en France. Nous rencontrons un Mike Boyle très enthousiaste et de bonne humeur, qui reste à l'écoute de l'évolution de l'industrie graphique et de ses activités. C'est toujours agréable de pouvoir parler aux décideurs et de les entendre directement. Je suis sûr que nous aurons davantage d'occasions de nous rencontrer et d'entendre dans un avenir proche, car ils ont un certain nombre de choses en préparation. INKISH vous gardera bien entendu au premier rang lorsque la nouvelle sera annoncée. —- The international management of HP large format printing has decided to come to Lyon to take the temperature for themselves of what is cooking in France. We meet a very enthusiastic and good-natured Mike Boyle, who keeps his finger on the pulse of how the global graphics industry is changing and going about its business. Always nice to be able to talk to decision makers and hear from them directly. I'm sure we'll have more opportunities to meet and hear in the near future as they have a number of things in the pipeline. INKISH will of course keep you in the front row when the news is announced.

SwissQprint France has a superb stand which attracts a lot of attention. They have teamed up with a street art artist to highlight the strong proposition and the quality they can produce. Alain Grenier, their France sales manager, tells us more. —- SwissQprint France dispose d'un superbe stand qui attire beaucoup d'attention. Ils se sont associés à un artiste de street art pour mettre en avant la proposition forte et la qualité qu'ils peuvent produire. Alain Grenier, leur responsable commercial France, nous en dit plus.

Stéphane Sawicki vient de rejoindre Canon France et est déterminé à contribuer à façonner leur avenir en France et au-delà. Nous lui demandons quels sont ses objectifs personnels et ses opinions pour 2024 et quelles sont les opportunités qu'il voit pour aider les prestataires de services d'impression dans leur quête d'efficacité et de rentabilité. — Stéphane Sawicki has just joined Canon France and is determined to help shape their future in France and beyond. We ask him about his personal goals and views for 2024 and what opportunities he sees to help print service providers in their quest for efficiency and profitability.

Nous discutons avec Géraldine de l'offre que Canon propose sur le marché des appareils de plus petit format et de la façon dont elle voit le marché français de son point de vue. —— We chat with Géraldine about the offering Canon has on the market in small format devices and how she sees the French market from her point of view.

Nous rencontrons Philippe Alzina, bien connu dans l'industrie graphique française et participant au salon C!Print depuis ses débuts. Excellent aperçu de comment tout a commencé, de ce que cela est devenu et de ce que cela signifie pour les PSP françaises. La finition et l'embellissement de l'impression sont des mots que nous entendons beaucoup comme un sujet important d'intérêt et de diversification. Mistral Graphic opère directement dans cet espace et on en apprend un peu plus sur eux. Excellente conversation et toujours agréable d'entendre des personnes ayant une longue histoire dans l'industrie. —— We meet Philippe Alzina, well known in the French printing industry and a participant in the C!Print show since the beginning. Great overview of how it all started and what it has become and means for French PSPs. Print finishing and embellishment are words that we hear a lot as an important topic of interest and diversification. Mistral Graphic operates directly in this space and we learn a little more about them. Great conversation and always nice to hear from people with a long history in the industry.

Realisaprint est l'un des principaux acteurs dans le domaine du Web2Print et propose actuellement l'impression en ligne en France, en Italie du Nord et en Espagne. Ils doivent bien sûr être présents au salon principal de leur pays d'origine et cherchent toujours à élargir leurs marchés et leur portefeuille. Bonne entrevue avec une Marine Desboudard bien informée et détendue. — Realisaprint is one of the main players in the field of Web2Print and currently offers online printing in France, Northern Italy, and Spain. They of course need to be present at the main show in their home country and are always looking to expand their markets and portfolio. Good interview with a well-informed and relaxed Marine Desboudard.

The following is the truth and nothing but the truth - so listen - this is important. Ukrainian-based Cloudprinter develops online services connecting customers and printers globally. Besides delivering backends and frontends, and integrations also via Enfocus Switch, Cloudprinter delivers a set of SDKs and API documentation, and with that in hand, Atomyx was able to develop an app for the new platform enabling seamless integration between the two software. Imagine this could be between even more software, platforms, and applications; you get the scope of the potential with Atomyx, right? LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martijneier/

The owner. The CEO. The Boss, and despite all the titles, he is also the one who has the vision for where his new company and software, atomic, should be in the future. Promises are given, and expectations can be high, yet Tom Peire is humble - maybe because of his Belgian background? Maybe because he and his team recognize that this software COULD be a game-changer, and yet they want the results to speak for themselves. Make your mind up. Listen to Tom!

We claim that Bernd Zipper is the number one in Europe, which he denies, but listen to him in this interview, you get a clear idea that his knowledge and experience are beyond most. Mass Customization is not just a word but the necessity of where print is developing. With interesting examples, like his shoes, his shirt, and his jacket, Bernd Zipper talks about mass customization - and if you want to know more, Online Print Symposium is the place: https://online-print-symposium.de/en/

Tim Webster is the head of Demand Creation at Kornit, one of the people who decided to come and learn about Atomyx. In this interview, you will learn why Kornit believes Atomyx could be a solution for them and their customers!

David Zwang, speaker, consultant, and writer, gave a super nice presentation at the Atomyx event in Gent this morning. He spoke about the Cloud and whether it is a viable technology for workflow/automation. He also spoke about how the different Industry X versions change more and more rapidly, making it very visible to the audience how the world is changing and requiring faster and faster decisions. In this interview, we talk about whether the technology or the mindset is the real show stopper - but listen for yourself, and remember to enjoy!

What are the impressions from Industry specialist Pat McGrew? Are there differences between the US and Europe? Pat McGrew also gave a presentation at the REACT24 event - but listen to her yourself :-)

Atomyx will add value to Omikai's MIS solution and offer more functionality to our customers, as Atomyx offers deeper and more than similar solutions in the market. CEO Mathias Erlandsson from OMIKAI is very pleased working with Atomyx and trusts the future relationship. Projects involving Atomyx are already in the pipeline!

David van Driessche is the CTO of Atomyx, and in this interview, David, among other things, talks about how difficult it is not to talk about a product you have worked on for a long time. Being the CTO of a software company, of course, requires input - lots of input. Enjoy!

It was a great pleasure to meet Toon Van Rossum in Gent, now as Product Manager for Atomyx. Many may remember Toon from the many interviews we have done with him while he worked for Enfocus - but now he is back in the printing industry responsible for Atomyx. In this interview, Toon speaks about the platform, but also how he bridges input from customers to developers. Enjoy!

Back in the printing industry, Cindy Van Luyck is now positioning ATOMYX for the future. In this interview, we talk to her about being back in the industry after trying something completely different, but also how she and her team will communicate ATOMYX. This is, of course, part of our Launch Event coverage!

Four Pees is finally revealing its new software platform - ATOMYX, and we are covering the event. During the day, we will share stories about the platform - what it does, its implications, and its potential. More than 100 people from Europe and the US are here to see, learn, and network and I wouldn't be surprised to sign up for the SDK kits that are available for the platform. Read more at www.atomyx.io

In this interview we talk to one of the owners of Realisaprint.com, Rafael Mari. Realisaprint delivers online print in France, North Italy, and Spain, with plans for even more countries. The entirely digital company decided to become a launch customer with Ricoh on their new Pro Z75 inkjet printer. In this interview, we discuss digital print, finishing, and how Realisaprint came to the Pro Z75 decision.

Nothing like friendly competition between the UK, Germany, and France being the most important markets for Ricoh in Europe - and seriously, all markets are important :-) In this interview with Jean-Manuel Jenn from Ricoh France, we learn more about Ricoh and how the market develops. Enjoy!

In the Ricoh PRO Z75 launch introduction, Sander Sondaal talks about partnerships and how important it is. Rafael Mari - one of the two founders of Realisaprint, joins the conversation and confirms how important a partnership is - and - well, listen and learn!

Today, Ricoh officially launched the new PRO Z75 to the market - a B2+ size water-based Inkjet printer. An amazing machine focusing on the Commercial print space, but with its print on substrates up to 600 microns, is also interesting for packaging printers. With 1200 x 1200 DPI and the ability to print up to 4500 sheets an hour, Ricoh has taken a huge step into the cut-sheet market with a machine that can compete with offset and toner-based printing. In this walkthrough, Sander Sondaal gives you an idea about how the machine has been built up and works - also with space for expansion in the future. All-in-all a super nice introduction to the PRO Z75. Thank you for having INKISH on-site with Realisaprint in Contes to learn and document :-)

Always interesting to understand a technology about the market it addresses - and in this interview, we ask whether the Pro Z75 addresses the existing toner market, the competition in the inkjet space, or even the offset space. Listen to Sander Sondaal to learn his perspective on this :-)

Delivering a new and very anticipated machine is interesting, and in this interview with Sander Sondaal from Ricoh Europe, you will get insights about the journey. Why did it take longer time than anticipated? How does Sander see this in the market - which will also be dived deeper into in a separate film on INKISH - but listen, and enjoy! Soon we will also have the walkthrough we refer to in this film :-)

In this interview with Sander Sondaal, Editor Morten B. Reitoft asks questions that explain how the machine delivers. From the B2 sized drawers to options with pallet feeding, to the print technology inside the PRO Z75, and also for whom the machine is for. During the day you can see samples, more details of how the machines work, and more - so stay tuned!

In this almost 30-minute long walkthrough of the new AGFA SpeedSet 1060, you will learn a lot. According to specialists like Sean Smyth and Jeff Wettersten, it is super interesting technology and a machine that will be a game-changer in the digital packaging industry! Enjoy the walkthrough with Matt Brooks from AGFA and Editor Morten B. Reitoft.

Rita Torfs is the Product Manager of the new AGFA SpeedSet 1060 inkjet machine, which just launched at the Unboxing SpeedSet 1060 event. In this interview, you'll get a chance to hear about the project and the effort that goes into developing products over the years. Super nice meeting Rita Torfs!

Matt Brooks is the head of AGFA's Digital Packaging Solutions division, and for years, he and his team have been working on the SpeedSet 1060. An amazing technology. In this interview, you will get an overview of the development of the market, and in our Walkthrough, you will learn more about how the machine works and what makes it special - watch both of them!

Super interesting interview with Arnaud Calleja from AGFA. As you may recall, AGFA changed strategy a couple of years ago, sold off its offset division (now ECO3), and turned towards an entirely digital strategy - still combined with other business units within chemical, medical, radiology, green hydrogen, and other super interesting areas - in this interview with VP of Digital Printing Solutions Arnaud Calleja, Editor Morten B. Reitoft a chance to understand more about how AGFA is changing. We are sure you will like it :-)

Mike Horsten is the Press & PR Manager for AGFA. He is ALSO very experienced and shares in this interview his views on the success the SpeedSet is expected to have. Enjoy!

At the AGFA Unboxing event, we met Roy Oomen from Highcon - and as both Highcon and AGFA deliver solutions for digital packaging as such, not a huge surprise - A growing partnership is on its way, and Highcon even presented their finishing solutions to the audience - but listen to what Roy Oomen has to say in this interview Cambridge.

Building a machine like the AGFA SpeedSet 1060 requires a lot of people - and here we got a chance to talk to Michael Prosser. In the interview, he explains his role and how the team works together.

Jeff Wettersten works as an analyst with Keypoint Intelligence and gave his analysis on the packaging market - and was very direct that the AGFA SpeedSet 1060 is nothing but a gamechanger about the market needs now, but even more important in the future - Speed, Quality, and no need for changeovers are important KPI's of the new machine - Editor Morten B. Reitoft got a chance to talk to him after his presentation!

Everything that can go digital will go digital - and in a presentation at the Unboxing event of the new AGFA SpeedSet 1060, Sean Smyth from Pira International explains the trends. Editor Morten B. Reitoft gets the opportunity to ask whether AGFA ticks all the boxes with their new press - so dig in and learn :-)

Francesco Sorrentino sells AGFA solutions in the southern part of Italy with success. As we speak with him at the Unboxing event in Cambridge, he proudly shows two installations taking place as we speak. He is a strong believer in AGFA and expresses that the SpeedSet 1060 will be a super product to sell - also in Italy. Enjoy! LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesco-sorrentino-b4b75152/

Barry Joyce from Simpson Group decided to join the Unboxing event in Cambridge because the SpeedSet 1060 might be interesting for Simpson Group. However, the company currently works mostly in the Large Format segment - SpeedSet 1060 runs up to 2 mm thick material, but also down to very thin substrates, potentially enabling customers to produce a very broad range of applications. LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bjoyce23/

INKISH is part of the unboxing event in Cambridge - the first time we heard about the SpeedSet 1060 was at ICE in Munich, then a new update at FEFCO in Lyon - and finally, we see the 'beast' in Cambridge. The SpeedSet 1060 is a B1 water-based single-pass inkjet machine made for the folding carton/packaging segment - and excels with high quality at speeds up to 11,000 sheets per hour. The Unboxing event was visited by a number of selected customers from Europe and the US, and here captured by INKISH filmer Jack Fisher. Enjoy - and check also all the interviews we have done.

The media got the embargoed press release about 20 minutes before the information could be published at 16:00, December 6th, 2023 - which is BREAKING news. Of course, acquisitions between companies like Hunkeler and Müller Martini will always create headlines and have consequences. However, this is not just an acquisition, but in our view, a game-changer for several reasons. First of all, we believe it will change the dynamics in the finishing industry - and yes, initially only in the digital space. However, as the digital space continues to grow, the impact of a merged Müller Martini with Hunkeler can have huge opportunities. We are, in particular, curious about what this does to the long-time relationship between Horizon and Hunkeler - mainly because the two companies have worked closely together for years, and now the acquirer is maybe Horizon's biggest competitor - but it may also have other consequences as the biggest market for Hunkeler and probably Müller Martini, North America, have Standard Finishing as distributor for both Hunkeler and Horizon - can that continue? Or what will happen? All of these are speculations, and time will tell - but they are interesting - and an acquisition with further impact than most other M&As lately. Warm congratulations to Hunkeler and Müller Martini. Find the official press release below: Müller Martini and Hunkeler join forces for the future After careful consideration, the owner families have decided to merge the Hunkeler Group with the Müller Martini Group. Müller Martini Holding AG has acquired all of the shares of the Hunkeler Group. With this transaction, the Hunkeler family and Crédit Mutuel Equity have sold off all their shares to Müller Martini. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price. Hunkeler AG and Müller Martini AG are both global market leaders with innovative solutions for post-print paper processing. Both companies focus a significant part of their innovative strength on the economical production of individualized print products within an automated smart factory. Hunkeler and Müller Martini have been very close for many years. The long and successful history began during the 2nd World War, when Hans Müller worked for Hunkeler as a mechanical engineer before setting up his own business in 1946 and founding the company Hans Müller / Grapha. These good relations have been maintained for decades. The local proximity in the Zofingen region and the already existing and successful partnership in the machine and component business form an ideal starting point for even closer cooperation in the future. By joining forces, both companies see great opportunities to bundle their innovation activities and to serve their global customer base even better in the future through joint sales and service activities. The two owner families have therefore decided on this strategic transaction that led to the acquisition of Hunkeler AG by Müller Martini AG. Bruno Müller: "The graphic arts industry is constantly changing and regularly calls for new innovations. By combining the key components of the two companies, such as personnel, expertise and technology, we will be able to serve our global clientele even better with innovative solutions in the future." Stefan and Michel Hunkeler: "There is a long-standing partnership between Hunkeler and Müller Martini and a regular exchange. The opportunity for the merger is currently greatly beneficial for both partners and our joint customers, as it will result in considerable advantages in a combined enterprise. This is also a strong commitment for the Zofingen region."

Morten here from INKISH, reporting from Printing United in Atlanta. If you notice the distinct blue-purple hue, you'll recognize I'm at the Müller Martini booth, a signature color of this Swiss brand. Not far from them in Switzerland is Hunkler, another exceptional company. While Hunkler specializes in digital paper finishing, Müller Martini excels in book finishing and saddle stitch products, and they're renowned in their field. Although Müller Martini was once a larger company, it's now more streamlined, profitable, and innovative. What's intriguing is their evolution from a leader in the offset realm to a significant player in the digital world, meeting its unique demands. Case in point: their variable binding equipment. Many print companies now use their machinery for 'books of one'. A notable example is Linemark in Maryland, which efficiently handles thousands of such orders daily. The booth is quiet as they're setting up for a presentation. Even though the equipment isn't running now, it's a testament to the power of trade shows like this. Attendees can see, touch, and discuss these machines with experts.

First, we had to talk about Hunkeler Innovationdays, which took place in Switzerland in February - and CMO Hans Gut confirmed what we already knew - a fantastic success for everybody. As HP has been a strong partner for years, it's only natural to meet Hans Gut at the HP #PrintAhead event, and with all the new machines already announced but also expected shortly, we talk about the opportunities Hunkeler has - as always, great listening to Hans Gut. Enjoy!

Finally, we are ready to show you our films from Brazil and Argentina, and the first is from Gráfica Forma Certa and COO Francisco Souza. Forma Certa is an amazing printing company that has almost entirely been transformed into one of Brazil's leading digital printing companies. Having a company that used to supply other printing companies with plates and is now so dedicated to IT development, digital books, and all the amazing things the company does is amazing. The perspective is even more challenging for US and European people as buying technology and getting into Brazil is considerably more difficult than in our countries. Francisco Souza explains how his three HP T-series are configured with three Hunkeler finishing lines - an amazing company and a super interesting story. The language is in Portuguese but, of course, with subtitles in English. Enjoy!

Hunkeler has worked with digital print post-press for 41 years and has so many installations that it has almost become the de facto standard in digital post-press. Marco Kunz explains the Starbook Plow Folder in this presentation, and Hans Gut shares about the company's roll-based finishing solutions. Super great chat around the presentation with good insights! Get Work Done is for sure a good headline for what Hunkeler delivers!

In this online interview, Stefan Hunkeler shares his view on Hunkeler Innovationdays and how important the event has become for the entire industry. As usual good things to learn in a casual format. Enjoy!

In this film, Head of Product Management & Corporate Marketing Adrian Mayr gives us some insight from the Müller Martini operation in Zofingen, Switzerland. It's not the first time we've filmed from Müller Martini, but it was interesting to see it again and learn how they service their customers globally. Enjoy!

In this Coffee Break session from Bronte's booth at Innovationdays, Francesco Crotti speaks with Jan Friedrich from Hunkeler. Friedrich explains how important Bronte is as a glue between the customer and the ability to produce books of one. Interesting views!

Who's better to conclude on the Innovationdays than Michel Hunkeler? In our fourth and last Bonjour session, your hosts Jacques Michiels and Morten B. Reitoft talk to Michel Hunkeler. A very satisfied Michel Hunkeler also says that Hunkeler has many great things in the pipeline for the future - though without revealing any details - but we tried - promise!

Christoph Müller runs the customer experience center at Müller Martini's headquarters in Zofringen in, Switzerland, but at Innovationdays, he is presenting the company's binding lines. In the short interview, he explains how he tests papers and binding when not at Innovationdays to help customers maximize their investment. Enjoy!

Hunkeler can do “Books of 1”, so let's look at their new Book Sorting Module. Benjamin Locher, product manager, explains to us some of the important advantages of this particular module at the end of the impressive new Starbook plow folder line. As NEXT LEVEL AUTOMATION is the motto and dominant theme of the Hunkeler Innovationdays 2023, we see how they practice what they preach.

At Innovationdays, INKISH starts early, and though today's Bonjour was filmed a bit later due to the late arrival of planes from America, we are certain that you will like this format. Informat, fun, and still to learn from. In the first Bonjour, you'll meet Annette Friskopp, General Manager, HP PageWide - responsible for HP T-Series Advantage 2200, and Daniel Erni, who took over the CEO position for Hunkeler on January 1st, 2023. Interesting chat moderated by your INKISH hosts, Jacques Michiels and Morten B. Reitoft.

Michel Hunkeler is one of the owners, board members, and former CEO of Hunkeler AG in Switzerland. Among the interesting topics is Michel Hunkelers new role, but also how it is to hand over the CEO position, for the first time ever, to a person out of the family, Daniel Erni. Michel Hunkeler was hit last year with severe health issues but has fought back to an almost 100% everyday life. We talk about brotherly competition and how a strong family, for now, generations, has formed the 100 years old company. A very personal interview with great insights - that you, of course, only find on INKISH.

In this interview with Stefan Hunkeler, we discuss the Hunkeler Innovationdays 2023. It takes place in beautiful Lucern in Switzerland, February 27th - March 2nd, 2023 - and we can't wait! Hunkeler Innovationdays has grown to become one of the most important events in the industry but had to postpone, like everybody else, because of the pandemic. Now it's the point of no return, and exhibitors and many customers are planning to attend the maybe only end-to-end event for digital print/finishing. INKISH will be covering Innovationdays intensively and will also talk to many of the vendors exhibiting before the event to encourage you to attend. Registration opens November 2nd, and it's a must-attend event, to be honest! Enjoy!

Hunkeler Innovationdays is around the corner, so when we got the chance to talk to Reto Zaugg from Hunkeler, obviously a topic to discuss. However, we also got a chance to talk about how seamlessly Hunkeler and Horizon integrate into the new Stitchliner Mark V shown at Horizon Finishing First event. But take a listen yourself!

This is a truly great Learn With Us session where CEO Andy Fetherman from Müller Martini gives the audience a great introduction to how Müller Martini enables printers, and to support the story, Andy Fetherman has invited Adi Chinai from King Pringint in Massachusets to talk about the partnership the two companies has. A great session, and as usual amazing technology.

Meccanotecnica is probably one of the leading companies in thread-sewn books. In the Get Work Done session, Giulia Sinatra gives our audience a super insight into why thread-sewn books are great and how their technology supports the business!

Jordi Giralt is a relatively new CBO with German KAMA. KAMA is more than 125 years old, and as Jordi Giralt explains in the Get Work Done session, the inventor of creasing/scoring - and being one of the first offering folding/gluers, it makes sense. In this session, Jordi Giralt and Editor Morten B. Reitoft talk about the unique products and, therefore, also the value proposition KAMA offers.

In this Get Work Done session, Bryan Takano, Yasuo Taketsugu, and Naresh Bedi give us a view into the engine room at Horizon, showing their new MiniCABS binding solution, AGVs, and robot arms. It is great to see, and if seeing is believing - you certainly get it here!

Koenig & Bauer is mostly known for their offset presses and the almost only offset supplier capable of delivering VLF-sized offset presses, particularly for the packaging industry. With the focus on the packaging segment, it's only natural that Koenig & Bauer, over the past years, have developed binding technology and acquired companies to support their mission, and in this Get Work Done session, Mario Gerber gives the audience a super insight into the strategy and the products! Enjoy!

Books of one is super interesting, and the company Schmedt focuses entirely on books. With their technology, customers can easily make case-bound/hardcover books - interesting for photo book producers and commercial printing companies interested in getting into hardcover book production. This is a LIVE demo from Schmedt, and Constantin Schmedt gives you great insight. Super interesting - the entire process is presented here! Enjoy!

In this Get Work Done session, Scott Peterson and Thomas Olofsson from Tecnau give you insight into the world of digital binding - focusing on their Cut Stack products. Cut Stacking can be used for products like postcards, posters, and other flat products, but it can also be used for producing book blocks. Tecnau also presents the inline integration with Canon, so all in all a great overview of Tecnau solutions, and of course, spiced with great conversations and loads of humor :-)

MBO did what we liked the most - involve customers showing MBO Cobo-stacks cobots at work at customer Kohlhammer. It's super interesting to see, and as it's not a DEMO but real live production, you see the changeover, how little operator invention is needed to serve four folding lines. Afterward, Dietmar Schrimm gives an overview of the technology, and we talk about why some of the digital solutions are very popular in the US and not so much in Europe - we believe it's mainly because people don't know about the opportunities and mainly know MBO for its folders. But an interest Get Work Done session - we are sure you will like!

Hunkeler has worked with digital print post-press for 41 years and has so many installations that it has almost become the de facto standard in digital post-press. Marco Kunz explains the Starbook Plow Folder in this presentation, and Hans Gut shares about the company's roll-based finishing solutions. Super great chat around the presentation with good insights! Get Work Done is for sure a good headline for what Hunkeler delivers!

This session was nothing but super great, as Michael Bradley from Printvis did an excellent demo and involved Scott and Hugh (customers) in the presentation. Built on Microsoft Business Software makes PrintVis capable of almost everything, and though it can do much, the upgraded Microsoft UI makes the system look and feel smooth as butter. Great presentation! LinkedIn Profile: Michael Bradley https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-bradley-50a0926/ Scott Carritt https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottcarritt/ Hugh Cleveland https://www.linkedin.com/in/hughcleveland/

Leland Morgen takes us through the Durst Lift solution with ease and confidence. Leland has experience working with multiple ERP/MIS solutions, and during the presentation, it feels that Durst Lift is 'home' and, therefore, an answer that he can easily vouch for. Lift differs from other solutions, as almost the entire user interface is shared with customers, who can view orders, specify quantities, proof a project, and essentially do everything from a browser. Lift customers can use Lift for all types of job, but no question that Lift is developed with the product that Durst deliver in mind! LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lelandmorgan/

In the last session of our #LearnWithUs, we meet Craig from PrintIQ in the US. The US is a relatively new market for the New Zealand-based MIS developer, but according to Craig C. Powell, America loves PrintIQ. After a presentation and overview of PrintIQ, we get into the more interesting part of this session, where we see how PrintIQ addresses different topics differently from the other solutions - but see it for yourself - PrintIQ also looks like a nice software to consider :-) LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigpowell/

Getting into the hands of Dataline is a safe experience. Covering all aspects of the process, from estimations, planning, web portals, APIs, invoicing, and ERP functions, to mention just a few of the features that make Multipress from Dataline a safe choice. In the presentation, you will see how even complex jobs like hardcover books are calculated, how quick quotations are fast, still comprehensive, and integrated into the entire flow of an order into the production. Dataline is working on extending its presence in the market and has today more than 10,000 users in Europe, but even see other continents as potential play-grounds :-) Enjoy this REPLAY session! LinkedIn Profile: Robert Hartman https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-hartman-a0561618/ Christoph Krohn https://www.linkedin.com/in/christophkrohn/

arifiQ started as an estimation tool in times when estimation took a while. Their claim was a quotation in less than a minute, and not only has arifiQ developed into a full MIS system, but calculations are now instant and offer an interesting approach to pricing, for example, an InDesign plug-in enabling the designers to get quotes based on the design, format, number of pages directly in InDesign - and even ordering directly as well. arifiQ can also make an estimate based on an uploaded PDF, where arifiQ takes the size and number of pages and matches this to a product - and return an instant price. The ideas are solidly based on in-depth knowledge of being printers themselves. The Swedish company started with domain knowledge and added programming to the solution - now globally available, also integrated into HP PrintOS and many other OEM workflow solutions. Enjoy the presentation! LinkedIn Profiles: Eva Rosén https://www.linkedin.com/in/eva-ros%C3%A9n-69375520/ Carina Karlsson https://www.linkedin.com/in/carina-karlsson/

CERM is by far one of the most thought-after MIS/ERP solutions among label converters - and as we have visited Converters who work with CERM, there is a reasonable reason for the choice. The demos are excellent, the software solves the challenges Converters have and then supports the product, and now the integration to Microsoft Power BI is giving customers options like never before. In this webinar, CERM has decided to focus on the BI functions and the 18 standard reporting tools provided in the optional solution. Fran Boey has a background in the BI-World, and guides us smoothly through how reports can be created, giving customers THE overview! LinkedIn Profile: Fran Boey https://www.linkedin.com/in/fran-boey-951a08169/ Steffen Haaga https://www.linkedin.com/in/steffen-haaga-2b4942/

Omikai is a Swedish Browser-based MIS solution and is a one-solution fits all MIS solution. All updates are applied to all customers, requirements accepted by the development team are delivered to all customers, and with a flexible pricing model, Omikai fits all types of customers. In the demo, CEO and Founder Mathias Erlandsson showed us the flow in Omikai, which includes changing variable data as an end-customer in an uploaded PDF, pricing, integration to various solutions, planning, shipping, etc. A great presentation :-) LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathias-erlandsson-aa780b15/

The Rogler platform is the only solution that specifically mentions the integration of robots and AGVs, and also the only solution where planning is mentioned as one of the most important features. The Swim Lane overview is excellent, and Hannes Rogler explains how AI is used to plan jobs in the best way utilizing the equipment to its max. A few hiccups because of some technology issues, but reach out to Hannes for more information! LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannes-rogler-b74869130/

GSE Dispensing is a Dutch company with 50 years behind them. The company develops and produces ink dispensing machines. Your humble editor must admit that he initially didn't understand what GSE Dispensing delivers before Onno Deen explained that he is selling a machine that can mix inks. The bell rang, and I realized it was a machine to mix inks, so I could understand the application. With a software solution in front of the machine, GSE Dispensing can mix spot color, but they can even keep track of all your left-overs and by this also use the leftovers as a base for mixing new colors - super interesting :-)

At the IST UV-Days, INKISH got the chance to talk to owner and CEO Remko Koolbergen from DG Press. The company is based in the Netherlands and specializes in security print and packaging. Producing both offset presses and an interesting concept where you add the technology you need - almost like a label press but with further options - and intended for another market. The products are used to produce money and other highly advanced applications - and though the market is stable, Remko Koolbergen seems to have an almost endless belief in the future - super cool!

When you see printed electronics, it's almost unbelievable, and yet the technology has been around for 30 years. At the IST UV-Days, Philipp Hölzl from Elantas also explains the advantages, shows examples, and gives us an insight into how their ink helps their customers. Printed batteries, solar panels, sensors, and even OLED screens are just some of the opportunities the technology offers. With the conductive inks from Elantas, traditional screen printers can print products that are almost out of this world. This is certainly worth checking out, as this is something many have heard and most likely fewer seen - unbelievably cool!

Think about it. A family-owned ink manufacturer more than 250 years old and still on the top of the development curve. In this interview with Roland Schröder from Huber Group, we get some interesting background about the Munich-based Huber Group, and not only do we see and learn about the company, but also why UV inks are increasingly interesting, as the LED-technology becomes more and more capable. Roland Schröder shows a magazine printed on a web-offset press where the gas heating has been replaced with LED-UV. Super great result, and shown as it explains why the higher price on UV inks isn't a problem if you look at the entire production process - but don't take my word for it, listen to Roland Schröder - Super cool guy :-)

Simon Roberts is the MD/GM of IST Intech in the UK. With a background in automotive, his perspective is broader than print, and he also explains that as IST Intech grows, it's important to grow outside the printing industry even more. Interesting interview that also touches upon the integration between the different branches - and always interesting to talk to management., and understand where business is going. Enjoy!

Sustainability, sustainability, sustainability. In this film, we speak to Christophe Dujardin, who explains how the sustainability agenda is being handled by Kurz. We find it a very interesting story, as it's not only about reducing waste but everything from reducing the impact of the product to recycling the waste - super interesting!

MPrint is one of the many interesting companies in the Leonhard Kurz group. MPrint focuses on developing and producing compact digital print units that can be used in industrial applications. At the IST UV-Days, Sales Director Achim Herzog explains the difficulties with compact designs and also the opportunities with the modular and diverse approach of the devices. At IST UV-Days, MPrint also shows a work-in-progress CMYK print module, and have got a lot of great feedback from the market, but see for yourself :-)

Céline Dumas is relatively new with Komori-Chambon, and maybe you don't know the company - but here you get an insight that guides you to what they are. Komori-Chambon is part of the Japanese Komori group but operates entirely independently at two locations in France. They develop packaging equipment within the offset, flexo, and rotogravure segments, but they offer end-to-end solutions developed entirely by the company. Komori-Chambon delivers mainly high-volume production, and asking Céline Dumas about product types, the answer is instant - 'think milk' with a lower voice and 'tobacco.' But listen for yourself, and I am sure if you need to know more, Céline Dumas is ready to connect with you via LinkedIn - see the link below!

How does an ink manufacturer differentiate, and what are the challenges in developing INK? Daniel Boronat from Kao Chimigraf is in this interview from IST UV-Days, giving open answers to editor Morten B. Reitoft. Enjoy the film - it's a good one :-)

In this film, we take a deeper dive into the NEOS universe to understand how NEOS differentiates itself from the competitors and how they think about inkjet in a relatively crowded market - and this was a wonderful experience. NEOS is from North Italy, and the modularity is simply super great. It can be configured to almost every application type and printed on almost all types of substrates - super cool. In the walkthrough, you will easily understand how you can build a configuration that suits your need regarding substrate, application, speed, and even economy, and the machine can grow with your business. Frank de Jonge knows his printer and gives you great insight into this film - enjoy and learn!

Sebastian Stange works in the fantastic Koenig & Bauer demo center in Radebeul and was part of the panel with Sabine Geldermann (drupa), Stéphane Royère (KURZ), and Tim Sterbak (IST Metz) talking about one year to drupa among other things. Interesting chat with Sebastian Stange, and as always interesting to hear what's up with Koenig & Bauer!

At the IST UV-Days, Sabine Geldermann joined a panel discussion with Stéphane Royère (KURZ), Sebastian Stange (Koenig & Bauer), and Tim Sterbak (IST Metz) under the headline 'One year to drupa.' It was a great debate with many interesting views about sustainability, supply issues, digital transformation, packaging, etc. And in this interview, INKISH got the chance to talk to Sabine Gelderman, following up on both the panel debate and her expectations for the upcoming 2024 edition of drupa. Enjoy!

Stéphane Royère is the head of Packaging and Print with Leonhard KURZ. We got a chance to talk to him after he finished his panel discussion with Sabine Geldermann (drupa), Sebastian Tange (Koenig & Bauer), and Tim Sterbak (IST Metz) and talked to him about sustainability, value-adding, and of course, also their platinum sponsorship at drupa 2024. Enjoy!

Jochen Christiaens explains at the IST UV-DAYS about the segments Zeller + Gmeling covers and why the LED UV-Curing is interesting for a company developing inks and varnishes, as always great catching up with Jochen Christiaens.

At the 'Seiko Open Week 2022 event' people from all segments of the industry were represented. Juan Castells works with Itaca, one of the leading manufacturers of organic pigment. The pigments are used in both digital and analog inks and are quite interesting to learn and understand about the ink market - especially with a focus on tiles. Juan Castells also showcase examples of how other materials can be printed with the right mix of ink and printhead. The next venture is to digitally print vinyl and other products. Enjoy!

EFI and Seiko have been partners for years, and for industrial printing, EFI relied on the expertise of Seiko. At Seiko Open Week 2022, Carlos Carrtalá Sanchis and a few of his colleagues joined the Open Week 2022 event to learn, share, and find inspiration. Interesting always to see how collaboration is a given among large companies! GREAT!

The potential with Inkjet is amazing, and recently Seiko Instruments in Germany employed Fabio Tallarico, who has an engineering background in textile. With his background, he is supporting the growing interest in the textile industry in inkjet. Interesting!

Talking to Emilio Estrellas was a good experience. Projecta is an Italian manufacturer of tile/ceramic printers, and while we in the graphics arts industry just started the digital transformation today the tile market is 98% produced in digital. Interesting to learn, and also show that talking digital and inkjet is more of a replacement market rather than a transformation market. Interesting!

At the Seiko Open Week 2022, Christian Goebel built a test printer to show how Seiko printheads can be used to print in all directions - from the side, from the top, and even from the bottom - quite amazing. ideeGO has among other things build machines that print on all the sides of plastic boxes, to support a comprehensive logistics solution. Jetting from the distance is also one of the things the Seiko printheads are capable of, which you can see in the video jetting on uneven surfaces. Learn!

Ali Eranpurwala leads the printhead division of Seiko. In this interview, we get an idea of the potential with inkjet and Seiko, but also why Seiko Open Week is a recurring and important event. Enjoy!

Stefan Kessler from Lambda presents in this film their NIR - or Near Infra-Red curing solution that is the perfect solution for water-based curing. With the right frequency of the bulb, the drying process starts from the inside of the ink and gives the printer a number of advantages. If you are printing with UV, you know that it's photo-initiators that react to the UV-light, and though low-migration UV and a broader frequency perspective open up for UV to be used with food packaging, water-based has numerous advantages. This film is good to get wiser on!

Truly great to talk to Arne Ditscher from Cadis - who we met for the first time in our #LearnWithUs webinar about Inkjet last year. At Seiko Open Week 2022, Arne Ditscher showed how Cadis can help customers develop industrial inkjet solutions enabling print on numerous surfaces, even 3D surfaces, and more. One of the VERY interesting this is an Inkjet simulator Cadis is developing. Imagine a database with printheads, inks, and even substrates with all the properties you can imagine. Now the emulator can take an object and emulate what printheads and inks are best for this particular application. An amazing software, and as you can understand, software that can cut down development time, and cost!

Siegwerk also participates in the Seiko Open Week 2022 in Frankfurt, and one of the things he is showcasing is a new mat UV varnish they have developed for Inkjet. In the interview with Adrian Haas, we talk about how Siegwerk develops inks and varnishes for inkjet, currently only available for flexo. Great chat, and for sure to learn from!

If you wonder what DoDxAct stands for you are probably not the first to ask, and understanding what Mark Bale does - the name is ingenious! The abbreviation is short for Drop On Demand (e)Xact - and that is exactly what all this is about. As you know, or will learn in this film, the printheads are only one of the essential components of a functional printer. The controller, the ink, and obviously the substrate needs to be aligned to make a perfect output. Mark Bale focuses on the printhead, where he teaches, consults, and also has a lab where he can test all of the above. Enjoy the film!  

Almost 30 years ago Jigish Chiniwala started his business developing solutions for marking and coding. Today the company delivers solutions to more than 30 countries from marking and coding to complex security solutions. In the interview, Jigish Chiniwala explains the journey, and we also learn that security can't rely on only one technology. Enjoy!

Matthew Pullen works for Meteor Inkjet, and designs and produces the controller hard- and software enabling the print to hit the printheads in the right order, and fast enough! Matthew Pullen in particular works with the Meteor DropWatcher that compares the expected output with the actual output and enables through software to correct eventual errors on the go. Amazing what technology can do to maximize profitability. Enjoy!

At the Seiko Open Week 2022, George Boedler from Inkatronic develops unique inkjet printers for very different customers. Since Inkatronic delivers solutions to many different types of customers, they need to have a test device enabling testing of inks, printheads, substrates, etc., before building the actual machine, so Inkatronic developed their own. The test machine raised interest from other machine manufacturers and is today sold as a test device from Inkatronic. In the interview you will learn a lot from George Boedler, who with an engineering background knows what there is to know :-)

This is a really interesting, yet very difficult to understand, interview with Tri Tuladhar from Trijet. Many of the PSPs I talk to, often ask why the inkjet vendors don't allow to use of third-party inks, similar to how they buy offset inks. Is it only a money machine, or are there any other good reasons? There are! Tri Tuladhar is an ink specialist who tells us in this interview that each color and even each ink manufacturer has their own unique 'fingerprints.' These fingerprints are important for the vendors to know as the exact properties of an ink relates to how fast the machine can print, and when Tri Tuladhar shows how the same ink act under different conditions it makes a lot of sense. Dive in and enjoy!

Marc Granero is the Inkjet Sales Manager for Kao Chimigraf. The company is a chemical company, located in Spain, with an ink division. The inks they produce and show at Seiko Open Week 2022 are simply amazing. You will - we will not disclose right now - see inks with properties that can give you embellishment capabilities, or what about printed electronics using inkjet? All on your inkjet press, and well, Marc Granero gives you a lot of great information, so we are certain you will like this!

At the Seiko Open Week 2022, you get the opportunity to get kind of behind the scene. How do ink- and substrate manufacturers test their products? Even printhead manufacturers need test equipment, and that is exactly what Roberto Campos from People&Technology show in this interview. The company has two main products - one is the above-mentioned ink testers. The second product line is machines made to clean printheads when they start making stripes or have other artifacts. Interesting to see how this works, and a world, that many most likely don't know! Enjoy!

Chinese language - English subtitles

Chinese language - English Subtitles

Chinese Language - English Subtitles

Chinese language - English subtitles

Chinese language - English subtitles

Chinese language - English subtitles LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisa-xu-62536bb3/

Niels Rask is a member of FESPA and Chairman of the board of FESPA Denmark. Here Jacques Michiels asks Rask about what FESPA bring back to their members - and Niels Rask has some good answers. Enjoy!

Michael Ryan is about to celebrate a personal milestone, September 1st, working 20 years for FESPA - a warm congratulations, and what an impact you and FESPA have - and we know you have a big share in that journey. Ryan also revealed that FESPA is adding a sustainability section to its website - interesting and totally aligned with what everybody in the industry is addressing. Also, 30% more visitors at FESPA just halfway into the show - no reason why Ryan shouldn't be smiling - congratulations!

Lot’s of smiling faces at the Fujifilm booth; business is going well for them, and they brought a new hybrid machine to the show - here is the Fujifilm Acuity Prime Hybrid. As one of the first, INKISH gets the details, presented by Oliver Mills, of this world première on camera at Fespa. Speed, flexibility, and quality are at the rendezvous, and that’s how we at INKISH like to work, too, showcasing this World Premiere and other films and news from the industry. Good vibes and atmosphere here in Munich. Enjoy! Read more about the machine here.

German language - subtitles in English! Editor Jacques Michiels in conversation with Peter Franco Kreutz, project manager for Druckhausnord, part of the Scandinavian Print Group A/S, one of Europe's leading online printers. Open for business 24 hours a day means your operations must be as fluid and efficient as possible. Competitive pricing to serve a B2B and a B2C market means automation, standardization, and efficiency at all levels. Peter says you have to keep on the ball; it's a competitive game. We agree with this statement. (Deutsch) Redakteur Jacques Michiels im Gespräch mit Peter Franco Kreutz, Projektleiter bei Druckhausnord, Teil der skandinavischen Gruppe, einer der führenden Online-Druckereien Europas. Wenn Sie rund um die Uhr für den Geschäftsbetrieb geöffnet sind, müssen Ihre Abläufe so reibungslos und effizient wie möglich sein. Wettbewerbsfähige Preise zur Bedienung eines B2B- und B2C-Marktes bedeuten Automatisierung, Standardisierung und Effizienz auf allen Ebenen. Man muss am Ball bleiben, sagt Peter, es ist ein Pflichtspiel. Wir stimmen dieser Aussage zu.

Great interview with Daniel Boronat from Kao. They contribute to the printing industry with their expertise in creating the right inks for the right machines and applications. They seem very well placed to follow the industry's shift from traditional printing to inkjet, so we had to ask them. Good insights, and also interesting to hear from the chemistry side of printing.

Canon @ Fespa 2023, where we get a detailed and personal look at their beautiful and colorful booth. Our guide is Mathew Faulkner, Canon's Director of Marketing and Innovation, Wide Format Printing. You join me on this comprehensive tour, from new large-format printing solutions to new software and back.

Interview with Jason Wu, Ceo of Sitech, the Taiwanese-based company producing inkjet inks and other products for the printing industry. Always interesting to hear from the chemistry side of printing.

They are best known for their photo book technology and machines; we are of course talking about the Swiss-based Imaging solutions. The Fespa show was the chosen location for the launch of their new canvas mounting machine and systems. A very sympathetic André Schlösser is happy to give us some more details, who they are and what they do. Cool talk and super high-quality photo books to show for it.

Brother's top management is on hand at the Fespa show to witness the launch of their new WF1 large format printer. Yuki Ozeki talks to editor Jacques Michiels about the new market they are entering. It was a well-considered strategic decision, says Yuki. Thanks to years of experience in industrial printing and Brother's own R&D in inks and printheads, this new step was logical.

COO Armand Schoonbrood from Mondi is responsible for the corrugated segment within Mondi and is an existing customer with BHS. Schoonbrood several times mentioned that BHS is a frontrunner and that he is very excited about the new Jetliner and how that can help companies to more sustainable production in the future. Super interesting to learn from!

Robert Olsson from DS Smith has one of the most exciting job titles in our mind - Print Performance Development Manager. In this interview, we get a chance to understand how changes in the market influence demand and production and how DS-Smith manages this. DS Smith is a customer with BHS and uses the opportunity of the BHS Open House to learn more :-)

Almost all sales & distribution of BHS equipment come from fully-owned subsidiaries, but in Iberia (Spain and Portugal), this is handled by the long-time partner JC Consejeros. Javier Bermejo Parejo has a background in digital print but has now moved to a new position selling BHS equipment - and he seems to like it a lot :-)

Bartosz Mierzwiak likes being innovative and explains to editor Morten B. Reitoft how he believes that if you don't innovate, you can't survive. In the interview, Bartosz Mierzwiak also talks about digitalization, how the company was started by his father in a garage, and the relation with BHS. Nice story!

John Lingle is the Sheet Feeder Manager of Schwarz Partners, and as he explains to me, probably one of the largest sheet suppliers in the US. Schwarz Partners operates 14 plants and has experienced amazing growth these years. Being in Europe visiting BHS is great, as it gives him a great opportunity to check out some of the newest technology. Enjoy the film!

It's always great to meet new people, and Dave Boles, President of Atlantic Packaging Products, is no exception. Experience, knowledge, and a strong focus on achieving goals drive him and the group of companies he manages. Under the Atlantic Group name, Dave Boles is responsible for paper production, converting, and print; the group even has other specialties they service. During the interview, Dave Boles also explained that everything is measured and that the companies operate under an almost zero-error policy, which gave the company a lot of advantages during the pandemic. Seems to be a good place to be :-) Dave Boles also said during the interview that they recently placed two VERY large orders with BHS - so all in all - great :-)

John Potocsnak Jr. is the CEO of Corrugated Supplies, which mainly operates in the midwest of the US. In this interview, he explains that their formula for success works for them, and they see a growing market ahead of them. BHS is a central component in the journey as they operate nine BHS corrugators and two from another vendor. Potocsnak emphasizes the importance of BHS as they outperform the competitors, but he also talks about BHS as a partner since they have a long-term commitment to the industry. Interesting to learn from!

In this interview, Area Sales Manager for Germany (and German operations abroad) Thomas Murr explains how important the relationship is. It's about understanding the customer's needs, being as much a consultant giving the best possible advice, and being patient; this is the secret 'sauce' for Thomas Murr - and, by the way, something several of his colleagues mentioned. But listen, and learn., Thomas Murr has a great passion for his work and is beyond friendly to speak with!

The BHS Open House '23, in Münster, gives us a lot of opportunities to talk to some of the specialists working for BHS - and of course, the new Jetliner gets a lot of attention. One of the people working on the machine is Tobias Fries, a product manager with knowledge and background in commercial print.

Area Sales- & Key Account Manager Michael Bauer is good news for the industry. He is young and has a passion like no other, and he explains why he believes the industry is also great for young people. Technology, products, and the sustainability of corrugated packaging are just a few things he emphasizes in this interview - enjoy!  

At the BHS Open House ´23, we met with the next generation of BHS, Julian Engel. 19 years old and on the edge of choosing a university, preparing himself for being the next generation owner and management for BHS. BHS is, as you will realize in the interviews we have done with his father, Lars Engel, and his uncle Christian Engel, driven by strong family values. But listen for yourself and get to know the next generation - another first here on INKISH, we believe :-)

At the BHS Open House in Münster, BHS CFO Dr. Thomas List presented a Pay-Per-Use model for BHS equipment, making the cost of running an operation almost 100% variable, doesn't impact the balance sheet and enabling customers to scale faster. In this interview, Editor Morten B. Reitoft tries to understand how the components in financing work - and we believe it's a good session to learn from. Enjoy!

With digital print and the BoxPlant 2025 vision from BHS comes the necessity for workflow, and BHS need a VERY fast and very scalable workflow solution that does not only handle the print but all the things around how they see the future of packaging. A tiny insight to this is understanding that a simple QR code can have SO many different functions depending on where in the workflow the code appears - and can therefore be both a marketing and messaging driver for the consumer, as well as a tracking and initiator of different processes from file-creation, to planning, to substrates, to print, to corrugating, to converting, to the finished box making, logistics, and shipping. An enormous task that requires software specifically supporting the vision! Patrik Huettig has domain knowledge and understands the entire flow, and is, therefore, in our mind, quite ideal as the team leader bridging all the needs and making it happen! GREAT vision - and we are excited to see everything in action!

At any open house, the presenter/moderator makes the day flow. With the BHS Open House, the woman that 'glued' the event together was Katharina Aguilar, a professional presenter and moderator. We got the opportunity to ask her how much she had to prepare and understand the customer, and we believe you'll find this interview great. Enjoy!

Eiji Kajita is responsible for Komori's operation in Europe and has been working out of the Utrecht office for about a year. In this conversations you get the chance to know Mr. Kajita a bit better - his background, how it is, for him, living in Europe, and also how he sees the European print market. Interesting insights, which we hope you'll like! Enjoy!

AMS is most recognized as one of the pioneers of LED UV, and in this film, VP Pat Keogh gives us a great insight into why AMS still considers itself the industry leader in LED UV. Editor Morten B. Reitoft also asks Pat Keogh how PSPs should identify which UV solution is the right for them? LED UV has become an extremely important curing source for many printers as it dries the sheets or the rolls immediately, but listen for yourself and enjoy the interview :-)

International Sales Manager Gary Doman from GEW explains the advantages of using LED-UV and how GEW supports OEMs and the replacement market globally. With fast curing time and even higher quality on several substrates, the reason for buying a UV solution should be evident, and Gary Doman shares that the energy-saving cost (from other curing methods) practically pays for the change. This is a great story; dig in!

Marco Boer has become (for many years) a number-one go-to source for market development and understanding how digital print, particularly inkjet, fits the bill in a future printing landscape. At ICE/InPrint, we got a chance to talk to Marco, and we spoke about the split between research to understand the future combined with the presentations of the present, which are equally important. We also discuss whether the digital transformation takes place at such a speed that the research might become obsolete before publication. However, Marco Boer has an eternal hunger for knowledge, and as he says (even with an example), he learns EVERY day. Enjoy!

This is interesting. If you think UV is UV, think again. In this interview, IST Metz's Volker Selg explains the various types of curing technologies the company has specialized in, from Mercury UV and LED-UV to Excimer, which enable UV to be used for matt surfaces. IST Metz develops and builds everything in-house, which enables flexible products produced on demand for its customers globally.

At ICE/InPrint, Business & Technology Development Director Holly Steedman explains why IST is now named IST Intech - and of course, we get into why LED UV is getting more and more important. As she explains, LED UV is still new, so many opportunities are still unresolved, and IST seems to be working hard on delivering solutions.

In this 'Conversations' with Editor Morten B. Reitoft, HP General Manager Annette Friskopp explains what drives her and how her competitive mindset drives her own ambitions, employees, and the entire company. In this open-minded interview, Annette Friskopp also explains how she was brought to HP to ensure agility and also how she has learned the advantages of both small and even more large organizations. Great conversation, and happy that INKISH got this opportunity at Innovationdays. Enjoy!

Schätzl Print Emotion is a German printing company that has been covered numerous times on INKISH - and for good reasons. We first visited the company because of an investment in Scodix. The second time because we did a lot of educational videos for the company in both German and English, and this time it's because Schätzl Print Emotion have invested in their first inkjet machine, namely the Canon iX-3200 - and that is, of course, interesting as Schätzl Print Emotion is a high-quality photobook producer (among other things), but also since the company since we visited the company last time has been acquired by Elanders. Lots of interesting perspectives, and as usual, Ulrich Schätzl is open-minded and speaks openly about the interesting perspectives he sees in the market. Enjoy! LinkedIn Profiles: Steven Asumang https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-asumang-3592a3161/

In French with English subtitles. From several hours to sometimes a few minutes. It is 2023, but large PDF files received by some mailing or VDP (variable data printing) customers often still show anomalies in the weight of metadata, irrelevant to printing. So what to do? Do we wait or find other solutions to speed up the process? Julie tells us more. Enjoy! De plusieurs heures à parfois quelques minutes. On est bien 2023 mais de grands fichiers PDF reçu par certains clients du mailing ou du VDP (variable data printing) montrent souvent encore des anomalies au niveau du poids des données méta, irrelevant à l'impression. Alors que faire ? On attend, ou on trouve d'autres solutions pour accélérer les processus? Julie nous en dit plus. Enjoy!

Who's better to conclude on the Innovationdays than Michel Hunkeler? In our fourth and last Bonjour session, your hosts Jacques Michiels and Morten B. Reitoft talk to Michel Hunkeler. A very satisfied Michel Hunkeler also says that Hunkeler has many great things in the pipeline for the future - though without revealing any details - but we tried - promise!

In this short interview, Editor Morten B. Reitoft asks HP's Yale Goidis about curing and bonding/pre-treatment to optimize print and speed. Interesting observations!

We enjoy our Bonjour format, inviting different people into exciting chats about the industry. We welcome Giulia Sinatra and Jacob Hededam Hummel from Meccanotecnica and HP to this morning's session. Of course, we talk about print and technology, but we also talk about how to make the industry more attractive to young people. Really a good morning show, so enjoy :-)

Tony Michiels is the founder and owner of Argos, known for their LED-UV coaters and web cleaners - they are exhibiting their newest and latest UV-coater on Canon's booth at Innovationdays. In this film, we learn why the machines are now sold under the Plockmatic brand and whether it's possible to have a double-sided coater. Learn!

When we met Simon Cooper from Solopress for the first time three years ago, his company Solopress had just invested in their first HP T-250. Now three years later, Cooper visits Innovationdays for the first time and is excited as it seems that Solopress will be the first investor in a new Müller Martini binding solution again. Great to meet people face to face.

Second day at Innovationdays in Lucerne, and another Bonjour ready to be presented. Today's Bonjour is with Sr. Director Marketing, Jennifer Kolloczek from Canon, and Bryan Takano, Market Promotions at Horizon International. A nice, relaxed, and casual format where we talk technology, market, business, and all with a smile and a bit of fun. Enjoy our Bonjour and all the interviews.

At Innovationdays, INKISH starts early, and though today's Bonjour was filmed a bit later due to the late arrival of planes from America, we are certain that you will like this format. Informat, fun, and still to learn from. In the first Bonjour, you'll meet Annette Friskopp, General Manager, HP PageWide - responsible for HP T-Series Advantage 2200, and Daniel Erni, who took over the CEO position for Hunkeler on January 1st, 2023. Interesting chat moderated by your INKISH hosts, Jacques Michiels and Morten B. Reitoft.

65 meters long, 20 meters wide, and 300 meters per minute corrugated production, but on top of that, full quality inkjet print integrated. Seems impossible, but it's here, and though the market might be limited, it opens up for entirely new applications. In this interview, Head of Digital RSR Sales / Global Senior Expert - Digital Print, Nils Gottfried, gives you the insight that explains the potential. INKISH will soon show the machine in one of our popular walk-throughs - we are still trying to figure out how to do it right - but we will :-)

Marco Boer has become (for many years) a number-one go-to source for market development and understanding how digital print, particularly inkjet, fits the bill in a future printing landscape. At ICE/InPrint, we got a chance to talk to Marco, and we spoke about the split between research to understand the future combined with the presentations of the present, which are equally important. We also discuss whether the digital transformation takes place at such a speed that the research might become obsolete before publication. However, Marco Boer has an eternal hunger for knowledge, and as he says (even with an example), he learns EVERY day. Enjoy!

At ICE/InPrint in Munich, you didn't only meet DURST but also Koenig & Bauer, Koenig Bauer Durst, and Durst - three legal entities that have decided to work together. Many are foreseeing the new VarioJet 106 that will soon hit the folding carton market, but in this film, we also get the chance to talk to Vice President of Sales Christian Harder about the success based on product diversification, having a clear focus on being the best in each of the segments the company addresses - and well, listen to the story and learn. Durst is a well-established company, but despite its age, it has developed into a company that today defines what many companies would like to be!

This is interesting. If you think UV is UV, think again. In this interview, IST Metz's Volker Selg explains the various types of curing technologies the company has specialized in, from Mercury UV and LED-UV to Excimer, which enable UV to be used for matt surfaces. IST Metz develops and builds everything in-house, which enables flexible products produced on demand for its customers globally.

At ICE/InPrint, Business & Technology Development Director Holly Steedman explains why IST is now named IST Intech - and of course, we get into why LED UV is getting more and more important. As she explains, LED UV is still new, so many opportunities are still unresolved, and IST seems to be working hard on delivering solutions.

Tri Tuladhar is researching and consulting on one of the most technical levels you can imagine - the elasticity of ink - based on the color, the amount of water, and how the ink resonates when jetted. Interesting, you bet, and Tri Tuladhar is one of the best to explain why it's important - enjoy!

At Inprint in Munich, we met Global Business Director Packaging Matt Brooks, who brought us up to speed on the new Agfa Speedset B1 printer expected for delivery in Q1, 2024. A machine that promises more than 10,000 B1 sheets an hour in high quality, perfect for micro flute and corrugated

Anish Shah has for years been working with Solimar Systems for. At Hunkeler Innovationdays, Shah explains how they address workflow/automation across the Middle East and Africa and why it's an interesting market. Enjoy.

In this interview, Jamie Walsh from Solimar Systems explains how using Solimar Systems will free up capacity on existing printing equipment, as the data will be more streamlined, freeing up space on the machines. Solimar has a great reputation for involving customers in its academies and is engaged with customers to secure success. Jamie Walsh handles EMEA. Enjoy!

Xeikon introduced the Sirius platform a while back, but at Hunkeler Innovationdays 2023, the SX30000 was presented for the first time at a show. In this film, Market Segment Director Dimitri Van Gaever guides you into the platform why Xeikon has decided to offer a toner-based platform in times when competitors offer inkjet platforms. We also see a charming sample, maybe an answer in itself?

Last day at Hunkeler Innovationdays. Great event and a warm recommendation for the 2025 edition. Thanks to all the wonderful people that accepted our interview requests, all the people that stopped us and cheered our work, and last but not least, all the people watching all the content my fantastic team created during Innovationdays 2023. Thanks to all the fantastic people working with Hunkeler - it's been fun working with you, and gee, do we rock together? :-)

The diversity of people attending an event like Hunkeler Innovationdays is simply amazing. PSPs, Specialists, Media, and of course, dealers. In this interview, Chris Manley from Graphco in the US explains how great he finds his first Hunkeler Innovationdays. As with many other attendees, Chris Manley meets friends, customers, and new leads. Dig in!

Personal interview with Eli Grinberg, CEO & Co-Owner of Scodix. We consider them one of the rising stars in the embellishment scene as they are growing their business fast. Serving customers in both digital printing and offset printing, they have found good momentum for their solutions. Here at HID23, they show their latest innovation in the B1 format, and with the samples, we have seen, it looks like a winner is stepping up the game (again). Enjoy.

In French with English subtitles. From several hours to sometimes a few minutes. It is 2023, but large PDF files received by some mailing or VDP (variable data printing) customers often still show anomalies in the weight of metadata, irrelevant to printing. So what to do? Do we wait or find other solutions to speed up the process? Julie tells us more. Enjoy! De plusieurs heures à parfois quelques minutes. On est bien 2023 mais de grands fichiers PDF reçu par certains clients du mailing ou du VDP (variable data printing) montrent souvent encore des anomalies au niveau du poids des données méta, irrelevant à l'impression. Alors que faire ? On attend, ou on trouve d'autres solutions pour accélérer les processus? Julie nous en dit plus. Enjoy!

In this Coffee Break session from Bronte's booth at Innovationdays, Francesco Crotti speaks with Jan Friedrich from Hunkeler. Friedrich explains how important Bronte is as a glue between the customer and the ability to produce books of one. Interesting views!

In this episode from Bronte, Francesco Crotti throws a very difficult yet interesting question to Ashley Gordon from HP. How is the publishing industry changing? Though you may not get all the answers in this Coffee Break from Innovationdays, you'll learn enough to get you thinking. Enjoy!

Kern is one of the main players when it comes to inserting & mailing systems. The Hunkeler feeders will match the company color and can be had in Swiss red, or was it Ferrari red? Not sure if it has to reflect the speeds they obtain, but they are the only ones allowed to have a different color for the Hunkeler equipment that they integrate into their inserting lines. Good talk with Daniel Wenger about how Kern meets their customers' automation requirements.

In Dutch with English subtitles Many Dutch-speaking people among the specialists, visitors, and solution providers present at HID 23 in Switzerland. So it's about time we did a nice interview in Dutch. Meet André Hilkens, Manager of Komfi Europe. Komfi connects management ensures integration options with the most known printer providers and that you can work future-proof with an investment in your lamination solution. The well-known slogan also applies here: to measure is to know the costs must be transparent and can be called up at any time, including post-processing. Veel Nederlandstalige mensen onder de specialisten, bezoekers en aanbieders van oplossingen aanwezig op HID 23 in Zwitserland. Hoog tijd dus dat we in het Nederlands een leuk interview brengen. Maak kennis met André Hilkens, Manager van Komfi Europe. Komfi connect management verzekert de integratiemogelijkheden met de meeste gekende printeraanbieders en zorgt ervoor dat je futureproof kan werken met een investering in een eigen laminatieoplossing. Ook hier is de gekende slogan van toepassing, meten is weten, de kosten moeten transparant en op elk moment kunnen afgeroepen worden, ook in de nabewerking.

Editor Morten B. Reitoft and Yoshihiro Oe met for the first time at Hunkeler Innovationdays 2019 and have since got to know each other in meetings exchanging views on the cultural differences between Japan and Europe. In this interview, Yoshihiro Oe explains how understanding cultural differences (in general) helps Horizon develop binding equipment to understand the needs in the different markets. With high salaries in Europe and the lack of labor shortage, automation supports BOTH concerning labor shortages and reduces costs for the company's customers. A great interview - dig in! *We apologize for the technical errors in the sound :-(

Steffen Franzisi is the CEO of Kohlhammer Druck in Germany, and this is his first visit to Innovationdays. He is very impressed with the event, mainly how automated the post-press/binding is becoming.

Who's better to conclude on the Innovationdays than Michel Hunkeler? In our fourth and last Bonjour session, your hosts Jacques Michiels and Morten B. Reitoft talk to Michel Hunkeler. A very satisfied Michel Hunkeler also says that Hunkeler has many great things in the pipeline for the future - though without revealing any details - but we tried - promise!

During the pandemic, more than 1,300 people from around the world tuned into The Crown Pub every Tuesday and Thursday for weeks and months. Not only did the virtual event create long-lasting friendships, but it also became a learning place. Kelvin Bell from V-Press was one of the initiators of the event, and it was great catching up with him here at the Innovationdays - for the first time in person! Two other frequent "flyers" is Mark Stephenson from Fujifilm and Brendan Perring from IPIA.

Hunkeler Innovationdays is about digital print and finishing, and though the emphasis is on inkjet, you also find toner machines. Canon brought their V1000, which according to Marc Bärtchi, has a lot to offer - double-sided banner print and print on structured papers, to mention a few of the features. Enjoy!

This was a very fun and very interesting session with Conrad Fischer, fifth generation owner of the printing company Die Pharmadrucker. Interesting views, like, *you won't need a print operator in the future," or "We don't have ANY of the salespeople left before we transformed our offset printing company into a specialized company serving the pharmaceutical industry." Or what about "I don't want customers who decide what I should work with tomorrow." - Plenty of amazing statements - in German, but soon with English subtitles!

At the Horizon Finishing First event, one of the Horizon partners was the German workflow software specialist Impressed. Impressed has for 30 years delivered workflow solutions from Ultimate TechnoGraphics, Enfocus, and software for color management - pretty much all the needed software on the pre-press side. At the Finishing First event, Karsten Schwarze demonstrated the Impressed Server platform, which converts and streamlines the XML data. The software is super interesting for companies with multiple input data sources, but see the presentation and learn!

Editor Morten B. Reitoft spoke at the Horizon Finishing First event. The presentation is about why automation isn't always needed and, when needed, how to identify the potential.

Ralf Brückner is Account Manager for HP Germany, and with the success of HP everywhere, he is busy visiting customers. In this short interview from the Horizon Finishing First event, we ask whether print or finishing comes first. Ralph Brückner also talks about the partnership with Horizon and gives an example of how the SmartStacker (B2 format) fits perfectly with HPs B2 presses. The language is German, but it will shortly be subtitled!

Full moderation of a nice conversation between Tilmann Wild from August Faller and Morten B. Reitoft from INKISH. Language in German - Subtitles soon in English!

Branschkoll is Swedish for "a hold on the industry" and is the leading information source in the Swedish market. Ola Karlsson visits the Horizon Finishing First event in Quickborn, Germany, to learn what makes Horizon interesting for the Swedish market. As Ola Karlsson explains - "We are a Swedish media/service but from a global perspective." Always nice meeting Ola Karlsson - one of the most important supporters of INKISH since we began eight years ago!

German Language with English subtitles: CEO and Lawyer Paul Albert Deimel from the German Bundesverband Druck und Medien BVDM gave a presentation about the temperature of the German printing industry. There are fewer companies and fewer employees, and dark clouds are in the sky with the current crisis. Here you can see his presentation.

Tobias Bairle is the owner and CEO of BAIRLE Druck & Medien and a customer of Horizon. At Horizon Finishing First event, he is looking into new investments and finding inspiration. Language German - will be subtitled shortly!

Sometimes - or actually mostly - what you print and what you fold need to be 100% correct, and with Kaiser Vision on your folding line, you can verify and set actions accordingly. Here the CEO of Kaiser Vision explains how the camera inspection system works on a Horizon bucket folder, typically used for pharmaceutical inlays.

Can paper really influence productivity on your inkjet device? Well, according to Axel J Mangelsdorf from Crown Van Gelder, paper has a large impact on productivity AND quality. The uncoated paper from Crown Van Gelder has such a smooth surface that it almost feels like a coated paper, enabling higher print quality, but the paper is also engineered for speed. So listen to Axel J Mangelsdorf and get the latest update on new GSMs developed and how Crown Van Gelder is good for your inkjet press!

Hunkeler Innovationdays is around the corner, so when we got the chance to talk to Reto Zaugg from Hunkeler, obviously a topic to discuss. However, we also got a chance to talk about how seamlessly Hunkeler and Horizon integrate into the new Stitchliner Mark V shown at Horizon Finishing First event. But take a listen yourself!

The Horizon Finishing First event is about Horizon products and several partners. One of the partners is Tecnau. INKISH has made several films of Tecnau customers, and at one filming task in Madrid, Spain, we met with Harm Jan Hulleman. In this interview, we catch up from the filming session with Pullmen, but of course, it also touches upon Tecnau's revolution 50-series and why Tecnau attends the Finishing First event. Dig in, and get the story!

Ralph Schaten works for Canon Deutschland as Key Account Manager. That brings him close to many customers. In this interview, he gets to talk about the customer journey, the technology, and the challenges customers need to pass before being ready for digital. Ralph Schaten was born into the industry as his parents used to operate a printing company - and now he is selling to the printing companies still in the market. Circular mindset, right?

Seeing is believing, and Marisa Dürtsch delivers an excellent guided tour in English and German at Finishing First event. On these tours, she takes you to the Stitchliner Mark V and the amazing BQ500 series with all the bells and whistles you can think of. But don't take my word for it - watch this approx 12 minutes guided tour and enjoy!

Andreas Fischer is one of Horizon's Product Specialists, specializing in folding. In this film, Andreas Fischer explains the AFV566 folding machine that brings automation to a new level. Setup time is minimal, and watching skilled people see the presentation is fun - they almost don't believe their own eyes. Enjoy the presentation yourself - it is in so so German, but I will get English subtitles shortly!

She knows everything or pretty much everything, and when mentioning it, she brings her entire team into the conversation and tells us that all are binders and have a passion for Horizon and the products - we like it! In this interview, Marisa Dütsch also talks about the importance of being both a driver and market-driven and how important events like Finishing First is for the company. Super interview, you should watch it!

Jordi Giralt from KURZ returned from LabelExpo-Americas with several new partners. Giralt openly discussed the importance of partners, the KURZ commitment to the digital future, and the sustainability agenda in this Learn With Us session. Good talk with Giralt and many good insights. Enjoy!

Uffe Nielsen is the CEO (and one of the owners) of GM in Denmark. Known for its label finishing machine. This session is almost the same as the previously published one, but as we had some sound issues, we did the second session and decided to keep both. Uffe Nielsen is extremely passionate about his company, its products, and for sure, also the labels produced. Uffe Nielsen reveals who they sell to in this Learn With Us session, but he also reveals that GM is entering into the mid-web segment. Interesting and worth a watch!

ABG has partnered with Actega Ecoleaf. In this Learn With Us session, Matt Burton from ABG has invited Paolo Grasso to his session to talk about Ecoleaf and its business potential. Great session and we for sure touch on some of the points many asks!

An amazing presentation by Virginie Guignard and Bodo Junge from BOBST. Packaging is in the DNA of BOBST, and with an 80-year anniversary for glue-lines as part of the Learn With Us session, you know what to expect. This session is REALLY well executed! Thank you, BOBST.

Rafa Menendez knows almost everything worth knowing regarding banner/signage finishing. In the super Learn With Us session, you'll get the opportunity to learn more about PLASTGrommet and how they can help automate your banner finishing. We first met PLASTGrommet and Rafa Menendez at FESPA Berlin 2022 and saw how efficient finishing can get, and in this session, you will learn more. So enjoy!

If passion flows in the veins, Uffe Nielsen is a living example. His family-driven company GM (Grafisk Maskinfabrik), has developed into a global supplier of amazing finishing technology for converters, and in this Learn With Us session, he gives us an in-depth introduction to GMs products and, in particular about the company's self-developed laser cutter. Really interesting!

This is a truly great Learn With Us session where CEO Andy Fetherman from Müller Martini gives the audience a great introduction to how Müller Martini enables printers, and to support the story, Andy Fetherman has invited Adi Chinai from King Pringint in Massachusets to talk about the partnership the two companies has. A great session, and as usual amazing technology.

Robert Gubo explains in this great Learn With Us session about Tecnaus Revolution 50 series. High-speed and advanced binding equipment, including the zero-splicer enabling PSPs productivity gains you won't believe :-) But listen to Robert Gubo and learn.

ABG is one of the absolute leading finishing partners in the label/flexible industry. In this session, Matt Burton takes on a tour to understand more about how the company includes customers in its development. In this Learn With Us session, you'll learn more about a very exciting project initiated by Mercian Labels, including CERM, Screen, and ABG. Listen and learn!

Hunkeler is one of the most recognized companies in the finishing industry, and in this Learn With Us session, Patrick Treyer and Dominik Scheidegger present the Hunkeler Docutrim. Though Hunkeler is known for web-based finishing, Hunkeler has a background in also cut sheet finishing, and with Docutrim, Hunkeler adds a new product to their exciting range of products. Enjoy!

Tecnau develops advanced paper processing and binding equipment. An Italian company, but sales and production are in Sweden and the US. Tecnau develops binding equipment for both cut sheet and web, and in this Learn With Us session, Scott Peterson gives us an insight into the cut-stacker solutions Tecnau offers. Super interesting!

Horizon International, represented by Bryan Takano and Yasuo Taketsugu, gave, as usual, a fantastic presentation of some of the binding solutions Horizon produces. It was a national holiday in Japan, and a Typhon was about to hit the entire country, but still the two gentlemen decided to give a live demo of an inline solution for printing business cards and trim them with Horizons rotary die-cutter solution. Great work, gents! See you soon!

What is KURZ Label Weeks about? Well, it all started with the cancellation of LabelExpo, which KURZ considers a very important trade show. Stéphane Royère explains in this interview the idea behind Kurz Label Weeks - and what the expectations are. Interesting to learn how vendors turn a cancellation into an opportunity, and of course, interesting to see the result of Label Weeks which last almost four months!

Jordi Giralt has a background in digital printing with both HP and Heidelberg, so when he joined KURZ being responsible for the digital embellishment products he had a lot of knowledge to draw on. In this interview, we get an understanding of the journey that Giralt now leads, but also a closer look at two of the three technologies KURZ offers. Enjoy!

Markus Hoffmann is the Senior Vice President of Industrial and Applications, and a member of the board with Leonhard Kurz. In this interview, Markus Hoffmann talks about the broader perspective of competition, business models, future investments, and what drives him in his leadership position. Good to learn from!

In this interview, Dr. Markus von Beyer explains how KURZ addresses the sustainability agenda - as well as how KURZ work on lowering the company's carbon footprint as well as how they assist customers in achieving higher sustainability through the development of new products. Super interesting to hear how a lower carbon footprint can go hand in hand with packaging that sells!

Hinderer + Mühlich is a company in the KURZ group that specialized in the tools/dies/forms needed for hot foil stamping. With more than 150 employees the company operates in numerous countries - and from the samples shown at the Label Weeks at KURZ the company amazingly uses CNC and Laser to achieve great effects. In this interview, editor Morten B. Reitoft (again) talks with Michael Beschorner about the market, and the opportunities - hope you enjoy it!

KURZ is a chemical company but has since the '70s worked with the environment. In this film, we speak with Ralph Hopfensitz who works with the sustainability agenda within the KURZ group. The commitment to both customers, end customers, the society, and all stakeholders is very convincing and the commitment is to focus even further on the entire value chain. Interesting and, of course, important!

Amazing how cold foil with all its amazing capabilities is a real business opportunity for PSPs, and in this film, Marco Hanisch explains how the new thin foil gives PSPs further advantages. Enjoy the film!

Counterfeiting is a much larger issue than most would believe. In this film, Steffen Scheibenstock explains how KURZ and print can support brand owners. See solutions printed directly on the package to complex and extremely interesting options. With Scribos' solutions, it's possible to monitor how products are being checked globally in real-time. Amazing!

MPrint is a member of the Leonhard Kurz family specializing in the production of mainly inkjet devices. In this film Sales Director Achim Herzog walks us through how they develop technology to be integrated with various types of equipment as well as being integrated with sister companies' hardware. In this film, you'll get a great insight into how MPrint thinks and what they offer. Interesting!

Good to see Mikael Wennerberg again - and for those who don't recognize his surname - you are right, Mikael got married and got a new surname. But we are here to talk about Konica-Minolta and their exhibition at Sign, Print & Promotion in Helsinki. At the show, they show the most recent top-of-the-line toner machine Konica-Minolta AccurioPress C14000, capable of respective 120 and 140 pages per minute depending on what configuration you choose. As Mikael Wennerberg works with Industrial Print I also get a chance to talk to him about the KM-1e. But listen for yourself! Enjoy!

Head of Marketing Kevin O'Donnell from Xerox came to the Sign, Print & Promotion show in Helsinki to support the successful Xerox business in Finland - or did he come to meet with INKISH? Well - we got a chance to spend a good time together and learned a lot of good things about Xerox, CMYK+, XMPie, and, of course, the amazing Xerox Iridesse Digital Printer! Enjoy!

Jussi Heinämäki is the General Manager of Spandex in Finland - and in this interview from Sign, Print & Promotion, I get the opportunity to learn - actually a lot. I am not so skilled in the substrates and machines for the interior deco market, but whau it's amazing to see what can be done. Spandex operates in more than 20 countries and looking at their booth, and the samples they have brought along - I am blown away! Jussi Heinämäki, of course, has to focus on the business side of his business, but he still seems quite satisfied with both the booth, the products he represents, and the potential still in the market. Great talking with him! LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jussiheinamaki/

Signcom is a well-known subsidiary of Igepa Group, and yet well-known, your humble editor didn't do his homework before meeting with the Finish Managing Director Samuli Vuorenhela. But what you don't know, you can learn - and it was truly great both to meet Samuli, but also to learn more about Signcom. At shows like the Sign, Print & Promotion, you really get to see a lot of equipment, substrates, software, and applications - and you can compare. I talk to Samuli about competition in the market, but also about the company's history. Great meeting Samuli, and I am confident that we will meet again! LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuli-vuorenhela-32a4282/

At the Sign, Print & Promotion 22 event in Helsinki we get the chance to meet with CEO and Founder Ailar Arna, who represent Agfa and Kongsberg in Estonia and Finland. Estonia is a country with only 1.3 million people, so when Airlar Arna set his eyes on expansion Finland was the obvious choice - and so did Agfa and Kongsberg think. Hear more about how it is running a company across different cultures!

In this interview from Sign, Print & Promotion 22, Helsinki we get a chance to talk to Niels Arne Sletten, who is the Nordic Sales Manager & Nordic Branch Manager for Agfa. During the COVID Agfa appoint LexPlast as their distributor in Finland - already working together in the Baltics. Niels Arne Sletten and I, of course, also talk about the recent Inca Digital Printers acquisition - Interesting times for Agfa, who according to Niels Arne Sletten is in a very good position right now. LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nils-arne-sletten-b1b1105/

Docus is the biggest exhibitor at this year's Sign, Print & Promotion exhibition in Helsinki, Finland. In this interview, I get the chance to talk to Jari Kunnas who is one of the owners - and besides the interesting products from Ricoh and MultiCam, I was surprised to learn how Docus is bringing Samsung displays through their resellers to market to enable both print and e-signage. Great to see when companies embrace technology and use their knowledge, skills, and network to enable continuing growth!

Oyama Fumiya with K.K. Irisu, a Japanese graphics supplier is in the DURST Demonstration Center for the first time. He explains his excitement as he has just sold his first DURST press and is looking to sell more into a hungry market. LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fumiya-oyama-7469aa20b/

Daniel Sugg of Robos Labels in Germany is a long-time DURST user. His interest in the Expo was to learn directly from the DURST technicians about the new ink heads, color fidelity, and speed. Robos concentrates on the industrial label market and those features and capabilities are critical.

Sitha Sok with Italgrafica offers label printing and has had a great experience using DURST presses. She describes how important it is for them to serve their customer base with a variety of products for every label sector.

Frederik Parrein found great value in the DURST Expo because the access to the technical people allowed for one-on-one communication. He felt this is not possible at a larger show where there are thousands of attendees. Frederik also was pleased that the selected vendors were label market experts.

Pixart Printing, a CIMPRESS company, was represented at the DURST Expo by Marco Armentano a Research and Development expert. He is looking at how these label presses can improve existing products they offer and possibly introduce new products to their portfolio.

Christoph Gamper’s enthusiasm for producing the DURST EXPO 2022 Label event is evident in this brief interview. He describes the joy of speaking face-to-face with customers, watching the DURST technical experts go over both machines and technology one-on-one. Christoph ponders the future of trade shows and a bit of his vision for the future of print.

Serge gives us an overview of DURST’s software solution ecosystem, one of the best-kept secrets in print technology. From analytics to workflow to creative design to proofing options to eCommerce the goals of a more efficient production process, just about every pain point shop experiences can be addressed.

Michael describes the DURST suite of software applications that can create an ecosystem of total efficiency. Save costs, reduce waste, minimize manual process are all possible results. He explains how the professional services team makes sure the shop employees are properly trained on properly implemented solutions.

Robert provides insight into how sales teams must be brought into the loop when it comes to introducing new technologies to the shop. Explains the value of digital label printing while still offering flexo solutions. Educating sales so they can educate the client is crucial to success.

OMET of Italy has integrated DURST technology into the Hybrid label printer. Marco Panzeri describes the advantages of flexibility with both long and short run jobs. OMET machines with a ‘platform’ concept. It supports printing, finishing and converting any product in one pass.

Henry Greff from Avery Dennison explains some of the more unique types of products they support. Not only are there sustainable labels, but there are also green adhesives. The chain of custody is described as critical for the line of Vegan products, including the adhesives that are offered.

Doron Lerner is an Israeli printer offering extensive label services. From Flexo jobs to short run digital S.Lerner printing services every major sector in the label market from food to household to packaging. He describes the complexity of supporting manny product lines and explains how they work with the clients for the best result.

Andre Soterio of ACTEGA describes their range of adhesives and coatings for the Label and packaging sectors of print. Their global footprint for production allows country-specific products to meet local regulations. Any printer in this space needs to have the right solutions for the variety of substrates their printing presses can manufacture.

A last-minute cancellation of LabelExpo in Brussels kickstarted a lot of activities at DURST in Brixen. According to Thomas Macina, the decision to organize the DURST Expo Label event was taken the same day. In this interview, we talk about the event, the products, and also where Thomas Macina sees the future of digital label production. We liked this interview a lot... hope you like it too!

At DURST Expo Label 2022 we got the chance to meet with Matt Burton from ABG. ABG is one of the most recognized suppliers of finishing equipment, embellishment, laser cutting, and software. Hard work, clever innovations, and close and trustful relationships are part of the secret sauce. For Burton, who is now the 4th generation, the growth is something to be proud of, but nothing is taken for a given, and we would be surprised if AGB wouldn't continue to see growth. Watch the interview yourself - it's a good one! LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-burton-58928485/

INKISH loves to hear about opinions and strategies from industry leaders. In this too short interview with Benoit Chatelard, President of Flint group Digital & Xeikon CEO we get to hear about the importance and relevance of the different printing technologies they bring to the market and why they are doing a show like Xeikon Café. A great interview in an open spirit and I feel confident that we will have more interesting stories and initiatives from XEIKON to report on in the future! Enjoy!

A state-of-the-art Workflow and easy integration with multiple partners as part of the print value chain are key to conquering the Print industry 4.0 arena. INKISH gets the unfiltered answers to very important building blocks in the strategy Xeikon is betting on. Our own Jacques Michiels conducts this really interesting talk with Jeroen Van Bauwel, Director Product Management of Xeikon.

Xeikon’s Vice President Marketing in conversation with Jacques Michiels, proudly showing (off) the new TITON digital printing press and explaining the all-new and unique Dry Toner technology for unique paper-based applications. LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/filip-weymans-4279101/

Interview with Tom Allum, Owner &Chairman of Abbey Labels (UK). Abbey Labels have been working in the digital label printing business for more than 10 years and are an important user of Xeikon digital equipment. Tom among other things explains the great importance of seamless color matching between flexo printing technology and Xeikon’s Digital Dry toner technology and why it is of the utmost importance when dealing with brand owners and food packaging in particular. Abbey Labels as an important player in the label business is constantly looking to improve and invest in the best and most suitable innovations to go forward. Tom shares some of their plans for the near future. SO important to hear about how technology and the right choice of solutions can drive one's success.

Gerald Glaas talks to us about innovation in the development, design, and manufacturing of rotary tools, modules, and specialty machines widely used in film, foil, packaging, nonwovens, and paper converting industries.

Lemorau, a family-owned company, develops and manufactures finishing equipment for the worldwide label industry. Jacques Michiels got the opportunity to talk to Susanna Teixera and learn more about their heritage and how they came to grow and now are exporting to 77 countries across the 5 continents. A lively encounter with an enthusiastic player in the label converting manufacturing space.

Nick Khatri from Lake Image Systems is a world leader in variable data integrity and print quality inspection for the security, labels, packaging, and commercial print industries. By reading and processing the variable data on many printed items, they provide solutions to inspect, verify, track and report on billions of secure documents, labels, plastic cards, and packages daily.

Established in August 2001, Kangdexin Composite Material Group (KDX) is a material technology firm mainly engaged in the development, production, and sale of high polymer materials. KDX is represented in more than 80 countries in the world and has subsequently established itself as a recognized laminating film brand. LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michel-diruy-b6028935/

Rob Mayerson, on a quest to conquer more of Europe’s fine Label and Packaging PSPs. We learn about Label Traxx an MIS designed specifically for the Labels and Flexible Packaging sectors. Label Traxx and Batched also demonstrate their automated planning and scheduling extension. This powerful tool features a blend of artificial intelligence and machine learning with human engagement. Siteline, Label Traxx’s Customer Engagement Module, offers new features to further simplify the product management and reordering processes. It now includes a simple yet advanced artwork approvals process to help get jobs on press faster.

Jacques Michiels in conversation with Konstantinos Spyropoulos finding out about the expansion strategies they have in mind for Overprint MIS. Bel develops and delivers Overprint, an end-to-end modular print MIS, featuring open architecture, seamless connectivity, product customization, and user-intuitive workflow.

Jacques Michiels in conversation with Rainer Simon, General Manager Meech Int. Getting the grips on web cleaning to be able to prepare for quality print runs. Meech International is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of static control, compressed air technology, and web cleaning systems, both contact and non-contact. Meech has specialized in industrial electrostatic control for over 50 years and pioneered the industrial use of pulsed DC technology for static control and now has thousands of systems installed in the plastics, converting, printing, and packaging industries.

Phil Gaskin gets into the key features of the XMPie software. They provide powerful, variable data printing and web-to-print software that brings together customer databases and creative content. Working on top of Adobe creative suite, they help printers and businesses leverage their customer data and create personalized omnichannel experiences across print and digital channels.

Morten Toksvaerd from Grafotronic serving label industry customers worldwide since 2004. Grafotronic is best known for ultra-modular finishing machines. Each module is completely independent, and a new module can be retrofitted in an existing machine, on-site, in less than 8 hours. The truly modular concept is based on the latest technology available.

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andres-mulero-cucala-8637b721/

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pedhondt/

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zuzanna-kokot-30331566/

In this Conversations, VP Portfolio Product Management, Nick Benkovich, shares his views and insights on how eProductivity Software plays an immense role in the future of - well - essentially all software needed in the graphics arts industry. You will ALSO get to know more about Nick Benkovich as a human being - and what drives him as a leader in our industry—interviewed by INKISH Editor-in-Chief Morten B. Reitoft in a very open-minded conversation. Enjoy!

Marc Olin was welcomed back by friends and colleagues at eProductivity/EFI Connect 2022 in his new capacity as Executive Chairman of the board in the spin-off company eProductivity Software. It was great for INKISH to have a chance to sit down and understand more about who Marc Olin is and his view of the new setup.

Toby Weiss is the COO of the Fiery Digital Front End for EFI. In this CONVERSATION, Toby tells about his work life balance, the challenges presented by the (not so) great pandemic and his vision for what Fiery means to to the print world as the transition to digital accelerates. With a background in high technology that had little to do with print, he has become a thought leader in moving Fiery forward to the places print needs to go. His sense of humor and keen insights make this an enjoyable journey to what makes EFI a key player in the industry.

DJ Buell has attended eProductivity Software/EFI Connect for seven years. In this film, he, among other exciting things, shares how satisfying it is to see ideas being discussed at CONNECT being implemented. DJ Buell works as IT Director at Primary Packaging, specializing in "heavy-duty" plastic bags.

Marco Boer is a recognized analyst, speaker, and person we always welcome on INKISH for his great insight. At this year's eProductivity Software/EFI Connect 2022, Marco Boer spoke with EFI CEO Jeff Jacobson about trends, and we got the opportunity to continue the chat on camera. Enjoy.

Sandy Alexander has its roots in the printing industry but is a communications service provider today. In this interview, Henry Wagner and Aaron Gerlich talk about the importance of the eProductivity software. Interesting views also on change, we are sure you will like it.

Mike Mohn from Wallace Carlson enjoys eProductivity Software/EFI Connect 2022 to learn how to maximize the mid-market solutions software benefits.

The MarketDirect Storefront (MDSF) is described by channel sales manager Joe Fedor. Boasting a flexible UX and simple integration with any of the eProductivity workflow and management solutions, MDSF is scalable e-commerce for small to medium size print service providers as well as enterprise web-to-print customer integration. It is also API enabled for integration with third party MIS systems.

Managing Director Lucy Swanston from Nutshell Creative Marketing in the UK has used Market Direct for nine years and sees the solution as a competitive advantage for her customers and her company. Listen to her in this interview we did at the eProductivity Software/EFI Connect 2022.

CFO Jim Vosburgh from Gilson Graphics attends EFI/EPS Connect 2022 in Vegas with three colleagues. In this short film from Las Vegas, Jim Vosburg tells why he attends Connect for the ninth or tenth time.

IT Director Shawn Theesfeld from OneTouchPoint says that meeting product managers and piers are valuable for his company. In the interview with Robert Godwin, Shawn Theesfeld says he found inspiration in a break-out session where he learned about eProductivity Monarch's APIs.

COO Courtney Sumners of Benson Integrated Marketing Solutions speaks with Robert Godwin about how her company utilizes a range of eProductivity Software solutions in their offerings to their customers. Enjoy!

George Howe is an Applications Specialist at EFI, and at the eProductivity Software/EFI Connect 2022, he demos a new EFI roll-to-roll digital printer to Robert Godwin. Both also chat about how EFI trains new users to the EFI experience. Enjoy

Tiffany Bisson manages the EFI Customer Experience Center and has great knowledge and skills in explaining the technology. In this film, Robert Godwin from INKISH gets a demo of the new EFI Pro 30F - Enjoy!

EPS/EFI Connect 2022 is about piers, keynotes, and, of course, the product specialists that bridge customer demand to actual development. Jeramie Wilson from eProductivity Software (EPS) explains the mid-market to enterprise solutions in this film.

Chris Leduc is visiting eProductivity Software/EFI Connect for the first time, and what we understand from him is that he is pleased with what he experienced! Meeting people seems to be recurring positive feedback from all the people we have spoken with - isn't that just nice?

We are at SuperCORRExpo and meeting up with Jens Christian Christiansen, the CEO of BCM Transtech. At the show, BCM presented a new storage solution helping customers handle rotary dies and printing sleeves/plates in a super automated setup. The company has 25 years of experience and is a leader in its field - and a story on its own based on recognition from a FEFCO award in 1999. For now, enjoy the story from SuperCORRExpo.

BHS is among the largest companies in the corrugating business, and it’s always interesting to get the latest info—and we got the chance to talk to Nils Gottfried. We got the chance, despite being interrupted at the end of the interview, to hear about the jetliner, mono-version, strategy, why printing on the pre-corrugated liners, and why a monochrome version. Enjoy!

Inkjet is by all means on the radar everywhere - and at the Peak Performance Print Experience event in Brussels September 28-29th, 2021 - we got the chance to talk to Stefan Steinle. He is the Sales & Business Development Manager for the new entity Fujifilm Integrated Solutions. So what is it? Well, imagine an inkjet printhead. Place one or more heads in a bar with all the needed electronics, pumps, vacuum, cooler, power - and you now have a print bar that can be up to 2 meters in width. Now, place it almost anywhere you need print - and you have an idea what this is all about. It can be used in mailing applications, offset/web offset solutions to extend with variable data, all managed by Stefan Steinle and his team. Very excited, and well - check for yoursel LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefan-steinle/

On the second day at the Peak Performance Print Experience event, we got a chance to ask Gareth Ward from Print Business in the UK about his views on the event and the Jet Press 750S. As expected, the answer is not about the technology but more about what the technology can do business-wise - and we liked that answer. But listen for yourself and enjoy the insights from one of the leading media in our industry. LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gareth-ward-792b3312/

Imagine selling millions of greeting cards online. That is exactly what Celebrate Digital Printing does, and Francisco Martinez takes all the decisions. At the Peak Performance Print Experience event in Brussels, his companies name flashed the Revoria PC1120, and just a few months ago, the company also invested in the Jet Press 750. LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francisco-martinez-8888956a/

Isabell Stiller from TDG The Document Group in Germany is excited about the color options delivered by the new Revoria PC1120. With the options to print CMYK+ varnish, silver, gold, white, or pink - the machine expands the color-gamut plus using gold and silver to give the customers metallic colors - really cool. As you can hear, Isabell Stiller is excited! LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabell-stiller-444313198/

Fujifilm's PR company also visited the Peak Performance Print Experience event, AD Communication - represented by Tom Platt. But what does a PR company do? And can a communications specialist also be passionate about technology? Well, listen to what Tom Platt has to say! LinkedIn Profile.

On September 29th, Fujifilm delivered an excellent presentation of their latest products. The second day focused on Fujifilm Jet Press 750s, and about 50-60 people from the UK, Benelux, and Scandinavia showed up. The agenda was to hear, see, and even touch the new Fujifilm Jet Press 750s. INKISH covered the event with numerous interviews you can find on INKISH.TV. On day two, we took the opportunity to look at many aspects of Fujifilm's graphic offerings as well as the Peak Performance Print demonstrations - so enjoy this really great film - filmed and edited by Jan Majnik, INKISH - of course :-)

The Peak Performance Print Experience event in Brussels was about machines, people, and of course, business. Bernd Rekirsch is a huge dealer representing multiple brands - and in Brussels, he and his company celebrated their new distribution of Fujifilm products in Germany. LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernd-rekirsch-5095843/

The Fujifilm event Peak Performance Print Experience was held in Brussels on September 28th and 29th, 2021. It was a great event with many people, really good print samples, and an insight into where Fujifilm sees their technology. Here we speak to Taro Aoki, who is the head of Fujifilm digital press solutions. The new Revoria brand was also demonstrated on the first day, but only to customers in Germany, Austria, Italy, Spain, and Portugal - since Revoria is only available here now. The event gave the audience an insight into the technology, like the new Jet Press 750s with faster print speed, still fantastic quality, and a few other great and exciting upgrades. LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taro-aoki-4aa00b9/

The Peak Performance Print Experience event in Brussels was two one-day events where Fujifilm employees, customers, resellers, and press got an excellent chance to learn, mingle, and of course, do business. Simon Howe is a Digital Printing Solutions Manager with Fujifilm and a background as a PSP giving him a wealth of knowledge to share. But listen for yourself, and remember to enjoy! LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-howe-a6b92a162/

On September 28th, Fujifilm delivered an excellent presentation of their latest products. About 100+ people from mainly Germany, Austria, Italy, Spain, and Portugal met in the Fujifilm demo center located near the airport. The agenda was to hear, see, and even touch the new Fujifilm Jet Press 750s + the Revoria PC1120. INKISH covered the event with numerous interviews that you soon can find on INKISH.TV - so start here with our "postcard" from Day One.

John Dean is the PitStop Product Manager. At Dscoop in Denver 2022, editor Morten B. Reitoft got the chance to ask a few questions about Enfocus, Switch, and in particular PitStop. PitStop is a product that serves more than 100,000 customers daily, yet customers experience new things with PitStop they didn't know, Dean explains. Of course, interesting that software keeps developing so much, and with PitStop, there are quite a few great options you should know of, but start getting to know John Dean in this interview. LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-dean-w2p/

At Dscoop Edge Rockies Bob Raus from HP celebrated his birthday by talking to Editor Morten B. Reitoft - or more likely it just happened to be so :-) However, Bob Raus is responsible for the software before and after the printer, including the partnerships with other developers and solutions providers. Really great talking to him. Enjoy!

Julie Brannan of Monadnock Paper explains the importance of sustainability in the printing industry. She refers to their product portfolio of substrates as solutions for printers to offer their clients a variety of environmentally friendly choices. Julie covers the various certifications that address the authenticity of their products that make them a higher value option.

Keren Yakolev Zur is the Head of Product & Business Development of HP Indigo and is responsible for developing products that fit the market. Being at Dscoop is, of course, about technology, applications, software, etc., but it's also very much a matter of people. Enjoy the interview! LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keren-yakolev/

The Mid-web segment in flexo and digital is a truly exciting segment in the market, and as with labels, HP seems to have a leading role in this segment on the digital side. In this interview from Dscoop, editor Morten B. Reitoft talks to Brent Holloway from HP about how he sees the future for digital. Enjoy! LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brent-holloway-a8268251/

The label market is the maybe fastest market to adapt digital label production, and HP has with the Indigo label printers secured an important market share. But how is digital toner in a market that continues to be dominated by flexography? At Dscoop, editor Morten B. Reitoft talk to Brian Cleary from HP about their views on this matter. Interesting conversation we believe, but dig in, and judge for yourself! LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-cleary-2b85b26/

Mike Rottenborn of Hybrid Software celebrates his 10th DSCOOP and describes the value his company provides PSPs. Offering solutions ranging from label production, RIPs, inkjet technologies and color management is their market positioning in the industry. Integration skills are the core of Hybrid’s business success. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikerottenborn/

Alfred Scolari of APS Imaging Solutions offers bookbinding systems specializing in lay-flat photo books, a high-value digital print product. PSPs who need to optimize a high-quality product workflow are the operations that APS is looking to serve. Greater efficiencies in a complex product are the benefits they promote. LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/al-scolari-212a5113/

George Folickman of Tilia Labs appreciates how DSCOOP is aiding digital transformation in print. He explains how their solution is capable of supporting the variety of products PSPs are bringing into their operations. From short-run page jobs to packaging, Tilia addresses batching efficiencies using artificial intelligence suited to these very different manufacturing workflows. LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgefolickman/

Dominic Rotundo of XMPIE explains the types of clients they serve from creative ideation teams to marketing agencies to PSPs. He describes how their solution bridges the communication gaps from content provided to feeding media channels to a piece you pick up and read. LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominic-rotundo-555b913/

Kevin Abergel of Taktiful is excited by the supportive community that is DSCOOP. He sees the future as everything being a print medium. Kevin believes the influx of youth into the industry will be driven by the sexy tech that makes great print possible. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinabergel/

Two great keynote speakers from Dscoop in a leadership round table conversation with Dscoop's Chris Hyde. David Burkus, a successful author and considered as one of the world's leading business thinkers, helps answer the 'one' question Chris Hyde asks Jesse Cole, owner of the Savannah Bananas, and has more than 1,000 people on a waiting list to get a job at The Savannah Bananas - "How do you think somebody in our industry can get to where you are?" The conversation is great, open-minded, full of insight and inspiration. You will love this!

Georgette Sawan of MH+P Technology describes the high-value qualities of digitally produced art. The production process allows for a variety of canvas and vinyl options. She explains how their equipment automates stretching artist canvas to frames, a challenging task for any finishing workflow. LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgettesawan/

KC Chaplin of Absolute Printing Equipment is a hands-on hardware expert. With a little East Texas logic his take on the future of printing is equally optimistic and practical. KC’s sales secret is teaching best practices to gain the most from the iron on the floor.