Komori Is the Underdog in Europe – But Not for Long · Jacob Hededam Hummel · Komori · FLOW 2026
Is the printing industry’s obsession with speed missing the bigger picture? According to Jacob Hummel, Chief Commercial Officer of Komori Europe, profitability depends on much more than how fast a printing press can run.
At FLOW 2026 in Bad Hersfeld, INKISH’s Morten Reitoft meets Jacob Hummel, just one month into his new position at Komori Europe, for a conversation about the company’s ambitions, the opportunities in the European printing market, and the changing demands facing print service providers.
Jacob openly describes Komori as an underdog in Europe — but sees that position as an opportunity. With Komori’s established offset technology, MBO’s finishing expertise, and collaborations with robotics specialist Yaskawa, the company is increasingly focused on delivering integrated production solutions rather than individual machines.
And when it comes to printing presses, Jacob challenges the industry’s traditional focus on maximum speed and makeready times. Reliability, predictable operating costs, minimal downtime, and consistent productivity can have a greater impact on profitability than winning the race for the highest specifications.
The conversation also explores the growing importance of hybrid production, including Komori’s J-throne digital inkjet technology, and why the next decade will demand a different understanding of digital transformation.
For Jacob, the real challenge isn’t simply choosing between offset and digital printing. It’s understanding how print buyers are changing, how AI will influence business processes, and how printing companies must adapt their customer-facing operations to remain competitive.
And finishing? Jacob acknowledges that postpress remains one of the industry’s biggest bottlenecks, creating significant opportunities for MBO, robotics, automated cutting, and smarter workflow integration.
An engaging conversation about leadership, competition, profitability, and how Komori intends to strengthen its position in Europe by connecting technology, automation, and customer needs.
Recorded at FLOW 2026 · Bad Hersfeld, Germany · INKISH
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Thu November 5th
AI Won't Save Your Print Business If Your Dat...
Can you name your 20 most profitable printing jobs from the past six months? If not, you might have a bigger problem than outdated software. At FLOW 2026 in Bad Hersfeld, Pat McGrew meets Stephan Reiter from CAI Software to discuss why the future of print management isn't simply about implementing new technology, but understanding the economics and processes behind every printing job. With roots in EFI and eProductivity Software, CAI brings together an extensive portfolio of MIS, ERP, web-to-print, and workflow solutions serving printing companies of every size, from small businesses to multinational enterprises. But Stephan challenges the traditional way printers approach software investments. Rather than starting with a list of desired features, he asks fundamental business questions: Which jobs actually make money? How much capital is tied up in unused inventory? Where are employees spending time on unnecessary manual processes? CAI uses time-and-motion studies to examine workflows, often tracing completed invoices backward through production, estimating, and order entry to uncover hidden inefficiencies. And what about artificial intelligence? While CAI is developing AI-powered capabilities for onboarding, estimating, migration, and reporting, Stephan is clear that AI alone cannot solve structural problems. Without accurate data and well-defined processes, even the most sophisticated technology will struggle to deliver meaningful results. The conversation also explores why printing companies should reconsider legacy MIS installations that may have served them well for years but no longer reflect their business needs. With changing customer expectations, increasing automation, and growing competitive pressure, Stephan argues that printers need to understand their profitability and rethink how their entire business operates. A thought-provoking conversation about the real value of MIS, the limitations of AI, and why the printing companies that understand their numbers may be the ones best prepared for the future. Recorded at FLOW 2026 · Bad Hersfeld, Germany · INKISH