At Intergraf Print Matters in Budapest, Morten Reitoft speaks with Charles Jarrold, Chief Executive Officer of the BPIF (British Printing Industries Federation), following a panel discussion focused on sustainability, CO₂ reduction, and the practical realities facing the printing industry. While environmental responsibility remains a key topic across the industry, Charles explains why sustainability must be approached through the lens of business reality. Drawing on insights from a panel that included representatives from commercial printing, book manufacturing, and the ink supply chain, the discussion highlights the balance between environmental ambitions, economic viability, and customer expectations. The conversation explores how sustainability initiatives have evolved over the past decade. While legislation and regulatory requirements continue to drive change, Charles points out that customer demand and a genuine commitment from businesses to "do the right thing" are increasingly important motivations. For many companies, sustainability is no longer simply a compliance exercise but an integral part of how they operate and compete. Morten and Charles also discuss the complexities of packaging, books, and print-on-demand production. While reducing waste remains a common goal, the conversation highlights the importance of understanding the broader environmental picture. Packaging, for example, often plays a critical role in reducing food waste, while advances in just-in-time book production have helped reduce the number of unsold books that were historically pulped. The interview touches on the challenges of sustainability legislation, recycling requirements, de-inking, digital printing technologies, and the role of manufacturers in supporting industry-wide environmental goals. Charles argues that meaningful progress requires collaboration across the entire value chain, from suppliers and manufacturers to printers and customers. The discussion concludes with reflections on Brexit, European legislation, and the continuing importance of collaboration between the BPIF and Intergraf. Despite the UK's departure from the European Union, Charles explains why close cooperation with European industry organizations remains essential, particularly in helping members understand and adapt to legislation that continues to influence cross-border trade and business operations. A thoughtful conversation about sustainability, environmental responsibility, packaging, legislation, and the practical challenges of balancing commercial success with long-term environmental goals.

The packaging market continues to surprise new innovative solutions, new capabilities, and a changing trend towards a wider format. FlexoPrint in Randers, Denmark, is one of Denmark's leading flexo printing companies, serving customers in Scandinavia, Germany, and as CEO Lars Ole Nauta says, "Wherever there is an order, we try to get it." In this film, we get an insight into the recent investment of the Nilpeter FA 26" machine, which, according to Nauta, serves a gap in the market. FlexoPrints flexibility to serve fast is a KPI that will help to fill the machine with more jobs. Enjoy the film.

At Printing United in Orlando, Morten B. Reitoft from INKISH speaks with Chad Ferguson, Vice President of Sales at MBO America, about his first year in the role and the company’s expanding footprint in the finishing market. After nine years with Standard Finishing, Chad Ferguson joined MBO America to take on a leadership position focused on driving sales growth, building stronger customer relationships, and broadening awareness of MBO’s digital finishing solutions. He explains that the biggest change for him personally has been moving from working independently as a territory manager to leading a national sales team, emphasizing collaboration and mentorship across the organization. Ferguson highlights that while MBO has long been recognized as a global leader in folding equipment, the company has successfully evolved into a major player in roll-fed digital finishing. At the show, MBO America is demonstrating its roll-fed digital line featuring an auto splicer and the CC23 contour cutter—technologies that showcase the company’s strength in inline production and modular design. Each component is built for flexibility and efficiency, allowing customers to reconfigure their systems as needed. The modular “parking lot method,” as Ferguson describes it, means users can roll components in and out on caster wheels, adapting their setup for specific production jobs with ease. He emphasizes that many printers still associate MBO primarily with traditional sheetfed folding, yet the company’s modern portfolio includes advanced solutions for high-volume, data-driven applications such as direct mail, transactional printing, and commercial finishing. The hallmark of MBO equipment remains its robustness, precision, and German engineering quality. Ferguson’s goal is to ensure more printers in North America recognize that MBO can support nearly any finishing need, from simple folding to complex inline digital workflows. Discussing automation, Ferguson notes that while Europe has led in adopting collaborative robots and autonomous systems, the U.S. market is now catching up. He mentions strong customer interest in MBO’s CoBo-Stack and other automation solutions, particularly as print providers struggle with labor shortages. For many shops, he says, the challenge of finding and retaining skilled operators is driving investment in automation. Ferguson believes this shift is inevitable and that MBO’s adaptable, modular approach positions it perfectly to help printers boost productivity, reduce manual handling, and future-proof their operations.

At Expográfica in Guadalajara, César Hernández, Commercial Director of Fine Arts México, speaks about the company’s 26-year journey serving the Mexican print industry with inks, blankets, chemicals, and consumables for offset production. The conversation explores Fine Arts México’s international partnerships, growing interest in flexographic printing, and the company’s increasing focus on sustainability, including products such as compostable-substrate-compatible inks. César Hernández also shares his positive impressions of the exhibition and explains why demand for environmentally conscious solutions continues to grow across the Mexican print market.

Self driving PDF – The Future of Workflow Automation by CEO Dietrich von Segger. Link to presentation: https://grafkom.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/WS19/Self+driving+PDF+S.pdf

At Expográfica in Guadalajara, Celso Hirata, Sales Manager for Latin America at EFI, speaks about the introduction of the EFI M3H hybrid printer to the Mexican market together with Gaia BTL. The conversation explores the machine’s ability to print both rigid and flexible substrates, its new Kyocera printheads, high production speeds, and accessible pricing compared to competing technologies. Celso Hirata also shares EFI’s strong commitment to the Latin American market and explains why Mexico plays a key strategic role for EFI’s expansion across the region.

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!

At Durst's Print Next event in Brixen, Wayne Beckett speaks with Cees Bolijn from Probo, one of Europe's most forward-thinking print service providers, about automation, robotics, AI, and why the future of print production is being built one step at a time. Having spent the previous days attending Durst's software sessions, Cees shares his perspective on Kyveris and how it aligns with Probo's own automation strategy. While Probo is developing many of its own systems, he sees significant opportunities to combine Durst's vision with the company's existing infrastructure. For Probo, the objective is not simply workflow automation—it is the intelligent utilization of machines, materials, and people across the entire production environment. One of the most fascinating parts of the discussion focuses on robotics. Rather than placing robots directly on individual production devices, Probo is taking a broader logistics approach, using automation to move materials efficiently between machines and to create flexible production lines capable of handling different products and workflows. It is a strategy designed to maximize overall efficiency rather than optimize individual machines. The conversation also addresses one of the industry's biggest concerns: the impact of automation on employment. Cees believes robotics will inevitably change certain job functions, but rather than replacing experienced employees, the goal is to redeploy their skills towards higher-value activities such as predictive maintenance, process optimization, and quality control. At the same time, artificial intelligence is already helping to accelerate software development and simplify user interface creation, allowing innovation to move faster without necessarily increasing the size of development teams. Although Probo's automation journey only began around a year ago, measurable improvements are already visible. Better machine data, improved production sequencing, and greater visibility across operations are enabling the company to utilise both equipment and staff more effectively while laying the foundation for increasingly autonomous production. The interview concludes with a preview of INKISH FLOW, taking place at Probo later this year, where visitors will have the opportunity to experience many of these technologies in a real production environment and see first-hand how automation, robotics, and AI are reshaping modern print manufacturing. A highly insightful conversation about intelligent manufacturing, practical automation, and why the journey towards lights-out production is accelerating faster than many printers realise.

At Canon's Power to Move event in Venlo, Morten Reitoft speaks with Cathy Bittner and Tino Waegelein from Canon EMEA about the company's vision for the future of production printing and the technologies shaping the next generation of print manufacturing. The conversation explores how Canon is helping customers navigate a rapidly changing market where automation, efficiency, sustainability, and evolving customer expectations are becoming increasingly important. As print service providers look for new ways to improve productivity and profitability, Canon continues to invest in technologies designed to bridge the gap between traditional production methods and the opportunities offered by digital transformation. Bittner and Waegelein share insights into the role of innovation within Canon's strategy and discuss why events such as Power to Move are important platforms for bringing customers, partners, and industry experts together. Beyond showcasing technology, the event serves as an opportunity to exchange ideas, challenge assumptions, and explore how the printing industry may develop in the years ahead. The discussion highlights Canon's commitment to supporting customers throughout their digital transformation journeys while providing practical solutions that address real production challenges. Enjoy the interview.

In this almost 14-minute chat between Cathy Bittner and Editor Morten B. Reitoft, you will learn about Canon (of course) and why they have chosen to use the word "PrintWorks" for something that sounds very much like Digital Transformation. A super great chat that we are SURE you will like!

In this ''Learn With Us' session Carsten Bøg from Grakom (The federation of Danish Printers) explains the ClimateCalc tool that enables printing companies to calculate their carbon emissions. One of the things Carsten Bøg talk about is the fact that the ClimateCalc originally was intended to help printing companies to save energy - now the platform gives you a great insight in your energy consumption and the emissions related to your products. To get ClimateCalc is easy (your local federation), and not very expensive.

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.

Jean Lloyd from Inkish speaks with Kamina Pinto from Flexographica at LabelExpo 2025 in Barcelona. Kamina explains that Flexographica is based in Guatemala and has been in business for 28 years, primarily as a flexo label printer. However, in recent years, they have also started producing small-quantity stand-up pouches and adopted digital printing about 14 years ago. The company handles a mix of large flexo orders and many small digital ones to meet the diverse needs of its customers, focusing on delivering consistent high quality at competitive prices. She says she is at LabelExpo to explore new technologies, particularly inkjet, which she sees as offering more vivid colors and potential differentiation compared to other digital systems. In Guatemala, she notes, there has not been much investment in new digital technologies, and Flexographica aims to be the first mover so others will follow. Kamina emphasizes that brands don’t usually dictate technology—they expect excellent quality—so it’s up to her team to guide them on what’s possible. She adds that while there are many solutions on display at the show, choosing the right OEM partner is critical because digital equipment requires long-term support and stability, not just a low upfront price. She concludes that she is looking for technology that can help Flexographica stand out from competitors by offering something different rather than competing solely on price.

In the North West of The Netherlands, you will find an exciting company called Fotofabriek, which we covered a few months ago. Fotofabriek produces photo and personalized products, as you can hear from the name. Still, they also have a very comprehensive IT department that has developed a platform called Instant Design Tool. The tool enables customers to create print designs, and as Carmen Martina explains in this film, the software is a freemium version that allows customers to test before buying. The software output (PDF or PNG) can be printed with any printer, or you can route your work to Fotofabriek - super interesting and worth checking out!

SwissQprint launched their 5th generation of large-format printers in the week of January 13th, 2025 - and it was a launch with great anticipation, so we reached out to Carmen Loher-Eicher and Adriano Gut to learn whether this was 'ONLY' a new iteration or... We got to talk about technology, market and even gender equality - so enjoy! LinkedIn Profiles: Adriano Gut Carmen Loher-Eicher

At the Print Symposium in Murnau, Southern Germany, Morten Reitoft speaks with Carmen Garbisch from Schabert, a long-established distributor of bookbinding materials founded in 1946. The conversation focuses on the future of books, print, and the role materials play in creating premium printed products. In the “Danger Zone” discussion, Garbisch shares her concerns about a fully digital future where books could lose relevance, while also emphasizing that the book market has remained surprisingly stable. Together, they discuss the importance of the industry becoming more proactive in promoting print and publishing, not only within the industry itself, but also toward publishers, bookbinders, and consumers. Garbisch explains how events like the Print Symposium help connect suppliers, printers, and publishers, creating inspiration, collaboration, and new opportunities for the future of print.

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.

Mark Vruno from INKISH talked to Carmen Eicher from SwissQPrint about the new off-loading feature on their large-format presses - all for the sake of making the machines even more productive - of course :-)

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!

This session of 'Over the Skype' I am particularly excited about since this a chat with our new INKISH Mexico Country Manager Carla Menéndez. Carla is the General Manager of the media group El Impresor, which is both several websites as well as a magazine with 50.000+ readers. In this, Over the Skype, we get a chance to talk about the Mexican market and of course a lot of other exciting things. El Impresor was founded by Carla's grandfather, who is 93 and still active in the company. INKISH Mexico will, of course, produce the same high quality of films as you already know, but in Spanish. We can't wait - welcome Carla to you and the entire team! As with all our ‘Over the Skype’ interviews, quality is limited to bandwidth, web-cams, and ability to literally LIVE mix the conversations. However, it works, and with Over the Skype, we will bring you more than 20 exciting people, and angles on the industry as it is right now. Enjoy!

Andrea Erdmann is the Program Manager of CareAR and part of the Xerox digital experience team. Driving business transformation and emphasizing streamlining and improving the customer service experience are high on her agenda. Remote agents will guide customers with augmented reality features, and remote solving of problems is becoming mainstream. Great new services that are really making a difference when adopting an automated and connected strategy with your chosen partners. Improving on uptime and, in the meantime saving on CO2 emissions is a bonus. We are all for it.

Le célèbre et très respecté magazine Caractère est également présent au salon. Nous avons bien sûr lu leurs articles par le passé, mais nous n’avons eu le plaisir de les rencontrer en personne. Comme ils s'associent à INKISH dans le “Super Content Group” pour la Drupa plus tard cette année, il était grand temps de parler. Ici à C!Print nous découvrons comment Caractère voit le marché en 2024 en France et au-delà. Bonne conversation avec le rédacteur en chef Guillaume Prudent et à bientôt à la Drupa ! ——— The famous and highly respected Caractère magazine is also present at the show. We have of course read their articles in the past, but we have never had the pleasure of meeting them in person. As they partnering with INKISH in the “Super Content Group” for Drupa later this year, it was high time to speak. Here at C!Print we find out how Caractère sees the market in 2024 in France and beyond. Good chat with Editor-in-Chief Guillaume Prudent and see you at Drupa!

In this walkthrough, we get to see almost all segments Canon operates in within the graphics art space - and it's quite amazing. Enjoy this twenty-minute+ long walkthrough. LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hans-schmidbauer-5810235/