DG3 is a fantastic printing company with diverse production. Patrick Caragliano says with a smile, “We can produce anything here but foil stamping and embossing.” - we believe them. One of the centerpieces on the production side is the new Koenig & Bauer Rapida 105 - but they have everything you can dream of. Binding, enveloping, digital print, and tons of people. It is a fantastic company with an exciting story told by Steven Babat and Patrick Caragliano - super happy to have experienced DG3 firsthand; second best is, of course, through the eyes of your INKISH team :-)

Steve shared his times for printers of any size to get started with AI, including guidance for both printing company leadership and print technicians. AI can help many facets of the business, but it will take an investment of dedicated time and some budget to make the most of the available platforms and tools.

Steve Luedke recently joined Mark Andy after 26 years with WS Packaging, so he brings a converter's perspective to the press manufacturer's customer service department. He is responsible for its new Mark Andy 360 customer service initiative, announced at Labelexpo Americas 2024.

At Printing United in Orlando, Wayne Beckett from INKISH meets with Steve Loskutov from Bag Tags, a company based in Skokie, Illinois, just outside of Chicago. Bag Tags specializes in manufacturing luggage tags and event credentials, serving clients in youth sports, professional sports, adventure travel, and the trade show industry. This is Steve Loskutov’s first visit to Printing United, and he describes the show as “huge” and “wild,” noting how valuable it is to see such a wide range of exhibitors and technologies all in one place. Loskutov explains that Bag Tags decided to attend the event as part of its search for a new digital press. Rather than visiting single-brand showcases, he wanted to compare multiple solutions side by side, making Printing United the ideal venue to evaluate technology, performance, and vendor support. He jokes that being in the market for a press makes him “a very popular man” among exhibitors, as every manufacturer is eager to earn his attention. Bag Tags is already a customer of Rollem International and operates the Insignia X3 die cutter — a purchase Loskutov calls a “game changer.” Before acquiring the system, the company’s workflow involved manually drilling holes and die cutting one sheet at a time, which was both time-consuming and labor-intensive. With the Insignia X3, Bag Tags can now complete in one hour what previously took eight. Loskutov praises the machine’s precision, durability, and speed, saying it has dramatically improved efficiency and output quality. He also commends Rollem’s team in Schaumburg, Illinois, including their technician Edgar, for exceptional training and ongoing support, describing them as calm, confident, and always reliable. Looking ahead, Loskutov says the company’s next priority is identifying the right digital press to complement their finishing operations. The goal, he explains, is not just to acquire new equipment but to ensure that any addition integrates seamlessly with their existing workflow. Bag Tags is taking a thorough, research-based approach, testing different systems to confirm quality, durability, and compatibility before making a decision. The conversation highlights how Bag Tags continues to balance craftsmanship and innovation — evolving from a manual, labor-intensive operation into a modern, highly efficient manufacturer while maintaining the attention to detail and customer focus that define its reputation.

Steve Johnson, or Tonerman, is well-known in the American print community. He is a smart businessman, a columnist with WhatTheyThink, and now also featured on INKISH. Listen to Johnson and learn the difference between books and manuals. In this interview by Mark Vruno, you get a lot of great insights about his company, Copresco, and great learning in general. With this interview, we also introduce Mark Vruno. He has been with us at various tradeshows and will also be at PRINTING United, but this is his first FULL INKISH Interview. Great work—welcome on board!

Wayne from INKISH is at The Print Show in sunny Birmingham, where he meets Steve Giddings, Managing Director of Perfect Binding Machinery. Steve has been in the printing industry for 60 years, starting out with letterpress, moving into lithography, and then embracing digital technology, which he describes as the most versatile and exciting yet. At this year’s show, he introduces a new piece of digital equipment designed to print images, text, and colours directly onto book edges. The machine was flown in from China just in time for the event, after a long and expensive journey through customs, flights, and visa challenges for the engineers. Perfect Binding Machinery has been in operation since 2005, following Steve’s earlier venture, Steve Giddings Engineering, which ran from 1988 to 2001. The company specialises in finishing equipment, particularly hardcover book production. Their solutions include perfect binding, three-knife trimming, case making, foiling, board and cloth cutting, and thread sewing. Steve highlights a compact and innovative binder that can handle endpapering and back lining with hot-melt glue, then produce either hardcover or softcover books on demand. In combination with three-knife trimmers, thread sewing, or digital printing, this creates a streamlined, short-run book production line in a relatively small footprint. Although the UK market has been challenging, with several companies closing down this year, Perfect Binding Machinery continues to serve its customers. Steve notes that, although it hasn’t been easy, the company remains committed to providing solutions that support book production in the UK. Known for his wit and perspective, Steve sums up his lifelong dedication to the trade by saying, “Some people have ink in their blood — I’ve got glue in mine.” A conversation full of history, humour, and insight into book finishing, filmed live at The Print Show in Birmingham.

Steve Billow was recently appointed President & CEO of Fujifilm Dimatix. You may not know that name so well, but in the graphic arts industry, that equals Samba print heads, used in many inkjet printers. We got a chance to talk to Billow about his job, inkjet in general, and many more things - super nice talking to you, and looking forward to further conversations!

Of course, digital transformation isn't only about equipment. When a company like Flower City, just a few years ago, was a litho offset-only company, investing in digital technology from AGFA and learning about the opportunities it presents to the company is simply amazing. The company delivers PODs to numerous household names in the US, but prides itself on being large enough to have a wealth of resources available to us, yet small enough to remain nimble and agile, serving its customers exceptionally well. You should have been there - it's really a great company with many very nice people. What a great day!

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!

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!

In this episode, Stéphane Royère from KURZ will show new silver products that maybe have less "blink" but still can make people look one more time.  

French with English subtitles: DB Print, based in Lille, France, is one of Komori's heavy users of its printing equipment and current offering. What are the new challenges, and what solutions are the large offset printers looking for, especially in commercial printing? What are the drivers when they seek to invest in new technologies, and how do they anticipate entrepreneurial difficulties? We chat with Stéphane Cannone, Managing Director of DB Print, and hear some of his thoughts on the matter. It turns out to be a difficult choice and must consider the lifespan of the technology, the cost savings, and the search for prolonged efficiency gains. -- DB Print basé à Lille, France est l'un des gros utilisateurs de Komori de son équipement d'impression et de son offre actuelle. Quels sont les nouveaux défis et quelles solutions les grands imprimeurs offset recherchent-ils réellement, en particulier dans le domaine de l'impression commerciale ? Quels sont les moteurs lorsqu'ils cherchent à investir dans les nouvelles technologies et comment anticipent-ils les difficultés entrepreneuriales ? Nous discutons avec Stéphane Cannone, le directeur général de DB Print, et découvrons certaines de ses réflexions à ce sujet. Il s'avère être un choix difficile et doit tenir compte de la durée de vie de la technologie, des économies de coûts et de la recherche de gains d'efficacité prolongés.

OneVision delivers Workflow Solutions to the industry - and has developed a modular-based solution that fits all sizes. In this engaging interview with Stepha Reiter, you get an insight into what OneVision offers, the challenges, and what to expect at drupa. Nice talking to Stephan Reiter again!

Since Stephan Plenz left Heidelberg years ago, he has worked as a consultant for a number of companies. Ten months ago, he was appointed Managing Director for Actega Metal Print, and together with his team, he is now working on bringing Ecoleaf to the market - initially in the labels segment, but as Stephan Plenz explains in the film - later for other segments. Ecoleaf is developed on technology acquired from Landa Labs also years ago but is not, according to Plenz ready for the market. He describes Ecoleaf as a disruptive technology. Plenz is also a board member of Tresu and Landa, so a busy man :-)

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.

Wayne Beckett talks with Stephan Eckner from Tessitura about software connectivity, software integration is a must now in the print sector and Stephan talks about the different possibilities using their software.

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.

Friday May 31st, Fujifilm had an award show at the Hyatt hotel in Düsseldorf - and one of the winners was Stephan de Vries from Fotofabriek in the Netherlands. First and foremost, congratulations - and second, in this interview you will learn more about how Fotofabriek won the Innovation Award by making a children's book product using AI.  

Flyerline.ch is a major Swiss-based company specializing in high-quality printed materials, promotional items, and packaging solutions. While we love hearing stories from vendors and tech companies, it’s equally important — perhaps even more so — to listen to the heavy users of this equipment. These users need solutions that ensure profitability and enable them to make their mark in this rapidly evolving printing space. Being in Switzerland, it only makes sense to hear from one of the “national” online print service providers to gain insights into the reality of online digital printing and the true needs of such operations.

Morten Reitoft from Inkish meets Steffen from CERM at LabelExpo 2025 in Barcelona. They discuss the number of Latin American printers, especially from Mexico, attending this year, and how both have recently invested in the region to expand their reach, seeing it as a fast-growing and promising market. Steffen notes that while global uncertainty has slowed some decision-making, European customers currently remain confident and are actively investing. He agrees that the current US uncertainty has, in some ways, strengthened European momentum, with many companies choosing to invest themselves out of potential crises. Steffen reflects on how challenges can drive innovation and how the industry must keep evolving. They then revisit CERM’s recent acquisition of Omikai about six months ago, which he says has gone very well — the teams work smoothly together, their cultures fit, and Omikai’s strong infrastructure, combined with CERM’s label expertise, is already showing results. While Omikai will continue serving commercial print, CERM plans to build label, packaging, and flexo capabilities on top of it rather than narrowing its scope, expecting this will strengthen the core platform overall. They also discuss how CERM’s partner ecosystem continues to grow, with new collaborations announced at the show, including those with MPS and Durst Group. This integration focus reduces manual touchpoints, improves cost control, and boosts production efficiency. Steffen concludes that CERM sees growth globally: in Europe, North America, and especially in emerging markets like Poland, Italy, Spain, and across Latin America, where they now also have local-language teams — a sign that their strategy is working.

At Labelexpo Guadalajara, CERM is present to showcase its growing commitment to the Latin American market, particularly Mexico. Steffen Haaga, representing the company, shares that this is his fourth visit to the country but the first time exhibiting at the show in Guadalajara. Previous visits revealed a vibrant and promising market, encouraging CERM to invest further and establish a stronger presence. Mexico has proven to be an exciting and significant region for the labels and packaging sector. With a large and growing population, increased demand for consumer goods, and a strong retail presence, the country offers substantial opportunities for companies like CERM. Some of the company’s largest and most impressive clients are based in Mexico, including Etiflex, a massive 500-employee printing facility in Mexico City, which stands out as one of the largest single-plant label operations. The conversation also touches on CERM’s recent acquisition of Swedish-based Omikai, a cloud-based MIS company. This strategic move is not just about expanding market reach but also about accelerating CERM’s technological development. Omikai’s advanced cloud architecture and highly capable team are expected to fast-track CERM’s cloud roadmap by several years. The synergy between the two companies is strong, both culturally and technically, making the integration a natural fit. Looking ahead, CERM sees significant potential in Mexico and across Spanish-speaking markets. With increased demand for automation and digital transformation in printing workflows, CERM is responding by building local capacity, including hiring support and implementation specialists in the region. The expectations for Labelexpo and beyond are high, driven by a belief in the region’s growth and a clear vision for supporting that growth with advanced solutions.

“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

Stefano De Marco recently became the new General Manager for Tecnau taking over from his father. Congratulations to him and Tecnau. In this 'Over the Skype', we talk about market opportunities, competitive situation, and of course also the new Revolution50 platform. One of the things I liked about the session is the discussion about the changing needs when high-volume finishing moves from transactional print to commercial print. 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!

One of the surprises we got at FEFCO was that this vast industry seems to lack industry standards - and that's where OpenPack comes in place. With their software platform, they enable communication across different brands and devices - and despite still being a startup, the industry has onboarded with OpenPack - and it seems to be a huge benefit for the industry. We agreed with CEO Dr. Stefan Uebelacker to do an online session about their software and what they offer shortly to give more insights about their solution - super interesting to learn about!