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!

Marks's Quest for Americans led him to John Lackner, who announced his purchase of an RMGT Series 10 machine at Drupa. The most extended configuration in the US so far - with an 8+2 configuration - made to serve the needs of current and future customers - but learn more in the interview. Enjoy!

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.

German language The Horizon Finishing First event is first and foremost about networking. It is also about technology, but even more important is, of course, the customers attending the event. One is Johanna Hornung, Head of Print Product at Celebrate. At the Horizon Finishing First event, Johanna Hornung is impressed by the robot arms but is seriously considering investing in the BQ-series binding equipment. The BQ500 is shown at the event with a Tecnau roll-based feeder, robots handling both loading book blocks and packing the finished books. New is the ability to use the BQ-series to create book blocks for hard cover production with end-papers, gaze, variable size, and number of pages - impressive technology.

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 :-)

In the '70s, Yurchak Printing was a conventional commercial printing company with web presses and sheet presses, but that all changed when the current management decided as one of America's first to become a fully digital supplier of books. Today, the company, located in Pennsylvania, has specialized in short-run books - often legal books and books printed on thin paper, perfect bound, and with covers often with foil stamping - which is an exciting challenge. The show room has numerous examples of great books printed with Yurchak. Yurchak Printing uses Ultimate Tech Impostrip to manage significant parts of its workflow, and IT Manager Jow Walton explains to INKISH how they are utilizing the software.

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.

From the Netherlands, living in Malaysia, having a house in Mallorca, and serving Asia Pacific + North Africa for KAMA. Job Van Hasselt gets around, has broad industry knowledge, and is experienced, curious, and successful with KAMA. We met with him in Casablanca - listen :-)  

The car wrapping market is booming, and for Joaquín de las Parras, Sales Manager Commercial Solutions 3M Iberia, it is essential to offer solutions to increase the effectiveness of vinyl application by reducing application times, which reduces costs for the end consumer. ___ El mercado de car wrapping está en auge, y para Joaquín de las Parras, Sales Manager Commercial Solutions 3M Iberia, es primordial ofrecer soluciones para aumentar la efectividad de la aplicación de vinilos reduciendo tiempos de aplicación, lo cual reduce los costos para el consumidor final.

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.

That radio is funny. I can remember that radio being in my life from the time I was a little girl. We had a little tiny little black and white TV. That got two channels. And I just remember pushing the buttons and trying to find the sound. And when my mom passed and a few years ago, I got a bunch of her stuff. This radio was in there. I'm hearing the same ads, but on different podcasts now. The type of communication hasn't changed. And I love how podcasts have evolved. It takes at least ten touches before your brand is a memory. Is even recognizable. That's where you can really start to recognize the buying patterns and the behaviors. And yeah, a lot of it is because we are bombarded and hit by so many messages. On so many channels. Scrolling and scrolling and scrolling. Oh, oh, I'm going to stop for a second. That spark that makes somebody stop. It becomes a little bit tricky, especially if you're selling a B2B solution. The smart companies are using their employees as brand ambassadors. I tend to be creative with words that need to be graphic designer. I got into the print industry as a typesetter. I have roots in print. And a lot of what I surround myself with are those fond memories. I've got illustrations of my parents. These are the things that I look at. That no matter what craziness is going on. I feel like so much has changed. But yet so much has stayed the same. I think we should stop calling it the print industry. And start calling it the communications industry. You know, I've been hearing for years print is dead. Print isn't dead. Print is dead. Print isn't dead. Print has changed. Print is different. Print is more. Print is communication. Print is the only medium where you can take a digital brand and actually make it physical. Are we ever going to call ourselves the communications industry? I think that would be awesome.

Good talking with Joan Casas about how the Spanish market perceives their new product launches. Fujifilm is launching several European novelties and unveiling them to the Spanish audience here in Madrid at the C!Print show. We delve into topics such as ROI, sustainability, and strategy that they see fit for the Spanish region.

At Printpack India 2025, Wayne Beckett speaks with Joakim Kranz, Sheetfed Sales Manager for IST Metz, about the company’s presence at the exhibition and its long-standing partnership with Heidelberger Druckmaschinen. Kranz highlights IST Metz’s role in supplying UV equipment for Heidelberg presses, emphasizing the importance of the Indian market and the company’s commitment to supporting sales in this price-sensitive yet rapidly growing region. The discussion explores IST Metz’s engineering support for India, with a global service team operating from Southeast Asia and Germany to provide post-sale assistance, repairs, and operational guidance. Kranz also explains the company’s approach to retrofitting UV equipment onto existing presses, as well as upgrading systems to LED technology, which represents the future of UV curing. With India’s expanding print industry and increasing demand for advanced UV solutions, IST Metz is well-positioned to continue its growth in the region. This conversation offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape of UV curing technology and IST Metz’s strategic focus on the Indian market.

Look back at March 2020. When the Covid-19 started in Thailand. I became tutor and speaker. One picture that I remember really well is: I was helping her who spoke to me. It made me know that other industries have troubles. And that Covid-19 hurts many businesses. This was the starting point for making the Printery Podcast. I interview a person in the printing business about how they solve their problems in the pandemic. Large format printing communication to set the hygiene in the hospital. And suggest this type of communications for the doctor. And sharing knowledge communication. I think like many people who say that printing is essential too in the crisis. Printing can deliver solutions quickly in the pandemic. I am thinking that print is essential in the crisis when the technology sector has grown. And there are more and more innovations. Printing - there will be more printing. Diverse, modern - it works. And printing is also a part of other businesses and people. My name is Jitngarm Pramaneenil. I live in Thailand. I am a podcaster at printery podcast. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jitngarm-pramaneenil-641584137/

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 meets with Jitender Pal Singh, CEO of Kurz India, to discuss the latest advancements in embellishment technology and sustainability. With a bustling exhibition stand and record-breaking footfall, Singh discusses Kurz’s commitment to reducing environmental impact, including their breakthrough in reducing foil thickness from 12 microns to 6 microns. The conversation also covers the company’s latest innovations, such as the 60-degree box design concept, Silver Line technology, and, for the first time in India, digital foiling options. Singh provides valuable insights into the business considerations behind digital embellishment, addressing whether print service providers should secure customers before investing in new technology or take the plunge first. With over 125 years of industry expertise, Kurz India is at the forefront of guiding businesses toward the right solutions for their market needs. For anyone considering digital embellishment, this discussion offers key takeaways on market trends, customization opportunities, and the future of print finishing.

Jim Rosenthal has attended almost EVERY EFI Connect, and in this chat, with editor Morten B. Reitoft he gives many great reasons for why you should also attend. Jim Rosenthal is the President of PDC Graphics in Pennsylvania and delivers a mix of data-driven print using EFI technology. Jim Rosenthal also says that he has got good friends at EFI Connect that he considers family friends - and of course, he is going again in January - Let's Connect!

Our friends from SpencerMetrics have for ten years developed software, sensors, and other means to collect data from printing machines for customers to get better data for important decisions. At PRINTING United, we meet with Jim Martin, the President of Numo Manufacturing - a company specializing in merchandise. The company has their headquarter in Texas, but the 1,000 people operation is in Mexico - so even more important

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!

After the Over the Skype conversation with XMPie Founder Jacob Aizikowitz it was interesting to gain insight to the real meaning of omnichannel related to a print innovation and marketing services business. So a number one candidate for a follow-up conversation is Jeroen van Druenen in Amsterdam, NL. Beside his job as CEO of Jubels — claim: smart printing. smart solutions. — Jeroen is as well member of the global Xerox Premier Partner network and President of the XMPie Unsers Group. Andreas Weber, CEO INKISH D-A-CH, raised some important questions because omnichannel is not a natural part of the DNA of printing companies. Jeroen shared some fantastic insights which are relevant to all of us in the D-A-CH region as well as in the rest of the world. --- Nach dem Over the Skype-Gespräch mit XMPie-Gründer Jacob Aizikowitz war es interessant, einen Einblick in die wahre Bedeutung von Omnichannel im Zusammenhang mit dem Geschäft mit Druckinnovationen und Marketingdienstleistungen zu erhalten. Ein Nummer-eins-Kandidat für das Folgegespräch ist Jeroen van Druenen aus Amsterdam, NL. Neben seiner Tätigkeit als CEO von Jubels — Motto: Smart Printing. Intelligente Lösungen. — Jeroen ist außerdem Mitglied des globalen Xerox Premier Partner-Netzwerks und Präsident der XMPie Unsers Group. Andreas Weber, CEO von INKISH D-A-CH, stellte einige wichtige Fragen, da Omnichannel kein natürlicher Bestandteil der DNA von Druckunternehmen ist. Jeroen teilte einige fantastische Erkenntnisse, die für uns alle in der D-A-CH-Region sowie im Rest der Welt relevant sind. LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeroenvandruenen/

Interview in Dutch - subtitles in English. Xeikon heeft een aantal nieuwigheden meegebracht naar de Drupa beurs en als partner van VIGC stimuleren zij graag de interactie met haar leden en met de grafische markt in de Benelux. We ontmoeten en maken kennis met Jeroen van Bauwel, Solutions Director bij in Lier(B) gevestigde XEIKON, een onderdeel van de Flint Group Digital. Als iemand met veel ervaring en een langdurige staat van dienst bij Xeikon, is hij dus de geknipte man om ons te updaten waar Xeikon vandaag voor staat. Wat mogen verder nog verwachten in de nabije toekomst inzake de digitale transformatie en duurzaamheid. Je verneemt het hier. — EN — Xeikon has brought a number of novelties to the Drupa fair and as a partner of the VIGC they are happy to stimulate interaction with its members and with the graphics market in the Benelux. We meet and get to know Jeroen van Bauwel, Solutions Director at Lier(B)-based XEIKON, part of the Flint Group Digital. As someone with a lot of experience and a long track record at Xeikon, he is the ideal man to update us on what Xeikon stands for today. What else can we expect in the near future regarding digital transformation and sustainability? You will find out here.

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.

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.

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.