In this 'Over the Skype' session, we this time visits Jean Lloyd from South Africa. Jean Lloyd has a deep understanding of Inkjet with years of experience. Today she works as an independent consulting with a focus on supporting her customers about Inkjet. 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!

I've got 17 kilometers of stunning, stunning, beautiful white beach in front of me. During lockdown I actually moved to a beach house. And I thought: Well while I'm still here, let's get some quality living. Coming back to South Africa, it was circumstances in a way beyond my control. If you look at where technology is, where the work is, where the customers are. I miss that interaction. I do miss the rush of being on top of the latest technology and trends. What Covid has done, it has almost brought a human side to people's lives. Learn to be agile. You've learned to cope. You've learned new ways of getting information. I've met awesome people and I've taken on a V-Press web-to-print agency. I've gone down roads with, you know, the likes of like the Deborah Corn’s and the Pat McGrews. I mean, we really are involved, I suppose, in each other's lives on a daily basis. We are four generations of print in our family. So my grandfather, he operated a web-press. Both of my parents worked as factory workers in print shops. I have deaf parents. And so it was obviously a huge challenge for them. But I always wanted to dress up like the ladies upstairs. So kind of that was my aim. My daughter is in print. I'm so passionate about this industry. I absolutely love it. My career started at Heidelberg. I joined in Marketing. I was running the marketing department. Heidelberg and Kodak had this joint venture. And they launched digital. I would never in a million years think that I would be supporting a cause to save baboons. But when I looked out my window, there was this huge baboon sitting outside. The moment I found out about it...the more. I think it just got my heart string. And I can see I'm making a difference. And I'm bringing print into the picture. LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jean-lloyd-7b6392bb/

At Printing United in Orlando, Morten B. Reitoft from INKISH meets Jean Carrion from Texas during the open mic session to talk about her company and its work in the apparel industry. Jean explains that her company produces cheerleading uniforms, bandwear for high school musicians, and sports apparel—a thriving business in the United States, particularly in Texas, where the sports industry is large and deeply rooted in local culture. Carrion shares that her company uses a range of printing technologies, but is currently most focused on sublimation printing. Since sublimation is key to creating durable, high-quality garments with vivid colors, she is especially interested in exploring the latest innovations in this area. Although she is not at the show to make direct purchases, she is there to research, compare, and recommend new equipment for her company’s future upgrades. She also highlights the importance of unifying production processes across all company facilities to ensure consistency, efficiency, and quality control. Visiting Printing United early allows her to explore new technologies before the show becomes crowded and to stay ahead of industry trends. The conversation reflects Carrion’s proactive and knowledgeable approach, as well as the dynamic nature of the U.S. sportswear and performance apparel market.

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 :-)

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.

The HP T700i is enormous, and talking to Jason Hower, the Lead System Engineer on the machine, is proud - and with right. The machine is made for the lamination market, liner printing for corrugated converters, and if you think digital is short-run, rethink! The T700i runs as fast as almost any offset press, and the operational cost is so low that the break-even is in the thousands. We go into many details in this walkthrough, so please skip forward if you are more interested in any other section of the machine. HP T700i uses the newest generation of HP's thermo printhead with ink-recycle features, saving ink. The machine is fast and features technology that is, for now, only found on its larger brother, the T11XX series, and the new T4250, not yet launched. In short, it means faster, better quality, and better operational cost. Fantastic opportunity for us to get close to the machine, and we hope it will also be a learning journey for you.

Jarkko Hakola is the owner, the publisher, and the event organizer of the Finish company Print & Media Publishing, and we found him busy as usual on the tradeshow floor. In our mind, Jarkko Hakola is one of the best media in the industry with a deep dedication to details and what we consider a highly recognized trade media in the Finish printing industry. Dig in!

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!  

Sign, Print & Pack 2019 took place in Odense, the hometown of one of the worlds may be best storytellers Hans Christian Andersen. At the show, Print Sample TV host met with Janne Høgshøj from Danish Connection. Both have a passion for paper, print, and enhancement beyond most - and here they share. Janne Høgshøj and Pat McGrew never met before, but I am sure both enjoyed the company.

Wayne from INKISH is at The Print Show in sunny Birmingham, where he speaks with Jane Wickens from Solopress. Jane explains that Solopress supports the show every year because it offers valuable opportunities to meet customers face-to-face — reconnecting with existing clients, engaging with new ones, and building relationships with businesses looking to outsource specific print services. Many visitors come from complementary sectors such as signage or DTF printing, seeking a trusted white-label supplier for products like flyers or brochures, making Solopress an ideal partner. This year, Solopress is placing strong emphasis on sustainability — challenging misconceptions about the environmental impact of manufacturing. Jane points out that while print inevitably consumes energy, it also produces tangible, recyclable products, whereas many digital technologies consume significant resources behind the scenes. Solopress aims to highlight the positive environmental progress being made within print, demonstrating that manufacturing can be both responsible and valuable. In addition to customer engagement, the show provides a platform for networking with OEMs and suppliers. Jane notes that in-person interactions allow for more meaningful conversations than email or video calls, often leading to unexpected insights and stronger partnerships. Solopress operates across both trade and end-user markets, with a dedicated Solo Pro service tailored to trade printers. This includes competitive pricing, structured accounting, and expert support to help partners grow their businesses. The company also attracts designers, who often visit the stand to explore new applications and draw inspiration from Solopress’ range of printed products. Jane, proudly wearing her Girls Who Print badge, also highlights the growing impact of the movement and looks forward to connecting with Deborah Corn during the show’s live sessions. A lively discussion about collaboration, sustainability, and inspiration in print — filmed live at The Print Show in Birmingham.

Dutch with English Subtitles. A long-standing customer and user of Komori printing presses is the company Koppelaar Mixmedia. Anyone who regularly drinks a cup of coffee in a "paper cup" with printed advertising has a good chance that this was produced by Jan and his colleagues. A sympathetic conversation about coffee cups and printing technology. --- Een jarenlange klant en gebruiker van Komori drukpersen is de firma Koppelaar mixmedia. Wie regelmatig een kop koffie drinkt in een “paper cup” met bedrukte reclame heeft grote kans dat dit geproduceerd werd door Jan en zijn collega’s. Een sympathiek gesprek over koffiebekers en druktechnologie.

Jan Marstorp, CEO of Plockmatic, discusses their latest innovations, including the advanced Booklet Maker, which offers versatile size variations tailored to the growing demands of digital short-run book production. Alongside the Booklet Maker, Plockmatic also showcased its cutting-edge LED Coating Technology, reinforcing the company’s commitment to expanding its capabilities, enhancing customer service, and strengthening its presence in key digital print markets. Looking ahead, packaging remains a major focus for Plockmatic, driven by increasing customer demand. With a range of innovative packaging solutions on display, Marstorp expresses confidence in the opportunities this sector presents, paving the way for new growth and expansion. Watch the full interview to learn more about Plockmatic's latest advancements and future vision!

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.

Jamie McLennan is known by some people as Jamie the Printer, and for sure he is. In this, Over the Skype episode, he explains how he got the nickname. But he also tells about how much work his company DMR Graphics has despite the coronavirus. He also talks about an amazing screen printed poster for a jazz-festival printed in 19-colours. You can see the poster at https://art4now.com/ - simply amazing, and minutes before this film is published, the festival is unfortunately cancelled :-( However, Jamie the Printer is still on - so sit in and listen to his great words! 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!

Wayne Beckett from Inkish interviews James Thomas at Label Expo in Barcelona. James explains that his company, Focus, has developed a new water-based inkjet system for labels and packaging in collaboration with Simply Inkjet. Unlike previous attempts where material and coating costs were too high, this new system makes water-based inkjet viable and is currently in active development with projects already underway. It builds on Focus’s long experience with UV systems. It opens new opportunities in markets like food, pharmaceuticals, coffee cups, and other packaging applications where water-based solutions are preferred or required by legislation. The system can be adapted as a retrofit or built as a custom configuration with CMYK, white, precoating, and finishing units, making it suitable for complex applications like duplex pharmaceutical printing, fan folding, and peel-and-reveal labels. All Focus machines are manufactured in Nottingham in their own facility with in-house design, assembly, and demo areas. James says the label market is challenging but still buoyant, with good growth in international markets like the USA. Recent collaborations, new agents, and partnerships with companies like Kuka and OK have helped expand their reach and bring more production back in-house for customers. He concludes that the new water-based system represents a major opportunity and that it’s exciting to bring innovative equipment to such a large trade show.

James Struble, Director of Software Solutions at Eco3 knows the secrets of integration, especially when it comes to adding efficiency to print workflow. With Apogee taking care of the job capture and preparation and integrating with ePS or Graphic Communications products, his teams have saved their joint customers hours of time, leading to more efficiency, productivity, and larger bottom line revenue.

At the Printing United Expo in Orlando, Pat McGrew speaks with James Mekis from PODi and Chris Heric from CIP4, both attending to engage with industry partners and discuss workflow interoperability. Rather than selling or buying equipment, their goal is to explore how different print systems can better communicate using standards such as JDF and JMF. They explain how these specifications allow devices from multiple vendors—such as Heidelberg, Kodak, Xerox, and 3M—to integrate seamlessly within a single production environment, reducing the need for proprietary or custom solutions. James notes that CIP4’s mission is to make automation more accessible for print providers who rely on diverse hardware and software setups, and the organization has developed extensive resources, including an introductory guide for those new to JDF. Chris adds that as printers increasingly depend on MIS and DFE systems, interoperability has become essential for efficiency and competitiveness. They also highlight available case studies that show real-world benefits of standardization. The conversation emphasizes how organizations like CIP4 and PODi continue to educate and support the print industry in adopting open standards to drive smarter, more connected workflows.

Chinese language - English subtitles

Bag print it: Chief Commercial Officer Jim Burns walks INKISH through what’s new with Inkcups, including the XJET Switch direct-to-bag printer. It’s not your father’s pad printing technology!

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/

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.

Our Conversations are popular and for good reason, as you get the opportunity to get closer to the person behind the high-level management position. Editor Morten B. Reitoft can talk to the new Tarsus Group Managing Director, Jade Grace, in this film. You will learn what Jade Grace does when she is not working, but more importantly, learn about some of the considerations about expos, her own job, ambitions, and the future of tradeshows. Super nice conversations.

In this interview from LabelExpo 2025 in Barcelona, Wayne Beckett from Inkish speaks with Jacques Human, Managing Director of Kamboo, the new South African distributor for Weigang. Jacques shares how the partnership began only three months ago and how his team has already sold their first Weigang machine, which will be installed in Cape Town in January. He explains the challenges of the South African market, where currency fluctuations and economic disparities make it hard to find the right balance between quality and price, and why Weigang stood out as the perfect fit after visiting their world-class manufacturing facility in China. Jacques discusses overcoming the stigma sometimes associated with Chinese OEMs by emphasizing Weigang’s use of high-quality European components from brands like Siemens, which have strong local support in South Africa. He notes that while European presses are still considered the “Rolls-Royce” of the industry, Weigang offers comparable quality at a significantly lower price point, making them an attractive alternative without being the cheapest option. The first machine in Cape Town will serve as a showroom unit for potential customers, and Jacques is confident this installation will help build trust and accelerate Weigang’s growth in the region.

INKISH hosted for the first time ever our NON-EVENT. The Non-event is celebrating the people that have been in front of the camera, or been supporting INKISH during the past years. This is a new recurring event, and the idea is to give space for the people we have featured to connect in a new way. We invited 150 people, and 32 decided to join us. Our guests came from Japan, Canada, USA, UK, Belgium, Sweden, and Denmark - and we are confident that next year, even more, will come. We asked most of our participants to talk LIVE during the dinner - and here is Jacob Hededam Hummel from Denmark. Jacob Hededam Hummel is employed by Heidelberg GmbH, but work out of mostly Denmark and the UK, and that is among other reasons because Heidelberg is now working in clusters, but also since Jacob Hededam Hummel is specialized in Heidelbergs workflow and automation solution Prinnect. Enjoy!