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Editor Morten B. Reitoft has enjoyed talking to Volker Selg many times. This time, we discuss what Dr. Hoenle offers in hot air, IR, conventional UV, and LED UV. As always, it's super interesting!

Interview with Hönle about the necessity of having quality lamps but also reliable quality measurements when using UV curing and drying, particularly when you want to secure the quality output of digital and conventional printed products. Good overview and introduction to this german based company that has been in the business for many decades.

Sometimes the sheer size of an organization makes you breathless, and SunChemical, as one of the largest ink- and varnish suppliers in the world, is just interesting to learn about. Here at IST UV-Days 2025, we got a chance to talk to Product Manager, Volker Linzer, who happily shared his views - dig in.

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/volker-leonhardt-5b887419/

Though Hunkeler Innovationdays only starts tomorrow, Monday, February 24th, INKISH has already intensively covered it. Over the weekend, we had the opportunity to film some of the major OEMs to give you more information and a bit of behind-the-scenes footage from some of the exhibitors. Here, we have Volker Leonhardt from Müller Martini. There is an impressive booth with three application lines. The first we discuss is a roll-fed saddle stitch line that combines Hunkeler, Stahl, and Müller Martini to make saddle-stitched products at high speed, with variable page count and finished format. The second and third lines end with a sorting line, so the books made on the Heidelberg Jetfire 50 don't end up in the same pile as those made on the HP Advantage 2200. From both printing devices, the paper is processed with the Hunkeler Plowfolder solution that folds and stacks the paper into book blocks that are then transported into Müller Martini perfect binders. Both lines combine their output to the trimmer - and voila - a line for web-fed and sheet-fed solutions is presented. Quite nice :-)

At SHIFT in Heidelberg, Morten B. Reitoft meets Volker from Meinders & Elstermann to talk about technology, automation, and why being among the first to adopt new solutions can create a real competitive advantage. Meinders & Elstermann already operates digital printing technologies from HP and Canon, and has now added the Heidelberg Jetfire to its production setup. But the conversation quickly moves beyond hardware and into one of the most important challenges facing modern printing companies: how to manage an increasingly complex production environment with smaller jobs, faster turnaround times, and more equipment to coordinate. Volker explains why Prinect Touch Free has become an important part of the company’s production strategy. By automating more decisions and allowing jobs to move between different production technologies even late in the process, the system helps reduce manual workload while increasing productivity. The interview also touches on the challenges of introducing new software, the importance of analyzing new technology before implementation, and why working closely with suppliers such as Heidelberg through field testing can help shape better solutions. And with AI becoming an increasingly important topic across the industry, Volker also shares what he hopes to gain from SHIFT — combining the discussions and presentations with the practical technology demonstrated at Heidelberg’s Home of Print.

Yet another young man who knows not only the technology but also its importance. Great talking to Vladimir Cometti, who is the Pre-Sales Manager, which means that before a sale is concluded, a solution is stress tested to be sure it can be connected, that it delivers what is expected - of course, you would say, but here put in the system :-)

In days were data are essential, SpencerMetrics is the company that delivers beyond - and in this interview with Pat McGrew, you get further inside in what their solution can do. Enjoy!

At Printing United 2025 in Orlando, Morten B. Reitoft from INKISH meets with Vihal Sahay, VP Sales of SpencerMetrics, on the final day of the show, a day Morten describes as when you finally have time to catch up with friends and talk in a more relaxed way. Vihal smiles and agrees, noting that although the last day has been calmer, it has still been busy and full of meaningful conversations. Morten begins by highlighting something that has always impressed him: the value of the data SpencerMetrics provides and how customers depend on it completely. Vihal nods. Their customers can’t live without their data. If a report doesn’t show up, or if the system skips a refresh, they immediately hear from them asking where their data is. Having been in the data analytics and performance management field for many years, SpencerMetrics has earned a strong reputation for precise measurement, deep integration, and consistent delivery of actionable insights. But this year marks a major new chapter for the company with the introduction of artificial intelligence. “We have to embrace AI,” Vihal says. “For decades we’ve been connecting multi-vendor, multi-technology production environments. We collect data, display it on real-time dashboards, and provide detailed analyses. But we discovered that most users only utilize about twenty percent of all the data we make available.” The reason, he explains, is time. Customers are managing production, staff, scheduling, and client demands, and they don’t have hours to dig through reports. So, the company decided to let AI do the analysis for them. That innovation comes in the form of Q, SpencerMetrics’ new AI assistant. “All the user needs to do is ask,” says Vihal. “Within seconds, Q delivers insights based on the data. You can ask something like, ‘Why isn’t my press running at full capacity?’ and Q might answer, ‘Because your bindery is behind schedule.’ It can analyze uptime, identify inefficiencies, or perform complex data reviews that used to require an analyst.” Morten comments that it’s like having an instant data consultant built into the system, and Vihal agrees. AI can’t replace human oversight, but it dramatically reduces the time required to reach actionable conclusions, turning information into real decisions within seconds. According to Vihal, existing customers were the first to show excitement. From the moment the show opened, they were asking if Q was ready. They’d seen the press release and wanted to test it right away. Q will be available as an optional add-on, rather than part of the base package. Mid-level and advanced users are already planning to integrate it, while others are evaluating how it could fit their workflow. Interestingly, the AI introduction also drew many new visitors to the booth. A lot of people said the data looked fantastic but admitted they didn’t have the time or expertise to analyze it. When SpencerMetrics demonstrated how Q simplifies that process, it completely changed their perception, and they could suddenly see themselves using it. As the conversation wraps up, Morten notes that the show appears to have gone very well. Vihal smiles, saying it’s been very busy and very successful. The company is thrilled with the response and excited for what’s ahead.

Virgilio Micale, global sales director at Cartes, discusses the company's conventional and digital converting technology on display at Labelexpo Americas 2024 and the increasing demand for high-end embellishments. LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/virgilio-antonio-micale-3b1591143/

At PACK EXPO in Chicago, INKISH Editor-in-Chief Morten B. Reitoft meets Virag Patel, Co-Founder and CEO of ePac Flexible Packaging, following the announcement of a global strategic partnership with Fujifilm and the introduction of the Jet Press FP790 into ePac's production platform. Celebrating its tenth anniversary, ePac has grown from a single facility in Madison, Wisconsin, into an international digital flexible packaging company. Patel reflects on the journey, the importance of taking risks, and how a willingness to experiment with new technologies has become an essential part of ePac's culture. Innovation sometimes involves failure, but according to Patel, learning from those experiences is what allows a company to continue growing. The decision to invest in Fujifilm's FP790 follows nearly two years of evaluation and represents an expansion rather than a replacement of ePac's existing HP Indigo technology. Patel explains why having multiple technologies available creates opportunities to serve different market segments, support customers as their businesses grow, and explore applications that were previously outside ePac's reach. The conversation also addresses the majority investment by Butterfly Equity and how access to capital, combined with financial discipline, can support the company's next phase of expansion. Equally important is ePac's highly automated workflow and scalable production model, which have enabled the business to serve thousands of customers across different geographical markets. Looking ahead, Patel sees opportunities beyond ePac's traditional flexible packaging applications, including new product categories such as labels, sleeves, and other packaging formats. For him, printing technology is ultimately a vehicle for reaching new markets, rather than an end in itself. An interesting conversation about entrepreneurship, calculated risks, strategic partnerships, and why ePac believes the next decade could offer even greater opportunities than the first.

It’s my team that is working. And we allocate project managers, teams to plan, execute and deliver projects in a timely and streamlined fashion. So, there is there is Diana there. Leonardo there. And I like Diego Maradona. And that is a Godfather picture. So, these are the people I like most in my life. Communication is the key for delivering any software. Say if I talk about North India, definitely it is a bit, you know, harder recruiting new guys in Punjab. Punjab based company. But some developers, they want to stay in their cities. So, and we also want to develop a company in our state only. So, the developers don't have to go to other states. Apart from working from our office, we all settle at our places, at our homes. But we have different kind of project management tools, communication tools. So that all made things easy for us. We went to a trip recently. We spent a whole year at home and we all wanted to have a break. We opted for a hill station where we stayed in Riverside camps for a couple of days. And we did yoga, meditation and enjoyed a bonfire. And the other picture. There we are all dancing, and it is from 13 April. I told the team: let's do some meditation also. We were on a very beautiful view. So yeah. So, I thought let’s do a meditation for 15 minutes. There is a thing in India. Like we have around 85 percent of the people in India are living below the poverty line. Some traditional Punjabi dance, the Folk dance, the Bhangra dance. They have a very different clothing for this. On that day there was a Navratri festival also. That marks the beginning of a new year in India. I am CEO of My Virtual Teams. I founded this organization in 2010. We are a family of fifty plus professionals. Fast Forward

Victor Naumann works with the customer life cycle, essentially everything from service to fully managed plants. It was a super interesting conversation, and amazing that being a world leader allows you to deliver service levels - on, well, all levels :-)

English description below: Desde FESPA México 2026, Claudia Mendoza conversa con Verónica Maldonado, de Fujifilm, sobre las oportunidades que ofrece la impresión digital, la personalización y el uso de colores especiales para generar mayor valor agregado en la industria gráfica. La protagonista de la entrevista es Revoria, la línea de equipos de impresión digital con tóner de Fujifilm, que ofrece soluciones escalables para diversas necesidades de producción. Verónica presenta las posibilidades de incorporar colores especiales, como rosa, dorado, plateado y blanco, así como de integrar diferentes opciones de acabado para ampliar las aplicaciones y desarrollar productos diferenciados. Durante la conversación, Verónica explica cómo la reproducción de colores Pantone, la impresión de datos variables y el uso de capas adicionales de color permiten a los impresores ofrecer una mayor personalización y explorar nuevas oportunidades comerciales. La entrevista también aborda las soluciones de Fujifilm para entornos corporativos, la importancia de la seguridad documental y la estrategia de la compañía de ofrecer tecnologías adaptadas a las necesidades de cada cliente, desde la impresión de oficina hasta la producción gráfica profesional. --- At FESPA Mexico 2026, Claudia Mendoza meets Verónica Maldonado from Fujifilm to explore how digital printing, specialty colors, and personalization are creating new opportunities for print service providers. The conversation focuses on Fujifilm's Revoria digital toner printing portfolio, which offers scalable production solutions with specialty colors such as pink, gold, silver, and white. Verónica explains how additional color capabilities, modular configurations, and integrated finishing options enable printers to expand their applications and deliver higher-value products. From variable data printing and Pantone color reproduction to enhanced image quality and creative applications, the interview highlights how Fujifilm is helping customers differentiate their printed products through greater flexibility and personalization. Verónica also discusses Fujifilm's broader portfolio, including light production and corporate printing solutions, document security, and the importance of matching technology to individual customer requirements. The interview provides insight into Fujifilm's growing presence in digital toner printing and its approach to serving both commercial printers and corporate environments.

At PRINTING United 2026 in Las Vegas, Pat McGrew catches up with Fiery to answer a surprisingly important question: What exactly is Fiery today? For decades, Fiery has been synonymous with digital front ends, RIP technology and color management. But the company has expanded significantly and can now be found across commercial print, large format, industrial production, direct-to-film, direct-to-garment and, following the acquisition of Inèdit, textile and apparel. That broader portfolio reflects what is happening with Fiery's customers as well. Printers are diversifying, dealers are supporting more technologies, and workflows increasingly need to connect applications that once existed in completely separate production environments. Fiery is now part of Epson, but continues operating independently and maintaining the OEM relationships that have always been fundamental to its business. And AI is becoming increasingly important. Fiery Scribe tackles one very practical problem: jobs arriving by email. Instead of an operator manually opening the message, interpreting the customer's instructions, downloading files and creating the job, Scribe can use AI to extract the information and prepare the job automatically. Fiery JobFlow Pro takes automation further, analyzing incoming files and intelligently directing them into the appropriate prepress workflow. Combined with developments such as AI-assisted editing in ImageViewer, the objective isn't AI for the sake of AI — it is reducing clicks, removing repetitive work and helping operators keep production moving. For Fiery, the future is about integration, automation, color and intelligence across an increasingly diverse print environment. Not just beside the press. Increasingly, everywhere in the print room. Watch Pat McGrew's conversation with Fiery at PRINTING United 2026 in Las Vegas.

Veit Rudolph is the owner of Rudolph Druck and, in addition to running the business, he also promotes the industry. We got a chance to meet him, and from what we learned, he was at the first OPS events and complained about why he hadn't visited the event before. His words about OPS are very good, and we are certain that we all can learn from his story - so dig in :-)

At the Print Symposium in Murnau, Southern Germany, Morten Reitoft speaks with Veit Rudolph, one of the driving forces behind the now well-known Veit Rudolph Print Symposium. The conversation reflects on the unique atmosphere of the event, which combines elements of a family gathering, an industry celebration, a learning experience, and a business networking platform for printers, suppliers, customers, and partners from across the print industry. Veit Rudolph explains that the symposium was built by drawing inspiration from the best parts of other events and creating something in which everyone feels equal, welcome, and energized. The event highlights collaboration over competition, encouraging printers to work together, share expertise, and focus on creating profitable, high-quality print products rather than competing solely on price. Together, they discuss the importance of craftsmanship, specialization, positive energy, and attracting new generations into the industry. Rudolph believes the future of print depends on passion, cooperation, and showing the world how creative, emotional, and exciting the print industry can actually be.

At Koenig & Bauer Durst’s Open House in Radebeul, I speak with Pierre Hertzel from Schelling AG - the first company to install the variJET 106. Let’s get one thing out of the way. If you look at the variJET as a “digital alternative to offset,” you’re already missing the point. What Pierre explains—very clearly—is that this isn’t about moving short runs away from conventional production. It’s about doing things you couldn’t do before. And when you listen carefully, you realize that the real conversation isn’t about print at all. It’s about value. He shares a case with a large confectionery brand. They didn’t ask for cheaper packaging. They asked for insight. They wanted to understand what happens in retail, store by store. The answer wasn’t price per sheet. It was variable data. Unique QR codes. Packaging as a data carrier. That’s a different business. And that’s why the usual discussions about cost don’t really apply. Because when a brand owner sees an opportunity to connect with customers, track behavior, or create something that stands out, the conversation changes. It becomes marketing. It becomes strategy. Not print. What I also like here is that Schelling doesn’t treat the variJET as a “folding carton machine,” even though that’s the label. They print what makes sense. Posters. Calendars. Promotional work. They test the limits. They explore. That’s exactly what you should do with new technology. Of course, it’s not perfect. It’s new. There are things to learn, things to improve. But honestly, that’s not the issue. The issue is whether you approach it with the right mindset. Because if you install a machine like this and run it like an offset press, you’ve just made an expensive mistake. Digital is not about efficiency. It’s about possibility. Watch the interview with Pierre Hertzel. This is what it looks like when a customer doesn’t just buy technology, but actually uses it.

Vanguard’s CEO Dave Cich is a true leader. In this INKISH CONVERSATION Dave describes how he builds his teams and describes his plans for a global sales force. With the acquisition by Durst, Dave explains how their global reach will empower this effort. We also see a very human side to what comprises a leader. LinkedIn Profile

Interviewed by Poligrafika, Aneta Łukaszewska Produced by INKISH LinkedIn Profile Vanessa Urbanek: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-urbanek-9066562b3/

Uwe Alexander from Gallus was busy all day at Shift, as there was strong interest in the Gallus One on display. I watched one of his presentations, which was really good, and afterward we had a great chat. The presentation he gave, of course, was about the amazing opportunities you have with the Gallus One and Gallus Five, but that applies to many digital label presses. However, the Gallus ecosystem is interesting, as it's not just one solution but many, and, as with most flexo presses, these can be built modularly to serve the very specific needs a customer has!

This is interesting. If you think UV is UV, think again. In this interview, IST Metz's Volker Selg explains the various types of curing technologies the company has specialized in, from Mercury UV and LED-UV to Excimer, which enable UV to be used for matt surfaces. IST Metz develops and builds everything in-house, which enables flexible products produced on demand for its customers globally.

In the suburbs of Indianapolis, we met with Kevin Bennet from EZ Mailing. EZ mailing is a company focused mainly on political campaigns - a type of company you mainly see in the US. When you come to EZ Mailing, all the walls are covered with slogans and banners from all types of political campaigns. Slogans from elections of mayors and house members to school elections and election of the head of a fire brigade. The diversity is vast, and so is the production, which has both offset, digital, binding equipment, inkjet devices for addressing, a huge paper warehouse, and what drove us to EZ Mailing, an RMGT Series 9 offset printing press. Besides the current machine EZ Mailing has, the company has already ordered its first 9-series perfector press to support the Bennet experience growth. He is even foreseeing growth that could lead to yet a perfector press. Who says print is dying?