At FESPA in Barcelona, Editor-in-Chief Morten Reitoft speaks with Ikuya Atsuchi from Mutoh about product development, Japanese engineering culture, and the company’s future together with Brother Industries. As part of Mutoh’s product planning team in Tokyo, Ikuya Atsuchi works closely with R&D, manufacturing, dealers, and market demands to help shape the next generation of products. The conversation explores how the recent acquisition by Brother was initially a surprise, but is now seen internally as an exciting opportunity where the strengths of both companies complement each other extremely well. The discussion also touches on Japanese long-term thinking, product quality, reliability, service networks, and the constant challenge of developing successful products in an increasingly competitive market. A warm and honest conversation about engineering culture, product philosophy, and why Mutoh believes the partnership with Brother creates opportunities far greater than either company could achieve alone.

In 1987, Jim Dobrzynski established Crossmark Graphics, one of the first two-color offset printing companies in the Cylinder-dominated area, and it was a wise decision. With one employee and a lot of hard work, the company grew, and today it is an excellent packaging company using for the most Koenig & Bauer equipment. In the film, Jim discusses how the company also became a first mover in LED UV, emphasizing the importance of people to him. We saw this firsthand as Crossmark Graphics closed early on the day we visited, due to a family day with games, BBQ, and a lot of fun. Crossmark is a family-owned company with Tammy Rechner serving as President, CEO, CFO, and other titles, and two of her brothers overseeing the operation, as well as a sales representative. Great story, watch it!

At ICE/InPrint, Business & Technology Development Director Holly Steedman explains why IST is now named IST Intech - and of course, we get into why LED UV is getting more and more important. As she explains, LED UV is still new, so many opportunities are still unresolved, and IST seems to be working hard on delivering solutions.

Wayne talks to Ian Isherwood from Fujifilm about the importance of UV drying in flexo and offset printing, and how Fujifilm is continually developing new energy-saving systems for its customers.

Wayne from INKISH is at The Print Show at the NEC in Birmingham, where he meets Ian Bullock, Managing Director of Renz UK. Ian shares that Renz has supported the show from the very beginning and continues to do so, even if he wishes it were better supported overall. He explains that while Renz UK is a separate entity and not in administration, the German parent company entered administration in March 2024 and is now being acquired by Plockmatic. For the UK operation, business has continued as usual, with minimal impact on customers. The acquisition by Plockmatic brings new opportunities, including the potential to move some lower-range equipment production to their advanced facility in Riga, where cost advantages can be realized. Together with brands like Morgana, Intec, and Watkiss, the group forms a strong portfolio in finishing solutions. Ian highlights that what sets Renz apart is its significant consumables business, which generates around 60% of turnover and provides stable, ongoing revenue beyond machine sales. Their specialization in wire binding also makes them the go-to partner for major digital photo gifting printers, an area where Plockmatic is keen to expand. On a personal note, Ian emphasizes the importance of the acquisition in saving jobs at the Renz manufacturing plant in Heubach, Germany, and in preserving a brand with such a strong legacy. He also talks about his role within PICON, the UK trade association, and how he recently represented them in China through Global Print, an umbrella body of international associations. He notes the striking difference between the UK and international markets, where many associations still own and operate large, vibrant trade shows. Reflecting on the importance of The Print Show, Ian stresses that having a UK event is vital for the industry. Even if exhibitors scale back, maintaining a presence keeps brands visible during challenging times. He concludes that adaptability is key, and ensuring the brand is represented at events like this is the right way forward. A candid and insightful conversation about resilience, adaptation, and the future of finishing within a strong international group, filmed live at The Print Show in Birmingham.

At Printpack India 2025, Wayne Beckett speaks with I D Singh, CEO of Erhardt+Leimer India, about the company’s groundbreaking new equipment developed and manufactured entirely in India for the global market. For the first time, Erhardt+Leimer has designed a complete machine outside of Germany—a nonstop unwind and rewind system for the narrow-web label printing industry. Singh highlights the system’s key components, including a butt splicing unit for continuous unwinding and a turret rewind station with slitting functionality, significantly reducing job completion times. The first installation has already been completed for Albia, a French company, on a Nilpeter machine in India, marking a major success for this innovative solution. With Erhardt+Leimer’s global footprint spanning Europe, the USA, China, Japan, and Southeast Asia, this India-developed equipment will soon be exported worldwide, with initial installations planned for Indonesia and Poland. While awaiting CE certification for European and US markets, the product has been engineered to meet stringent international safety and automation standards, utilizing European B&R control automation. This milestone marks a significant step for India’s manufacturing and engineering capabilities, as Erhardt+Leimer India takes the lead in developing advanced automation solutions for the label printing industry. For those interested in the latest innovations in print automation and productivity-enhancing accessories, this conversation provides key insights into the future of narrow-web technology.

Richard Askam is an international speaker and recognized as one of the best speakers from Dscoop, Pure Digital, Argos Inspiration Days, TED, and many more. In this conversation INKISH editor Morten Reitoft speaks with Richard Askam about his business, why words matters and more. Great inspiration for business owners. Take a listen for about 20 minutes and learn.

Hunkeler is one of the most innovative companies in the printing industry producing binding equipment for some of the most demanding applications.

Everybody talks about AI these days, but imagine that you at Hunkeler Innovationdays can experience for yourself, what Andrew Gunn from Xerox describes as automated automation software. Predictive designs, utilizing beyond CMYK in many different ways - even without using a designer, and this is just the beginning. Xerox production equipment can be upgraded beyond CMYK capabilities, enabling customers to increase their margins by selling high-value prints. Truly a great story. Enjoy it!:

The ever-recurring question - toner vs. inkjet, and of course, editor Morten B. Reitoft had to ask Dimitri Van Gaever from Xeikon about this. We talk about many other things around the Sirius platform, the applications, and, more importantly, what you can see at Hunkeler Innovationdays. Enjoy!

A more than 100 years old company is now the only really serious player left in the world making envelope machines - and on top of that, W+D build inserters. Even complex machines that enable 100% individualization of the envelope and the content is what Winkler + Dünnebier offers. In this film, we talk to Reinhard Glade, who knows a lot about the products, the market the technology serves, and of course, the introduction of the new 820+, which will be presented at Hunkeler Innovationdays!

Andrew Bailes-Collins is the Head of Product Management with Ultimate TechnoGraphics. In this chat with Editor Morten B. Reitoft, they discuss what to expect from Ultimate TechnoGraphics at the upcoming Hunkeler Innovationdays. Ultimate TechnoGraphics seems to be very successful these days, and with a strong focus on speed, the company delivers solutions that fit the digital transformation we see everywhere. Enjoy this chat, learn, and even better, see you at Hunkeler Innovationdays in Lucern. The event takes place from February 27th to March 2nd.

According to CEO David Spencer, you can optimize your production more with the right data than by buying the optimization software, which sounds right to us. All printers have downtimes - and by analyzing the cause of the downtime, you can develop solutions that teach operators to be more efficient or find out the workflow bottlenecks. All this can be done using SpencerMetrics solutions, and in this interview with founder and CEO David R. Spencer, you get the insights to understand the potential. This is something we will follow up on. Enjoy!

In this interview with Taishi Motoshige, Marketing Director, Screen Europe, we understand the various versions of the highly popular Truepress Jet 520 and, of course, what to expect from Screen at Hunkeler Innovationdays!

Scodix is probably the first company in the world that introduced digital-embellishment on a big scale, and today the company has more than 400 installations globally. Franz Repp was recently appointed President of Scodix EMEA and is not responsible for pushing even more machines to the market. In this INKISH interview, Repp talks about the added value, the business opportunities, and why digital embellishment makes sense when producing in offset. At Innovationdays, the newest 6000 edition with many new options will be shown - and it's great - we saw it at PRINTING United, but this is a Europe-wide premiere!

Constantin Schmedt is the fifth generation of Schmedt. Though neither he nor his brother wanted to take over the company, little brother Constantin took over the management. He said that though he was born into the industry had no idea how exciting the industry is - and with management education, he is now ready to move the company with new products and an increased focus on innovation and automation. In this interview, you will clearly understand the company's dedication and where it expects to be in the future. With hardcover binding in small circulations and even presenting a side-edge printing device at Hunkeler Innovationdays, I am excited. We will show more from Schmedt at Innovationdays! Stay tuned!

Hunkeler Innovationdays takes place in Lucern from February 27th to March 2nd, and as part of our coverage, we invite ALL* exhibitors for an interview about what to expect. In this interview, you'll find Eef De Ridder from Ricoh Europe. Ricoh has already announced that they will present a new iteration of their popular VC70000 - now with an 'e' added to its name, but listen to Eef De Ridder and learn what more to expect from Innovationdays.

Sometimes the Plockmatics online finishing products are SO well-integrated that you almost forget its not from the OEM, but nevertheless, today's guest, Ray Hillhouse from Plockmatic in the UK, gives you a great insight into the world of Plockmatic and Morgana + a recent acquisition. Plockmatic will present a new product at Innovationdays, so it may be yet another reason to visit Hunkeler Innovationdays in Lucern.

OneVision is a strong software supplier in the workflow/automation space, covering many segments from photo products, commercial print, and newspapers, with a footprint in Europe and the US. OneVision is a module/tool-based workflow system that enables customers to pick, choose, and grow with the solution as the company grows. In this interview, Hans Stöger from OneVision talks to Editor Morten B. Reitoft about how they approach customers and ensure a smooth implementation. At Innovationdays, OneVision will showcase its solutions.

Obililty is more than "just" a web-to-print platform as it is built upon an ERP/MIS system. In this interview, CEO Frank Siegel explains the differences. Still, it means that Obility is great for both online and offline printers and manages many processes in an automated and process-focused manner. But enjoy the interview, and see Frank Siegel and his team at Innovationdays in Lucern.

Meccanotecnica is a well-known supplier of sewing options for books. Giulia Sinatra talks to editor Morten B. Reitoft about how their newest and latest sewing solution can be used for books of variable pages and format. Giulia Sinatra is very interested in their technology and is eager to meet guests at Innovationdays in Lucern. Enjoy!

Imagine how difficult it is to measure OEE in a company with multiple machines at different locations, or if you acquire a company where the machines are different from your current... With Ironside's technology, you can easily monitor your equipment and will be notified when it operates outside its optimum. Smart, and with the experience Ironsides has gained since its foundation years back, you will certainly learn a lot. The first step is to listen to this interview with President and Founder Bill Riley. The second step is to meet with the company at Hunkeler Innovationdays! Enjoy!

Imaging Solutions from Switzerland has its roots in the photo industry. Still, as you can hear in this interview with Marketing Manager André Schlösser, the company's solutions are perfect for PSPs working with photo products - and with software to enhance resolution, software to create images, new substrates that reproduce stunning photos, and company's flagship lay flat photobook product - not a booth to miss at the upcoming Hunkeler Innovationdays. Enjoy!

At Hunkeler Innovationdays, you can meet people from Hybrid Software Group. The company operates in seven segments, delivering software, hardware, and back-end technology to OEMs and developing different kinds of technology, i.e., Inkjet. In 2021, Hybrid Software Group acquired Hybrid Software, one of the leading workflow/automation solution providers today. In this interview, CEO Mike Rottenborn shares what you can expect in Lucern and how beautifully the different entities support each other- now all under one company group name. Exciting to learn about it!