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THE MAGAZINE FOR FORWARD THINKING PRINTING JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 Explore more… COVER STORY Gelato serves up print any time, anywhere. WHAT CHANGED? How printers adapted in 2020. TRENDS What went before and what is yet to come. Explore more at printbusiness.co.uk
THE EDITOR’S COMMENT
SIMPLE & SECURE
THE MAN IN THE HAT, GARETH WARD
has been the editor of Print Business ARE THE GUIDING
PRINCIPLES
since its second issue in 2005. Five years
later he took control of the magazine in a
management buyout and fully achieved
his vision to create a unique publication
for printers. IT IS THE TIME OF YEAR TO PEER
What Print Business does is take all this ahead, with rather more uncertainty than
for any other comparable time. This is the
information – supplied via press releases,
legacy of Covid-19, or at least one of them.
announcements at events, word of mouth
This time last year there was confidence.
or good old fashioned journalism – sorts Drupa was just around the corner with
the puffery from the facts, weaves it the injection of confidence in the future
together and puts it into context for those of the industry, the quadrennial jamboree
who run print businesses. when printers and suppliers renew their
faith in ink on paper, or increasingly ink
AT THE HEART OF EVERYTHING that Print
on anything. We wanted to see what HP
Business publishes are the printers. Those
might come up with, how Canon, Ricoh,
whose businesses are no longer about Konica Minolta and Xerox might show,
simply feeding paper into a giant lump of the continuing developments in litho from
highly engineered metal and selling the Heidelberg, Koenig & Bauer, Komori and
sheet that comes out the other end. Those RMGT, let along in finishing, handling,
who face myriad decisions, some of which MIS automation, Industry 4.0 and Landa.
Instead of peering at the well rehearsed
point in opposite directions, and need to
presentations, discussing their merits and
know more than how fast it prints.
perhaps anticipating the impact they might to accumulating further debt, to skilled
They need to know what affects them make, we are peering through the gloom. workers who will take a cut on pay for a
and how. Just as every print job is bespoke, This time last year, we anticipated the better work life balance. The industry’s age
every print company is different. There is rise of online meetings and conferences, profile may be about to change radically.
no one-size-fits-all in this industry. driven we thought by developments in 5G. That is not the only radical change that
Online meetings have certainly become is coming. The industrial landscape across
BEFORE COVID Gareth Ward was out
common place if not for the reasons we the developed world is going to change; the
and about all the time. He went to print
expected. Online encounters have become structure of business is going to be burst
factories and talked to printers in their established and will play a crucial role apart; how and where people shop – and
language. He has seen first hand the going forwards and the experience will what for, is going to change fundamentally.
problems they face, the solutions they find, improve: it will become more immersive. There will a swing back towards pre 2020
their achievements and their innovation. In the meantime, Drupa is staging Virtual normality when the pandemic ends, but
He has finally been able to safely visit Drupa, an online event that combines deep change has taken root. People will be
online webinar style sessions, product reluctant to waste hours each week heading
some factories.
presentations, networking arena and for a sky high office on crowded commuter
BEFORE PRINT BUSINESS Gareth Ward
exhibitor listing. trains. People will not want to work cheek
worked on the leading weekly magazine It will not, cannot, be anything more by jowl in windowless factories. The
Printing World for 22 years and was editor than a ghost of the atmosphere of convenience of online shopping has been
for 15. It is this experience, and 360° view the missing exhibition. At this point experienced by too many. This shifts the
of the industry, that gives him his sixth information is scant. Updates will of course cost structure of high street chains. Retail
be presented online. sales per square metre will never recoup
sense about printing. His ability to spot
What has happened in the last 12 months lost ground with profound consequences
trends, often years before they become
is about far more than the absence of an for property companies, council incomes
apparent in the mainstream, is legendary. exhibition. It is a reset for print. Already and more.
THIS IS PRINT BUSINESS, THE MAGAZINE many have taken their leave of print, from This is already happening as those
FOR FORWARD THINKING PRINTING. directors who prefer to slip into retirement with shaky finances have filed for …
www.printbusiness.co.uk January/February 2021 3
COMMENT GARETH WARD’S THOUGHTS ON…
… administration or closed many outlets
without new chains to replace them The
likes of Debenhams and Top Shop may live
on, but in cyberspace not shopping centres.
The very purpose of a shop may change:
one already pioneered to good effect by
Apple. Its stores are much more than places
to make a purchase. Indeed the purchase
may take place online after the shopper has
returned home.
All this will bring change to many
aspects of the printing industry. Safety and
simplicity will be to the fore. Managers
will need to consider how to enable remote
working. The tools already exist. In
prepress the basic product is a digital file
that, once it is in the cloud and freed from
the server in the corner, can float anywhere. A 365 DAY VIEW OF PRINT Fedrigoni to sales data gathered and analysis by
And as presses and other equipment pushes the boundaries of digital algorithms that can be called artificial
printing and data with this year’s
become subject to digital control, these intelligence.
outing of its 365 project. Every single
too can be managed and operated to For customers this is about removing
book is unique, right down to the dust
some extent from a safe distance. And jackets. How did they do it? page 43 the immediate complexity, for simplicity
this generates the data that will be used will be another marker of the new normal.
to smooth the jags that affect the smooth, The rise in online ordering is indicative
predictable operation of the business. different ways of working. The search for of this. The most successful businesses
On the shopfloor masks may not be safety will reduce dependence on extended will be those that have the ideal interface,
mandatory, but social distancing will be supply chains. Local production and not necessarily the lowest price. For 500
natural. Unnecessary encounters will be local supply will win out over long haul years printed products have been complex,
avoided. There will be fewer people about. international travel for printed products. described by jargon, and produced by
Materials movement will be automated if Nobody will want to order more than is acknowledged professionals.
only because it is a waste to pay someone necessary. The confusion at the border That complexity remains, but
to push a pallet truck when they might be between the UK and EU is a taster of what becomes disguised or hidden by an
in charge of a value enhancing process. may happen. The steep rise in price of elegant straightforward user experience.
Shorter runs will emphasise this waste of shipping containers is a cost that is beyond Automation of press set up and operation
time and effort because more work will the control of publishers and so to be is an example. The loading of plates,
need to be moved. Constantly. With fewer avoided. Local production addresses this. achieving colour balance, feeding paper
people willing to perform the mundane But it will not be the same production. and adjusting grippers and air settings,
tasks that can be automated. The runs will be shorter; the turnaround is complex, but achieved at the press of
The desire for safety and reassurance times tighter; the purchase orders a button. Someone needs to know what
will combine with digital files to introduce generated automatically, perhaps according is happening and why, but the actual
PUBLISHING Print Business is published six times a year by Print Business Media Ltd
Haymakers, Swamp Road, Romney Marsh TN29 9SQ | 01580 236456 | general@printbusiness.co.uk
www.printbusiness.co.uk
CONTRIBUTORS Printed by Manson Group | Paper supplied by Lumipaper for the last time |
www.storaenso.com/lumionline
EDITORIAL Editor/Publisher | Gareth Ward | gareth@printbusiness.co.uk | 01580 236456 | 07866 470124
Press releases should be sent to pressreleases@printbusiness.co.uk
COMMERCIAL Publisher | Debbie Ward | 01580 236500 | debbie@printbusiness.co.uk
ADMIN & SALES SUPPORT Publishing Assistant | Sarah Cross | 01580 236456 | sarah@printbusiness.co.uk
MEDIA INFORMATION The Media Pack is available under the Information tab at PrintBusiness.co.uk
4 January/February 2021 www.printbusiness.co.uk
…KEEPING IT SIMPLE FOR POST PANDEMIC PRINT COMMENT
operation can be left to sensors and
software. Nobody wants to spend their
time on the repetitive mundane tasks that
can be automated.
Likewise those buying print will not
want to go through the rigmarole of
specifying a job and seeking quotes. The
print provider will instead supply the
specification along with a price and one
click will approve it. This, of course, means
an online interface where communication
is as likely to be machine to machine,
algorithm to algorithm as it is face to face.
With few exceptions the actual printing
of a job is subordinate to other issues, led BANBURY MAY PUT LITHO ON THE or campaign aimed at addressing the
by effectiveness and return on investment. BENCH The printer was on the road requirements of distinct but overlapping
to diversification before the pandemic
Quality is expected not requested, so ISO audiences. Some will want print, others
but the virus accelerated its plans
12647-2 is not likely to sway decision digital and many a combination of the
rather than derailed them.
makers. page 26 two. Technology in the hands of the
The exception to this is on sustainability. recipients of a message will decide what is
Just as people will seek shorter supply appropriate.
chains for security, they will not want to colleagues. After the isolation caused by the In the last year we have all had to do
be exposed because somewhere they can pandemic, this is what will be needed. as instructed, stay home and so on. Our
be accused of doing harm to the planet we Shoppers in search of wall art will no autonomy has been stripped away for the
live on. Carbon balancing is rapidly rising longer go to Ikea or an outlet for Athena greater good and our own safety. That
to the fore as the next FSC, something that to choose something that thousands of is going to leave deep scars. People want
leading companies have already, and which other people have. Such decoration was to regain that lost control, and it will not
every printer will need just to be in the enough at one time to mark you out as hip be easy to regain that trust for globalised
game in a couple of years time. But it is not and fashionable. Not any more, anyone production. The ease of long distance
enough. Savvy buyers will be expecting can have that. The new generation, not travel, the dependence on overseas supply
some kind of audit about energy used, just youngsters, will still want wall art, chains and outsourced production have
about materials sourced, about waste, about but something that is relevant to them and been shown as highly risky. Covid-19 is the
distances travelled. All this is possible now, something that can only be found online. first globalised disease of the 21st century.
just not generally assembled. A click and credit card later and the print There is opportunity here for print.
Again this plays towards local printers order is triggered and the image is on its Print is tangible, it is real and it can be
for local work, to shorter production runs way. created and delivered locally. These are
and automation. Content and messages For print this means being able to strong advantages that companies can use,
need to be relevant to end consumers cope with mass customisation, audience remembering of course that hoary acronym
as those consumers seek reassurance in fragmentation and multiple versions of KISS: Keep it simple, stupid.
friends, family and tribes of like minded the same catalogue, marketing message
NEWS The Monday morning News ezine is a popular collection of a handful of the week’s news, always going
beyond the press release and often exclusive. One email, no third parties. Sign up at printbusiness.co.uk/subscribe
SUBSCRIPTIONS Print Business is currently free to qualifying UK printers. Subscriptions for those who would
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EVENTS Print Business is the organiser of Forward Thinking Printing, round tables and more. Gareth Ward is in
demand for hosting, chairing and generally being an accomplished ringmaster, online or in real life.
CONTENT Content is copyright © Print Business Ltd 2005-2021. All rights reserved.
ARCHIVE Previous issues are available for a modest fee. See the Archive page under
the Information tab at PrintBusiness.co.uk for downloadable and searchable PDFs.
TERMS Apply for terms & conditions to general@printbusiness.co.uk
www.printbusiness.co.uk January/February 2021 5
INFORMATION/TECHNOLOGY
Paragon boosts Ricoh line
up with Pro VC70000
PARAGON CUSTOMER reluctant to name the applica- were approached by a publisher
Communications has taken tions that Paragon will target for to see whether we would be
delivery of a Ricoh Pro VC70000 what is Ricoh’s flagship press. It willing to look at production
inkjet web press, a move that can print at 1200dpi resolutions on demand. The publisher had
will open new markets for the on coated papers. been producing in small batch
Dagenham business. “It is not for the books quantities, but even with 30 or
At the same time the business project,” he says. “It will give us 50 copies at a time, there is stock
has already opened up a new increased volume and will give left over at the end of the year
market following investment in us different products that we that has to be cleared out.”
what was the UK’s first mono- can produce.” This will include Investment in Ricoh’s Process
only Ricoh Pro VC20100 inkjet some jobs that have had to be Director will help optimise
press some 18 months ago. This Paragon has installed a printed on its Heidelberg litho production workflows across
is now at the heart of a books on Pro VC70000 continuous presses. the presses and to other Paragon
demand project for an educa- inkjet press to open up “It was tough last year. sites.
tional publisher. A Pro C9210 new areas, while doing just We have had to diversify and The continuing investment
cutsheet machine has been that with the VC20100 it do different things. One of in inkjet is not blinding the
added to produce covers for the bought 18 months ago. our goals is to grow over last company to other technologies.
books. That investment also year. We have made some step “This does not mean that we are
includes Hunkeler Bookline, binder alongside an existing changes in what we do and how not looking at litho,” says Phil-
Renz wire binder, stitching, Bourg machne. we do it,” he says. lips, “as well as some other print
laminator and Horizon perfect Site director Dave Phillips is “With the book project we technologies.”
Adare adds the company says. “In addition
to being able to do everything
processing facility in a 9,000m2
building. As well as installing the
Japanese press provider RMGT.
“In 2018 they started looking
next Ricoh the existing VC60000 can do, new machines, Böwe was instru- for a new partner,” says GEW
ADARE SEC HAS continued its this will also enable us to print mental in supporting the move. international sales manager
relationship with Ricoh, install- at a higher ink coverage on a Steve Goodall, director of print for sheetfed Gary Doman.
ing the flagship Pro VC70000 broader range of paper types, and logistics at APS Group, says: This involved the spectrum of
continuous feed inkjet press at ideally suited to direct mail “The move to the new site went providers from IST and Baldwin
its Huddersfield factory. applications,” says CEO Rachel seamlessly and with no delays. to smaller providers.
This follows on investment Nevins. The support provided by Böwe Doman attributes the success
in a pair of Pro VC60000 inkjet Systec was second to none and to the flexibility of the GEW
presses at Drupa in 2016, these they supported me all the way Leo UV array, which can be
replacing two IP5000 inkjet APS upgrades with the transition.” fitted as inter decks as well as
presses that had been installed secure mailing multiple units in the press deliv-
in 2014. The new machine will ery. “RMGT wanted to be able
extend the range of substrates APS HAS COMPLETED the to move the lamps around and
that the business can use and move of its secure communica- it was our ability to move the
represents a more productive tions business from Chester to lamps around the machine and
platform than the VC60000. a purpose built super centre in to achieve a true deep cure. And
The investment balances a Preston Brook, Cheshire. they looked at installations in
Steve Goodall praises the
spend on inserting and enclos- At the same time the new the US,” he says.
help from Böwe in the APS
ing equipment from Bluecrest plant has taken delivery of move to a new site. This evolved into working
last year. two new dual channel Fusion with the press provider on the
The new Ricoh will help Cross inserting lines from Böwe new RMGT 970 at the end of
bring faster print speeds, System along with two reconfig- 2019 and visits to Japan in the
shortening turnaround times ured Criterion high speed letter GEW wins early part of last year. It was
and improving quality where sorting machines. RMGT approval there that RMGT told GEW
needed on direct mail work. The new plant house both “we want to use your lamps
Inline scanning of what is the APS delivery and fulfil- UK UV CURING specialist worldwide,” says Doman.
printed will deliver the integrity ment operation and the GEW has become the approved The deal has been welcomed
that customers are looking for, critical communications supplier of LED systems to by Murray Lock, joint …
6 January/February 2021 www.printbusiness.co.uk
We print
your world
For over 200 years we have combined inks
and substrates enabling creation of a
boundless variety of printed products.
Because printing is our world.
koenig-bauer.com
INFORMATION/TECHNOLOGY
Firstan accepts takeover
by AR Packaging
ONE OF EUROPE’S LARGEST operation in the UK and is though currently delivers 500
packaging groups has acquired prepared to invest in the site. million.
Firstan. AR Packaging now adds “This addition is of signifi- In 2019 Firstan achieved
the family owned Godmanches- cant strategic importance to pretax profits of £2.1 million
ter carton printer to two other strengthen our position on from sales of £22.4 million in
UK plants and to 30 operations the UK market,” says Harald food, pharmaceutical, health-
globally. Schulz, CEO and president care and cosmetics sectors.
The deal comes just six of AR Packaging. “Together Paul Hartwig says: “This is a
months after Mark Kerridge with our existing two plants in very exciting new chapter for our
joined the business in a role the UK, Firstan provides an business. Together with the rest
designed to pave the way for excellent platform for further Firstan has been acquired, of the management team, I am
the next stage of the company’s growth in this important and allowing Andrew Hartwig looking forward to working with
development and to enable fast moving market.” to retire from the the AR Packaging team to take
managing director Andrew Firstan becomes part of AR business. our business to the next level.”
Hartwig to retire. His younger Packaging’s food packaging In the UK AR Packaging
brother Paul and produc- division and the acquisition is investment in two six-colour has operated a site in Somer-
tion director is remaining part of a strategy to grow in a plus coater Komori Lithrones set producing films for flexible
with Firstan, though not as a number of clearly identified GLX40 RP presses and Bobst packaging and a cups and tubes
shareholder. sectors. finishing lines. operation in Rotherham,
It gives the Scandinavian Firstan moved to a 8,000m2 The site has capacity to producing squeezable lolly tubes
company a first carton print plant in 2010 followed by produce 1 billion cartons a year, alongside paper cups and lids.
… managing director of producing a range of short run chemical companies, produc- also appeal to companies that are
Partners, distributor for
M marketing materials. ing different styles of labels and running larger booklet makers
RMGT across Europe. There is The company was founded tags. with the same tower collators
the advantage of working with in 1884 and Philip Davenport and can now acquire back up
a locally based supplier, he says. is the fourth generation of the and over flow capacity.
“Plus they are a very dynamic family to run the business. His Duplo delivers The system will run at up
company. We have found GEW son Theo joined the company entry level to 2,400cph producing book-
to be excellent and can be flex- last year and will eventually take lets of 100pp on 80gsm, 80pp
ible to a customer’s needs. It charge. He will be charged with package on 130gsm. The collator will
gives us a real benefit.” finding business for the new handle paper to 300gsm from
press. DUPLO HAS STARTED THE 65mm deep bins.
Before committing to Konica new year with the launch of an “The new combination
Davenport Minolta, Davenport says he ran entry level system. The DBM of existing proven products
buys first tests on this and other machines 150 booklet system comprises a brings a level of efficiency and
using some of the most chal- fold stitch and trim unit with the reliability that has not existed
digital for lenging jobs that have been DSC10/60 tower collator that is before,” says international
labels printed flexo. Konica Minolta’s more usually combined with marketing manager Marine
toner technology came out more powerful booklet making Kerivel-Brown. “Customer
FAMILY OWNED JH Daven- on top. It is an indication that units. choices have become limited as
port has installed a Konica the baton is being passed from The stress is on ease of use for the number of suppliers to the
Minolta C71CF label press, its the analogue to the digital smaller shops which have been market has reduced.”
first digital roll to roll machine. generation at the same time as the mainstay of Duplo’s user
The Leeds business moved one generation of the family base and where multitasking
out an ageing two-colour prepares to be succeeded by a is rapidly replacing traditional Agfa reassesses
Sakurai in December and the coming generation. skills. plate operation
digital press replaced it in the Label printing has been There is an extensive user
new year, its first digital print growing in importance for the base for the earlier DBM120 AGFA’S OFFSET solutions
capacity for label printing. former general printer. It has which can now upgrade in a operation, essentially its plates
It also runs flexo label presses worked for breweries, food simple step. business, is to become a stand
and cutsheet digital presses and drink, personal care and The new combination will alone entity as part of Agfa’s …
8 January/February 2021 www.printbusiness.co.uk
FINISHINGSTARTSHERE
S T I T C H F A S T E R
B I N D B E T T E R
F O L D S H A R P E R
C U T Q U I C K E R
L A M I N A T E F I N E R
F O I L B R I G H T E R
F I N I S H ST R O N G E R
Intelligent Finishing Systems, Unit C, ATA House,
Boundary Way, Hemel Hempstead, Herts HP2 7SS
T: 020 8991 6624 www.ifsl.uk.com
INFORMATION/TECHNOLOGY
MBO team takes on
Medica Packaging
MEDICA PACKAGING HAS 2016, having led Storey Evans a significant loss making posi-
changed hands in a management to its acquisition by Contego tion to being profitable at an
buyout led by managing direc- Healthcare before joining Ebitda level and the business is
tor Gerard Harford and finance Essentra. Then CEO John Bath on a stable financial footing. It
director Mark Stokes. became chairman. has used cash generated in the
The new backer is Harwood Medica is reckoned to be the business to fund capital invest-
Private Equity, a finance group third largest UK supplier of ment and improve the factory.
with the “financial strength pharmaceutical packaging and Sullivan Street says that Medica
and depth to allow Medica to a natural second supplier to the now “bears a night and day
continue to grow and meet larger international groups. It Gerard Harford has led an contrast to its previous experi-
the ever demanding needs or has also become a key supplier MBO at Medica Packaging ence”. Turnover is now around
our customers,” says Harford. to smaller drug producers where after joining the business £20 million.
Harwood has acquired the volumes are beneath those in 2016. However, it also acknowl-
business from Sullivan Street appealing to the international edges that the potential exists to
Partners which had funded a buy pharma packaging specialists. ment and to build on the progress double the size of the business
out from Benson Group in 2014 The deal was completed just that has been made under the with a “need to be patient and
after its takeover by Graphic before the Christmas break. “We stewardship of Sullivan Street long term”. Sullivan Street, with
Packaging International. believes this presents a great Partners,” Harford says. four key investments, lacked the
Harford was brought in to opportunity to take the business Under the care of Sullivan ability to accelerate the neces-
become managing director in to the next stage in its develop- Street, Medica has moved from sary investment.
… strategic transformation. constantly breaking down,” companies and for customers
This is intended to simplify the says site and production that come from elsewhere in
corporate structure and improve manager Mike Webb. “It was no the group, specialising in short
profitability and address the longer up to the job in terms of runs “as low as 1,000 units” says
significant decline in market volumes, speed and efficiency.” Webb, adding “fast turnaround IFS has installed the
demand. The company reported The business became part of is where we are to score, espe- Horizon rotary die cutter
that revenue in the division had the Reflex Labels group three cially as we get more and more at Emmerson Press.
fallen 20% in Q3. years ago and has been increas- used to the Duran”.
ing its carton output since.
Agfa has
The old folder gluer, however,
created a
new business was proving a constraint on Emmerson because it had hit the million
to house its production and after making expands with mark. It was impressive that
the case for a replacement and they had produced so much
Horizon
offset plates
business at negotiating with Friedheim work without it needing any
a time when
International, the company EMMERSON PRESS HAS attention. It showed me just
plate volumes
settled on the Allpro 70. installed a Horizon CRF-362 how reliable it was. and it only
have plunged.
“It is an established design creaser folder at its Kenilworth needs to save us an hour a day
and model,” says Webb, “which factory, replacing an ageing B2 to justify the machine and it is
is a factor as we are new to creaser that could no longer be already doing that.”
packaging and needed to be relied up to deliver a squarely
Reflex action comfortable with the invest- aligned product.
chooses Duran ment.” The line can produce Jamie Emmerson, director, Precision Proco
straight line, crash lock, double says: “We visited Horizon in adds touch of
REFLEX LITHO PLUS HAS wall cartons with options on Germany three years ago to see
welcomed a Duran Omega four- and six-corner styles as the Horizon StitchLiner but class
Allpro 70 folder gluer to its well as the cartonboard sleeves while we were there the folder WITHERBYS, ONE OF
Manchester factory where it is that are proving popular in the creaser caught our eye. We liked London’s oldest print busi-
expected to have a big impact food sector. its ability to fold inline which nesses, has left North London
on productivity of the business. The company runs a five- saves time. for Dagenham, following its
“The machine we had previ- colour plus coater SM74 “When I got there the purchase by Precision Proco.
ously was 18 years old and producing work for local machine needed calibrating The high quality litho print …
10 January/February 2021 www.printbusiness.co.ukNO MINIMUM
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Correct as of 19/11/20INFORMATION/TECHNOLOGY
Highcon shapes up to
make a bigger impression
HIGHCON IS GEARING UP and sales grew by more than the businesses producing these
for the next phase of growth, $1billion. He takes over from sorts of cartons. “I am looking
securing the services of Alon Amichal Steimberg, appointed forward to joining the Highcon
Bar-Shany as chairman of the to guide Highcon through the board and taking part in the
board coming on the back of a IPO process. ongoing digital transformation
successful IPO that raised $45 That was achieved through a of the printing and packaging
million for the company. share placement that was over industry,” he says.
Highcon supplies digital subscribed. Highcon now trades The team now also includes
finishing technology combining on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange Simon Lewis, London born
laser cutting and a unique way with an overall value of $165 veteran of Scitex and HP Indigo,
of creating a creasing matrix million. The promise is that latterly as head of channel strat-
digitally. These are suited to growing ecommerce markets egy and partners and who had
Alon Bar-Shany joins the
short run and digital printed Highcon board less than a
and demand for short run pack- three years as regional business
packaging, particularly where year after stepping down aging will feed through to sales manager in central Europe.
intricate designs may be difficult as general manager of HP for Highcon’s Euclid and Beam In the UK, where there
to produce using conventional Indigo. machines. are four installations to date,
technology. Thanks to his tenure at HP Highcon has switched to a direct
Bar-Shany had been general year. During his time at HP Indigo, Bar-Shany has in-depth sales strategy headed by Steve
manager of HP Indigo until Indigo its liquid electrophoto- knowledge of the market for Donegal, another veteran of
stepping down in March last graphic technology was matured digitally printed packaging and HP Indigo.
… operation is now located in includes a lot of established Vareo digital binder, the other production and the Publica Pro
a corner of the vast Precision London and British luxury a new high speed, high volume for high speed production. The
Proco plant as a self contained brands and that’s a really good machine that will become the KM200 remains the machine
operation. There will be no opportunity to work with.” flagship of the portfolio. for higher volume digital book
attempt to rebrand the business, The acquisition has brought This is the Publica Pro, production with dynamic adjust-
now WKG Print, which owns across Heidelberg XL75 print reviving a name that Kolbus has ment to cope with print run of
the 280-year-old print brand, capacity to join the RMGT9 used for its high performance one operation. The KM 610
nor to change its focus on high perfecting presses that are machines. And it is based on the mid volume 9,000cph and the
end customers in art galleries, already on site, producing both KM412 perfect binder, replaces KM412 18,000cph binders also
museums, auction houses, and fast turnaround trade work the Corona range and will be remain available though without
leading finance companies. and direct work for a range of made at the Rahden plant in the digital control systems.
There will be an opportu- corporate clients. northern Germany that Muller
nity to cross sell and to take WKG also brings across Martini acquired in 2018. The
advantage of technology that colour and retouching exper- machine comes in three variants Ricoh signs up
Precision Proco has devel- tise and craft finishing skills. offering 12,000cph, 15,000cph VPress web to
oped. James Green, managing “In certain areas and markets and 18,000cph, the latter with
director of WKG Print, says: that expertise is really valued,” 40 clamps. print
“Our vision has always been to says Bailey. “This is not about The Pro designation also VPRESS HAS FOLLOWED
combine experience and tradi- combing through the ashes it’s applies to the digital perfect the announcement of its deal
tion with the latest technology about fanning the flames. WKG binder, the Vareo Pro. This to integrate its web to print
to provide our clients with not is already a successful business. introduces a new hotmelt spine software into Kodak’s Prin-
only the highest quality print, The plan is to collaborate and gluing system, derived from ergy On Demand workflow, by
but also to enable them to access make the flames rise higher.” the Alegro binder, and a PUR announcing a similar deal with
new markets and a changing nozzle system ensuring a loss- Ricoh UK.
customer base.” free application of the adhesive The Coreprint cloud based
“This was an opportunity Muller unveils to the spine. web to print software will be the
that came up,” says Jon Bailey, new binders The new machines give preferred option for Ricoh UK
COO of Precision Proco. “This Muller Martini a line up of three as its customers push for greater
was very much about the culture MULLER MARTINI HAS perfect binding models, the integration and automation, a
that WKG has and the types of introduced two new perfect book of one Vareo, the Alegro trend accelerated by the Covid-
customers they work with. This binders, one a new version of its for up to 7,000 cycles per hour 19 pandemic. …
12 January/February 2021 www.printbusiness.co.ukFuture proof now with a smart investment
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www.duplointernational.com #beyondA4 #automation #unleashflexibilityINFORMATION/TECHNOLOGY
Friedheim takes on
Hohner to fill stitcher gap
FRIEDHEIM International has as a highly flexible alternative to The concept includes integra-
filled the final gap in its finishing the most productive machines tion with either MBO K70 cross
portfolio, taking on service and and as a more productive alter- fold and T50 buckle folders. In
distribution of Hohner’s saddle native to those that have majored all the company says that this
stitchers and stitching heads. on flexibility. amounts to 17 different config-
Hohner has enjoyed greater There are currently three urations, eight operating in
success with its stitching heads machines in the portfolio, a parallel production.
than with the saddle stitch- 13,000cph machine, a 9,000cph Friedheim invited a number
ers, having lacked the long machine which employs a tool- Hohner heads are widely of its digital printing custom-
term commitment and support free set up using servo motors used on other stitching ers to a behind the scenes online
network in this country. This to make adjustments necessary, machines including Duplo, viewing of a technology demon-
culminated in the establishment and the Digi-FS 9 fully auto- here, and Horizon. stration and is following up on
of a direct sales subsidiary, but mated line for digital print. solid inquiries. “It’s a really
with little impact on equip- This has evolved into the with ever decreasing production productive piece of kit, handling
ment sales. There are however Futura, a concept for a fully runs combining the trimming both short runs and long runs,
a number of machines in use in automated stitching line that unit and stitching elements from sitting between a traditional
the UK, testament to solid engi- was planned for launch at Drupa the HSB 9000 with five feeding saddle stitching line and those
neering and reliable design. and was shown at the Finishing options, including a collating from the digital print world and
Now Friedheim aims to build Alliance open days in Novem- tower and digital feeder from a able to replace a number of these
on that, with Hohner positioned ber. This is designed to cope stack or preprinted reel. machines,” says a spokesman.
Kyocera
sive alternative to conventional
Fidelity first foiling it has in-house.
with Xerox It has been supplied to Fidel- releases next
Versant ity by First Copy, Cambridge
who also provided an Ideal 7260
gen head
FIDELITY DESIGN & PRINT guillotine. KYOCERA HAS RELEASED
has become one of the first UK This replaces an EBA a new high speed inkjet print-
companies to install the new machine supplied when Fidel- head, taking resolution of the
Xerox Versant 280 and probably ity started printing 15 years ago. KJ4B series of piezo printheads
the first to opt for the Adaptive “We needed a bigger machine to to 1200dpi. The KJ4B EX-1200
The two had started talking pack to extend to printing extra cope with the long sheet we can operates with aqueous inks and
before the end of last year, ahead toners. now print,” says Hodge. has a new design of pixel actua-
of any inkling of the disease, let The Bedford business is Last year the company started tor to improve consistency and
alone its impact. Pandemic and replacing two machines with a wedding stationery website, resilience.
lockdown have had a devastating the press, only launched at the though the pandemic has acted The head is aimed at a wide
effect across the industry, with end of last year. The company as a brake on this venture. The variety of applications with a
a knock on effect on Ricoh’s has been using a six-year-old ability to print white, clear and focus on graphics says Kyocera.
revenue streams. The online tool Versant 2100 and an even older metallics for invitations and It is the second printhead
will be a way to capture work for 770. “We used this because it has other items of wedding station- released this year with new the
Ricoh presses, whether inside a a scanning head,” says Louise ery, with a focus on reasonable large integrated actuator design
corporate customer or part of a Hodge, owner of the business pricing and the extra impact following on from the 600dpi
commercial printer. with husband Simon. the additional colours can KJ4B EX 600 released in April
“We identified the need in our “We wanted the long sheet provide. this year.
overall business support offering capability and have also taken “We went down to Xerox The new models also include
for specific web to print system the Adaptive package to be able in Uxbridge to look at the recirculating systems and run at
that would enable our customers to offer clear white, gold and Iridesse, but it was a bit rich for 80MHz, a 25% speed increase
to move from analogue to cloud- silver print. We will be able to us, so when Xerox announced on the existing KJ4B and KJ4A
based design, specification and offer far more services in house, they were instigating a smaller printheads that are widely
order systems for their clients,” reducing the need to send work machine, we decided this used in print applications
says Ricoh UK national sales out.” It will also enable the was the time to invest,” she from wide format graphics to
director Simon Isaacs. company to offer a less expen- explains. narrow web label printing. …
14 January/February 2021 www.printbusiness.co.ukA D I V I S I O N O F P E R F E C T B I N D E RY S O L U T I O N S
e - PACK
ON-DEMAND PACK-TO-DESPATCH SYSTEM
automated WRAP | PACK | SEAL small order packaging line
t
box sizes up to 360 x 260 mm ever y smar
busin es s
box height from 40 to 120 mm variable should have
one!
production speed up to 10 boxes/min
3
film: Sugar Cane Bio-based or Polyprop
JOB DONE
automatic and flexible
for rapid response for post-print systems
pack-to-despatch that make the difference
The new Risetec e-Pack is a unique small order packaging line designed
to pack a variety of products into cartons for immediate dispatch to
the customer. An intergrated wrapping station uses environmentally
friendly stretch film to secure the product inside the carton, eliminating
the need for fillers or spacers. The box containing the secured item is ALL THINGS BOOK
then closed and taped ready for immediate dispatch. Optional LUXURY DELIVERED
automatic labelling and robotic stacking can further reduce processing
S O R TAT I O N & PAC K
time and labour costs. A variety of box blanks can be deployed
depending on the dimensions of the contents. The e-Pack has been
designed for low energy consumption/carbon footprint. Tel: 01993 840077 | Email: steve@binderysolutions.co.uk
Web: www.binderysolutions.co.ukINFORMATION/TECHNOLOGY
Prinergy smoothes path
to business integration
KODAK HAS EXPANDED ter, one of Kodak’s flagship grated, subscription-based
the appeal of its Prinergy on customers with Prinergy work- software solutions to the print-
Demand cloud based work- flow, Sonora plates, platesetter ing industry,” says Todd Bigger,
flow thanks to integration with and Prosper inkjet presses from vice president, Print, Kodak.
VPress, PrintVis and Microsoft Kodak. “Printers get the peace of mind
business software. The choice of VPress is a of seamless, automated, print
It will enable Kodak to deliver big endorsement for the UK specific solutions without the
a complete order to invoice software company and its web finger pointing, complexity and
workflow and business platform to print application, which was hidden costs of having to inte-
Web to print sofware and
based on the software as a service developed to be a Saas hosted grate products from different
business integration are
model. The expanded offering product. VPress will provide vendors.”
intended to help Prinergy
was introduced on 1 January. web to print, storefront and VPress itself has upgraded
become the data heart of a
Prinergy on Demand is variable data functionality. its own software, launching
print business.
already hosted on the Micro- Kodak says the combination Dynamic Editor 4.0 to intro-
soft Azure cloud service. It now amounts to “one of the first and duce real time online editing
gains additional tools available in the UK, Stephens & George only comprehensive software for brand control through the
through the MS Dynamics 365 being its best known user, Print- solutions for all applications and online purchasing portal. It
Business Control Suite. Print- Vis is widely available in North printers of any size”. enables end customers to edit
Vis is an ERP/MIS that is layer America and across Europe. Kodak’s Prinergy On and manipulate designs while
of applications built on this A PrintVis system is under Demand business solutions remaining within the set of
functionality. implementation at Mercury bring the convenience and brand guidelines on founts, on
While not extensively used Communications in Roches- cost effectiveness of fully inte- colours and templates.
… Users include Domino on print department follows on
the N610 (though not on the recent spending on new cutting Morgana Northend
latest machine which has heads capacity and a StitchLiner. delivers cold switches to
from parent company Brother
Industries) and Canon for the
Now it is returning to its digital
roots.
varnish process-free
ProStream. “We had a Canon digital MORGANA HAS RELEASED NORTHEND HAS replaced its
According to Kyocera the production printer 20 year ago,” DigiCoater Pro 400 UV coater. Cron UV platesetter with a Cron
new head will achieve speeds says sales director Tristan Palser. It can apply a range of differ- thermal platesetter supplied by
of 100m/min in 1200dpi reso- “We have come full circle. Over ent UV coatings to enhance a SOS.
lution. The standard KJB 1200 the last 15 years aw have moved printed sheet to deliver a deco- The Cron 36G+ is capable of
will deliver 80m/min. away from Canon. But this time rative and protective finish. producing an SRA1 plate for its
The new head will fire around when we were doing the It uses a cold cure lamp RMGT 920 five-colour LED
smaller drops, 1.5pl compared due diligence in the early part system, drawing less power, and UV press.
to 2.5pl, resulting in drop sizes of last year, Canon came out on delivers the lowest cost per sheet The company has been able
of 21 microns on the substrate top.” achievable on an UV machine in to switch to a processless plate,
compared to 25 microns at The three machines include its class,” says Ray Hillhouse. improving its environmental
1200dpi, raising the possibility the flagship C10000VP and It can run at 45m/minute on footprint.
of improved image quality. mono press. The company the cold lamp system, rising It had installed the first Cron
looked at the inkjet option, but to 60m/min with an LED UV platesetter with installation of
decided against it. system instead. It will cope with the press in 2017. At the time
Ruddocks “It is too big a step for our extended sheets from presses both press and platesetter were
makes triple type of work at the moment,” capable of long sheet print- supplied by Apex Digital.
says Palser. ing, though these will need the As well as shift from a conven-
move The investment sits nicely optional VFL feeder. tional presensitised plate to a
A LOCKDOWN investment in alongside the Speedmaster With the standard VFX process-free version, the three
three Canon digital presses has XL75 litho press “and there is version, two feed bins enable years have improved the plate-
doubled digital print capacity at no discernible colour difference continuous running for sheets to setter with a simpler and more
Ruddocks in Lincoln. between them, which was not 660mm long. A hand fed version robust operating system, cutting
The renewal of the digital the case 20 years ago”. is also available. the training requirement. …
16 January/February 2021 www.printbusiness.co.ukBEING THERE FOR PRINT This time last year, as Print Business was hitting desks, the realisation was hitting home that this virus was far more serious than many of us first thought. It turned everything on its head and many printers rose to the challenge, using their technology and know-how to produce much needed PPE, signage, testing kits, masks in all shapes and sizes. Throughout the past year Print Business has supported the industry. We have not missed an issue nor chosen to go digital. We have been there with commentary, advice and encouragement. It hasn’t been easy, not for any of us, yet most of us are making it through. Return the favour and subscribe. THE MAGAZINE FOR FORWARD THINKING PRINTING Hit the Subscribe button on the homepage or go to printbusiness.co.uk/subscribe
INFORMATION/TECHNOLOGY
Heidelberg stays on cash
growing cost cutting path
HEIDELBERG CONTINUES GTOs were assembled on a non
Heidelberg has sold a slab of land at its vast
to reshape the business, trim- stop production line. Less space
Wiesloch factory for conversion into a commerce
ming unnecessary overheads park. It still has land that is surplus to requirements. is required and Heidelberg
and preparing for the new plans to shed 270,000m2 of the
normal. 870,00m2 site during the course
In Germany this has meant of structure and site optimisa-
the sale of some of its vast tion, with the VGP deal the first
factory site to a company step in the project.
specialising in development and A further tidying up of the
management of business parks. corporate structure has led to
In the UK the company is the sale of BluePrint Products,
preparing for the sale of its a pressroom chemicals producer
riverside site in Brentford with to Langley Holdings subsidi-
a move to use third-party logis- ary DC Druck Chemie, netting
tics specialist Mini Clipper to €20.5 million.
handle distribution of spares The injection of funds “will
and consumables. safeguard our liquidity in times
The logistics company ing IT that Mini Clipper has encourage occupancy by third- of the Covid-19 pandemic”
already works for Renz and developed with a connection party companies, Zaikio being says Heidelberg CEO Rainer
Fujifilm from warehouses close to Heidelberg’s SAP technol- one. Now it has sold 130,000m2 Hundsdörfer.
to the M1 in Hertfordshire. The ogy and to the World Logistics m to Dutch developer VGP It has, however, failed to sell
alternative would have been an Centre at the Wiesloch factory. Group which runs 31 industrial Gallus to a hitherto unknown
overhaul of systems at Brentford In Germany the company has and commercial parks around Swiss company called Benpac.
which is already subject to traffic previously declared its interest Europe. The deal collapsed after the
problems. Now Heidelberg UK in using redundant buildings The factory produces fewer buyer failed to complete the
can plug into the warehous- to set up a science park and presses than in the past when transaction.
Automation levels on the technologies. The programme really important for us at the
Latest XL106 new machine are at Drupa 2020 organised by Made Smarter moment.”
lined up for levels and take offset printing North West is run in conjunction
Wales
a step closer to autonomous with PrintCity at Manchester
running. Metropolitan University and Saturn nets
STEPHENS & GEORGE will It will comfortably cope with Fabricon Design. Hoya LED
not lose production capac- the 75-80 million impressions a “For us it’s about upskill-
ity with the installation of a year the Merthyr Tydfil printer ing the workforce to look SATURN UV, THE company
ten-colour XL106, despite it is expecting to achieve. for opportunities to increase formed by industry veterans
replacing two machines, one a And this comes with an productivity through new tech- David Pelling and Mike Piercy,
ten-colour press installed five average run length of around nology, meaning customers will is bringing Hoya’s LED UV
years ago. 5,500 copies from magazines, get a better product,” says Sarah technology to the UK.
The new machine will programmes and commercial Poynter, operations manager of Hoya is a 35,000-strong Japa-
join two other Push to Stop work, so will have to cope with the Stockport company. nese company with widespread
generation XL106 presses, frequent makereadies. Arden Dies will be looking interests, including optics and
both eight-colour perfecting for ways it can use 3D printing laser. It has become one of the
machines, in what was described as part of the die manufacturing largest players in LED UV tech-
last year as the most modern Arden prepares process, potentially to replace nology in the country. It is now
press hall in Europe. for 3D future some of the routing processes starting to spread into Europe,
It includes a new CutStar that have been required, she with dealers in Spain, Denmark
design that was expected to be ARDEN DIES IS participat- says. and Germany as well as Saturn
seen at Drupa. Instead the new ing in a 12-week upskilling “We are not 100% sure yet UV.
version, able to handle lighter programme designed to intro- where we will be able to use the The key advantage of Hoya,
papers, was shown off in remote duce concepts and advantages technology, but we have some Pelling says, is that the unit is
demonstrations. of additive manufacturing ideas. It is something that is completely air cooled. Other
18 January/February 2021 www.printbusiness.co.ukINFORMATION/TECHNOLOGY
Packaging drives resilient
HP portfolio forward
IMPRESSION COUNTS on sales of hardware in the will fall back again in Q1. HP’s printing division reported sales
and square metres of material commercial printing arm of the financial year runs from Novem- for the year of $17.6 billion, less
printed across HP’s labels and HP results. ber to October. than one third of the total, but
packaging operation increased Sales of Indigos, inkjet The pandemic related slow- with an operating profit of $5.2
by double digits year on year, presses and now 3D printers down in commercial printing billion, it represents 52% of the
says CEO Enrique Lores. constitute HP’s commercial was balanced by an equally company’s operating profit.
This was a bright spot in print division and amount to dramatic increase in the It is the broad portfolio that
the 2020 financial year and 7% of the company’s overall consumer printing division, HP has, not just across print-
he name checked Epac, which $56.6 billion turnover. where work from home stimu- ing, that has given the business
had ordered a further 20 There had been a slow recov- lated sales of desktop printers resilience during the period,
machines for flexible pack- ery in page volumes during in previous quarters and is now says Lores. It has allowed
aging, and US corrugated Q3, which continued into Q4, pulling through on consumables HP to outperform its peers.
box producer The Boxmaker, but not enough to recoup the for these machines. And despite the continuing
which had installed its second pandemic related reduction in As a result, consumer hard- effects of the pandemic, Lores
C500 cut sheet inkjet digital commercial printing activity. ware revenues were down is confident that things will
press in the year. And with further lockdowns just 1% across the year while improve. “We expect a gradual
Otherwise the pandemic had taking place around the world, commercial hardware was down recovery in overall commercial
had “a strong negative impact” the company anticipates this 25% in the same period. The print,” he says.
suppliers use water to keep magazine printer to commit
temperature at the tip of the to paper wrapping for mailed Fedrigoni
diode constant to optimise the publications. steps up
energy generated. Until now recommended
Hoya does the same without materials meant a compromise for NHS
the need for pipes, ducting on quality, on bulk, strength or FEDRIGONI IS SELLING 19
or fans that other approaches water resistance. poster designs to raise money
require. This has been at the heart for NHS Charities Together
The target for Saturn UV is, of a 12-month development during the Covid-19 crisis.
says Pelling, OEM manufactur- programme at a mill in Europe. The paper company commis-
ers of flexo and inkjet presses This will be marketed as sioned the artists to come up
wanting an LED unit to inte- Revive Mail Wrap on reels of with an appropriate design
grate into an inkjet label press various widths to suit different which was then printed at Push
or large format press. lines and applications. London in Bermondsey on
The standard weight will its Speedmaster in runs of 75
be 80gsm, says marketing and copies per design.
Denmaur sustainability director Danny These have been sold for £19
has it Doogan. each with each buyer receiving
“We can go to 90gsm, while specially designed recyclable
wrapped people will want it at 70gsm and paper face masks.
perhaps to look at the potential The designs span the experi-
DENMAUR PAPER MEDIA of 60gsm.” ence of helping the NHS to the
is bringing a recyclable paper The manufacturer itself can personal experience of being in
wrap to market as interest in run the paper to 36gsm, far too lockdown.
paper as an alternative to LDPE lightweight to be of any use in Ambra Fridegotto at Fedri-
film for magazines and direct print (“for small paper bags” goni says: “While each poster is
mail continues to climb. Doogan suggests). unique, they come together to Push London printed 19
Most magazine printers are The paper mixes virgin FSC convey the range of emotions different limited edition
able to offer paper wrap, either pulp with a kraft pulp to provide that people are continu- posters to help Fedrigoni
through their own installations strength and bulk. It has also ing to experience almost a raise money for NHS
or through a mailing house. achieved a low Cobb value in year on from the start of the Charities.
Warners is the most recent terms of weather resistance. pandemic.” n
www.printbusiness.co.uk January/February 2021 19COVER STORY GELATO
THE UNICORN
FROM THE
FROZEN NORTH
GELATO IS THE NORWEGIAN TECH COMPANY THAT IS AT THE HEART
OF THE ECOMMERCE BOOM, THANKS TO SEAMLESS CONNECTIVITY
THROUGH THE CLOUD TO THE WORLD OF ONLINE SHOPPING.
Henrik Müller-
Hansen says the
vision is connecting
every individual
on the planet with
any printing press
anywhere in the
world.
20 January/February 2021 www.printbusiness.co.ukYou can also read
