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THE MAGAZINE FOR FORWARD THINKING PRINTING MAY/JUNE 2021 Explore more… COVER STORY Drupa: the greatest show on Earth but in virtual reality. BIG REVEALS The pick of the new presses. PANDEMIC The success stories emerge as nimble printers adapt. Explore more at printbusiness.co.uk
Established in 1952, Italian company Zechini has become the world’s specialist manufacturers of bookbinding and converting machines for short, medium and longer runs
THE EDITOR’S COMMENT
THE FUTURE IS
THE MAN IN THE HAT, GARETH WARD
has been the editor of Print Business OUT THERE: IT JUST
NEEDS EXPLAINING
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. THE PRINTING INDUSTRY RARELY
What Print Business does is take all this has the opportunity to set its own direction
to the future. This has been the case for
information – supplied via press releases,
at least the last 50 years ever since the
announcements at events, word of mouth
widespread use of litho printing brought
or good old fashioned journalism – sorts affordable colour to magazines and the
the puffery from the facts, weaves it advertising industry. Print, and cinema,
together and puts it into context for those were the only channels for messaging
who run print businesses. in colour and print was somewhat more
convenient. Printers enjoyed a 30-year
AT THE HEART OF EVERYTHING that Print
halcyon period when good money could be
Business publishes are the printers. Those
made and what they produced, for lack of
whose businesses are no longer about rivals, was very much in demand.
simply feeding paper into a giant lump of But since the turn of the century and
highly engineered metal and selling the especially since the Lehmann Brothers
sheet that comes out the other end. Those crash, printers have been battling
who face myriad decisions, some of which head winds. The internet, smartphone
technology and more recently 5G and
point in opposite directions, and need to
the Internet of Things and most recently
know more than how fast it prints.
Covid-19. All these have had a huge impact infancy, he realised that the internet could
They need to know what affects them on print without printers being in control be harnessed to enable the purchase of
and how. Just as every print job is bespoke, of these developments. print and that by consolidating hundreds
every print company is different. There is It was ever thus. Outside the and thousands of orders for the humble
no one-size-fits-all in this industry. development of lithography and laser business card along a highly automated
imaging, print has been driven by wider production process, a decent margin might
BEFORE COVID Gareth Ward was out
developments. In the nineteenth century be made. Vistaprint was born and launched
and about all the time. He went to print
increasing literacy prompted demand for the online print sector. More than 20%
factories and talked to printers in their newspapers and novels, the development of print is being ordered this way already
language. He has seen first hand the of laser diodes coincided with the creation and there is no end to this growth in sight.
problems they face, the solutions they find, of CTP technologies and latterly digital Keane, of course, was not a printer and did
their achievements and their innovation. printing. New engineering techniques not think like a printer.
He has finally been able to safely visit developed for the microchip sector is That is important because those of us
today allowing mass production of inkjet with our heads down at work, stuck to
some factories.
printheads. Inkjet technology is still in its the day to day of finding orders, filling
BEFORE PRINT BUSINESS Gareth Ward
infancy and its potential largely untapped. presses and managing staff, rarely have the
worked on the leading weekly magazine Very few printers think of these longer opportunity to look up or to feel the shift
Printing World for 22 years and was editor term shifts. We feel the earthquakes but of the ground beneath our feet. This is
for 15. It is this experience, and 360° view do not recognise the tectonic movements where outside help may be needed. This
of the industry, that gives him his sixth underneath that create the earthquakes. is the role of a show like Drupa. This is
When we do, there is opportunity to why understanding what technology can
sense about printing. His ability to spot
be had. Robert Keane, for example, do and how it works will help process the
trends, often years before they become
recognised this while completing a thesis implications and discover opportunities.
apparent in the mainstream, is legendary. at one of the top business schools in Drupa, like so much else, was forced
THIS IS PRINT BUSINESS, THE MAGAZINE France. Drawing inspiration from Jeff to close its doors and go online this
FOR FORWARD THINKING PRINTING. Bezos at Amazon, then in its relative time around. While we all missed the
www.printbusiness.co.uk May/June 2021 3
COMMENT GARETH WARD’S THOUGHTS ON…
conviviality, the ability to smell and touch
new equipment and see new applications
being demonstrated, some of the key
messages came though loud and clear in the
presentations over the four days it lasted.
First AI is coming. We can argue whether
this represents artificial intelligence,
machine learning, pattern recognition or
artificial ignorance. But we cannot argue
about the effects in the wider world.
Decisions are being taken by software,
programmed by humans. This means
printers have to be linked into the broader
Network, to be able to deliver shorter
runs, faster turnarounds, bespoke products
and probably taking on management of
distribution.
THE ROAR OF THE GREASEPAINT,
Keynote speaker Michael Gale outlined technology are why Precision Proco has
THE SMELL OF THE CROWD Drupa
some of ways that the shift to limitless is theatre, where we the audience are appointed Steeve Roucaute as its first chief
computing and communications capacity enthusiastic participants and keen to technology officer. His task is like the guy
is going to change the way that the world watch the performance and discuss it climbing up to the crows nest with
operates. His questionnaire to discover in the bar afterwards. page 22 a telescope to get advanced
C
whether your business is AI ready, may not AT • ON warning of pirates on the
be definitive. But it is a good place to start. M horizon or to spot land
SU
E FOR
LTANC
There are implications for the types of
skills that printers need, and moreover the
of tasks where it has previously
not been worth the investment.
DRUPA before those on deck.
It is a shift too from the
ZIN
skills that will not be needed. We support It is. And it is propelling a fundamental operation
YI
N MAGA
the drive to recruit apprentices for the rapid increase in online ordering, of a litho press which
operational tasks that still exist and will affecting even those businesses most in print understand.
continue to exist for a transition period. that have prided themselves on personal Lithography is at its heart a
However, we also need to recruit a different relationships. I chemical process. Oil and water do not
type of person, one that is savvy with these n the last year many of these companies mix, and many problems can be solved
new technologies, programmers and data have managed without the traditional press through chemistry – wetting solutions,
scientists. Go Inspire CEO Patrick Headley pass. They are unlikely to come back into different blankets or roller coverings,
tells us that around 25% of the company’s the factory now restrictions are ending. changing development solutions, pH
staff are now data scientists. That is a Kelvin Bell, director of Vpress, predicts and more. In the inkjet world chemistry
strong investment in the future of that that without an online presence for taking remains important, but physics is even
business. orders, printers will be out of business more important. The developers of the
Everyone has felt the impact of Covid on within two years. technology spend months perfecting signal
their businesses. This will drive automation At a higher level these changes in wave forms, compensating for electrical
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 | Printed on Gallerie Silk not via a contra deal. Open to offers.
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 on the homepage of printbusiness.co.uk
4 May/June 2021 www.printbusiness.co.uk
…PREDICTING, ACCEPTING AND EMBRACING CHANGE COMMENT
interference and understanding the impact
of orifice geometry.
In order to be on top of this coming
world, education is needed if nothing else
to be better equipped to judge whether
the transition of offset pages to inkjet
makes real sense and that the technology
offered has the capability claimed by the
enthusiastic salesperson and whether the
sales message makes real sense. Inkjet
is a new way of doing things that has
tremendous potential yet few understand
the fundamentals of what might become an
expensive mistake.
Virtual Drupa also pointed to another DIVERSIFICATION CAME OUT
tectonic shift that will shake all printers: OF THE PANDEMIC Demand for of paper wrap or even, as we have, in
commercial print has plummeted
the climate crisis. Print has a tremendous favour of naked mailing. We can hope that
leading some companies to diversify
record of environmental improvement large format printers experience the same
out of necessity in the first instance
over recent years and is one that we can and have found themselves in a better collapse in demand for PVC, a material that
justifiably be proud of. But the rate of place as a result. page 47 is almost completely unnecessary in the
change needs to accelerate. The use of printing industry because valid alternatives
carbon balanced paper is a start, becoming exist. Printers need to be leading these
a carbon balanced printer is the logical next do not make this shift, the receiver’s office changes or they will find themselves
step, but is only the beginning. UK printers awaits. overwhelmed by them.
have been among the most enthusiastic The industry no longer has the luxury And beyond this the next shift is already
adopters of ISO 14001, so some of time to ponder these decisions and to building. It is not visible yet, at least not
understanding of how to measure, assess implement them in a leisurely way. As our eyes. To quote cyberpunk novelist
and implement change exists across the it is said of the failed millionaire, at first William Gibson, “The future is already
industry. However, ISO 14001 alone is not he went bankrupt slowly, then suddenly. here, it’s just not widely distributed”.
going to be enough to satisfy print buyers Printers may easily find themselves in this Just as Robert Keane identified before
who are working for companies that are position as policies at their customers can starting Vistaprint, there are opportunities
implementing zero carbon policies, circular swiftly shift. out there for a print business.
economy principles and need to know from We have already seen magazine What is certain is that we will not find
the businesses that supply them that they publishers drop polywrap as fast as them if we stay within the confines of
also adhere to these principles. possible. Two years ago the Periodical the business as it is today. The very best
These are still early days for Publishers’ Association was still defending printers will this with their sensors out in
sustainability and the early adopters have the material claiming that it was widely all kinds of directions; they will be seeing
an opportunity to differentiate themselves recycled. Today magazine printers have to understand new technologies. The
in a market where one print business can experienced a precipitous drop in the future is out there. Our job at Print Business
look very much like another. For those that demand for the plastic material in favour is to try to explain it to you. n
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 moving to a subscription based business model. Subscriptions for those
who would like to contribute to securing the future of Print Business are available at printbusiness.co.uk/subscribe
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 subscribers. See the Archive page under
the Information tab at printbusiness.co.uk available issues.
TERMS Apply for terms & conditions to general@printbusiness.co.uk
www.printbusiness.co.uk May/June 2021 5
INFORMATION/TECHNOLOGY
Pyramid picks B1 RMGT
for next phase
PYRAMID PRESS HAS require 30-40 plate changes.
ordered a six-colour B1 RMGT Pyramid directors
“The CD102 is an old press
Paul McGuigan and
1050 sheetfed press for installa- that is getting expensive to run
Jonathan Smith
tion in November. in terms of maintenance, it
with the existing
It will replace a Speedmaster needs IPA which the existing
Mitsubishi V3000
102 at the Nottingham business Mitsubishi and the new press
press which will
and joins an earlier version of do not.”
be joined by the
the new machine, a Mitsubi- latest version at The new press will also take
shi V3000 that the company the Nottingham less power to run than the
installed less than two years ago. business in Heidelberg being replaced. It
That had been a press used by November. has an extended delivery unit,
Central Colour, just three miles double chamber coater, Smart
away, until its collapse and liqui- FPC simultaneous plate change
dation. And while an opportune point by point, the Japanese opportunity came up to buy and Smart Assist Printing which
purchase at the time, Pyramid press came out on top. the Mitsubishi we knew it was automates set up and keeps the
director Paul McGuigan says “We looked at it from the total reasonable press and have been press in balance. At makeready
the Mitsubishi has performed cost of ownership perspective, really, really impressed with it. the press starts to print tabbing
beyond all expectations. When the technology featured and the We then realised that it was not the stack when good copies have
the company had to decide on benefits we had seen with the simply a little faster, but a lot been reached.
its next new press, there was no Mitsubishi,” he says. faster than the ageing CD102 Pyramid also runs a Speed-
need to run trials or to see one in Its experience with the first we had and the plate changing, master XL75 installed in
action. It was a choice between press has been key. four plates switched over in 90 2016 along with Stahl folders
a Speedmaster XL106 and the “We have always been a seconds was an eye opener, espe- and Polar guillotines from
latest RMGT machine. And Heidelberg house but when the cially when we have jobs that Heidelberg.
Integrity’s and to scan the filled in sheets
directly into a database in the
to a round 10 million a week.
Lockdown has seen a rise in the
Clarity gains cloud. volume of door drop leaflets,
connections “As soon as we do this, the aided this year by continental
customer is notified that there suppliers pulling out of the UK
INTEGRITY HAS increased is a response waiting for him.” following Brexit.
the diversity of its Clarity A barcode printed on the “We have also started dealing
hybrid mail offering to enable sheet assigns the answers to the with media agencies,” says sales
customers to include reply specific customer, say the resi- director Andrew Law. “We can
paid envelopes and a scanning dent of a housing association’s produce door drop work very
service to deliver responses into property. “We have developed efficiently and cost effectively.
the cloud. this in-house and it has meant People don’t associate us with
The Clarity Response service Chris Walton says demand we are first to market with this this type of work, but it shows
has been developed follow- for the Clarity Response as part of a hybrid mail offering. we are starting to engage with a
service has soared.
ing requests from customers It is something that custom- slightly different audience.”
who want a means to managing downs hybrid mail has worked ers have been asking for,” says
data from a questionnaire or
changes to terms and conditions
incredibly well for us. Many
customers want to include a call
Walton.
The development is part of
Halstan adds
that have to be logged digitally. to action, where filling in a form continuing investment at the iX320 inkjet
Standard hybrid mail offerings or agreeing to change in terms Midsomer Norton business. In HALSTAN PRESS HAS
lack the versatility to insert or conditions so customers have January its commercial print installed its second Canon
reply envelopes at the mailing asked whether we could include operation took delivery of a cutsheet inkjet press, adding the
stage. a DRE which is not normally Hunkeler CS8 finishing line to flagship iX320 to the i300 it had
Integrity Connect, says possible. run alongside the Hunkeler CS6 bought last year. The Amersham
managing director Chris “Now, by partnering with that was installed in 2019. This book printer is fast becoming
Walton, has come up with a Opex, we have found a solution expands the company’s capacity Canon’s showcase user for the
way to do this. “During lock- to include the reply mechanism to handle cut and folded leaflets litho replacement technology.
6 May/June 2021 www.printbusiness.co.uk
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INFORMATION/TECHNOLOGY
TJ Books reaches support
partnership with Hobbs
TWO INDEPENDENT print working closely together as
Andy Watts says
businesses have formed an alli- partners is designed to provide
that the alliance
ance in a move which is likely to the customer with peace of
between TJ Books
be the forerunner of a number mind knowing that whatever the
and Hobbs the
of similar partnerships. challenges or their unique print
Printers will help
Hobbs the Printers is linking requirements, we will work
both companies
up with TJ Books in a move overcome any
together to provide a solution
which begins with a strategic events that can and get the job done in a swift
support should an unforeseen lead to disruption turnaround.”
event, an outbreak of Covid for customers. “Forming this alliance was an
perhaps, strike one of the absolute no brainer.”
companies. The other would The logic from Southamp-
step and complete work for a ton is equally compelling, says
customer who might otherwise the Printers offers a broader MBO CoboStack to make its David Hobbs. “With so much
be let down. range of work, including book folding operation more efficient. uncertainty in the world due to
However, the two already see printing. The two are of a similar size Covid-19, we believe this is a
the next step being the ability to Both are well invested: TJ with Hobbs employing 130, TJ smart business move that will
collaborate on tender opportu- Books has installed equipment Books around 120 before Covid. benefit both of us as well as the
nities offering a wider range of from Canon, most recently an There are no plans for any industry at large. What is great is
services with the firepower to iX3200 HD cutsheet inkjet formal merger. that while both companies have
match that offered by a larger press, and Duplo DuSense since Watts says: “We will continue similar processes and equip-
business. Andy Watts led a management to work independently, servic- ment, each also offers different,
The two both operate in book buyout in 2018. HP Indigo has ing our clients on a daily basis. more specialised services.
production, with this being the been digital print supplier to However, this novel situation “This gives us a resilience that
main focus of TJ Books at its Hobbs, which has also been the of two well established and many other companies don’t
factory in Padstow, while Hobbs first UK company to install the respected printing companies have at this time.”
First Indigo 15K January. This is our first Indigo
and we are quite amazed at how
nity in B2 digital, opening a lot
of other markets.
says the Trivor 2400 HD “is no
longer sold as new”. The press
for Platinum HP have looked after us.” “We think that the seven- was built at the former site in
PLATINUM PRINT IS UP When Platinum merged with colour digital machine will France which has been closed.
and running with an HP Indigo Harrogate Printing in 2016, give us everything we could Xerox has replaced the cut
12000, the first in the UK to Harrogate had operated an possibly need for the majority sheet Brenva from this plant
have the 15K value pack to Indigo which was left behind of the work that we might do with the Baltoro, but has made
enable the B2 digital press to when the business was consoli- once customers know that it’s no announcement about any
print with additional colours dated on the Platinum factory. available.” replacement for Trivor.
and effects. “It was an old model and we
These features will appeal had very modern Ricoh toner
to a customer base drawn from based devices and the Ricohs Trivor comes to CPS upgrades
marketing departments and have done us a very good job,” end of road with XL75
agencies. They include seven- he says.
colour extended gamut printing, The Indigo 12000 takes the IT APPEARS THAT XEROX CPS GROUP HAS TAKEN
ink fluorescent ink, white, clear company into B2 digital print- has discontinued its continuous delivery of a Heidelberg
ink for spot varnish effects, ing. “We have looked at the feed inkjet press. A note on the Speedmaster XL75, part of a
invisible yellow ink that reacts to Komori and Fujifilm inkjet product pages of its website site multi-year plan to overhaul the
UV light and the ability to print machines over the last four years company’s production platform.
1pt text. and we were aware of the Ricoh, “We have had some older equip-
“We are delighted with it,” though haven’t seen it. For us B2 ment that we needed to update,”
says managing director David digital sits between the Ricohs The Xerox says national account manager
Trivor is
Wyvill. “It was delivered just and the B2 Komori litho presses Darren Roberts. “The plan
no longer
before Christmas and has been we have,” says Wyvill. “We available. was to replace two of the older
running since the first week of think there is a lot of opportu- presses with a more productive
8 May/June 2021 www.printbusiness.co.uk
FINISHINGSTARTSHERE
Your future in finishing.
Intelligent Finishing Systems, Unit C, ATA House,
Boundary Way, Hemel Hempstead, Herts HP2 7SS
T: 020 8991 6624 www.ifsl.uk.com
INFORMATION/TECHNOLOGY
Phuzion opens up online
connection for print
PHUZION MEDIA IS supply- Progressive Web Pages. These sends the image to Phuzion to uitous while consumers are
ing the underlying technology look like apps on the home render it live to the phone. This suffering from digital fatigue.
that Bauer Media is using to screen of a smartphone, but can also be linked to a personal Phuzion’s proposition is posi-
enable readers of its Grazia and are short cuts to that website, landing page for a direct mail tioned to take advantage, working
Heat titles to link from print to bypassing that need for readers campaign, using data that is with TV as well as printed pages,
web pages to view additional to use a search engine or to recall part of the phone’s identity packaging and posters.
content or purchase items. a URL to access the site, and the and provides time and location “The technology has been
And the technology is not relevant page on that website. when a click through is made working in the Middle East and
reliant on specific apps, QR It will collect the data to show – all valuable analytics for the in Singapore which demon-
codes or embedded codes or that the phone has triggered the marketing industry. strates that it can be effective en
watermarks. Phuzion Media is connection. “Print has always struggled masse,” he adds.
calling the technology “Visual The readers need to first acti- to show its worth through links “During the pandemic people
commerce”, saying that applica- vate the link and here they use back to the client,” says Guram. have become used to scanning a
tions expand beyond magazines the smartphone’s camera to scan “This joins the dots and closes QR code with their phones, but
into catalogues, brochures and a QR code printed in the maga- that gap. We are getting a lot of magazine publishers are not so
direct mail, making a printed zine. “We say it’s the only QR feedback from agencies. This keen on having QR codes and
communication as measurable code that you will ever need,” could be a game changer for there is a limit to the infor-
as an email or digital message. says Phuzion director Harbir them.” mation generated. We are on
For Bauer Media, Phuzion Guram. Smartphones with scanning another level in terms of what
has created what Google calls The publisher, or printer, capability are becoming ubiq- we can do.”
machine that could produce the have found a unique niche which have been protesting the plans,
speed and quality and the leap makes us different from other including the claim that under
forward in technology that we commercial printers.” the transfer to new ownership,
didn’t have before.” they would lose accumulated
The includes Inpress Control redundancy rights. At its height
on the new machine, which will Komori releases Cerutti employed more than
enable the company to slash NS40 1,000 with sales of more than
start up waste. “We can colour €260 million, selling gravure
manage on the press itself, KOMORI HAS ANNOUNCED presses to the likes of Polestar
though we are still reliant on the that the Lithrone NS40, its press and Prinovis and flexo news-
press operator to scan the sheets using Landa’s nano technology, paper presses to Harmsworth
Cerutti press production is
and manage colour on the run,” is now available for sale. It will Quays Printing for production
under threat.
he says. be available in four-colour plus of the Daily Mail. It acquired
The press is also configured coater and seven-colour plus ing its centenary there is a real the gravure press arm of KBA
to print on 800 micron board, coater configurations, driven risk that the Italian business will and focused its packaging efforts
useful for the growing volume through a Komori developed close down. on gravure technology.
of packaging work handled. front end. Other specifications Its two operations were Now the collapse of demand
The Caerphilly company are shared with the Landa S10. Officine Meccaniche Cerutti in long run gravure publica-
has built a strong position as a in Casale which produced tion print and a shift towards
supplier to the furniture and publication gravure and flexo shorter runs in packaging and
carpets market, producing Cerutti newspaper presses, and Cerutti improvements in flexo technol-
the different spread of print, teeters Packaging Equipment in ogy, have left all with a stake
from brochures to signage, Vercelli, both in the Piedmont in the future of the business in
manuals to labels that this sector PRINTING PRESS manufac- region in northern Italy. Last conflict while administrators
requires. As well as manufac- turer Cerutti, the world’s only year these were reorganised into seek new investors. Administra-
turers, it counts retailers on the producer of publication gravure a new business, Gruppo Cerutti tors are reported to have locked
client roster. “Because of this presses, is fighting for survival which took over the opera- the doors to staff, which has also
close association we can even after the continuing Covid crisis tions in September with a much prevented completion of work
be sending print to China along has jeopardised relaunch plans. reduced workforce operating on a packaging press which is
with clients’ products,” says The company was founded in from the Casale factory. reported to be almost ready for
CPS owner Simon Green, “We 1921, but instead of celebrat- Unions representing the staff shipping.
10 May/June 2021 www.printbusiness.co.ukIf a goal seems hard to reach,
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www.uk.heidelberg.com +44 (0) 844 892 2010INFORMATION/TECHNOLOGY
Flagship Indigo hits the
ground running at JDP
JOHN DOLLIN PRINT IS ready.” It is also, he says, beau-
creating production records tiful to look at “and it takes a
from its newly installed HP lot to impress me. This is the
Indigo 100K, only the second right machine for us, increasing
of the B2 digital presses in the output without seriously upping
UK, as the transformation of a the labour cost.”
one-time family owned business The 100K will run SRA2
by new owner Venn Holdings, paper as standard and will be
continues. dedicated to printing commod-
Its installation will be followed itised commercial products. The
by upgrades to the finishing There had been no intention to by the 100K says 12000 will be fitted with the kit
departments, improvements Anthony Thirlby, but the numbers added up. to handle thicker substrates to
to broadband connectivity and enable it to take on cartons and
installation of a second XL75 says Thirlby. After acquiring commercial model work. We more specialised jobs to address
over the summer. JDP owner, John Dollin Print, which ran want to standardise on the four- the creative market. The 7900,
Venn Holdings, is also eyeing its an Indigo 12000 alongside and page format and my gut instinct like the Speedmaster SM52 and
second acquisition, one that will Indigo 7600, the new owners is that this is where the oppor- XL105, will go.
dovetail with JDP, says director met HP’s team. tunities will be coming,” says The boost in B2 sheet
Anthony Thirlby. At that meeting, HP Indi- Thirlby. production has spurred invest-
The decision to invest in go’s UK and Ireland country “I’ve seen the Indigo 10000 ment in a Horizon StitchLiner
the high speed Indigo, capable manager Peter Jolly explained and 12000 installed at a number and PUR perfect binder. These
or 6,000sph when printing in about the new press. “They of printers around the world, are needed as soon as IFS can
CMY only Enhanced Produc- started talking about the 100k sometimes perhaps too soon. arrange for delivery, Thirlby
tivity Mode, was not planned, and how we might make the The 100K is much more market says.
Management The toner machine joins
Focus’s own flexo and inkjet
which was installed almost three
years ago. That was a shift from
and two XL106s, the first
installed in 2019. This has UV
team buys presses and will present custom- toner to inkjet, and clearly a curing and is not the press that
Kongsberg ers with a greater choice as well successful one as the company the company uses for its short
as provide Focus with scope to has returned for a second. runs. The newer machine,
ESKO HAS COMPLETED reach different customers. which has achieved the record,
the sale of its Kongsberg cutting Jon Hiscock, head of produc- handles the long runs, printing
tables division to a manage- tion and industrial print at Record setters from CutStar reels.
ment team backed by Opengate Konica Minolta Business Solu- of Texas
Capital. The Norwegian business tions UK, says: “This is an ideal
retains a presence in Ghent as well partnership for us as Focus has US COMPANY FORT Dear- Alfaplas adds
as manufacturing in the Czech a well deserved reputation for born is claiming world record Welsh printer
Republic. The new Kongsberg label technology expertise and performance from the Heidel-
Precision Cutting Systems busi- trusted customer support. With berg Speedmaster XL106 it FLEXIBLE PACKAGING
ness will be led by Stuart Fox. almost 40 years of experience in installed at the start of last year. producer Alfaplas has acquired
the industry, the team at Focus In the 12 months since Sarpak a producer of PE and
are very well placed to introduce commissioning the press has compostable films in Port
KM strikes deal new and existing SME custom- delivered almost 82 million Talbot.
with Focus ers to the Accurio Label 230. impressions, edging towards The Welsh company can
the 100 million impressions goal print to eight colours and gener-
KONICA MINOLTA HAS for Heidelberg customers. The ates sales of €12 million from
continued its strategy of using CPI Books company is a specialist label output of 7,000 tonnes pa and
dealers to increase the reach of second Jetpress printer with a number of sites 53 staff. Alfaplas operates five
its product range, naming Focus across the US. flexo presses up to 1,600mm
Labels as distributor of the CPI BOOKS HAS installed its The factory at Fort Worth, wide, including a Flexotech-
Accurio Label 230 digital label second Fujifilm Jetpress, the responsible for the notable nica Evo CI machine, at a site in
press. latest 760S joining the 720S performance, has two XL105s Hereford.
12 May/June 2021 www.printbusiness.co.ukAt Compass,
we’re all about you.
Compass worked within a compressed timeframe
and delivered on all aspects of our requirements.
Andy Rae, Director at Venn Holdings & JDP
It’s important to have the right funding partner, Compass
understood our vision and supported us throughout.
Tim Guest, MD of Guest Investments & Chair of Browns Print
We want to see our customers grow, innovate and
thrive; we want to help make your ambitions a reality.
If you need finance to support your aspirations, talk to us.
compassbusinessfinance.co.uk | 01732 833477INFORMATION/TECHNOLOGY Priory pursues pharma opportunity NORTHERN IRELAND majority of their packaging printer Priory Press Packag- requirement. Priory Press ing has installed a six-colour Packaging can become that B2 Lithrone, replacing an older alternative. Makeready is fully version of the same press, but automated, checking register although the format and the and adjusting colour and then supplier are the same, it is a very scanning to ensure the press different machine. Economy minister from the Northern Ireland Assembly stays in colour. It generates a The machine includes the full Diane Dodds with chairman Ernest McConville and Priory’s report which combined with array of Komori’s automation managing director Mark McConville a report from press and from suite which will boost efficiency a new carton gluing line that of the business and cope with held off the decision because helping us to self improve and the company is investigating the company’s organic growth. of the uncertainty around build in quality assurance from currently, will be an audit of a That requirement accounts for Brexit because the majority of start to finish. complete job for a customer. 90% of the reason to invest. our business is exported to the “Our quality assurance It has also automated aspects The other 10% of the invest- south. Once we knew that there consultant suggested that we of prepress production with ment is reflected in Komori’s would be no hard border we should look at the pharmaceu- installation of a PackX system PDF Comparator system to decided to go ahead.” tical cartons market.” That, from Hybrid Software.“We check the integrity of the file The specification was decided says McConville, is where the have already started to see effi- signed off at prepress with that from the company’s track record company can add a revenue ciencies from installation of the printed on the machine. It will in producing food packaging. stream. press, and though operators are allow the Newtownards busi- This requires adherence to The biopharma sector in used to the Komori, there has ness to tackle pharmaceutical BRC standards of quality and Ireland is growing quickly, even been a learning curve. They packaging. hygiene. “We take our quality before Covid-19 and many large have to learn to let go and let “We are making a statement assurance very, very seriously producers want an alternative the numbers run the press. It of intent,” says managing direc- and we use BRC as the manage- supplier to the main interna- is about learning to trust the tor Mark McConville. “We have ment tool it was intended to be, tional groups that produce the technology.” It employs 95 and generates tion can generate sales in excess Bristol factory that has been its finishing so the new premises is sales of €21 million. of €70 million. home for 100 years to a modern a much more suitable location Alfaplas is in turn part of the plant just three-and-a-half for us. French Sphere Group which miles away. “The old site was also in the runs 15 production sites across Zenith boost to This has been laid out to middle of a residential street Europe and has an emphasis plate production deliver efficiency of produc- which made it harder for larger on working with sustainable tion on a single open floor with lorries to get to us. Now we are plastics and papers for house- ZENITH PRINT GROUP, offices above instead of the old on a modern industrial estate.” hold use. Sphere president John already a major Heidelberg fashioned layout forced by a The company has brought Persenda says: “This acquisition customer, has upgraded its combination of tradition and across the equipment needed for will provide both companies plate production with a Supra the premises. calendars, diaries and promo- with new manufacturing capa- setter 106. This is capable of 45 “We have been in the process tional production with plans for bilities, enable them to offer plates an hour output. It joins a of putting together an invest- more. their customers a new range similar machine installed at the ment strategy for the business “The investment in new, state of environmentally responsi- South Wales company in 2018 to since taking over a couple of of the art equipment means we ble products and capture new deliver plates to three B1 Speed- years ago,” says Mark Shipley, will be able to offer even higher markets for continued growth.” master, one an eight-unit press. operations director of Brunel quality calendars, diaries and Sphere is confident that Promotions. notebooks with faster turna- demand for compostable pack- “The old factory was more round times and we fully expect aging, growing for the last Brunel moves about the way that print busi- to take a higher percentage of decade, will continue to increase for efficiency nesses had evolved, in the days market share as a result,” he as segregation of waste increases when you needed tonnes of litho adds. It amounts to a spend of demand for this type of plastic. BRUNEL PROMOTIONS equipment,” he says. “Today it £300,000 in the coming years, It reckons that the UK opera- has moved from the two-storey is about digital, prepress and he says. 14 May/June 2021 www.printbusiness.co.uk
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Toyo’s S5 LED UV ink
powers ahead
TOYO HAS REGAINED ITS ogy, says: “Toyo Ink Europe lishes the market differential we
clear blue water advantage in has been aggressively pursuing have previously had. We have
LED UV inks with the release the group’s goal of bringing the always been technology market
of its S5 Flashdry inks for most advanced and sustainable leader and everybody else has
sheetfed offset printing. systems to the global market- been playing catch up and had
The inks comply with all the place by leveraging the group’s been closing the gap.
legislative requirements set by expertise in highly reactive raw “We are incredibly happy
governments and Eupia and are materials design and formula- with the S5 ink it reestablishes
designed to suit printers print- tions for low energy curing . the technology differential we
ing to ISO 2647-2 specifications. “The Flash Dry series has are used to. When that gap
The new ink no longer requires already established itself as a closes, the ink becomes more of
hazard labelling for health or trusted and well reputed brand a commodity and price becomes
environmental warnings and has in the industry, and we are The ink has already been the differentiating factor, which
passed Ingede’s deniability tests delighted to have brought better rolled out to Toyo customers in is exactly what happens with
with a perfect score. productivity and performance the UK. Jamie Poyner, manag- conventional inks.
The ink is being produced to this popular low energy ing director of Toyo UK, says: “LED UV is definitely the
at Toyo’s European factory curing ink lineup. The new FD “The 3.1 version of the ink met future way of printing. There
in Belgium where Andrey LED S5 inks are also deink- the requirements of changed will always be a demand for
Andreev, Toyo’s European able and designed to meet the legislation preventing the use conventional inks, but that will
product manager for low sustainability needs of today’s of certain photo initiators in be for the commoditised part of
energy products and technol- commercial printers.” Europe. And now the S5 estab- the commercial print market.”
Print Show ECRM is one of the best
established names in digital
by Patrick Doran who previ-
ously sold America Packaging
event to be first imaging, having begun life as a to Saica for €160 million. Color-
THE PRINT SHOW IS coming provider of test scanners, evolv- man currently has sales of €29
back and will take place at the ing into the iconic Autokon flat million, running Manroland
NEC on 28-30 September bed scanner for the newspaper and Heidelberg sheetfed presses
alongside the Sign Show and industry and then into ‘virtual and is active in commercial and
at the same time as the PPMA drum’ imagesetters. These were carton printing.
packaging equipment event. a favourite for OEM suppliers,
This is likely to be the first, and the UK’s Hyphen included, to
possibly only, print exhibition to badge and sell. Xaar unveils
be staged in Europe this year. The current portfolio is new gen head
headed by Mako, a reference to
the shark, which is a fast plate- THE TRANSFORMATION
Kodak takes setter using violet diode imaging of Xaar is continuing with the
on ECRM and appealing to smaller print second printhead introduced
businesses. At the same time under the ImagineX rebrand
KODAK HAS ACQUIRED the Jim Continenza says ECRM ECRM has been developing its now shipping.
platesetter business of ECRM deal is proof of Kodak’s interests outside printing, in This is the NitroX, offer-
strengthening its position as a commitment to print. medical imaging and security ing g reater speed and
provider of both platesetters systems for example. uniformity across the head and
and plates, though the ECRM ment to Kodak’s plate business. consequently across printhead
technology does not currently “Acquiring these assets of an arrays, than the 1003 head that
support Kodak’s Sonora impressive company like ECRM PE purchase it succeeds. The 1003 remains as
process-free thermal plates. makes us an even stronger player for Colorman a legacy product and continues
The move is a first acquisi- in the CTP category, and we will in manufacture.
tion for Kodak since being hit continue to look for ways to DUBLIN PRINT AND pack- “The progress and the
by financial troubles and reaf- better serve customers across aging group Colorman has been restructure of Xaar is going
firms executive chairman and the spectrum of traditional and acquired by Woodberry Capital, extremely well,” says CEO John
CEO Jim Continenza’s commit- digital print,” he says. a private equity business run Mills. “The financial results
16 May/June 2021 www.printbusiness.co.ukINFORMATION/TECHNOLOGY
Plant Positive Print earns
accolade for Seacourt
SEACOURT HAS WON ITS than they consume – we call this Also celebrating is FFEI,
Gareth
fourth consecutive Queens’s Planet Positive Printing.” another four time winner. Its
Dinnage says
Award for Enterprise in Sustain- “There is a growing aware- award came in the Innovation
Seacourt
able Development having ness of the importance of category and for a non graphic
continues
achieved the accolade for the to set
sustainability,” says Dinnage, arts product. This is its digital
first time in 2007. sustainability “from some clients. Others are micro imaging technology used
Through what it calls planet standards not particularly interested.” in digital pathology by creating
positive printing, it has been for the rest During lockdown Seacourt multiple high resolution images
able to offset 110% of its green- of print. completed its work on under- of tissue samples in a single
house gas emissions, thanks to standing the supply chain of pass.
avoidance and offsetting initia- the products that the company It began in this field after
tives. “We are doing lots of uses. “We are able to manage supplying a flatbed Lanovia
things,” says managing director our entire impact, which is what scanner to a company interested
Gareth Dinnage, “leading the has stuck by the requirement Planet Positive Printing is about. in using it for tissue cell imaging
change and setting new stand- for continuous improvement That’s the service we deliver,” and has continued to work on
ard in our sector – that’s what and transparency. And it has he says. “We were reassured to specialist scanners, introducing
we have always been committed joined the B Corp scheme where find that we had already been AI technology to improve the
to doing. As a business we want it is the highest scoring print- using products and paper with process.
to be a force for good.” ing company in the world. The the lowest carbon impact. We The award recognises the
The company is no longer company says: “We help our just continue to push forward. impact of the Ventana D200
eligible for recognition by Emas clients by printing their materi- we have done the hard work and slide scanner, launched in 2018
as this is an EU initiative, but als in a way that goes back more will not be rowing back.” and used in cancer diagnosis.
tion based on the elements of
the periodic table rather than a
family of numbers. This would
have made the new printhead
the 2003, which as Mills points
Incodia is buying a Promatrix platen.
out, suggests a technology that
is 18 years old.
As well as a step up in speed
and consistency, amounting to
a 40% increase in productiv-
ity, the Nitrox head is designed
to be switched out and replaced
CEO John MIlls says Xaar’s quickly and for ease of service.
revival is on course “The better uniformity and stripping and blanking which effect on the productivity of the
fast set up will make a massive was not available on the platen business. It produces loyalty and
demonstrate very strong cash improvement,” says Mills. it is replacing. This is a 30-year- gift cards and the collateral to go
generation and keeps a strong old Sanwa which has given with it including some packag-
cash balance and we are Ebitda good service but is outdated ing work. The press includes
positive.” Incodia steps up compared to the Promatrix. spectral colour measurement,
The change to a model supply cut and crease “We have to move with the making it the first of its kind in
OEMs and what Xaar cals times,” says operations manager the UK with this enhancement.
Unique Developer Integrators, INCODIA INTERNATIONAL Richard Bridger. “We looked at The printer also runs Heidel-
and eliminating the confusion has ordered a Promatrix 106 various suppliers, including berg’s Prinect data management
caused by indirect distribution, die cutter, three years after Sanwa, and chose Heidelberg and uses Saphira consumables.
is paying off. And the NitroX installation of a Heidelberg because of the good partnership “The switch to the new press
printhead is set to reap the bene- CX102-8+L UV press at its we have with them since instal- is like moving from driving a
fits of this shift. Colchester site. lation of the press.” Reliant Robin to a Ferrari,” says
The new printhead is the first The Heidelberg Proma- That had replaced a 30-year- Bridger. “We expect the same of
to adopt a new naming conven- trix 106 CSB comes with old press with a galvanising the platen.”
18 May/June 2021 www.printbusiness.co.ukoptimus prime
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Web: www.binderysolutions.co.ukINFORMATION/TECHNOLOGY
Amcor backs EPac’s move
in digital print
AMCOR HAS MADE WHAT Each of the EPac sites is equipped with HP Indigo technology for printing. incredibly proud of Amcor’s
it calls a strategic investment in innovation and R&D capabili-
EPac, the digital-only flexible ties but with our scale and global
packaging producer, which will footprint we are also uniquely
enable the expanding group to positioned to supplement our
open additional sites. internal efforts with investments
The investment in exchange in complementary technolo-
of a minority shareholding in gies and business models. Our
the young business is put at investment in EPac is the first
$10-15 million. Further invest- 2020 for a further batch of HP with. These include food busi- corporate venture type invest-
ment in future is not ruled out. Indigo presses, this amounting nesses, cannabis products, pet ment for Amcor and provides a
EPac has sales around $100 to 26 of the Indigo 25K, to give foods and lifestyle products. A great opportunity to learn from
million from sites in the US, the company 76 digital presses key aspect is speed of turna- a high growth start up.”
Canada, UK and Indonesia. It is in all. Each site has two or three round, far quicker than the EPac was formed less than
also opening a site in Ghana and presses with a laminator and established providers can cope a decade ago with its first site
during 2020 announced plans pouch making machine. with. There is also an appeal for opened in 2016, by Jack Knott,
for additional sites in Wroclaw The target market covers start larger brands wanting to test the CEO Virag Patel and Carl
in Poland and Lyon in France. up business wanting smaller market for new products and to Joachim.
There are 18 sites in operation volumes than the minimum cope with proliferation of skus By comparison Amcor gener-
and five under development. order quantities that traditional without increasing costs. Amcor ates sales of $12.5 billion from
There was also an order in suppliers like Amcor can cope CEO Ron Delia says: “We are 230 sites and 47,000 employees.
Kolbus breaks modern safety guarding system.
It has proved to be the effec-
winds in other areas kept the
overall order increase to 5.3%,
First Rapida X
Irish duck tive. On the second day of while sales were down overall shipped
operation, Pakform was running by 7.8%. The company sales
PAKFORM, ONE OF Ireland’s at 1,400 boxes an hour more this compares favourable with a KOENIG & BAUER HAS
leading independent provid- than twice the speed of the machinery suppliers’ average of installed its first Rapida 106X.
ers of corrugated packaging, veteran piece of equipment it 13.8% decline. The futuristic looking press
has installed a Kolbus Autobox was replacing. If the company soared on was intended as its key Drupa
MultiNova box gluing machine demand from carton producers announcement. It has gone into
at its factory near Cork. who have been running at full operation at German printer
It is the first of the machines K&B shows leap speed during the pandemic to Krüger Druck & Verlag which is
made in Ampthill to be sold in orders keep up with demand for pack- running an eight-colour perfec-
to Ireland following a flow of aging, it struggled in the digital tor with fully automated plate
orders from other parts of the KOENIG & BAUER’S strong and webfed division. handling. n
world. position in large format sheetfed Service contributed 28% of
Pakform’s requirement came press is paying off as orders group revenues of €243 million
from needing a replacement for for this style of machine from (€264.2 million). This is coming
a corrugated gluer to take the carton and label producers close to the company’s 30%
place of an old machine that was accounted for most a double target for revenues earned in
no longer fit for purpose. digit rise in orders for sheet fed this way, though the company
The 30-year-old business presses in the first three months is also aware that this may be
provides a range of stock and of the year. misleading due to the subdued
bespoke boxes and trays in both It says that 60% of the €33 machinery sales.
small and substantial quantities. million increase in orders for The order backlog of €674.5
It has needed to handle smaller the quarter compared to 2020 million is 2.7% below this
batch sizes efficiently, which the came from the packaging sector. point last year, but is also 6.7%
MultiNova delivers with a quick Only Manroland Sheetfed offers higher than the order backlog
set up time, automatic feed, competition in large format at the close of 2020. In Febru- Krüger Druck & Verland is the
up to date gluing systems and sheetfed presses. ary and March press orders had recipient of the first Rapida 106X.
a small footprint. It also has a However, continuing head- increased 7.8%.
20 May/June 2021 www.printbusiness.co.ukTo succeed in business, it
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www.duplointernational.comCOVER STORY DRUPA REFLECTIONS THE DRUPA THAT WASN’T THERE VIRTUAL DRUPA HAS TAKEN PLACE, ALMOST WITHOUT BEING NOTICED. IT ATTRACTED THE COMMITTED, THOSE PREPARED TO ENDURE ONLINE PRESENTATIONS AND IN MANY CASES THEY WERE REWARDED FOR THE EFFORT THEY PUT IN. Virtual Drupa was staged in a rendered version of the new entrance hall and multipurpose space that replaces the demolished Halls 1 and 2. 22 May/June 2021 www.printbusiness.co.uk
DRUPA REFLECTIONS COVER STORY
A
B
The Messe administration building (A left) towers
over Hall 2, which, along with the green space
and Hall 1, has been replaced by the high tech
entrance and multipurpose space (B left).
THERE WERE NO CROWDED AISLES help the industry’s suppliers promote the sible for the next few months for those who
at the Messe Dusseldorf for Drupa this year. technology that had been developed for a have the patience to navigate to the right
Instead of throbbing to video presentations, show beside the Rhine in 2020. For many, a presentation.
demonstrations of machinery and the sheer slot at Drupa is their only effective market- Alongside these individual companies,
mass of bodies craning to see something or ing expenditure. The show should gather Drupa’s paying sponsors, provided presen-
chatting over a coffee with a sales rep and enough leads to last them until the subse- tations about their latest technology, their
a product specialist sketching out a techni- quent event. strategies or merely used the video slot as a
cal detail on a scrap of paper, the halls were More than that, Drupa has traditionally platform for the company and its directors.
dark, empty and silent. set the map for the direction of the print- And there was new technology to talk about
But Drupa took place with printers ing industry over the following few years. even though some major announcements
hunched instead over monitors and iPad There has been the Digital Print Drupa; had been made either last year or earlier this
screens watching presentations and videos, the CTP Drupa; the Inkjet Drupa and the year.
some preprepared, some live. They could Landa Drupa. The show has always been a
engage with exhibitors, or rather the beacon for the global industry, and 2021 is no THUS THE 2020 GENERATION OF
companies that had paid to be part of the exception, even if 2021 becomes known as Heidelberg’s Speedmaster XL106 had been
online showcase, because there were no the Drupa that wasn’t there. due to be the highlight of its presence at the
stands and no equipment to walk around, postponed event. Likewise for Koenig &
so no real exhibition taking place. Drupa THE SHIFT TO ONLINE MEANT TOO Bauer’s RapidaX B1 sheetfed press demon-
did not try to emulate the physical presence that the focus shifted away from the melee strating a striking new design and the latest
of the real thing in a virtual reality. The in the halls to the speakers and confer- in automation and time saving technologies.
online Printing-Expo has done this, finding ence sessions that usually attract the highly HP had just announced the new platforms
that rendering machinery with the preci- committed, those wanting to rest their for its liquid toner technology headed by
sion necessary to make it identifiable and aching feet, along with friends and family. the 100K and had been due to show these
convincing is a slow process. The presentations varied in quality, to key customers at an open house in Israel
Drupa wanted to do something, some- perhaps because the four days of talks across when the lockdowns began. These busi-
thing that put a marker in the sand to say two streams had been an amalgam of sessions nesses nevertheless decided to participate in
that it took place. But it did not want to do that had been slated for the Drupa Cube, Virtual Drupa.
anything that might persuade its customers some from the speciality Drupa Touchpoints Those that did so seem content. Expecta-
that the future of the exhibition lies in online and some from other engaged organisations. tions had been tempered by the pandemic,
shows. It wants people back in Dusseldorf It resulted in too much emphasis on textile so nobody was hoping for too much, yet
in 2024. The city needs people to return and printing and printed electronics to appeal to for the mainstream companies there were
fill its hotels and restaurants. The online the core Drupa visitor who is a commercial enough people to justify the decision to be
version could not afford to be too slick and printer. there.
effective. It had to be a virtual success, not However, there were nuggets of inspi- Other companies had decided not to,
a real one. rational content that were definitely worth among them Ricoh and Canon, which
Drupa also needed to do something to listening to – and which will remain acces- have subsequently made major product
www.printbusiness.co.uk May/June 2021 23You can also read
