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HEUREKA! At least I spent some time to re-think my analyst work results based on my 35+ years of business experience. — Conclusion: it shows the beauty of my smart business offerings via Value Communication AG partnering with amazing customers and biz partners around the globe! Happy to get your feedback! Andreas Weber, Head of Value

 

Preliminary Note

Do you still have the right perspective? What is important in the digital age, what less, what not? — Our knowledge-based analyzes, real-time reports and network activities inspire decision-makers around the globe.

Main areas of our smart and highly effective B2B approach by Value Communication AG

  1. BRAINWARE: Rent a Brain — Personal Advisory & Coaching by our CEO Andreas Weber for sustainable smart communication success to master transformation at its best
  2. SOLUTIONS: Project & Community & Influencer Work (around the globe!) — Focus: Smart Communication as a combination of Knowledge + Content Telling (and Sharing) + Messaging + Presentation + Medialization + Interaction to reach a seamless conversation
  3. MENTORING: Use the power of transformation to hit human needs


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Key for success (beyond consulting) 

  • Our #B2BInfluencer program guarantees to reach a great audience for any (even disruptive) innovation approach. At least customers could benefit from our unique method to put their topics in the right context.
  • Providing value adding services & solutions via #ValuePublishing: All about the transformation for the digital age with a deep focus on the real value of communication driven by Social Media + Print

Credentials

We are proud to have successfully implemented more than 500+ innovation projects to date. Our clients come from many important sectors of the economy: automotive, retail/commercial, financial, technology invention, trade shows, publishing, advertising/marketing, printing. — At least we support the cultural & creative industry as the key driver for innovation and transformation in total.

Personal statement

We work beyond the McKinsey’s, Agency Groups and Technology suppliers around the globe. We treat customers as friends — smart, intimate, personal and very effective!

 

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CONTACT

Value Communication AG 

Andreas Weber

 


 

Watch the video as well!

 


 

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Our favs at FESPA 2017: the smartets booth design by MIMIAKI and in person Erik from Printfactory/Aurelon, NL. (Photos: Andreas Weber)

Graphic Repro On-line News Review to Friday 12 May 2017

Welcome to this week’s news roundup with a bumper collection of 45 articles, plus Laurel Brunner’s very latest Verdigris Blog, which provides an update on the development of Eco Labels; and then we have the very latest in our drupa Newsroom with the official kick-off for drupa 2020, which took place at Messe Düsseldorf on Monday during Interpack, highlighting topics which showcase the industry’s innovative force, and a new key visual ’embrace the future’. An example of this can be found below.

 


With 45 news items for you to check out, and with a strong focus on both FESPA and Interpack, which both took place last week, I shall try to be as brief as possible.


 

On Tuesday KBA led with its first quarter financial results, having got off to a good start to 2017 with strong new business and a 21% higher order intake, a rise in order backlog and much more if you take time to check out the announcement. On Friday, you will find Kodak’s first quarter results, which also reflect growth in its key product areas and provide an updated overview of progress within its various divisions.

On Wednesday and Thursday, HP and Canon took the top positions, with Thursday’s lead article by Gareth Ward, but there were also key announcements from Ricoh, Canon, Fujifilm and Domino earlier in the week, too, among many others, including Sun Chemical and Blackman & White, EFI and MTEX. You’ll find lots if you scroll down.

 


 

Recent sales and installations this week came from EFI, as McGowans Print in Dublin is selected as the world’s second EFI Nozomi single- pass LED inkjet corrugated board press installation; then we have Heidelberg at Haslam Printers in Bolton with a new Versafire CP digital press; and IFS at Holywell Printers in Oxford, with a Horizon HT-30 three-side trimmer, all of which appeared on Wednesday.

On Thursday the really big one came from Manroland Web Systems, with the world’s first Geoman e:line bound for Vorländer in Dreis-Tiefenbach, Germany, and due to commence production in spring of next year. This is followed by MPH Fulfilment in the UK, as it purchases its sixth Edale press; then Simply Cartons, also in the UK, which has installed a Technotrans central cooling system for its KBA-equpped pressroom; and Lasertryk in Denmark, which has chosen Taopix software for its photo commerce division. On Friday Herff Jones in the U.S. has installed a Heidelberg ‘Push to Stop’ Speedmaster XL 106 long perfector; its second XL 106 long-perfector i n two years; while in the UK, Falconer Print & Packaging has upgraded its Prinect workflows, added a Suprasetter CTP system and a Speedmaster SX52-5 UV press. Last but not least, we have Xaar at Cerlat in Spain with the very latest Xaar 2001+ printheads on Cerlat’s new KERAjet ceramic tile printers.


It’s all about meeting the smartest people at FESPA 2017 (from left): Mark Lawn, Canon Europe; Thomas Haas, Ricoh EMEA; Nav Moulavi, Canon; Erik from Printfactory; and at least: Andreas Weber, ValuePublishing. Photos: Andreas Weber.


 

On Friday, FESPA announced that its 2018 event will be held in Berlin, Germany in May. Then InPrint Italy is set to take place in Milan in November 2018; and lastly, also from FN Brooks, the founders of InPrint, we have ‘Pure Digital’, a new digital print event for the creative industry, to be staged at RAI Convention Centre in Amsterdam in April 2018.

 


My tailender for this week goes to Ricoh, as its digital book printing solution and Ricoh Pro C5200 series both receive 2017 EDP Awards, presented in Hamburg during FESPA.


 

You’ll find much more if you scroll down carefully. Until next time.

My best regards, 

Mike Hilton

 


e-News comprises:  Headline News – Online Feature Articles – the Verdigris initiative and Wild Format Technology Guides from Digital Dots, and our Drupa Newsroom, all of which can be accessed from the Website Home Page and its Index. We also have News in Review, which provides a weekly overview and listing of all news added to the site in the prior week. 

Headline News

Almost 29,000 news items have now gone online since we launched our Website in September 2001. News for the past 24 months can still be accessed via the Home Page and its continuation news page

Week beginning Mon 08 May – date published also appears in article footline

Monday

FESPA 2017 opens today, 8 May, at Messe Hamburg

Visitors dare to print different at biggest ever FESPA global print expo, which runs until Friday 12 May…

Ricoh goes creative at FESPA in Hamburg this week

Ricoh showcases glittering future for PSPs with expansive product portfolio at FESPA 2017 from 8 to 12 May…

Canon Europe at FESPA 2017 in Hamburg

Canon at FESPA 2017: Innovations and applications to inspire business growth; plus two new Océ wide-format product launches…

Sawgrass Virtuoso Print Manager at FESPA

Sawgrass to showcase next generation print and colour management software at FESPA 2017 in Hamburg in Hall B5…

Exclusive Fujifilm Inkjet Technology preview at FESPA

Fujifilm to highlight the benefits of its core inkjet technology with exclusive preview at FESPA 2017 this week…

Domino launches new CIJ inkjet inks at Interpack

Domino launches comprehensive range of CIJ inks for the food and beverage packaging sectors…

Domino announces coding and marking upgrades

Domino Printing Sciences to tackle future customer needs with i-Techx platform expansion and upgrades…

Fujifilm UK’s Keith Dalton appointed to EMEA role

Fujifilm announces changes in its UK Graphic Systems division management, with Chris Broadhurst taking over as GM…

Tuesday

Koenig & Bauer reports on First Quarter 2017

Good start to 2017 with strong new business and 21% higher order intake, a rise in order backlog and increased EBIT…

drupa 2020 invites exhibitors from all over the world

Kick-off for no. 1 printing technologies event / Highlight topics showcase industry’s innovative force / New key visual ’embrace the future’…

Sun Chemical collaboration agreement with HP Indigo

Sun Chemical enters collaboration agreement with HP Indigo to develop cost-effective digital coatings for packaging…

Ricoh launches two new Direct to Garment printers

Customers will be able to experience this new DTG technology at FESPA 2017 in Hamburg this week…

Canon Europe shows striking campaign at FESPA

Canon demonstrates integrated beauty brand campaign at FESPA 2017 to inspire diversification possibilities…

Océ Colorado with UVgel at FESPA now available in EMEA

Canon Europe sees immediate market impact of Canon UVgel with customer response to Océ Colorado’s March launch…

EFI fuelling customer success at FESPA in Hamburg

EFI debuts new industrial textile printer, soft signage, LED and superwide-format MIS/ERP solutions…

B&W ground-breaking Versa Tech 2 debuts at FESPA

Blackman & White launches its SGIA award-winning Versa Tech 2 into Europe at FESPA Hamburg this week…

MTEX launches new digital direct-to-textile printers

MTEX Solutions launches three new digital textile printers at FESPA in Hamburg this week, with knock-out ink prices…

Wednesday

HP inspires large-format providers at FESPA 2017

Introduces new solutions to reinvent possibilities and spark growth in sign, display, and decoration…

Canon celebrates 10th anniversary of Océ Arizona:

Anniversary marked with FESPA launch of new options for automated finishing and corrugated media handling…

Sun’s new pouch system and upgraded inks at FESPA

Sun Chemical introduces new pouch system and upgraded Streamline ESL 3 ink range at FESPA 2017 in Hamburg…

Eco Passport by Oeko-Tex for Sun Chemical

Sun Chemical receives Eco Passport certification for its SunTex range of digital textile inks on display at FESPA this week…

Felix Schoeller STYLine qualified for Xeikon presses

Outstanding wallcoverings featuring STYline nonwoven wallpapers at FESPA 2017 on Felix Schoeller’s stand in Hall A1…

EFI’s second Nozomi C18000 press heads to Dublin

McGowans Print selected as the world’s second EFI Nozomi single- pass LED inkjet corrugated board press installation…

United Caps at Interpack 2017 in Düsseldorf

Three mew innovations: In-Mould Labeling, Bi-Injection and DOUBLEFLOW take centre stage in the United Caps stand…

Haslam Printers upgrades digital with a Versafire CP

Quality is key to purchase of Versafire CP from Heidelberg for Haslam Printers, which recently moved to Bolton…

Holywell Press trims production times with Horizon

IFS-supplied HT-30 three-side trimmer eliminates bottleneck for streamlined postpress production…

Thursday

Canon lowers barrier to cut sheet inkjet printing

Canon is introducing the VP i200 as a midway point between its flagship toner press and the powerful VP i300. By Gareth Ward…

World Wrap Masters final today – 11 May at 15:00 at FESPA

Wrap Masters finalists include South Africa to wrap speedboat in World Wrap Masters Final in Hamburg…

Xaar Print Bar System moves to FFEI for distribution

XAAR announces collaboration with FFEI for Print Bar System to now include sales and distribution…

Ricoh wins two EDP awards during FESPA in Hamburg

Ricoh’s digital book printing solution and Ricoh Pro C5200 series receive EDP endorsement in 2017 Award Ceremony…

Sawgrass attains G7 Master qualification

The dye sublimation specialist earns G7 Master qualification from not-for-profit industry group Idealliance…

Premiere for the Geoman e:line at Vorländer, Germany

The book, offset printing and newspaper publisher house in Dreis-Tiefenbach has opted for world’s first Geoman e:line…

MPH Fulfilment installs FL3: its sixth Edale press

UK label and packaging specialists MPH Fulfilment purchases its sixth Edale press, a 430mm-wide 10-colour FL3…

Simply Cartons keeps its cool in the pressroom

On the advice of press supplier KBA (UK), Simply Cartons has installed a Technotrans central cooling system…

Lasertryk opts for Taopix photo commerce platform

Danish commercial printer, Lasertryk, has chosen Taopix software for its photo commerce division…

Friday

Kodak reports its First Quarter 2017 results

Kodak reports Q1 net earnings of $7 million with continued growth in key product areas of Sonora, Flexcel and Prosper businesses…

FESPA 2018 global print expo heads to Berlin

FESPA announces dates for 2018 global print expo, Berlin, Germany from Tuesday 15 to Friday 18 May 2018…

InPrint Italy 2018 dates and venue confirmed

Following the highly successful first InPrint Italy exhibition last year, FM Brooks have confirmed the next event…

FN Brooks launches ‘Pure Digital’ for creatives

New digital print event for the creative industry to be staged at RAI Convention Centre in Amsterdam in 2018…

Canon’s new imageRUNNER C3025i colour device

Canon expands partners’ small business printing line-up with new imageRUNNER workspace device…

Duplo launches new Website with Rocket lift off

Duplo UK’s simple and intuitive new Website has been given lift off, marked with a rocket-themed competition…

Herff Jones installs a second Speedmaster XL 106-8P

Utah firm again replaces another three competitive presses with one Heidelberg Push to Stop Speedmaster XL 106 long perfector…

Cerlat opts for latest Xaar heads on new KERAjet

Xaar 2001+ printheads enable more cost effective tile printers at Cerlat in Onda, near Castellón, Spain…

Falconer upgrades workflow, CTP and press from Heidelberg

Falconer Print & Packaging has upgraded its Prinect workflows, added Suprasetter A75 CTP and Speedmaster SX52-5 UV…

The lead article from a week last Friday… 

Heidelberg’s Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2016/2017

Heidelberg achieves targets for year – significant net profit after taxes following the best quarter since 2008…

GraphicRepro.Net e-News  (ISSN 1814-2923) is sponsored and made possible by:

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG  (Heidelberg), The world’s largest printing press manufacturer for the industry worldwide. Visit the Heidelberg Website for more information.

 


 

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drupa 2020 (drupa), the international flagship fair of the printing and media industry. Visit the drupa 2020 Website.You can also visit blog.drupa.comfor the latest industry news and developments.

 

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Online Feature articles 2014 – 2017

Only 49 articles last year – but you will find another eleven Expert Articles and ten drupa ante portas Blogs from Andreas Weber in our drupa Newsroom. There were over 70 last year, and over 90 in 2013 and in 2014 which can still be accessed via the Index on the Home Page.

Value Dialogue – exclusive Interview series

Previous…  

An important role in the breakthrough of industrial digital printing!

‘We keep our promises: sustainable industrial production with premium quality digital printing.’ – Montserrat Peidro-Insa, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG. Interview by Andreas Weber…

Online Features May/Jun Chapter 05

Previous…  

Well-attended symposium at KBA-Sheetfed in Radebeul

Updates for print professionals interested in the future-oriented LED-UV technology underlines the leading role of KBA-Sheetfed in the field of LED-UV…

Verdigris – Environmental Initiative

Laurel Brunner’s weekly Verdigris Blogs 2017

Eco Labels

The weekly Verdigris blog by Laurel Brunner – Fri 12 May

Previous…  

Ignorance and Bamboo

The weekly Verdigris blog by Laurel Brunner – Fri 05 May

Technology Guides – from Digital Dots

Technology Guides for Wild Format 2016 – 2017

This is the brand new series for 2016 – 2017. All have illustrated PDFs to download.

No 26   How Does Direct to Garment (DtG) Printing Work?

Direct-to-garment printing, or DtG, is one of the buzzwords we are starting to hear more and more often in wide format circles… By Sophie Matthews-Paul

Drupa Newsroom

Our Drupa Newsroom with news from Messe Düsseldorf in 2017 and for Drupa 2016 can be found in the Index. It is divided into Chapters for your convenience… but you must scroll down to view each Chapter and its content when you visit the Newsroom

News from Messe Düsseldorf 2017

drupa 2020 invites exhibitors from all over the world

Kick-off for no. 1 printing technologies event / Highlight topics showcase the industry’s innovative force / New key visual ’embrace the future’…

The various Chapters in the drupa Newsroom are highlighted below. When you enter, just scroll down to see and access the complete collection::

drupa daily; drupa Exhibitors’ show + post-show News; drupa pre-show Exhibitor news; post-drupa from Messe Düsseldorf; drupa ante portas Blogs from Andreas Weber; drupa Expert Articles – and more

The Graphic Repro On-line Website is supported and sponsored by: 

Canon SA,  Drupa 2020,  Esko,   Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, Kemtek Imaging SystemsLeonhard Kurz Stiftung, Ricoh Europe, and Sappi Limited 

If you would like to send news for consideration for the Graphic Repro On-line Website (ISSN 1814-2915) or to submit comments, please e-mail Mike Hilton at: graphicrepro.za@gmail.com.

Our Website urls are:

http://www.graphicrepro.co.za

http://www.graphicrepro.net

GraphicRepro.Net e-News (ISSN 1814-2923)  provides weekly updates from the Graphic Repro On-line Website and is  compiled and published by Mike Hilton, graphicrepro.net, PO Box 10 Peterburgskoe Shosse 13/1, 196605 Pushkin 5, St. Petersburg, Russia.  e-mail graphicrepro.za@gmail.com

PROKOM Webinar Transformation by Andreas Weber.011

“Beam me up, Scotty” — Transformation im Digitalzeitalter, lautet der Titel eines Webinars, mit dem Andreas Weber, Gründer und Vorstandsvorsitzender der Value Communication AG im Team mit der PROKOM User Community ein für die Print-Branche entscheidend wichtiges Themenfeld eröffnet. Basis waren die Erkenntnisse aus dem gleichnamigen White Paper, das den Webinar-Teilnehmern zur Verfügung stand. — Anbei das Wichtigste aus der Präsentation mit praktischen Ratschlägen, wie man den Überblick behält und den Wandel im Griff hat.

Zitat:

„Die tägliche Reizüberflutung überfordert uns und macht uns fast panisch bewusst, dass der von den digitalen Techniken verursachte Wandel nicht mehr aufzuhalten ist. Kein Stein bleibt dabei auf dem anderen. Um die digitale Transformation kommt keiner herum.“ —Andreas Weber

Themen/Struktur:

  • Die Geheimnisse (und Besonderheiten) der Transformation
  • Rolle und Bedeutung im Kontext mit der Print-Branche
  • Lernen von den Besten (ausgewählte Beispiele)
  • Tipps und Tricks

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Intro: Handeln durch Wandeln!

Seit mehr als einer Generation wirkt sich die „Digitalisierung“ fulminant aus (unabhängig davon, wie man den Begriff ausgelegen mag!); unsere Lebenswelten und Lebensrealitäten gehen mit fulminanten strukturellen Veränderungen einher, bei immer kürzer werden Intervallen und einem durch die Globalisierung enorm steigenden Druck. Ein guter Zeitpunkt, um dich mit Transformation aus Sicht der Print-Branche zu beschäftigen. Denn: Gerade innovative Digitaldruck-Unternehmen stehen vor der Aufgabe, ihre Produktion um nachhaltige und zukunftsorientierte Marketinglösungen ausbauen.

1. Die Geheimnisse (und Besonderheiten) der Transformation als Kultur-Phänomen

Um es von Anfang an richtig zu begreifen: Transformation ist kein neuzeitlicher Begriff, er lehnt sich an das griechische METAMORPHOSES an und beschreibt sozusagen einen smarten Wandel. (μεταμόρφωσις, “Transformation, transformierend“, von μετα- (meta-), „Veränderung, Wechsel, Wendepunkt“ und μορφή (morphe), „Form“).

Evolutionsgeschichtlich nehmen Metamorphosen in der Natur und bei Lebewesen einen wichtigen Platz ein, um sich weiterzuentwickeln. Der Begriff Transformation steht immer im Kontext mit menschlicher Kultur. Und bezeichnet keinesfalls ein ausschließliches Ergebnis technischer Entwicklungen. Technisch gesehen, ist die Ausprägung bei der Bildbearbeitung durch das sog. Morphing fassbar, indem unterschiedlich Bilder verschmolzen werden zu einem neuen. Aus heutiger Sicht wird allzu leicht übersehen, dass bereits im Alten Orient die Babylonier eine Transformation des Handels einleitenden, als sie vor rund 3.500 Jahren begannen, Steintafeln zu nutzen, um ihre Angebote zu propagieren. Transformation stellt somit in erster Linie ein kulturelles Phänomen da, das die Menschheit geleitet und Innovationen im Zusammenleben ermöglicht hat.

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2. Rolle und Bedeutung im Kontext mit der Print-Branche

Einer der ersten, die der so verstandenen ‚Transformation‘ ein unvergessliches literarisches Denkmal gesetzt haben, war der französische Schriftsteller Victor Hugo. Hugo beschreibt im „Glöckner von Notre Dame“ von 1831 die Szene, als ein mittelalterlicher Mönch durch das Fenster seiner Schreibstube auf die Kathedrale blickt und nach der Kunde von der Erfindung Gutenbergs in Mainz kurz und prägnant vor sich hin spricht: „Ceci tuera cela!“ — Das Eine wird das Andere töten. Gutenberg hat mit seiner Erfindung des Druckens mit beweglichen Lettern die marktbeherrschenden Schreibstuben der Mönche überflüssig gemacht und letztlich die Neuzeit und das Informationszeitalter eröffnet. Technik war für Gutenberg nicht unwichtig, aber eben sekundär, da ein Mittel zum Zweck. Er wollte publizieren resp. seine kostbaren Publikationen möglichst gut verkaufen. Das hatte blitzartig Wirkung rund um die Welt und öffnete der Print-Branche die Tür, um fortan nachhaltig und bis heute die Kultur der Menschheit zu transformieren.

Insofern kommt der Print-Branche unverrückbar die bedeutende Führungsrolle bei Transformation zu, was übrigens die Auguren des 20. und 21. Jahrhundert im Silicon Valley besser verstanden haben als wir Europäer. Die US-amerikanische Wirtschaftselite würdigte Gutenberg im Jahr 2000 als ‚Man of the Millennium‘, da er als Mensch für andere Menschen etwas entscheidendes getan hat. Transformation im Digitalzeitalter bedeutet daher: Es geht stets um Mensch-zu-Mensch-Beziehungen. Das ‚Human-to-Human‘ ist wichtigstes Element von Social Media, IoT, AI, Big Data und anderem mehr, was die Jetztzeit und sicher auch die weitere Zukunft prägt. Kein Wunder also, dass die Print-Branche mit Beginn des Desktop-Publishings seit den 1980er Jahren und dem Motto „Jeder sein eigener Gutenberg“ die Umsätze weltweit auf über 700 Mrd. Euro steigern konnte und weitere Umsatzvolumina von über 3,5 Billionen Euro für andere Wirtschaftszweige generiert, die sich mit Datenaufbereitung für den Druck und Supply-Chain-Aufgaben u. v. m. beschäftigen. Es geht wie gesagt bei der Transformations-Wirkungsweise nur sekundär um (Druck-)Technik, sondern vielmehr um das Publizieren von Menschen für Menschen, um Erkenntnisprozesse nachhaltig zu etablieren.

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3. Lernen von den Besten (ausgewählte Beispiele)

Die Jetztzeit wird vor allem von GAFA geprägt (kurz für: Google, Amazon, Facebook und Apple). Also genau solchen Firmen, die an den Gutenberg’schen Erfinder- und Innovationsgeist anknüpfen. Das Novum: Transformation wird Teil des Geschäftsprinzips, das sich durch neuartige, durchgängige Innovations-Plattformen abbilden lässt.

Google digitalisiert u. a. Dokumente und Bücher dieser Welt, macht also Print-Inhalte digital zugänglich; Amazon startete sein Handels-Imperium mit dem Verkauf von gedruckten Büchern. Und steigt 2016 in das On-Demand- und Online-Print-Geschäft ein (Stichworte: Amazon Print+Posters sowie Amazon Custom). Facebook hat die News-Vorherrschaft übernommen, die bis dato den Medienhäusern lukrative Verlags-Monopole sicherten und bietet Anreize für Neueinsteiger, sich mit dem automatisierten Druck von Inhalten aus Facebook-Chroniken zu widmen. Und Apple steht im Verbund mit Adobe, Aldus und Linotype für die Pionierrolle im neuzeitlichen Print. Und ist dem bis heute treu geblieben. Am 23. September 1997 gab Steve Jobs den Startschuss für den Neubeginn von Apple als Multichannel-Innovator mit dem Launch der „Think Different“-Kampagne. Zugrunde gelegt wurde von Jobs die Philosophie des ‚Digital Lifestyle‘ etabliert, der an die kulturellen Werte der menschlichen Kulturentwicklung anknüpft. Mit dem Ziel, digitale Technologien intuitive nutzbar zu machen. Die Kernbotschaft: „Communication first, Products, Services second“. Seine Technologiekompetenzen stellt Apple schon lange nicht mehr zur Diskussion, es sind einfach die besten. iPod, iMac, iPhone, iPad, iTunes, iPhoto und anderes mehr wurden so zu Selbstläufern, weil die Nutzer keine Programmierkenntnis brauchten, um bis dato nicht Mögliches nutzen zu können.

Apple blieb dem Print immer treu, bis heute: Durch hochwertige Produktverpackungen, bei der Außenwerbung und nicht zu unterschätzen durch Digitaldruck für Premium-Fotobücher und Grusskarten. In Summe versteht es Apple wie kein anderes Unternehmen der Welt, die besten Websites/virtuellen Webstores, reale Flagship-Stores, Produkt- und Softwaredesign sowie Print zu Bündeln, um Kunden via Multichannel ein maximales Lifestyle-Erlebnis zu verschaffen. Der nachhaltige Erfolg als wertvollste Marke der Welt und maximal hohe Pro-Kopfgewinne geben Apple, Steve Jobs und seinen Nachfolgern recht. Und sorgen für ein Höchstmaß an Kundenbindung und Kundentreue, das anderen, die das so nicht können oder wollen, suspekt erscheint.

Für den Print-Sektor haben sich einige kluge Köpfe das Steve Jobs-Prinzip des digital Lifestyle zu nutze gemacht. So z. B. Peter Gunning, CEO von Grafenia plc., Manchester/UK, der ein Druckunternehmen, das sich auf Online Print spezialisierte, nunmehr erfolgreich durch nettl.com eine weltweite Ladenkette etabliert, die Web/Design-, Mobile-, E-Commerce-Services mit variationsreichen Print-Anwendungen kombiniert. Das Motto von Peter Gunning: „Print is Lifestyle“ begeistert Mitarbeiter wie Kunden und mich als Experten gleichermaßen. (Lesetip: “Grafenia reinvent print”) 

 

 

Stefano Cutello, Founder & CEO von PastBook, hat ein Start-up gegründet, das erfolgreich den Schulterschluss macht zw. Mobile / Social Media und dem Druck von Fotobüchern. Cutello ist willkommener Gast bei Events im Silicon Valley, wie bei der Mobile Connect 2016. Sein Motto/Claim: „Relive Your Memories. Automagically Created for You!“ — Siehe hierzu den ValueDialog „Great task by PastBook’s CEO Stefano Cutello: “Relive Your Memories. Automagically Created for You!”

Christian Kopocz mit seiner kleinen, aber feinen Firmengruppe in Lübeck (prindoz, Printmanufaktur und Buch-Handelsgesellschaft) ist ein einfallsreicher Unternehmer sowie Multichannel-Experte, der sich national und international für seine Sache im Team mit Kollegen aus aller Welt einsetzt. Er arbeitet in wichtigen Gremien mit, wie der XMPIE Users Group (als Executive Director) oder der PROKOM User Community (als EMEA-Board-Mitglied). Und er „erfindet“ grandiose Multimedia-Anwendungen, die Print auf Premium-Niveau mit maximalem Individualisierungsgrad ins Zentrum stellen.

Allen gemeinsam ist: Die genannten Beispiel-gebenden Vordenker sind Quereinsteiger im Print und nutzen Print, um Lebens- und Erfahrungsmomente aus der virtuelle Welt des Internets in die Realität zu überführen. Sie verharren nicht in höriger Technologie-Gläubigkeit (was viele Druckerei-Kollegen in die Pleite führte); denn Technologie verkauft nicht, sondern nur Werthaltigkeit. Die im Print Erfolgreichen entwickeln wahre Kreativität, die nicht nur linear weiter führt, was optimiert werden kann, sondern wahrhaft Neues erschafft. (Siehe auch die ValueAnalyse: “Wege aus dem Innovationsdilemma.)

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4. Tipps und Tricks – Guideline

„Transformation beginnt im Kopf. Und endet nach erfolgreicher Mission dort auch wieder!“ — Es ist Zeit für ein neues Denken, das sich von Technik-Gläubigkeit befreit. Auf dem Sektor der Artificial Intelligence, kurz AI, vollzieht sich dies am deutlichsten. Zum Beispiel durch „Machine learning to make human brains faster“. Denn Menschen und ihre Bedürfnisse sind das Maß aller Dinge. Social Media spielt eine wichtige, besser: zentrale, Rolle bei der Vermittlung zwischen technischen Innovationen und den menschlichen Bedürfnissen, um durch Publizieren und Interaktionen Erkenntnisprozesse in Gang zu setzen.

 

Folgende Checkliste als Guideline:

  1. Transformation spielt sich im Kopf ab.
  2. Lerne von den Besten.
  3. Transformiere Dich selbst!
  4. Wähle klug die relevanten Technologien plus die richtigen Innovationslösungs-Partner aus.
  5. Das Prinzip ‚De-construct—re-construct‘ muss Geschäftsmodell und Go-to-Market umfassen
  6. Kenne Dein Publikum bestens. (Bemühe Dich wenigstens ernsthaft darum!)
  7. Halte Deine Botschaften relevant und einfach!

Fazit: Meine Empfehlung lautet: Rücke ins Zentrum des Geschehens, werde zum Spielführer. Indem Du Transformation via Print-Kommunikations-Innovationen zugänglich machst — beflügelt durch einen nachhaltigen Multichannel-Ansatz. Es ist eigentlich ganz einfach…

 


Zum Autor:

Andreas Weber ist Gründer und CEO der Value Communication AG, Mainz. Sein Credo: „Am Anfang braucht man immer einen Masterplan, der sich am Vergangenen orientiert, um dann die neuen Vorgaben für die kommenden Jahrzehnte festzulegen. Wer vorankommen will, muss also zuerst zurück zu seinen Wurzeln!“

Andreas Weber ist Deutschlands führender Branchen-Analyst für Print und Experte für Innovation durch Kommunikation. Sein Motto: Beratung. Wissen. Vernetzung. Er hat Geisteswissenschaften an der Johannes Gutenberg Universität in Mainz studiert und lebt und arbeitet dort seit 1978. 1987 entdeckte er die Kommunikation. Seitdem ist er als Kommunikationsmanager und Analyst, Verleger und Coach in der Branche tätig. — Schließlich wurde er zum Unternehmer und gründete mehrere Firmen in Deutschland und der Schweiz, zuletzt die Value Communication AG, die er als CEO leitet. Die Value Communication AG ist ein weltweit aktives Institut für Forschung und Wissensvermittlung.

Kontakt:

LinkedIn: https://de.linkedin.com/in/andreasweber

Blog (mit zahlreichen Fach-Kommentaren und White Papers): https://valuetrendradar.com

Twitter:

@zeitenwende007

@ValueCommAG

 

valuepublishing-valuetrendradar-analysis-2016-2-001

Highly attractive for startup companies such as PastBook in Amsterdam – print combined with social media provides access to new customer groups worldwide. Image collage: Andreas Weber, Mainz/Frankfurt am Main.

Executive summary of analysis by Andreas Weber, Head of Value

Also see the analysis commentary.

 

Print is becoming increasingly relevant – not only on the stock markets, but also and in particular with professional investors.

However, a closer look throws up a great many questions and even contradictions for (industry) outsiders. It is virtually impossible to obtain an overview of the position of “print as a business” from the current situation. This is because print is big – with an annual turnover of some US$898 billion (approx. €830 billion) in 2015.

In order to be able to evaluate print correctly, three different aspects need to be examined and assessed:

  1. (Global) economic importance of print
  2. (Unexpected) growth drivers in the print business
  3. Positioning and strategies of technology suppliers

 

 

1. (Global) economic importance of print

  • The print market is extremely important, rivaling automotive engineering, the financial sector, and advertising. This is actually nothing new and has been the case for generations!
  • One key trend in the print shop market is that print shops are becoming leaner, but added value needs to increase despite shrinking production volumes. Print shops must therefore continue investing so as to improve production efficiency and unlock new growth markets.
  • drupa 2016 made it clear on a global level that print media have by no means had their day and can be put to more effective use than ever. It is therefore wrong to paint a gloomy picture. The prospects are excellent!
  • The only way to add more value with print, though, is to stimulate the demand for modern-day print products on a sustained basis. Print doesn’t sell itself!
  • New kinds of striking concepts that are geared to market requirements and adopt an integrative approach to the professional manufacture, distribution, and use of print media hold the key to the future of print.
  • In order to be successful in the printing industry, it is vital not to rely solely on vertical positioning in individual applications, but to cater specifically to customer and market needs and ensure continuous innovation leadership.

 

CIMPRESS, the world market leader in online print, has turned its new headquarters on the east coast of the United States into a creative temple for the art of printing that attracts talented “digital natives” to its workforce. Photo: Screenshots from Margulies Perruzzi Architects video. 

 

2. (Unexpected) growth drivers in the print business

A) Strong growth impetus for print thanks to digital pioneers

B) Online print – the most dynamic growth segment at present

  • More than any other part of the printing industry, the online print sector is a pacesetter that is already seeing strong sales, with significantly higher double-digit growth and maximum profitability thanks to standardization and automation.
  • Relevant technical innovations are identified extremely quickly and implemented in a way that immediately helps add value. 
  • The boom in mass customization in print will accelerate this development.

C) Trendsetting 4D printing opens up new dimensions

  • The 4D graphic printing process is one of the world’s most important emerging technologies (Gartner) and is only just getting started on the market. It’s still too early to provide valid market data/KPIs, but a look at the dynamic growth of 3D printing as a whole enables parallels to be drawn and evaluated.
  • The considerable importance and excellent prospects of 4D printing are in any case clear. Not only print shops and versatile online print businesses are involved, but also all kinds of other companies, including manufacturers of consumer goods, the commercial sector, and even online startups.

D) Packaging – core competence enjoying extremely strong growth worldwide

  • Almost half of global print sales are generated by packaging and label printing and the total will have reached around €472 billion by 2018 (approx. €390 billion in 2015).
  • The packaging and label printing market is currently expanding by some €25 billion each year and will soon account for over 50 percent of the global print volume. Online trade and multichannel applications including communication at the point of sale are key growth drivers.
  • Offset and flexographic printing are by far the most important processes and will still have to handle the bulk of production in 10 years’ time. Digital printing technologies (especially inkjet printing) are growing at an above-average rate – in particular thanks to manufacturers working together – but still remain at a low level in terms of market share.
  • Those print shops that offer integrated solutions geared to customers, a high level of automation/standardization, and digital process expertise are one step ahead of the rest. 

 


 

3. Positioning and strategies of technology suppliers – from compartmentalized thinking to a customer-focused holistic approach

  • There are thousands of print and paper technology suppliers. Printing industry customers are confronted with a multitude of identical or similar offers.
  • Despite everything – and probably also due to the ever-present digital print manufacturers who like nothing better than to predict the demise of print if the industry fails to invest in digital printing – manufacturers using traditional offset, gravure, and flexographic technologies appeared to be falling behind.
  • However, despite having to face serious crises that threatened their very existence, the long-established groups Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heideldruck) and Koenig & Bauer AG (KBA) have maintained their strong position and been completely revitalized.
  • The world of offset printing, which was left for dead, has been successfully resuscitated and proactively integrated into the world of digital printing. Digital printing technology, on the other hand, remains compartmentalized with its standalone solutions and relies on displacing existing solutions through substitution.
  • Investors and the stock exchange acknowledged the renaissance of German companies KBA and Heideldruck at drupa 2016. The sales and earnings of both have improved as a result – with confident forecasts of upward share price movement.
  • For companies focusing uniquely on digital printing technology, on the other hand, big ambitions and significant research outlay have not had a positive impact on their share price to date.
  • The two German printing press manufacturers KBA and Heideldruck – the industry frontrunners – are successfully defending their leading positions and once again enjoying profitable growth. As things stand at present, Heideldruck has the best chance of building on its dominant market position in the digital era thanks to its holistic and expedient digitization strategy focusing on print.
  • Consequently, Heideldruck has become the pacesetter in the digital transformation of the global printing industry. In addition to different printing technologies, the entire print shop management process – including digital administrative/process control and cloud-based services – is being incorporated for optimum networking. The benchmark here is to ensure the best possible customer focus.

 

 


 

CONTACT / Further information and advisory:

#jesiusandreas

Our present time is marked by crises and conflicts to a degree hitherto unknown. All areas are affected: society, economics, politics, religion and lastly the freedom and self-determination of the individual. Modern times are not good times (anymore).

Many questions arise and seem to be unresolved. This faces us with a dilemma. We rely on innovation to make progress. But: the innovative is considered as “the modern” – but is not the same thing as “the new”.  As the innovative is not the same as the new that we need to make progress, how does the new come into the world? How do we analyse and evaluate whether we are making progress or going backward? Is our thinking and action still directed towards meaningfulness at all? Are our value systems still fit for purpose?

 

 

I am therefore primarily interested in this question: Does present day man whose existence is being eaten away by the new, whose life is always concerned with awakening, zeitgeist, progress, renewal still have significance? Or has the understanding of people and their culture as it was so decisive for the avant-gardists of the early 20th century collapsed, in other words fallen in on itself? What do “modern people” of the present time actually feel? What guides them in their work?

#JeSuisAndreas — we must take a position for ourselves to share specific thoughts and ideas with us all. It is not the common goal to simply decry individual facts unilaterally and in a pointless dispute but to produce the cultural and communicative context to break down barriers and create common understanding. We must establish points of reference that enable us to resolve the dilemma of the present time. For this it is important to enable us to take stock guided by meaningfulness in order to evaluate whether striving for the new as we knew it exists and is still valid. Or, if it no longer exists, can be revived! This can be done neither by politics, religion, ideology or economics. But only through art in its purest form! 

—Picasso. We miss you!

 

#JeSuisAndreas 11JAN2015.019

Picasso’s work was not consistently political, but in 1945 he said the following:

What do you think an artist is? An imbecile who has only eyes if he’s a painter, or ears if he’s a musician, or a lyre at every level of his heart if he’s a poet, or even, if he’s a boxer, just his muscles? On the contrary, he’s at the same time a political being, constantly alive to heartrending, fiery, or happy events, to which he responds in every way[. . . .] No, painting is not done to decorate apartments. It is an instrument of war for attack and defense against the enemy. [Pablo Picasso, Statement, in Chipp, Theories of Modern Art, 487.]

ValueArt+Com ValueMemo! 2015 ENG.001

@ 2015 by Value Communication AG, Mainz/Germany | Composing by Andreas Weber. Left: Alfred Hrdlicka “Wunderkind Mozart”, Gravure, 2004, Art Collection Andreas Weber, Frankfurt am Main.

 

„Das Ziel findet sich durchs Laufen!“ — A meaningful new year’s greeting from Andreas Weber

“Being an artist is not just about what happens when you are in the studio. The way you live, the people you choose to love and the way you love them, the way you vote, the words that come out of your mouth… will also become the raw material for the art you make.” —Teresita Fernández, Visionary Sculptor

The last 18 months have been extremely challenging, not to say brutal. Where there is much light there is also much shadow. Be that as it may. –– More important and effective than lamenting is in any event acting in a thoughtful way. Without slipping into actionism. More and more contemporaries find this difficult. There are frequent (unfortunately repeated) debates and even disputes just to be in the right. What’s more: the higher the level of technological development the greater the confusion. Independent thinking suffers. The scientist and brain researcher Ernst Pöppel working together with Beatrice Wagner describes the why and wherefore in his book “Stupidity: Why we don’t know the most simple things any more”. He says stupidity cannot be avoided and is part of our biological legacy.

The best advice to gain from stupidity is: “Knowing its traps can be helpful.” The scientists’ conclusion: “In an age when information is rapidly increasing, the individual person is not gaining knowledge but instead losing it dramatically. Intuitive knowledge, the capacity for self-control, the realisation of our human condition, knowledge of practical skills – all of that which for generations was necessary for survival has been thrown overboard in favour of ‘more and more’ and ‘faster and faster’.

To face ones own stupidity is not an easy endeavour but it is an essential one. The greatest stupidity that one can commit is not to devote oneself to the meaningfulness of things and one’s own action. Striving for meaningfulness as hermeneutics teaches or as summarised in English for the modern day as: “The Sense of Purpose” enables independence and the ability to communicate, the ability to view the big picture and a sense of purpose.

The meaning of meaningfulness:
understanding effects

Meaningfulness results primarily from knowledge, interaction and the experience of cultural achievements. In 2006 in his interpretation of Martin Heidegger’s “Being and Time” the Austrian Karl Payer dealt with the analysis of the search for the meaning of human existence. Payer succeeded in commenting on Heidegger using everyday language and putting his texts onto the net so that as many people as possible could try to deal with them themselves.

An extract:

(…) To comprehend the meaningfulness of an event or an action it is not necessary for me to understand the event or the action, it is on the contrary essential for me to understand its effects. (“Although I do not understand how that has come about I see that it has a pronounced positive effect on him and I am very pleased!”)

Thus we can say: Meaning is the “uponwhich”, the aim or the purpose of the outline from which something becomes intelligible.

A meaningless action is an action consisting of partial actions where no logical connection can be identified. Example for “doing something meaningless”: “Putting salt and pepper on a balloon and then baking it in the oven.”

Meaning and process (partial process – total process): To describe something as meaningful, it must consist of several partial steps that follow each other and have an identifiable purpose. A thread running through must be identified; there must be a concept behind it in some way. The partial steps are in turn a part of a larger concept, an outline with an “uponwhich” i.e. an aim or purpose (…)

It is not the path that leads to the destination but the destination can be found by walking!

The last 18 months have been extremely challenging, not to say brutal. Where there is much light there is also much shadow. AND THAT’S HOW IT SHOULD BE! – Things are, just like all our action and doing, anything but ends in themselves. After over thirty years working with technology and innovation through communication may I say: meaningfulness in the lives of most of us is diffused. Because we have lost the thread. Because we act (all too often!) without a coherent concept. Both in our professional and private lives. 

May it be recommended to all who wish to devote themselves to meaningfulness: seek a higher-level world of thought and experience. That has nothing to do with consumption (habits) and faith in technology. For me, for us at  ValueArt+Com, in the last 18 months intensive involvement with art and artists has been a real lifeline. The things that have come out of it are unique moments, encounters, publications, exhibitions, innovations and experiences that have with us been fixed in thousands of people in many countries of the world. In our hearts. In our understanding. In our souls (where they exist!).

 

More insights:

 

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