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ValueCheck: first car2go, now print2go! — premiere at the leading motor show IAA 2017

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4D Printing, CEO Talk on Innovation, Digital Transformation, Multi-Channel Innovation, Valuable Advice, Value Innovation
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Value Publishing IAA 2017.001

The Daimler Group in partnership with Heidelberg breaking new ground with a pioneering 4D Printing project for smart. Photos: Daimler AG; Andreas Weber.

 

 

By Andreas Weber, Head of Value | (German Version)

  • #IAA2017 as a serious playing field for innovative Print 4.0 applications with a combination of tablet app, augmented reality, and 4D printing.
  • The Daimler Group breaking new ground with a pioneering project for smart.
  • Heidelberg positioned as an important technology partner for the automotive industry.
  • Car buyers set to be able to custom design certain elements of their car in the future.
  • CONCLUSION: First we had ‘car2go’, now we have ‘print2go’, in other words: a new dimension is being added to print, both functionally and structurally.

It was immediately clear to anyone entering the convention hall decorated by Daimler AG at the IAA 2017 international motor show in Frankfurt am Main: the digital revolution has now also fully gripped the traditional brands in car manufacturing. Huge screens showed in real time the abundance of tweets and video messages pouring in every second. The hot topic ‘Mobility of the future’ kicked off with Daimler’s ‘car2go’ – an extensive car-sharing service based around vehicles provided by Daimler (preferably the smart fortwo model series).

 

 

 

 

 

And the future is already taking place on Level 1 in the FabLab, where the ‘Volocopter’ prototype is showcasing new forms of mobility, which will unfold in the air. ‘Future Mobility’ is explained as follows: “Our digital transformation is in full swing”, confides Daimler. “On the brink of a new age in mobility, we are going beyond our previous understanding of mobility in our experiments and ideas, and are looking for new forms of manufacturing and methods of cooperation.” The objective is to explore the start-up spirit that Daimler has been driving since the invention of the automobile in 1886.

Also presented were 3D printers, which are used in manufacturing. And a real world premiere under the heading “unleash the colour”: with a combination of a configurator app for tablets, augmented reality using 3D glasses, and 4D printing with Heidelberg Omnifire (for printing all kinds of three-dimensional objects), for the first time the car buyer is offered the opportunity to design and individualize certain trim components in the smart themselves and have them printed in real time. It should then be possible to install the parts in the already individually configurable vehicle. First we had ‘car2go’, now we have ‘print2go’, in other words: a new dimension is being added to print, both functionally and structurally. 

‘print2go’ is opening up a new dimension for print

“It is unique and pioneering that we as a print technology company are able to enter into a future-oriented partnership with a car-making giant like Daimler in order to ultimately reinforce differentiating factors and above all customer orientation/loyalty,” says Montserrat Peidro-Insa, who as Senior Vice President Digital at Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG is driving the digital transformation of the global print industry. The 4D printing technology perfected by Heidelberg more than three years ago offers the perfect basis for this.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Thomas Sommer-Dittrich, who is responsible for development work for the pioneer project at Daimler, for his part emphasized the strategic important of the research project, which was intentionally presented in an early stage at IAA 2017. This is because the application is based on a process that is digitized from beginning to end, but is to be put to the acid test in dialog with visitors to the motor show and experts in terms of its readiness for the market. The motto for the specific presentation is “unleash the colour — custom trims using an innovative printing process”, and it focuses on the benefit for the customer.

 

 

Daimler made the following announcement: “smart fans are creative and love variety. Even now there are barely two smarts that look exactly alike. With unleash the colour, smart offers a look at further ways of individualizing a smart. For example, at IAA 2017 smart demonstrates how digitization and new printing technologies enable individual small series or individual parts to be quickly and easily realized for the interior.”

 

 

The entire process is digitized – from the first design draft to the finished individual trim part, as the Daimler developer Martina Gayduschek competently and clearly demonstrated at IAA 2017. This is how it works: First, customers can design selected trim components for the interior (ventilation nozzles, instrument bezels, and multi-media interface trim) with their own motifs in a configurator app on the tablet. The overall design can be immediately viewed on the tablet and using 3D glasses in virtual reality (VR) to see how the design they have chosen themselves will fit into the car ambiance. Then the design is optimized for printing and printed in color as well as with tactile effects on the surfaces of the real components. The car buyer can then choose between two levels of individualization:

  • choose provides ideas for quick individualization with various design suggestions which can be viewed realistically on a tablet and with VR glasses in the virtual vehicle.
  • create takes personalization a step further: visitors can photograph a motif of their choice with the camera of the tablet. The configurator transfers the motif virtually to the trim components and visualizes it in real time as virtual reality. This enables the visitor to experience the trim components personalized with their motif in the car with the help of a tablet and VR glasses.

The Omnifire 250 digital printing system from Heidelberg was positioned right next to the smart stand in the Mercedes FabLab at the motor show, so that the visitors could see the trim components being printed live and find out about the innovative printing process and the technology behind it. The result was presented to the public in a deliberate way at the smart stand in hall 2, with visitors able to try out the application in a smart using 3D glasses, watch a video on it, and touch prototypes.

All in all, a very concrete experiment that was very well received by the public and thus weathered the acid test. How long more it will take until this is used in practice will be decided by the responsible business divisions at smart after IAA 2017. However, the first test markets for small pilot series have already been defined. What we now need is ‘mobility’ of thought and action in order to integrate technological innovations into the complex processes involved in car manufacturing and marketing.

 

 

“The possibilities of 4D printing are phenomenal.”

 

 

 

 

Statement by Peter Wilhelm Borbet at #IAA2017 (in german).

 

There were also ‘print2go’ applications using Heidelberg-Omnifire technology in other areas. Visitors to wheel specialist Borbet’s stand were able to compare the results with those of conventional pad printing and laser printing. “The Heidelberg technology offers clear advantages when it comes to color reproduction, imaging quality, and productivity,” says owner Peter Wilhelm Borbet. He feels that the future in his specialized and quality-focused business also very clearly lies in fulfilling individual customer wishes. That is why he started exploring the possibilities early on and investigating how mass customization could be integrated into the mass production of wheels with ‘print2go’.

A press release from Borbet for IAA 2017 dated 15 September 2017 stated the following: ”Pad printing, laser technology, and Omnifire 1000 digital printing are ExaPeel processes that leave nothing to be desired in the area of personalization. They enable motifs to be transferred to alloy wheels in order to produce a very personal unique piece. Pad printing and laser technology are ready for series production, Omnifire 1000 digital printing is currently in the test phase in our company. All three processes are durable and colorfast. But the Heidelberg digital printing system in particular really shines when it comes to color variation, because it can handle even complex color gradients with ease. Pad printing offers impressively fast implementation and the laser process can also be used for true-to-template visualization of lettering, embellishments, logos, and the most delicate patterns.” Conclusion: Borbet continues to evolve towards digital printing systems in order to stay one step ahead of its customers’ wishes by providing two things – quality and individualization. 

 

 

 

 

 

Statement by Thomas Wittmann, Ritz Lackiertechnik at #IAA2017 (in german)

 

IAA 2017 also provided an opportunity to meet innovative service providers that have already been working on the individualization of components in the automotive sector for some time now. Thomas Wittmann, Sales Manager at Ritzi Lackiertechnik, was on site and explained how the company has already been printing certain plastic parts for vehicles in large quantities for over two years, both for car manufacturers and for individual car buyers. He talked about a customer who wanted to have his panoramic photo of New York from the Empire State Building on the trims in the interior of his vehicle. This was no problem with digital printing. Tests are currently underway for a major manufacturer on how to use the Omnifire technology to manufacture the bezels for speedometers for special series of a cult vehicle in a sophisticated way. “For us, getting to grips with digital printing and specifically 4D printing from Heidelberg is strategically extremely important because we want to develop new application possibilities that will move our ranges of services along,” said Wittmann.

Conclusion: As well as quality, high productivity, maximum flexibility, and cost-effectiveness are crucial for Wittmann. Unlike with classic painting technology, motifs can be switched in inkjet digital printing without having to change the tools. And all in real time.

 

 

My summary: The times are changing!

IAA 2017 marked a completely new dimension for the medium of printing. We know from the past how digital printing can be used to produce advertising materials for the exhibitors at the motor show. This was therefore a linear transformation of the existing process. With “unleash the colour” by Daimler, we can now see how an exponential transformation can take place. Heidelberg is presenting itself here as a fresh company whose technologies can be integrated into any digitized manufacturing process. Real print innovations in the form of ‘print2go’ (a term that I would like to coin at this point!) are becoming immediate and the direct contact produces added value for the car fan and buyer, integrated into state-of-the-art digital scenarios via a tablet and augmented reality in combination with 4D printing.

The end customer/buyer takes the lead in designing their vehicle and initiates the printing process immediately. More was achieved with this for print than at the same time in Chicago at the leading US trade fair Print17, where, as usual in the industry, the exhibitors’ focus was on explaining and showing (so-called) innovative technologies that have been used for centuries to reproduce content. IAA 2017 now marks the milestone for the transformation of printing and transformation using printing. And ‘incidentally‘, the thesis expressed by Marc Pritchard, CMO of the biggest advertiser in the world, Procter & Gamble, at the concurrently running DEMXCO in Cologne, was brought to life at the highest level: “We are in the process of completing the first stage of the digital media transformation. The next disruption – digital 1-to-1-communication – is around the corner.” — Oops, print is demonstrably one step ahead here. ‘print2go’ has already rounded the corner. And done so in the premium segment ‘Automotive’. The question is: Will even more be possible here in the future?

 

 

Short & sweet: Check out my impressions via ValuePublishing Storify.

 

ValuePublishing Storify zur IAA 2017.png

 

Live-Video “Omnifire at the International Motor Show IAA2017”

 

Heidelberg’s great Omnifire video on Youtube

 

 

 

Read as well: Heidelberg’s IAA 2017 press release
(18. September 2017)

 

 

 

 

 

 

ValueDialog: Transformation hits Print Technology + Innovation

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Digital Transformation, Posts in German Language, Trend Analysis (in brief), Trends @ Graphic Communications, Valuable Advice, Value Innovation
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ValueDialog Dr. Hermann 14082017 Value Blogpost.001

Exklusiv-Interview mit Dr. Ulrich Hermann, Chief Digital Officer, Mitglied im Vorstand der Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG

Interview: Andreas Weber, Head of Value | English Version

Im ValueDialog geht es um das Thema Transformation der Branche. Es wird näher beleuchtet, welche neuen Wege Heidelberg zu beschreiten hat.

In der deutschen Industriegeschichte ist es eigentlich eine Sensation: Ein im 19. Jahrhundert gegründetes Maschinenbauunternehmen ‚gönnt‘ sich auf Vorstandsebene einen „Chief Digital Officer“. So geschehen im November 2016 bei Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG durch die Berufung von Dr. Ulrich Hermann, der den Unternehmensbereich ‚Digital Services‘ leitet. Seine anspruchsvolle Aufgabe: Die zentrale Leitidee ‚Heidelberg goes digital‘ inhaltlich und operativ nicht nur im Markt und bei Kunden erfahrbar zu machen, sondern auch bei Mitarbeitern Akzeptanz zu schaffen für das, was sich ändern muss, um Bestand zu haben und nachhaltig profitabel zu wachsen.

Soviel vorweg: Wie durch die ValueTrend-Analysen seit der drupa 2016 umfassend dokumentiert, hat sich das Blatt bei Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Kurzform: Heideldruck) zum Guten gewendet, um wieder der Leuchtturm der Printbranche sein zu können. Das Unternehmen konnte in die Gewinn- und Wachstumsphase zurückkehren. Das Produkt- und Leistungsportfolio hat sich signifikant erweitert. Die Konzernstrukturen wurden verändert. Anleger und Finanzexperten honorieren die Trendwende und die in Aussicht gestellten Wachstumsperspektiven. Die Heideldruck-Aktie ist im Aufwind und die Empfehlungen sind auf „Buy“ gesetzt. 

In medias res: Dr. Ulrich Hermann macht aber keinen Hehl daraus, dass sich die Zukunft und vor allem der künftige Erfolg von Heideldruck an radikal neuen Maßstäben orientieren müssen. Die Zahl der Druckereibetriebe ist ebenso rückläufig wie die Zahl der verkaufbaren Druckwerke bei den Druckmaschinen — letzteres bis dato stets das Maß aller Dinge. Dr. Hermann sieht aber gerade in diesen Veränderungen, v. a. in der Wende zum ‚Digitalen‘ bei den Geschäfts- wie den Produktionsprozessen großes Potential für Heideldruck und seine Kunden. Gerade auch in Fällen, wo das wirtschaftliche Umfeld, der Konkurrenzdruck oder die Investitionsmöglichkeiten anscheinend eingeschränkt sind.

In aller Kürze: Welche Bedeutung hat ’Heidelberg goes digital’ für die Branche? 

Dr. Ulrich Hermann: „Digital“ meint im Claim nicht das digitale Druckverfahren, sondern das digitale Geschäftsmodell: Wir fragen uns weniger, was das Produkt können soll, sondern vielmehr was die Kunden mit dem Produkt genau machen! — ‚Digital‘ gesprochen sollen unsere Lösungen — das sind Software, Daten und digitale Technologien — unseren Kunden helfen, ihre eigene digitale Transformation zu meistern.

Im Detail: Warum macht es Sinn für die globale Print Community sich auf die ‚digitale Transformations-Reise‘ zu begeben?

Dr. Ulrich Hermann: Die ‚digitale‘ Welt bietet ein enormes Potential für die Druckindustrie, das bislang nur wenig erschlossen ist. Da ist zuallererst die Adaption von Digitaldrucktechnik im industriellen Druck, um auf zeitgemäßes Konsumentenverhalten, beispielsweise dem Trend zu mehr Individualisierung und kleineren Auflagen, zu reagieren.

Druckereien müssen entsprechend ihr Portfolio und Produktangebot differenzieren, um Preise stabil zu halten und nicht in die ‚Commodity-Falle‘ zu stolpern. Gleichzeitig muss aber auf industriellem Niveau die Produktivität hoch bleiben. Das geht nur, indem alle Komponenten digital verlinkt werden: Die Maschinen, die Prozesse für Verbrauchsmaterialien, der Service, die Software und letztlich Daten, die eine systematische Nutzung bei steigender Komplexität ermöglichen. So kann Produktivität und Qualität in leistungsstarken und innovativen Druckereibetrieben auf höchstem Niveau gewährleistet werden, bei gleichzeitig voller Flexibilität, um den sich rasch ändernden Kundenanforderungen und Nachfragen in einem starken Wettbewerbsumfeld gerecht zu werden.

Transformation wird gleichgesetzt mit hohen Investitionen. Viele scheuen das Risiko. Sehen Sie das auch so? Oder bietet sich ein smarter Weg, um sich zu transformieren?

Dr. Ulrich Hermann: Definitiv gibt es einen smarten Weg. Wir empfehlen, Schritt für Schritt vorzugehen. Unsere Kunden können quasi mit einem produktiven Kern starten, der eine Kombination von Lösungsmodulen erlaubt. Unsere Geschäftsmodelle bieten innovativen und wachsenden Kunden die Möglichkeiten, ihre Investitionen dort zu allokieren, wo sie am wichtigsten sind: an ihrer Kundenschnittstelle und nicht wie in der Vergangenheit vorwiegend im Produktionssaal. Damit schaffen wir gemeinsam mit dem Kunden Wettbewerbsfähigkeit. Heidelberg maximiert mit einem autonomen digitalen Produktionssystem die Effizienz und kompensiert Auftragszyklen des Druckbetriebes. Der Kunde kann sich verstärkt um den Ausbau seines Kundenstammes kümmern und in den Ausbau seines digitalen Vertriebsweges investieren. Wir teilen letztendlich die Chancen und Risiken mit unseren Kunden.

Das heisst, die Rolle von Heideldruck hat sich geändert: Es geht nicht mehr um reine Druckmaschinenverkäufe, sondern um Lösungspartnerschaften von Heideldruck mit seinen Kunden?

Dr. Ulrich Hermann: Ganz genau. Wir betrachten zunächst gründlich das Geschäftsmodell unserer Kunden, die Kundenauftragsstruktur und bringen dann unsere Ideen und reichhaltige Erfahrungen ein. Daneben analysieren wir exakt den Status und die Entwicklungsmöglichkeiten des Produktivitätslevels, um kundenindividuell eine digitalisierte und hochproduktive Lösungen zu etablieren — ohne dabei über-investieren zu müssen. Dieser Schritt-für-Schritt-Prozess, den Heidelberg entwickelt hat, ist wirklich einzigartig.

Zwischenbilanz — Das Ziel kann nur sein: Mittel- und langfristig radikal Neues etablieren!

Aus einem traditionsreichen Maschinenbauunternehmen wie Heideldruck eine ‚digital company‘ zu machen, ähnelt auf den ersten Blick der Quadratur des Kreises. Zumal es um Drucksachenherstellung geht, also eine unabänderbar analoge Erscheinungsform der Medien. Und doch erscheint es machbar. Wenn man sich davon verabschiedet, zu hohe Erwartungen zu schnell erfüllt haben zu wollen. Insofern ist das oben Gesagte von Dr. Ulrich Hermann und sein ganzheitlicher Ansatz wichtig: Schritt für Schritt sich mit Kunden weiterzuentwickeln, aber stets im Bewusstsein, dass letztlich kaum ein Stein auf dem anderen bleiben wird. Es erscheint darum logisch, zunächst lineare Transformationsmöglichkeiten anzugehen (um Bestehendes zu optimieren), um ab einem gewissen Momentum exponentielle Transformationswege zu beschreiten, damit radikal Neues etabliert werden kann. [Hinweis: Sie hierzu das separate Angebot an ValueWebinars.]

Bedenklich: Trotz aller Innovations-Kraftanstrengungen und Multi-Milliardeninvestments werden neue Printtechnologien in den Szenarien relevanter Transformations-Technologien gar nicht aufgeführt. — Quelle: Vortrag beim ABTG Kongress von Andreas Weber.

 

Wie schwierig sich Transformation im Print gestaltet, zeigt gerade der Digitaldruck-Technik-Protagonist Xerox Corp.: Trotz jahrzehntelanger Innovationsführerschaft im Print- und Document-Technologiesektor musste sich der Konzern aufspalten. Seit Januar 2017 setzte der neue CEO Jeff Jacobson auf ein Feuerwerk an Produktneuheiten, wie er gerade in einem Interview mit dem US-Magazin Fortune kundtat (siehe Bericht von Susie Gharib vom 17. August 2017). Jacobson führt Xerox quasi ‚back to the roots‘. Der Erfolg im industriellen Druck bleibt aber trotz massiver Investments und Zukäufe bis dato aus. Xerox ist in Deutschland, dem Stammland der Druckkunst, seit Jahren quasi unsichtbar. Die Marktanteile mit digitalen Druckseiten am Gesamtdruckvolumen sind marginal. Ob sich das nur durch neue Produkte ändern lässt, erscheint mir zweifelhaft.

Es muss also um weitaus mehr gehen, als nur neue Maschinen im Digitaldruck zu entwicklen und Kunden zum Kauf anregen zu wollen. Es geht vielmehr um ein grundsätzliches anderes, erweitertes  Verständnis, wie industriell aufgestellte Druckbetriebe ihre Geschäftsmodelle und ihre Geschäftsstrategien ausrichten. Heideldrucks wichtigstem Asset kommt dabei eine aus meiner Sicht ganz entscheidende Rolle bei: Die unzweifelhaft im Unternehmen vorhandene umfassende Kompetenz für Dritte verfügbar zu machen, um auf industriellem Niveau mit Print heute und morgen profitabel, markt- und zukunftsgerecht Geschäft machen zu können. 

An diesem Punkt trennt sich die Spreu vom Weizen: Die meisten Marktteilnehmer errichten sich selbst Schranken, da sie meinen, ausschließlich mit singulären, technischen Produktinnovationen ein Allheilmittel zu bieten, das Kunden zum Erfolg hilft. Dem ist mitnichten so. Das Geschäftsprinzip von Druckereien muss komplett überdacht und neu entwickelt werden. Die guten Erfolge, die im Online Print-Sektor erzielt werden, weil man im Gesamtszenario der Druckereien am ‚digitalsten’ agiert, sind dabei ein wichtiger Zwischenschritt. Aber bieten noch nicht die Lösung, die gefunden werden muss. Entscheidend wird sein, wie man Print als Medium nahtlos in den ‚Workflow‘ zeitgemäßer digitaler und mobiler Kauf- und Transaktionsszenarien einbindet. Ohne mit der Druckvorlagenherstellung und dem nach wie vor aufwändigen „Make ready“ Zeit zu verschwenden. Wir dürfen also gespannt sein. Ich bleibe am Ball.

 

 

Nachtrag: Print-Innovationen auf der IAA 2017: Heidelberg wird Partner der Automobilindustrie. Dank 4DPrinting. Siehe den ValueCheck “Von car2go zu print2go”.

 

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Daimler sorgte mit 4D-Druck von Heidelberg auf der IAA 2017 für Aufsehen. Fotos: Daimler AG sowie Andreas Weber.

 

 

Hinweis: Das Thema Transformation ist auch Gegenstand des vom brasilianischen Spitzenverband ABTG am 24. August 2017 organisierten Internationalen Kongresses in Sao Paulo, bei dem Andreas Weber in seinem Eröffnungsvortrag u.a. das Gespräch mit Dr. Hermann präsentiert und kommentiert. Hier klicken zum Preview mit den Vortragscharts in englischer Sprache.

 

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ABTG Congress 24 August 2017 Andreas Weber FULL.003

Mike Hilton’s Global News Review: Will Heidelberg become for Print, what’s Tesla in the automotive sector?

June 13, 2017
Digital Transformation, drupa 2016, Multi-Channel Innovation, Trends @ Graphic Communications, Valuable Advice, Value Contributors, Value Innovation
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Value Publishing HD BPK 2017 Mike Hilton 12062017.001

A milestone in the history of #Heideldruck: the new vision, mission and strategy presented by Rainer Hundsdörfer and Dirk Kaliebe at the Annual Press Conference heckle in Frankfurt am Main/Germany on 8 June 2017. Photo: Andreas Weber.

 

Graphic Repro On-line News to Friday 09 June 2017

Welcome to this week’s roundup of another 23 news items for you, plus Laurel Brunner’s latest Verdigris Blog which looks at ‘Waste and guilt’, providing food for thought. In Online Features, we have a rather special article on 200 Years Koenig & Bauer, which has travelled an innovation-lined road from the very first cylinder press to today’s digital print and more, and is now set to celebrate its 200th Anniversary in Würzburg in August.

Heidelberg dominated the lead headlines on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday; then on Wednesday, we had Komori from Gareth Ward, featuring pharmaceutical carton printer and packager, Chester Medical Solutions, which has capped an investment programme with the UK’s first of Komori’s new B2 presses for carton work; then on Friday, KBA’s 200th Anniversary.

 

”The new strategy ’Heidelberg goes digital’ clearly convinced at the press conference — which at the same time caused a jump in the course of one year. Despite the complexity, the Heideldruck CEO Hundsdörfer and the Chief Financial Officer Kaliebe were able to present their views and arguments in a convincing and comprehensible manner. The Heidelberg Digital Business and Services (HDB) Board of Management is playing a key role, as new business models philosophies are being created for Heideldruck as well as for customers and partners. —Andreas Weber, Head of Value. Source: ValueCheck on Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG

 

Of particular importance this week is Heidelberg’s new growth strategy until 2022, presented at its Annual Press Conference held on Wednesday, along with the release of its Annual Report for 2016/2017, plus two acquisitions announcements. The first of which actually led Tuesday’s headlines with the takeover of technical documentation software provider DOCUFY, and set to strengthen Heidelberg’s Digital Platforms division; with the second on Thursday, as Heidelberg confirms it has taken over Fujifilm‘s coatings and pressroom chemicals operations in the EMEA region, situated in Kruibeke in Belgium, and Reutlingen in Germany.

Key sales and installations this week came from Heidelberg UK at 4-Print with a Versafire CP digital press and Suprasetter CTP system, Durst at Image Data in the UK with superwide-format for fabrics (also from Gareth Ward); and Xerox at Inkfish in Cape Town on Monday; Inca Digital in Scandinavia on Tuesday; Komori in the UK on Wednesday (mentioned above); and Ryobi in the UK at Northend Creative on Thursday; then Hybrid Software in Italy, IFS in the UK with Horizon, and Manroland Web at Quad/Graphics in North America on Friday.

You’ll also find software upgrades and new kit this week from Agfa and Xaar on Monday; new cobalt-free Inks from Huber on Tuesday; and productivity boosts for Highcon Euclid on Friday.

The tailender this week goes to Ricoh on Wednesday as the Ghent Workgroup announces that Ricoh has successfully achieved GWG PDF Preflight Certification.

That’s all until next time. You find more not mentioned below if you scroll down carefully, particularly for Labelexpo Europe taking place in Brussels from 25 – 28 September.

With 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. 

 

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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 05 Jun – published date also appears in article footline

Monday

4-Print adds Versafire CP digital press from Heidelberg

4-Print in West Molesey, UK invests in digital and Suprasetter A75 CTP to meet new customer demand…

Image Data adds Durst to meet demand for fabrics

Yorkshire print group expands fabric print capability as retailers swing to backlit screens and stretch fabrics. By Gareth Ward…

Inkfish improves production quality with Xerox in Cape

Cape Town Digital print and signage company improves digital print and production with new Xerox Versant 80…

Agfa Graphics unveils new upgrades to Arziro

Agfa has released new versions of two elements within its Arziro ecosystem for the general security printing market…

Xaar strengthens aqueous portfolio with new 5501 heads

Xaar announces new addition to aqueous printheads portfolio…

Tuesday

Heidelberg expanding its Industry 4.0 offering

Takeover of technical documentation software provider DOCUFY strengthens Heidelberg’s Digital Platforms division…

Strong industry support for quality print apprenticeships

Trailblazer Consortium continues to press for an appropriate approach to the new Print Apprenticeship Standards…

Cobalt-free inks enable eco-label certification

Hubergroup sets all sheetfed offset printing inks to cobalt-free formulations to strengthen sustainability…

Spandex launches 3M Materials Product Guide

New 3M Materials Product Guide from Spandex aims to help customers deliver high value applications…

Billes Tryckeri AB lauds its Inca Onset X2

Scandinavia’s first Onset X delivers productivity gains of 30 per cent in wide-format production in just five months…

Wednesday

Chester Medical leads with carton-specified GL29 Komori

Pharmaceutical carton printer and packager Chester Medical Solutions has capped an investment programme with the UK’s first of Komori’s new B2 presses for carton work. By Gareth Ward…

Enhance your Competitive Edge at Dscoop with Scodix

Live demos of Scodix Ultra Pro Digital Enhancement Press with Foil Station at Dscoop EMEA 6 in Lyon this week…

Ricoh achieves GWG PDF Preflight Certification

The Ghent Workgroup has announced that Ricoh has successfully achieved GWG PDF preflight certification…

Thursday

Heidelberg presents its new growth strategy to 2022

Heidelberg’s growth strategy reveals significant improvement in sales and result targeted in period to 2022 at annual conference…

Heidelberg expands consumables with Fujifilm acquisition

Heidelberg takes over Fujifilm’s coatings and pressroom chemicals operations in the EMEA region…

Labelexpo Europe 2017 announces new expo feature

Labelexpo Europe heralds fourth industrial revolution with bold feature area at Brussels Expo from 25 – 28 September…

Meech at Labelexpo Europe 2017 in Brussels

Meech to display static control and web cleaning solutions at Labelexpo Europe 2017 taking place in Brussels in September…

Northend Creative in Sheffield adds Ryobi LED-UV

Northend Creative Print Solutions has become the latest to invest in RMGT’s Ryobi LED-UV, plus Cron platesetter…

Friday

200 years of Koenig & Bauer in Würzburg

Innovation-lined road from the first cylinder press to digital print, as KBA in Würzburg celebrates its 200th Anniversary…

Highcon Euclid speed boost announced at Dscoop EMEA

Dscoop EMEA conference in Lyon chosen to launch productivity boosts for Highcon Euclid B1 and B2 machines…

Hybrid celebrates sale of 100th PACKZ in Italy

Hybrid Software has announced the 100th sale in Italy of its professional editing software PACKZ…

UK Bookbinders enters digital chapter with Horizon

IFS-supplied BQ-470 PUR perfect binder and HT-30 three-side trimmer chosen to support new business division…

Quad/Graphics adds 64-page Lithoman in Versailles

Leading North American printer selects Lithoman press from Manroland Web Systems for its Kentucky facility…

The lead articles from a week last Friday… 

‘Pledge for Print’ BPIF appeal for Government backing

In a bid to boost the Government’s support for the printing industry, the BPIF is asking all parliamentary election candidates…

Print on the Brain – Sign up for a free copy now

Latest issue of Print Power magazine ‘ALL IN THE MIND’ looks at the remarkable neurological benefits of reading in print…

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.

 

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.

 

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

Most recent…    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

200 years Koenig & Bauer

Innovation-lined road from the first cylinder press to digital print, as KBA in Würzburg to celebrate its 200th Anniversary in August…

Previous…    K+D´s Swiss passion for precision leads to Equinox

For the benefit of the pharma customer, K+D´s passion and Esko´s Equinox ensure a perfect colour match…

Schumacher Packaging turns to Durst single-pass technology

Durst is now field-testing its flagship system, the Delta SPC 130, as Schumacher Packaging becomes its field test partner…

Verdigris – Environmental Initiative

Laurel Brunner’s weekly Verdigris Blogs 2017

Waste and guilt

The weekly Verdigris blog by Laurel Brunner – Wed 07 Jun

Previous…    Printing Plates Progress

The weekly Verdigris blog by Laurel Brunner – Fri 19 May

Fespa & Green

The weekly Verdigris blog by Laurel Brunner – Wed 17 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

Previous…    drupa Prize 2017 awarded to Anne Sokoll

Scholar of German convinces with her Doctoral Thesis on the Writers’ Movement in the GDR…

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,&n bsp;  Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG,  Kemtek Imaging Systems,  Leonhard 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

ValueCheck: Wie meistert #Heideldruck die digitale Transformation?

June 9, 2017
3D printing, 4D Printing, Basic Topics on Innovation, CEO Talk on Innovation, Digital Transformation, Multi-Channel Innovation, Posts in German Language, Valuable Advice, Value Innovation, ValueCheck
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Value Publishing Mike Hilton 2017.001

Von Andreas Weber, Head of Value  |  English Version

Im Aufwind: Während andere wie HP, Xerox, Ricoh oder Canon sich notgedrungen re-strukturieren und/oder konsolidieren, baut Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (kurz: #Heideldruck) sein Wachstum nachhaltig und profitabel aus. Eigentlich in Anbetracht der über 150-jährigen Geschichte eines Traditionsunternehmens kein außergewöhnlicher Vorgang. Wohl aber doch, wenn man genau hinschaut. Denn Fakt ist: Heideldruck verzeichnete nach eigenen Angaben derzeit als einziges Druckmaschinen-Unternehmen im abgelaufenen Geschäftsjahr in der drupa-Phase und danach ein deutliches Plus im Auftragseingang. Und will sich auf diesen Lorbeeren keinesfalls ausruhen. Im Gegenteil: Es werden für die Branche ganz neue Wachstumssegment identifiziert und pro-aktiv angegangen. Heidelberg mutiert damit zum „agilen Unternehmen“.

„Heidelberg wird in den nächsten fünf Jahren wieder der wachstumsstarke und profitable Leuchtturm unserer Branche werden“, sagte Rainer Hundsdörfer, Vorstandsvorsitzender des Unternehmens. „Wir haben die Erfolgsfaktoren hierfür definiert und bereits die ersten Maßnahmen eingeleitet. Damit beginnt für Heidelberg eine neue Wachstumsära.“

 

ValueCheck von Andreas Weber mit Rainer Hundsdörfer, CEO Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG

https://twitter.com/ValueCommAG/status/872823956943900672

 

 

Hundsdörfer ließ weiterhin verlautbaren: „Um den Konzern für die digitale Zukunft des Unternehmens fit zu machen wurden bereits zum 1. April 2017 die Segmente Heidelberg Digital Technology (HDT) und Heidelberg Digital Business und Services (HDB) etabliert. Bei HDT sind das Sheetfed-Offset-Geschäft, der Etikettendruck und die Druckweiterverarbeitung zusammengefasst; hier werden die passenden Technologien und Produkte auch für neue Geschäftsmodelle entwickelt, produziert und vermarktet. Bei HDB steuert Heidelberg seine Geschäfte mit Services und Verbrauchsmaterialien, Gebrauchtmaschinen sowie die digitalen Drucktechniken und Lösungen entlang der Wertschöpfungskette.“

Möglich wurde dies, da Heidelberg wirtschaftlich wieder obenauf ist und profitabel wächst. Hier die wichtigsten Anmerkungen zur neuen Strategie und Eckdaten aus der aktuellen Bilanz:

  • Strategischer Fokus auf Technologieführerschaft, digitaler Transformation und operativer Exzellenz
  • Konzernziele für 2022 definiert und mit Einzelmaßnahmen hinterlegt
  • Umsatz soll auf rund 3 Mrd. €, das EBITDA auf 250–300 Mio. € und Nachsteuergewinn auf mehr als 100 Mio. € steigen
  • Erste strategische Maßnahmen: zwei Akquisitionen (DOCUY / Fujifilm Lacke & Druckchemikalien in EMEA) und Effizienzverbesserung bereits umgesetzt
  • Vorlage des Jahresabschlusses 2016/17 bestätigt Zielerreichung

 

 

Bemerkenswert: 
Digital heisst bei Heideldruck nicht automatisch „nur“ Digitaldruck

Elementarer Teil der neuen, umfassenden “Heidelberg goes Digital”-Strategie ist natürlich der Digitaldruck. Hier setzt insbesondere die neue Primefire-Plattform für den digitalen Verpackungsdruck die Messlatte enorm hoch. Doch die digitale Transformation des Print-Geschäfts verlangt mehr, als nur gute Digitaldruck-Maschinen zu bauen. Hier hat sich Heideldruck inzwischen einen deutlichen Vorsprung erarbeitet, indem ein ganzheitlicher Ansatz gefunden wurde, dass Druckereien die digitale Transformation auch tatsächlich bewältigen können. Finanzvorstand Dirk Kaliebe verwies bei der Bilanzpressekonferenz am 8. Juni 2017 in Frankfurt am Main darauf, dass es kaum noch möglich sei, den hohen Grad der Digitalisierung im Offsetdruck von dem im Digitaldruck zu unterscheiden. „Eigentlich ist der Begriff ‚Digitaldruck‘ irreführend“, merkt CEO Rainer Hundsdörfer an. „Man sollte besser von Non-Impact-Druck sprechen, also einem berührungslosen Druckverfahren. Am Ende wird aber auch gedruckt und ein analoges Produkt hergestellt.“ Die Kunst seitens eines Maschinenbauers bestehe darin, alle möglichen Verfahren einzubinden, die dazu dienen, marktgerecht und produktionstauglich Drucksachen aller Art effizient und automatisiert herzustellen.

Heidelberg als Amazon im Print?

Schon auf der drupa 2016 wurde betont: Durch Push-to-stop-Methodik ermögliche man autonomes Drucken ähnlich wie Google das autonome Autofahren befeuert. Und durch die Heidelberg Cloud und -Assistent-Lösungen wolle man zum Amazon der Print-Branche werden. Mit „Heidelberg goes digital“ ist also wesentlich mehr verbunden, als nur eine neue Art und Weise, Druckmaschinen zu bauen. Aus meiner Sicht ist das mit der Erfolgs-Story von Tesla zu vergleichen: Auf den ersten Blick baut Tesla ein elektrogetriebenes Premium-Auto. Auf den zweiten Blick geht es um den qualifizierten Datenaustausch zwischen Fahrer / seinen Präferenzen und dem Maximum an Abstimmung des Fahrzeugs an konkrete Bedürfnisse und optimales Fahrerleben. Tesla gelang es im Frühjahr 2017, den Auto-Pionier Ford bei der Marktkapitalisierung zu überrunden und in den USA mehr Luxusfahrzeuge zu verkaufen als Porsche, VW/Audi und BMW zusammen. — Heidelberg könnte ähnliches gelingen. Darum propagiert CEO Hundsdörfer seine Vision des „agilen“ Unternehmens; ein Unternehmen, das sich aus meiner Sicht durch „autonomes Denken und Handeln“ auszeichnet! 

 

Screenshots vom Heideldruck-Geschäftsbericht, der im Deckblatt eine gestanzte Faltschachtel enthält, die herausgenommen werden kann und zur “digitalen” Box wird. — Download via Heidelberg.com

 

Hundsdörfer setzt als erfahrener Maschinenbau-Insider auf „Operative Exzellenz“ (mit Fokus auf permanente Optimierung des Lösungsangebotes und der Fabrikationsprozesse) sowie die beiden wichtigsten Assets von Heideldruck: Know-how und Erfahrung, wie man das Print-Geschäft bestmöglich betreibt. Und das unter der Prämisse, zu automatisieren, was zu automatisieren geht: bei der Produktion, in der Beschaffung, in der Echtzeitanalyse der Produktionsmittel im Feld, im Dialog des Heidelberg-Kunden mit seinen Kunden und vieles mehr. Hier ist Heideldruck bereits vielen anderen Maschinenbauern weit voraus. Und vermarktet sein Know-how sowohl bei Start-ups beim Go-to-Market und der Produktion (z. B. im 3D-Druck) wie auch in anderen Branchen (wie wohl künftig dem Automobilsektor), wo Fertigungsprozesse permanent umgestellt und angepasst werden müssen. Und das nicht in vielen Monaten, sondern in wenigen Tagen.

 

 

Nicht ohne Grund tauchte bei der Bilanzpressekonferenz die Frage auf: „Bei all dem, was Sie uns darlegen: Stimmt dann noch der Firmenname ‚Heidelberger Druckmaschinen‘?“ — Die Antwort: Der Brand heisst schon lange „Heidelberg“. Und nur das zählt. Und Druckmaschinen zu bauen, ist laut CEO Hundsdörfer für Heideldruck unabdingbar, da durch die Maschinen und ihren Betrieb viele Zusatz- und Mehrwertleistungen aggregiert werden, die Heideldruck anbietet; darum auch die jüngsten Akquisitionen von Docufy sowie v. a. für den Verbauchsmaterialsektor von Fujifilm.

Entsprechend möchte Hundsdörfer Heideldruck zum Systemlösungsanbieter werden lassen, quasi als eine Art Plattform-Betreiber für die globale Print-Branche und ihre Kunden. Dabei bildet Transformation nicht nur Mittel zum Zweck, sondern ist Kern des Geschäfts, um profitabel Wachsen zu können. Ganz so, wie es die GAFA-Firmen vormachen. (GAFA steht für Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple; siehe dazu unser ValueWebinar-Angebot zur die Value Analyse „Transformation — Beam me up, Scotty”).

 

 

Fazit

Die neue Strategie „Heidelberg goes digital“ hat bei der Bilanzpressekonferenz eindeutig überzeugt — was sogleich einen Kurssprung auf ein Jahreshoch bewirkte. Der Heideldruck-Vorstandsvorsitzende und der Finanzvorstand konnten — trotz aller Komplexität — ihre Sichtweise und Argumente schlüssig und verständlich dargelegt. Dem Vorstandsbereich „Heidelberg Digital Business und Services (HDB)“ kommt eine Schlüsselrolle zu, da hier für Heideldruck wie auch für Kunden und Partner neue Geschäftsmodelle resp. Geschäftsmodell-Philosophien entwickelt werden müssen.

Wir konnten dies per ValueDialog in August 2017 mit Vorstand Dr. Ulrich Hermann besprechen.

 

 

Auszüge aus den Präsentationscharts zur Heideldruck-Bilanz-Pressekonferenz vom 8. Juni 2017 in Frankfurt am Main

 

 

Weitere Infos per multimedialem ValuePublishing Report auf Storify

Bitte Link klicken für ValuePublishing-Echzeitreport mit Texten, Videos/O-Ton, Fotos und Meinungen aus der Wirtschaftspresse:

https://storify.com/zeitenwende007/valuecheck-wie-meistert-heideldruck-die-digitale-t


Heideldruck BPK Review via ValuePublishing Storify 08062017

 

 

 

Mike Hilton’s Global News Review: “Still going strong! Print is a market with a great future!”

March 20, 2017
Basic Topics on Innovation, Digital Transformation, Trends @ Graphic Communications, Valuable Advice, Value Contributors, Value Innovation
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ValuePublishing Mike Hilton 2017.001

Architect’s sketch of the new demo centre for digital and flexographic presses at KBA’s headquarters in Würzburg. — Nine months before the official ceremony to mark the 200th anniversary of Koenig & Bauer AG (KBA) in September 2017, the foundations were laid in January at the company’s Würzburg parent plant.

 

Graphic Repro On-line News Review to Friday 17 March 2017

Welcome to this week’s news roundup with another 30 from the past week, Laurel Brunner’s latest Verdigris Blog on digital printing for packaging; the latest Wild Format Technology Guide from Paul Lindström; and three new Online Features from KBA featuring sheetfed in both medium and large-format, as well as enhanced waterless web offset at Rheinisch-Bergische Druckerei in Düsseldorf. (We’re catching up after communications glitch with KBA).

Lots of pre-show news among this weeks headlines with Canon Europe with a brand new machine debut, as well as EFI and Zünd at FESPA 2017 on Monday; Ricoh Europe with wide- and large-format inkjet, and Sun Chemical on Wednesday; and Mimaki Europe and Neschen on Friday. FESPA takes place in Hamburg from 8 – 12 May. Other major event coverage appears for Xeikon Café on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, set to take place from 28 – 31 March in Lier, Belgium; while on Thursday, Sappi Packaging and Speciality Papers led the headlines as they announced their plans to present unique possibilities for new packaging concepts at Interpack 2017, taking place from 4 to 10 May in Düsseldorf.

On Tuesday, Sun Chemical announced that it will exhibit at Metpack from 2 – 6 May in Essen just 36km down the road from Dusseldorf, at the same time as Interpack which doesn’t make much sense to me. On Wednesday we have Graphispag in Barcelona, from 21 – 24 March; and lastly on Thursday from the OE-A as it presents the most innovative ideas and outlooks in a competition for members from the organic and printed electronics sectors at LOPEC 2017 in Munich, taking place on 28 and 29 March.

On Tuesday you will find interesting lead comment from Gareth Ward on Kodak, as it slowly edges towards the sale of its Prosper inkjet operation; while on Thursday, Koenig & Bauer announced the official construction start for its new digital and flexographic demo centre in Würzburg to commemorate its 200th Anniversary, as part of euro 6 million site upgrade.

There are a number of nice recent sales and installations this week, beginning with Manroland Sheetfed on Monday at AIIM. Tuesday saw Revista in Brazil with Eversify; KBA large-format sheetfed at DS Smith in Erlensee; KBA again on Thursday as it moves a high-spec Compacta 518 web offset press from Belgium to St. Petersburg in Russia; and on Friday, Heidelberg UK at Woking printer Optichrome, which has installed two high speed Versafire CP digital presses to replace Xerox machines. This was followed by KBA in the UK as it installs a Rapida 106 6-colour with coater at Offset Printing and Packaging in Kent; and lastly, H Heenemann in Berlin with a Muller Martini Finishing 4.0 solution, the Vareo perfect binder, as the ideal solution to handle digital print in shorter runs as it gears for the future with fast-changing market requirements.

The news doesn’t end there as there are still a number of excellent articles I haven’t mentioned. You’ll find them all if you scroll down carefully… including new software; the BPIF with Apprentices; Flint with global price increases for inks and varnishes; then Canon Europe as it offers a first step into professional-level application versatility with more finishing options.

 

 

Lastly, news on Friday as one of our long-standing friends, James Matthews-Paul, is appointed as IPEX 2017 Content Curator. James has already signed the London College of Fashion for a printed fashion catwalk as an early sign of radical changes that could follow, from an extrovert but very clever, passionate and dedicated industry analyst and journalist who always thinks outside the box. James is also of a younger generation with refreshing perspectives, which IPEX definitely needs after its last showing in London.

 

Our tailender once again serves to remind you of the 2017 Canon South African Disabled Golf Open taking place in Cape Town in May, with South Africa’s Reinard Schuhknecht gearing up for his eleventh consecutive appearance in the popular competition – in Thursday’s headlines.

That’s it 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 and 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 13 March – date published also appears in article footline

Monday

Océ Colorado roll-to-roll printer to debut at FESPA 2017

Canon Europe’s expanded range of wide-format solutions with FESPA 2017 Hamburg launch of new 1625mm Océ Colorado…

EFI’s new Vutek 3r and 5r printers at FESPA

To set new benchmark in speed, resolution and automated finishing / productivity for signage and graphics…

Zünd at FESPA 2017 in Hamburg from 8 – 12 May

The FESPA show will put into focus the modularity and the diverse uses of Zünd digital cutting systems…

Focus on the new KBA RotaJET L and VL series at HID

KBA at the Hunkeler Innovation Days 2017 in Lucerne with the RotaJET L inkjet web press in live production…

Avant Imaging installs Manroland R706PLV HiPrint

AIIM’s decade-long partnership with Manroland Sheetfed continues to spur growth and attract new business…

Tuesday

Clarke pleads patience as Prosper deal still hangs

Kodak is slowly balancing the books, and just as slowly edging towards the sale of its Prosper inkjet operation. By Gareth Ward…

Revista and Eversify begin mobile publishing journey

Brazil based Revista Publish has embraced the world of automated mobile publishing after investing in Eversify…

KBA large-format for new DS Smith facility in Erlensee

A new high-speed 17,000sph six-colour Rapida 145 with inline coating unit for display and consumer packaging…

Sun Chemical at this year’s Metpack from 2 – 6 May

Sun Chemical to showcase extensive portfolio of metal decorating solutions at Metpack 2017 in Essen, Germany…

Bograma at the Xeikon Café 28 to 31 March

The Swiss manufacturer will demonstrate creative power of die-cut finishing with digital print in Lier later this month…

Wednesday

Ricoh wide-format and large-format at FESPA 2017

Ricoh supports new market moves for print service providers at FESPA 2017 in Hamburg, including direct-to-garment…

Sun Chemical at FESPA 2017 in Hamburg

Sun Chemical to showcase full portfolio of inks for screen, industrial and inkjet printing and for printed electronics…

New Solution to exhibit at Graphispag in Barcelona

New Solution to showcase new range of label and corrugated packaging printers at Graphispag Barcelona 21 – 24 March…

AVT boosts inspection efficiency at the Xeikon Café

Helios Turbo HD will show advanced real-time digital print inspection and process control in Lier from 28 – 31 March…

Sawgrass’ Virtuoso Print Manager breaks new ground

Sawgrass’ new Virtuoso Print Manager is the first universal print software for all Virtuoso HD Product Decorating Systems…

Thursday

Sappi: Innovative, sustainable packaging solutions

Sappi Packaging and Speciality Papers to present unique possibilities for new packaging concepts at Interpack 2017…

KBA’s new digital and flexographic press showroom

Koenig & Bauer builds new demo centre in Würzburg to commemorate its 200th Anniversary as part of euro 6 million site upgrade…

BPIF celebrates National Apprenticeship Week

The BPIF celebrated with a visit to Jaguar Land Rover, a Letterpress workshop and second edition of Apprentice Newsletter…

From vision to product at LOPEC 2017 in Munich

OE-A presents the most innovative ideas and outlooks in competition for members from organic and printed electronics sectors…

The 2017 Canon South African Disabled Golf Open

South Africa’s Reinard Schuhknecht gears up for his eleventh Canon South African Disabled Golf Open in Cape Town…

Flint announces inks and varnishes price increases

Flint Group announces global price increases of between 4% – 7% for its Packaging, Narrow Web and Sheetfed products…

KBA Compacta 518 moving from Belgium to Russia

Special web width for Deviz in St. Petersburg, one of the largest and most experienced printing companies in Western Russia…

Friday

Xeikon Café announces final conference programmes

Xeikon Café conference programmes and the live production scheme of innovative digital print applications. From 28 – 31 March…

Mimaki Europe bigger than ever at FESPA 2017

Mimaki Europe has two stands: one dedicated to textiles, the other to Sign & Display, Industrial Print and 3D…

Neschen Coating at FESPA 2017 in Hamburg

Neschen will exhibit a large number of new products and innovations at FESPA 2017 in Hamburg, from 8 to 12 May…

IPEX 2017 aims for new horizons with JM-P as Content Curator

James Matthews-Paul appointed IPEX 2017 Content Curator. Signs London College of Fashion for printed fashion catwalk…

Canon adds new entry-level imagePRESS C650

Canon offers a first step into professional-level application versatility with more professional finishing options…

Optichrome pumps up the volume with two Versafire CPs

Woking printer Optichrome has installed two high speed Versafire CP digital presses from Heidelberg UK, replacing Xerox Versants…

Offset Printing and Packaging invests in KBA Rapida 106

KBA Rapida 106 6-colour with coater bound for Kent, as Offset Printing and Packaging prepares for the future…

Muller Martini Vareo paves the way for Heenemann’s future

For H Heenemann in Berlin the Muller Martini Vareo perfect binder is the ideal solution to handle digital print and shorter runs…

The lead articles from a week last Friday… 

KBA at Interpack 2017 in Düsseldorf from 4 – 10 May

Marking and print solutions for the most diverse forms of packaging at this year’s Interpack in Düsseldorf, on a joint stand in Hall 12…

The Inkjet Conference 2017: The first programme details

The world’s biggest inkjet event, TheIJC returns to take place 24 – 25 October 2017 in Swissôtel Düsseldorf…

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. Heidelberg customers enjoy the most comprehensive and extensive sales and service network in the industry for JDF compliant workflow, computer-to-plate, sheetfed offset, Web-to-print, digital printing, digital inkjet for labels and packaging, folding and finishing, and consumables. with offices in around 170 countries. Visit the Heidelberg Website for more information.

drupa 2020 (drupa), the international flagship fair of the printing and media industry, responds to the challenges of the changing market and provides pioneering solutions for the future. This is highlighted by the new marketing and communication strategy where drupa claims its position as ‘No.1 for Print & Crossmedia Solutions’. Visit the drupa 2020 Website.You should also visit blog.drupa.comfor the very latest industry news and developments.

Online Feature articles 2014 – 2017

Only 49 articles for 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 Dialogueexclusive 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 Mar/Apr Chapter 04

Elegant printed products in waterless coldset at RBD

Rheinisch-Bergische Druckerei invests in a further varnishing unit for the waterless KBA Cortina in Düsseldorf…

De Groot’s new KBA Rapida 106 replaces two machines

An eight-colour KBA Rapida 106 with simultaneous plate changing joins the production facility in Goudriaan, the Netherlands…

KBA large-format for new DS Smith facility in Erlensee

A new high-speed 17,000sph six-colour Rapida 145 with inline coating unit for display and consumer packaging…

Previous…  

KBA at Interpack 2017 in Düsseldorf from 4 – 10 May

Marking and print solutions for the most diverse forms of packaging at this year’s Interpack in Düsseldorf, on a joint stand in Hall 12…

Verdigris – Environmental Initiative

Laurel Brunner’s weekly Verdigris Blogs 2017

Digital Printing for Packaging

The weekly Verdigris blog by Laurel Brunner – Fri 17 Mar

Previous…  

Thai Forest Certification Scheme

The weekly Verdigris blog by Laurel Brunner – Fri 03 Mar

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 24  Calibration & Device Profiling – Intro

While a surprising number of prepress operators and designers still spend a huge amount of time and materials ‘trying to get the colours right’, this should really be a quite straight forward process today. By Paul Lindström…

No 23  How Printing Companies Can Improve Output Quality

Most wide format printing engines have the potential to produce excellent output quality, both in terms of resolution and colour gamut. By Paul Lindström

Drupa Newsroom

Our Drupa Newsroom with news from Messe Düsseldorf 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

Out soon: 4th drupa Global trends Report 2017

General confidence amongst printers and suppliers for 2017 but mixed fortunes for markets and regions alike…

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, Screen Europe,  Drupa 2020,  Esko,   Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, Kemtek Imaging Systems,  Leonhard Kurz Stiftung, Manroland Web Systems GmbH, Ricoh Europe, Sappi Limited  and  UPM-Kymmene. 

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

Mike Hilton’s Global News: Industrie Forum 2017 Design Awards to Heidelberg for its B1 Primefire 106

March 6, 2017
Basic Topics on Innovation, Digital Transformation, Trends @ Graphic Communications, Valuable Advice
Leave a comment

valuepublishing-mike-hilton-2017-05032017-001

 

Graphic Repro On-line News Review to Friday 03 March 2017

 

Welcome to this week’s news roundup with another 35 of the best received during this past week, along with Laurel Brunner’s latest Verdigris Blog on Thai Forest Certification, gleaned during FESPA Asia, held in Bangkok, Thailand in February.

The past week has seen such a mixed bag of news, I think it is perhaps easier if I simply highlight some of the key articles that have appeared each day and leave you to work your way down the list and to select those that appeal specifically to you. Here are just a few pointers:

  • Monday’s lead saw FESPA announce that the European show will now become an annual event, claiming that FESPA Digital’s success has driven demand for a yearly event embracing all technologies and applications. I thought that most major manufacturers were desperately trying to reduce expense and participation in shows, and not wanting to feel arm-twisted into to increasing spend in order to attend a broader spectrum more often. Or have I missed something?
  • Tuesday saw UPM’s Annual Report made available online, or to order in print. Wednesday led with Industrie Forum (iF) 2017 Design Awards to Heidelberg for its B1 Primefire 106 industrial digital press debuted at drupa last year; and for its new generation Prinect Press Center XL 2; followed by Sappi Europe receiving a WorldStar 2017 Award for its unique Algro Guard OHG high-barrier paper packaging solution. To round off the week on Friday, Esko led the headlines as it announced it has developed a strategy to help packaging customers meet the burgeoning and ever-increasing demand for compliance with regulations on nutritional packaging and labeling.
  • Thursday’s headlines were led by the OE-A, which has published a new brochure with integrated NFC tag to be available at LOPEC 2017 in Munich, Germany later this month. You will also find other show and conference-related news for Xeikon Café on both Monday and Thursday; for PrintWeekLive! and Interpack 2017 on Tuesday; and for Sign&Digital UK and ICE Europe 2017 on Friday, along with FINAT’s Global Young Managers Congress in Lisbon from 22 – 24 March.

 

 

As usual, we have a selection of recent orders and installations, new kit for conventional and digital production, as well as new software, cloud services, upgraded packaging boards and a lot more besides, if you spend just a few minutes scrolling through the headlines carefully.

 

My tailender goes to another update on Friday for the 2017 Canon South African Disabled Golf Open, taking place in Cape Town in May, as Port Elizabeth’s Shaun Bakker announces he will be back in SA to take part in this year’s event.

 

That’s it until next time. There’s more for you below.

My best regards, 
Mike Hilton

 

 

ValuePublishing Transformation 22082016.001

Key for success: Best knowledge on digital transformation! Read the ValuePublishing white paper by Andreas Weber.

 

 

e-News comprises:  Headline News – Online Feature Articles – the Verdigris initiative and Wild Format Technology Guides from Digital Dots, and our Drupa and 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 27 February – date published appears in article footline

Monday

Flagship European FESPA to become annual event

FESPA Digital’s success drives demand for yearly event embracing all technologies and applications…

Meech invested in global expansion throughout FY 2015/2016

2016 was a year of global expansion for Meech International, as the company increased its production capability…

Hucais invests in Muller Martini for digital books

Partnership agreement at Hunkeler Innovationdays for Muller Martini and Hucais Printing to shape the digital future together…

Powder Horn moves to Heidelberg’s Versafire CP

Massachusetts-based Powder Horn Press has replaced two competitive digital machines with Heidelberg’s Versafire CP…

Agfa spotlight on brand reputation at Xeikon Café

High-end anti-counterfeiting software solutions for the most sensitive areas of digital printing in Lier next month…

Diamond Photofoil at Xeikon Café next month

Photofoil digital thermal transfers that revolutionise printing of plastic products to be shown at the event…

Lake Image Systems at the Xeikon Café event in Lier

Premium inspection and data verification solutions will be featured during the 4-day exhibition and conference event…

Tuesday

UPM Annual Report 2016 now available online as PDF

UPM’s Annual Report 2016 has been published online today in English and Finnish as a PDF on the corporate website…

Duplo sets out to inspire at PrintWeekLive!

Inspiration and innovation will be at the heart of Duplo UK’s activity at the inaugural PrintWeekLive! in Coventry, 8 – 9 March…

Domino at Interpack 2017 Messe Düsseldorf in May

Domino Printing Sciences set to rewrite the rules of coding and marking at Interpack 2017 from 4 – 10 May…

Siegwerk ‘Focused on your needs’ at Components 2017

Siegwerk to showcase its packaging expertise at Interpack’s special trade fair ‘Components 2017’ in Düsseldorf…

Upgraded Ensocoat board to debut at Interpack 2017

Stora Enso is upgrading its flagship Ensocoat carton board to provide the market’s best visual appearance…

TRESU introduces Flexo Kit metallic ink unit

A compact flexo printing unit designed for high-speed HP Indigo digital folding carton printing lines…

pdfaPilot also available in the cloud or as Web service

Actino Software releases Document Processing Services for automated PDF editing with integrated Callas pdfaPilot…

Wednesday

Heidelberg receives Industrie Forum Design accolades

Primefire 106 digital printing system and Prinect Press Center XL 2 control station win iF Design Award 2017…

Sappi a winner of distinguished WorldStar 2017 Award

Sappi Algro Guard OHG high-barrier paper packaging solution impressed WPO judges in the food category…

Gallus Ferd. Rüesch committed to climate protection

Committed to protecting the climate: Gallus Ferd. Rüesch AG helps lower CO2 emissions by signing up to EnAW programme…

Flexible production is enhanced with latest Horizon buy

Following its move to new premises, Belle Design & Print has chosen a Horizon SPF/FC-200A stitch/fold/trim line from IFS…

Gomer upgrades digital printing with Heidelberg

Gomer Press in Wales is replacing a five year old machine with a Versafire CP press with Prinect Digital Front End…

Jaakkoo-Taara Oy adopts Xeikon digital workflow

Truly digital Folding Carton Suite adopted to support serialised pharmaceutical packaging in Finland…

Five additional MPS presses for Reflex Labels UK

The new presses contribute to sustainability as a key goal…

Thursday

Interactively discover printed electronics at LOPEC 2017

OE-A has published a new brochure with integrated NFC tag to be available at LOPEC 2017 in Munich, Germany later this month…

FESPA launches its second global Print Census

FESPA refreshes market insight with second global Print Census completed at FESPA Asia in Bangkok in February…

Siegwerk acquires UK-based Hi-Tech Products

With the acquisition of Hi-Tech Products Ltd, Siegwerk is further expanding its water-based ink business…

Cerm at Xeikon Café Packaging Innovations 2017

Cerm streamlines digital workflow in live applications of wet glue labelling and paper cups at the Xeikon Café…

Michelman brings in-mould labelling to Xeikon Café

Effectiveness of the DigiPrime 4453 digital press primer will be shown on live applications with Xeikon presses…

Amberley Labels UK adds 8-colour Edale FL3

The new FL3 includes AiiR Print Automation, Advanced Register, Semi-Rotary Die-Cutting and a Peel & Reveal modules…

Baumer’s new Inverto non-contact gluer for corrugated

‘Inverto’ – the innovative FFG adhesive application system for simple switching from top-down to bottom-up gluing…

Friday

Esko announces strategy to help with regulatory compliance

Esko announces strategy to help its customers with ever-increasing compliance regulations on nutritional packaging and labeling…

Sign & Digital UK announces a new show feature

Sign & Digital UK has announced a new show feature dedicated to the sign industry: the Sign Trade Services Pavilion…

FINAT Global Young Managers Club Congress, Lisbon

A pathway to success: Young label industry managers can explore the route in Lisbon, Portugal from 22 – 24 March…

The 2017 Canon South African Disabled Golf Open

Port Elizabeth’s Shaun Bakker back in SA in May for this year’s Canon South African Disabled Golf Open…

Bobst at ICE Europe 2017 from 21 – 23 March

As a dedicated converting event, Bobst will be attending the ICE exhibition in Munich, Germany later this month…

BST Eltromat at ICE Europe 2017 in Munich

An extensive portfolio for the converting industry BST Eltromat International and subsidiary BST ProControl…

March delivery set for Cowan Print’s new Stahlfolder

Cowan Print wanted a more automated folder and one that would provide an enhanced range of quality folds at speed…

The lead articles from a week last Friday… 

Muller Martini demonstrates the epitome of Finishing 4.0

At Hunkeler Innovationdays Muller Martini’s stand proved highly popular during the four-day trade fair in Lucerne this week…

Ace orders Renz UK first at Hunkeler Innovationdays

Ace Binding trade finisher orders the UK’s first Renz Inline 500 Compact at Hunkeler Innovationdays in Lucerne…

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. Heidelberg customers enjoy the most comprehensive and extensive sales and service network in the industry for JDF compliant workflow, computer-to-plate, sheetfed offset, Web-to-print, digital printing, digital inkjet for labels and packaging, folding and finishing, and consumables. with offices in around 170 countries. Visit the Heidelberg Website for more information.

drupa 2020 (drupa), the international flagship fair of the printing and media industry, responds to the challenges of the changing market and provides pioneering solutions for the future. This is highlighted by the new marketing and communication strategy where drupa claims its position as ‘No.1 for Print & Crossmedia Solutions’. Visit the drupa 2020 Website.You should also visit blog.drupa.comfor the very latest industry news and developments.

Online Feature articles 2014 – 2017

Only 49 articles for 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 Dialogueexclusive Interview series

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 Jan/Feb Chapter 03

Previous…  

BPIF Printing Outlook Q1 2017 is available now

Print Industry optimism prevailed in Q4 as forecast is surpassed; Q1 is set to hold positive course…

Verdigris – Environmental Initiative

Laurel Brunner’s weekly Verdigris Blogs 2017

Thai Forest Certification Scheme

The weekly Verdigris blog by Laurel Brunner – Fri 03 Mar

Previous…  

Next generation labeling

The weekly Verdigris blog by Laurel Brunner – Fri 24 Feb

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 22 Basics of Colour Management for Wide Format Projects

One of the main objectives for colour management is to get the most out of the printing device used to print the job. For a designer or project manager this can be a challenge. By Paul Lindström

Drupa Newsroom

Our Drupa Newsroom with news from Messe Düsseldorf 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

Out soon: 4th drupa Global trends Report 2017

General confidence amongst printers and suppliers for 2017 but mixed fortunes for markets and regions alike…

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, Screen Europe,  Drupa 2020,  Esko,   Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, Kemtek Imaging Systems,  Leonhard Kurz Stiftung, Manroland Web Systems GmbH, Ricoh Europe, Sappi Limited  and &nbs p;UPM-Kymmene. 

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

Mike Hilton’s Global News Review: Autonomous Printing with Digitised Production Workflows takes the Lead

February 27, 2017
Basic Topics on Innovation, Digital Transformation, drupa 2016, Trends @ Graphic Communications, Valuable Advice, Value Contributors, Value Innovation
Leave a comment

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Graphic Repro On-line News to Friday 24 February 2017

 

Welcome to this week’s news roundup with 35 of the best received during this past week, along with Laurel Brunner’s latest Verdigris Blog which looks at the relatively new European practice of laser marking of fruits and vegetables; plus a new Wild Format Technology Guide on The Basics of Colour Management for Wide Format Projects by Paul Lindström. We also have the very latest from Sabine Geldermann, drupa director at Messe Düsseldorf, in our drupa Newsroom, as well as leading the news headlines on Thursday, announcing the soon to be released 4th Global Trends Report 2017, with the Executive Summary in seven languages available in PDF format from the drupa Website.

 

”Last year’s drupa showcased a global print industry that has regained its confidence in the future, with lots of fresh technology and applications demonstrated to enthuse both printers and their customers alike. This report shows that whilst levels of confidence vary between regions and markets, overall the print industry is on the up and will invest strongly to secure a prosperous future.“ —Sabine Geldermann, director of drupa

 

 

Hunkeler Innovationdays took place in Lucerne, Switzerland last week, so obviously there are quite a number of articles related to the show, beginning with UPM, Canon with Océ, and Kodak on Monday; Océ again on Tuesday; Canon again with the Hackett campaign on Wednesday; and finally Muller Martini reviewing its participation at the show and leading the headlines on Friday – as it demonstrated the epitome of Finishing 4.0 in Lucerne, with visitors from across the world experiencing live the world premiere of connectivity between Hunkeler’s roll-to-stack line and Muller Martini’s Connex data and process management system, as part of a combined run of one line for softcover products, as with Muller Martini’s Vareo perfect binding line. Renz UK also in the news on Friday, as it claimed a ‘UK first’ order at the show from Ace Binding in Birmingham.

Other pre-show news on Tuesday focused on Xeikon Café which takes place in Lier, Belgium from 28 – 31 March, with announcements from Yupo, Meech and A B Graphic. On Thursday, pre-show announcements for Sign&Digital UK, taking place at the NEC on 28 and 29 March came from Blackman & White, Drytac with Antalis; and InkTec; but there’s more if you go through the headlines carefully, including Feldmuehle at Packaging Innovations on 1 and 2 March, and FINAT in June.

The main headline article on Tuesday came from Gareth Ward at the Print Business, announcing that Antalis is to float as Sequana (its parent) is hit by a High Court Ruling. The paper making and merchanting group is appealing a decision that it must pay BAT €138.4 million, and in the meantime has sought protective administration in France, with Antalis preparing to join the Paris Bourse.

Digital printing dominated this week’s recent sales and installations successes, beginning with Ricoh on Monday with more than 60 Ricoh Pro VC60000s in just two years. This was followed on Tuesday by FCS Laser Mail as it agreed a one million pound deal for a second Ricoh IP5000 GP. Also on Tuesday, TRESU with chillers for 12 HP Indigo 12000 digital presses in the United States. Wednesday saw Redfern Labels in Milnerton, Cape Town purchase a Xerox Versant 80 Press from Oxbow and Bytes. You will also find the Océ VarioPrint i300 sheetfed inkjet press now at more than 70 customers worldwide; while on Friday, we had Birtwell and Company in Lancashire, UK switching to Heidelberg digital with five-colour 6pp A4 format Versafire CV.

On Wednesday, Germany’s Mindener Tageblatt streamlined production of its mobile newspaper version with Eversify from Agfa Graphics; and Bonifatius in Paderborn, Germany, has opted for a Manroland Rotoman DirectDrive 16-page web offset press.  There are also a couple of very nice sheetfed orders this week for Heidelberg on Thursday at Falkland Press in the UK with a drupa generation XL 106, as it moves towards autonomous printing with digitised production workflows. Then on Friday, from KBA UK, as Printing and Packaging in Hinckley invests in a seven-colour Rapida 106 with double coater. Then we had Natalii, a Polish label specialist streamlining its workflow with Esko’s Equinox and Automation Engine; and lastly, Route 1 in the UK adding a new Polar guillotine.

 

The tailender this week goes to Canon (Friday), as the UK’s Martin Williams announces he will compete in the fourth Canon South African Disabled Golf Open in Cape Town in May.

 

That’s it until next time. You’ll find lots more below if you scroll down carefully.

My best regards, 

Mike Hilton

 

 

valuepublishing-interview-rainer-wolf-2016-001

We need a new understanding of ‚digital‘. Even so called ‚conventional printing technologies‘ are fully digital today, like Rainer Wolf from Heidelberg explains. Read our ValueDialog story.

 

 

e-News comprises:  Headline News – Online Feature Articles – the Verdigris initiative and Wild Format Technology Guides from Digital Dots, and our Drupa and 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 20 February – date published appears in article footline

Monday

More than 60 Ricoh Pro VC60000s in two years

How quality and substrate flexibility drive inkjet success. By Benoit Chatelard, VP production printing, Ricoh Europe…

Urgent input needed from industry on Print Trailblazer

BPIF asking for the whole industry help to ensure single standard apprenticeships do not reduce levels of expertise…

Looking for the perfect match? UPM in Lucerne this week

UPM introduces the DIGI Matchmaker – an online tool to assist in finding the paper perfectly matching your requirements…

Canon launches Océ ProStream at Hunkeler Innovationdays

New Océ ProStream continuous feed colour inkjet press offers unrivalled quality and media versatility…

Kodak Inkjet at Hunkeler Innovation Days 2017

Kodak showcases latest advances in Stream and Ultrastream inkjet technology at Hunkeler Innovation Days in Lucerne this week…

FINAT’s European Label Forum 2017 moves to Berlin

FINAT’s European Label Forum 2017 to confront the challenges of change in Berlin from 7 – 9 June…

Grow your business into lucrative Web-to-print solutions

Cloud-based marketing asset management software supplier Propago offers leading reasons to adopt this value-added service…

Tuesday

Antalis to float as Sequana is hit by High Court Ruling

Paper making and merchanting group Sequana is appealing a decision that it must pay BAT euro 138.4 million, and in the meantime has sought protective administration in France. By Gareth Ward…

Océ VarioPrint i300 at Hunkeler Innovationdays

Océ VarioPrint i300 sheetfed inkjet press delivers new level of flexibility to over 70 customers worldwide…

FCS Laser Mail orders second Ricoh IP5000 GP

FCS Laser Mail agrees million pound deal in second Ricoh IP5000 GP and is UK’s dirst Avanti Slingshot user…

Major Chiller install for HP Indigo 12000s in USA

TRESU installs 12 Digital Process Chiller units on fleet of HP Indigo 12000 Digital Presses…

YUPO Europe brings diversity to Xeikon Café

Premium synthetic substrates for in-mould labelling, promotional advertising and food labels will be key areas of focus…

Meech at Xeikon Café from 28 – 31 March

Meech International to showcase its Static Control and Web Cleaning expertise at the Xeikon Café…

A B Graphic returns to the Xeikon Café in Lier

Advanced modules of Digicon Series 3 to show a truly complete digital finishing solution from 28 – 31 March…

Wednesday

Canon campaign at Hunkeler Innovationdays this week

Hackett campaign shows broad potential of Canon digital print in high quality, data-driven customer marketing…

Retail demands more print, in greater variety, more often

Opinion piece by Vaughan Patterson, product marketing operations manager for Production Print at Ricoh SA…

Feldmuehle at Packaging Innovations 2017 at the NEC

With a focus on VivaCard and VivaLiner high-white, matt graphical liner and boards for holistic packaging design…

Redfern Labels sticks to Xerox for quality printing

Redfern Labels in Milnerton, Cape Town has purchased a Xerox Versant 80 Press from Oxbow and Bytes…

Mindener Tageblatt uses Eversify for mobile news production

Germany’s Mindener Tageblatt streamlines production of its mobile newspaper version using Eversify from Agfa Graphics…

Bonifatius Invests in Manroland Rotoman DirectDrive

Long-standing customer once again opts for a Manroland Web Systems Rotoman DirectDrive 16-page web offset press…

The Océ VarioPrint i300 driving revenues worldwide

Océ VarioPrint i300 sheetfed inkjet press delivers new level of production flexibility for over 70 customers worldwide…

Thursday

Out soon: 4th drupa Global trends Report 2017

General confidence amongst printers and suppliers for 2017 but mixed fortunes for markets and regions alike…

Six Canon designs recognised with iF Design Awards

Canon has announced that six of its designs have been recognised by iF International Forum Design…

XL 106 uses conventional, UV or LE UV inks and coatings

Falkland Press drupa generation XL 106 moves towards autonomous printing with digitised production workflows…

Blackman & White at Sign and Digital UK in March

Blackman & White to launch exciting new features and limitless packaging and display options on its Versa-Tech cutter…

Drytac to debut Protac Anti-Bacterial film with Antalis

At Sign & Digital UK 2017 at the NEC from 28 – 29 March, Drytac will debut its new Protac Anti-Bacterial film…

InkTec at Sign & Digital UK from 28 – 30 March

InkTec marks 25th anniversary with international debut of new high production Jetrix LXi8 LED-UV flatbed printer…

New Xaar Midas Ink Supply System delivers for OEMs

The new Midas Ink Supply System from Xaar is a compact, reliable ink and fluid supply system for inkjet OEMs…

Friday

Muller Martini demonstrates the epitome of Finishing 4.0

At Hunkeler Innovationdays Muller Martini’s stand proved highly popular during the four-day trade fair in Lucerne this week…

Ace orders Renz UK first at Hunkeler Innovationdays

Ace Binding trade finisher orders the UK’s first Renz Inline 500 Compact at Hunkeler Innovationdays in Lucerne…

More on the 2017 Canon South African Disabled Golf Open

The UK’s Martin Williams to compete in fourth Canon South African Disabled Golf Open in Cape Town in May…

Heidelberg Versafire CV for Birtwell & Co

Lancashire-based trade supplier switches to Heidelberg digital technology with five-colour 6pp A4 format Versafire CV…

Natalii re-imagines production with Esko Solutions

Polish label specialist enhances quality and streamlines workflow with Equinox and Automation Engine…

Rapida 106 7-colour with double coater heads for Hinckley

Printing and Packaging invests in a KBA Rapida 106 for additional capacity, quality and special finishes…

Route 1 UK adds Polar N 137 PLUS guillotine

Polar guillotine investment prepares way for Route 1 Print’s same day trade print litho and digital print service…

The lead articles from a week last Friday… 

An important role in the breakthrough of industrial digital print

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

‘Optimised Paper Handling and Logistics’ Guide

A reminder the international best practice guide ‘Optimised Paper Handling and Logistics’ is available and to download…

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. Heidelberg customers enjoy the most comprehensive and extensive sales and service network in the industry for JDF compliant workflow, computer-to-plate, sheetfed offset, Web-to-print, digital printing, digital inkjet for labels and packaging, folding and finishing, and consumables. with offices in around 170 countries. Visit the Heidelberg Website for more information.

drupa 2020 (drupa), the international flagship fair of the printing and media industry, responds to the challenges of the changing market and provides pioneering solutions for the future. This is highlighted by the new marketing and communication strategy where drupa claims its position as ‘No.1 for Print & Crossmedia Solutions’. Visit the drupa 2020 Website.You should also visit blog.drupa.comfor the very latest industry news and developments.

Online Feature articles 2014 – 2017

Only 49 articles for 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 Dialogueexclusive Interview series

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 Jan/Feb Chapter 03

Previous…  

BPIF Printing Outlook Q1 2017 is available now

Print Industry optimism prevailed in Q4 as forecast is surpassed; Q1 is set to hold positive course…

Verdigris – Environmental Initiative

Laurel Brunner’s weekly Verdigris Blogs 2017

Next generation labeling

The weekly Verdigris blog by Laurel Brunner – Fri 24 Feb

Previous…  

PaperLab Arrives!

The weekly Verdigris blog by Laurel Brunner – Sat 18 Feb

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 22 Basics of Colour Management for Wide Format Projects

One of the main objectives for colour management is to get the most out of the printing device used to print the job. For a designer or project manager this can be a challenge. By Paul Lindström

No 21 Hitting the 3rd Dimension

Printing is no longer limited to flat surfaces. With the help of 3D printers, impressive objects can be manufactured from a digital file, unveiling a whole new world of opportunities. By Sonja Angerer…

Drupa Newsroom

Our Drupa Newsroom with news from Messe Düsseldorf 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

Out soon: 4th drupa Global trends Report 2017

General confidence amongst printers and suppliers for 2017 but mixed fortunes for markets and regions alike…

drupa 2020 dates brought forward by one week

World’s most important trade fair for printing technologies will now be held from 16 to 26 June 2020 to avoid holiday clashes…

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, Screen Europe,  Drupa 2020,  Esko,   Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, Kemtek Imaging Systems,  Leonhard Kurz Stiftung, Manroland Web Systems GmbH, Ricoh Europe, Sappi Limited  and  UPM-Kymmene. 

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

Mike Hilton’s Global News Review: Digital makes PRINT great again!

February 20, 2017
Basic Topics on Innovation, Digital Transformation, drupa 2016, Trends @ Graphic Communications, Valuable Advice, Value Contributors, Value Innovation
Leave a comment
valuepublishing-mike-hilton-20022017-001

Digital makes PRINT great again. Collage by Andreas Weber, Head of Value, Mainz/Germany

 

Graphic Repro On-line News to Friday 17 February 2017

Welcome to this week’s news roundup of 26 of the best received over the past seven days, along with Laurel Brunner’s most recent Verdigris Blog; the latest Wild Format Technology Guide from Sonja Angerer and number 21 in this series; and in Online Features – The BPIFs Printing Outlook for Q1 2017; and a brand new series from Andreas Weber beginning with an exclusive interview with head of digital sales and general manager of Digital Sheetfed at Heidelberg, Montserrat Peidro-Insa. In our drupa Newsroom, as well as leading Friday’s headlines, the world’s most important trade fair for printing technologies has been pulled forward by a week and will now be held from 16 to 26 June 2020 to avoid European holiday clashes for exhibitors and visitors alike.

 

“We keep our promises: sustainable industrial production with premium quality digital printing.” —Montserrat Peidro-Insa, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG

 

The week’s news began with Heidelberg on Monday as it installed the 1000th VLF printing unit as part of a new press for Green Bay packaging in Wisconsin. On Tuesday Tony Langley took the lead: firstly with the extremely positive Annual Report and 2016 ahievements by his Group; and then secondly with an article by Gareth Ward which highlights Manroland Sheetfed being happy as a successful profit-making press manufacturer, five years on since Langley Holdings rescued Manroland’s global sheetfed press business from administration.

New kit this week announced by Ricoh with a new high-speed inkjet web appears on Wednesday; and Kodak with its new Prinergy Cloud analytics service offering appears on Friday.

Hunkeler Innovationdays 2017, taking place in Lucerne from 20 – 23 February made the headlines on Monday with UPM; on Tuesday from Muller Martini and Hunkeler with a planned world premiere to showcase an Integrated Finishing 4.0 Workflow. While on Thursday, Duplo announced that it will be showcasing its latest innovations at the Lucerne event next week.

Other show-related news this week came from Sun Chemical at LOPEC 2017 on Thursday; and from SPGPrints for Label&Print at the NEC on Friday. Both events take place in March.

Major orders and installations (in addition to Heidelberg mentioned above) include Bytes with Xerox and Cape Office Machines in Cape Town, at Asset print on Monday as it opens a new branch in Rondebosch with a new Xerox press; IFS with Horizon at In Print UK; and PurePrint Group UK with five Renz solutions – all on Monday. On Tuesday, Kingfisher Press in the UK has added a Fujifilm Jet Press 720S digital inket sheetfed press for quality short-run work. On Wednesday, We’ll Corporation in Ishikawa gets a new Muller Martini Finishing 4.0 solution for the production of teaching materials; while Spanish packaging printer Omnipack has invested in an eight-colour Roland 700 PLV 8/0-4/4 HiPrint press; and in the UK, Qualvis Print & Packaging returns to Heidelberg for a new platesetter to double output over an older model. Thursday saw Direct Printing Impressions in West Caldwell, NJ boost productivity by 40 per cent with its new Speedmaster CD 102-X. To round of the week on Friday, Stephens & George Print Group in Wales has returned to Heidelberg for two high-speed high-productivity Stahlfolders launched at drupa last year. Lastly, London-based Leycol Print looks to boost business with Fujifilm‘s Superia LH-PJE plates.

The tailender goes to the ‘Oupa’ of South African disabled golf, Christo de Jager, as he marks a decade of Opens at the 2017 Canon South Africa Disabled Gold Open in Cape Town in May.

That’s it until next time. Do have a good week ahead. You’ll find a lot more below.

My best regards,

Mike Hilton

 

 

valuepublishing-heideldruck-montserrat-peidro-insa-001”It seems to me that Heidelberg has played an important role in the breakthrough of industrial digital printing.“ —Andreas Weber, Head of Value. Click for access to the full story.

 

 

e-News comprises:  Headline News – Online Feature Articles – the Verdigris initiative and Wild Format Technology Guides from Digital Dots, and our Drupa and 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

Over 28,000 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 13 February – date published appears in article footline

Monday

Heidelberg celebrates 1000th VLF printing unit install

Green Bay Packaging in Wisconsin, USA, has installed the 1000th Very Large Format printing unit from Heidelberg…

UPM Digi papers at Hunkeler Innovationdays 2017

UPM will share its paper selection for digital printing at Hunkeler Innovationdays 2017, in Lucerne from 20 – 23 February…

Asset Print opens new doors in Rondebosch with Xerox

Asset Print, one of Cape Town’s established full-service print shops opens second premises in suburb of Rondebosch…

In Print expansion features Horizon StitchLiner 6000

Horizon bookletmaker from IFS plays central role in £500,000 investment to streamline production…

Pureprint Group picks Renz systems to expand its services

Pureprint enhances in-house capabilities and expands global Web-to-print business with five Renz-supplied solutions…

Tuesday

A record year for Langley Holdings

The engineering and industrial group, has published its IFRS Annual Report & Accounts for year ended 31 December, 2016…

Manroland Sheetfed happy as a profit making press manufacturer

It is now five years on, since Langley Holdings rescued Manroland’s sheetfed presses business from administration…

Muller Martini at Hunkeler Innovationdays in Lucerne

World Premiere 20 to 23 February: Muller Martini and Hunkeler to showcase an Integrated Finishing 4.0 Workflow…

Fujifilm Jet Press 720S momentum continues to build

This latest UK investment will significantly boost Kingfisher Press’s ability to take on quality short-run work…

Duplo gets top marks for energy efficiency programme

Duplo comes top of the class with Total Gas and Power for energy efficiency from renewable resources…

Wednesday

BPIF Printing Outlook Q1 2017 is available now

Print Industry optimism prevailed in Q4 as forecast is surpassed; Q1 is set to hold positive course…

Ricoh Europe announces the Ricoh Pro VC40000

Ricoh broadens award-winning inkjet portfolio; bolstering capabilities for transactional and direct mail users…

We’ll Japan enters new market segment with Muller Martini

We’ll Corporation in Ishikawa gets a new Muller Martini Finishing 4.0 solution for the production of teaching materials…

New press brings new opportunities for Omnipack

Spanish packaging printer Omnipack has invested in an eight-colour Roland 700 PLV 8/0-4/4 HiPrint press…

Qualvis Print & Packaging opts for latest Suprasetter 106

Qualvis Print & Packaging returns to Heidelberg for a new platesetter to double output over the older model…

Thursday

drupa 2020 dates brought forward by one week

World’s most important trade fair for printing technologies will now be held from 16 to 26 June 2020 to avoid holiday clashes…

Duplo heading to Hunkeler Innovationdays next week

Duplo will be showcasing latest innovations at Hunkeler Innovationdays 2017 in Lucerne, from 20 – 23 February…

Sun Chemical at LOPEC 2017 in Munich in March

Sun to exhibit latest offerings for printed electronics, printed circuit boards and electronics manufacturing…

The 2017 Canon South African Disabled Golf Open

‘Oupa’ of South African disabled golf marks decade of Opens…

DPI updates with Speedmaster CD 102-6+L with X-Package

Direct Printing Impressions in West Caldwell, NJ boosts productivity by 40 per cent with new Speedmaster CD 102-X…

Friday

An important role in the breakthrough of industrial digital print

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

‘Optimised Paper Handling and Logistics’ Guide

A reminder the international best practice guide ‘Optimised Paper Handling and Logistics’ is available and to download…

Kodak introduces Prinergy Cloud analytics-enabled platform

Innovative cloud analytics service aims to deliver new solutions to control cost, minimise risk and drive growth…

SPGPrints at Label&Print 2017 at the NEC next month

SPGPrints’ rotary screen solutions for value-added label and packaging feature at Label&Print 2017, from 1 – 2 March…

Stephens & George has added two Stahlfolder TH 82-Ps

Stephens & George Print Group returns to Heidelberg for two high-speed high-productivity folders after a short break…

Leycol Print switches to Fujifilm Superia plates

London-based commercial printer looks to boost business with investment in Fujifilm’s Superia LH-PJE plates…

The lead articles from a week last Friday… 

Strengthening Sappi Europe’s competitive advantage

Sappi has announced range of projects in Europe and the United States to support its growth strategy and 2020Vision…

MPS invests in the world’s first 18-unit packaging press

The press will be installed during March at MPS East Kilbride, Scotland and be fully commissioned by mid-year…

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. Heidelberg customers enjoy the most comprehensive and extensive sales and service network in the industry for JDF compliant workflow, computer-to-plate, sheetfed offset, Web-to-print, digital printing, digital inkjet for labels and packaging, folding and finishing, and consumables. with offices in around 170 countries. Visit the Heidelberg Website for more information.

drupa 2020 (drupa), the international flagship fair of the printing and media industry, responds to the challenges of the changing market and provides pioneering solutions for the future. This is highlighted by the new marketing and communication strategy where drupa claims its position as ‘No.1 for Print & Crossmedia Solutions’. Visit the drupa 2020 Website.You should also visit blog.drupa.comfor the very latest industry news and developments.

Online Feature articles 2014 – 2017

Only 49 articles for 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 Dialog exclusive Interview series

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 Jan/Feb Chapter 03

BPIF Printing Outlook Q1 2017 is available now

Print Industry optimism prevailed in Q4 as forecast is surpassed; Q1 is set to hold positive course…

Previous…  

Blömeke lauds first Speedmaster XL 75-5 LE UV in Germany

Blömeke opens up new areas of business with the first Speedmaster XL 75-5 LE UV in Germany with a matching service package…

Verdigris – Environmental Initiative

Laurel Brunner’s weekly Verdigris Blogs 2017

PaperLab Arrives!

The weekly Verdigris blog by Laurel Brunner – Sat 18 Feb

Previous…  

Prizes for best behaviour

The weekly Verdigris blog by Laurel Brunner – Fri 10 Feb

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 21 Hitting the 3rd Dimension

Printing is no longer limited to flat surfaces. With the help of 3D printers, impressive objects can be manufactured from a digital file, unveiling a whole new world of opportunities. By Sonja Angerer…

No 20 – Inks and their variations

Normally the key to the success of every print job, whether analogue or digital, depends on the correct mix of media and ink… By Sophie Matthews-Paul

Drupa Newsroom

Our Drupa Newsroom with news from Messe Düsseldorf 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 in 2017

drupa 2020 dates brought forward by one week

World’s most important trade fair for printing technologies will now be held from 16 to 26 June 2020 to avoid holiday clashes…

Previous…  

Messe Düsseldorf to reconstruct Southern Section

Plans for the reconstruction of the South Entrance and Halls 1 + 2 in a EUR 140m investment approved for completion in 2019…

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, Screen Europe,  Drupa 2020,  Esko,   Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, Kemtek Imaging Systems,  Leonhard Kurz Stiftung, Manroland Web Systems GmbH, Ricoh Europe, Sappi Limited  and  UPM-Kymmene. 

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

ValueDialog: An important role in the breakthrough of industrial digital printing. 

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Basic Topics on Innovation, Digital Transformation, drupa 2016, Posts in German Language, Trends @ Graphic Communications, Valuable Advice, Value Innovation
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Photos: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG. — Collage: Andreas Weber, Mainz/Germany.

 

“We keep our promises: sustainable industrial production with premium quality digital printing.” —Montserrat Peidro-Insa, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG

Interview: Andreas Weber, Head of Value | German version

 

Presented to hundreds of thousands of trade visitors at drupa 2016 and on the market since January 2017 with the start of the pilot phase: the Primefire 106 – as the first industrial premium digital printing production system in B1 format it is performing successfully in the pilot phase and has proven itself at ‘MPS Multi Packaging Solutions’. An important core element of the new Heidelberg digital strategy has thus been achieved — and now is the perfect time for an exclusive interview by Andreas Weber with Montserrat Peidro-Insa, Head of Digital Sales and Digital Sheetfed General Manager at Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (#Heideldruck) on the subject of the market launch of the Heidelberg Primefire 106.

You joined Heidelberg just before drupa 2016. Did you expect that the traditional company would be able to develop into the pioneer of premium level industrial digital printing so rapidly?

Montserrat Peidro-Insa: I have to admit that I’m extremely positively surprised. Even my high expectations were exceeded. During my career, I’ve gained a great deal of experience with the transformation of particular market segments on the basis of digital printing. But up to that point I wasn’t very familiar with the world of offset printing as a core area of expertise of Heidelberg. Now, as Heidelberg is merging both together, I’m sure that we can meet the present and future needs of print shops and their customers in the best possible way.

What makes you so optimistic?

Montserrat Peidro-Insa: At drupa 2016, I saw the Primefire 106 in operation as a prototype for the first time, where it produced top quality inkjet print samples. Afterwards, I watched as this was implemented quickly and highly professionally in Research and Development, as well as in Engineering, within just a few weeks. After all, what is important is not only complying with ambitious machine specifications but also being able to produce at industrial level with the aid of technical innovations, in line with actual working situations. And that was achieved in an extremely short time. The engineers were open-minded, new ideas from the team and suggestions were taken into account immediately and implemented technically. Also the cooperation with our co development partner Fujifilm went very well for both sides. To be perfectly honest, I’d not experienced anything like it before. They were real highlights for me and they still have an effect today.

The pilot phase for the Primefire 106 began in January 2017. What is so special about it?

Montserrat Peidro-Insa: For a successful pilot phase in which the machine runs under production conditions at customers, two requirements must be met. 1. The technology must be complete, i.e. fully developed. 2. Innovations must meet or exceed the needs of the customer. In the context of the print shop business, this means that new printing technologies must be successful from the word go – they must work reliably from a technical and from a commercial point of view. The largest burden for print shops is winning new print job orders, which is very hard work. Once they have a job, they must be able to produce it reliably and without problems on an industrial scale. This means with top quality and speed, extremely good reproducibility characteristics and a very high level of machine availability coupled with minimum makeready times. Ensuring that this can be achieved is the core element of our job.

 

From left: Thomas Heissler, Global Account Manager Heidelberg, Götz Schümann, General Manager MPS Produktion Oberslum, Montserrat Peidro-Insa, Head of Digital Sales and General Manager Digital Sheetfed Heidelberg in front of Primefire 106. Photo: Heidelberg
Prime fire 106 in action at MPS. Photo: Heidelberg
drupa 2016 — Poto: Heidelberg
drupa 2016 — Photo: Heidelberg
Photo: Heidelberg

 

Aren’t high quality and an excellent uptime already standard in digital printing?

Montserrat Peidro-Insa: Unfortunately not. And this is the most important strength and USP of the Primefire 106 in comparison to other solutions on the market that either offer one or the other. With a lot of solutions, this means that the up time may be reduced to as low as 40 % if maximum quality is required. And vice versa – if you concentrate on maximum productivity, high quality standards cannot be achieved. With the Primefire 106, we have proven that we can offer both at once, as demonstrated in the pilot phase. With this machine, we set high standards in terms of dependable high quality performance, which is an indispensable requirement in our target markets of packaging and converting.

The first customer in the Primefire pilot phase is the globally operating MPS Multi Packaging Solutions, with its headquarters in New York City and its production site in Obersulm near Stuttgart. What was the key reason for this collaboration?

Montserrat Peidro-Insa: The excellent product specifications as well as outstanding features and, above all, our performance pledge were convincing factors, as everything meets the wishes and stringent requirements at MPS exactly. Furthermore, the two companies have worked together for many years, as Heidelberg is the main supplier for offset printing technology and several pilot projects have already been implemented successfully in the area of offset printing. My colleagues have done a brilliant job, which has resulted in a high degree of mutual trust being built up at many levels over a number of years. And this situation is now being transferred seamlessly to digital printing, with the additional major plus point that, with Fujifilm, we not only have a premium supplier of inkjet printheads, but Fujifilm is a development partner who actively contributes know-how and manpower in this context in order to get the best out of its technology with our machine and production concept. And that’s unique. Another factor is our industry-wide, leading service network with teams who can help out quickly if needed, either remotely or on site. And all these points were appreciated and acknowledged by more than 40 companies at our Primefire customer event at the end of January, 2017.

 

World premiere of Heidelberg Primefire 106 at drupa 2016. Video: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG.

 

In the context of the Primefire 106, the fact that the go-to-market and new business models will be key success factors was highlighted at drupa 2016. What must be borne in mind or what are potential new challenges?

Montserrat Peidro-Insa: Heidelberg is renowned for its excellent customer relationships and loyalty — and this is even acknowledged by its competitors. Good customer loyalty is developed when Sales as well as Service identify with the customer as much as possible, have a continual presence and are integrated into the customers’ everyday work. As this has been the case for a very long time, we don’t have to reinvent the wheel with the go-to-market activities for the Primefire. We use tried and tested elements and well-established structures in account management that are valued by our customers…

… and what is the situation as far as business models are concerned?

Montserrat Peidro-Insa: In the context of business models we need to rethink, as with industrial printing using inkjet technology one thing is of key importance – our customers must know exactly what they are paying for at all times. The click charge billing models that are commonly used for digital printing work for numerous applications that are made up of a large number of individual jobs, often with small print runs. The click costs comprise a fixed charge plus variable costs and should only amount to a maximum of 20% of the total production costs, otherwise it becomes unprofitable…

… and what exactly does this mean with respect to the Primefire 106?

Montserrat Peidro-Insa: With high-volume production with the Primefire 106 in multi-shift mode under industrial production conditions, a different approach is definitely needed, especially for packaging printing. The costs must be completely transparent before the job is started — across all process steps. We call this the “pay for what you consume” model and we have developed new types of contracts which cover all aspects related to the maintenance of the inkjet printheads and other inkjet printing production factors, such as ink, for each contract, in addition to the purchase prices of the machines. We therefore offer an economically relevant model, tailored specifically to packaging print shops, that is an important part of our performance pledge and that, in my opinion, no other manufacturer can offer at the moment.

 

1604_primefire_nummeriert_slide_1400_image_ratio_2_8
primefire_perspektivisch_beauty_f51_image_ratio_2_8

Best-in-class technology needs a great design as well: Primefire 106 celebrated its World Premiere at drupa 2016. Photos: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG.

 

What impact does this new business model approach have in actual situations? After all, the Primefire concept also changes the way that Heidelberg customers can go about their business.

Montserrat Peidro-Insa: That’s right, digitization in the printing industry changes the way business is done in many areas. Print shops must consider whether it is better to integrate Primefire systems into their existing operation or to separate them off into their own department/company. There is a wide variety of options for how companies want to structure and organize their digital business. From the application-related, technical side or the process workflows, we can offer comprehensive, flexible support.

Have you already received feedback from your customers’ customers – i.e. brands that use packaging?

Montserrat Peidro-Insa: Since drupa 2016, we have received feedback from companies who order packaging via our customers. The most important feedback is that digital printing solutions must be 100% reliable as the requirements are extremely high. Brand owners or print buyers who find out about the Primefire technology actively approach our customers immediately in order to be able to take advantage of the benefits themselves as soon as possible. In particular, this applies to the time to market speed at the point of sale which enables sophisticated products to be sold more easily and quickly.

What’s more, our customers are also given the chance to not only produce jobs in line with customer specifications but also to actively approach their customers/interested parties with their new ideas on the basis of the new opportunities provided by the Primefire.  This new form of creativity is expressly welcomed in order to design marketing activities that are more relevant or to address new target groups more effectively. — Incidentally, this situation has meant that our Primefire pilot customer MPS has been producing actual runs for brand customers from the cosmetics industry since the beginning of February 2017 – and not only test jobs for inspecting samples for new applications. This rapid adaptation of new printing technologies is accelerating the transformation dramatically.

As it looks today, does the success of the pilot phase meet your expectations?

Montserrat Peidro-Insa: Definitely. Without mentioning any concrete figures, we have received an enormous amount of inquiries. This is mainly because the Primefire 106 is designed as a platform that can be upgraded and therefore is expected to offer a production life of up to ten years.

To finish, can you give us a forecast of how this platform approach will develop with the Primefire 106?

Montserrat Peidro-Insa: We keep our promises: sustainable industrial production with premium quality digital printing. In the next few years, there will be hardly any need to modify our Primefire technology in terms of quality, printhead technology and print image resolution. However, it is conceivable that throughput will be increased for more printed sheets per hour. New areas of application will certainly arise in the next few years. Specific solutions, for the pharmaceuticals area for example, will also be planned. This includes new opportunities in the context of digital finishing, e.g. with inline processing. And it is very important to make it clear that enhancements to the Primefire systems will be possible for existing installations for the foreseeable future due to our platform concept. Investments are therefore secured in the long term.

Thank you very much for this informative interview. It seems to me that Heidelberg has played an important role in the breakthrough of industrial digital printing

 

 

drupa 2016

Photo: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG 

About Montserrat Peidro-Insa:

Montserrat Peidro-Insa is the new force in the Heidelberg digital team. She joined Heidelberg in the spring of 2016, just in time before drupa. The former HP manager has gained many years of experience in launching professional digital printing systems, and Heidelberg would also like to benefit from this expertise. She is therefore a welcome addition to Jason Oliver’s team and is now Head of Digital Sales and Digital Sheetfed General Manager at Heidelberg. Together with her staff, she will be responsible for the market launch of the Heidelberg Primefire 106.

 

 

ValueDialog: Dem industriellen Digitaldruck zum Durchbruch verholfen!

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Fotos: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG. Bildcollage: Andreas Weber, Mainz.

„Wir halten, was wir versprechen: die nachhaltig industrielle Fertigung mit Digitaldruck auf Premiumniveau!“ —Montserrat Peidro-Insa, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG

Interview: Andreas Weber, Head of Value | English version

Auf der drupa 2016 hunderttausenden Fachbesuchern vorgestellt und seit Januar 2017 Beginn der Pilotphase im Markt: Primefire 106 als erstes industrielles Digitaldruck-Premium-Produktionssystem im B1 Format meistert die Pilot-Phase und bewährt sich bei ‚MPS Multi Packaging Solutions‘. Damit ist ein wichtiger Kernpunkt der neuen Digitalstrategie bei Heidelberg erfüllt — und ein perfekter Zeitpunkt für ein Exklusivinterview von Andreas Weber zur Markteinführung der Heidelberg Primefire 106 mit Montserrat Peidro-Insa, Head of Digital Sales and General Manager Digital Sheetfed  bei Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (#Heideldruck).

Sie kamen zur drupa 2016 zu Heidelberg. Hatten Sie erwartet, dass das Traditionsunternehmen so rasend schnell zum Vorreiter im industriellen Digitaldruck auf Premiumniveau werden konnte?

Montserrat Peidro-Insa: Ich muss zugeben, dass ich äußerst positiv überrascht bin. Meine hohen Erwartungen wurden noch übertroffen. Ich habe in meiner Laufbahn reichhaltige Erfahrungen bei der Transformation bestimmter Marktsegmente durch Digitaldruck erworben. Mit der Offsetdruckwelt als Kernkompetenz von Heidelberg war ich aber bis dato nicht näher vertraut. Jetzt, wo  Heidelberg beides zusammenführt, bin ich überzeugt, dass wir heutige und künftige Bedürfnisse von Druckereien und deren Kunden bestmöglich erfüllen können.

Was macht Sie so optimistisch?

Montserrat Peidro-Insa: Zur drupa 2016 sah ich erstmals die Primefire 106 als Prototyp in Betrieb, um hochwertigste Druckmuster im Inkjet-Druck zu erzeugen. Im Nachgang erlebte ich innerhalb weniger Wochen, wie rasch und hochprofessionell die Implementierung bei Forschung und Entwicklung sowie Engineering ablief. Schließlich gilt es, nicht nur ambitionierte Maschinenspezifikationen zu erfüllen, sondern mithilfe von Technikinnovationen praxisgerecht auf industriellem Niveau produzieren zu können. Und das klappte in kürzester Zeit. Die Ingenieure waren offen im Denken, neue Ideen der Teams und Anregungen wurden sofort aufgegriffen und technisch umgesetzt. Und die Zusammenarbeit mit unserem Entwicklungspartner FujiFilm war fruchtbar für beide Seiten. Ganz ehrlich: So etwas hatte ich bis dahin noch nicht erlebt. Das waren echte Highlights für mich, die immer noch nachwirken.

Im Januar 2017 startete die Pilot-Phase für Primefire 106. Was ist das besondere daran?

Montserrat Peidro-Insa: Für eine erfolgreiche Pilot-Phase, in der bei Kunden unter Produktionsbedingungen gearbeitet wird, müssen zwei Voraussetzungen erfüllt sein. 1. Die Technologie muss fertig, sprich ausgereift, sein. 2. Innovationen müssen den Bedarf der Kunden (über)treffen. Auf das Druckereigeschäft bezogen, heisst das, neue Drucktechnologien müssen sich aus dem Stand heraus bewähren, also nicht nur technisch, sondern auch kaufmännisch solide funktionieren. Die Hauptlast ist doch, Druckaufträge zu akquirieren, das ist für Druckereien harte Arbeit. Liegt der Auftrag vor, muss reibungslos und zuverlässig industriell produziert werden können. Das heisst mit maximaler Qualität und  Geschwindigkeit, extrem guter Wiederholbarkeit und höchster Maschinenverfügbarkeit bei minimalen Rüstzeiten. Die Voraussetzungen dafür zu schaffen, ist im Kern unser Job.

From left: Thomas Heissler, Global Account Manager Heidelberg, Götz Schümann, General Manager MPS Produktion Oberslum, Montserrat Peidro-Insa, Head of Digital Sales and General Manager Digital Sheetfed Heidelberg in front of Primefire 106. Photo: Heidelberg
Prime fire 106 in action at MPS. Photo: Heidelberg
drupa 2016 — Poto: Heidelberg
drupa 2016 — Photo: Heidelberg
Photo: Heidelberg

Sind hohe Qualität und beste ‚Up-time‘ im Digitaldruck nicht schon Standard?

Montserrat Peidro-Insa: Leider nein. Und das ist die große Stärke und Alleinstellung von Primefire 106 im Unterschied zu sonstigen Angeboten im Markt, die entweder das eine oder das andere bieten. Was bei vielen dazu führt, dass, wenn man maximale Qualität realisieren will, die Up-time auf bis zu 40 % runtergeht. Und umgekehrt: Setzt man auf maximale Produktivität, lassen sich hohe Qualitätsstufen nicht erreichen. Mit Primefire 106 bieten wir nachweislich beides in einem, wie es sich nachweislich in der Pilot-Phase beweist. Wir setzen damit hohe Maßstäbe für dependable  high quality performance, die in unseren Zielmärkten Packaging und Converting erforderlich und unabdingbar ist.

Der erste Kunde für die Primefire-Pilot-Phase ist der global agierende Konzern MPS Multi Packaging Solutions, mit Headquarter in New York City und seinem Produktionsstandort in Obersulm bei Stuttgart. Was gab den Ausschlag zur Zusammenarbeit?

Montserrat Peidro-Insa: Die exzellenten Produktspezifikationen sowie exzellente Features und v. a. unser Leistungsversprechen überzeugten, da alles die Vorstellungen und hohen Anforderungen bei MPS exakt trifft. Zudem verbindet beide Unternehmen eine langjährige Zusammenarbeit, da Heidelberg Hauptlieferant bei Offsetdrucktechnik ist und für den Offsetdruck bereits einige Pilot-Projekte erfolgreich durchgeführt wurden. Meine Kollegen haben einen brillanten Job gemacht, was über Jahre hohes gegenseitiges Vertrauen auf vielen Ebenen aufgebaut hat. Das überträgt sich jetzt nahtlos auf den Digitaldruck, mit dem großen Zusatzplus, das wir mit Fujifilm nicht nur einen Premium-Lieferanten für Inkjet-Druckköpfe haben, sondern Fujifilm sich als Entwicklungspartner mit Know-how und Manpower aktiv einbringt, um das Beste aus ihrer Technologie im Kontext mit unserem Maschinen- und Produktionskonzept rauszuholen. Das ist einzigartig. Hinzukommt unser Industrie-weit führendes Service-Netzwerk, mit Teams, die im Bedarfsfall schnell ‚remote‘ oder vor Ort helfen. Alle diese Punkte wurden übrigens bei unserem Primefire-Kundenevent Ende Januar 2017 von über 40 Firmen geschätzt und anerkannt.

Premiere der Heidelberg Primefire 106 als Highlight im Digitaldruck auf der drupa 2016. — Life-Video: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen, Juni 2016.

Im Kontext mit Primefire 106  wurde auf der drupa 2016 betont, dass für den Erfolg das Go-to-Market und neue Geschäftsmodelle entscheidend sein werden. Was ist zu beachten respektive was sind ggf. neue Herausforderungen?

Montserrat Peidro-Insa: Heidelberg ist — das wird auch vom Wettbewerb anerkannt — renommiert für seine exzellente Kundenbeziehungen und -treue. Eine gute Kundenbindung entsteht, wenn sich der Vertrieb wie auch der Service bestmöglich mit dem Kunden identifizieren, stets Präsenz zeigen und in den Kundenalltag integriert werden. Da dies seit langem der Fall ist, müssen wir beim Go-to-Market für Primefire das Rad nicht erst neu erfinden. Wir greifen auf Bewährtes und fest etablierte Strukturen im Account-Management zurück, die von unseren Kunden geschätzt werden…

… und wie verhält sich das bei Geschäftsmodellen?

Montserrat Peidro-Insa: Bei Geschäftsmodellen müssen wir umdenken, denn im industriellen Druck mit Inkjet-Technologie ist entscheidend wichtig: Unser Kunde muss jederzeit genau wissen, wofür er zahlt. Die im Digitaldruck gängigen ‚Clickcharge‘-Abrechnungmodelle funktionieren bei einer Vielzahl von Anwendungen, die sich aus der Summe vieler Einzeljobs oft mit kleinen Auflagen generieren. Die Klickkosten bestehen aus einem Fixum plus variablen Kosten und dürfen dabei maximal 20 % der Gesamt-Produktionskosten ausmachen, sonst wird es unrentabel…

… und das heisst konkret bezogen auf Primefire 106?

Montserrat Peidro-Insa: Bei hochvolumigen Produktionen mit Primefire 106 im Mehrschichtenmodus unter industriellen Fertigungsbedingungen braucht es in jedem Fall einen anderen Ansatz, gerade im Verpackungsdruck. Es muss vor Auftragsbeginn eine umfassende Kostentransparenz bestehen — über sämtliche Prozessschritte hinweg. Wir nennen das „Pay for what you consume“-Modell und haben neue Vertragsformen entwickelt, die neben Maschinen-Kaufpreisen per Vertrag alle Aspekte der Instandhaltung der Inkjet-Druckköpfe und sonstiger Inkjet-Druck-Produktionsfaktoren wie die Tinte umfasst. Damit bieten wir ein ökonomisch relevantes, für Verpackungsdruckereien zugeschnittenes Modell, das ein wichtiger Teil unseres Leistungsversprechens darstellt und das aus meiner Sicht zur Zeit kein anderer Hersteller bieten kann.

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Funktionsbereiche der Primefire 106: 1. Anleger 2. Conditioning-Werk 3. Jetring-Werk 4. Trocknersystem 5. Lackierwerk 6. Prinect Digital Center Inline mit Perfect Stack-Technologie. Foto: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG

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Nicht nur technisch, sondern auch ästhetisch ein Glanzstück. — Foto: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG

Wie wirkt sich dieser neue Geschäftsmodellansatz in der Praxis aus? Das Primefire-Konzept verändert ja auch die Art und Weise, wie Heidelberg-Kunden ihr Geschäft angehen können.

Montserrat Peidro-Insa: In der Tat, die Digitalisierung im Print ändert die Art und Weise des Geschäfts über viele Bereiche hinweg. Druckereien müssen abwägen, ob sie Primefire-Systeme in den bestehenden Betrieb integrieren oder in eine eigene Abteilung/Firma ausgliedern. Es gibt ganz verschiedene Möglichkeiten, wie man sein ‚Digital Business‘ ausrichten und organisieren möchte. Von der anwendungsbezogenen, technischen Seite oder den Prozessabläufen können wir alles flexibel unterstützen.

Haben Sie schon Feedback von Seiten der Kunden Ihrer Kunden, also Marken, die Verpackungen einsetzen?

Montserrat Peidro-Insa: Seit der drupa 2016 bekommen wir Feedback seitens der Auftraggeber für Verpackungen über unsere Kunden. Das Wichtigste ist, dass Digitaldruck-Lösungen hundertprozentig verlässlich sein müssen, da die Anforderungen extrem hoch sind. Markeninhaber respektive Print Buyer, die von der Primefire Technologie Kenntnis erhalten, gehen sofort aktiv auf unsere Kunden zu, um die Vorteil möglichst schnell für sich nutzen zu können. Dies ist insbesondere das Time-to-Market-Momentum am Point-of-Sale, um anspruchsvolle Produkte einfacher und schneller verkaufen zu können.

Und: Unsere Kunden erhalten zudem die Chance, nicht nur gemäß Kundenvorgaben Aufträge zu produzieren, sondern auf Basis der neuen Möglichkeiten der Primefire mit ihren Ideen aktiv auf ihre Kunden/Interessenten zuzugehen. Diese neue Form der Kreativität ist ausdrücklich erwünscht, um Marketingaktivitäten relevanter zu gestalten bzw. neue Zielgruppen besser zu erreichen! — Nebenbei, dieser Umstand hat dazu geführt, das unser Primefire-Pilotkunde MPS bereits seit Anfang Februar 2017 für Markenkunden aus dem Beauty-Bereich  echte Produktionen fährt – und nicht nur Testjobs quasi zur Bemusterung neuer Anwendungen. Diese schnelle Adaption neuer Print-Techniken beschleunigt die Transformation ganz erheblich.

Aus jetziger Sicht: Trifft der Erfolg der Pilot-Phase ihre Erwartungen?

Montserrat Peidro-Insa: Definitiv. Ohne dass ich konkret Zahlen nennen darf, die Anfragen sind enorm. Vor allem auch, weil Primefire 106 als Plattform ausgelegt ist, die Upgrade-fähig ist und daher in der Vorausschau bis zu zehn Jahre Produktionseinsatz bieten kann.

Können Sie zum Abschluss einen Ausblick geben, wie sich dieser Plattform-Ansatz mit Primefire 106 entwickeln wird?

Montserrat Peidro-Insa: Wir halten, was wir versprechen: Die nachhaltig industrielle Fertigung mit Digitaldruck auf Premiumniveau! An unserer Primefire Technologie wird in den nächsten Jahren kaum ein Änderungsbedarf entstehen, was Qualität, Druckkopftechnik und Druckbildauflösung angeht. Denkbar ist aber, den Durchsatz zu steigern, mit mehr Druckbogen pro Stunde. In den nächsten Jahren werden sicher neue Anwendungsbereiche hinzukommen. Zudem geplant werden spezifische Lösungen, wie z. B. für den Pharma-Bereich. Hierzu gehören auch neue Möglichkeiten im sog. Digital Finishing, z. B. mit Inline-Verarbeitung. Ganz wichtig ist aber festzuhalten: Erweiterungen der Primefire-Systeme können aufgrund unserer Plattform-Konzeption bei bestehenden Installationen auf absehbare Zeit vorgenommen werden. Damit sind Investitionen sicher und nachhaltig wirksam.

Besten Dank für das informative Gespräch. Mir scheint: Heidelberg hat dem industriellen Digitaldruck zum Durchbruch verholfen!

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Montserrat Peidro-Insa ist die neue Powerfrau im Digitalteam von Heidelberg. — Foto: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG

Zur Person

Montserrat Peidro-Insa ist die neue Powerfrau im Digitalteam von Heidelberg. Sie kam in Frühjahr 2016 gerade noch rechtzeitig vor der drupa zu Heidelberg. Die ehemalige HP Managerin hat viele Jahre Erfahrung in der Markteinführung von professionellen Digitaldrucksystemen. Davon möchte auch Heidelberg profitieren. Sie ergänzt daher das Team von Jason Oliver und ist jetzt Leiterin Digital Sales und General Manager Digital Sheetfed bei Heidelberg. Sie wird sich zusammen mit ihren Mitarbeitern um die Markteinführung der Heidelberg Primefire 106 kümmern.