Tag Archives: Kodak

A provocative POV + deliberately “bad” comment by Andreas Weber, Spokesperson Digital Print Forum, Mainz, Founder and CEIO of Value Communication AG

The ultimate Manager motto seems to be:
“It combines something that does not work with something that is not true.”

About the Status quo

Two very interesting weeks are behind us: Interpack 2014 in Düsseldorf, Online Print Symposium 2014, FESPA Digital in Munich and especially the Swiss Publishing Days in Winterthur covering Inkjet Printing.

So impressive is the diversity of the information provided, so sobering is the realization that the greatest evil are those who act quite selfish as market leaders and industry innovators — loving themselves and ignore the reality influenced by a bad behavior!

My critic: Highly paid managers from the digital printing equipment manufacturers industry are not able to bring their message across (with a few exceptions, dear François Martin). Their expertise and industry knowledge is lousy. Their presentation skills are atrocious. Zero empathy, zero emotion, but a lot of HYBRIS (megalomania). They come to such events as gladiators appear confident, spread nonsense. And are again disappeared from the respective event without understanding what is in their market actually going on. Even employees, primarily from the sales team of the same manufacturer, are often more than embarrassed! Because this behavior reduces the success dramatically !

What’s going on?

After 20 years of so-called „innovation of the printing & publishing industries“, most only do what they can, but not what they should do. Digital printing continues to play in the professional print market only a marginal role (in terms of print output and sales volume). The main error or misunderstanding seems tp be: The new print technologies are set to compete with the classical methods. Instead of showing that print can be an important part of a modern digital communication culture hitting all needs.

Managers of digital printing technology manufacturers a quite resistant in their positions. Even those who made very big mistakes (such as to deny the importance of photo books as a growth market ten years ago) jump from company X to company Y covering new/higher top positions. And put their dismal work continued eagerly. They don’t care, if they fail or if their company is in trouble. And pull their customers down as well.

The same managers who are not able to communicate and to present properly, tilt the budget for PR and marketing communications. The result is that the once excellent professional communication in the print industry is degenerated and transformed into a stupid push of press releases with product and fair novelties distributed across all channels. To be honest: This kind of propaganda no one needs and brings no benefit. Magazine publishers know what I’m talking about!

And the „Added Value“ to this mess? Marketing departments are transformed to Market & Business Development Units that operate bloated clumsy sales promotion and their performance is to gather customer examples and present it on expensive VIP events.

Stop this madness!

Most customers of these manufacturers, the printing companies, tolerate this harmful dilettantism. Everything is purchased, which is considered to be new and promising. It’s called something like the Lemmings syndrome. [Means: You cannot fail if you do what everybody is doing!]

Seemingly overlooked is what’s happening or not happening, and thereby damages the industry sustainable. The once proud printers are ridiculed by whippersnappers from the digital sector as a loser. This is scandalous, but self-inflicted.

And to say the least, this is madness. And must be stopped immediately if the damage should not be even larger. After all, we talk about that in the wake of technology manufacturers take hundreds of thousands of printing establishments damage. Billions in losses in the last six years, at the global level in strong double-digit height, are the result, as well as job losses and bankruptcies. This shift only to structural changes and market changes is self-deception. Innovative technologies and fantastic market opportunities are available. But the market and communication skills are underdeveloped; as well as the boldness of innovation, with the aim to sustainably change the print world and refocus it.

Conclusion: The fish rots from the head. Scramble dilettante, narcissistic top managers to the devil. Return to the roots, that have made print so strong for centuries: pioneering and innovative spirit, competence, determination and recoverability. The “good old” Johannes Gutenberg would be pleased. And last but not least: Create and communicate finally clear messages, visions and solid performance promises to provide that print as a business will be further damaged!

Best regards from the Gutenberg Mainz!

Painting by Ying Lin-Sill: “In Memoriam Gutenberg”, Mainz 2009

Text by Andreas Weber, Mainz 2014

SKANDAL: Jeder macht was er kann, keiner was er soll!

May 24, 2014

CEO Talk on Innovation, Trends @ Graphic Communications, Valuable Advice, Value Innovation

11 Comments

Ein bewusst „böser“ Kommentar von Andreas Weber,
Sprecher DigitaldruckForum, Mainz

Das ultimative Manager-Motto scheint zu sein:
“Man kombiniert etwas, was nicht funktioniert, mit etwas, was nicht stimmt.”

Zwei interessante Wochen liegen hinter uns: Interpack 2014 in Düsseldorf, Online Print Symposium 2014 und Fespa Digital in München sowie vor allem die Swiss Publishing Days in Winterthur mit dem Thema „Inkjet macht Druck“.

So beeindruckend die Vielfalt der gebotenen Informationen ist, so ernüchternd ist die Erkenntnis, das das größte Übel die sind, die sich als Marktführer und Brancheninnovatoren selbst beweihräuchern und die von ihnen verschandelte Realität ignorieren.

Hoch bezahlte Manager aus der Digitaldrucktechnik-Herstellerindustrie bringen ihre Botschaft nicht rüber (von wenigen Ausnahmen abgesehen, lieber François Martin!). Ihr Fach- und Branchenwissen ist lausig. Ihre Vortragsfähigkeiten sind grauenhaft. Null Empathie, null Emotion, aber dafür viel Hybris. Sie kommen zu solchen Events wie Gladiatoren, treten selbstbewusst auf, verbreiten Blödsinn. Und sind gleich wieder beim jeweiligen Event verschwunden, ohne mitzubekommen, was sich in ihrem Markt tatsächlich tut. Selbst Mitarbeitern, vor allem aus dem Vertrieb derselben Hersteller, ist so etwas mehr als peinlich! Und mindert den Erfolg dramatisch!

Was ist nur los?

Nach über 20 Jahren sog. Innovation der Print- und Publishing-Branchen tun die meisten nur, was sie können, aber nicht mehr was sie tun sollten. Digitaldruck spielt nach wie vor im Profi-Print-Markt nur eine marginale Rolle (gemessen an Print-Output und Umsatzvolumen). Der Kardinalsfehler: Die neuen Print-Technologien werden in Konkurrenz zu den klassischen Verfahren gesetzt. Statt zu zeigen, dass Print wichtiger Bestandteil einer digitalen Kommunikationskultur sein kann und muss.

Manager bei Digitaldrucktechnik-Herstellern, die vor zehn Jahren bei Hersteller-Firma X grosse Fehler machten (wie z. B. die Bedeutung von Fotobüchern als Wachstumsmarkt zu verleugnen), sind heute bei Firma Y in neuen Top-Entscheider-Positionen. Und setzen ihr düsteres Schaffen eifrig fort. Selbst wenn die neuen Arbeitgeber am Abgrund stehen und ihre Kunden mit nach unten ziehen. Dieselben Manager, die nicht kommunizieren und präsentieren können, kippen auch die Budgets für PR und Marketing-Kommunikation. Die Folge ist, dass aus der einst hervorragenden Fachkommunikation der Print-Branche ein stupider Push von Pressemeldungen mit Produkt- und Messeneuheiten über alle Kanäle geworden ist, die keiner braucht und die keinen Nutzen bringen. Fachzeitschriften-Verleger wissen, wovon ich rede!

Hinzukommt: Marketingabteilungen werden transformiert zu Market & Business Development-Units, die aufgebläht plumpe Verkaufsförderung betreiben und deren Leistung darin besteht, Kundenbeispiele zu sammeln und auf teuren VIP-Events vorzustellen.

Stoppt diesen Wahnsinn!

Und die meisten Kunden dieser Hersteller, die Druckerei-Unternehmen, lassen sich diesen schädlichen Dilettantismus gefallen. Munter wird gekauft, was als neu und zukunftsträchtig gilt. Man nennt so etwas das Lemminge-Syndrom.

Scheinbar wird übersehen, was alles passiert beziehungsweise nicht passiert, und dadurch die Branche nachhaltig schädigt. Die einst so stolzen Drucker werden von Jungspunden aus dem Digitalsektor als Loser belächelt. Das ist skandalös, aber selbstverschuldet.

Und gelinde gesagt, ist das heller Wahnsinn. Und muss sofort gestoppt werden, wenn der Schaden nicht noch größer werden sollen. Immerhin reden wir davon, dass im Sog der Technik-Hersteller hunderttausende Druckerei-Betriebe Schaden nehmen. Milliardenverluste in den letzen sechs Jahren, auf globaler Ebene in deutlich zweistelliger Höhe, sind die Folge, ebenso wie Arbeitsplatzverlust und Pleiten. Dies nur auf Strukturveränderungen und Marktveränderungen abzuwälzen, ist Selbstbetrug. Innovative Technik und Marktchancen durch Innovation gibt es zuhauf. Allein die Markt- und Kommunikationskompetenz ist unterentwickelt; ebenso wie die Innovations-Freudigkeit, mit dem Anspruch, die Printwelt nachhaltig zu verändern und neu auszurichten.

Fazit: Der Fisch stinkt vom Kopf her. Jagt dilettierende, selbstverliebte Top-Manager zum Teufel. Kehrt zu den Wurzeln zurück, die Print stark gemacht haben: Pionier- und Innovationsgeist, Kompetenz, Zielstrebigkeit sowie Werthaltigkeit. Der „olle“ Gutenberg würde sich freuen. Und last but not least: Formuliert endlich klare Botschaften, Visionen und solide Leistungsversprechen, um das Ruder rumzureisen, bevor der Print-Kahn endgültig kentert.

Beste Grüße aus der Gutenberg-Stadt Mainz!

Bildcollage von Andreas Weber, unter Verwendung des Gemäldes der Künstlerin Ying Lin-Sill “Gutenberg Memorial 2009”, Öl auf Leinwand.

Inkjet Druck — Der neue Stern in der Gutenberg-Galaxis

May 22, 2014

Basic Topics on Innovation, CEO Talk on Innovation, Trends @ Graphic Communications, Valuable Advice

3 Comments

Warum es sich lohnt, den Blog-Beitrag zu lesen:

• Aktuelle Trends in der Print-Kommunikation begreifen
• Inkjet-Druck richtig bewerten
• Innovation wertschätzen

„Die Zeit ist reif“, versprach das Programm des Swiss Publishing Days am 20. Mai 2014 in Winterthur. Das Thema „Inkjet macht Druck“ lockte über 200 Fachbesucher aus der Schweiz und Deutschland an. Sie wurden nicht enttäuscht. Obgleich es einige drastische Erkenntnisse gab. Wandeln durch Handeln wurde zum Motto.

René Theiler, Verband der Schweizer Druckindustrie und Vorstandsmitglied der UGRA, stellte als Moderator klar, dass die alten Prinzipien, wie z.B. die Technik bestimme das Geschäftsmodell, im Inkjet-Zeitalter nicht mehr zählen. Innovationen der Geschäftsmodelle seien an erster Stelle gefragt und überlebensnotwendig. Erst dann könne die Auswahl der relevanten Technologien folgen.

Keynote Speaker Bernd Zipper unterstrich dies, indem er resümierte, Innovationen seien Chance und Bedrohung zugleich. Radikale Änderungen sind nötig. Der bis dato schon hohe und schnell wachsende Marktanteil der Online-Druckereien zeige, worum es geht: Technik- und digitale Kommunikationskompetenz entscheiden im Print- und Publishing-Business über den Erfolg. Siehe: http://www.online-print-symposium.de

Dem Inkjet Druck komme eine besondere Rolle zu, weil „Inkjet die universellste Drucktechnik mit der größten Spannweite ist“.

Eine exklusive Reihe von Technik-Herstellern und Druckdienstleistern zeigte in Winterthur eindrucksvoll, was heute schon möglich ist. Ob bei Kodak, oder wie von Oliver Baar, Projektleiter Business Development Digital Web Presses bei Koenig & Bauer AG, gezeigt, nun Zeitungen komplett im Inkjet oder per Hybrid-Druck in Kombination mit Rollenoffset produzierte werde, sei von Fall zu Fall spezifisch zu entscheiden. In jedem Fall ist eine extrem hohe Produktionsgeschwindigkeit möglich.

Wim Koning von Dainippon Screen trumpfte mit raffiniert-orginellen Applikationen für den Point of Sales auf. Firmen wie Alfa Romeo nutzen dies erfolgreich, um im Schauraum den Automobil-Interessierten auf originelle Art und Weise Mehrwertangebote per „Surprise-Box“ zu liefern. Der Clou: Das Upselling, das möglich wird, finanziert die Marketing- und Produktionskosten. Die Screen-Inkjet-Drucktechnik erlaubt hierbei, vorgestanzte Druckbögen vollflächig und individualisiert in Auflage 1 im Nachgang zu bedrucken. Das eliminiert das Risiko von Fehlproduktionen völlig.

Man kann nicht wissen, was man nicht weiss!

So sehr, wie die Technikentwicklung voraus ist, so sehr hinkt die Adaptionsgeschwindigkeit im Druckerei-Markt hinterher. Karl-Heinz Selbmann, Fachhochschule Bern, Institut für Drucktechnologie, zeigte die fast 70-jährige Geschichte und Entwicklung der Inkjet-Drucktechnologien auf, für viele Teilnehmer ein Novum.

„Die Innovationsbereitschaft in der Print-Branche ist nicht ausgeprägt“, räumte der Innovations-Coach Martin Oberholzer ein. Dabei ist es kein Hexenwerk, das Innovations-Handwerkzeug zu erlernen und Neues in der Praxis umzusetzen.

Eine ganze Reihe von Vorträgen beschäftigten sich mit innovativen Inkjet-Druck-Anwendungslösungen, zum Beispiel von Edubook AG, Zürich. Renato Vögeli, Vögeli Marketingproduktion & Druck, Langnau, erläuterte die kreativ und produktionstechnisch herausragende Produktion der Publisher-Ausgabe 02-2014, dem in der Schweiz führenden Magazin für Publishing & Digitaldruck (herausgegeben von Martin Spaar). Ein Highlight war die Vorstellung eines neuen Firmenkonzepts von drei Druckereibetreiben, die ein Joint Venture gründeten und gemeinsam Inkjet-Druck vermarkten.

Für das DigitaldruckForum stellte DDF-Sprecher Andreas Weber aus der Gutenberg-Stadt Mainz vor, wie Altes und Neues harmonieren. Er sieht ein Innovationsdilemma der Print-Zunft mit gefährlichen Folgen. Zu sehr werde Print als Produktionsgeschäft betrieben. „Dabei ist Print durch Digitaldruck längst Bestandteil der heutigen digitalen Kommunikationskultur!“ Das DigitaldruckForum habe darum ein neues Programm aufgesetzt in Form eines Value Business Coachings für strategische Geschäftsmodell-Innovation. Angesprochen werden Entscheider aus der Print & Verlagsbranche sowie Crossmedia-Dienstleistungen.

Aus Sicht des DigitaldruckForums habe die Social Media-Ära die Gutenberg-Ära nicht nur überwunden, sondern übertroffen, weil sie die Bedürfnisse der Menschen in den Vordergrund stellt. Kernfaktoren sind Beziehungen und Wachstum, bei Firmen wie bei Konsumenten gleichermaßen. Siehe White Paper „Bedürfnisse sind das Maß aller Dinge“.

Wer das begreife, Innovation leisten und Inkjet-Druck richtig nutzen kann, wird profitables Wachstum für sich und seine Kunden generieren können. Zudem kommen in Zukunft mehr und mehr Druckjobs aus der Cloud, quasi Big Data-getrieben. Dem Hochleistungs-Inkjet-Druck kommt dabei die entscheidende Bedeutung zu.

Wichtiges Spezialthema:
Optimale PDF-Workflows für den Digitaldruck

Auf Grund der erweiterten Möglichkeiten des Digitaldruck werden an die PDF-Druckdaten zusätzliche Anforderungen gestellt. Einerseits geht es darum die Ausnutzung des grösseren Farbraums und der Möglichkeit des Drucks mit mehr als vier Prozessfarben. Andererseits wird ein universelles Datenformat zum Druck von variablen Daten benötigt. Für beide Aufgaben gibt es bereits entsprechende ISO-Standards (PDF/X-4, PDF/X-5n und PDF/VT). Stephan Jaeggi war als technischer Experte bei der ISO-Kommission an der Definition dieser Standards beteiligt und hat in Winterthur die Möglichkeiten anhand praktischer Beispiele demonstriert.

Hinweise

A) Das Fachmagazin Publisher wird in kürze Online und in der Printausgabe 03-2014 ausführlich über die Swiss Publishing Days zum Thema „Inkjet macht Druck“ berichten.
http://publisher.ch

B) Die Charts zum Vortrag von Andreas Weber finden sich auf slideshare.com

C) Ein stimmungsvolle Video-Anmation des Event-Tages findet sich auf YouTube. (Autor: Andreas Weber).

____________________________________________

Nachfolgend die wichtigsten Topics des Swiss Publishing Day am 20. Mai 2014 in Winterthur im Überblick. Tweets von Andreas Weber alias zeitenwende007

.zeitenwende007@zeitenwende007 19. Mai
Nice animation. Inkjet is not what you think. It is all about colors and art! via @ValueCommAG #inkjet #art… http://fb.me/1je4xcDX5

.Medien anzeigen

.Antworten Retweetet Favorisieren Mehr

.Mehr

.zeitenwende007@zeitenwende007 20. Mai
Tolles Event in Winterthur. Exzellent organisiert vom Publisher Team um Martin Spaar und Moderator René Theiler…. http://fb.me/1rWOraQPK

.Öffnen

.Antworten Retweetet Favorisiert Mehr

.zeitenwende007@zeitenwende007 20. Mai
Jetzt geht es los in Winterthur. http://fb.me/2zydaDm0E

.Öffnen

.Antworten Retweetet Favorisiert Mehr

.zeitenwende007@zeitenwende007 20. Mai
Kann man mit Drucken noch Geld verdienen, fragt Bernd Zipper. #inkjet http://fb.me/2ZjssbunU

.Öffnen

.Antworten Retweetet Favorisiert Mehr

.zeitenwende007@zeitenwende007 20. Mai
Hoppla. Es boomt ja schon. #inkjet http://fb.me/1l3qAFgNg

.Öffnen

.Antworten Retweetet Favorisieren Mehr

.zeitenwende007@zeitenwende007 20. Mai
Hoppla! Die lukrativen Print-Jobs laufen außerhalb der klassischen Druckbranche. #inkjet http://fb.me/2kfD9VlBx

.Öffnen

.Antworten Retweetet Favorisiert Mehr

.zeitenwende007@zeitenwende007 20. Mai
Inkjet ist die universellste Drucktechnik mit der größten Spannweite. #inkjet http://fb.me/6rEYfCYfu

.Öffnen

.Antworten Retweetet Favorisiert Mehr

.zeitenwende007@zeitenwende007 20. Mai
4D-Drucken. Rechtzeitig zur WM gibt es personalisierte Bälle, durch Inkjet-Direktdruck. #inkjet http://fb.me/6x9RPLuvp

.Öffnen

.Antworten Retweetet Favorisieren Mehr

.zeitenwende007@zeitenwende007 20. Mai
Die Anwendungslücken schließen sich. #inkjet http://fb.me/1gDJPiDqJ

.Öffnen

.Antworten Retweetet Favorisiert Mehr

.zeitenwende007@zeitenwende007 20. Mai
Fazit: Chance und Bedrohung zugleich. Radikale Änderungen sind nötig, resümiert Bernd Zipper. #inkjet http://fb.me/6ASsLxAr4

.Öffnen

.Antworten Retweetet Favorisiert Mehr

.zeitenwende007@zeitenwende007 20. Mai
Exzellenter Auftakt in Winterthur. Veranstalter Martin Spaar vom Publisher ist happy. #inkjet http://fb.me/1qeCcGf8T

.Öffnen

.Antworten Retweetet Favorisiert Mehr

.zeitenwende007@zeitenwende007 20. Mai
Getreu dem Value Motto: Etwas Altes wird etwas neues! #inkjet http://fb.me/1f8j5boYo

.Öffnen

.Antworten Retweetet Favorisiert Mehr

.zeitenwende007@zeitenwende007 20. Mai
Erstklassige innovative Anwendungen. Presented by Wim Koning, Dainippon Screen #inkjet http://fb.me/18WtfEnlm

.Öffnen

.Antworten Retweetet Favorisiert Mehr

.zeitenwende007@zeitenwende007 20. Mai
Personalisierte Verpackung. On Demand. On the fly. #inkjet http://fb.me/2aFxZmHOc

.Öffnen

.Antworten Retweetet Favorisieren Mehr

.zeitenwende007@zeitenwende007 20. Mai
Sensationelle neue Anwendungen zur Kommunikation am Point of Sale werden Marketers Darling. #inkjet

.Öffnen

.Antworten Retweetet Favorisiert Mehr

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.zeitenwende007@zeitenwende007 20. Mai
Das wichtigste: Gruppenbild (leider ohne Dame). Aber mit Martin Spaar. #inkjet http://fb.me/15zfGtaMd

.Öffnen

.Antworten Retweetet Favorisiert Mehr

.zeitenwende007@zeitenwende007 20. Mai
Innovation ist für viele eine ewige Baustelle, die sie ohne zu murren umfahren. Wie doof ist das denn… #inkjet http://fb.me/2kzOadHPg

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Graphic Repro On-line News Update to Monday 19 May

May 18, 2014

Trends @ Graphic Communications, Value Contributors, Value Innovation

Latest Industry News: Mike’s Update to Friday 9 May

May 10, 2014

Trends @ Graphic Communications, Value Contributors

2 Comments

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

Welcome to another roundup of news for the past few days, together with Laurel Brunner’s most recent Verdigris Blog, and the latest from Kodak with a downloadable sustainability white paper as a PDF, also authored by Laurel Brunner as managing director of Digital Dots, and entitled Process Efficiency for Improved Sustainability, specifically targeted at print companies looking to use technological innovation to implement significant environmental and financial efficiencies within their print offerings and capabilities. You’ll find the announcement and introduction to this in our headlines on Friday and also in Online Features Chapter 01. As to be expected, you will find numerous pre-FESPA Digital announcements again, as the show opens in just over a week from now.

This week’s news began with Heidelberg South Africa opening its Online Shop for its Saphira range of proven consumables, including plates, inks, blankets and much more. Heidelberg’s Online Shops in Australia, New Zealand, Europe and North America have enjoyed great success for quite some time, as they enable customers to shop in a secure environment 24/7.

On Tuesday, Kemtek and Fujifilm SA, together with Ferrostaal, announced a new agreement whereby Kemtek will become principal supplier of the Fujifilm Brillia lithographic plate range in South Africa from 1 October and will work together with Ferrostaal in the local market. Ferrostaal is currently the sole supplier of Fujifilm plates, whereas Kemtek currently sells the Agfa plate range. Ricoh also announced on Tuesday that it has launched Clickable Paper in the South African market – and what is that you may ask? See the article below.

Wednesday saw Heidelberg announce its preliminary results for the 2013/2014 financial year, which show a return to profit – albeit not that large, it does signal that the company is back in the black after five years of losses, major restructuring, reorganisation and implementation of very severe cost-cutting programmes. At least, as CEO Gerold Linzbach said, ‘…this lays the foundation for further positive developments at the company.’

On Thursday, as Interpack opened in Düsseldorf, HP took the lead as it announced the expansion of its Graphics Solutions portfolio with new HP Indigo and HP Scitex solutions to help converters open the door to the corrugated, flexible-packaging and folding-carton markets, and with the launch of the new HP Scitex 15000 Corrugated Press. There’s also Interpack news and product launches from Sappi Europe and Stora Enso. Among Friday’s headlines you will also find HP and the Comexi Group who will introduce the first dedicated end-to-end lamination solution for digitally printed flexible packaging on the HP Indigo 20000.

Friday’s lead was taken by Kodak as it announced its first quarter results which reflect a loss, albeit a reduced loss on a comparable basis in its first quarter, as transformation continues in the company’s technology businesses. It’s worth reading CEO Jeff Clarke’s comments and review of the current status, as well as the comment by Becky Roof, Kodak’s CFO. The results are apparently in line with expectations.

Don’t miss other important new developments this week from Creo with Konica Minolta; KAMA, Weilburger, and Stora Enso on Monday; and then from Sappi, DirectSmile, and Sun Chemical on Tuesday; and Agfa on Friday.

As usual, there are some rather nice sales and installations once again. On Monday from Nelspruit, as White River Printers adds a Xerox Color J75 with EFI Fiery FS100 Pro DFE; and then Muller Martini with two MC Sewing Machines with the Tween option for shorter signatures to M+S in Switzerland. On Tuesday, Heidelberg UK with a highly specified Speedmaster XL 75-5+L five-colour press with Inpress Control and coater as Hampton Printing adds B2 capability to its B1 lineup. Then Oriel Printing as it invests in Fujifilm’s Acuity 1600 LED inkjet printer to supplement its litho presses. On Wednesday we have Canon with Oce, Bobst and Technotrans. On Thursday, Screen with JCT and Screen Europe’s newest wide-format Truepress Jet W3200UV as its first flatbed inkjet printer. Orchard Press has returned to Heidelb ergUK to order a TH 82 buckle machine with a round continuous feeder; and lastly for this week: a KBA Rapida 106 with six inking units, coater and delivery extension at one of the largest packaging printers in Pakistan, Packages Limited in Lahore.

There’s so much more if you scroll down carefully. As a tailender for this week, and quite literally the last post on Friday: as FESPA invites the sub-Saharan African print community to ‘explore’ technologies and market opportunities at FESPA Africa which takes place in Johannesburg from 2 – 4 July. Not to be missed!

I think that’s about it again. I shall be in Germany next week, so there will not be an update. Until next time.

My best regards,

Mike Hilton

__________________________________________________________

Monday 5 – Friday 9 May

Mon 5 May… Heidelberg South Africa opens its Online Shop
Now with Heidelberg South Africa’s latest tool, customers can purchase consumable products securely and more efficiently 24/7…

White River Printers in Nelspruit adds Xerox Color J75
One of the largest printing shops in the Lowveld adds Xerox Color J75 with EFI Fiery FS100 Pro DFE to boost business growth…

Latest Creo Server DFE for Konica Minolta Bizhub PRO
New Kodak Creo IC-309 Server DFE drives Konica Minolta Bizhub PRO C1060 and C1070 digital press models…

Two Muller Martini Ventura MC Sewing Machines for M+S
M+S Reliure in Yvonand, Switzerland relies on Tween MC for the production of high-quality catalogues and brochures…

KAMA at Interpack 2014 on the HP stand
KAMA to launch finishing solution for digital folding carton production at Interpack 2014, alongside HP Indigo 30000 press…

Weilburger Graphics launches new product line
High reactive UV-inking system lacquers debut at Interpack…

Stora Enso launches one-side coated glossy kraft paper
LennoKraft white kraft paper for a variety of applications, also to be shown at Interpack in Düsseldorf this week…

Tue 6 May… Kemtek and Fujifilm SA sign landmark plate agreement
Kemtek signs an exclusive agreement to become the principal supplier of the Fujifilm Brillia lithographic plate range in SA…

Ricoh SA launches Clickable Paper in South Africa
Ricoh’s Clickable Paper provides a mobile, interactive experience for consumers with immediate one-touch access…

Sappi Expands Algro Sol release liners portfolio
Sappi Fine Paper Europe targets new markets with a broader weight range following its Alfeld Mill PM2 rebuild…

DirectSmile launches new service for e-mails
DirectSmile has launched a new cloud-based Web portal that generates personalised images for e-mails…

Sun Chemical at Metpack 2014, in Essen this week
Sun Chemical to demonstrate new dispensing solution Polare at Metpack from 6 – 10 May in Essen, Germany…

Hampton Printing adds B2 capability to its B1 line up
The company has commissioned a highly specified Speedmaster XL 75-5+L five-colour press with Inpress Control and coater…

Oriel Printing embraces digital with Fujifilm Acuity LED
Investment in Fujifilm’s Acuity 1600 LED inkjet printer to provide customers with high quality and cost-effective prototypes…

Wed 7 May… Heidelberg achieves target: €4 million net profit for year
Following five years of losses, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG returns to profit in its 2013/2014 financial year, ended 31 March…

Sun Chemical’s fifth Corporate Sustainability Report out
Sun Chemical’s latest Sustainability Report improves data reporting, shows examples of renewable projects, and available now…

Quark announces free QuarkXPress Masterclass series
To help designers and production teams, Quark is offering a series of six free online Masterclass training sessions starting today…

Canon celebrates first UK ColorWave 900 customer
At Sign & Digital, the UK’s first Océ ColorWave 900 was purchased on-stand by London-based Online Reprographics…

Körtel & Hieke boosts capacity with Bobst ExpertCut 106
The company has boosted its die-cutting productivity by about 40 per cent with a Bobst ExpertCut 106 LER with in-line blanker…

Rose enhances quality with reverse osmosis system
Rose Calendars has installed a Technotrans’ alpha r.10 water treatment system across five of its battery of presses…

Thu 8 May… HP expands its Graphics Solutions portfolio at Interpack
New HP Indigo and HP Scitex solutions help converters open the door to the corrugated, flexible-packaging and folding-carton markets…

Sappi announces Algro Guard M and Leine Guard M
Innovative barrier substrate addresses concerns on migration of mineral oil into food from recycled paper packaging…

Cupforma Ice from Stora Enso debuts at Interpack
Stora Enso Cupforma Ice: a cool new option for ice cream packaging; as well as a new Cupforma board for microwave-proof cups…

QuadTech appoints Dynagraph for Middle East
QuadTech’s colour and inspection solutions are key to unlocking Middle East print market growth. Dynagraph to provide sales/service…

Sign & Digital UK delivers once again at the NEC
Eight per cent increase in visitors from 29 April and 1 May at the NEC, Birmingham, plus re-bookings up by 33 per cent for 2015…

JCT opts for Screen Truepress Jet W3200UV flatbed
JCT stays on growth path with Screen Europe’s newest wide-format Truepress Jet W3200UV as its first flatbed inkjet printer…

Orchard adds folding power to meet long perfector output
Orchard Press has returned to Heidelberg to order a TH 82 buckle machine with a round continuous feeder…

A new era in sheetfed offset for Packages Limited
KBA Rapida 106 with six inking units, coater and delivery extension at one of the largest packaging printers in Pakistan…

Fri 9 May… Kodak reports net loss in first quarter 2014
Kodak narrows its loss on a comparable basis in first quarter as transformation continues in technology businesses…

Kodak issues a call to action to the industry
With sustainability white paper, authored by Laurel Brunner managing director of Digital Dots, available to download as PDF…

HP and Comexi lamination solution for HP Indigo 20000
HP and Comexi Group to introduce first dedicated end-to-end lamination solution for digitally printed flexible packaging…

First Mimaki JFX200 sale within minutes of show debut
Graphic Station seals the deal with Mimaki distributor Hybrid Services minutes after Sign & Digital UK show opened at the NEC…

Less than two weeks to go until the biggest digital event in 2014
FESPA Digital is the launch platform of choice for leading brands and new exhibitors, from Tuesday 20 to Friday 23 May, in Munich…

Agfa Graphics to present the Anapurna M2050i in Munich
New Anapurna M2050i provides a best-in-segment quality, productivity, price ratio and a brand new contemporary design…

FESPA Africa from 2 to 4 July in Johannesburg
FESPA Africa invites the sub-Saharan African print community to ‘explore’ technologies and market opportunities…

The Friday lead articles from last week’s update…

Kodak creates new senior Sales Strategy executive post
Eric-Yves Mahe appointed Kodak senior vice president, director of Sales Strategy and Operations to bolster the senior team…

DPI to sell Screen Truepress Jet W3200UV in the UK
Screen partners with Digital Printing Innovations to sell the Screen Truepress Jet W3200UV flat-bed printers in the UK…

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

Downloads available Chapter 01

Kodak issues a call to action to the industry
With sustainability white paper authored by Laurel Brunner, managing director of Digital Dots Limited which can be downloaded here as a PDF…

Most recent… Turbo Charge your Variable Print Productivity
The free guide, edited by Martin Bailey, CTO for Global Graphics and the primary UK expert on the ISO committees, shows how to ‘Do PDF/VT Right’ to maximise productivity and minimise turnaround in the variable data world…

May/June Chapter 05

JCT opts for Screen Truepress Jet W3200UV
JCT Visual Communications stays on growth path with Screen Europe’s newest wide-format Truepress Jet W3200UV and its first flatbed inkjet printer…

Verdigris – Environmental Initiative
Access via our Home Page Index.

Laurel Brunner’s latest weekly Verdigris Blogs

Previous… APP Walking the Walk
The weekly Verdigris blog by Laurel Brunner – Fri 02 May

FESPA Newsroom
Can be found in the Index on our Home Page.

FESPA Digital 2014

Hollanders to debut modular ColorBooster 250
Entry-level digital textile and carpet printers to make their début in the European market at FESPA Digital…

Agfa Graphics will present the Anapurna M2050i in Munich
New Anapurna M2050i provides a best-in-segment quality-productivity-price ratio and a brand new, contemporary design…

Drytac Europe to launch new products at FESPA Digital
Drytac to launch a new range of ReTac permanently peelable media…

EMEA premiere of new SAi FlexiPRINT HP Edition software
SAi to also offer FESPA Digital visitors free subscriptions to flagship Flexi software for printing and signmaking…

Matan to debut Barak 8QW superwide printer at FESPA
Matan’s new Barak 8QW superwide printer for European debut with white and rigid printing capabilities at FESPA Digital 2014…

Two weeks to go until the biggest digital print event of 2014
FESPA Digital is the launch platform of choice for leading brands and new exhibitors, from Tuesday 20 to Friday 23 May…

Drupa Newsroom
Our Drupa Newsroom with news from Messe Düsseldorf and for Drupa 2016 can be found in the Index on our Home Page.

Drupa 2016 Specialist Feature Articles

Most recent… What’s up, drupa?
Value Talk with Sabine Geldermann, director at Messe Düsseldorf who is responsible for drupa trade fairs, by Andreas Weber, Value Communications AG…

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Graphic Repro On-line News Update to Friday 2 May

May 5, 2014

Trends @ Graphic Communications, Valuable Advice

Graphic Repro On-line News Update

April 24, 2014

Valuable Advice

1 Comment

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.

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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

Graphic Repro On-line News Update to Thursday 17 April

Welcome to another roundup of news for the past week, together with Laurel Brunner’s Verdigris Blog.

Rather a short week this week, due to the Easter long weekend in most countries, and another short week ahead, too. Therefore, I shall also try keep it brief this time.

Lots of good pre-FESPA news for this year’s Digital and Fabric events which take place in Munich from 20 to 23 May; as well as from Xeikon for its planned Xeikon Cafe on Packaging Innovations to be held at its premises in Lier, Belgium, at the same time – from 20 to 22 May. Then there’s Sign & Digital UK which takes place at the NEC, Birmingham, UK from 29 April until 1 May; Metpack in Essen, Germany from 6 to 10 May; and the really big one which many have been waiting for will be Interpack in Düsseldorf, Germany from 8 to 14 May. Don’t miss KBA and the Frog King leading the headlines on Wednesday! On the other side of the pond, International Sign Expo will also take place in Orlando from 23 to 23 April.

In addition to the above, on Thursday, Muller Martini issued an invitation to attend its 50th anniversary Open House at its new web printing Print Technology Centre in Maulburg, Germany, on 6 and 7 May, so we have a very busy month ahead of us to look forward to in the Merry month of May!. And although it is a little more than two years away, you will find the latest article relating to drupa 2016 from Andreas Weber in our drupa 2016 Newsroom, featuring an exclusive talk with Sabine Geldermann, drupa’s new director at Messe Düsseldorf.

Breaking news this week from EFI on Thursday, when the company revealed its latest financial results and a record first quarter, followed by its latest acquisition, in Europe for a change. On Tuesday, KBA subsidiary KBA-MePrint AG, announced the appointment of Sven Michael as its new CEO, and an internal promotion, which is always nice to hear. On Thursday, Sappi Europe SA announced the appointment of Stephen Blyth as its new Chief Financial Officer from 1 July 2014, and once again, a promotion from within.

Another major announcement this week came from Kodak and Manroland Web Systems as they inked an Authorised Reseller Agreement for integrated high-speed Kodak Prosper S-Series inkjet systems, whereby Manroland Web Systems now offers inkjet upgrades and makes variable printing even more attractive and accessible for the newspaper market. Kodak Prosper S30 heads with Stream inkjet technology run at full web offset production speeds. You’ll find links to another four related articles in the announcements made on Thursday.

As for the most recent sales and installations this week, don’t miss Screen on Monday with a Truepress Jet W1632UV in The Netherlands at Aelen & van Leeuwen; Screen again on Tuesday with a Truepress Jet 520 at Baumer AG in Switzerland; and then UKP Worldwide in the UK, with a Ricoh Pro C751 digital press. On Wednesday, Nela disclosed several recent installations for automated plate production systems for newspapers in Germany, Switzerland and Norway; and TG Print & Design in Woolwich Arsenal, London pushes into the ultra-high quality market with a LumeJet S200 inkless digital printing system. Newcastle, Australia print company WHO, has installed a new Heidelberg SX52 press; and Danish company Skanket has expanded its capacity with a second MPS EF UV flexo press. On Thursday to complete the week on a high note, Liverpool-based company S Barber is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year with the installation of a Heidelberg Speedmaster SX 74-5.

In Online Features, you will also discover Pim Print in The Netherlands, which has successfully adopted the Callas pdfToolbox Server, the workflow package that some consider to be only suitable for larger companies.

The tailender this week goes to Antalis South Africa (Monday), as the company scooped two awards from Kodak. The Outstanding Performance of Workflow Sales, and the Outstanding Performance Processless Plate Sales in the EAMER Region. The awards were presented to Ronnie Louw, Antalis’ regional manager Western Cape in Istanbul, Turkey. At the same event, Kodak also named Korozo as its first Certified Partner in Turkey, Middle East and Africa for Kodak Flexcel NX Plates.

I think that’s about it for this week, so until next time.

My best regards,

Mike Hilton

Mon 14 April… Esko European debut of Kongsberg C Series at FESPA
Esko to show next-generation prepress, workflow and superwide digital finishing solutions at FESPA Digital 2014…

Fujifilm steams ahead in UV inkjet ink development
Variety of new UV inkjet inks to be launched at this year’s FESPA Digital 2014, set to take place in Munich from 20 – 23 May…

Zünd cutting systems at FESPA Digital in Munich
FESPA Digital 2014 provides perfect stage for Zünd to demonstrate time-saving features and supercharged productivity…

Xeikon Café on Packaging Innovations 20 – 22 May
To highlight potential of digital folding carton production; hosted in collaboration with Xeikon’s Aura Partners…

Antalis South Africa gains two Kodak EAMER accolades
Kodak Awards symbolic of environmental and cost considerations, as Antalis SA scoops two Outstanding Performance awards…

Aelen & van Leeuwen accelerates drive for better quality
The Screen Truepress Jet W1632UV at wide-format digital and screen printing company prints products not possible before…

Heidelberg USA introduces new Flexibleservice
Heidelberg Systemservice helps companies manage costs of incidental service with custom-designed service programmes…

Epson announces first dye sub transfer paper for textiles
DS Transfer Production Paper complements SureColor printers and UltraChrome DS inks for fashion and soft signage…

Tue 15 April… New CEO appointed at KBA-MePrint AG
Sven Michael takes over the helm as Axel Thien leaves the company in Veitshöchheim, near Würzburg at his own request…

Baumer AG invests in colour Screen Truepress Jet 520
New Screen continuous inkjet press meets colour quality, productivity and ROI criteria for Swiss print services firm…

Heidelberg’s XL 75 Anicolor launch exceeds expectations
Heidelberg North America threw a hotly anticipated coming-out party for its groundbreaking XL 75 Anicolor digital offset press…

Korozo becomes first Kodak Certified Partner in Turkey
Kodak names Korozo as the first Certified Partner in Turkey, Middle East and Africa for Kodak Flexcel NX Plates…

ContiTech to debut new blanket at Metpack in Essen
Self-adhesive printing blankets for metal packaging…

Sun Chemical Metal Packaging Inks at Metpack 2014
Sun Chemical will demonstrate its expertise in metal decorating to brand owners, can makers and printers at Metpack in Essen…

Ricoh Pro C 751 delivers first class benefits to UKP
UKP Worldwide, a specialist in international distribution, is seeing the benefits of investing in a Ricoh Pro C751 digital press…

Wed 16 April… KBA Group at Interpack 2014 in Düsseldorf
Tailor-made print solutions for many types of packaging from the KBA Group under the visual banner of the ‘Frog King’…

Top product launches and prizes at Sign & Digital UK
From 29 April to 1 May 2014 in Hall 2 at the NEC, Birmingham…

FESPA China 2014 from 19 – 21 November
Transforming business with print innovation; Global companies line up for second exhibition in Guangzhou Poly World Trade Centre…

Excellent first quarter of 2014 for Nela
Several automation projects signed as trend towards automated plate production in the industry set to continue in 2014…

TG Print & Design opts for LumeJet S200 printer
City printers TG Print & Design in Woolwich Arsenal, pushes into ultra-high quality market with LumeJet S200…

WHO Printing adds new Speedmaster in record time
Newcastle print company installs new Heidelberg SX52 press…

Scanket adds second MPS press for self-adhesive labels
The Birkerod-based Danish company has expanded its capacity with a second MPS EF UV flexo press to meet production growth…

Thu 17 April… EFI Record First Quarter of $189m, up 10 per cent
Recurring Revenue up 16% Driven by 25 per cent growth in UV ink volume and continued strength in software bookings…

EFI acquires Group Rhapso in Les Ulis, France
EFI adds to growing MIS/ERP portfolio with acquisition of Group Rhapso corrugated printing and packaging solutions in Europe…

Varied opportunities with web offset from Muller Martini
Muller Martini invites you to its 50th anniversary Open House at its new Print Technology Centre in Maulburg, Germany on 6 and 7 May…

Kodak and Manroland Web in Prosper Inkjet agreement
Kodak and Manroland Web sign Authorised Reseller agreement for integrated high-speed Kodak Prosper S-Series inkjet systems…

Manroland Web and Kodak: Reseller inkjet co-operation
Manroland Web Systems now offers inkjet upgrades and makes variable printing even more attractive for the newspaper market…

New CFO confirmed for Sappi Europe SA
Sappi Europe SA announces the appointment of Stephen Blyth as its new Chief Financial Officer from 1 July 2014…

S Barber celebrates its Centenary with a new press
The Liverpool-based company is celebrating its 100th anniversary with the installation of a Speedmaster SX 74-5…

Cutting straight to the savings with Esko
Hardware and Software solutions that cut costs and boost profitability to be showcased by Esko at Sign and Digital UK 2014…

KBA remote maintenance is secure!
KBA remote maintenance is not affected by ‘Heartbleed’ bug…

Auraia granted digitally modulated screening patents
Hamillroad Software’s Auraia DM Screening granted first Two US Patents for ground breaking imaging technology…

The Friday lead article from last week’s update…

First short-grain 64-page Lithoman for Germany
Manroland Web Systems introduces new commercial configuration in gravure printing dimensions for a German customer…

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

Downloads available Chapter 01

Turbo Charge your Variable Print Productivity
The free guide, edited by Martin Bailey, CTO for Global Graphics and the primary UK expert on the ISO committees, shows how to ‘Do PDF/VT Right’ to maximise productivity and minimise turnaround in the variable data world…

March/April Chapter 04

Pim Print automates workflow with Callas pdfToolbox Server
The Callas pdfToolbox Server, isn’t that the workflow package that is especially suitable for larger companies?.

Previous… The first KBA Rapida 164 with double coater in Europe
A big step at Holbox in Echt in The Netherlands, to celebrate its new highly-automated four-colour large-format KBA Rapida 164…

Technology-related articles Chapter 02

KBA Group at Interpack 2014
Tailor-made print solutions for many types of packaging from the KBA Group under the banner ‘The Right One’ and with the visual banner of the ‘Frog King’…

Previous… The Label Says it All
Security logistics labels from Schreiner ProTech showcase the label industry’s expertise in product authentication…

Heidelberg invests in the digital future
Heidelberg is offering its customers the opportunity to run offset, digital, and inkjet technologies in parallel…

Heidelberg extends its digital inkjet and software portfolio
Heidelberg Digital: Focusing on market requirements today, tomorrow, and in the future with inkjet and toner-based systems…

Verdigris – Environmental Initiative
Access via our Home Page Index.

Laurel Brunner’s latest weekly Verdigris Blogs

More than a Lottery Win
The weekly Verdigris blog by Laurel Brunner – Thu 17 April

Previous… 100th Blog & Counting
The weekly Verdigris blog by Laurel Brunner – Fri 11 April

FESPA Newsroom
Can be found in the Index on our Home Page.

FESPA Digital 2014

FESPA Digital marks European debut of Kongsberg C Series
Esko Sign & Display companies next-generation prepress, workflow and digital finishing solutions at FESPA Digital…

Agfa’s latest UV-curable wide-format inkjet at FESPA
Agfa Graphics to present next generation UV-curable wide-format printers, workflow and inks, at FESPA Digital 2014…

MTEX set to Wow at FESPA Digital next month
The Portuguese-based manufacturer, as a market leader in direct-to-textile digital printing plans new product launches for the show…

Brett Martin at FESPA Digital in Munich
Brett Martin to inspire printers to make a change at FESPA with diverse range of high definition wide-format applications…

Hotronix Dual Air Fusion to debut at FESPA Digital
Stahls’ Hotronix to debut and demonstrate this latest addition to the Hotronix heat press line-up for direct-to-garment printers…

Onyx Graphics at FESPA Digital 2014
Onyx Graphics to deliver powerful colour management advice and latest solutions at FESPA Digital in Munich…

Drupa Newsroom
Our Drupa Newsroom with news from Messe Düsseldorf and for Drupa 2016 can be found in the Index on our Home Page.

Drupa 2016 Specialist Feature Articles

What’s up, drupa?
Value Talk with Sabine Geldermann, director at Messe Düsseldorf who is responsible for drupa trade fairs, by Andreas Weber, Value Communications AG…

Drupa 2016 News from Messe Düsseldorf

Previous… drupa Global Trends Report: now published
Global investment in the print industry will be stronger in the next 12 months as confidence returns…

drupa Globaler Trend Bericht: jetzt veröffentlicht
Druckdienstleister wollen in diesem Jahr in Technologien und die Schaffung neuer Services investieren…

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

What’s up, drupa?

April 16, 2014

CEO Talk on Innovation, drupa 2016, Trend Analysis (in brief), Trends @ Graphic Communications

5 Comments

Value Talk by Andreas Weber,
CEO Value Communication AG, Mainz
Photo/Graphics by Messe Düsseldorf
Painting of Johannes Gutenberg: Ying Lin-Sill, Mainz/Beijing

This report is important for you because it deals with crucial issues:

How to recognize relevant trends and developments at an early stage
How to change the public reception of the printing industry
How to move from old to new

Introduction

In an email written on 24 October, 2010, Steve Jobs, legendary Apple CEO, put his finger on a crucial problem when he identified what he called the “innovation dilemma” and stated that adhering to old paradigms for too long can jeopardize entire companies. What does this imply for the traditional printing industry? How can it make the leap from its established market into the new (digital) world? An exciting starting point for a new take on the next drupa trade show.

The dilemma: high innovative speed – middling adaptation rate

The innovation dilemma that bothered Steve Jobs at a time when Apple became one of the most valuable brands in the world, is already affecting the print industry – and its markets. Major flagship fairs such as the Print in Chicago and the IPEX, now in London, have fallen upon hard times. Fewer exhibitors, fewer visitors, less relevant public potential — despite the high innovative speed of the producers. The printing market and its customers seem reluctant to respond. Sluggish replacement investment and a general scepticism among German customers towards innovative products. Messe Düsseldorf has therefore decided to explore new avenues in order to establish the drupa as the flagship fair for the global printing and paper industry. All the more reason to have a Value Talk in the interval between drupa 2012 and drupa 2016. Central question: Quo vadis, drupa?

“In turbulent times, a flagship fair like the drupa takes on a key role,“ Sabine Geldmann points out right at the start of our Value Talk. She was appointed drupa Director of Messe Düsseldorf at the beginning of 2012 and is responsible for the “Olympic Games of the printing and paper industry”. Her focus is not only on organising trade fairs, a skill which she learned from the bottom up. She also mines global visitor contacts and profiles for valuable market information. Since the beginning of 2014, information on global trends and intelligence on the industry are being documented by studies/reports. About 4,900 participants from three segments (Print Service Provider, Print Buyers, Suppliers) were selected, 2,600 of which are key executives from printing works, which is the main target group for now. The representative panel is comprised of members from 119 countries.

Innovation is the key…
…and an important benefit for drupa preparations.

“As organisers of the drupa fair, our focus is on spotting new trends in order to identify solid quality developments on a global scale,“ Sabine Geldermann explains. The objective is not just to find a drupa concept and position that suits the market, but also to provide manufacturers with solid, topical facts, whether they attend as exhibitors or as visitors. The preliminaries were established in February 2014, when the drupa Global Trend Report was issued. Updates will be carried out at the end of every year until 2016. The Special Topical Focus will appear in the drupa Global Insights at six-monthly intervals. The results of these analyses will be widely distributed via digital channels such as social media, press mailing lists/specialist media, PDF summaries as web downloads and of course through word of mouth.

These trend studies and analyses are innovative because “by providing information they also allow additional in-depth analyses”, Sabine Geldermann explains. This is possible because of the unique data structures that distinguish different regions, countries, specific target group profiles, market segments and many more from each other.“ The main focus is on the situation in printing works. Market trends can be identified and analysed with a quasi-microscopic view. National developments can be analysed in an international context – a major benefit as there are vast differences in the print business.

As expected, the results of the baseline measurement issued in the 1st drupa Global Trend Report are far from spectacular – apart from the prognosis that investments are on the increase. Many findings confirmed what was known already, be it from media reports or from several individual studies. However, Sabine Geldermann and her team are more interested in creating a complete picture from individual pieces of the puzzle and systematically updating this picture at regular intervals. With its sixty-year old tradition, the drupa provides sufficient material to act as a reliable market, economic and investment barometer – and deliver the latest trends in technology and application.

The agenda and activities of the drupa 2016 will be inspired by this exclusive compilation of market intelligence. “Because of structural changes and the ongoing market consolidation, we need to address not only our regular drupa audience but also find new target groups “, Sabine Geldermann explains. We need to act as a seismograph for these changes. In addition to printed publications, the digital communication channels provided by Messe Düsseldorf are of major importance for our publication efforts. The focus is on comprehensive interaction that yields measurable results after valid analysis. Because “we cannot know what we do not know”, the drupa needs to identify new target groups which are not or not fully informed about the technical benefits of current printing technology.

The printing industry is facing one major challenge:
Lack of information

Because the vast potential of printing technology is not known among key executives, it is not part of their “relevant set of options”. In fact, they often perceive the printing industry and printing works as anachronistic. There is a significant lack of knowledge among buyers and key executives from the marketing communication segment about the perfect interaction between printing, IT and web technology, (for example: the automated production of printed books from social media platforms). Only few people know that social media contents and printed media can be combined to create communication campaigns by means of digital printing.

Sabine Geldermann wants to change this by publicizing the relevant technical information in the drupa Global Insights Reports. Innovative application options for printed material in inter-media scenarios must be published and made popular in an informative manner: “There is a vast potential for innovation in printed communication. With new insights and information, we can determine how the printing segment is perceived“, Sabine Geldermann points out. These preliminary measures to make the drupa more relevant by inciting a cross-segmental discussion of new issues “beyond print” will substantially enhance to position of the drupa as an international flagship fair that acts as a beacon for the global market. Sabine Geldermann puts it in a nutshell: “We present the new technical options provided by the printing industry to a wider audience. There are so many innovative and important applications that involve printing technology which need to be pushed onto the international stage.”

Exploring new avenues:
Communication on printing technology is as important as communication via print.

Would it not make sense to host a virtual drupa as an internet communication and market platform in addition to the real event? This question is of particular interest as every segment of the industry will benefit from innovations in the printing industry? There is much potential for optimisation in the printing industry and room for more communication – this is an excellent opportunity for the drupa! [See ValueCheck: Communication as a driving force for new business models].

Sabine Geldermann sees a special advantage in the fact that the products of the printing industry are widely used but also require a lot of information: printing works have an extremely heterogeneous customer base with very different target group profiles. The same applies to the service portfolio of printing works, which has to be highly innovative and specialised. The products of the printing industry will always be an indispensible and elementary part of our communication requirements, but printing service providers are no longer mere producers of printed matter, however they need to acquire better consultancy skills. Potential solutions include workflow architectures, variable data printing, finishing services, freight management/supply-chain services, response analysis and many more.

The incredible service variety offered by the printing industry provides
major potential for the future!

Sabine Geldermann is not worried by the increasingly exacting requirements faced by her customers: “Promoting the variety of the printing industry provides an exciting range of options: there is an incredible range of communication services provided to all industrial segments by the printing industry, even beyond its value-added chain. The printing industry is by no means finished or one-dimensional; it is expanding into all different levels of day-to-day life and business.“ Messe Düsseldorf’s preparatory work in the run-up to the drupa 2016 focuses on relevant facts and information which will promote the industry and its services and improve its presence in the virtual market so that it can be found easily – everywhere in the world.

Sabine Geldermann explains the main objective of the drupa 2016 preparations: “We want to create publicity on the web by using devices such as blogs and effective tagging. This is the only way to draw the attention of new target groups to the important innovations provided by our exhibitors and their customers.“ A growing number of drupa exhibitors supports this approach to promote the awareness of the services provided by printing works among its customers. Agencies, marketing experts and brand companies are actually an important driving force and have to be involved more strongly. This means that all printing service providers that offer market-oriented, modern and networkable printing communication solutions must be easily found using Google. Descriptions and sampling of innovative applications during face-to-face presentations alone are not longer sufficient; the industry has to present or better still, permanently stage value enhancing factors and verifiable results in the media.

Our opinion

Messe Düsseldorf has chosen a successful course which also benefits the printing industry: as flagship fair for the printing and paper industry, the drupa can only be successful and have a global effect if the issues and the exhibition agenda are perfectly synchronized with the specific situation of the visitors (and the exhibitors’ customers). The new trend analyses are an ideal communication tool for sustaining a qualified dialogue with market partners. Not only during the drupa but also in the run-up and in the wake of this major event!

One exciting challenge for the drupa 2016 is certainly its approach to the vast and ongoing structural changes in the printing market. After an extended pit stop, market leader Heidelberger Druckmaschinen will now present its new digital strategy. This will benefit the entire industry. [See Value Analysis on Heidelberg Digital Sneak Peek, April 2014]

The printing industry has to think far outside the box. Many new businesses and companies that moved into the field from a different segment, e.g. those who deal with high-performance inkjet and/or variable data printing for industrial production, with organics or 3D/4D printing, cannot be counted as part of the printing segment in the strictest sense. But it is important to note: Effective communication about printing issues is necessary and the innovation-driven business of printing service providers must be publicized in order to create sufficient demand.

At a glance:
drupa Global Trends – Results from February 2014

Despite national differences, the “drupa Global Trends Report” reveals substantial – and sometimes even surprising – trends and insights, which affect all economic regions and printing-related segments (publishing, packaging, commercial). As expected, the report confirmed the presumption that the global printing industry is still undergoing structural changes, which is documented by rising costs, price deterioration and shrinking margins. But even more significant are the study’s three central findings:

There are clear signals for an economic upturn: over the next twelve months, all areas of the global printing industry, be it commercial, publishing or packaging, will make substantial investments. In the industrialized nations, the driving factors for this investment are the need for more efficiency and the introduction of new services. In this area, the US printing industry seems to have a certain leadership role or acts as a model. In emerging nations however, the investments are driven by the order volume.
The printing industry is changing from a product- or technology-driven to a service-driven industry. The latest trends are new solutions and business models that accommodate customer requirements.
As expected, digital printing plays a major role in the technology mix that is used by the printing industry. A total of 65 % of all printing service providers operate conventional as well as digital production. More than 30 % of commercial printers generate one fourth of their profit margin with digital printing services. But conventional printing (especially sheet offset) remains to be an important cornerstone for the industry. This is reflected by the reported investment intentions: in 2014, a total of 29% of all printing service providers want to invest in the area of sheet offset.

Source and more information

Marktszenario: Probleme der Digitaldruck-Branche sind hausgemacht!

January 17, 2014

Trends @ Graphic Communications, Valuable Advice

3 Comments

Warum es sich lohnt, diesen Beitrag zu lesen:

1. Innovation hat stets eine Geschichte!

2. Warum Print als Medium unter Druck gerät, da eine Traditionsbranche sich ins Abseits stellt.

3. Welche Folgen schlechte Marktkommunikation hat! — Und wie man gegensteuert!

Notizen aus der Gutenberg-Stadt Mainz zum Jahresauftakt 2014

Die Zeit, sie rinnt dahin, scheint es. Letzten Sommer fast unbemerkt, wurde der Farb-Digitaldruck per Xeikon und Indigo 20 Jahre alt. Und das in der Gutenberg-Stadt Mainz angesiedelte DigitaldruckForum (DDF), als national wie international erste Brancheninitiative im B2B, wurde im März 18 Jahre alt. Und damit volljährig.

Grund und Anlass, um kurz darzulegen, wie der Stand der Dinge ist.

In der Anfangsphase des DDF hat sich eine kleine Schar von Pionieren getroffen, um die neue Technik zu besprechen. Mit all ihren Startschwierigkeiten und Aussichten.
Viele Jahre haben wir mit dem DigitaldruckForum Congress erstklassige Top-Konferenzen durchgeführt und viele tausend Fachbesucher eingebunden. Mit Kongressen in der Gutenberg-Stadt Mainz, in Basel, in Wien, in Dubai und Peking. Dazu kamen hunderte Vorträge auf Konferenzen, in Workshops und Seminaren im In- und Ausland. Die positive Wirkung blieb nicht aus!
Seit 2004 war der Fokus, neben den „Techies“ vor allem Agenturen und Kreative einzubeziehen. Im Team mit dem Gesamtverband Kommunikationsagenturen ist dies sehr gut gelungen. Fachtagungen auf der drupa setzten seit 2004 echte Meilensteine.
Seit 2012 zeigte sich aber, dass ein Grossteil der Print-Spezialisten den Blick fürs wesentliche verlor, da man sich immer stärker darauf kaprizierte, Produkt- und Technologie-Neuigkeiten nachzujagen, statt (Neu-)Kunden zu begeistern. Gewollt oder ungewollt: Den ungeheuren Innovationsschüben im Kommunikationsmarkt kann kaum noch Stand gehalten werden.
2013 kam es folgerichtig zu a) den ersten großen Pleiten reinrassiger, hochvolumiger Digitaldruck-Firmen. Und b) zum Stillstand: Der Anteil der digital gedruckten Druckprodukte wächst zu langsam, und liegt gemessen am Gesamtvolumen bei deutlich unter 15 Prozent. D. h., die unzähligen neuverkauften Digitaldruckmaschinen bringen keine nennenswerte Steigerung der Marktanteile am Gesamt-Printvolumen.

Gemälde von Dr. Ying Lin-Sill.
“Gutenberg’s Pain(ting)”,
Öl auf Leinwand, 2009.

Scheidepunkt erreicht

Woran liegt das? Hand aufs Herz: Es wurde vergessen, die Auftraggeber für Printproduktionen besser und vollständig ins Boot zu holen. Unsere Value-Check!-Analysen und auch die von Kollegen und Herstellern zeigen, dass der Markt, sprich die Kunden der Digitaldrucker, nur völlig unzureichend wissen, welche Innovationsmöglichkeiten es gibt, welche relevant sind, und welche Symbiose Print & Online eingehen können. Den meisten Digitaldruckern fehlt schlicht die Professionalität in der Eigendarstellung und Marktkommunikation.

Das ist fatal. Und heisst: Unsere Digitaldruck-Branche kommuniziert gegenüber dem Markt/den Auftraggebern völlig unzureichend (um nicht zu sagen: LAUSIG!).

Mit der Folge, dass sogar die per se innovative Digitaldruck-Branche in den Sog des Abgesangs auf Print (im klassischen Sinne) gerät und die Digitaldruck-Volumen und Wertschöpfungsmöglichkeiten nicht so dynamisch steigen, wie es sein könnte. Sprich: Wir verschenken durch unzureichende Marktkommunikation Geld und Chancen und überlassen anderen das Feld.

Gegensteuern tut Not

Wir haben uns darum entschlossen, eine Reihe neuer Maßnahmen und Aktivitäten auszubauen, die wir seit 2007 gestartet haben und mit der Value Community ausbauen. Entsprechend wird das DigitaldruckForum umpositioniert und komplett unter das Themen-Dach der „Innovation der Marketing-Kommunikation“ von Value Communication AG gestellt.

Hierin sehen wir den entscheidenden und Erfolg bringenden Ansatz:
Wir halten uns nicht mehr damit auf, zu zeigen, dass Digitaldruck so gut ist wie Offset, oder tragen händisch Druckmuster aus und versuchen dadurch zu missionieren. Nein, wir fokussieren uns auf den ROI, den Digitaldruck-Dienstleister für Marketing-/Kommunikationsprojekte bieten können. Und stärken ganz erheblich die Online- und Social-Media-Kommunikation. Nur so lassen sich Märkte und Kunden richtig adressieren. Vorausgesetzt, man weiss, wie das geht!

Fataler Nebeneffekt: Die Digitaldrucktechnik-Hersteller tun ein übriges. Viele Top-Manager der Big-Players haben keine fundierte Branchen- oder Marktkenntnis;
sie denken in Stellplätzen und Page-Volumes.

Sprich: Sie sind nur mit sich selbst beschäftigt und nicht mit Ihren Kunden und deren Kunden, den Print-Buyern.

Wer sich dafür im Detail interessiert, sollte

• rasch unseren Blog „online“ abonnieren:
www.valuetrendradar.com

• uns auf Twitter folgen:
@ValueCommAG

oder sich persönlich melden: via email a.weber@value-communication.com oder via XING.

Wir bieten auch individuelle und spezifische Coachings und Weiterbildungen an, die wir in der Value Academy zusammenfassen und durch Benchmarkstudien untermauern.

Soviel für heute.

Beste Grüße aus der Gutenberg-Stadt Mainz
sendet

Andreas Weber
Gründer und Sprecher DigitaldruckForum
Vorstand Value Communication AG
Präsident der Value Academy

—valuetrendradar

Print&Transformation for the Digital Age

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