&mdash; valuetrendradar

Von Andreas Weber, Head of INKISH D-A-CH

Paukenschlag vom Neckar, der den Rhein-Pegel bei Düsseldorf quasi auf Niedrigwasser bringt: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, einst — 1951 — Motor und Ermöglicher der drupa um sich als globale Leitmesse der Druck- und Papier-Branche zu etablieren, sagte seine Messeteilnahme für 2021 ab. Dies wurde lapidar heute am Morgen, Mittwoch, 8. Juli 2020, per Pressemitteilung verkündet.

Man habe sich die Entscheidung nicht leicht gemacht, sagte Heidelberg CEO Rainer Hundsdörfer im exklusiven Ad-Hoc-Gespräch mit INKISH D-A-CH. „Wenn keine Kunden kommen können, dann macht es auch keinen Sinn“, führt der Unternehmenschef weiter aus.

Die drupa als ‚Festival der Drucker‘ brauche aber Publikum. Die fatalen Folgen der COVID-19-Pandemie würden sich laut Hundsdörfer länger auswirken, als bislang angenommen. Dadurch sei zu erwarten, dass Besucher vor allem aus den wichtigsten Märkten USA und China nicht nach Düsseldorf reisen werden können.

Heidelberg habe in den letzten Monaten eine Reihe digitaler Formate entwickelt und erfolgreich etabliert, um zu Kunden neue und vor allem wirksame Kontaktmöglichkeiten aufzubauen. Dies wolle man laut Hundsdörfer zielgerichtet weiterentwickeln, um vom 19. bis 23. Oktober 2020 eine Innovation Week abzuhalten.

Das ursprüngliche drupa-2020-Motto von Heidelberg, ‚Unfold your Potential’, werde man beibehalten. Themen seien vor allem Neuheiten, Vorführungen, Schulungen und Supportleistungen. Und dies in Anbetracht der Tatsache, dass sich die Entwicklungszyklen radikal verkürzt hätten. Das heisst: Unternehmen wie Heidelberg müssen Instrumentarien parat haben, die in Echtzeit erlauben, mit Kunden wirkungsvoll und nachhaltig in den Dialog zu treten.

Übrigens: Wenige Stunden nach der Veröffentlichung von Heidelberg veröffentlichte die Messe Düsseldorf eine Pressemitteilung mit dem Titel „Bereit für den Neustart: Messe Düsseldorf setzt Hygiene- und Infektionsschutzkonzept auf“. Es wurde dargelegt, dass man ab September 2020 den Messebetrieb wieder aufnehmen wolle. Die drupa wurde allerdings nicht erwähnt.

Ob das Prinzip der Messeveranstalter, „allein der Wille zählt“, sich durchsetzen kann, steht zu bezweifeln. Denn schon vor der Covid-19-Krise war erkennbar, gerade auch durch das Ende der IPEX (UK) sowie Print (USA) im Bereich der Print- und dem Ende der CeBIT auch bei IT-Fachmessen, dass es sich für Aussteller kaum mehr lohnt, an Messen in der gewohnten Art und Weise teilzunehmen. Auch der in 2019 erfolgreiche Messe-Newcomer Printing United in den USA hat sein für Oktober 2020 vorgesehene traditionelle Messeveranstaltung umgewidmet in einen virtuellen Messe-Event. Wie die Alternativen tatsächlich aussehen werden und sich auch zum Wohle der Besucher bewähren können, muss sich erst noch zeigen.

My Take

Die Entscheidung bei Heidelberg erscheint folgerichtig, nachdem auch schon Bobst und Xerox die drupa-2021-Teilnahme abgesagt haben.

Denn gerade die drupa hatte sich bereits vor vielen Jahren umdefiniert: War es einst das Ziel, Marktplatz für Print-Experten und -Liebhaber aus aller Welt zu sein, verwandelte man seit dem Jahr 2000 die drupa in eine Art Anbieter-Börse, die sich weniger um die Belange der Besucher kümmerte als vielmehr darum, Aussteller dazu zu bringen, ihre Investments in den Messeauftritt zu maximieren. Kein Wunder also, dass auch ohne COVID-19-Pandemie die Besucher deutlich weniger wurden.

404—Neustart-Knopf im Print drücken

#drupa2020, #Think!Paper, Digital Transformation, drupa 2016, INKISH, Posts in German Language, Print for the Digital Age, Trends @ Graphic Communications, Valuable Advice, Value Transformation, ValueCheck

Von Andreas Weber | English version via INKISH.NEWS

Teil 1: Die Notwendigkeit eines radikalen Wandels bei globalen Leitmessen am Beispiel der drupa

Ich stimme den Gedanken voll und ganz zu, die Morten B. Reitoft auf INKISH.News geteilt hat. Kernaussage: „Messen können nicht mehr das Zentrum von Produkteinführungen sein.” Die drupa, als weltweite Leitmesse die Nummer 1, bildet keine Ausnahme.

Klar, dies erfreut uns keinesfalls. Im Gegenteil. Seit 1977 habe ich selbst bereits zehn Mal (!) an den drupa-Messeveranstaltungen teilgenommen. Aber aus meiner Erinnerung wird deutlich, was spätestens seit der drupa 2004 anders wurde: Es drehte sich zunehmend weniger um die Interessen der Besucher; sondern mehr oder mehr um den Ansatz, hauptsächlich die Bedürfnisse der Aussteller und der Organisatoren zu erfüllen. Infolgedessen wurden Empathie und Sympathie für die Besucher ausgedünnt. Nebeneffekt: Es kamen bis 2016 zunehmend weniger Besucher. Für 2020 hatte ich aus verschiedenen Gründen vermutet, dass es sogar unter 200.000 Fachbesucher sein könnten.

Tut mir leid, dies feststellen zu müssen: Wenn nicht wie einst die Besucher im Zentrum stehen, hat die globale Print-Community ihre Heimatbasis verloren. Und in gewisser Weise auch einen Teil ihrer Identität.

Ich glaube nicht, dass die #drupa2020 einfach im Konzept unverändert, ohne radikale Änderungen vorzunehmen, auf April 2021 verschoben werden kann. Nicht nur wegen der Corona-Krise. Sondern vor allem aufgrund der Tatsache, dass die Zukunft von Print von Menschen bestimmt wird und nicht von Technik.

Meine Erkenntnis: Umdenken und Neustart angehen

Um einen Neuanfang zu schaffen, sollten alle ihre Aufgaben überdenken und Unsinniges beseitigen:

Worin liegt der Wert eines generischen Werbeclaims wie „Embrace the future — umarme die Zukunft“? — Besonders in einer Situation, in der wir alle das Chaos „umarmen“ müssen, um zu überleben.
Warum sollten die Umfrageergebnisse des 3. drupa Global Trend Spotlight Report, der einige Zeit vor dem Lockdown und der Kontaktsperre erstellt wurde, und jetzt noch, im Mai 2020, einen Nutzen bieten und veröffentlicht werden? Die Befragung von 500 Druckern plus 200 Lieferanten ist zudem NICHT repräsentativ, wie professionelle, unabhängige Marktforschungsexperten bestätigen können.
Dies offenbart ein Kernproblem für die globale Print-Branche: Wir haben keine verlässlichen, belastbaren, eindeutigen Fakten über Märkte, Segmente, Anwendungen, Trends, Kundenerlebnisse oder Fehler, aus denen man Lernen kann. Weil alle Beteiligten ihre eigene Faktenlage der sogenannten „Druckindustrie“ erfinden, ist das strategisch und perspektivisch gesehen ein Supergau!
„Embrace the Chaos“: Das Marktvolumen im Sinne der globalen Wertschöpfung mit Printmedien wird zum Beispiel mit 400 Mrd. EUR oder auch mit 700 Mrd. EUR, 1.000 Mrd. EUR oder sogar über 2.460 Mrd. EUR angegeben. Was soll man jetzt glauben? Und was halten Außenstehende, Finanz-Analysten, Investoren, Politiker und vor allem Kunden von Druckereien von einem so zerrütteten Bild? Die Kurse der börsennotierten Unternehmen, die sich mit Print-Technik beschäftigen, sprechen da eine deutliche Sprache. Die Kurse und damit die Marktkapitalisierung sind durch die Bank im Keller, nicht erst seit COVID-19.
Es geht letztendlich nicht, wie viele Denken, um Zweck-Optimismus, der Fakten verbiegt, verzerrt oder umdeutet, sondern darum, das Bewusstsein zu verändern, angetrieben von Klarheit, einem geschärften Realitätssinn und Vertrauen. Tun wir das nicht, entkommen wir nicht diesen Absurditäten in der Realität. Sondern wir machen das Absurde zur Realität. Und das geht selten gut.

Mein Rat: Fatal-Error 404 — Neustart-Knopf drücken. Alle zusammen!

Die Berichtserie wird fortgesetzt.

#SundayThoughts: How to get the best out of #drupa2020

#drupa2020, #Think!Paper, CEO Talk on Innovation, INKISH, Print for the Digital Age, Valuable Advice

By Andreas Weber | German version below

The #drupa2020 is guaranteed not to be a no-brainer. The market dynamics are weakening enormously. The spreading coronavirus confusion drastically limits the freedom of action.

How do you cope with these difficult, volatile times? Actually only on the basis of the insight not to rely on the fact that what was originally planned can also take place in this way.

To me it is crucial to survival:

Flexibility in thinking and acting.
Agility to be able to react immediately and appropriately to unforeseen events.
Networking competence and partnerships with real knowledge workers.

And how should that work from a standing start? And right now, 100 days before drupa, in the usually hectic preparation time, when the focus is on the completion of products and presentations?

Everyone is self-responsible for flexibility and agility. Networking can be learned quickly, especially if you find the right partners. And bravely break new ground.

Traditionally, trade magazines (for PR / advertisements) and direct marketing campaigns have always been the safe bet to address visitors and encourage them to visit their booth at drupa. But that is neither flexible nor agile. And certainly not to be timed properly when things change abruptly.

So what to do?

There is still uncertainty as to whether the #drupa2020 can take place and if so, what we all hope for, whether visitors from all over the world can arrive as usual.

I see two main options on an ad hoc basis:

Connect to smart infotainment at the trade fair, as offered by Deborah Corn with her #Printerverse activities in the area of the drupa DNA-Arena in Hall 7.0.
AND
Use high-quality, innovative communication offers, implemented by the excellently staffed, experienced and smart #INKISH team headed by Morten B. Reitoft — before, during and after drupa2020. INKISH even has a Plan B in case the fair is actually canceled or postponed. — See my story: We all love INKISH.

Why is there no alternative to breaking new ground?

Either way: All exhibitors have to be prepared for the fact that not all potential customers / buyers can be reached through drupa alone. Networking creates impact and is sustainable. And since no exhibitor can do this on its own, partners are needed.

If there are any questions, I can be contacted at any time, preferably via LinkedIn.

#Sonntagsgedanken: Wie man aus der #drupa2020 das Beste rausholt!

Von Andreas Weber

Die #drupa2020 wird garantiert kein ‚No-Brainer’. Die Marktdynamik schwächelt enorm. Die um sich greifende Coronavirus-Konfusion schränkt die Aktionsfreiheit drastisch ein.

Wie meistert man diese schwierigen, volatilen Zeiten? Eigentlich nur auf Basis der Einsicht, sich nicht darauf zu verlassen, dass das, was ursprünglich geplant ist, auch so stattfinden kann.

Überlebenswichtig erscheint mir:

Flexibilität im Denken und Handeln.
Agilität, um auf unvorhergesehenes sofort und adäquat reagieren zu können.
Networking-Kompetenz und Partnerschaften mit echten Wissensarbeitern.

Und wie soll das gehen, so aus dem Stand heraus? Und gerade jetzt, 100 Tage vor der drupa, in der meist hektischen Vorbereitungszeit, wenn der Fokus auf Fertigstellung von Produkten und Präsentationen liegt?

Für Flexibilität und Agilität ist jeder selbst verantwortlich. Networking kann man rasch lernen, vor allem, wenn man die richtigen Partner findet. Und mutig neue Wege beschreiten.

Klassischerweise waren Fachmagazine (PR/Anzeigen) und Direkt-Marketing-Kampagnen stets die sichere Bank, um Besucher anzusprechen und zum Standbesuch auf der drupa zu bewegen. Doch das ist weder flexibel noch agil. Und schon gar nicht zeitlich zu schaffen, wenn Dinge sich abrupt ändern.

Was also tun?

Noch herrscht Ungewissheit, ob die #drupa2020 stattfinden kann und wenn ja, was wir alle hoffen, ob wie gewohnt aus aller Welt Besucher anreisen können.

Ich sehe ad hoc zwei probate Möglichkeiten:

Sich auf der Messe in smartes Infotainment einklinken, wie das Deborah Corn mit ihren #Printerverse-Aktivtäten im Umfeld der drupa DNA-Arena in Halle 7.0 bietet.
UND
Fachlich hochwertige, innovative Kommunikations-Angebote nutzen, umgesetzt durch das exzellent besetzte, erfahrene und Interview-freudige #INKISH-Team von Morten B. Reitoft – vor, während und nach der drupa2020. INKISH hält dabei sogar noch einen Plan B bereit, falls tatsächlich die Messe ausfallen oder verschoben werden sollte.

Warum ist es alternativlos, neue Wege zu gehen?

So oder so: Alle Aussteller müssen sich darauf einstellen, dass alleine über die drupa nicht mehr alle potentiellen Kunden/Käufer erreicht werden können. Sich zu vernetzen schafft Wirkung und ist nachhaltig. Und da dies kein Aussteller aus sich heraus schaffen kann, braucht man Partner.

Falls Fragen bestehen, ich bin jederzeit ansprechbar, am besten via LinkedIn.

#drupa2020 ante portas — Success Factor: Trade Show Visitors and their Needs

#drupa2020, #Think!Paper, Digital Transformation, Print for the Digital Age, Subscription, Trends @ Graphic Communications, Valuable Advice, Value Transformation

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By Andreas Weber, Head of Value | German Version

Note / supplement

The first publication of this article in September 2019 produced a worldwide response. Mostly my assessment was shared. Above all, it was discussed how and if technology fairs can serve to strengthen or even improve the situation of printing companies and to develop future potential. The result: Yes, this succeeds if the focus is not only on exhibitor needs, but places the interests and the situation of the visitors in the center.

The situation in the print market is characterized above all by technology and innovative capability. And here’s my latest analysis revealing something amazing (see: # drupa2020 ante portas: The Renewal of Print). No wonder, then, when you have to be concerned because appearance and reality drift apart.

Incidentally, one critic commented that drupa should not be talked down otherwise it would be a pity for the print industry as a whole. Well, am I doing that? To identify problems/challenges and express concerns is not bad, but important to get better and better. Isn’t it?

It will be my 11th drupa since 1977, which I will visit in June 2020. First as a ‘normal’ trade visitor, then in the record number of visitors in 1990 as an exhibitor, later as a journalist and in recent years as an analyst and blogger. — Clearly, things are changing. While machines and devices used to be the focus of attention, today solutions, concepts, perspectives and application options are the key.

The rush of manufacturers as exhibitors is unbroken. Trade fair director Sabine Geldermann proudly speaks of a sold-out #drupa2020, including the new exhibition hall 1. In 1951, drupa started its successful run when the former Heidelberg boss Dr. Sternberg had rented the whole hall 1.

However, the development in the number of visitors fills me with great concern.

Of course, the advancing automation and the path towards Industry 4.0 bring about rationalization effects that enable personnel savings.

But: For a long time, it has not been possible to inspire new target groups for the drupa to a significant extent — people who have to deal with modern marketing and communication topics on a broad front. They should focus on print, but do it less and less. Why is that? What’s wrong with communication?

Source: Wikipedia (german edition)

Honestly, as long as I can witness it, it has never been so calm in the run up to a drupa. This can not only be attributed to the organizers and partners. The trade press, formerly a guarantor of success, is only a shadow of itself (apart from a few exceptions!), hardly find enough readers and supporters anymore. Outstanding events, such as the Print & Digital Convention initiated by the German association f:mp Fachverband Medienproduktioner e.V., have developed well. But in May 2019 with 1,200 visitors are lean compared to the simultaneous digital events such as OMR in Hamburg with over 50,000 visitors or the re:publica convention in Berlin with 20,000 visitors.

Why is the industry not acting broadly, concertedly and publicly for its concerns and, above all, its right to exist? And takes a clear position on what and how things have changed in the digital age.

There is still some time left. But something must happen very quickly. Otherwise it means (again): “Operation succeeded, patient dead.” And to find an inglorious end like the CeBIT, that is the drupa and the print industry not to be desired.

As far as I can, I like to help and offer a number of opportunities to get involved. So the expert network #Think!Paper, supported by Mondi, GT Trendhouse 42 and Jubels; or even with the new blog “HotspotSubscription”, which has occupied as a theme “Renewal of Print”, and thus from the stand for high attention, especially outside the industry. The Digital Printing Forum, founded by myself and partners, is still active as an industry initiative and has over 1,200 group members via XING. Last but not least: my blog ValueTrendRadar.com as a compendium for communication with print has found over 120,000 readers from almost 160 countries in the world since #drupa2012.

There are many possibilities. You just have to grab it. In that sense, I am still optimistic.

And what about you? Share your thoughts and let’s start a good conversation.

#drupa2020 ante portas: Erfolgsfaktor Messebesucher

#drupa2020, #Think!Paper, CEO Talk on Innovation, Digital Transformation, Posts in German Language, Print for the Digital Age, Subscription, Valuable Advice, Value Transformation

3D printing, 4D Printing, Digital Transformation, Multi-Channel Innovation, Posts in German Language, Value Contributors, Value Innovation, ValueCheck

Von Andreas Weber, Head of Value | English Version

Hinweis zur Ergänzung

Die Erstveröffentlichung dieses Beitrags im September 2019 rief ein weltweites Echo hervor. Überwiegend wurde meine Einschätzung geteilt. Diskutiert wurde vor allem, wie und ob Technik-Messen dazu dienen können, die Situation von Druckereien zu stärken oder gar zu verbessern und Zukunftspotenziale zu entfalten. Das Ergebnis: Ja, das gelingt, wenn der Fokus nicht nur auf Ausstellerbedürfnissen liegt, sondern die Interessen und die Lage der Besucher in den Mittelpunkt rückt.

Die Lage im Print-Markt wird vor allem durch die Technik und Innovationsfähigkeit geprägt. Und hier brachte meine jüngste Analyse Erstaunliches zu Tage (siehe: #drupa2020 ante portas: The Renewal of Print). Kein Wunder also, wenn man Bedenken haben muss, da Anschein und Wirklichkeit auseinander driften.

Übrigens: Ein Kritiker merkte an, man solle die drupa nicht schlechtreden, sonst schade man der Printbranche insgesamt. Nun denn, tue ich das? Probleme aufzeigen und Sorgen zu äußern ist m. E. nichts schlechtes, sondern wichtig, um stets besser zu werden. Oder?

Das Menetekel — „Operation gelungen, Patient tot.“

Es wird seit 1977 meine 11. drupa sein, die ich im Juni 2020 besuchen werde. Zunächst als ‚normaler‘ Fachbesucher, dann im Besucherrekordjahr 1990 als Aussteller, später als Journalist und in den letzten Jahren als Analyst und Blogger. — Ganz klar ist, die Dinge wandeln sich. Standen früher Maschinen und Geräte im Fokus, sind es heute Lösungen, Konzepte, Perspektiven und Anwendungsmöglichkeiten.

Der Andrang der Hersteller als Aussteller ist ungebrochen. Messe-Direktorin Sabine Geldermann spricht stolz von einer mit rund 1.800 Ausstellern aus 50 Nationen ausverkauften #drupa2020, inkl. neuer Messehalle 1. Hier hatte 1951 die drupa ihren Erfolgslauf gestartet, als der damalige Heidelberg-Chef Dr. Sternberg die ganze Halle angemietet hatte.

Die Entwicklung bei den Besucherzahlen erfüllt mich aber mit großer Sorge. Klar, die fortschreitende Automatisierung und der Weg Richtung Industrie 4.0 bringen Rationalisierungseffekte mit sich, die Personaleinsparungen ermöglichen.

Quelle: wikipedia

Aber: Seit langem ist es nicht gelungen, neue Zielgruppen für die drupa in nennenswertem Umfang zu begeistern: Menschen, die sich auf breiter Front mit modernen Marketing- und Kommunikationsthemen beschäftigen müssen. Und dabei Print im Fokus haben sollten, es aber immer weniger tun. Woran liegt das wohl? Was läuft in der Kommunikation schief?

Denn, ganz ehrlich, solange ich es miterleben kann, war es im Vorfeld einer drupa noch nie so ruhig. Das kann man nicht nur den Veranstalter und Organisatoren anlasten. Die Fachpresse, früher ein Erfolgsgarant, ist nur noch ein Schatten ihrer selbst (von ganz wenigen Ausnahmen abgesehen!), findet kaum noch Leser und Unterstützer. Herausragende Fachveranstaltungen, wie die vom f:mp Fachverband Medienproduktioner e.V. initiierte Print Digital Convention haben sich zwar gut entwickelt, sind aber zuletzt im Mai 2019 mit 1.200 Besuchern mager frequentiert gegenüber den zeitgleich stattfindenden Digital-Events wie OMR in Hamburg mit über 50.000 Besuchern oder der Berliner re:publica mit 20.000 Besuchern.

Warum setzt sich die Branche nicht breitenwirksam, konzertiert und öffentlich für ihr Anliegen und vor allem ihre Existenzberechtigung ein? Und bezieht klarer Position, was und wie sich die Dinge im Digitalzeitalter verändert haben.

Noch ist etwas Zeit. Aber ganz rasch muss etwas passieren. Sonst heisst es (wieder mal): „Operation gelungen, Patient tot.“ Und ein unrühmliches Ende zu finden wie die CeBIT, das ist der drupa und der Printbranche nicht zu wünschen.

Im Rahmen meiner Möglichkeiten helfe ich gerne und biete eine Reihe von Möglichkeiten sich hinzu bringen. So beim Expertennetzwerk #Think!Paper, das u.a. von Mondi, GT Trendhouse 42 und Jubels unterstützt wird; oder aber auch mit dem neuen Blog „HotspotSubscription“, der als Thema „Renewal of Print“ besetzt hat, und damit aus dem Stand heraus für hohe Aufmerksamkeit gerade auch ausserhalb der Branche sorgt. Das von mir und Partnern gegründete DigitaldruckForum ist als Brancheninitiative immer noch aktiv und hat via XING über 1.200 Gruppenmitglieder. Last but not least: Mein Blog ValueTrendRadar.com als Kompendium für Kommunikation mit Print hat seit der #drupa2012 über 120.000 Leser aus fast 160 Ländern der Welt gefunden.

Möglichkeiten gibt’s viele. Man muss sie nur ergreifen. In diesem Sinne bin ich weiter optimistisch.

Wie steht es bei Ihnen? Ich freue mich auf Ihre Meinung. Lassen Sie uns in einen aktiven und konstruktiven Dialog treten!

PRINT: LEBENDIGER DENN JE!

May 20, 2018

1 Comment

Neue Wege sind wichtig und nötig, um die komplexen Themen rund um Print im Digitalzeitalter aufzuzeigen und vor allem begreidbar zu machen. — Fotos: Fachverband Medienproduktion e.V. (f:mp)

PROLOG

Wer alt genug ist, um sich an eine Welt ohne Internet erinnern zu können, wird sich auch an eine Welt ohne Digitaldruck erinnern können. Denn beide, einmal der Kommunikationskanal World Wide Web, als auch der digitale Druck, wie wir ihn heute kennen, betraten Anfang der 1990er Jahre die Bühne.

Was vor rund 25 Jahren mit dem Netscape Navigator, dem Browser für jedermann, der ersten Indigo und Xeikon begann, ist für uns heute selbstverständlich. Und wer dieses Vierteljahrhundert zurückdenken kann, weiss auch, dass Drucksachen – im Vergleich zu dem, was uns heute geboten wird – schlicht und einfach ‚grottenschlechte‘ Massenware waren.

So ändern sich die Zeiten. Ohne Internet käme heute wohl keiner mehr klar und ohne den gewaltigen Qualitätssprung im Druck wäre das Medium Print unansehnlich bis langweilig.

Eine Situationsbeschreibung von Klaus-Peter-Nicolay, Verleger und Chefredakteur Druckmarkt (D/CH)

THE END OF PRINT?

Das genaue Gegenteil ist der Fall. Drucksachen sind heute lebendiger und vielfältiger denn je. Schliesslich hat der Digitaldruck den Offsetdruck weit weniger ersetzt, als es von vielen befürchtet wurde. Aber der digitale Druck hat Drucksachen entstehen lassen, die vorher keine waren.

Man denke in diesem Zusammenhang an Fotobücher und das gesamte Geschäft mit kleinsten Auflagen, personalisierten und individualisierten Drucksachen, die in konventionellen Druckverfahren gar nicht möglich wären. Doch auch der klassische Druck ist nicht stehen geblieben.

Immer raffinierter und zielgerichteter werden Drucksachen heute hergestellt. Und das auch ganz bewusst, weil die Erkenntnis gereift ist, dass sich eine Druckerei heute mit einem banalen vierfarbigen Flyer eher blamiert, denn Begeisterungsstürme bei den Kunden auslösen wird. Dazu gehört nämlich mehr.

ÜBERRASCHENDE EFFEKTE

Um sinnliche Signale auf die Wahrnehmung einer Information zu übertragen, lassen sich die Wirkungen der Haptik, die von Grammatur, Papierqualität, Verarbeitung und Veredelung nutzen. In der Forschungsdisziplin Werbewirkung wird hier von Bedeutungszusammenhängen (Semantik) und Assoziationen gesprochen, die durch sinnliche Reize ausgelöst werden (Priming). So ‚primen‘ Mailings beispielsweise über Gewicht, Konsistenz, Form und Textur der verwendeten Materialien oder über den Öffnungsmechanismus.

Ist diese erste Hürde erst einmal genommen (auffallen kann ein Mailing ja auch aufgrund des Formats, der Farbe und Papierqualität des Couverts) und der Empfänger beschäftigt sich mit der Drucksache, können Verstärker wie Wechselbilder (Lentikulardruck), Video-in-Print und Soundchips ein Mailing in der Wahrnehmung dynamisch machen. Dabei überraschen auch Effekte wie Laserstanzungen, ‚maschinell Handgeschriebenes‘, Hologramme, Duft, Pop-ups und Rubbelflächen etc. den Empfänger immer dann positiv, wenn sie zum beworbenen Angebot passen.

Impressionen von der Event-Website, zusammengestellt durch den Fachverband Medienproduktion e.V. (f:mp).

KNOW HOW AND WHY

Das alles lässt sich zwar in blumigen Begriffen be- und umschreiben, kann aber dennoch nur andeutungsweise das Gefühl vermitteln, welches erlebbar wird, wenn man solche Druckprodukte erst einmal in Händen hält. Doch wo und wann ergibt sich die Gelegenheit dazu? Und noch dazu in komprimierter Form, ohne von einem Open House zum nächsten reisen zu müssen? Wo mir jemand erklärt, wie ich Sound oder Video in eine Drucksache integrieren kann, wie ich NFC-Technologien für Print nutze, ob es Alternativen über ‚Smart Links‘ und ‚Hidden Codes‘ gibt, welche Möglichkeiten der Druck auf Metallfolien bietet und wo es auch noch fundierte Informationen über die Wirkmechanismen haptischer und multisensorischer Effekte gibt?

Auf der PRINT digital! CONVENTION im Rahmen der Tage der Medienproduktion des Fachverbandes Medienproduktion (f:mp.)! Diese Veranstaltung Ende April 2018 in Düsseldorf hat die aus den Mailingtagen hervorgegangene und nun nicht mehr durchgeführte Nürnberger Co-Reach sowie die aus der Mode gekommene ‚grafische Fachmesse‘ Druck + Form in Sinsheim schnell vergessen gemacht und beide mehr als bravourös ersetzt. Und zwar auf eine bemerkenswert frische und neue Art.

Trailer zur Event-Ankündigung des f:mp im Team mit der Messe Düsseldorf.

Ausstellung auf der einen, Kongress und Workshops auf der anderen Seite wäre nicht neu. Einzigartig ist das Konzept, weil sich nicht nur die Industrie mit ihren Lösungen präsentiert, sondern weil Druckereien und andere Dienstleister zeigen, was mit den technischen Möglichkeiten und einer gehörigen Portion Ideen umsetzbar ist. Verschiedene Themenwelten führten von der Idee über crossmediale Prozesse hin zu anwendungsfähigen Applikationen, die mit digitalen Druck- und Veredelungs-Technologien, mit hybriden und intelligenten Produktionen realisiert werden können.

Die PRINT digital! CONVENTION hat Format und ist eine Veranstaltung, wie sie wünschenswert ist. Kurzweilig, informativ und mit einer gehörigen Portion Know-how-Transfer. Und mit der tatkräftigen Unterstützung der drupa wurde in der Stadthalle Düsseldorf im Congress Centrum auf dem Messegelände ein einzigartiges, geradezu persönliches Ambiente geschaffen, das in ‚normalen’ Messehallen nicht erreichbar wäre.

FAZIT

Das war ein deutliches Signal für die Messeveranstalter der D/A/CH-Region und ein kräftiger Impuls für die Branche. Es ist ein bemerkenswertes und auf die aktuellen Marktbedürfnisse zugeschnittenes Konzept, das von den rund 1.000 Besuchern exzellent angenommen wurde. Und gewissermassen die Transformation altbackener Messekonzepte und langweiliger Kongress-Tage in ein neues Format mit Unterhaltungs-Charakter auf fachlicher Ebene. — Auch so wird Print lebendiger denn je.

Anmerkung der Redaktion von valuetrendradar.com

Kompliment an Klaus-Peter Nicolay. Er hat eine hervorragende Situationsbeschreibung abgegeben, wie sich Print im Digitalzeitalter positioniert. Und eigentlich nicht zu verstecken braucht. Umso sehr ist der Hinweis wichtig, dass es nach wie vor ein Dilemma gibt: Auch auf der Print digital! Convention blieb man wie bei so vielen Print-Fachveranstatungen weitgehend unter sich. Und wer wie ich aus Termingründen nicht teilnehmen konnte, hatte kaum eine Chance, über die relevanten Social-Media-Kanäle sich in Echtzeit ein Bild zu machen, was es an Kernbotschaften zu erfahren gilt. Schade. Denn für innovative Auftraggeber der Druckereien ist genau das ein ganz einscheidender Punkt: Über den Tellerrand blicken und das Potenzial von Digital! voll ausschöpfen. Sonst spielt sich alles wie bisher fast im Verborgenen ab. — Andreas Weber, Head of Value.

Hinweis

Der Beitrag entstammt der lesenswerten Jubiläums-Ausgabe Nr. 100 des Managementmagazins DRUCKMARKT SCHWEIZ.

Mike Hilton’s Global News Review: A new Printing and Packaging Expo in Iran, powered by drupa

April 10, 2017

3D printing, Digital Transformation, drupa 2016, Multi-Channel Innovation, Trends @ Graphic Communications, Valuable Advice, Value Contributors, Value Innovation

Webinar – Digital Transformation
Wednesday 19th April 2017 4pm (GMT)

ValuePublishing Mike Hilton 06042017 2017.001.jpeg

Messe Düsseldorf extends its international portfolio of trade fairs for the printing and packaging industries with IPAP Tehran, powered by drupa. Photos: Messe Düsseldorf.

Graphic Repro On-line News to Friday 07 April 2017

Welcome to this week’s news roundup with 36 articles from the past week, including a late addition on Friday, Laurel Brunner’s Verdigris Blog which was only posted yesterday, and a new article in Online Features on Esko’s next generation flexo technology milestone, the CDI Crystal 5080 XPS flexo platemaker, at Glatz Klischee in Bregenz, Austria. The new system was first seen at drupa last year and made its market debut this week. There’s also a new entry in our drupa Newsroom, as Messe Düsseldorf extends its international portfolio of trade fairs for the printing and packaging industries with IPAP Tehran, powered by drupa.

Monday’s news began with the market release of Esko’s new CDI Crystal 5080 XPS flexo platemaker, followed on Tuesday by another of the first installations of the new imager at Inci.Flex in Italy and then on Wednesday, we announced that the CDI Crystal 5080 XPS imager and exposure unit are recipients of a prestigious Red Dot Product Design 2017 award.

Tuesday’s lead came from Gareth Ward at The Print Business, following Heidelberg UK’s Open House at its Brentford headquarters on 29 and 30 March; while Canon reported a rewarding high-speed inkjet participation at Hunkeler Innovationdays in Lucerne. Other positive post-event news came from Sign & Digital UK and Xeikon Café Packaging Innovations on Friday.

Among several new software, inks, process-free plates and equipment announcements this week you will find Agfa, Callas, Sun Chemical, Pulse, Kodak Sonora, and Hunkeler Systeme; then we have pre-show news appearing for Interpack 2017 in Düsseldorf in May, on both Monday and Tuesday, and for Labelexpo Europe in Brussels in September on Wednesday.

There are a number of firsts among this week’s installations. Tuesday saw a world first with Prinect Production Manager at Petermann in Bad Nauheim, Germany. The Prinect software rental model made its first international showing at drupa last year; then we have a UK first at Swallowmax in Enfield, with Komori‘s newest G29 H-UV B2 sheetfed press; and on Wednesday, we had Rehms Druck in Germany in a European first with Konica Minolta‘s AccurioJet KM-1, as the company’s first investment in B2 inkjet. This was followed by Straub Druck und Medien in Germany add its second Fujifilm Jet Press 720S B2 inkjet flatbed press to support its growth strategy.

On Thursday Landa announced the first of three beta sites for the S10 Nanographic Printing Press at Graphica Bezalel in Israel, with installation slated to begin in July; this will be followed by the first beta in North America scheduled for November; and finally the first beta site in Europe at Edelmann in Germany, with installation set to commence in December 2017. UNISON confirmed its purchase of a Horizon Stitchliner from IFS for its Leeds, UK facility; and to round off the week on Friday, we had Dats Print Services add a Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 52-4+L Anicolor, York Mailing UK add a Goss Sunday 5000 64-page short grain web offset press – bringing its total number of web presses to 14 across four sites; while in South Africa, Universal labels in Midrand near Johannesburg has added its fourth MPS narrow web flexo press from Rotocon.

Late news on Friday came from Kodak, which has decided to retain its Prosper Inkjet business, following an in-depth management review of business operations and multiple discussions with prospective buyers.

According to Jeff Clarke, Kodak chief executive officer,‘This is a pragmatic decision given the improvements in the business and the offers received.’ He added, ‘Prosper performed well in 2016 with a 40 per cent increase in annuity sales for the full year. We expect our Enterprise Inkjet Systems Division to be profitable this year, including our next-generation Ultrastream…’ You’ll find more in the article, as well as on the Website on Monday [10 April].

Our tailender once again serves to remind you of the 2017 Canon South African Disabled Golf Open due to take place in Cape Town in May, with Michaelhouse’s Jabu Price Moor amongst the youngest competitors joining players from Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States and South Africa for this popular event. You’ll find this among Thursday’s headlines.

That’s it until a week tomorrow, as we have the Easter long weekend coming up and too many servers and computers will be offline. You will find lots more if you scroll down carefully.

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 03 April – date published also appears in article footline

Monday

Esko’s next generation flexo platemaking: Ready now

Esko brings flexo platemaking to new levels of quality and consistency to simplify the platemaking operation…

Next generation Agfa StoreFront 4.0 released

Agfa Graphics releases version 4.0 of StoreFront, its cloud-based Web-to-print solution…

Renz launches binding covers web to print service

Renz has teamed up with High Wycombe, UK digital and large-format print specialist Your Print Solution…

The IDTechEx Show! returns to Berlin 10 – 11 May

Unparalleled market insights of 3D printing will be found at 3D Printing Europe 2017, from 10 – 11 May in Berlin…

SAi heads to FESPA 2017 in Hamburg in May

As company celebrates the 25th anniversary of its market-leading Flexi signmaking solution…

PrintCity at Interpack 2017 ‘Food Safety and Finishing’

The PrintCity Alliance will be at Interpack 2017 with Epple Druckfarben AG as a new Alliance partner…

Sun Chemical at Interpack 2017 from 4 – 10 May

Sun Chemical to showcase comprehensive portfolio of packaging solutions to brand owners at Interpack 2017…

Tuesday

Brentford open house underlines potency of joined up thinking

Heidelberg has embraced UV printing, but also the push to stop concept to raise the productivity a printer can expect. By Gareth Ward…

Canon reports on rewarding Hunkeler Innovationdays

Canon Europe reports growing confidence in inkjet and high interest in its digital sheetfed solutions at |HID 2017 in Lucerne…

World’s first user of Prinect Production Manager

Heidelberg is driving digital business models forward as Petermann GZW reaps the benefits of the software rental model…

Bobst at Interpack 2017: all about leading innovation

Bobst to highlight technology and services for the food, beverage, pharma and cosmetics packaging sectors, among others…

Esko’s new CDI Crystal: Highest quality and consistency

Inci.Flex increases quality & production capacity with new Esko CDI Crystal 5080 XPS for flexo plate production…

Version 7 of Callas pdfaPilot supports veraPDF

Callas takes the lead once again in supporting PDF standards/New functions streamline processes…

Sun Chemical adds new narrow web UV flexo inks

Sun Chemical launches high performance UV flexo inks based on next generation ink platform with exceptional benefits…

Wednesday

Esko Crystal flexo platemaking solution wins Red Dot Award

Innovative CDI Crystal 5080 XPS imager and exposure unit wins prestigious Product Design 2017 award…

Swallowmax joins H-UV club with first Komori G29 in the UK

Enfield printer has faster turnaround, higher productivity, consistency and versatility with Komori’s newest B2 press. By Gareth Ward…

Rehms Druck chooses Konica Minolta B2 inkjet

Rehms Druck in Germany in European first with Konica Minolta’s AccurioJet KM-1 as its first investment in B2 inkjet…

Straub Druck & Medien adds second Fujifilm Jet Press 720S

Straub secures high-end work as it builds growth strategy around its two ‘ultra-consistent’ Fujifilm presses…

Labelexpo Europe 2017 preparing for colossal edition

With just under six months to go Labelexpo Europe is set to be a ‘sell out’ event in Brussels, from 25 – 28 September…

Contiweb announces its new brand identity

Contiweb demonstrates strong market diversification with new brand identity and Website launch…

Pulse Roll Label Products’ new FPCompliant range

New PureTone FPC UV flexo ink system and new range of Food Packaging Compliant products launched…

Thursday

Graphica Bezalel to become first of three Landa beta sites

The traditional Israel-based offset print house has chosen the Landa S10 Nanographic Printing Press as its first digital solution…

Edelmann chooses Landa S10 Nanographic Printing Press

Edelmann’s Heidenheim production site to become first European beta installation of Landa S10 Nanographic Printing Press…

Kodak expands Process Free portfolio with Sonora UV plate

Kodak Sonora UV Process Free Plate now available in Asia, ANZ, Middle East and European markets…

JM Heaford appoints David Muncaster to senior role

Heaford appoints former Goss specialist to drive development of market-leading label and packaging technologies…

The 2017 Canon South African Disabled Golf Open

Michaelhouse’s Jabu Price Moor amongst the youngest competitors in Canon South Africa’s Disabled Golf Open in Cape Town…

Non-stop production with a compact extraction system

Hunkeler Systeme presented the compact extraction system HKU 2000-V at Hunkeler Innovationdays 2017…

UNISON chooses Horizon StitchLiner 5500

Trade union inhouse department to expand its business base…

Friday

Kodak to retain its Prosper inkjet business

Following a management review of business operations and multiple discussions with prospective buyers, ‘the range of consideration did not reflect the value of the business today,’ said Kodak’s CFO…

Messe Düsseldorf partners with IPAP Tehran

Messe Düsseldorf extends international portfolio of trade fairs for the printing and packaging industries with IPAP powered by drupa…

Esko: Perfect processing assures high-quality PDF printing

Esko reports total software compatibility and compliance with Ghent PDF Output Suite Version 5.0…

Sign & Digital delivers stellar 30th Anniversary event

Over a third of Sign & Digital UK rebooked for 2018 which returns to the NEC Birmingham from 24 – 26 April 2018…

Xeikon Café 2017 sets new records

A record number of visitors attended the 3rd edition of the Xeikon Café Packaging Innovations 2017 held in Lier last week…

Dats new Anicolor competing for digital and B2 work

As Dats Print Services adds Speedmaster SM 52-4+L Anicolor, it has already created new market opportunities…

York Mailing adds additional Goss Sunday 5000 press

YM’s acquisition follows the closure of Polestar Sheffield, boosting its portfolio to 14 web presses across four sites…

Universal Labels adds fourth MPS flexo press

Universal Labels & Packaging buys fourth MPS flexo press from Rotocon for its Midrand, Johannesburg, South Africa facility…

The lead articles from a week last Friday…

Xaar’s 3D Centre in Nottingham opens for business

The official opening of Xaar plc’s new 3D Centre on the Nottingham, Science Park in the UK took place this week…

Hunkeler underlines how Inkjet is pushing at the door of commercial print

There has been a step up in quality of inkjet printing since Hunkeler two years ago. Presses can now match offset for quality, but the challenge is now about creating the applications. By Gareth Ward…

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 Dialogue 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 Mar/Apr Chapter 04

Glatz Klischee Austria invests in Esko XPS Crystal 5080

The Austrian prepress service provider in Bregenz picks Esko’s flexo platemaking technology milestone…

Innovation in postpress taking hold in industrial print

Industrial print shops increase overall productivity using innovative drupa-generation folding machines from Heidelberg…

Perfect plate changes on Rapida sheetfed offset presses

KBA’s DriveTronic Plate Ident is designed to be used with Rapida sheetfed offset presses in half-, medium- and large-formats…

Verdigris – Environmental Initiative

Laurel Brunner’s weekly Verdigris Blogs 2017

A Long Green View

The weekly Verdigris blog by Laurel Brunner – Fri 07 Apr

The Snap, Crackle and Pop of Flexible Packaging

The weekly Verdigris blog by Laurel Brunner – Fri 31 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…

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

Messe Düsseldorf partners with IPAP Tehran

Messe Düsseldorf extends international portfolio of trade fairs for the printing and packaging industries to Iran, powered by drupa…

4th drupa Global Trends Report 2017 available now

The Report, tracking key economic and market developments in the global print industry is available now!…

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: KBA reports the highest profit margin in the company’s history!

March 27, 2017

Basic Topics on Innovation, Digital Transformation, drupa 2016, Multi-Channel Innovation, Valuable Advice, Value Contributors, Value Innovation

Download for FREE the Executive Summary of the 4th drupa Global Trends report 2017.

Claus Bolza-Schünemann, CEO of Koenig & Bauer AG (on right) and Christoph Müller, CEO of KBA-Digital & Web and KBA-Flexotecnica, making sure the new demo facilities in Wuerzburg will be on time for the 200th Anniversary opening and celebrations in September by pitching in and helping with the construction during their lunch breaks and at weekends… in exchange for a discount on the contract!

Graphic Repro On-line News to Friday 24 March 2017

Welcome to this week’s news roundup with another 30 articles from the past week, Laurel Brunner’s latest Verdigris Blog, explaining the international standard for assessing the potential deinkability of print; and news from Messe Düsseldorf advising that the 4^th Global Trends Report 2017 is now available to order, with a free Executive Summary you can download in a choice of seven languages. If you go to the news leader on Wednesday, or to our drupa Newsroom, you can read drupa director Sabine Geldermann’s introduction by following the link to the drupa Website where you can then register to download the Executive Summary for FREE. You can also purchase the full report from Messe Düsseldorf’s Online Shop in English or German for a nominal fee.

A key news highlight appeared on Wednesday, as KBA released its Annual Report for 2016, recording the highest profit margin in the company’s history, coupled with a healthy double-digit increase in revenue, market share gains in packaging and digital printing, a solid order intake with a high order backlog as the company prepares to celebrate its 200^th Anniversary later this year. You can also find more about KBA-Flexotecnica’s successful start to 2017 in Friday’s headlines.

The lead article on Tuesday, by Gareth Ward, featured Canon, as it looks to establish its Oce Colorado UV Gel inkjet as a third way between solvent and latex in roll to roll print.

You’ll find a lot of pre-show and pre-event news again this week, beginning with Esko’s European Prepress Innovation Tour on Monday; then Xeikon Café which takes place this coming week, on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. On Wednesday Sign & Digital UK announced its lineup ahead of its 30^th Anniversary show which also takes place this coming week at the NEC, Birmingham; and then a FESPA 2017 mention, set to take place in Hamburg in May.

On Thursday, Heidelberg and Gallus took the lead as they announced their lineup for Interpack 2017 taking place from 4 – 10 May in Dusseldorf, and on Friday, we have FINAT with the annual European Label Forum, set to take place from 7 – 9 June in Berlin; and lastly another early mention for InPrint 2017, set to take place in Munich in November, and once again co-located with Productronica. ICE Europe, which took place this week in Munich had mentions on both Thursday and Friday; and lastly, Lopec 2017, which takes place in Munich this coming week, is among Friday’s headlines.

Friday’s news was led by Manroland Web Systems as managing director Alexander Wassermann provides a brief background and facts about the new and innovative web offset and gravure hybrid Varioman press for flexible packaging printing, which is due to commence production at an international packaging printer early next year.

Key sales and installations successes this week came from Heidelberg USA at Adams Lithographing, and Renz UK in Leeds on Monday; from Heidelberg UK at A3 Design & Print in Surrey with a digital Versafire CP; then Essex-based trade finisher Filmdie with a new Horizon perfect binder and three-side trimmer from IFS; followed by Contiweb/DG with a Thallo press for identity and security print at De La Rue in Malta; and lastly Edale with a 7-colour press in Devon – all on Tuesday. On Thursday, Cape Town-based Creative Brands in South Africa announced that it has added a Xerox X1000 Digital Colour Press from Oxbow and Bytes to boost productivity. This was followed by Polar in Portugal with a fourth new cutter equipped for labels at Calipolense in Vila Viçosa.

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 Ireland’s Cian Arthurs joining players from France, England, the United States and South Africa for this popular event – in Thursday’s headlines.

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

My best regards,

Mike Hilton

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 March – date published also appears in article footline

Monday

Esko announces Prepress Innovation European Tour ’17

Following success in DACH, Esko is expanding its roadshow to other parts of Europe and America…

Scodix at Xeikon Café, from 28 to 31 March 2017

Scodix to illustrate a competitive edge for printers through digital enhancement at Xeikon Café 2017 next week…

Total cost to manufacture pushes publishers to inkjet

Many modern inkjet presses do so much more than just print. They also fold, collate, glue blocks for covers and trim books…

Speedmaster CD 102-X increases Adams’ capacity by 50%

Adams Lithographing also expects to add 30% more overall volume with Speedmaster CD 102-Xs added efficiency…

Renz buy helps Leeds Die Cutting secure profitability

Leeds Trade finisher completes the transformation of its wire binding production with its third Renz-supplied solution…

Tuesday

Canon creates extra-large format category with UV Gel technology

Canon looks to establish Colorado UV Gel inkjet as a third way between solvent and latex in roll to roll print. By Gareth Ward…

A3 Design & Print adds Heidelberg Versafire CP

A3 Design & Print opts for digital Versafire CP to its suite of Heidelberg equipment, replacing two older KM machines…

Filmdie expands trade binding services with Horizon

Operation is 50% faster with IFS-supplied Horizon BQ-470 perfect binder and Horizon HT-30 three-side trimmer…

De La Rue opts for Contiweb/DG Thallo web press

De La Rue concludes Thallo deal for Centre of Excellence for identity and security print in Malta…

Tamar Packaging purchases Edale FL5 for cartons

UK packaging company Tamar has invested in a 7-colour FL5-510 Carton with combination drying…

Wednesday

4th drupa Global Trends Report 2017 available now

The report, tracking key economic and market developments in the global print industry is available now!…

Koenig & Bauer on a growth and profitability trajectory

Annual Report 2016: Backed by a significant increase in revenue and profit, the KBA group achieved or exceeded targets set in 2015…

Sign & Digital UK’s 30th Anniversary final lineup

Sign & Digital UK announces latest exhibitor news ahead of the 2017 show, from 28 to 30 March at the NEC, Birmingham…

Drytac at Sign & Digital UK 2017, 28 – 30 March

Introducing bacteria’s worst new enemy: Protac Anti-Bacterial film from Drytac at next week’s Sign & Digital at the NEC…

SMAG Digital Galaxie finishing solution at Xeikon

High-end digital finishing of wine, spirit & perfume applications presented by SMAG at the Xeikon Café Packaging Innovations…

Nazdar latest ink innovations at FESPA 2017

Nazdar Ink Technologies to exhibit new and established digital inkjet and screen-printing inks and special effects…

Thursday

Heidelberg and Gallus at Interpack 2017 from 4 to 10 May

Pioneer in digitisation for growth market of packaging printing with ‘Smart Print Shop – Zero Defect Packaging’ motto…

BST Eltromat and Kampf at ICE Europe in Munich this week

Industry 4.0: BST Eltromat and Kampf show practical examples at ICE Europe at the Munich Trade Fair Centre from 21 – 23 March…

Color-Logic certifies Ricoh L4100 Series in latex first

Ricoh’s Pro L4100 Series is first latex system to achieve global Color-Logic certification, to be shown at FESPA 2017…

Iggesund’s premium paperboard at Xeikon Café next week

Live print demonstrations will show high-quality effects of Invercote and Incada paperboard grades in digital luxury packaging…

The 2017 Canon South African Disabled Golf Open

Ireland’s Cian Arthur a tough contender in the 2017 Canon South African Disabled Golf Open in Cape Town in May…

Creative Brands creates competitive edge with Xerox

Cape Town-based Creative Brands adds Xerox X1000 Digital Colour Press from Oxbow and Bytes to boost productivity…

Calipolense adds its fourth label cutter from Polar

The Portuguese label printer in Vila Viçosa recently purchased a Polar N 115 AT HD equipped with label options…

Friday

Packaging Printing Redefined at Manroland Web Systems

The Manroland Varioman: Background and facts about the innovative web offset Varioman press for flexible packaging printing…

KBA-Flexotecnica hails successful start to 2017

And closer co-operation with KBA-Digital & Web with new shared demo centre for digital and flexo in Würzburg…

ICE Europe 2017 provided the ideal setting for Meech

ICE Europe was the ideal setting for Meech to address converting industry’s static control and web cleaning needs…

FINAT European Label Forum: A brief for the label industry

Familiarly known as ‘ELF’ the annual European Label Forum is set to take place this year in Berlin from 7 – 9 June…

SPGPrints at LOPEC 2017 in Munich 28 – 29 March

SPGPrints to highlight reliability of non-woven nickel RotaMesh and PlanoMesh screens for printed electronics…

Label Traxx workflow optimisation at Xeikon Café

Label Traxx automated print management software will show attendees streamlined and automated digital label workflow…

InPrint 2017 in Munich from 14 – 16 November

Leading technology providers showcasing amongst exhibitors at InPrint 2017, again co-located with Productronica…

The lead articles from a week last 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…

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

Online Feature articles 2014 – 2017

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 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…

Verdigris – Environmental Initiative

Laurel Brunner’s weekly Verdigris Blogs 2017

Case Getting Louder for ISO 21331

The weekly Verdigris blog by Laurel Brunner – Fri 24 Mar

Digital Printing for Packaging

The weekly Verdigris blog by Laurel Brunner – Fri 17 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

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

4th drupa Global Trends Report 2017 available now

The Report, tracking key economic and market developments in the global print industry is available now!…

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

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

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

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

More than 60 Ricoh Pro VC60000s in two years

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 4^th 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

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.

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

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:

Online Feature articles 2014 – 2017

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

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

Out soon: 4th drupa Global trends Report 2017

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

News from Messe Düsseldorf

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::

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

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

Mike Hilton’s Global News Review: It’s all about Imaging and Inkjet!

September 19, 2016

Digital Transformation, Trends @ Graphic Communications, Valuable Advice, Value Contributors, Value Innovation