With regard to dramatically falling stock market prices: Are printing press manufacturers and, with them, the printers (once again) in a deep crisis? The answer is “no, but …” — because the most sensitive thing is that the structural change in the print media business has a deeper impact than previously thought. And most underestimated that.
Status quo: Nothing goes any further!
The vast majority of printers and their suppliers can no longer produce organic growth.
Cost-cutting measures are largely exploited resp. certainly not a guarantee of success in the long run.
The tried and tested measures for the industry in critical situations — the switch to new technologies for print media production (eg inkjet printing) — does not pull anymore, as it has not really got going for years and therefore only looks like a drop in the bucket.
Last but not least, according to the feedback from the audience: media-effective, public events such as press conferences at trade shows or financial press conferences are usually completely overcrowded, dripping and riddled with insider details that prevent them from gaining an eye for the essentials.
Are ad hoc measures still possible? Yes and no. — Too much has to change fundamentally, as the valuable #Think!Paper expert analysis shows. Over the past eight days, leading minds from Europe and America have come to the heart of their assessment of the future of print. Tenor: Print has a future and fits perfectly into the digital age. Provided the business philosophy is radically refurbished and new go-to-market strategies and implementation solutions are found accordingly
Thanks to Fraser Church from the UK, the most important finding for print shops is that the industry actually has the best chance. Because print as a medium delivers through its outstanding core properties — Trust and Value – exactly what print companies and their suppliers have to use and assert.
This is best achieved through exemplary multichannel marketing campaigns designed for conversations, which make print appear brilliant in networked communication scenarios. — But far from that there is nothing to see. Functioning genre marketing has always been foreign to the industry! Everyone always cooks their own soup. Pity!
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Further reading
The current and exclusive #Think!Paper expert analyzes in the form of short interviews at a glance:
What we do We evaluate and profile print and its proponents as an effective driving force for transformation – across all industries!
Our mission We show, first and foremost, that print is by no means driftwood in an ocean of transformation (with Titanic-style effects) but rather a solid anchor for the ‘tsunamis in our heads’!
Our USP
We are bringing together the brightest minds to form interdisciplinary #Think!Teams with a global outlook.
We are building up the finest pool of expertise with a clear focus on interaction, discourse, customer experience and sustainable conversations.
We are reinforcing the bedrock of any successful ‘digital’ transformation – proficient, dynamic and meaningful communication.
Benefits for our partners We help our partners make new and market-relevant discoveries that inspire them and inject new energy into their development.
There are experiences that are unforgettable. Fraser Church lastingly impressed around 200 top experts who came to the 3rd DigitaldruckForum Congress in Gutenberg’s hometown Mainz, Germany, on November 11, 2004. He described as a profound marketing expert in the opening lecture “Creativity Creates Innovation” how to use print products individually, highly automated, targeted and highly effective. What he was talking about at that time is still valid today!“ — Benchmark!
What is the beauty of print in the digital age?
Fraser Church:The growth of the internet, digital and social media has changed our lives and how we act as people. Everyone expects instant access to information, and for many the technology has changed people’s behaviours as they want instant “likes” gratification. The speed at which information can be generated and delivered, means that some of the communication sent by both individuals and businesses is not always considered. It also generates content that is often ignored, or at best instantly deleted by the swipe of a finger or the click of a mouse. A phone’s secondary function is now a phone, with the usage enormously skewed towards messaging and listening/watching media.
For may they have lost the anticipation of receiving and opening a personal letter, or the more personal contact from a phone call, rather than an often-misunderstood electronic message.
Whilst many anticipated the demise of print, it is having a resurgence. Why? Well for starters, it is a tactile media that provides a sensory experience. The growth of eBooks has slowed, and by my reckoning based on watching others on my daily commute is declining as we see the resurgence of the printed book. Reading a physical book is a pleasurable experience, not only whilst commuting but also curled up on the sofa or in bed at bedtime. There is something good about folding over a page as you turn the bedside light off – the chapter for that day has finished.
Print also has longevity. Whether browsing for a fitted kitchen or catching up on the week with the Sunday papers, the medium is easily picked up, put down, revisited and shared. It is also a trusted medium – perhaps there is a belief that if someone has gone to the bother of printing something, then it must have been considered.
This is not print versus digital, but the right medium at the right time, with print definitely not dead in the digital age.
Everything in the mobile age is so fast. Why is the adoption of digital printing technology innovations so slow?
Fraser Church: In the lifespan of print, digital print is only in its infancy. It is only in recent years that we have seen the quality and speed of continuous inkjet be comparable to some of the more traditional off-set technologies.
Printing companies tend to be established businesses, with overheads, work-force and commitments to owners and shareholders. They have grown steadily with appropriate supporting infrastructures. They are not to be compared to digital start-ups who often are run out of serviced offices with minimal employees, and sometimes investment made on a speculative high risk/reward basis. Print Service Providers are real businesses with real people and established clients.
Investing in digital print technology therefore needs to be considered. The costs of investment are high (we are not talking about disposable desk-top printers), and any properly managed business would look for positive and sustainable ROI before making such investments. Therefore, until the commercials of speed, quality and cost stack-up, printers have rightly sometimes been shy of betting on the future. This is not about having the shiniest new toy, but all about providing a better product at a better cost for each customer.
With some of the recent advancements, I now believe the scales are increasingly tipping towards digital as it can deliver for not only shorter runs on specialist papers, but also long run across a wider range of stocks. Investing in this technology is now a much easier decision.
What are the key drivers for a powerful and successful print services business today and what will it be in the future?
Fraser Church: Understanding that print is not the only channel and that it can work well when working with other channels is vital. Each media has its own strength: Digital in instant news share, mobile for reminding, Apps for interactivity and print when you need something considered or need to promote trust and value.
Printers also need to understand data. Our industry is not now about producing multiple copies of the same item, but instead delivering unique, relevant experiences for every individual. With the advancement of technology, there is no reason that every catalogue a retailer sends out cannot be unique to the individual, with promoted items selected based on customer profile and shopping habits. But to do this print service providers need to understand how to work with their customers to use the data they hold to optimise the communication, with print often only being one part of an integrated communication plan.
It is also important to recognise that the modern marketer has been brought up in a digital world. Do not expect them to understand either print, or more importantly, what opportunities are possible with modern, dynamic and interactive digital print. People in our industry need to be evangelists.
Business who will succeeded are those that can take their customers on this journey and let them see the art of the possible. Print Service Providers, must now see themselves as Marketing Service Providers, often expanding their range of services to offer integrated campaigns. The future will be bright for those who do not just keep their heads down looking at ways to cut costs, but for those who recognise that we are in perhaps the most dynamic age of communication…and embrace it
Fraser Church is General Manager of CPX Group (www.cpx.group), a co-operative of eleven of the world’s largest and most innovative print and digital communication companies. He loves nothing better than evangelising about how print can deliver real value and return on investment for brands engaging with their customers.
We evaluate and profile print and its proponents as an effective driving force for transformation – across all industries!
Our mission
We show, first and foremost, that print is by no means driftwood in an ocean of transformation (with Titanic-style effects) but rather a solid anchor for the ‘tsunamis in our heads’!
Our USP
We are bringing together the brightest minds to form interdisciplinary #Think!Teams with a global outlook.
We are building up the finest pool of expertise with a clear focus on interaction, discourse, customer experience and sustainable conversations.
We are reinforcing the bedrock of any successful ‘digital’ transformation – proficient, dynamic and meaningful communication.
Benefits for our partners
We help our partners make new and market-relevant discoveries that inspire them and inject new energy into their development.
What we do We evaluate and profile print and its proponents as an effective driving force for transformation – across all industries!
Our mission We show, first and foremost, that print is by no means driftwood in an ocean of transformation (with Titanic-style effects) but rather a solid anchor for the ‘tsunamis in our heads’!
Our USP
We are bringing together the brightest minds to form interdisciplinary #Think!Teams with a global outlook.
We are building up the finest pool of expertise with a clear focus on interaction, discourse, customer experience and sustainable conversations.
We are reinforcing the bedrock of any successful ‘digital’ transformation – proficient, dynamic and meaningful communication.
Benefits for our partners We help our partners make new and market-relevant discoveries that inspire them and inject new energy into their development.
Much is mixed up or misrepresented in the discussions regarding “digital transformation” in the context of print. Success factors and new potentials are hardly achievable. At least, it certainly does not have to be mentioned that print production is a 100 percent data-driven and thus digital process, with constantly new and unique applications. But, where is the beef?
Challenge: Solutions available — and who knows?
Communication about a product is as important as the product or service itself.
What if there are highly complex technical solutions that could enable customers or customers’ customers to better manage and profit from the process of digital innovation and the necessary transformation?
Learn from communication errors
When it comes to understanding, informing, convincing, finding acceptance or even influencing opinions — be it employees, customers, potential customers, shareholders or even the media for the public — all of us obviously did not everything right but probably too much wrong.
Current sales figures and stock market prices on a low/declining level speak for itself.
The solution: #Think!Paper
Based on an exchange of views, knowledge and experience, we have developed an innovative approach to business communication, which itself is the best example of innovation and transformation.
While the well-known form of the static ’White Paper’ points out problems in the existing and designs possible solutions, the newly developed format of the #Think!Paper offers a dynamic form of expert communication via conversation based on perpetuum mobile-effects:
We use our profound knowledge to gain insights in an ongoing dialogue, to question things wisely, and to clarify in dialogue with others. Transformation can only succeed if we align communication with human-to-human relationships.
How does it work?
Think!Paper appears as a novel, cross-media, interactive publication designed as a sequel and compatible with the essence of transformation: research, analysis, assessment, insights and recommendations are always in flux.
Updates will be done by the publishers / authors in the team with selected-qualified partners as contributors.
In addition to a strong social media presence, the centerpiece is the ValueBlog, with excerpts appearing in the DRUCKMARKT (PDF magazines and print editions). As a special edition of the DRUCKMARKT collections, the Think!Paper is available to partners and subscribers for individual use.
Selected partners are actively involved and part of the conversation: Technology manufacturers and users who demonstrably contribute to the transformation of and with print for the digital age.
Together we reduce complexity and create clarity — promised!
The most important topics at a glance:
What is actually meant by “digital transformation”?
What role does print play?
Which benefits are available?
Where do we stand (Best Practice)?
Where do we have to go (Strategy & Outlook)?
Start: August 2018 — Destination: #drupa2020
On July 18, 2018 we celebrated the informal Think!Paper Kick-off. Günter Thomas, Founder and Head of GT… https://t.co/mqetRq9MZV
Photos: Heidelberg / HDU. Collage: Andreas Weber, Frankfurt am Main
“We’re remodeling customer interfaces for Heidelberg and creating a seamless digital ecosystem for its customers.”– Rainer Wiedmann, Head of the Heidelberg Digital Unit (HDU) and Chief Marketing Officer at Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG.
New digital ecosystem for the print media industry
The new “leading light function” of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG heralded by CEO Rainer Hundsdörfer midway through 2017 is increasingly taking shape and making dynamic progress. “The new Heidelberg Digital Unit is boosting the company’s e-commerce business, online presence, and digital marketing expertise,” said member of the Management Board and Chief Digital Officer Dr. Ulrich Hermann just recently.
What exactly does that entail? Rainer Wiedmann discussed this publicly for the first time in an interview for ValueDialog. A successful digital pioneer, Wiedmann took charge of the Heidelberg Digital Unit start-up company (HDU for short) on April 1, 2018 in parallel with his role as the Heidelberg Group’s Chief Marketing Officer. – The interview was conducted by Head of Value Andreas Weber.
Location: Wiesloch-Walldorf, with branches in China, the United States, and Asia
Initial workforce: 50
Objective: To enjoy dynamic growth and establish the number one digital ecosystem in the print sector
Partner: Internet specialist iq!
As CDO on the Heidelberg Management Board, Dr. Ulrich Hermann is a dynamic driving force behind the company’s digital transformation.
Digital business models inspire the customer journey
Mr. Wiedmann, you were already a digital pioneer over 20 years ago when you founded the argonauten group, a multimedia agency that was an immediate success. What has changed since then?
Rainer Wiedmann: Back then, I was already heavily involved in shaping customer interfaces. This approach led by way of marketing innovation to e-commerce. Nowadays, the focus is on end-to-end digital business models. Thanks to IoT (the Internet of Things), machine learning, voice control, and similar innovations, a complete digital customer journey is now possible for the first time – not only sales & marketing, but many other parts of the value chain are being digitized.
So you see this as a linear dynamic development?
Rainer Wiedmann: What I see is an extremely dynamic process. An online presence is no longer the be-all and end-all. Access to customers and interaction with them are the most relevant things. Based on the new approach, an optimum customer interface is essential if digitization is to generate value.
What’s your motivation for treading new ground with HDU in the mechanical engineering sector, of all places?
Rainer Wiedmann: I started out as an engineer and, following my studies at the University of St. Gallen’s Institute of Technology Management, I gained vital experience with a large number of industrial customers. New forms of connectivity are rapidly transforming mechanical engineering, and Heidelberg is extremely well placed to benefit from this development.
How so?
Rainer Wiedmann: Our machines have long been networked. We also have our own global sales and service organization with a portfolio incorporating hardware, software, and consumables.
What’s more, the executive management team at Heidelberg understands exactly what transformation through digitization means, as demonstrated among other things by the new subscription model – a first in the industry. As I see it, all this creates the perfect conditions!
HDU in a nutshell
How is the newly founded HDU positioning itself in this context?
Rainer Wiedmann: Our goal is to design customer interfaces for Heidelberg that create a seamless digital ecosystem for the company’s customers.
What are HDU’s core values?
Rainer Wiedmann: HDU is all about creating added value based on permanence, consistency, and relevance. Its main value lies in getting the maximum number of existing and potential customers to use the Heidelberg offering on a weekly or, better still, daily basis. It’s not simply a case of registering a large number of nominal users in the system, but of having as many active users as possible. As I see it, content, function, coverage, and interaction are the key to success.
Does your new approach with HDU fit in with the Heidelberg culture?
Rainer Wiedmann: On the one hand, the people at Heidelberg come across as being open and innovative. On the other, they like to follow precise rules. In the digital transformation context, however, I feel a more target-driven approach is vital for employees.
What does that achieve?
Rainer Wiedmann: One advantage of HDU that can be transferred to Heidelberg is that in order to achieve specified goals or optimize target achievement, we work as a team on the structure of rules so that we can make adjustments as and when required.
Heidelberg is indisputably strong when it comes to technical innovation. But what about the company’s customers? Are you aware of any reservations about digitization?
Rainer Wiedmann: Given that all kinds of print production have long been based on digital data, our customers are well advanced with the process of digitization, and e-commerce is nothing new to them either. Online printing has created a huge new growth market. Our approach of working closely with customers to offer a comprehensive package providing peace of mind has therefore proved very popular. If you know what needs to be done and the goals are clear, digitization in printing is regarded very much as an opportunity.
Digital print shop processes are one thing, but the go-to-market strategy in the digital age is another matter entirely. I see a weakness here. Am I right?
Rainer Wiedmann: The important thing in my eyes is for Heidelberg to demonstrate the positive effects of digitization as effectively as possible to customers who are in dialog with us. Only personal experience gives a proper impression of how print shops can also put this to good use in their own customer relations.
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Screenshots from the Heidelberg Digital Unit’s new website.
HDU mission statements
“We develop innovative digital sales, marketing, and service solutions for all stages of the customer journey and deliver measurable results with a multidisciplinary team and external partners focused on success.”
“We contribute to the operational excellence of all Heidelberg units by offering a digital, state-of-the-art ecosystem that sets new standards in this area.”
“We don’t shy away from any risk. We rely on our entrepreneurial skills and make unexpected, disruptive decisions that enable us to score points with our customers.”
“We won’t let anything stop us achieving our goals and dreams. Continuously pursuing them and measuring our progress will see us succeed.”
“We embrace the digital age. We enjoy working with people who leave the office happy because everyone has done their best and is proud to be part of the team.”
It’s all about clear goals and measurable successes
HDU started out with 50 staff and is aiming to expand rapidly. What skills do you require?
Rainer Wiedmann: Around 80 percent of our initial team are very experienced and highly skilled in the print market. We’re adding new people who have experience in areas such as e-commerce, digital marketing, and social media.
What’s special about your team?
Rainer Wiedmann: We have the right mix! The mutual respect and common goals of our “mixed” team make us particularly effective. The excellent market position enjoyed by Heidelberg and our geographical proximity to the company are very helpful and motivate us all. We are “Born in Heidelberg” – a statement that perfectly demonstrates our unshakable commitment. It also boosts our credentials as an employer beyond the confines of the sector.
How is HDU’s work being integrated into the Heidelberg Group’s everyday operations? And how is the collaboration going?
Rainer Wiedmann: We’ve gotten off to a very promising start because we actively approach Heidelberg staff, provide them with all the information they need, and listen to what they have to say. We have contacts for the individual Heidelberg business units and access to all the sales units. Our global Growth Hacking Tour has already started. We’re using it to raise the local profile of our portfolio in key markets, offer training on our new tools and software solutions, and introduce e-commerce initiatives that we’ve developed.
Roadmap of the Global Growth Hacking Tour in the startup phase of the HDU. (Photo: screenshot from the HDU website)
Focus on maximum competitiveness and market relevance
Does that effectively mean HDU is offering in-house consulting and agency services at Heidelberg?
Rainer Wiedmann: Yes, but we’re not uniquely a service provider. We offer support with customized tools, efficient campaigns, and in-depth know-how. And we enter into clear target agreements. Our task is to create measurable results and boost e-commerce sales. We focus closely on figures to deliver success. And we achieve results as a team when we generate leads and sales.
What is the response to the Growth Hacking Tour?
Rainer Wiedmann: People are immediately seeing that we’re coming to them with the offer of added value for their day-to-day work and demonstrating a true community spirit. As a subsidiary, we have a clear advantage. We’re creating a trusting relationship from scratch for joint success.
Looking beyond Heidelberg, competitors on the digital printing market are claiming they provide their own digital platforms as ecosystems for print. What can and do you want to do differently or even better?
Rainer Wiedmann: Yes, we have our rivals, but in our segment – commercial and packaging printing – we have the highest market shares and by far the largest installed base. What’s more, we’ve had the world’s largest database for presses for over ten years.
And that means what?
Rainer Wiedmann: It enables us to offer even better functions and optimum access to our entire portfolio along with detailed knowledge of specific customer interests that is always up to date. Our extremely strong service is now helping to expand things again on the operating side.
So does that mean the HDU ecosystem must make it possible, based on the Heidelberg platform, to significantly improve all aspects of performance?
Rainer Wiedmann: We don’t simply want production to run smoothly at print shops. At the end of the day, we’re improving our customers’ competitiveness and market relevance – not just here and there but at all levels as far as possible.
Hand on heart, as a digital expert, what do you say to the boss of a print shop whose customers tell him printing is outdated and they no longer want to use it?
Rainer Wiedmann: Print media will never disappear. In fact, we’re seeing growth in areas such as packaging, labels, and mass customization. Yes, there are shifts from analog to digital – in particular when it comes to company marketing – but new applications will keep on emerging. For me, HDU’s main task in the long term is to unlock this new potential and enable customers to act flexibly, proactively, and sustainably as times change.
How do you personally think HDU will fare in the short, medium, and long term?
Rainer Wiedmann: I’m more than confident.We’re sticking to the vision and mission we formulated for HDU. And we’re measuring our progress, then responding immediately.
– Thank you very much for this interview.
My take on things – a solution of striking simplicity
It’s enough to take your breath away. Heidelberg is putting in an impressive sprint on the home straight, hurtling forward in a completely new guise – the Heidelberg Digital Unit (HDU) – and showing the competition quite clearly who’s in first place when it comes to digital transformation.
It’s official! A traditional company has without doubt completely reinvented itself – in record time –demonstrating the courage to take risks based on its wide-ranging expertise in printing and all things digital. Rather than abandoning much of the previous system, the company is using and optimizing it to benefit from new developments. One important additional aspect: Heidelberg has realized that in the digital age it’s no longer sufficient to aim for success with best-in-class product innovations.
Launching HDU in this form is a real stroke of genius in my opinion. A subsidiary designed as a start-up – fast, flexible, and firmly anchored with an excellent network – it provides new, user-oriented “digital” services for the Group and at the same time becomes a pacesetter with measurable results to make sales, marketing, and services permanently fit for the digital age on a global level. In my eyes, that’s the perfect way to firmly establish highly innovative products and solutions on the market on a lasting basis.
The biggest winners are Heidelberg customers and the market as a whole because, for the first time, they have access to a well thought-out, effective ecosystem in the form of an exponential platform that takes industrialprint production to a whole new level in the digital age and makes it fit for the future. To sum up, this is a real win-win situation – especially for Heidelberg staff, shareholders, and numerous new partners.
Rainer Wiedmanncomes from Stuttgart and is one of Germany’s great digital pioneers. After studying at the universities of Stuttgart and St. Gallen and gaining several years of professional experience, he founded the argonauten group (350 employees at 11 international locations) in 1996, the aquarius group (100 employees based in Munich, Hong Kong, and Shanghai) in 2005, and the iq! group (based in Munich and Palo Alto) in 2014.
The iq! group maintains close links with the new Heidelberg Digital Unit (HDU), which started operating on April 1, 2018 with 50 employees.
HDU is a start-up company and a subsidiary of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, where Wiedmann plays a dual role as Head of HDU and Chief Marketing Officer.
From 1999 to 2003, Wiedmann was President of the Deutscher Multimedia Verband e.V. (now BVDW e.V.). From 2003 to 2004, he was on the board of Gesamtverband Kommunikationsagenturen GWA e.V. in Frankfurt.
About the author
Andreas Weber has been a print expert and internationally renowned business communication analyst, coach, influencer, and networker for over 25 years. His activities focus on transformation for the digital age and include lectures, management briefings, workshops, analyses, reports, and strategic advice. – His blog www.valuetrendradar.com inspires readers from over 140 countries worldwide.
Graphic Repro On-line News to Friday 20 October 2017
Welcome to this week’s roundup of 25 news items (actually 36 if you count the InPrint collection of 12 on Wednesday all rolled into one). You’ll also find Laurel Brunner’s Verdigris Blog titled ‘Eco-nomy’, which this week looks at how the marriage of ecology and economics is becoming increasingly obvious and necessary for business. As a result, developers are constantly moving to offer technologies that reduce product life cycle footprints, as well as perform more efficiently for their customers. Then we have Andreas Weber back in Online Features with his latest piece: ‘#InfluenceB2B — Transformation for the Digital Age’. Please don’t miss them.
Good news this week has been rather difficult to come by at times, after last week’s multiple events which gave it a welcome boost. However, there have been some interesting announcements and developments. Heidelberg led the headlines on Monday as it successfully recertified all of its worldwide locations to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 for quality and environmental management; while Xeikon has discontinued development of its Trillium liquid toner programme announced at drupa last year. On Tuesday, Ricoh South Africa took the lead with digitalisation in the fore at its new demo facility in Johannesburg; and on Wednesday, InPrint news took the first three spots for a dozen of its exhibitors, including Heidelberg with personalisation as a megatrend, as it prepares to showcase its digital 4D printing solutions for the automotive industry; and then we h ad Sun Chemical on Friday, which also announced its IPEX offerings the day prior.
On Thursday, Smithers Pira brought Heidelberg back into the lead, following its most recent report on leading makes of second-hand presses, which reveals that Heidelberg presses are the most productive in the industry – up to a staggering 66% more productive – producing the lowest cost per sheet. The report is available to download from a link in the article, so you can see for yourself. And to round off the week on Friday, Canon Europe has achieved Greenguard Gold Certification from UL Environment for its Océ Arizona UV inks and Océ Colorado UVgel inks.
You’ll find quite a mixed bag of news in addition to the above if you check out the headlines carefully, including more post-Labelexpo successes from Mouvent, and MPS; as well as post World Publishing Expo from Kodak, which debuted new News CTP offerings, improved newspaper plates and its high-speed inkjet additions for newspaper presses.
Sales and installations this week include Ultragraph with Versafire CP from Heidelberg UK; while Gotha Druck und Verpackung in Günthersleben-Wechmar, Germany, has chosen a Goss Sunday 5000. On Tuesday, Hopkins Printing in Columbus, Ohio has increased productivity by 30% with a new Stahlfolder TH 82-P with pallet feeder; and Dome in Sacramento, California has undertaken a multimillion-dollar investment in a Koenig & Bauer Rapida 106 and Rapida 205; while six months on from its Jet Press 720S installation, Kingfisher Press in the UK confirms its progress. On Wednesday, Polish commercial printer BZGraf continues its modernisation with a new eight-colour Rapida 106 perfector from Koenig & Bauer. Thursday saw LR Medienverlag und Druckerei in Cottbus, eastern Germany invest in a FlexLiner inserting system from Muller Martini; and on Friday MP S celebrates the double sale of its hybrid EF Symjet press at Labelexpo in Brussels; and last but not least, Rengel Printing in St Cloud, Minnesota has more than doubled output following installation of a new Speedmaster SX 52 with coater.
What else? New kit from Duplo UK on Tuesday as it adds Esper direct mail solutions to its other brands portfolio; and a tailender from Manroland Web Systems on Thursday, as its introduced MainPad as its new mobile service and maintenance tablet at WPE in Berlin.
e-News comprises: Headline News – Online Feature Articles – the Verdigris initiative and our drupa Newsroom, all of which can be accessed from the Website Home Page and its Index. We also have News in Review, which provides an overview of the week’s news each weekend.
Headline News
Almost 30,000 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 pages
Week beginning Mon 16 October – the published date appears in article footline Monday Heidelberg locations worldwide recertified to ISO Heidelberg successfully recertified to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 for quality and environmental management…
Tuesday Ricoh SA offers a window into the digitalised future Ricoh SA has created a new demo facility at its Linbro Business Park offices in Johannesburg, South Africa to provide a window into the digitalised office of the future…
Duplo expands direct mail solutions portfolio Duplo expands direct mail portfolio with Esper DM-230V Pro Collator and the DM Mini Collation system… Wednesday InPrint 2017 Exhibitors’ top stories Announcements for InPrint in Munich from Bochonow Maschinenbau Polar UV, ColorGATE. Fujifilm UK, Gardner Denver Thomas, GEW, Heidelberg, Dr. Hönle, Hymmen, Memcon, Ushio Europe, Wemhöner Surface Technologies, and EPS with Xaar…
drupa 2020 (drupa), the international flagship fair of the printing and media industry. Visit the drupa 2020 Website.You can also visit blog.drupa.comfor the latest industry news and developments.
Online Feature articles 2017 Only 49 articles last year – but you will find another eleven Expert Articles and ten drupa ante portas Blogs from Andreas Weber in our drupa Newsroom. There were over 70 in 2015, and over 90 in 2013 and in 2014 which can still be accessed via the Index on the Home Page.
Previous… Every second counts at FLYERALARM Rapida 145: Complete job changes in just two minutes… Verdigris – Environmental Initiative Laurel Brunner’s weekly Verdigris Blogs 2017
Eco-nomy The weekly Verdigris blog by Laurel Brunner – Mon 16 Oct
Previous… LED Fever The weekly Verdigris blog by Laurel Brunner – Mon 09 Sep 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…just scroll down to view each Chapter News from Messe Düsseldorf 2017 Previous… Intelligent Printing in Focus All in Print China to be staged at the new International Expo Center in Shanghai from 24 to 28 October 2018…
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 is supported and sponsored by: Drupa 2020, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, and Kemtek Imaging Systems 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.
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
Printing is one of the world’s largest and most sustainable industries. Gartner’s market researchers consider innovations such as 4D printing to be a key driving force among 2016’s emerging technologies. Image collage: Andreas Weber, Mainz/Frankfurt am Main.
The ValueTrendRadar Analysis entitled “Prospects for adding value with print” is now available and will, for the first time, provide a comprehensive, holistic view of the global print situation. There is good reason for focusing in particular on Germany, because this is where the modern-day printing industry originated, while the global perspective is not neglected either.
Quite clearly, print is an economic heavyweight. As one of the world’s largest and thus most sustainable industries, it is indispensable. The (partially unexpected) growth drivers of online trade, online print, and 4D printing combined with the core competence of packaging and label printing are creating lucrative incentives for many.
This is resulting in a huge outlay for technology, innovation, and investment. The positioning of technology suppliers is separating the wheat from the chaff. Manufacturers focusing solely on digital printing technology see themselves as the “reformers” of print. Their substitution/ displacement strategy is not having the predicted success, though, because even after 25 years they have failed to win high market shares. Despite a high growth rate, their share of the market remains at an extremely low level. The bulk of print volumes comes from conventional technologies in a modernized form.
Germany’s long-established mechanical engineering companies (with Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG at the forefront) have reinvented themselves, successfully integrating digital printing into the world of offset printing and taking on the role of pacesetters in the repositioning of print. The goal is to bring about the digital transformation of industrial printing with the focus on growth markets and versatile high-profile customers. Autonomous printing, automation, and standardization of all process steps – from online print to eCommerce – is possible but requires more than just technology innovation options. Above all, in-depth knowledge is needed for integrated monitoring and control throughout the print production value-added chain – also in the context of the paradigms of digitization. This extends from “digital” business management to new, cloud-based services and offerings that require an innovative go-to-market approach and sales communication geared to interaction.
A sound basis provides room for maneuver. The only way to add more value with print is to stimulate the demand for modern-day print products on a sustained basis. Print doesn’t sell itself because, as already explained, new kinds of striking concepts that are geared to market requirements and adopt an integrative approach to the professional manufacture, distribution, and use of print media hold the key to the future of print. In order to be successful in the printing industry, it is vital not to rely solely on vertical positioning in individual applications, but to cater specifically to customer and market needs and ensure continuous innovation leadership that will maintain print’s role as an attractive part of the communication mix, even after over 500 years.
Consumers associate printed newspapers with waste, but correcting this impression doesn’t seem to be a priority for the newspaper industry.
Graphic Repro On-line News Review to Friday 07 October 2016
Welcome to another roundup with 28 news articles posted during the past week, plus Laurel Brunner’s latest Verdigris Blog added on Friday, entitled Newspapers and Change. In her opening paragraph Laurel states: ‘Newspaper publishers should be doing much more to counter perception that print is bad for the environment. Consumers associate printed newspapers with waste, but correcting this impression doesn’t seem to be a priority for the newspaper industry. This has to change, even though publishers may have other things on their minds like the precipitous decline in print sales.’ You can read the rest of the article by using the link in the Verdigris section below.
The latest and No 10 in the series of Wild Format Technology Guides by Sonja Angerer was added this week. Entitled The Art and Science of Very Fine Drops, it explains why Inkjet is unique amongst printing technologies, where there is no other option to print on such a wide varieties of substrates with such efficiency and ease. Enjoy it. You can download an illustrated PDF from the link in the article below.
Upcoming events that feature prominently this week include The Print Show 2016, which opens its doors at the NEC in Birmingham tomorrow. You’ll find news from several exhibitors, including Sawgrass on Tuesday, and Intec on both Thursday and Friday, with the lead article on Friday taken from Gareth Ward at the Print Business, devoted to his take on the show, now in its second year and with an increase in demand for space this time around. It’s on until Thursday 13 October and has some nice offerings.
Domino Digital Printing Solutions will showcase a range of technologies at All4pack 2016 in Paris from 14 to 17 November. The show was previously known as Emballage. On Tuesday, Martin Bailey at Global Graphics led the news, as Global announced it is to chair a new ISO task force for a new PDF production workflow standard that will make it possible to describe what a final printed piece is supposed to look like. Leading the news on Thursday: KBA Report 49 is now available either as a printed version or to download online in multiple languages from KBA using the link in the article. The theme is ‘Print is on the up once more’, as this latest issue takes a closer look at some of innovations unveiled at drupa 2016.
There’s so much more for you is you scroll down, including some nice orders and installations including Ricoh in multiple European countries including France, The Netherlands and Finland; Muller Martini in Ghana; Highcon in Germany; Heidelberg UK, Xeikon with ThermoFlexX also in the UK; IFS with Foliant in the UK, Heidelberg USA, Taopix in Germany for an online platform; and MPS in The Netherlands.
As my tailender this week is Wednesday’s lead article as UPM Raflatac partners on the reforestation project of Jaguari River in Brazil to help protect this vital ecosystem; with a stunning pic to go with it.
My main MacBook’s screen decided to pack up this morning which is rather hampering the way I usually work, so that’s all until next time. Until then. My best regards,
Mike Hilton
Our e-News comprises: Headline News – Online Feature Articles – the Verdigris initiative and Wild Format Technology Guides from Digital Dots, as well as our Drupa and FESPA Newsrooms which can be accessed from the Index on our Home Page. We also have News in Review, which provides a weekly overview and listing of all news added to the site.
Headline News
Over 28,000 news items have now gone online since we launched our Website in September 2001. News for the past 24 months can still be accessed via the Home Page and its continuation news page
Fri 07 October… The Print Show 2016 prepares a tasty buffet
The main course may be missing from regional and national shows, says Gareth Ward, but there are plenty of morsels to sharpen any appetite for manageable investment…
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, packaging and finishing, all with complementary consumables. Heidelberg has 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’ with the slogan ‘touch the future’. The issues of ‘package printing’, ‘multichannel’, ‘green printing’, ‘3D printing’, and ‘functional printing’ will become increasingly important to the overall communication strategy. To find out more, visit the drupa 2020 Website.
Online Feature articles 2014 – 2016
Only 35 so far this year, with well over 70 last year, and over 90 in 2013 and in 2014 which can still be accessed via the Index on the Home Page, with prior years in our Archives.
Technology Guides for Wild Format 2016
This is the brand new series for 2016 – 2017 of new guides. The first ten can now be found in this special section in the Index on the Home Page of our Website. All have illustrated PDFs for downloading.
NEW this week and No 10…The Art and Science of Very Fine Drops
Inkjet is unique amongst printing technologies, there is no other option to print on such a wide varieties of substrates with such efficiency and ease. By Sonja Angerer
9…The basics of printheads
In many respects the printhead is the heart of an inkjet printer, directly responsible for placing each individual drop of ink on the substrate. By Nessan Cleary
FESPA Newsroom
The FESPA Newsroom can be found via the Index on our Home Page.
Drupa Newsroom Our Drupa Newsroom with news from Messe Düsseldorf and for Drupa 2016 can be found in the Index. It is divided into the following Chapters for your convenience and ease of use… but you must scroll down to view each Chapter when you visit the Newsroom…
drupa daily to download as PDFs
These eleven jam-packed drupa daily news issues are ready to read now. They contain hundreds of superb articles, interviews, features and news. You can download each one complete as a PDF…
drupa 2016 Exhibitors’ at show + post-show News
Latest additions of 86 in total are now in alphabetical order can be accessed in our drupa Newsroom.
drupa 2016 News from Exhibitors (now in alphabetical order)
The series of over 240 pre-show articles can be accessed in our drupa Newsroom in alphabetical order.
drupa ante portas Blogs 2016
Includes the tenth and final article in this series from Andreas Weber in Mainz, Germany…
drupa 2016 Expert Articles – and more
Includes the eleventh and final article in this series from Claus Bolza-Schünemann, CEO and president of Koenig & Bauer (KBA) and drupa president 2016…
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.
Graphic Repro On-line News Review to Friday 22 January 2016
A Happy New Year to all our readers and followers, subscribers and sponsors. Despite the challenges, I sincerely hope 2016 will turn out to be a good one for all of us as we approach drupa in Düsseldorf at the end of May, preceded by FESPA Digital in Amsterdam in March.
Welcome to news highlights for the last few days or so in 2015, and then for the New Year, along with Laurel Brunner’s Verdigris Blogs for the first three weeks of 2016. You will also find the very latest in our FESPA Newsroom for the upcoming FESPA Digital and its associated events in Amsterdam in March, as well as the very latest FESPA corporate news for the Southern European Print Congress in Italy in April. You may also take note that the deadline for this year’s FESPA Awards has now been extended until 15 February.
The latest also appears in our drupa Newsroom from visitors and the organisers, together with the most recent Expert Article No 6 by Ron Gilboa, director of InfoTrends’ Production & Industrial Printing Advisory Service. Please don’t miss them as drupa 2016 is just asround the corner.
I won’t highlight the news this week as there are a lot you can browse through yourself. Just don’t miss EFI and Xaar appointments, and also those from KBA, IFS, and Heidelberg and Gallus in the UK. Gerold Linzbach is also back at work as CEO of Heidelberg. You’ll find some stunning sales and installations, including web presses from KBA and Manroland Web Systems, and several important pieces of new kit, too… especially from KAMA and Duplo, and Epson with a new range of wide-format inkjet presses.
Newsmaker of the year thus far and as my tailender, goes to UPM Kymmene for its various environmental awards and accolades. Our sincere congratulations to everyone involved.
I’ll be back next week around the same time.
Mike Hilton
Our e-News comprises: Headline News – Online Feature Articles – the Verdigris initiative from Digital Dots. Our Drupa and FESPA Newsrooms can be accessed from the Index on our Home Page, as well as News in Review, which provides a weekly overview and listing of all news added to the site.
Headline News
Over 27,000 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 pages
Wed 23 and 30 Dec… EFI appoints CIO to leadership team
Silicon Valley IT executive Sheri Rhodes has joined Electronics for Imaging as chief information officer… Flint Group confirms the acquisition of Xeikon
Flint has confirmed the acquisition of Xeikon, which will propel the organisation further into the digital solutions market… Mon 04 Jan 2016… Happy New Year 2016 to all our Website visitors
To all our visitors and sponsors, we wish you the Compliments of the Season and a very Happy and Peaceful New Year in 2016…
Professor Neil Hopkinson joins Xaar
Xaar strengthens its 3D printing business with the appointment of Professor Neil Hopkinson as director of 3D Printing…
New Year appointments at Heidelberg UK
Derek Gillard to take on national second-hand sales, making way for Neil Fletcher, Andrew Hall and Bill McCudden…
KAMA launches new generation of ProCut 58
The compact die-cutter has undergone a comprehensive upgrade for even more efficient finishing for short runs and digital prints…
Heidelberg UK to sell Gallus labels products
Heidelberg has wholly owned Gallus since August 2014. HeidelbergUK to take on Gallus UK staff and labels portfolio on 1 April 2016…
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, packaging and finishing, all with complementary consumables. Heidelberg has offices in around 170 countries. Visit the Heidelberg Website for more information.
Electronics For Imaging(EFI) is a world leader in digital imaging and print management solutions for the commercial printing market. Its portfolio of integrated solutions span production and superwide format printing, graphic arts, advanced professional printing software, and industrial inkjet systems. Its technologies increase productivity by automating print and business processes To find out more visit the EFI Website.
Kodak Commercial Imaging(Kodak) is a leading provider of innovative solutions for conventional, digital and hybrid print production environments. With the most expansive portfolio for the graphic communications market, Kodak features technologies, products and services that help print providers streamline processes, optimise efficiencies, broaden services, and grow businesses. To find out more, visit the Kodak Graphics Website.
drupa 2016 (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’ with the slogan ‘touch the future’. The issues of ‘package printing’, ‘multichannel’, ‘green printing’, ‘3D printing’ and ‘functional printing’ will become increasingly important to the overall communication strategy. To find out more, visit the drupa 2016 Webs ite.
Online Feature articles 2014 – 2015
There were again well over 90 last year, including nine downloads, as well as 92 articles in 2013 which can still be accessed via the Index on the Home Page, with prior years’ via Search Archives (option 2) on the Website.
Downloads in 2015 Chapter 01
There are currently three downloads available for you in this Chapter , where you can download the PDF.
Technology-related 2015 Chapter 02
You will find 20 current feature articles in this Chapter, with the most recent from Heidelberg.
Nov/Dec 2015 Chapter 08 Previous… Bobst to celebrate its 125th anniversary at drupa 2016
Bobst, a family company based in the Swiss Canton of Vaud, is launching a year of events to celebrate its anniversary with dynamism and commitment… Verdigris – Environmental Initiative
Drupa Newsroom Our Drupa Newsroom with news from Messe Düsseldorf and for Drupa 2016 can be found in the Index, as well as via the special Newsroom button on the right of the Home Page near the top. It is divided into the following Chapters for your convenience and ease of use…
drupa 2016 Expert Article Series
Can be found in our Drupa Newsroom via the Index on the Home page.
2nd drupa Global Insights Report Executive Summary
Touch the future – Applications that can create growth. Printfuture (UK) and Wissler & Partner (Switzerland) were appointed by Messe Düsseldorf to conduct these two report series…
drupa 2016 News from Exhibitors
Latest additions can now be accessed in our Drupa Newsroom. Finishing 4.0 from Muller Martini at drupa
Muller Martini interconnects all process steps in print finishing through its Connex workflow and data management system…
DG press unveils plans for Drupa 2016
The newest technologies and a wide range of services for Drent Goebel machines will be presented by DG press in Hall 10…
FESPA Digital 2016 in Amsterdam sells out
FESPA is delighted to announce that FESPA Digital, European Sign Expo and FESPA Textile 2016 have all sold out… FESPA Digital 2016’s Content Programme
Educational content to explore trends and opportunities in digital printing available to printers today and give them the power to expand their businesses…
Success in Shanghai for FESPA China 2015
FESPA China 2015, which took place from 21 – 23 October in partnership with CSGIA at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, Shanghai proved to be yet another success for FESPA…
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.
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
Wie im Value-Blog und via ValuePublishing Social Media-Accounts berichtet und aus meiner Expertensicht analysiert: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (kurz: Heideldruck) schickt sich mit seinem neuem, Erfolg versprechenden Kurs an, die Leitmesse drupa 2016 als global-innovative Plattform zu nutzen, um der weltweiten Druckbranche bereits im Vorfeld „anfassbare” Visionen zu vermitteln. Das Motto „Simply Smart“ soll uns in die neue Welt von „Heideldruck 4.0“ führen.
Folgerichtig wollte ich im Nachgang zur Jahresend-Pressekonferenz vom 1. und 2. Dezember 2015 vertiefende Fragen an Heideldruck-Vorstand Harald Weimer stellen. Der Top-Manager verantwortet den Wachstumsbereich Heidelberg Services. Hier wird das Dienstleistungs- und Lösungsangebot des Konzerns gebündelt und, so wie es aussieht, zielgerichtet und marktorientiert ausgebaut.
Harald Weimer präsentierte sich in seinem ersten „Value Blog Dialog“ offen, zuversichtlich und vorwärtsgerichtet. Und er stellte bezogen auf das Print Media-Geschäft erstmals einen neuen Kontext her: Es gilt für uns alle zu verstehen, dass die Digitalisierung viele Chancen, aber keinesfalls Nachteile hervorbringt, die es gilt, mit Mut und Tatkraft zu meistern! — Das neue Credo im Blick auf die drupa 2016 (in meinen Worten): Digitalisierung wird Bestandteil der DNA einer Nach-Gutenberg-Ära bei der Print im 21. Jahrhundert durch Integration und Vernetzung zum Vorreiter und Erfolgsgaranten automatisierter Kommunikationslösungen wird.
Überblick: Kernaussagen von Harald Weimer
Die Print Media-Branche ist ungebrochen stark und mit weltweit über 400 Milliarden Euro Jahresumsatz im Kerngeschäft stabil.
Der Anteil individualisierter Printprodukte wächst dynamisch und basiert auf standardisierten Prozessen für industrielle Druck-Anwendungen.
Industrie 4.0 respektive das Internet of Things inklusive Big Data sind Teil unserer DNA.
Veränderungen, gerade auch disruptiver Art, sind nichts Neues. Sie zu bewältigen gehört schon lange zum Alltag.
Die Print Media-Branche ist mit anderen Innovations-getriebenen Wirtschaftsbereichen auf Augenhöhe und braucht sich nicht zu verstecken.
Digitalisierung im Print Media-Geschäft heisst nicht nur „Internet-Lösungen“ oder „Digitaldruck“ anzubieten.
Print wird Teil einer Welt der „Smart Communication“ werden.
Unsere neue Strategie beinhaltet daher das Versprechen „More than Machines“ sowie das Credo „Listen. Inspire. Deliver“, um bei unseren Mitarbeitern ein neues Wertebewusstsein zu verankern.
Das Zusammenspiel zwischen Maschine-Prozess-Mensch ist neu zu definieren und bietet erhebliche Potentiale.
Simply Smart — Wir denken im Team mit Partnern vom Endkunden her, um zu tatsächlichen Innovationen zu gelangen.
Durch 4D-Printing rückt zunehmend in den Fokus, wie sich neuartige Printanwendungen auf Produkte des Digital Lifestyle beziehen.
Die Individualisierung ist natürlicher Bestandteil der Digitalisierung, die durch Industrie 4.0/IoT weiter Fahrt aufnimmt. Im Zuge dessen entstehen automatisierte Printanwendungen nicht mehr über klassische Einkaufswege, sondern innerhalb von Multichannel-Szenarien.
Hinweis: Das Video von Rhein-Neckar-Fernsehen zeigt, wie Anwendungen von Printinnovationen sofort hohe Aufmerksamkeit finden. Es entstand während der Heideldruck Pressekonferenz am 2. Dezember 2015.
Value Blog Dialog: Fragen und Antworten
Sie sehen starke Wachstumsperspektiven für das Medium Print im Digitalzeitalter. Welches sind die für Sie wichtigsten Aspekte für nachhaltigen Erfolg im Print Media Geschäft?
Harald Weimer: Zunächst etwas, was viele sich nicht bewusst machen: Die Print Media-Branche ist ungebrochen stark und mit weltweit über 400 Milliarden Euro Jahresumsatz im Kerngeschäft stabil. Wachstumstreiber sind das Segment Verpackungen und bei Verfahrenstechniken der Digitaldruck. Beides sorgt für Dynamik bei nach wie vor starker Bedeutung des Offsetdrucks. Erfolgreiche Druckereien steigern ihre Effizienz weiter, um maximal schnell und flexibel zu agieren und auf neue Anforderungen im Rahmen der Globalisierung zu reagieren. Der Anteil individualisierter Printprodukte wächst dynamisch und basiert auf standardisierten Prozessen für industrielle Druck-Anwendungen. Einher geht dies mit der Digitalisierung der Geschäftsmodelle und der gesamten Lieferkette, um Kunden und Lieferanten für erweiterte Dienstleistungen einbetten zu können. Unser integrierter Ansatz z. B. mit Smart Print Shop und Smart Services beflügelt diese Entwicklungen, da wir dadurch das Prinzip der Industrie 4.0 bei unseren Kunden wie bei uns selbst verwirklichen können.
Das heisst, die Print Media-Branche inkl. ihrem Lieferanten Heideldruck steht bei der digitalen Transformation bereits sehr gut da?
Harald Weimer: Ja, denn die wichtigsten Voraussetzungen sind geschaffen und werden fokussiert ausgebaut. Industrie 4.0 respektive das Internet of Things inklusive Big Data sind Teil unserer DNA.
Das erstaunt. Gerade in Deutschland wird aller Orten gejammert und die Vorstellungswelt der Print Media-Branche wirkt sehr wert-konservativ. Viele denken nach wie vor, das Internet sei der Feind des Gedruckten…
Harald Weimer: An dieser Stelle möchte ich eine Lanze für die vielen Printbetriebe und unsere Kunden brechen. Veränderungen, gerade auch disruptiver Art, sind nichts Neues. Sie zu bewältigen gehört schon lange zum Alltag. Gleichzeitig wissen wir aus der Vergangenheit Kraft und neuen Mut zu schöpfen. Die Wende vom handwerklichen zum industrialisierten Printgeschäft ist bei den meisten unserer Kunden vollzogen. Es stellt sich nicht die Frage des „ob“, sondern des „wie“. Angefangen mit automatisierten Produktionsabläufen, inkl. dem längst etablierten JDF (Job Description Format) bis hin zu web-basierten Benchmark-Funktionen aus der Cloud sowie Real-Time-Daten aus den Maschinen entsprechen unsere Lösungen doch längst schon den Maßgaben des Internet of Things. Die Print Media-Branche ist mit anderen Innovations-getriebenen Wirtschaftsbereichen auf Augenhöhe und braucht sich nicht zu verstecken.
Grafik: Heidelberg
Zweifler und Kritiker sagen stets: Die Komplexität wird aus Sicht vieler Druckereien durch die Digitalisierung noch größer. Und damit steigt die Zahl der Bedenkenträger, ob das alles zu bewältigen sei. Wie halten Sie dagegen?
Harald Weimer: Die Digitalisierung bietet für die Print Media-Branche enorme Chancen, aber keine Nachteile. Durch die Integration inklusive der Vernetzung der Produktionsabläufe läßt sich Komplexität reduzieren…
…können Sie bitte ein Beispiel nennen?
Harald Weimer: Es gibt schon heute Druckereien, die ihre digitalen Kunden-zu-Kunden-Beziehungen auf Basis von Industriestandards und Automatisierung entlang der gesamten Wertschöpfungs- und Lieferkette ausbauen. Kunden und Markt honorieren das mit zweistelligen Wachstumsraten.
Harald Weimer: Wesentlich ist aus meiner Sicht zu differenzieren: Digitalisierung im Print Media-Geschäft heisst nicht nur „Internet-Lösungen“ oder „Digitaldruck“ anzubieten. Die notwendige Intelligenz liegt im gesamten Workflow, in der nahtlosen, smarten Konfiguration der Gesamtprozesse zur bestmöglichen Erfüllung der Kundenwünsche. Dadurch sind Innovationen im Angebot möglich, das im Team mit den Kunden der Druckereien weiterentwickelt werden kann. Es hilft uns allen sehr, wenn wir klarer und sauberer mit den Begrifflichkeiten richtig umgehen.
Welche Rolle spielt Heideldruck in diesen umfassenden Szenarien? Wollen und können Sie alles aus einer Hand bieten?
Harald Weimer: Wir sehen uns als Lösungspartner und Integrator, der eigene Lösungsmodule mit denen von relevanten Partnern kombiniert und als vernetztes, individuell auszulegendes Lösungspaket nutzbar macht. Partner spielen für uns heute und in Zukunft eine bedeutende Rolle um Lösungen zeitnah in den Markt zu bringen. Anders als früher geht es uns nicht nur um die beste Druckbildqualität, sondern um zeitgemäße und zukunftssichere Lösungsangebote für die Erstellung und das verfügbar Machen von maßgeschneiderten Printprodukten.
Das bedeutet eine Zäsur bzw. Trendwende bei Heideldruck, die aber nicht von Heute auf Morgen von statten geht, oder?
Danke, dass Sie das White Paper erwähnen. Es ist mir nach wie vor wichtig! Wie sehen Sie den Bezug von Print zu dem, was ich mit Smart Communication charakterisiert habe?
Harald Weimer: Zeitgemäße Kommunikationslösungen, die Print einbeziehen, müssen flexibel und intuitiv zu bewerkstelligen sein. Das bilden wir bis dato Workflow-technisch mit Heidelberg Prinect ab. Der Endkunde bestimmt frei und ungebunden, wie er was produziert haben will. Egal, ob im Offsetdruck oder den verschiedensten Digitaldruckverfahren, die wir bereithalten. Unter der Überschrift „Smart Collaboration“ gehen wir nun entscheidende Schritte weiter: Das Angebot, das wir bieten, besteht nicht mehr nur im ‚Produkt‘ Druckmaschine. In einem weiteren Schritt werden die Kunden künftig online einen detaillierten Überblick über die eigene Maschinenperformance erhalten. Dadurch wird eine neue Vertriebsplattform für Software, Dienstleistungen und Verbrauchsmaterialien entstehen. Es sind die integrierten, smarten Lösungen, die unseren Kunden und deren Kunden besseren Erfolg bringen müssen.
Das heisst, Sie definieren die Rolle von Print und damit die von Heideldruck komplett neu?
Harald Weimer: Explizit sind hier einige Aspekte zu nennen, wo wir weiterführen, was wir auf der drupa 2012 begonnen haben: Mit dem Benchmarking schaffen wir Transparenz für unsere Kunden, die sich Online per App orientieren können, wo sie stehen und wo Verbesserungspotentiale liegen. Unsere Service Performance-Lösungen führen wir weiter, damit der Kunde auch seinen Kunden ähnliches bieten kann. Z. B. durch das Prinect Portal oder den Prinect Web-Shop. Dies führt zu neuen E-Commerce-Plattformen, um Geschäfte künftig anders abzuwickeln. Wir bieten unseren Kunden somit zu uns und unseren Partner ganz andere Zugänge.
E-Business wird also über Web-to-Print-Anwendungen hinaus eine wesentlich wichtigere Rolle spielen, die über die Möglichkeiten des klassischen Vertriebs hinaus führen?
Harald Weimer: Wir werden zur drupa digitale Plattformen bieten, die unsere erweiterten Services einfach auffindbar und nutzbar machen werden. Dazu gehört, seine „Peers“ finden zu können, aber auch spezifische Empfehlungen und Hilfestellungen. Im Ansatz praktizieren wird das schon, tun dies künftig aber in einer ganz neuen, digital erweiterten Dimension, bei der das Mensch-zu-Mensch-Verhältnis nicht leidet.
Das klingt nach dem, was man neuerdings unter „Customer Centricity“ zusammenfasst und provoziert einen Kulturwandel, geprägt durch einen hohen Interaktionsgrad. Wie wollen sie das bewältigen?
Wie wirkt sich der Heideldruck-interne Wandlungsprozess auf ihre Kunden-und Marktkommunikation aus?
Harald Weimer: Externe Aspekte fassen wir unter unserem drupa-Motto „Simply Smart“ zusammen. Die Digitalisierung wird vom Markt getrieben. Wir müssen sicherstellen, passende und relevante Lösungsansätze zu bieten. Dazu müssen wir in neuer Art und Weise die Kommunikation unserer Kunden mit deren Kunden einbinden, zum Beispiel indem wir durch neue Tools unterstützen. Auf der drupa 2016 als Print Media-Leitmesse werden wir das in Real-Life-Szenarien umsetzen.
Das heisst, es rücken in Ihrer erweiterten Kunden-Kunden-Kommunikation Anwendungen in den Vordergrund?
Harald Weimer: Die bei der Dezember-Pressekonferenz vor Ort im mymuesli-Shop in Heidelberg gezeigte Lösung weisst den Weg. Es stand nicht unsere 4D-Druckmaschine im Fokus, sondern die Möglichkeit, dass der mymuesli-Kunde im Laden selbst seine eigene Müsli-Verpackung am iPad gestaltet und mit unserer Jetmaster Dimension Inkjet-Druckmaschine herstellt. Wir denken im Team mit Partnern vom Endkunden her, um zu tatsächlichen Innovationen zu gelangen.
Photo: Heidelberg
Photo: Heidelberg
Photo: Heidelberg
Photo: Heidelberg
Photo: Heidelberg
Das Start-up mymuesli.com ist für Heideldruck aber kein typischer Kunde. Sieht das Ihr Innovationsansatz vor, da mehr zu tun?
Harald Weimer: Unsere Strategie beinhaltet, erweiterte Marktchancen zu nutzen. Um Print zu stärken, müssen wir diesen Schritt gehen, wobei Online-Druckereien auch schon 4D-Printing-Lösungen von uns nutzen. Wir unterscheiden Lösungen im engeren Sinne für Druckbetriebe, und im weiteren Sinne für Kommunikationstreibende, z. B. am Point-of-Sales.
Welche neuen Impulse haben den größten Einfluss?
Harald Weimer: Wir betrachten derzeit viele Ansätze, die sich durch die dynamisch wachsende Nachfrage bei individualisierten Produkten ergeben. Durch 4D-Printing rückt zunehmend in den Fokus, wie sich neuartige Printanwendungen auf Produkte des Digital Lifestyle beziehen.
Last but not least: Wird sich durch Industrie 4.0, also der professionelle Bereich der IoT-Anwendungen, die Art und Weise ändern, wie Druckaufträge zustande kommen?
Harald Weimer: Die Individualisierung ist natürlicher Bestandteil der Digitalisierung, die durch Industrie 4.0/IoT weiter Fahrt aufnimmt. Im Zuge dessen entstehen automatisierte Printanwendungen nicht mehr über klassische Einkaufswege, sondern innerhalb von Multichannel-Szenarien. Unsere Lösungen müssen alle diese neuen Aspekte berücksichtigen. Insofern lohnt es sich für weite Besucherkreise, uns auf der drupa 2016 zu besuchen.
Besten Dank für Ihr Mitwirken beim Value Blog Dialog!
Zur Person:
Ich kenne Harald Weimer seit langem, bereits als er Mitte der 1990er Jahre bei Xerox mit Digitaldruck anfing, um dann 1998 zu Heidelberg in das Direct Imaging-Vertriebsteam zu wechseln. Der Diplom-Wirtschaftsingenieur war stets ein kundiger, am aktuellen Marktgeschehen hoch interessierter Macher, der den konstruktiv-kritischen Dialog schätzt. Inzwischen verfügt er über umfassende internationale Erfahrung. Seit April 2014 baut er als Vorstand Services seinen Verantwortungsbereich erfolgreich aus. Sein Thema: „Future of Print Media Industry — Roadmap to drupa 2016“.
Value Blog-Videoimpressionen (in englischer Sprache) zum Thema „Digitalisierte Welt“ von der Präsentation von Harald Weimer auf Heidelberg Pressekonferenz am 1. Dezember 2015. Aufzeichnung: Andreas Weber per iPad.
Zum Bild: Wie lassen sich 100 Ausgaben einer Zeitschrift am Besten auf dem Cover unterbringen? Immer wieder gern genommen wird eine Collage aller bisher erschienenen Titel. Wir fanden das wenig originell und haben dies (ins Heft-Innere) auf Seite 7 verbannt. Stattdessen haben wir alle möglichen Gegenstände zusammengestellt, mit denen wir üblicherweise bei der täglichen Arbeit zu tun haben. Dass da nun auch noch ein Nikolaus erscheint, ist der Jahreszeit geschuldet. Wir wünschen Ihnen eine schöne Weihnachtszeit.
Der DRUCKMARKT ist eine feste Institution geworden. Zurecht! In Deutschland wie auch in der Schweiz. Die jetzt, Mitte Dezember 2015, erscheinende Jubiläumsausgabe mit der Nummer 100, zeigt nach knapp 20 Jahren, wie vital Fachjournalismus über Print mit Print sein kann. Gründer und Chefredakteur Klaus-Peter Nicolay kenne ich seit 1988. Eine lange Zeit. Einst waren wir „Konkurrenten“, die sich stets fachlich ausgetauscht haben. Seitdem und noch immer sind wir Freunde, die sich schätzen. Und die zusammen rund um den Globus ebenso wie an der Mosel oder in der Gutenberg-Stadt Mainz viel Einzigartiges gemeinsam erlebt haben.
Dieses Erleben teilt „Nico“ jetzt mit uns. Und hat ein wunderbares Editorial zu einer grossartigen 100. Ausgabe verfasst. Den inhaltlichen Auftakt der Ausgabe 100 bilden Kommentare von vielen Kollegen aus der Branche, die befragt wurden, und allzu gerne geantwortet haben.
Nico: Wir freuen uns auf die nächsten 100 bis 1.000 Ausgaben von Dir. Vor allem, weil nächstes Jahr wieder drupa in Düsseldorf ist. Und wir viel Neues wiederum gemeinsam schaffen können. Spitze, dass seit einigen Jahren nunmehr Dein jüngster Sohn, Julius, redaktionell mit an Bord ist!
Herzliche Grüße
Dein
Andreas Weber
Im Wortlaut: Das Editorial zu Druckmarkt, Ausgabe 100
ZU ALLERERST EIN DANKESCHÖN!
Wer sagt denn, dass alt werden keinen Spaß macht? Der ›Druckmarkt‹ wird 2016 immerhin 20 Jahre und veröffentlicht jetzt seine 100. Ausgabe. Nein, das ist noch kein Alter – und für eine Zeitschrift vielleicht eine Periode, in der man reifer und besser geworden ist oder in der man eine Phase des Fortschritts erreicht hat. Dies wird uns die Freude an den vergangenen und (wer weiß wie viele) noch kommenden Jahren, Wochen und Minuten sicherlich nicht verderben. Wir wissen leider auch nicht, wie viele Minuten oder Stunden Sie Ihrer kostbaren Zeit unseren gedruckten Ausgaben widmen und wie viele Minuten die über 15.000 Leserinnen und Leser, die uns monatlich online besuchen. Dafür jedenfalls ein herzliches Dankeschön.
Zu unserem kleinen Jubiläum – es sind ja schließlich keine 100 Jahre – wollen wir aber keine Rückschau zelebrieren, im nächs ten Jahr auch keine glamouröse Party schmeißen und uns schon gar nicht selbst feiern. Wir haben in dieser Ausgabe schlicht und einfach zum Teil exklusive Nachrichten für Sie zusammengetragen. So, wie wir es immer tun. Denn wir haben uns nie an journalistischen Theorien orientiert, dafür aber an interessanten Themen und Gesprächspartnern.
Seit den ersten Heften versucht der ›Druckmarkt‹ sich unbestechlich und unterhaltsam, zuweilen amüsant bis provokativ, hoffentlich auch anregend mit seinen Leserinnen und Lesern über die Gegenwart und die Zukunft zu verständigen. Dieser Anspruch bleibt. Denn das (für uns schauderhafte) Bild »Den Leser dort abholen, wo er steht«, das Medienleute gerne verwenden, wenn sie ihre Arbeit beschreiben, gilt für uns nicht. Es hieße in der Konsequenz ja auch: Nur das liefern, was bequem ist, nicht aufregt und auch nicht zum Nachdenken anregt, denn ›der Leser‹ (die abstrakte Kreatur) dürfe nicht zu sehr gefordert werden. Wir haben in den vergangenen Jahren genau das Gegenteil erfahren. Eben dass Menschen es durchaus schätzen, wenn ihnen auch einmal etwas zugemutet wird und wenn sich der Inhalt eines Fachmagazins nicht nur in ›Hurra-Meldungen‹ erschöpft.
Was den ›Druckmarkt‹ vielleicht etwas anders macht: Wir misstrauen dem Zeitgeist und dem Mainstream. Das Modisch-Gefällige liegt uns weniger bis gar nicht. Wo alle einer Meinung sind, versuchen wir durch andere Sichtweisen den Blick auf das Wesentliche zu lenken. Ob uns das immer gelingt, können Sie besser beurteilen als wir selbst. Doch wir sind der festen Überzeugung, dass es bei aller Digitalisierung noch immer traditionelle Werte in unserer Branche gibt, die auch weiterhin Gültigkeit haben werden. Deshalb halten wir uns gerne an den Satz von Willy Brandt: »Wer das Bewahrenswerte bewahren will, muss verändern, was der Erneuerung bedarf.«
Ihre Druckmarkt-Redaktion Klaus-Peter und Julius Nicolay
DRUCKMARKT: Was war für Dich das einschneidende Ereignis in der Branche in den letzten 20 Jahren?
ANDREAS WEBER: Historisch gesehen, geschah das Einschneidende schon vor über 20 Jahren, als DTP und fast nahtlos anschließend der Digitaldruck aufkamen. Motto: Jeder sein eigener Gutenberg.
Das zentrale Erlebnis für mich war, als wir eine fulminante drupa 2012 hatten. Gut für die Brancheninsider, also diejenigen, die übrig geblieben sind (es gab ja fast 100.000 Besucher weniger). Schlecht für die Strahlkraft der Branche: Kunden der Druck- und Papierbrache wären fasziniert gewesen. Doch sie kamen nicht. Man hatte sie (Aussteller-seitig) erst gar nicht eingeladen bzw. so angesprochen, dass sie ihren Vorteil erkannt hätten. Das war fatal. Und hat die Druckbranche als Insel der selbstverliebten Print-Technik-Gläubigen isoliert.
DRUCKMARKT: Was erwartest Du für die Zukunft? Was werden die großen Themen sein?
ANDREAS WEBER: Meine Erwartung? Etwas Altes wird etwas Neues! — Die großen Themen? Es gibt nur ein Thema, dem sich alle anderen fügen müssen: Wie ordnet sich Print im Kommunikationsmix ein? Dieser Mix wird durch Multi-Channel-Szenarien getrieben. Mit dem, was die Branche unter Cross-Media versteht, hat das wenig bis gar nichts zu tun. Sondern es geht darum, wie man nahtlos über die Online-Welt in die reale Welt gelangt. Und umgekehrt. Print erhält hier eine fundamental neue Bedeutung und Wichtigkeit. Dies gilt es zu schärfen, in dem die Expertise zur Wirkung von Printmedien im Digitalzeitalter glaubhaft dargestellt wird.
