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Sakurai Demonstrates Specialty Coatings and Foils on 2024 Calendar

June 11, 2024

By Jeff Peterson, editor-in-chief, PostPress

The 2024 Sakurai Calendar, entitled “Beyond Your Imagination,” utilized screen printing and UV coating technology as well as its foil decorating technology to create a spectacular, seven pass calendar that was designed and printed by Kumazawa Screen Printing, Tokyo, Japan. The seven passes were printed, coated and foiled on a Sakurai Maestro Cylinder screen pPress, equipped with a Natgraph dryer and Sakurai LQM-105 screen foil hot foil stamper.

The design of the 2024 Sakurai Calendar was centered around the renewed Sakurai website and four symbolic designs utilized on the home page. The symbols represent the motif of “S” of Sakurai and express the technical skill, rationality and delicacy of the product. The other symbols represent innovation, society and co-creation. The direction of the design was to showcase the four symbols in dramatic metallic foil (red and silver) down the center of the B1 sheet size. The months and days of the year are decorated in gold, red and sliver foil colors down both sides of the design. The design was completed with specialty clear textures with clear UV coating applied throughout the background of the calendar.

The calendar utilized the LQM hot foiling technology to transfer a clear screen printed UV coating to the foil decorated areas. The coating works as an adhesive and reacts to the foil as it is applied. It allows large coverage of foil (demonstrated by the four symbolic designs) and finer lines (demonstrated by the days of the week for each month). In addition, the foil method provides the opportunity to lay down a raised screen coating and raised foil. It also is possible to include a textured clear as the base layer to give a foil a certain look. On the calendar, a sandy clear coating was applied as a base to a portion of the red metallic foil areas in the symbols, providing a unique contrast and different look. The foil for the calendar project was provided by Murata Kimpaku Co., Ltd.

The background was simply divided into two parts with a white background on the left side and a screen printed solid black background on the right side to highlight the foil. The final pass on the calendar laid down two separate clear UV coating patterns on both the white and black background. The two separate patterns demonstrated how two background patterns could be applied in one pass on the machine.

“We are honored that a Sakurai calendar was selected as a Gold Leaf Award winner for the fourth year,” said David Rose, vice president, Sakurai USA. “Our 2024 calendar truly showcases the overall capabilities of the Maestro press to apply both specialty coatings and inks, as well as decorative metallic foils.”

Protecting Print Businesses from Digital Disruption

June 11, 2024

By Tom Wojcinski, principal, and Michael J. Devereux II, CPA, CMP, partner, Wipfli

Is there anything a manufacturer can do to ensure its operations are not hacked? Unfortunately, there is no way that’s possible, especially in today’s connected manufacturing environment. Even if a printer or print finisher disconnected everything from the internet, it still could be the victim of a technology hack if physical access is available to any bad actors or those working on their behalf.

Cloud-based ERPs, digital transformation and Industry 4.0 solutions are creating efficiencies, customer engagement and business intelligence that are improving operations and profitability, which cannot be duplicated on analog systems. Consequently, however, this increased digitization creates greater risk to printers’ and print finishers’ data and operations; and the research has shown that no manufacturer is too small or too big to be safe from cyber-attacks. Leadership often assumes that no one will hack their company because the data isn’t valuable to others. The bad actors disagree, however. Data is valuable, and they would like to put the company in a position where it must pay a ransom to get its data back. And data isn’t just limited to financial information, it could include confidential customer information, bills of material, product designs, processing data, sampling results and more.

Wipfli recently conducted a survey of over 200 manufacturers. The survey found that almost half of the respondents experienced three or more network breaches in the past 12 months. That can be overwhelming to leadership, not to mention IT staff or the supporting organization.

Focusing on Manufacturing Resilience

A company’s data isn’t the only thing at risk. Cyberattacks can focus on physical assets, rather than digital assets. Cybercriminals can lock up or seize equipment operations. Not only can this result in a significant amount of unplanned downtime but can also pose a physical risk to employee safety.

For example, consider a printer or print finisher that stores and recalls processing data for each job within an ERP or MES system. What happens if those digital services are disrupted or the underlying operational data is held hostage? Or a worse scenario, what if the technical specifications are changed, and the print finisher continues to make end products that don’t meet internal or external specifications? Similarly, vision and quality systems within the plant could be vulnerable and the target of a potential attack. While some of this seems implausible or unlikely, cyber-attacks are becoming more sophisticated and aggressive, and exposure in these areas can cause very real risks to organizations.

Printers and print finishers can protect their operations by building and implementing resilience strategies to cyber-attacks. In this instance, resilience does not mean “bullet proof.” Rather, it means that a company can resist an attack, respond quickly and thoroughly when the attack occurs, and efficiently recover any data or business operations that are compromised. That starts by identifying weaknesses in the digital perimeter and then building a multilayered strategy to protect and respond to the cyberattack.

Common Blind Spots

There can be multiple physical and digital avenues into operations or data (including financial, operational, technical or front office information). Often, these paths are hidden or are seemingly insignificant. Outdated and unsupported hardware and software on the shop floor are two of the most overlooked sources of vulnerability. While this equipment may not be used like traditional PCs or laptops, it is still connected to the network. If it’s not maintained, it could be a security risk to the organization.

All too often, the IT department is not involved in all IT decisions. With the advancement of software-as-a-service model and cloud computing, it’s easier for employees to purchase new software, download applications or share files using the cloud, without the oversight of skilled IT or cyber professionals. Systems and software that are not vetted against company policies or maintained properly could pose additional, not-so-obvious risks. In addition, they extend the number of vectors a bad actor may use to gain access, often without a company’s knowledge, making it more difficult to protect data and operations.

A lack of real-time cyber monitoring is another common blind spot. Without real-time monitoring, a company has no visibility into attempts to infiltrate its network. Stopping and safeguarding against attacks is harder if a company does not know that they’re happening. For instance, real-time monitoring can protect against the violation of impossible travel rules. In this scenario, a legitimate user logs into the network from his or her home office in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Let’s assume this is the corporate controller of a print finisher, just outside of Milwaukee. Then, just three hours later, the corporate controller logs in from Dublin, Ireland. This is an impossible travel scenario and clearly a sign that the corporate controller’s credentials have been breached. However, it could go unnoticed for some period of time without proper, real-time monitoring in place.

Creating a Multi-faceted Security Strategy

The most effective means to resist an attack is to establish a multilayer security strategy. At its most basic level, the strategy should include:

Password protocols: Require the use of strong passwords.
Email protections: Technologies that limit spam and spear-phishing attempts will reduce the risk of social engineering.
Multi-factor authentication (MFA): MFA requires users to take additional steps to verify their identity anytime when logging in or accessing a system or company app. MFA should be implemented on all removed access points, as well as internal administrative accounts. This includes email, VPN and all cloud-based applications.
End-point detection and response (EDR): EDR increases the ability to detect suspicious events by providing real-time visibility into potential attacks. EDR often is confused with antivirus software, which should also be used. Antivirus software looks for malicious programs running on the computer or network, while EDR searches for malicious activity in the memory of the computer.
Regular vulnerability scans and penetration testing: If a company is not monitoring its environment, printers and print finishers cannot identify their vulnerabilities or ways to fix them. Monthly or quarterly penetration testing of the external systems and vulnerability scans of the internal systems are critical to identifying weaknesses before they can provide access to bad actors.
Vulnerability management: Cyber criminals are regularly probing for security gaps. A company can make it more difficult for them by deploying security patches and software updates, removing unnecessary software and disabling unused system processes.
Air-gapped backups & segmented networks: If an employee can browse directly to the company’s backup files from its primary network, they are not safe from ransomware or other cyber-attacks. Separated backup files on a stand-along network that requires separate credentials often mitigates this risk.
Recovery testing: What happens if a company is attacked? Have steps been taken to restore the network, files or operations? Are the backups occurring as designed? A network failure or cyber-attack isn’t the best time to find out files haven’t been backed up or do not have the means of restoring them. Businesses need to regularly test the backup process to confirm the protocol is working, as designed, and intended.

The Importance of Employee Engagement in Cybersecurity

It’s critical that employees understand the importance of cyber security. Many hackers don’t hack systems, they hack people, as they’ve found it’s easier to trick someone into sharing their credentials than to break into a network. That is, if someone gives them the keys, why mess with the lock. It’s for that reason that employee engagement on cybersecurity is just as important as the focus on a company’s perimeter.

To start with, print-related businesses must put controls in place to govern how data and information are used, managed and stored. Sensitive data should be limited to those who absolutely require it to perform their job functions.

In addition to understanding where the data is stored and who has access to it, the best practice is to implement a comprehensive training program. Hackers will use a variety of social engineering techniques to steal information, including email (phishing), SMS text messages (smishing) and phone calls/voicemail (vishing). Training employees to be skeptical is key. When employees understand what they need to do and why, company operations will be better protected against cyber criminals.

Regular Cyber Assessments

Finally, manufacturing businesses operating in the print industry should engage in regular cyber assessments, whether that’s done internally by IT staff that keeps up with the cyber security trends or by an outside firm. These assessments provide visibility into potential avenues bad actors can access data. From there, businesses can develop or modify safeguards and policies that can better protect them from cyber fraud.

Tom Wojcinski is a principal in Wipfli’s cybersecurity and technology management practice. He leads a variety of engagements designed to help improve organizations’ cybersecurity posture, including cybersecurity risk assessment, control program development and implementation, incident response planning and simulation, vulnerability and penetration testing, security audit, control verification, and managed security services. Wojcinski is a frequent author and speaker on cybersecurity and information technology risk management topics.

Michael J. Devereux II, CPA, CMP, is a partner and director of Manufacturing, Distribution & Plastics Industry Services for Wipfli. Devereux’s primary focus is on tax incentives and succession planning for the manufacturing sector. He regularly speaks at manufacturing conferences around the country on tax issues facing the manufacturing sector.

For more information, visit www.wipfli.com.

Applications Portfolio Pushes Boundaries with Extreme Embellishment

June 7, 2024

Edited by Erin La Row, writer, PostPress

The team at Print Panther Direct, a commercial printer in Oakville, Canada, prides itself on creating beautiful, meaningful print. Printing print that matters is the philosophy that guides each project, including the Extreme Digital Guide 4 – the fourth of its Designer Guides – that was created to highlight the company’s print embellishment capabilities. The Extreme Digital Guide 4, christened the Applications Portfolio, weaves together the essence of its predecessors while further pushing the boundaries of embellishment with incredible detail. The Applications Portfolio’s aesthetic and tactile appeal captured the judges’ attention at the Foil & Specialty Effects Association’s 31st annual Gold Leaf Awards, where the project won Best of Show: Best Use of Digital Embellishment.

“Each spread was crafted to showcase our expertise but also to resonate with the evolving market demands, such as the cannabis packaging segment,” said Christine Yardley, president of Print Panther Direct. “The Applications Portfolio represents an evolving journey with Konica Minolta (KM), building upon the foundation laid by three previous Designer Guides.”

The creation of the portfolio began with research identifying emerging trends and market demands. From there, the Print Panther team conceptualized each spread, considering both aesthetic appeal and practical application. The design phase involved digital mock-ups and iterative refinements until each spread met the company’s exacting standards.

“We opted for a premium turned-edge binder/box to elevate the portfolio’s visual and tactile appeal. By using high-quality materials, we aimed to convey a sense of quality and craftsmanship that would resonate with our audience,” Yardley said.

The graphics for the portfolio were created using a combination of digital design software and traditional artistic techniques. Special consideration was given to the integration of imagery and typography to create visually compelling spreads that effectively communicated each concept. Additionally, the Print Panther team ensured that the design was adaptable to various printing techniques and embellishments, allowing it to achieve the desired visual impact.

The portfolio features a range of specialty effects and embellishments to enhance its visual appeal and tactile experience. This includes digital foil and varnish applications, as well as laminations, which add depth and dimension. Yardley said that these embellishments not only elevate the aesthetic quality of the portfolio but also highlight the versatility of KM’s printing technologies. The paper stock used was Supreme Silk Cover 12 point pages/box 80 lb text, laminated.

State-of-the-art printing technologies played a crucial role in achieving the desired quality and consistency across each spread. Stunning visual effects and unparalleled print quality were achieved with various KM Accurio presses, including Print Panther Direct’s Accuriowide 160 Press. Extreme embellishment was achieved with the KM JETvarnish 3D Evolution press.

Creating a product that has multiple embellishments and design processes can be challenging. Throughout the project, the team encountered various design and production challenges, including adhesion issues when applying CMYK on top of a chosen lamination.

“By leveraging our collective expertise, we were able to overcome these challenges and deliver a portfolio that exceeded expectations,” Yardley said.

Response to the Applications Portfolio has been overwhelmingly positive. Yardley said the portfolio has served as a valuable resource for designers and print professionals, inspiring creativity and showcasing the capabilities of KM’s printing technologies.

“Winning Best of Show in the Gold Leaf Awards was a moment of immense pride and validation for our team. It was a testament to our dedication, creativity and unwavering commitment to embellishments,” Yardley said. “We celebrated this achievement with gratitude knowing that it wouldn’t have been possible without the collective effort of every team member involved.”

Saddlestitcher Heads – 7 Deadly Sins to Avoid

June 6, 2024

By Team Technifold USA

As users increase the speed on a saddlestitcher (or any piece of bindery equipment,) they’re likely to see more and more defects as the speed increases. There are many components that make up an automatic inserting, stitching and trimming line, each designed with operating specifications and limits. If any single component is slightly worn or not set correctly, it will prevent the machine from running at its maximum designed speed. Lots of little defects and weaknesses can add up to big losses in productivity.

The stitching head is one especially critical area for proper operation of a saddlestitcher at any speed. Even the simplest of newer stitching heads is a complex piece of equipment which, if not properly handled, will cause slowdowns, poor-quality stitched books and machine downtime.

In a conversation with Dave Double of Double Equipment, which specializes in bindery equipment repairs, including servicing of stitcher heads, it was brought to light the seven common but costly mistakes that stitcher operators and bindery managers make with their stitcher heads.

1) Using the wrong lubricant. Several common heads use a one-way bearing in their wire-advance system. Operators often use the wrong grease which, at higher speeds, results in varying leg lengths in the stitch. This leads to a frustrating troubleshooting expedition where the operator is trying to ‘fix’ a head that simply requires the correct grease.

Also, stitcher manufacturers usually recommend light machine oil and not the automotive oil which often is used. Be sure to use precisely what is recommended.

2) Using the wrong amount of lubricant. Any stitcher operator who’s been around a while has made this mistake – put too much oil somewhere on the stitcher head and the next few thousand books are a nightmare! Excess oil makes its way through the head and through the rest of the machine. In extreme cases the only solution is to remove the head for disassembly, cleaning and proper oiling.

All that typically is required is ONE drop at the proper location and at the proper interval. If the recommendations say one drop per eight hours of running, make sure that it’s not two.

3) Using the wrong wire gauge for the job at hand. Two of the most commonly used wires are 24 and 25 gauge round stitching wire. They are good all-around wires for most commercial bookbinding and print finishing applications. But if the operator stitching a 3/16″-thick book, or slightly heavier, the 25 gauge is approaching its limit. Problems can arise when near the limit and running at high speed. If the operator goes beyond the thickness limit, he or she is almost certain to encounter new problems.

When stitching an extra-heavy or extra-thin job, be sure to use the best size of wire for the job at hand. It is not common to saddlestitch books beyond 1/4″ thick, but if an operator does and runs into problems, don’t forget to check wire gauge.

4) Using the wrong wire gauge for the stitcher head. Each stitcher head has its own suggested limits on wire gauge. Be sure to check the limitations of the wire gauge for each particular saddlestitcher.

5) Using inferior wire. Wire quality varies considerably among manufacturers. Some factors that affect stitching wire performance are tensile strength, consistency of wire size, cleanliness, resistance to flaking, type of coating and type of alloy.

For instance, an inexpensive galvanized wire may start to flake and/or leave excess wire shavings when cut inside the stitcher head. This, in turn, will clog the head and cause premature wear on numerous internal parts. It also can make it difficult to get a properly formed stitch at higher speeds. Generally speaking, a tinned wire or a premium galvanized wire will run better, with less flaking and a more consistent coating, cleanliness and strength. If a facility does enough stitching, consider the larger 70# spools equipped with a de-reeler. These are not wound as tight as the smaller spools, so there is less variation due to changes in the wire curl.

6) Lack of regular servicing. Stitcher heads need regular maintenance, lubrication and service. If a finisher or binder doesn’t have someone on staff who is qualified to rebuild and repair stitcher heads, send them out regularly to someone who can. It is money well spent that will keep the stitcher running smoothly.

7) Instruction manuals that never get opened. Each model has its own special requirements and peculiarities. It’s been said a person can learn either through wisdom or suffering. There is wisdom gleaned from reading the manual.

There have been instances when operators have transitioned to a different saddlestitcher, needed to install a new stitcher head and simply didn’t consider the differences in the saddlestitcher. This can cause enormous damage to the machine and head. Installing the wrong head can turn into hundreds or thousands of dollars in repairs.

No matter which stitcher head is being used, be sure it’s set correctly to give a good cut, consistent wire draw, equal leg lengths, proper clincher and clincher alignment, and correct compression.

Most bindery equipment operators like to have a performance edge available to them when they need it, especially if they want to go home early! Although running at maximum speed is not always the best way to get maximum yield, it sometimes is both possible and necessary. On those occasions when a bindery must run at maximum speed, it’s nice to be able to do it without gremlins like those mentioned above slowing operations down. The good news is that these stitcher head tips are simple to follow.

Thank you to Technifold USA for its assistance with this article. For more information, visit www.technifoldusa.com.

drupa Imaging Summit: Importance of Artificial Intelligence for Printing and Imaging Industry

April 25, 2024

Press release submitted on behalf of Messe Düsseldorf North America

At this year’s drupa trade fair (May 28 – June 7 in Düsseldorf, Germany), Messe Düsseldorf will present the drupa Imaging Summit for the first time as part of the special forum “drupa next age” (dna): Top-class speakers from renowned companies will give 20-minute keynote speeches and panels on the most important topics at the interface between imaging technologies and printing. This includes, in particular, the potential offered by the use of AI.

The imaging industry has come a long way in the last few decades. First the transition to digital photography and workflows, and now the new big challenge of AI, are transforming the value creation of creators, companies and the industry. Along with many challenges, the new AI tools also create new opportunities and business areas.

At the drupa Imaging Summit, the major trend topic of Imaging Artificial Intelligence will be one of the central themes to provide information on the current status and tools, discuss new product ideas and demonstrate ways in which images can be optimized for better prints.

Picture This: How Artificial Intelligence (AI) is Revolutionizing Image Creation (presented by Dennis Oberfeld, Google Cloud/Customer Engineer) will show how AI is revolutionizing the image creation process. The participants will gain insights into Google’s powerful AI solutions, demonstrating how they streamline workflows and produce stunning results. Learn about upscaling, watermarking, and more – practical tools (not only) for print businesses and creatives alike. Dennis Oberfeld is passionate about enabling digital transformation and he works closely with clients to understand their unique needs and implement customized cloud strategies for optimal business results. Prior to Google Cloud, he spent nearly a decade at SAP, driving cloud adoption for company customers.

Image generation via Artificial Intelligence: Tools & Workflows (presented by Andreas Jürgensen, Founder AI Imagelab | ai-imagelab.de) will give an overview of the current status of AI-generated images. Andreas Jürgensen will offer a brief insight about which programs are currently relevant – and which ones you should keep an eye on, in which processes AI-generated images are currently being used and in which fields of application they will become relevant. The presentation will be illustrated with application and image examples. Andreas Jürgensen is a photo engineer and has been working in the photo industry since 1993. His company juergensen.net operates Germany’s largest network of photo communities. At the end of 2022, he started to work with artificial intelligence and its use for image production. Together with Adrian Rohnfelder he started the AI Imagelab, a news blog about AI generated images and videos.

AI Unveiled: Navigating Past, Present, and Future in Photo Print Innovation (presented by Sarah Lefebvre, Director of Marketing at EyeQ Imaging Inc). The Creators of the leading Imaging Software, Perfectly Clear, will show the remarkable advances AI has made in recent years as Sarah Lefebvre will connect today’s applications of AI to real-world use cases and their impact on the printing industry. Visitors will learn about the exciting possibilities of the future as she demonstrates the transformative impact of AI on photo printing – it will be about the intersection of innovation and practice at the forefront of AI technology. Sarah Lefebvre has made it her mission to help businesses achieve optimal photo quality. As Director of Marketing at EyeQ, she focuses on the company’s core message: the ROI that companies can achieve with Perfectly Clear, its automated photo and video editing technology.

The influence of Artificial Intelligence on future print products (presented by Adrian Rohnfelder, Founder AI Imagelab, ai-imagelab.de). In this highly illustrated and entertaining short presentation, Adrian Rohnfelder will outline possible print products of the future as a result of the new generative AI capabilities:

Changes through AI support of existing products
Key social media drivers such as pets and selfies for an abundance of AI-generated images
Potential consumer needs for 2D, 3D and 4D printing

Adrian Rohnfelder studied business administration, worked for a long time as a freelance management consultant and made photography his profession in 2017. He has already won several awards, published in renowned publishing houses and appeared as a speaker at well-known events. At the end of 2022, he discovered artificial intelligence as a fantastic creative tool. He has published on the subject in magazines and has been working as a trainer since the beginning of 2023. Together with Andreas Jürgensen, he founded the AI Imagelab in mid-2023 as a platform for AI-generated images and videos.

Viesus™: Prints enhanced in the blink of an AI (presented by Servi Pieters, CEO of Viesus™)

Thousands or even millions of images are processed for printing every day, and the quality or pixel count of the images is often too low. This leads to lost time, complaints and missed opportunities. Visitors can learn about the behind-the-scenes algorithms used by leading companies in the photo printing industry to minimize suboptimal prints. This presentation will show how AI algorithms improve image print production, delivering quality without the need for manual intervention. As CEO, Servi Pieters leads Viesus™ in further developing AI and making it available on various platforms. In October 2022, he founded MyPrint.ai AG, driven by innovation with the application of generative AI technology in a webapp to print personalized and unique AI generated artworks.

All these drupa Imaging Summitt presentations and several others will take place on the drupa next age stage on May 30 and 31 in Hall 7. https://www.drupa.com/en/Program/Forums/drupa_next_age

For the entire drupa next age program (May 28 – June 6 in Hall 7): https://www.drupa.com/en/Program/Programoverview?filter=true&forums=DrupaNextAge

Participation in the drupa Imaging Summitt and the dna program is included in the drupa ticket.

For further information on visiting or exhibiting at drupa 2024, contact Messe Düsseldorf North America; Telephone: (312) 781-5180; E-mail: info@mdna.com; Visit www.drupa.com and www.mdna.com. Follow us on https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/drupa-tradefair/

For hotel and travel information, contact TTI Travel, Inc. at (866) 674-3476; Fax: (212) 674-3477; E-mail: info@ttitravel.net; www.ttitravel.net

Standard Announces Dates for Finishing 360

April 25, 2024

Press release submitted on behalf of Standard Finishing Systems

Standard Finishing Systems, a leading supplier of post-press and paper handling solutions, has announced that Finishing 360, their annual event open to print service providers across the U.S. and Canada, will be held on June 26^th and 27^th, 2024.

Every year at Finishing 360, Standard welcomes visitors to their National Demonstration and Training Center in Andover, MA, where they provide high-level tours of their complete Hunkeler and Horizon finishing line as well as detailed, hands-on equipment demonstrations. Attendees can expect to see the latest finishing technology including robot-assisted feeding, fully automated variable production, and more. This year’s featured solutions will include the Hunkeler/Horizon Roll-to-Saddlestitch line featuring Hunkeler’s Generation 8 unwinder and cutter and Horizon’s iCE StitchLiner Mark V Saddlestitcher, Horizon’s BQ-500 Perfect Binder with case binding accessories, Horizon’s iCE LiNK Bindery Control System, and more. Visitors will also be able to learn about Standard’s pre-owned equipment program and trade-in and buyback programs as well as Standard’s service support options including service contracts, parts, preventative maintenance, and on-site or remote technical support.

Attendees will be invited to take part in a specially catered lunch each afternoon of the event, and Standard will host an on-site reception for all guests beginning at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, June 26, featuring local craft beer, wine, and hors d’oeuvres. Each day of the event will also feature raffles and giveaways.

“We’re happy to invite print providers into our National Demonstration and Training Center for another Finishing 360,” said Paul Steinke, Director of Sales at Standard. “This event is a prime opportunity to experience and evaluate the full range of Hunkeler and Horizon solutions outside of the usual trade show calendar. We look forward to seeing everyone again in June.”

For more information and to register, interested parties are encouraged to visit https://www.sdmc.com/finish360/.

Duplo USA to Showcase Finishing Solutions at Upcoming Events

April 23, 2024

Press release submitted on behalf of Duplo USA

Duplo USA Corporation, the leading provider of innovative print finishing solutions, will be exhibiting its automated finishing solutions at the IPMA Roadshow, Franchise Services Vendor Show, and Americas Print Show.

Attendees will have the opportunity to discuss their finishing needs with Duplo at the IPMA Roadshow stops in Maryland, Utah, and Oklahoma. These events are scheduled for April 25 at the World Bank Group in Landover, Maryland; May 16 at Intermountain Health in Salt Lake City, Utah; and May 23 at the University of Oklahoma.

At the Franchise Services Vendor Show, the Duplo team will be demonstrating the DC-618 Slitter/Cutter/Creaser with the DC In-Line Folder as well as the DFL-500 Foil/Laminator. The DC-648 Slitter/Cutter/Creaser will also be on display in the Ricoh booth. Franchise owners from Sir Speedy, PIP, Signal Graphics and MultiCopy are set to attend May 7-9 at the Sheraton Downtown Phoenix in Arizona.

At Americas Print Show, the 700i Pro Digital Booklet System and DC-648 Slitter/Cutter/Creaser will be showcased inside the MB Graphics booth. The May 8-9 event focuses on industry manufacturers, associations, educators, and printers and will take place at The Huntington Convention Center in Cleveland, Ohio.

To see Duplo’s complete list of upcoming events, visit https://www.duplousa.com/events.

Label Summit Latin America 2024 Reports a Successful Edition

April 23, 2024

Press release submitted on behalf of Label Summit Latin America

The 20th edition of Label Summit Latin America 2024 has closed on a high note, attracting 750 visitors from 25 countries. This year’s two-day conference took place between 12 – 13 March at the Agora Bogotá Convention Center for the first time in Bogotá, Colombia.

Across a busy two days, over 25 experts from well-known Colombian brands, label converters from the region and leading associations in Latin America’s label and package printing industry shared their insights and knowledge about the trends and technologies that are shaping the future of the market. Converters participating in the conference included Viappiani, Servibarras, CCL, All4Labels, AlfaPrint, Everest Printed, Impresos y Acabados, Ideartes Impresores, Etiflex Mexico, Kuresa and Sismode.

Hosted by Labelexpo Global Series, the conference had a total of 13 sessions featuring panel discussions and in-depth presentations.

Speakers included Juanita Jiménez, brand design leader from Colombian coffee brand Buendía, Eric Pell, client development director from Makro and Juan Zuluaga, departmental coordinator – Antioquia of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization. Topics featured included an explanation of sustainability terminology, a market analysis of Colombia and the wider region, the Colombia Plastics Pact as well as brand protection and traceability in smart labels.

Mirco Mazzarella, event manager, Label Summit Latin America 2024 said: “We’re delighted with the success of Label Summit Latin America 2024, and it was a privilege to bring this highly productive event for the very first time to the vibrant city of Bogotá. The positive feedback that we received across both days alike reflected the importance of keeping up with the latest industry trends and innovations in Latin America and beyond.”

Laura Reyes Castellanos, executive director at CEMPRE (the Business Commitment to Recycling) and keynote speaker on day one of the conference, commented: “The Label Summit Latin America 2024 event represented a valuable opportunity to explore and understand the dynamics of a consumer-oriented industry that has enormous potential to lead transformations that drive the circular economy and encourage changes in behaviours. Having these kinds of spaces is essential to continue exchanging knowledge and inspiring the development of sustainable solutions.”

An accompanying table-top exposition also ran over the two days, which saw 54 leading industry suppliers such as platinum sponsor ARclad, Mark Andy, HP, Cartes, OMET and Nilpeter network with delegates, giving them an exclusive preview of the latest technology in label and package printing.

Carolina Jaramillo Osorio, marketing director at ARclad said: “Having the opportunity to share information on sustainability to our customers and industry delegates means a lot to us, understanding how to meet the requirements of sustainable labeling can be very challenging, and we believe this event provided the perfect platform for us to continue working together towards this goal.

“The organization of the event was excellent, in our opinion, the conference program was really well planned, with highly relevant and diverse content. At our booth, we were able to experience a significant number of client visits, coming from different countries across the region, contributing to a very dynamic atmosphere where we even successfully closed several business deals.”

Metsä Board Inaugurates Europe’s Largest and Most Modern Folding Boxboard Machine in Husum, Sweden

April 23, 2024

Press release submitted on behalf of Metsä Board

Metsä Board, part of Metsä Group, inaugurated its upgraded folding boxboard machine in Husum, Sweden, on April 11. Metsä Board Husum mill in Sweden is an integrated board and pulp mill producing folding boxboard, uncoated white kraftliner and bleached chemical pulp. Project partners, representatives of Örnsköldsvik municipality, Swedish parliament, and the forest industry attended the inauguration ceremony.

In 2016, Metsä Board started up a new folding boxboard machine, BM1, in Husum with a capacity of 400,000 tonnes/year. An investment of EUR 230 million was completed in 2023 to increase the annual capacity of the BM1 folding boxboard machine to respond to the growing demand for sustainably produced packaging materials that support the circular economy. With an increased annual capacity of 600,000 tonnes of folding boxboard, the BM1 is Europe’s largest and most modern of its kind and is run with 98% renewable energy.

“With the investment in the folding boxboard capacity at Husum, Metsä Board is well positioned to meet the growing demand for fiber-based packaging materials. We are dedicated to supporting our customers with high quality and resource-efficient solutions that help replace fossil-based materials and support the circular economy,” says Mika Joukio, CEO, Metsä Board.

The project has included upgrades to the entire board mill as well as increasing the warehouse capacity at the port. The main parts of the investment are the extension of the board machine’s drying section, a new winder and an automated reel handling system. The new, fully automatic machine roll transfer and control system is unique in the paperboard industry. “The combination of the most modern available technologies with a very high degree of automation solutions gives us both a safer mill as well as lots of new improvement opportunities,” says Olov Winblad von Walter, VP Husum Board and Pulp Mill.

Between 2019 and 2023 Metsä Board Husum has undergone an extensive investment program. The first phase was completed in December 2022, including a new recovery boiler and turbine at the Husum pulp mill with an investment cost of EUR 380 million. The new modern equipment and processes enables Husum mill to significantly increase bio-based energy production and energy efficiency, contributing to Metsä Board’s target of fossil free mills by the end of 2030.

The Husum mill is one of Örnsköldsvik municipality’s largest employers and plays an important role for the region and in the large-scale conversion to the bioeconomy. Husum’s products play an important role in providing alternatives to fossil-based materials in consumer packaging globally, the main markets being Europe and North America.

Introducing Scodix AI: The First AI Solution to Automate Design Creativity for Print Embellishment

April 17, 2024

Press release submitted on behalf of Scodix

In the first of Scodix’ product unveilings for drupa 2024, the leading provider of digital embellishment solutions today announces the launch of a first AI tool, Scodix AI. Taking advantage of the widespread popularity of Scodix presses, the AI technology uses learnings from vast databases of Scodix-enhanced pages to automate the embellishment design process. As AI is being introduced into all aspects of printing, Scodix is catering to the growing demand for automation tools among print providers and designers, and leveraging AI to help brands gain attention in a crowded marketplace.

Scodix AI’s automated embellishment design process analyses designs before suggesting intelligent design choices, so that even non-savvy designers have the capability to embellish and elevate their print. Scodix AI can be used with Scodix Sense and Scodix Foil, allowing users to achieve the most intricate results with glossy and embossed textures, or produce personalised, foil coated products.

With the Scodix AI algorithm process occurring in a secure cloud, the technology is compatible with any web interface, and integrates seamlessly into Web-to-Print and online storefronts.

“At Scodix, we pride ourselves on pushing the boundaries of innovation. The print industry is on the threshold of an AI advantage, and by embracing the technology for embellishments, we provide our customers with more business opportunity,” states Eli Grinberg, CEO and Co-Founder of Scodix, adding “Creativity with Scodix will lead this revolution, giving even creatively challenged users the ability to produce the most beautiful designs.”

Scodix will showcase its new AI technology at drupa 2024 on stand E11 in Hall 5 from May 28th to June 7^th.

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