Standard Finishing Systems, Andover, Massachusetts, has announced the line of feeding and finishing solutions the company will bring to PRINTING United.

The technology on display will highlight advanced automation and the “power of smart finishing,” including the new Horizon BQ-500 Perfect Binder and HT-300 Three-side Trimmer, as well as the Hunkeler Generation 8 combination Roll-to-Stack/Roll-to-Booklet solution, featuring the new UW8 Unwinder in-line with the new Horizon StitchLiner Mark V Saddlestitcher.

For more information, visit https://www.sdmc.com/ or https://www.printingunited.com/.

Duplo USA Corporation, Santa Ana, California, will be hosting an open house event in Chicago, Illinois, on August 19. The open house will take place at the Holiday Inn Chicago North where local print owners and production managers are invited to attend and see live demonstrations of trending commercial and packaging applications.

Attendees will be able to experience demonstrations of digital color and packaging applications produced on highly efficient equipment including slitter/cutter/creasers, die cutters and more. Print embellishment solutions will also be on display in the Digital Finishing Showcase, producing raised spot UV and foil applications. An educational track for on demand packaging will be presented during the Lunch n’ Learn hour.

“We are very excited to be back on the road as our nation recovers from the pandemic,” said Si Nguyen, vice president of sales at Duplo USA. “We’re pleased to showcase our latest technologies live and in person, and we invite you to come on by and say hi. Enjoy a hot lunch on us while our product specialists help you find the right solution for your finishing needs.”

Admission is free and lunch will be provided. For more information and to register, visit www.duplousaevents.com.

The Association for PRINT Technologies (APTech), based in Franklin, Tennessee, and the Foil & Specialty Effects Association (FSEA), headquartered in Topeka, Kansas, are delighted to announce their collaboration on a new in-person event, Amplify, an exhibition and educational program spotlighting the print finishing value chain. The immersive three-day experience will take place June 14-16, 2022, in the heart of the print, graphic arts and print finishing industry at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

Both associations welcome print and packaging designers, commercial printers, print finishers, binders, mailers and creatives to connect with the equipment manufacturers and suppliers to those industries. From the exhibit hall to the educational program and beyond, attendees will network with all the key players in the finishing cycle, learn best practices, discover emerging technologies and hear real-world success stories.

Other association partners who will be supporting Amplify include AICC, the Independent Packaging Association, and RadTech, the Association for UV&EB Technology.

Amplify will feature an interactive learning experience through technology demonstrations, product spotlights, and classroom educational experiences. Exhibitors and educational programs will cover processes that include metallic decorating techniques, folding and gluing, UV coating, laminates, laser cutting, perfect and mechanical binding, folding, and direct mail machinery and software.

Jeff Peterson, executive director of FSEA, commented: “After more than a year of virtual interactions and events, we’re proud to announce the launch of Amplify. This will undoubtedly become the event for those involved with finishing, embellishments, and other postpress processes. Amplify will connect and inspire all – from design to the final finished product.”

Kevin Abergel, senior vice president, sales and marketing at MGI Digital Technology, said he looks forward to Amplify, stating, “Finally, someone decided to connect all the different levels in the print finishing ecosystem, with manufacturers, designers, and brands working together and learning from one another.” He continued: “It’s community-building rather than just another tradeshow about selling machines. Amplify will be the new standard-bearer for what tradeshows can be in the future.”

“I am truly excited about the opportunity the new Amplify event and conference will provide. It will be an excellent way for printers, finishers and designers to gain critical insights into the everchanging and evolving world of digital print, digital finishing and techniques for designing with these new possibilities,” said Myron Werner, director of sales-packaging and print at KURZ Transfer Products. “With COVID slowing us all down, this event will allow many to explore these new processes ‘hands on’ during the Technology Center demonstrations and discover new techniques to deliver designs to the market faster than ever. These evolving technologies are providing new concepts and opportunities never possible before and it’s time to see them all under one platform in one place. Amplify fits the need.”

“Print and packaging designers strive to catch the eye of the consumer, and commercial printers need their customers’ printed products to excel,” said Thayer Long, president of APTech. “Amplify will be the venue to showcase the accomplishments, best practices, and innovation happening in the print finishing industry.”

Attendee registration for Amplify will launch in early 2022. Those interested in becoming a sponsor or exhibitor should email sales@amplifyprint.org.

To learn more about Amplify, visit amplifyprint.org or email info@amplifyprint.org.

by Joseph P. Trybula, CFP®, AIF®, Diversified Financial Advisors

Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in America, affecting millions of unsuspecting individuals each year. A dishonest person who has your Social Security number can use it to obtain tax and other financial and personal information about you.

Identity thieves can get your Social Security number by:

• Stealing wallets, purses and your mail.
• Stealing personal information you provide to an unsecured website, from business or personnel records at work and from your home.
• Rummaging through your trash, the trash of businesses and public trash dumps for personal data.
• Posing by phone or email as someone who legitimately needs information about you, such as employers or landlords.

Tax-related identity theft occurs when a thief uses your Social Security number to file a tax return and claim a fraudulent tax refund. In 2018 alone, there were 649,000 confirmed identity theft tax returns.¹ The IRS has become increasingly diligent in its efforts to thwart identity theft with a program of prevention, detection and victim assistance. The “Taxes. Security. Together.” program is aimed at building awareness among taxpayers about the need to protect personal data when conducting business online and in the real world.

Stay vigilant

By remaining vigilant and following a few commonsense guidelines, you can support the IRS in keeping your personal information safe. Here are a few tips to consider:

• Protect your information. Keep your Social Security card and any other documents that show your Social Security number in a safe place.
• DO NOT routinely carry your Social Security card or other documents that display your number.
• Monitor your email. Be on the lookout for phishing scams, particularly those that appear to come from a trusted source such as a credit card company, bank, retailer or even the IRS. Many of these emails will direct you to a phony website that will ask you to input sensitive data, such as your account numbers, passwords and Social Security number.
• Safeguard your computer. Make sure your computer is equipped with firewalls and up-to-date anti-virus protections. Security software should always be turned on and set to update automatically. Encrypt sensitive files, such as tax records, you store on your computer.
• Use strong passwords and change them routinely.
• Be alert to suspicious phone calls. The IRS will never call you threatening a lawsuit or demanding an immediate payment for past due taxes. The normal mode of communication from the IRS is a letter sent via the US Postal Service.
• Be careful when banking or shopping online. Be sure to use websites that protect your financial information with encryption, particularly if you are using a public wireless network via a smartphone. Sites that are encrypted start with “https.” The “s” stands for secure.
• Google yourself. See what information is available about you online. Be sure to check other search engines, such as Yahoo and Bing. This will help you identify potential theft sources and also will help you maintain your reputation.

Afraid you have been scammed?

If you feel you are the victim of tax-related identity theft – e.g., you cannot file your tax return because one was already filed using your Social Security number – there are several steps you should take.

• File your taxes the old-fashioned way – on paper via the US Postal Service.
• Print an IRS Form 14039 Identity Theft Affidavit from the IRS website and include it with your tax return.
• File a consumer complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
• Contact one of the three national credit reporting agencies – Experian, Transunion or Equifax – and request a fraud alert be placed on your account.

If you have been confirmed as a tax-related identity theft victim, the IRS may issue you a special PIN that you will use when e-filing your taxes. You will receive a new PIN each year.

For more information on tax-related identity theft, visit the IRS website, which has a special section devoted to the topic.

Contact Joe Trybula at joe@printers401k.com or 800.307.0376 for more details.

Disclosure: This material was created for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as ERISA, tax, legal or investment advice. Investment Advice and 3(38) Investment Fiduciary services offered through Diversified Financial Advisors, LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor. 3(16) Administrative Fiduciary Services provided by PISTL Service Corporation. Discretionary Trustee services provided by Printing Industries 401k Trustees. If you are seeking investment advice specific to your needs, such advice services must be obtained on your own separate from this educational material.

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References

1. The Internal Revenue Service, IR-2019-66, April 8, 2019.

Baumer hhs, Krefeld, Germany, has launched TeamViewer Pilot as way of providing efficient and effective support to their customers.

With TeamViewer Pilot, machine operators can use the camera on their smartphones to show Baumer hhs service experts the inside workings of their production systems. In other words, an expert on the Baumer hhs hotline can see exactly what a machine operator sees. Thanks to 3D object tracking, service experts can draw markers on the images, such as circles or arrows, point out details, add text annotations and share this information with machine operators via live video stream. It makes collaboration easy for both participants, enabling them to identify or rule out technical problems and discuss possible solutions.

“With TeamViewer Pilot, our service experts can effectively help customers resolve most technical problems that occur and get their production systems back up and running without delay. Should a customer still need on-site service, we can optimally prepare for it based on the information provided in the real-time visual support session. TeamViewer Pilot gives our technicians added options for maximizing the availability of our customers’ production machines. We highly recommend the remote service app for these reasons,” explained Roberto Melim de Sousa, head of sales at Baumer hhs GmbH.

A number of customers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland are already using TeamViewer Pilot for remote service from Baumer hhs, and the company is working to establish the app among customers globally. TeamViewer Pilot can be downloaded free from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for iOS and Android smartphones.

To learn more, visit www.teamviewer.com or www.baumerhhs.com.

Duplo USA Corporation, a leading provider of innovative print finishing based in Santa Ana, California, is preparing to exhibit at live events in 2021 for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown. The company will be present to meet with attendees at three events in the summer months, including the Inkjet Summit, Franchise Services International Vendor Show and the Alphagraphics Technology Expo.

“We’re excited to return to events with a number of new offerings. These include our newest addition to our industry-leading DC line, the all-new DC-648 Slitter/Cutter/Creaser, the DF-1300L long paper folder, and the latest addition to our DPC line, the DPC-600 Digital Die Cutter,” said Rick Salinas, vice president of marketing at Duplo USA. “We continue our tradition of offering cutting-edge products that offer cost-saving automation with industry-changing innovations in the on-demand print and packaging markets.”

Duplo will be participating at this year’s Inkjet Summit scheduled for July 26-28 at the Hyatt Lost Pines in Austin, Texas. The all-inclusive experience for business executives offers strategic-level insights on the current and future production of inkjet printing technology, software, and solutions.

At the Franchise Services International Vendor Show, the DPC-400 Digital Die Cutter, DC-618 Slitter/Cutter/Creaser, DFL-500 Dry Coat/Foil/Laminator and the DF-1300L Air Suction Folder will be running demonstrations with a wide variety of applications in booth 411. Franchise owners from Sir Speedy, PIP, Signal Graphics and MultiCopy are set to attend the event July 28-30 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The week after that show, the DPC-400 and DC-618 will be on the floor in booth 322 for franchisees during the AlphaGraphics Technology Expo. The expo is scheduled to take place Aug. 5-6 at the Town & Country Convention Center in San Diego, California.

For more information, visit www.duplousa.com.

Standard Horizon, Andover, Massachusetts, has released a newly automated AFV-56K Folder as an addition to Horizon’s popular line of folders.

The 6-buckle folder with integrated knife/buckle cross-folding contains 44 fully automated settings for improved efficiency, more operator-friendly production, and reduced waste and make-ready. It incorporates roller gaps and buckle plates that can be fine-tuned from a touchscreen control panel, as well as automated stop adjustment under the knife and trailer edge roller.

For more information, visit www.standardfinishing.com.

PRINTING United Alliance, in partnership with the Flexible Packaging Association and TLMI, has announced details about the feature-rich 2021 Continuous Improvement Conference. The annual event equips printing and converting companies with the necessary tools to achieve operational excellence by implementing lean concepts, as well as other management and quality systems. This year’s event is being held in person on Aug. 22-24 at the Renaissance Columbus Downtown Hotel in Columbus, Ohio. Registration and the complete event schedule can be found at ci.printing.org.

The Continuous Improvement Conference offers attendees practical ways to reduce operational costs, speed throughput and improve customer experience and satisfaction through process improvement. This event is tailor-made for executives and managers playing a vital role in improving operational performance.

“We are very excited to be conducting the conference in-person again,” said Jim Workman, vice president, technology and research for PRINTING United Alliance. “The content is as relevant today as ever, since printing companies without a systematic approach to improving processes and performance will fall further behind. We encourage any company seeking improvement ideas to join us in August.”

Those attending the event will learn how to best implement concepts and tools that can create competitive advantage. Sessions include insight in the following areas:

• Improvement strategies used to raise efficiency and reduce mistakes.
• Implementing lean manufacturing concepts and tools.
• Printing company case studies on engaging employees to search for and eliminate waste.
• Advice and inspiration from renowned authorities in operational excellence.
• Guiding leadership principles propelling some of North America’s best companies.
• How executives lead cultural transformation.
• Eliminating peers’ similar challenges in moderated sessions.

Keynote speakers

Renowned leaders in the space will be presenting real-life case studies and best practices. Keynote speakers include:

• Mike Hoseus, executive director, Center for Quality People & Organizations
• Karen Martin, president, TKMG, Inc.
• David Veech, founder and president, Leadersights, Inc.

For more information, visit ci.printing.org.

ACTEGA Metal Print GmbH, Lehrte, Germany, has announced the appointment of Paolo Grasso as the new sales director. With 26 years of industry experience and as the previous head of global sales for narrow web press manufacturer OMET S.r.L., Grasso is placed to drive adoption of EcoLeaf™ – its revolutionary, sustainable and cost-effective metallization technology – and support its recent move into full commercialization.

Grasso will be tasked with helping the business scale up its go-to-market program by expanding its OEM channel partner network, finding additional distribution partners, growing its install base and expanding EcoLeaf’s availability in new geographic territories.

The basis of EcoLeaf is a silver pigment that can be overprinted, leading to a rainbow of metallic colors, including gold. Integrated inline on analog presses, digital printing presses or finishing equipment – either new or retrofitted to existing equipment – EcoLeaf consists of a printed trigger image and a metallization unit that applies only the precise and required amount of metal to the trigger image. The result of which can be the elimination of foil, leading to sustainability and financial benefits.

For more information, visit https://actega-metal-print.com/.

BOBST, Mex, Switzerland, has released a new multipurpose EXPERTFOLD 110 A3 that features newly integrated modules for the dedicated production of crash locks, and 4- and 6-corners that simplify and shorten settings when changing box types.

This new release reduces set-up time by as much as 80% and allows companies to produce many box styles in a wide range of materials, producing cartons at speeds of up to 450 meters per minute.

In addition, BOBST has released the NOVAFOIL 106 Hot Foil Stamper that provides efficient, versatile, and cost-effective multicolor foiling that enables quick setups and changeovers for highest productivity. The NOVAFOIL 106 is the first in-line foil stamping machine from BOBST featuring a cross-foiling section and also can be used for embossing, debossing, hologram application, and die-cutting.

For more information, visit www.bobst.com.