FUJIFILM North America Corporation, Graphic Systems Division, a supplier of products and services to the graphic printing industry, announced results from qualitative interviews with more than 1,100 customers indicating an encouraging outlook for print service providers despite the recent COVID-19 impact on many commercial businesses.

Encouragingly, the highest number of responses (32%) projected a return to normal business conditions in the July/August 2020 time frame and 24% projected a return to normal business conditions in September/October 2020. Overall, a combined total of 72% of the customers expressed optimism about a return to normal business conditions by October.

In regard to staffing, the highest number of respondents said staffing levels remained unchanged for 36% of respondents, while some accounts reported decreases of between 1% and 26%. Some respondents reported retention of staff and utilization of material cutting and sewing capabilities to successfully shift business priorities and produce personal protective equipment (PPE) to support COVID-19 response. A significant number of customers (54%) reported applying for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) or operating loans.

Expanding the variety of production capabilities was key to business continuity plans for print service providers, as the reported production volume impact from COVID-19 was significant, with 83% of the respondents reporting declines in production volume up to 40% or more since the start of the pandemic. This statistic excludes businesses deemed essential during the shutdown, including news/print media, whose performance remained flat during this time.

Across segments, despite lower order intake in April, there has been a significant increase in demand for consumable products in May that correlate closely with states re-opening and an increased level of business activity across the country.

“The customer data points have provided us with quite a bit of insight into the market and the individual situations at each customer,” said Todd Zimmerman, division president, FUJIFILM North America Corporation, Graphic Systems Division. “This has helped us with our production planning to be sure we have inventory available as markets recover. We are as anxious as our customers for a return to more normal business conditions.”

FUJIFILM North America Corporation, Graphic Systems Division interviewed its print service provider customers from the commercial, sign and display, and packaging segments. Since many operations today serve more than one market, and do more than one type of printing, the customer interviews uncovered insights regarding each of the three market segments. The interviews were conducted between April 15 and May 15, 2020, with Fujifilm Graphic Systems customers across the US. The majority of the interviews were conducted with companies that defined themselves as commercial printers followed by sign and display printers and packaging printers.

Interviews with customers were centered on four main topics:

• Changes in production volume
• Changes in staffing levels
• Applications for government Paycheck Protection Program assistance or other operating loans
• Projections regarding a return to normal business conditions

For more information, visit www.fujifilmgraphics.com.

Infinity^® Foils, Inc., a supplier of hot, cold and digital stamping foils, makeready materials and decorative glitter, recently unveiled their new headquarters, located at 14614 West 106th Street in Lenexa, Kansas. “We have been working on our new facility project for over a year and are very pleased about the value it will offer our customers,” said Jim Hutchison, president/CEO of Infinity^® Foils and senior vice president of UEI^® Group.

To commemorate the grand opening, Hutchison cut the ribbon on the new facility March 25, 2020. The new headquarters facility is an expansion of the original Infinity^® Foils location. Now having three times more space, it provides for an increase in capacity of foil products, as well as additional slitting and cutting capabilities.

“We carefully planned our new headquarters to accommodate the needs of our customers today, and for the future. We want to best support the industries we serve, and are committed to taking the appropriate growth steps to do so,” Hutchison said.

With seven warehouse locations, including another converting facility in Napa, California, Infinity^® Foils has continued to expand geographically to better service customers. Additionally, having global exposure as a UEI^® Group company has provided the company with an increased presence in traditional markets, as well as emerging markets and applications.

Infinity^® Foils, Inc. will be celebrating its 15-year anniversary in July, and the new headquarters was targeted for this year.

For more information, visit www.infinityfoils.com.

LasX Industries, Inc., St. Paul, Minnesota, a manufacturer of industrial laser systems, has announced the hiring of Michael Aumann as senior vice president. One of Aumann’s first priorities will be to ensure the company’s growth is aligned with a focus on strategy, organization and execution.

“Our operational focus will be critical as we capitalize on expanding LasX technology into multiple markets and continue driving innovation through the entrepreneurial environment that has made LasX so successful,” Aumann said.

Aumann will work closely with Ryan Falch, LasX president, to grow and expand the LasX brand. “We have a lot of exciting work to do to introduce our configure-to-order products to the market, evolve our customer experience program and expand our in-house manufacturing capabilities. Adding Michael to the executive team will play a critical role in our success,” Falch said.

Aumann brings a wealth of industry experience as the former CEO and president of Brandtjen & Kluge and current member of both the board of directors for the Association for Print Technologies (AP Tech) and the board of directors for the Foil and Specialty Effects Association (FSEA).

“Ryan and I believe our shared vision of developing a customer-driven culture that leverages LasX’s world-class technology will result in productive and profitable solutions for our customers,” Aumann said.

For more information, visit www.lasx.com.

Industrial and commercial printing and packaging solutions provider Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta), Ramsey, New Jersey, has announced the first installation of its MGI JETvarnish 3D One, a digital embellishment press. Kester Imaging (KI), Arkansas City, Kansas – which also owns an MGI JETvarnish 3DS digital press – recently purchased the second MGI device to expand its digital embellishment line of business.

KI, a family owned commercial printer, purchased its MGI JETvarnish 3DS digital press in September 2017. At the time, KI had seven Konica Minolta digital presses producing the vast majority of its print output. The ability to offer flexible, decorative, print enhancement solutions with service and support from the same business partner was a key factor in the decision to invest in the MGI press.

Since the purchase of its MGI JETvarnish 3DS digital press two and a half years ago, the creative design and decorative print enhancement outsourcing services KI has been able to offer as a trade printing business partner have benefited both their peers in the graphic arts industry and the corporate brands that those printers serve. Although KI commercially prints its own work, more and more printers are outsourcing projects to them, and owner Richard Kester realized the business required a second embellishment press.

The device expanded KI’s business focus beyond CMYK to offer 3D textured UV and high-value, sculpted foil to clients, representing a brand new product line and new profit center for the company. New customers such as manufacturing and retail consumer product companies, schools and non-profit organizations came on board seeking to highlight their brands and messaging with printed communications in different ways that online or conventional print campaigns could not provide.

The MGI JETvarnish 3D One digital print embellishment press brings digital 2D and tactile 3D spot-UV enhancements to the mainstream for commercial printing, finishing and packaging. The new Spot UV finishing device includes key components of MGI JETvarnish technology – including the intelligent, adaptive AIS (Artificial Intelligence SmartScanner) registration system – and is a compact, cost-effective, entry-level solution. The small footprint offers a full production and prototyping print embellishment system without screens or plates. The universal patented varnish formula allows flat 2D Spot UV highlighting and sculptured 3D raised special effects on virtually any digital printing methodology on a wide range of substrates.

For more information, visit www.kmbs.konicaminolta.us.

Horizon International, Takashima, Japan, a partner of Andover, Massachusetts-based Standard, a distributor of print finishing and paper handling solutions, recently made news for the company’s donation of personal protective equipment (PPE) that was manufactured using Horizon’s rotary diecutting technology. Horizon donated more than 3,000 face shields and 6,000 eye shields to the company’s local community and hospital.

Horizon produced protective face shields and eye shields using diecutting machines to help those on the frontline of the COVID-19 crisis. Horizon donated the face shields and eye shields to the local government in Takashima, and they will be distributed to the medical community in Takashima. The donated face shields and eye shields can be attached to disposable face masks.

The face shields and eye shields were produced by Horizon using their extensive manufacturing experience in the printing industry. However, instead of normal paper, Horizon used clear PET sheets (a lightweight thermoplastic) that was processed using its rotary diecutting technology.

For more information, visit www.sdmc.com.

Kolbus America Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, has announced the appointment of Jeffrey R. Dietz as its new president. Kolbus America Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kolbus GmbH, headquartered in Rahden, Germany.

In this role, Dietz will assume overall responsibility for the Kolbus, Hycorr and Autobox product lines in North America. He will be responsible for all sales, service and operations activities for Kolbus America. Dietz succeeds Neal Horrigan, who is retiring.

Dietz brings a valuable and diverse background to his role at Kolbus. His most recent position was with Koenig & Bauer (US/CA) as VP of its web and specialty press division, where he had sales and service management responsibility for the organization’s flexible packaging, corrugated, digital web print, metal decorating and web offset business units. Prior to that role, Dietz held progressively advanced commercial positions for major European and American companies focused on printing and finishing in targeted packaging segments. Dietz started his career working in a training program for a commercial web press manufacturer, where he was involved in all aspects of the business including service and installation.

Dietz holds a bachelor of science degree in business from California University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Ohio University. He also has earned an Executive Certificate in Leadership and Advanced Management from Emory University in Atlanta. Dietz currently sits on the board of directors for the Flexographic Technical Association and is a member of the Leadership Advisory Group for the Association of Independent Corrugated Converters.

For more information, visit www.kolbus.com.

A new fully recyclable print substrate, which allows brand owners and designers to create eye-catching luxury packaging concepts, has been launched by international optical microstructure suppliers Fresnels Innovations Ltd.

Featuring advanced proprietary 3D imagery and plastic-free cardboard, DRIEMS™ (digital, registered image, eco, metallic, secure) can be used as the centrepiece of a brand strategy built around sophisticated, elegant and impactful packaging concepts. This enables consumers and luxury goods manufacturers to enhance product shelf appeal and add value to the retail experience.

The technology is manufactured from sustainable materials for improved levels of recyclability and is odorless with a low VOC level to ensure compliance with the production of cigarette cartons among other demanding packaging applications.

Featuring bespoke registered imagery, the DRIEMS material, which can be applied by brand owners, printers and converters using standard print and converting techniques, also is digitally mastered at high resolution to deliver improved resistance against piracy and counterfeiting threats.

Incorporating a host of embedded overt and forensic government-grade law enforcement and security features, DRIEMS can be utilized easily as an effective weapon in the battle against counterfeiting as well as a beneficial device in checking the distribution and smuggling of illicit products in the global supply chain.

This facilitates rapid visual authentication in the product manufacturing and distribution chain, while held lenses can be adopted for covert inspection, or a laboratory used for the more advanced forensic examination required for litigation purpose.

Cellini technology can be applied to folding cartons produced from DRIEMS, providing an appealing and cost-effective option for delivering 3D tactile imagery to packaging without the use of expensive laminates. Packaging produced using Cellini imagery is fully recyclable, enhancing its appeal as an environmentally-friendly option in luxury packaging applications.

Manufactured as continuous rolls of transfer film, DRIEMS can be delivered to laminators as master rolls for transference to the paper board of their choice, offering flexibility and versatility in the production process – the sheet-fed material is manufactured with the individual images placed within the sheet to a high degree of accuracy as required by subsequent print and diecutting processes. It also can be delivered as print-ready sheets optimized for use on sheet-fed machines such as Heidelberg, Komori, Man Roland and GBA.

Dr. Glenn Wood, Fresnels Inc. COO, said, “DRIEMS offers another level of packaging design sophistication and visual impact due to 3D Cellini imagery, opening up new possibilities for ever more inventive and creative luxury packaging solutions.

“It’s plastic-free, fully recyclable and affordable with a built-in print enhancement technology that is so stunning that it doesn’t even require the print, but enhancement using print is even better. Now brand owners can imagine the folding carton they always wanted – sweet dreams.”

For more information, visit www.fresnelsinc.com.

Müller Martini Corp., Hauppauge, New York, print finishing systems specialists, has announced that it now offers MMInspect, a thorough “nuts and bolts” analysis of Müller Martini saddlestitchers to return them to peak performance and see legacy stitchers perform like new.

Müller Martini saddlestitchers that are not running at baseline speed can result in a significant loss in productivity — not to mention a loss to the bottom line. A stitcher’s net output can be maximized with MMInspect, an analysis of the saddlestitcher performed by Muller Martini certified technicians.

A MMInspect report assesses such critical issues as:

• Condition analysis by component. The report features a graphical depiction of your machine vs. one that performs optimally.
• Workflow revisions that can limit bottlenecks and other slowdowns.
• Recommended repair and/or parts.
• Available upgrades.

With a MMInspect report, owners can see exactly how well their machines perform—and where improvement is needed to achieve optimal productivity.

MMInspect starts as low as $1,500.

For more information, visit www.mullermartini.com.

PRINTING United is on track as planned at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta on Oct. 21-23, 2020. With health and safety guidelines at the forefront of planning for the important industry event, the annual showcase will give attendees and exhibitors the opportunity to engage and see the latest industry technology, experience worldwide product debuts and participate in educational programming that will equip companies with the latest statistics and powerful resources for 2021 and beyond.

PRINTING United Alliance, organizer of PRINTING United, continues to be committed in helping the printing industry navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization, newly formed from the SGIA and PIA merger, has developed several “go-to” resources for the printing industry, including the comprehensive COVID-19 Resource Channel, a dedicated “COVID-19: Ask the Experts” webinar series, the latest in financial and legislative support, and resources for reopening businesses.

Building on this body of knowledge and experience, the PRINTING United expo is the next step in helping the industry reopen its businesses and plan for the future.

“Key indicators suggest the economy will grow robustly in 2021, giving the printing industry a big boost,” said Andy Paparozzi, chief economist, PRINTING United Alliance. “PRINTING United’s unparalleled networking and educational opportunities will prepare attendees to participate fully in the upturn ahead.”

“The support and desire from the industry to come together again after such an unanticipated interruption in business this year has been overwhelming,” said Mark J. Subers, president, PRINTING United. “PRINTING United has become the venue in 2020 to assist business operations in not just sustaining but helping that upward trajectory for future success. We have and will continue to survey our past constituents on their interest and ability to be at the show and are preparing accordingly.”

PRINTING United exhibitors are using this first chance for the industry to be together under one roof to reunite and reset while viewing products and technology that vendors and OEMs have been waiting all year to launch. Special educational sessions have also been added from notable analysts and consultants to help put companies that are reopening on the right track for planning next year.

From commercial to industrial and packaging to apparel, leading companies from all industry segments have signed on to exhibit at PRINTING United 2020, with many expanding booth space to accommodate even more technology to be shown.

The team has been closely monitoring all developments as related to COVID-19 and is working closely with the team at the Georgia World Congress Center Authority (GWCCA), local and state authorities, and the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security specializing in mass gatherings, on all decisions and guidelines relating to the health and safety of all staff, exhibitors and attendees.

The GWCCA has developed a comprehensive business return plan to meet the health and safety challenges presented by COVID-19. Measures will be shared as the event draws nearer, but examples of what attendees and exhibitors can expect to see at the 2020 show from a health and safety standpoint include, but are not limited to:

• Social distancing protocols throughout GWCC;
• Touchless services, from parking to registration, food and beverage, and more;
• Enhanced signage and communication for social distancing and hygiene guidelines;
• Temperature checks for on-site attendees, exhibitors and venue staff;
• Increased sanitation and cleaning regimen, including access to more sanitizer stations;
• Traffic flow patterns to support proper crowd density.

“PRINTING United may be the only opportunity for the industry to gather in 2020, so we are ensuring that this event will be safe and will deliver, both from an attendee and exhibitor standpoint,” said Subers. “Businesses are making the most of their time and resources to see and experience it all under one roof this year in Atlanta. We are in this together and look forward to continuing to work with our partners to do whatever is necessary to keep businesses headed in the right direction.”

For more information, visit PRINTINGunited.com, or contact exhibit@printingunited.com or 888.385.3588.