ENews

Label Academy Launches Virtual Master Classes

June 15, 2020

Global training provider for the label and package printing industry, the Label Academy, London, UK, will start offering its master classes to an international audience online outside Labelexpo shows for the very first time. This is in response to the increased appetite for digital learning.

The Label Academy’s in-depth and expert-led master classes in English have proved extremely popular around the world at Labelexpo tradeshows during the past few years, covering a wide range of key topics in the label and package printing industry. These have included shrink sleeves; inks, coatings and varnishes; and flexible packaging.

Building on this success, the first international “virtual” master class will cover digital printing technology. It will be spread over two, two-hour parts on Tuesday, June 23 and 30. It will be presented by Labelexpo strategic director Andy Thomas-Emans, who will be joined by expert guest speakers from AB Graphic, Avery Dennison, Cerm, Domino, Durst, HP, UPM Raflatac and Xeikon.

Attendees will gain a unique insight into the technologies, materials, finishing and embellishments that could transform a converter’s product offering, and learn how to maximize operational workflow. Part 1 will cover digital markets, future predictions and compare the different technologies and processes such as liquid/dry toner, hybrid and inkjet. Part 2 will look at prepress systems and strategies, the importance of workflow automation, substrate selection and print quality, plus digital print finishing.

The virtual master class costs $60 (US dollars) per session. For more information, visit www.label-academy.com/master-classes-0.

Inkjet Summer School 2020 to be Held Online in July

June 15, 2020

Conference and course organizer IMI Europe Ltd, Impington, UK, has announced that, due to the current situation, its Inkjet Summer School event (previously to be held in Ghent) will be held online. The courses still will be delivered live by the same course presenters, and attendees will be able to engage with the presenters and other attendees during the course.

By holding this event online, IMI Europe is able to spread the courses over two weeks, allowing participants to attend as many courses as they like. Online courses are HALF the usual price, with a free ticket included to a physical event of one’s choice in the future.

Online course benefits include:

Courses will be held on Zoom via a private link
Course presenters will present live and questions can be asked at any time
Questions can be asked both publicly (verbal or chat) and privately (chat)
PDF downloads of the course materials will be provided beforehand
Networking with course providers and other registrants during breaks
Course schedule is on European Time

The courses include:

Monday, July 6-Tuesday, July 7, 2020
Inkjet Academy
Theory of Inkjet Technology

Wednesday, July 8-Thursday, July 9, 2020
Selecting & Driving Printheads
Drive Electronics & Waveforms

Thursday, July 9-Friday, July 10, 2020
Inkjet Drying & Curing
Hardware & Chemistry For Fixing Inkjet Inks

Monday, July 13-Tuesday, July 14, 2020
Fluid Dynamics & Acoustics
How Inkjet Printing Really Works

Thursday, July 16-Friday, July 17, 2020
Inkjet Colour Management
Practical Colour Management For Digital Printing Workflows

Wednesday, July 15-Thursday, July 16, 2020
Jetting Functional Fluids
Rheology, Deposition, Process & Development

For more information, visit www.imieurope.com/inkjetsummerschool2020-introduction.

Sun Chemical and DIC Corporation Acquire Digital Inks Business

June 15, 2020

Sun Chemical Corporation, Parsippany, New Jersey, and its parent company, DIC Corporation, have entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of the shares and certain other assets related to the production of inks of Sensient Imaging Technologies, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Sun Chemical is a producer of printing inks, coatings and supplies, pigments, polymers, liquid compounds, solid compounds and application materials. Sensient Imaging Technologies is a manufacturer and marketer of colors, flavors and other specialty ingredients. The transaction is expected to be finalized in the second quarter of 2020.

The strategic investment in Sensient Imaging Technologies, a supplier of digital inks, will allow Sun Chemical and DIC to expand its inkjet ink capabilities and expertise using complementary technologies that will further strengthen the highest standards of services and solutions to its customers and distributor partners. Inkjet is a strategic segment for Sun Chemical and DIC, and the investment in Sensient will demonstrate Sun Chemical and DIC’s commitment in the digital segment.

Sun Chemical is dedicated to reinforcing Sensient’s reputation within the digital space and is committed to a customer-focused transition.

For more information, visit www.sunchemical.com.

US Department of Labor Adopts Revised Enforcement Policies for Coronavirus

June 15, 2020

The US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Washington, DC, has adopted revised policies for enforcing OSHA’s requirements with respect to coronavirus as economies reopen in states throughout the country.

Throughout the course of the pandemic, understanding about the transmission and prevention of infection has improved. The government and the private sector have taken rapid and evolving measures to slow the virus’s spread, protect employees and adapt to new ways of doing business.

Now, as states begin reopening their economies, OSHA has issued two revised enforcement policies to ensure employers are taking action to protect their employees.

First, OSHA is increasing in-person inspections at all types of workplaces. The new enforcement guidance reflects changing circumstances in which many noncritical businesses have begun to reopen in areas of lower community spread. The risk of transmission is lower in specific categories of workplaces, and personal protective equipment potentially needed for inspections is more widely available. OSHA staff will continue to prioritize COVID-19 inspections and will utilize all enforcement tools as OSHA has historically done.

Second, OSHA is revising its previous enforcement policy for recording cases of coronavirus. Under OSHA’s recordkeeping requirements, coronavirus is a recordable illness, and employers are responsible for recording cases of the coronavirus, if the case:

Is confirmed as a coronavirus illness;
Is work-related as defined by 29 CFR 1904.5; and
Involves one or more of the general recording criteria in 29 CFR 1904.7, such as medical treatment beyond first aid or days away from work.

Under the new policy issued in mid-May, OSHA will enforce the recordkeeping requirements of 29 CFR 1904 for employee coronavirus illnesses for all employers. Given the nature of the disease and community spread, however, in many instances it remains difficult to determine whether a coronavirus illness is work-related, especially when an employee has experienced potential exposure both in and out of the workplace. OSHA’s guidance emphasizes that employers must make reasonable efforts, based on the evidence available to the employer, to ascertain whether a particular case of coronavirus is work-related.

Recording a coronavirus illness does not mean the employer has violated any OSHA standard. Following existing regulations, employers with 10 or fewer employees and certain employers in low hazard industries have no recording obligations; they need only report work-related coronavirus illnesses that result in a fatality or an employee’s in-patient hospitalization, amputation or loss of an eye.

For further information and resources about the coronavirus disease, please visit OSHA’s coronavirus webpage at https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/covid-19/.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to help ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance.

The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers and retirees of the US; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and ensure work-related benefits and rights.

For more information, visit www.osha.gov.

Graphic Communications Workforce Coalition Announces Winning Logo

June 15, 2020

The Graphic Communications Workforce Coalition (GCWC) has completed the student design contest and is introducing its new logo. Nearly 50 entries were received from students across the US. The winning design was submitted by Brianna Macsuga, a student at the Genesee Career Institute in Flint, Michigan. She will be receiving $1,000 in tuition assistance. Two honorable mention awards of $250 will go to Qi Chen and Mandana Yaghini, both from Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, California.

Genesee instructor Michael Crawford was instrumental in encouraging his students to participate in the competition. He said: “Brianna is a first-year foundation student with an endless eagerness to ‘get it right.’ I admire and truly appreciate her tenacity and grit. I am a fan of her resourcefulness and so look forward to hearing of her future successes and accomplishments. The employer that captures her is going to be very lucky indeed.”

The tuition awards were made possible by the David W. Jones Scholarship Fund managed by Print Media Association in St. Louis, Missouri, and its director Tim Suraud. “We had a number of interesting and suitable entries. The competition for top choice was close and the committee was impressed with the results,” Suraud said.

Created about a year ago, the coalition’s membership consists of nearly 50 organizations from across the industry and the country. The group comprises concerned associations, educators and industry representatives (service providers and suppliers) who are uniting to address a key industry concern.

As stated in its organizing documents, “The purpose of the coalition will be to coordinate the efforts of all organizations representing the broad scope of the graphic communications industry for creating awareness, recruitment of new people into the industry, providing a framework for apprenticeship and training programs, and the retention of the existing workforce. By combining the separate efforts, experiences and initiatives of various organizations, coordinating actions and the sharing of ideas and resources, it is expected that all will benefit.”

GCWC’s website – www.gccoalition.org – is now live with basic information and a list of current members. This site is intended to be a compilation of resources for the industry, and the GCWC Board of Directors is very excited to announce that soon the site will contain information on the “Print Is Everywhere” campaign and a model apprenticeship program, both of which are near the roll-out stage.

Membership is open to parties representing the continuum of the graphic communications industry. This includes associations, vendors to the industry, educational institutions and all areas of print and graphic communications service providers. Those interested in participating are encouraged to use the website “Join Us” page to sign on. There is no cost to join, only the desire to participate in the process. GCWC is actively seeking service providers, educational institutions and industry vendors to both its membership and to represent their constituencies on the board.

GCWC chair Judy Durham (APTech) said: “We are making significant progress in addressing this key industry concern. This effort has wide support, and we expect that significant action will be the result of our efforts.”

For more information, visit www.gccoalition.org. To ask any questions about GCWC, please contact Judy at jdurham@aptech.org or Secretary John Berthelsen at johnb@pgsf.org or 608.575.3904.

FSEA Launches Online Learning Experience

June 3, 2020

The Foil & Specialty Effects Association (FSEA) is launching a free online event to provide resources for print decorating, finishing and binding providers. To be held virtually on June 23 and 24 at www.fseaconference.com, the FSEA Online Learning Experience will provide education on topics that are critical to the success of small- to mid-sized specialty businesses.

“When COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the 2020 FSEA·IADD Joint Conference, we were concerned that our association members and others in the industry would miss out on the business-impacting content we had planned,” said FSEA Executive Director Jeff Peterson. “Thanks to our amazing industry suppliers, we’ve been able to pivot to a two-day online event that is free to attendees. We believe it’s absolutely critical that the print decorating, finishing and binding industries have up-to-date information, and the 2020 FSEA Online Learning Experience will deliver.”

Event topics will include:

Recruiting, Training & Retaining the Workforce
Sustainability in the Print Industry
Tax Savings through the R&D Tax Credit
The Impact of Cold Foil on the Embellishment Landscape
Working Through Challenges with Today’s Paper Stocks and Coatings
Digital Decorating – Where Does it Fit and Where is It Going?
Grow Your Business: Promoting Foil and Finishing

Registration is open. Attendees can sign up now for free at www.fseaconference.com. On Tuesday, June 23, and Wednesday, June 24, attendees will log in at www.fseaconference.com to view live and recorded webinar content.

The event is sponsored by these industry suppliers: BOBST; Duplo USA Corporation; H+M; KURZ; Infinity Foils, Inc.; Metal Magic; Mueller Prost CPAs + Business Advisors; Sakurai; Univacco; and Universal Engraving Inc. – a UEI Group Company.

For more information, call 785.271.5816 or visit www.fseaconference.com.

Labelexpo/Brand Print Americas Shows Rescheduled

May 26, 2020

Tarsus Group, the organizer of Labelexpo/Brand Print Americas 2020, has confirmed new dates for its co-located shows taking place in Rosemont, Illinois, as a result of the ongoing coronavirus/COVID-19 situation.

Originally scheduled to take place between Sept. 15-17, the 2020 editions of Labelexpo Americas and Brand Print Americas now will take place between March 23-25, 2021. A virtual conference will precede the show, taking place during the original mid-September dates. This will enable the region’s industry to stay connected during this unprecedented period.

Lisa Milburn, managing director of Labelexpo/Brand Print Global Series, said: “Health and safety will always remain our top priority; therefore, we have taken the decision to postpone Labelexpo and Brand Print Americas 2020. We have been continuously monitoring developments in North America over the last few months and have acted on the advice of our local partners, Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and taken on board exhibitor feedback. As a result, we feel the best course of action is to move the shows to early next year.

“We know how vitally important these shows are for triggering business between converters and manufacturers, and moving the domestic market forward. Strategically postponing the shows to March 2021 allows us to not only meet our commitment to the North American region’s industry by continuing to deliver a much-needed show next year, but also ensures we offer the highest quality, safe experience it expects from Labelexpo and Brand Print Americas. Most importantly, as trade platforms, the shows will play a vital role in reigniting and driving the economic recovery of the region’s label and package printing and branded print industries, plus their supply chains, as we move through the post coronavirus/COVID-19 recovery phase. We encourage everyone to help our industry bounce back by joining us at the shows in March 2021.”

Dan Muenzer, president of TLMI, said: “TLMI’s core values are networking and knowledge sharing, and no place provides a better backdrop than Labelexpo Americas. The pandemic has eliminated the industry’s face to face opportunities in 2020 making this next edition the most anticipated, and critical, in Labelexpo’s history. TLMI and our members are ready to share, enjoy each other’s company and return to business at Labelexpo Americas 2021!”

Echoing this, Thayer Long, president of APTech, added: “The health and safety of our community is always our priority, followed closely by supporting our industry so that it continues to be robust and vibrant far into the future. Events are, and will continue to be, a driving business force, and we are delighted that Brand Print Americas will serve as that necessary industry recovery platform for the North American market in 2021.”

Further updates will be posted on the Labelexpo/Brand Print Americas show websites in due course. For any exhibitor- or show-related questions, please contact support@labelexpo.com.

SGIA, PIA Become PRINTING United Alliance

May 20, 2020

The Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA) and Printing Industries of America (PIA), which merged May 1, 2020, have announced the new organization name as a combined company: PRINTING United Alliance. PRINTING United Alliance also announced its official board of directors as a merged entity.

“PRINTING United Alliance is a reflection of the invaluable partnerships and industry convergence that have evolved over time,” said Ford Bowers, president and CEO, PRINTING United Alliance. “The organization name seemed an obvious choice to many as our North Star points to the industry continuing to come together and strengthening to ensure future growth and longevity.”

PRINTING United Alliance brings together two long-standing printing organizations to better serve all communities within the printing industry. “In this time of consolidation, printer members and the supplier community at large are looking for a unified solution to the challenges they face in this era of rapid change,” said Scott Crosby, chairman of the board and Transcontinental Holland & Crosby vice president of sales and marketing. “The new Association will become the place to find answers for everything related to printing. It is a great honor and privilege for me to serve the industry as we look forward to a new beginning.”

The new PRINTING United Alliance board of directors reflects combined leadership from the previous SGIA and PIA boards of directors and comprises the following industry executives: Chairman of the Board Scott Crosby, Transcontinental Holland & Crosby; First Vice Chair Paul Cousineau, Dow Jones and Company, Inc.; Second Vice Chair Christopher Bernat, Vapor Apparel/Source Substrates LLC; Third Vice Chair Michael Marcian, Corporate Communications Group; Treasurer Dean DeMarco, IDL Worldwide; Secretary Brooke Hamilton, NPI; Immediate Past Chair Thomas Cooper III, WestRock; Chair of Chairmen’s Advisory Council Edward Cook, Jr., ECI Screen Print Inc.; Associate Vice Chair Scott Schinlever, Gerber Technology; and Ex Officio Ford Bowers, president and CEO, PRINTING United Alliance.

Directors at large include Brian Adam, Olympus Group; Nick Buettner, American Cut and Sew; Roger Chamberlain, The Cincinnati Insurance Company; Kristen Danson, MitoGraphics Inc.; Chris Feryn, Premier Press; Kevin Gazdag, KG Graphics Décor; Bryan Hall, Graphic Visual Solutions; Lane Hickey-Wiggins, Douglass Screen Printers Inc. dba DPRINT; Brian Hite, Image Options; Michael Magerl, Trabon Group; Brent Moncrief, FUJIFILM; Joseph Olivo, Perfect Communications; Edward Pidcock, Chillybears; Heather Poulin, Ricoh USA; Timothy Saur, Durst Imaging Technology US LLC; Elaine Scrima, GSP Companies; Michael Wagner, Butler Technologies Inc.; and Joseph Lyman, president, Great Lakes Graphics Association, serving as affiliate manager.

“The industry is going through great change right now, so the timing for these two like-minded organizations to come together dovetails nicely,” said Paul Cousineau, first vice chair, PRINTING United Alliance and Dow Jones and Company Inc. vice president of Prepress Operations, Continuous Improvement and IT Ops Support. “I am honored to be a part of something so significant and impactful. I’ve enjoyed the process working with the board in getting to this point and look forward to the future.”

For more information about becoming a member of PRINTING United Alliance, visit sgia.org or printing.org.

Top 5 Skills Required for 4th Industrial Revolution Success

May 20, 2020

The skills gap continues to widen and is expected to endure, according to the latest skills gap study conducted by Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute (2018). These findings were based on a survey of more than 400 US manufacturers, interviews with manufacturing industry executives, economic predictions by Deloitte’s economics team and analysis of secondary data. While just a few years ago manufacturers saw the retirement of baby boomers as the biggest reason for the skills gap, opinion has shifted. The gap is being attributed to the rapid rise of advanced technology and automation in the workplace.

Manufacturers see great benefit in adopting robotics, cobots, AI and machine learning, but they are finding that these technologies require employees with particular skills and aptitudes. While the design and engineering phases of manufacturing will increasingly call for job candidates with STEM degrees, the production side of manufacturing will see its own growing need for technology-savvy employees.

Here’s a quick take on the top five skills and qualities that manufacturing executives believe will be most important in the next few years.

Critical thinking

In an environment filled with integrated and interacting technology, tools and robotics, employees with the ability to think critically will be increasingly valuable. Manufacturing plants, no matter how well designed, will not run without human oversight. Critical thinking is necessary, for example, to monitor quality control. When quality lapses, astute thinking is required to troubleshoot, identify the source and reason for the lapse, and take the right action to remedy the problem.

Digital skills

As manufacturing itself leans on automation and computerization as work horses on the production floor, employees have their own sets of digital tools upon which to rely. Company-specific social media, messaging and texting apps are some of the digital tools commonly in use in every line of work. Manufacturers who have implemented these types of productivity and communication methods will need to place digital skills high on the list of must-haves for new employees.

Technology and computer skills

The day-to-day in manufacturing relies on an infrastructure of computer-based functions. Computerized platforms for things like timekeeping, communications, job tracking, supplies management, calendaring and scheduling, learning management and inter-department collaboration are all commonplace. New employees must arrive with an understanding of the more ubiquitous software and technologies, and with an interest and aptitude for learning industry- or company-specific packages.

Programming skills

The programming requirements of manufacturers might not call for employees capable of creating advanced algorithms or complex, nested subroutines. But the CNC machines, robots, cobots and lights-out operations found in many plants do call for basic programming skills as well as the methodical, meticulous, patient and persistent mindset often associated with programmers.

Aptitude with tools and techniques

Lest anyone think that manufacturing has gone entirely cerebral and totally computerized – and therefore with no need for the mechanically inclined – the Deloitte/Manufacturing Institute study points out that there is still a strong need for employees with an affinity for mechanics, along with an aptitude for using tools and applying techniques.

To read the 2018 Skills Gap Report by Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute, visit http://www.themanufacturinginstitute.org/Research/Skills-Gap-in-Manufacturing/Skills-Gap-in-Manufacturing.aspx.

Anticipation Building for drupa 2021

May 20, 2020

With drupa 2020 postponed because of the coronavirus, the date for drupa 2021 has been announced: April 20-30 in Düsseldorf, Germany.

“We are glad Messe Düsseldorf decided to postpone drupa to 2021,” said Giacomo Farnè, sales representative with Italian exhibitor Pentabox. “drupa is the industry’s key event everyone is waiting for. That’s why it is so important that the trade fair can function without restrictions, that many visitors come and that we can exchange ideas intensively for 11 days.”

Hiroaki Shimosaka, general manager of the graphic systems business division of Fujifilm Corporation, agreed: “We were already in the final stages of preparing for drupa 2020. However, given the current exceptional situation, we believe the decision to postpone was both right and unavoidable. The announcement in March has minimized the economic damage to exhibitors, and we are grateful that the decision was made before the impact could become even more drastic. However, while the coronavirus is causing social distancing and general caution, the communication infrastructure provided by the printing industry, and the role of print remains unchanged. We are therefore preparing for drupa 2021 to be successful, when the extent of the coronavirus has subsided.”

Some exhibitors plan to make the most of the additional time and complete and redevelop further innovations – and thus have a greater presence at the trade fair in 2021. In the meantime, drupa invites its community to take advantage of the website’s various features to present themselves, publish company and product information free of charge and keep up to date via the newsroom and social media channels. These services can bridge the current need for presentation and visibility, as well as provide the industry with targeted information and interaction.

There also are positive comments from countries with strong representation at drupa that are heavily affected by the coronavirus, such as China and Italy; for example, from the Italian Paper Flow Group: “Due to the pandemic, we need to give people and companies the time to regain their strength and wait for confidence to return as the driving force for private and business life. We believe that the postponement of drupa gives everyone the opportunity to regain balance on which to build the future,” said Stefano Monfredini, sales director, Technomac Italia.

The online ticket shop for drupa 2021 is open. For more information, visit www.drupa.com or www.mdna.com.

For further information on visiting or exhibiting at drupa 2021, contact Messe Düsseldorf North America at 312.781.5180 or info@mdna.com. For hotel and travel information, contact TTI Travel, Inc. at 866.674.3476 or 212.674.3477 (fax), email info@ttitravel.net or visit www.ttitravel.net.

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