2015 Aug/Sept

Application: Getting the Edge on Quality

September 4, 2015

by Brittany Willes, PostPress

When printers want to add value without going as far as edge gilding, the most expensive application, they often opt for edge staining.

The phrase “edge staining” likely brings to mind images of bibles and hymnals, their edges gleaming with a metallic gold sheen. However, today’s edge staining goes far beyond traditional books. “Edge staining has become more common,” stated Rick Jennings, co-owner of Kingsport Book, Inc., Church Hill, Tennessee. “Years ago it was journals, hymnals and reference books. The old Merriam-Webster used to be what we call speckle stained. That was edge staining. Today, it’s moved more mainstream, and we’re seeing more and more of it on the trade side.”

Edge staining in itself isn’t a highly technical process, but it does require a certain level of skill in order to maintain consistent coloration and make sure to match what the customer wants. When printers want value add without going as far as edge gilding, the most expensive application, they often opt for edge staining. Kingsport has witnessed an increase in edge staining in the past three to four years, more so out of the trade market as publishers try to differentiate their products on the bookshelves. Despite the increase, few printers have the capability for edge staining. “We provide a service that is still needed on a more limited basis than it used to be, and we do it all by hand,” Jennings said. “We use a basic staining booth and handheld spray guns.”

One of the most unique applications Kingsport has ever done was for a three-volume book set for another publisher. “The customer was publishing a series of limited-edition books and wanted to simulate marbled edges on the pages,” Jennings explained. In order to create the marble effect, Kingsport first created a master on flat paper so the endpapers could be printed with the same pattern. For each book, the spray operator first laid down a base coat of yellow edge stain before sponging the edges with a combination of rust and brown shades. “To bind a book where the endpapers and the page edges contained the same marble design is certainly one of the more unique things weve done over the years,” Jennings said.

Naturally, as the industry has evolved, so has the stain itself. In the past, Kingsport and other printers used dry pigment power and actually mixed the colors. Kingsport still does that today, maintaining a small inventory of dry pigment, but now it has partnered with an ink company that provides the company with water-based pigment colors. Now when customers want a specific color, all they need is a PMS book, and Kingsport can get that stain from the ink company with a PMS number. “It’s a much more exact process than what it was years ago when you had to put in a little yellow, a little blue and red to try to come up the right colors,” Jennings said. The new stain is particularly useful for complex projects.

“Another printer approached us with a series of 34 books, each with a different monotone cover. The publishers wanted the edges of the books stained to match the covers. We used 34 different PMS matches in order to edge stain 34 different colors on 34 different books at one time, one complete series in production back-to-back,” Jennings said. Moving to water-based pigments means increased accuracy when matching colors. Using the PMS system allows customers a reference to the color they want and ensures projects come out how customers expect. “It simplified the process quite a bit,” Jennings affirmed.

The challenge with edge staining is in preparing the edge itself. Printers have to be very careful when trimming any book to be stained. This means making sure any adhesive on the back of the book doesn’t migrate onto the edge of the pages during cover application. If the adhesive is not well cured when it goes through the trimmer, adhesive from the spine gets dragged onto the edges of the pages. On a traditional binding with no edge treatment, it wouldn’t be noticeable. But, because it is water-based, stain will not stick anywhere adhesive has been transferred.

“At the end of the day, it all comes down to the stained edge,” Jennings said. “It’s not an exact science. It’s very dependent on the spray operator to keep everything consistent because it’s all done by hand. It depends on how many passes the operator makes with the spray gun, how far away from the edge of the blocks he holds the spray gun and the settings on the gun to maintain the consistency of color not only around the three edges, but from book to book to book.”

Over the last 20 years, the printing industry has seen more covers with foil stamping and spot UV and embossed covers. According to Jennings, stain plays nicely into that to make the product just a little bit different than what people are used to seeing. “You want to create emotions in people,” Jennings asserted. “You create the most emotion when you can get them to reach into their pocket and pull out money. I think that’s part of what we’re seeing here, trying to create an emotion about something people will pick up and look at.”

Yes, It’s Beautiful…But, Will It Mail?

September 4, 2015

by Mike Porter, Print/Mail Consultants

Many consider the hurdles for direct mail advertising to be capturing the recipient’s attention, enticing them to open the mail piece and persuading them to take the intended action. Those all are important aspects of the campaign design phase. Just as important, however, is making sure the piece can be delivered to the intended recipient intact, on time and within budget. If those things don’t happen, the copy, graphics and offer won’t matter much.

Dozens of factors can affect the deliverability of mail pieces through postal systems. Some design characteristics essentially can switch a mail piece from one postal class to another. Others can trigger extra fees and charges. And, a few design miscues can cause the USPS to reject a mailing in its entirety.

Material size, shape, weight and format can determine the speed, quality and accuracy of handling by print and document finishing providers before the job ever gets to the Post Office. Mail piece designers – and printer finishers and binders that work with clients to add specialty folds or effects – should consult with all the organizations involved in distributing the pieces before locking themselves into a design that results in unexpected costs and delays. For the US Postal Service, the people to contact are called Mailpiece Design Analysts (MDAs).

MDA approval not a free pass, but can save the day

MDAs can answer mail piece design questions or evaluate prototypes and provide guidance about improving the design to meet USPS standards. MDAs can save mailers time and money and offer some protection against accepting and running a job that may turn out to be an expensive disappointment.

Many readers of this publication likely are highly skilled and experienced mail professionals. They are certainly qualified to evaluate mail piece designs on their own. But, keeping up on all the guidelines and regulations can be a chore. MDAs can be a second-level defense against bad mail that slips through an internal evaluation process. Or, they can serve as an outside authority on those occasions when customers push back against recommended mail piece modifications. MDA services are free. Mailers might as well take advantage of the resource.

Getting the blessing from a Mailpiece Design Analyst isn’t a guarantee a mailing job will proceed through the postal system flawlessly. Final mail preparation methods or last-minute modifications in piece design, address location or other factors still can cause problems in the mail stream. But, having a favorable MDA opinion could provide some leverage should it be necessary to challenge a USPS ruling about the design of a piece.

I can recall personal experiences where consulting with an MDA saved my customer thousands of dollars or prevented a mistake that would have rendered the mailing useless. In one instance, the customer had engaged a graphic artist to create a folded self-mailer. It hadn’t been printed yet, but the customer supplied a drawing that showed the layout, the location of the folds and the finished dimensions. As it turned out, the MDA noticed the aspect ratio was outside USPS specifications. If we’d printed and mailed the piece as designed, every one of them would have incurred a non-machineable surcharge – a budget-busting $20,000 of unexpected expense. In another case, the MDA pointed out tabs placed in required locations would obscure some important information on the document. We would have unknowingly reduced the response rate to practically zero. Advanced consultation with the MDA really saved the day on both those occasions.

Recognizing the value of the mail piece design analysts, the USPS has launched a help desk application to streamline connectivity between customers and Mailpiece Design Analysts. Customers can get connected with an MDA by calling 855.593.6093 or sending an email to MDA@usps.gov. The MDA customer service help desk is available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time.

Mailers can find additional information about getting help from MDAs by clicking on the MDA Customer Service Help Desk tab found at https://ribbs.usps.gov.

Creativity within boundaries

Coming up with creative designs can be a struggle. One can do only so many things with a jumbo postcard before it becomes clear a different approach is necessary to make a mail piece stand out. A folded self-mailer, unusual windows, embossing or dimensional mail pieces might be aspects of a campaign designers decide to explore. When they do, it is best for finishing and mailing operations to get the specifications in advance and compare the piece to the mailing requirements and regulations.

Here are a few areas mailers always should consider before approving designs for direct mail pieces.

Size and Shape – Size restrictions differ among mail classes. As a result, mis-sized mail pieces can become ineligible for the intended mail class. A postcard too big for First Class may have to be sent via Standard Mail instead. That might be a problem. Among other things, delivery standards are different between the two mail classes, affecting the timing of the promotion.

Aspect Ratio – The aspect ratio is calculated by dividing the length of a mail piece by the height. The resulting ratio must fall between 1.3 and 2.5. A mail piece with an aspect ratio beyond the approved range can trigger a surcharge assessed to every piece in the mailing. On a batch of 25,000 First Class pieces, the surcharge alone would be over $5,000! Note the USPS considers the dimension of the mail piece parallel to the mailing address to be the length. Printing the address parallel to the short side always will result in an aspect ratio less than 1. The piece may stand out as different, but expect the Postal Service to add that nasty surcharge to the postage bill.

Odd-Shaped Items in Envelopes – Special rules exist for mailing bulky items in envelopes. Flash drives or pens, for example, can damage postal equipment, cause jams or injure postal employees. Mailers may be required to wrap such items. In some cases, it may be necessary to add material to the piece to achieve the uniform thickness required for the mail to run through postal sorting machinery.

Tabs – If using tabs or wafers on folded self-mailers, the mail must meet certain specifications regarding the placement, size and number of tabs required by the Postal Service. Obscured information will negatively affect the performance of the piece, so be sure designers do not place important text or graphics where they will be covered by the tabs. Alternatively, mailers may decide to use transparent wafers or glue, which could increase the cost or cause a delay while waiting for delivery of substitute sealing materials.

Response Devices – The design of any response devices mail recipients will utilize to return information back to the mailer is just as important as the outbound mail. Aspect ratios (see above) apply to response pieces, too. If using a return envelope, make sure the response piece fits in the envelope without requiring the mail recipient to fold or modify the response device. Using window envelopes for reply mail is a great idea, but be sure the response piece inside does not shift such that the return address falls outside of USPS address placement specifications.

Plenty of variables in any mailing contribute to the total project cost. Any time a mail piece design seems unusual, it pays to have it evaluated by the print/mail production team and possibly the Mail Piece Design Analysts. In today’s environment of multi-channel communications, rejected mail or delayed delivery encountered at the last minute can have effects far beyond an individual mailing job. A direct mail piece may be integrated with timed emails, web ads, social media campaigns or events. Failure of a mail piece to meet expectations can ripple throughout an entire campaign.

Mike Porter is president of Print/Mail Consultants. Porter specializes in guiding his clients in the development and implementation of strategic and operational improvements in customer communications. Together with his consulting practice, he also generates custom informational content for document industry professionals to publish in newsletters, blogs, web sites, white papers and trade media. To keep up with Porter’s tips, trends and commentary, visit www.printmailconsultants.com and sign up for Practical Stuff – a free newsletter for customer communication professionals.

Using Social Media to Promote Your Business

September 4, 2015

by Jen Clark, PostPress

Dina Lyon works on an animated video for Creative Coatings’ social media marketing campaign.

In today’s global economy, creatively marketing your business to potential customers can be the difference in winning a contract or waiting (and hoping) for the next customer to come through the door. Marketing in this day and age goes beyond having a company website. Creating a lasting marketing campaign with a return on investment (ROI) is an expenditure in both time and talent.

Using social media for business marketing isn’t necessarily a new practice, but for those in the printing and finishing industries it can be tricky to know where to start. A number of social media-related items are available on the Printing Industries of America’s (PIA) website. The business/marketing section of the PIA’s book store at www.printing.org includes titles such as Social Media Field Guide and Social Media Success. An overview of the Field Guide says that “social media engagement is a reliable way for printers to market their business, communicate with customers and increase brand awareness.” The guide explains where to begin, including what social media tools can work best and how to implement such a marketing plan. It can help those just getting started with social media marketing, as well as “refine the knowledge and technique of the social media-savvy.”

The “2015 Social Media Marketing Industry Report,” published by Social Media Examiner, surveyed over 3,700 marketers to understand how they’re using social media to grow and promote their businesses. It found that Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn are high on the list for marketing plans, but marketers also wanted to do more with Facebook. Video currently is being used by 57 percent of marketers, while 72 percent of respondents want to do more with video production. The report found “the top two benefits of social media marketing are increasing exposure and increasing traffic.” In addition, “More than half of marketers who’ve been using social media for at least two years report it helped them improve sales.”

Getting animated at Creative Coatings

Creative Coatings, San Diego, California, has been delivering postpress finishing services from concept to completion to clients in the Western United States for 30 years. In the last six months, it created a YouTube channel to share cool techniques and ideas about printed projects to potential customers. “We have been producing two types of videos for social media marketing – marketing and educational,” said Dina Lyon, sales/account representative at Creative Coatings. “We not only market our products and services with videos, but also believe that being a partner and asset to our customers by training them is a high priority. This builds the relationship while creating success for all of us.”

Creative Coatings uses PowToon to create its animated training videos.

Lyon creates the videos using one of two different video authoring programs – Animoto or PowToon – and then posts them to the company’s social media spaces on YouTube, LinkedIn, Google+ and Facebook. The videos offer unique perspectives by showcasing a service provided by Creative Coatings through project photos or as an animation explaining a particular process. The marketing videos are created using Animoto (www.animoto.com), which describes itself as an easy way to create professional-quality videos without the need for technical know-how or expensive production equipment. The educational (animated) videos are created with PowToon (www.powtoon.com), a free business animation software and PowerPoint alternative. According to its website, PowToon allows users to create colorful, visually engaging animated presentation-cartoon mashups with drag-and-drop simplicity. “We chose animation for training videos because we can promote products and train people how to utilize those products all in one video,” Lyon said. “Animated videos are simple and elementary, so the communication gets the point across quickly and easily.”

On the more traditional videos, Lyon takes care to only show products that clients have approved to share. “We strategically show images that won’t divulge any client information publically,” she said. “We’ve had extremely good responses. Our clients, both current and new, always are looking for new ideas and information.”

It can take two or more days to put the videos together, Lyon said, noting her deadlines are flexible depending on the project. “It really depends on the content topic and product,” she explained. “Some products and services or informational videos have a lot more information to share than others.”

The company’s goal is to post something new each month, but doesn’t want to inundate its clients with too frequent updates. “It depends on the time of year and what information we see our clients needing,” Lyon explained. If a client requests a certain product or service, though, the company’s staff can send the videos out as needed while having conversations with clients. “Our estimators, CSRs and sales staff follow up via email with the video link that corresponds to the information the client is looking for,” she said.

Measuring ROI

Creative Coatings is careful not to divulge client-specific information in its promotional videos.

According to Social Media Examiner, “ROI is proof that your marketing efforts are working.” It can be measured in a variety of ways, such as lead generation, customer acquisition, clicks, revenue, etc. Social Media Examiner offers five steps for measuring social media ROI. Those steps include setting goals, determining the right platforms, tracking campaigns, reporting the findings and reviewing results/ resetting goals.

At Creative Coatings, ROI hasn’t been measured yet, partly because their initiative is so new. However, the company sees its social media use – especially its use of animation – as “preventative maintenance via mass communication,” Lyon said. “Training videos won’t always indicate an instant sale or immediate new client, so the ROI is very difficult to track in this circumstance. In the printing industry, some projects don’t come to fruition for months. Our videos are not focusing on any one project. Instead, they focus on the concepts that go into all projects. We continue to provide these informational videos in hopes of training our existing customers so that they can learn and at the same time share and refer new clients our way.”

PostPress would like to thank Social Media Examiner for providing its “2015 Social Media Marketing Industry Report” for this article. Social Media Examiner helps businesses discover how to best use social media, blogs and podcasts to connect with customers, drive traffic, generate awareness and increase sales. For more information, visit www.socialmediaexaminer.com/report2015.

Top 5 Reasons to Fire a Customer

September 4, 2015

by Brittany Willes, PostPress

The customer is always right. We’re all familiar with the old adage and rarely think to question its authenticity. Sometimes customers are wrong, and some even create more problems than profit. When customer relationships no longer are mutually beneficial, it’s time to let those customers go. So, how do you determine if a customer needs firing? Below are some of the more common themes in bad customer relationships.

1. Unreasonable demands

Customers are demanding. Some will be more difficult to please than others. This doesn’t automatically make them bad customers; in time, they may become easier to work with once a sense of trust and respect has been established. There also are customers determined to be unhappy regardless of your efforts. You may find yourself defending the quality of your work or performing extra work outside of the original service agreement in an attempt to soothe perpetually ruffled feathers. Often, these are high-profile clients whom businesses are reluctant to lose for fear of lost revenue. However, given the extra time, effort and handholding they usually require, these customers are less profitable than imagined. If a client habitually costs you time and resources better spent on more appreciative customers, it’s time to let that client go.

2. Chasing payments

When businesses expand and develop, naturally the cost of doing business also rises, leading companies to increase their prices. Most customers understand this and happily will comply with the adjusted price as long as quality continues to be good. Bad customers will argue and refuse to pay the higher prices. Fear of losing customers, and therefore revenue, may prompt business owners to allow outdated payments. By not enforcing price increases for all clients, businesses ultimately will lose money as they struggle to satisfy unreasonable customers rather than focus on clients willing to pay the current rates. There’s no harm in negotiating prices. Everyone wants the best deal for the best value, including good customers. When negotiation turns into unreasonable demands and undervaluing your work, it’s time to draw the line.

3. Monopolizing time

Spending the majority of your time and resources appealing to a single customer means taking away from others. If you allow one client to dominate your time and attention, the customer will come to expect it. And, those clients who already value your work without making unreasonable demands on your time? They are the ones most likely to suffer and, therefore, to look elsewhere for service. This goes hand in hand with chasing payments. If you’re having to send multiple invoices and payment reminders, spending valuable time haggling with clients, this also detracts from time you should be focusing on good customers.

4. Compromising quality

Life happens, things go wrong and last-minute emergencies demand last-minute problem-solving. However, these times should be few and far between. If your clients routinely demand services within time frames that require you to lower the professional standards of your work, you compromise more than just your time. Performing rushed, low-quality work undermines the reputation of your products and services. This reflects badly on you and your client. The customer is right only so long as both of your needs and goals are being met.

5. Lack of Trust

Good customer relationships require a great deal of trust from both sides. Customers need to be able to trust their service providers to conduct themselves in a legal and ethical manner. Business owners need to be able to trust their clients to behave the same. If a client behaves unethically and asks the same of their service providers, the client needs to be fired. It may seem like an obvious sign of a bad customer relationship, but it warrants mentioning. When customers lack integrity, everyone suffers.

In the end, good customer relationships are built on mutual respect. If you feel that a client is not respectful of you, your employees or your business, it is time to let that client go.

Print Influencer: Ralph Nappi

September 4, 2015

While currently serving as president of the Graphic Arts Show Company (GASC), Ralph Nappi wears many hats within the printing industry. Luckily for Nappi, many of those roles interweave seamlessly with one another. In addition to GASC, Nappi also serves as president of the Graphic Arts Education and Research Foundation (GAERF) and as president of NPES, The Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies, which represents over 600 companies that manufacture and distribute equipment, systems, software and supplies used in printing, publishing and converting. GASC, which is co-owned by NPES, Epicomm and Printing Industries of America (PIA), produces the annual GRAPH EXPO and quadrennial PRINT exhibitions.

During his time with GASC, Nappi has witnessed many changes within the printing industry, but his key philosophy throughout – “Know Your Customers” – continues to guide his various roles.

What does your position as president of GASC entail?

As president of GASC, my primary role is to produce the foremost tradeshows in the Americas for the graphic communications industry – which today are the GRAPH EXPO and PRINT exhibitions. GRAPH EXPO is this year’s premier industry event. It touches every aspect of the printing industry, from design to delivery. With the ongoing impacts of e-communications in today’s media mix, postpress has become an increasingly important component of the offerings at GRAPH EXPO 15.

How does GRAPH EXPO put you and the organization in a position to influence the printing market?

If we are good at staging GRAPH EXPO each year, then we are ahead of the industry. We are trying to lead the industry forward with the very latest technologies and unique new applications. We constantly monitor current industry trends and strive to be at the leading edge of where our industry’s businesses are headed, whether it is industrial printing or 3D printing, etc. We’re always trying to make sure that we are providing the very latest technologies with an eye toward the future so the companies that attend are able to gain all of the information they need to adapt and evolve their businesses accordingly.

Why does a tradeshow like GRAPH EXPO still hold relevance for today’s print and print finishing producers?

Its all about where the industry is going. There are two main goals we hope to achieve through GRAPH EXPO each year. First is the tactical side – the side of the show that helps those in attendance realize and recognize tactical solutions available to solve today’s problems. Attendees ask, “What is my problem today?” Then they go to a session or they network, and on the show floor they find exactly the solution to that problem. The second part is strategic. Again, if we’re good, we are leading attendees toward a future which, in addition to solving today’s problems, will allow them to position their companies to succeed well into tomorrow. There have been substantial changes that have impacted upon today’s print market, primarily the consolidation and resulting structural changes that have taken place. As a result, there are two parts of trying to stay ahead of the curve: running the business from an operational standpoint and also understanding what technologies will help the business advance and grow. That is what we hope to provide for GRAPH EXPO attendees.

What can attendees expect from this year’s show that will most impact the industry?

We do something called the Must See ‘Ems competition every year, which is our method for shining the spotlight on the latest and greatest of what can be seen on the show floor at GRAPH EXPO. We want to provide a highly organized road map for our attendees, especially those who have a limited amount of time. We collect new, first-shown services, programs and products in all areas – press, prepress, postpress – and have over 50 qualified industry expert judges identify the strongest and best ones. This is the best tool for attendees to identify and learn about the hottest new technologies and products across the show floor. For example, several awards were given in the category of “Postpress and Inline Finishing,” including one to Highcon Systems for its Highcon Euclid II+. MGI, Inc. likewise was recognized for its iFOIL T system. These products certainly are worth a look for Expo attendees.

What do you see for the industry as you look five to 10 years in the future? What will be the biggest influence on the print industry?

Personally, I think it is far more about the business than the technology. It is about the business of the business, more so than the business of print or postpress. The companies that do well in our industry are not necessarily the ones that have the greatest technology. It’s about how they utilize, execute, implement and adapt for what they should be doing with that technology. Most companies don’t go out of business because they lack the latest technology. They go out of business because they are not using it right. They are not helping their customers to leverage it.

My advice is to know your customers. Have good relationships with customers and do a good job of helping them execute the technology. Don’t just sell a product; instead, teach your customers how to use it and how to reuse it. The customer doesn’t buy a thing, they buy a partner. I’ve seen so many good companies with good ideas go away because they never understood that the customer doesn’t want a product, they want a solution to a problem. My fear is that there are not enough industry players who recognize that it is not about them – it is not about their company or being great at printing or stitching or binding. It’s about being good at the “business” of it. The customer is looking for help in navigating a very different markeplace today, and that’s where their value lies with the customer. Not selling the most expensive product, but recognizing how to help the customer be far more effective at what they do, well past the product they are being sold. “Value add” is an overused phrase in our industry today, but it still is so important because right now there is so much capacity out there. What kind of counsel, what kind of strategies, what kind of discussion and general marketing solution or communication solution do you have available? Know your customers. Know what they need and how you can help them be better.

Application: Mowing Down the Competition

September 4, 2015

by Brittany Willes, PostPress

Bad Boy Mowers, Batesville, Arizona, chose a dramatic brochure showcasing the hardy “attitude” for which the company is known.

Bad Boy Mowers, Batesville, Arizona, has built a reputation for striking and durable products. When it came to marketing those products, Bad Boy decided on a dramatic brochure showcasing the hardy “attitude” for which Bad Boy is known. With the help of The Fontana Group, Southlake, Texas, the final brochure for Bad Boy Mowers is as robust and unique as the mowers themselves.

“The client wanted a cover that was visually distinct, had physical elements and conveyed durability,” explained Doug Fontana, vice president of The Fontana Group. In order to meet the client’s goals, Fontana Group opted for a combination of spot gloss UV and sculptured embossing to achieve a “visually distinct” product.

In order to create the dramatic visual effects, The Fontana Group began with a matte finish lamination as a base for the cover. A gloss UV coating was layered over the surface of the film laminate, creating the eye-popping contrast in sheen levels. For the physical element effect, “the cover was embossed in order to add a third dimension,” said Fontana. This physical element takes the shape of one of Bad Boy’s large, red and black industrial-style mowers. The black and grey Bad Boy logo likewise is embossed on the front cover, creating additional texture and dimension. “We used hand sculptured brass embossing dies which allow multiple height levels throughout the images. These various changes in height levels create natural shadows and allow more depth perception to the touch,” stated Fontana. “For durability, we went with a heavier gauge film lamination with a scuff resistant property which allows the brochures to be handled without concern of tearing or scratching.”

Before the cover was printed, a great deal of planning was necessary. The Fontana Group had multiple discussions with the client before deciding exactly which coats and techniques would be used for the final product. “There were a number of factors to consider; first being a clear understating of exactly what the client wanted and the message they wanted to convey with the cover,” said Fontana. Durability, project budget, maintaining the brand standard and choosing a set of processes which could work together from a manufacturing standpoint were further points of consideration.

Bad Boy Mowers provided the art files for the cover, which the company sent to The Fontana Group for approval prior to the printing process. “This is a very important step that often is overlooked,” Fontana stated. “It allows us to reassure the client that we can perform the finishing processes according to the client’s designs.” On occasion, initial designs are beyond machine limitations. As such, changes becomes necessary. As Fontana stated, in the case of the unique hand sculptured embossing files, the sculptured design decisions are primarily granted to the brass sculpting artist. “The artist only requires a file or print of the flat image, sized to the actual print dimensions, and nothing more. We have found it is best to limit our input on the sculpting dies and allow the artists to be creative,” he said.

“We came up with several cover options, each with different benefits,” Fontana said. “We sent them to the client, which enabled them to see and touch the different options.” Once the client selected a cover option, and once all files were approved for finishing, the project moved on for final print approval. The sheets were printed and delivered to The Fontana Group to complete its finishing techniques: film laminate, UV coat, emboss and trim. Finally, the sheets were sent across town to the client’s bindery where the cover could be stitched to the guts of the brochure.

According to Fontana, “There were many finishing techniques involved with this project that demanded our best efforts throughout the production process.” The Fontana Group’s best efforts clearly have been appreciated by Bad Boy Mowers. “The Fontana Group has been awarded this cover for four straight years,” he asserted. “I’m optimistic the reasons are not only for our ability to exceed the clients expectations, but also because this captivating cover assists in generating sales for Bad Boy. This cover should certainly hold the attention of the reader when compared to the competing brochures in the marketplace. We’re very proud of the finished product.”

Making Print Perform

September 4, 2015

by Hal Hinderliter, Hal Hinderliter Consulting Services

Customer Perception of Value-Added Enhancements

The ability to obtain information from a screen is driving massive changes in how print is purchased and distributed. The effects have been profound, but not all forms of print have been impacted equally. While some types of printing companies have suffered rapid attrition of their client base, others have maintained or expanded their billings.

Research published by the Print Industries Market Information and Research Organization (PRIMIR) indicates that the printing industry’s output is splitting into two categories: products whose functions easily can be digitized and print that performs a necessary function not easily replicated on a computer screen. PRIMIR’s study, Value-Added Printing & Finishing for Improved Profitability, supports the premise first published by Dr. Ronnie Davis and Ed Gleeson from the Printing Industries of America, which established three categories of Print by Intended Function: (1) print that informs, (2) print that provides packaging logistics and (3) print used for marketing/promotional purposes. The Value-Added study collapsed the second and third categories, leading to two: print that informs and print that performs.

The principal investigator for PRIMIR’s study was Hal Hinderliter (your author), assisted by the data gathered from a detailed survey. The survey pool’s 577 respondents included print buyers as well as printers and trade shops. Many FSEA members participated in the survey, helping to assure an accurate picture of a robust marketplace. Beyond the quantitative survey data, in-depth interviews were conducted with dozens of suppliers and vendors; before its publication, the study’s conclusions were corroborated by a panel of experts.

The high-level takeaway from PRIMIR’s Value-Added study is easy to see, yet seldom discussed. Anyone with an eye on the printing industry can detect how digital media’s immediacy and low distribution costs have decimated the use of text-heavy “data dump” print applications – phone books, provider directories, user manuals and many other forms of print that informs have all but disappeared.

Print that performs a market-driven purpose needs to outperform the benefits of an electronic alternative, such as viewing on a computer, tablet or smartphone. These print applications likely are to enjoy exceptional capabilities or eye-grabbing appeal thanks to value-added enhancements. Examples of print that performs include packaging, labels, product safety guides, security printing or the persuasive messaging of direct mail and marketing materials.

The takeaway? Print that merely informs is less likely to be enhanced via value-added processes. As a result, these applications become more susceptible to digital replacement, as the distribution of basic information moves to the Internet. In contrast, this study revealed that sales have remained stable for applications that perform a market-driven purpose (typically, to sell something) and that revenue from these enhanced products has maintained prints traditional GDP-tracking growth pattern.

But, to what extent does the “eye candy” of value-added enhancements – such as foil stamping, diecutting and embossing, but also less traditional upgrades including special effect coatings, metallic process color systems, taggant inks and stainless steel stitching – motivate print buyers to ask for them? “Capture end-user interest” was the most commonly-cited justification, but print buyers and brand owners were nearly as likely to choose “improve quality of printed product,” with “essential component of a specific printed application” not far behind.

Print buyers noted reliance on their print service provider when it came to exploring new print and finishing options; fortunately for them, many printshops constantly are on the lookout to broaden their offerings. A case in point would be Rider Dickerson, a Chicago-area commercial printer and marketing services provider offering sheetfed, web and digital printing, along with mailing and fulfillment services. The company attracted attention by offering a special MTE laminated paper to its clients. The lamination was developed by trade bindery Chicago Laminating, which then made Rider Dickerson aware of the laminates special attributes. Normal offset inks take on a metallic appearance when printed on top of the MTE laminate. After in-house testing, Rider Dickerson brought this value-added enhancement to the attention of its clients.

“We went through all our due diligence in testing it out. It’s given us the opportunity to present this option to clients when it’s appropriate,” said Dean Petrulakis, senior vice president business development at Rider Dickerson. “In one case, it turned into a really, really big order. The customer went from paying about four cents a piece to 12 cents a piece on this project, and had no problem doing it, because the customer loved the effect that the laminate gave it. It’s things like that – we’re upselling, we’re definitely getting increased revenue. We’re still creating the awareness, we’re continuously exposing our customers to it every chance we can.”

One key factor affecting the future growth of any value-added enhancement is the extent to which customers judge it to be cost-effective. Fortunately, print buyers and brand owners viewed all 23 processes included in the Value-Added study as providing benefits that outstripped the additional production costs. Topping the list was scented coatings, a process with very low barriers to entry and a broad supplier base. Interestingly, the enhancements that print buyers and brand owners named as most cost-effective were all processes with low barriers to entry, including computer-controlled spot gluing, UV- and EB-curable inks and the use of specialty stocks (as portrayed in the Rider Dickinson case). These options were followed by a cluster of coatings: UV- and EV-curable coatings, special effect coatings and tactile/dimensional finishes.

Shifting consumption patterns are forcing changes in the popularity of value-added options. The PRIMIR study identified three items as “fastest-growing” from among its list of enhancements, with the top spot going to an emerging technology known as spectral database systems. Only of interest to those shops that generate printed output, spectral database systems include the use of a spectrophotometer and an online database of substrates to specify desired spot color appearance (instead of relying on physical swatch books) – systems include PantoneLIVE and Esko’s Color Engine. Second-fastest growth was predicted for computer-controlled spot gluing, small “fugitive glue” pumps that can be used on a folder or at the delivery end of a press; and third place went to metallic process color systems, which provide a controlled method for printing (digital or analog) on top of a metallic ink or substrate – vendors include Color-Logic and MetalFX.

Print products that utilize value-added enhancements are likely to be more resistant to digital conversion (replacement by electronic media), but potential threats still remain. The use of enhancements must coexist with the ongoing struggle to reduce time-to-market; production bottlenecks will dampen enthusiasm, not only for the problematic process, but for value-added processes in general. Other worries include communication between print shops and their outsourcing partners, downward pressure on print budgets and the concern that a particular value-added process might go out of style. The greatest threat of all, however, may be that print buyers will fail to understand the return on investment provided by the value-added enhancements they’ve purchased.

This study’s quantitative and qualitative data both point to a continued stable climate for value-added print and finishing, as opposed to dramatic declines in “print that informs.” Key to this stability is the ability of value-added enhancements to convert commoditized run-of-the-mill process color printing into an effective and compelling communication tool. Print buyers and brand managers project modest growth in their use of value-added enhancements, and both print service providers (PSPs) and trade service providers (TSPs) are optimistic about future sales growth.

What’s the hot take? Print that performs is alive and well! Monochrome and commodity CMYK printing increasingly will be targets for digital replacement, but value-added print provides additional benefits that buyers and brand owners say are difficult or impossible to replace electronically. However, print and finishing suppliers must do more to make uninitiated customers aware of new ways to improve print’s effectiveness. Material and equipment vendors can help printers evangelize the benefits of value-added print and finishing. Marketing investments desperately are needed – not only to inform customers of new or underutilized options, but also to build marketing campaigns for the printers and trade shops themselves. PSPs and TSPs need to “walk the walk” by proving the value of these value-added enhancements in their own marketing campaigns. Rather than acting as order-takers, service providers must become more proactive by suggesting solutions that will improve the effectiveness of their customers’ products.

Suppliers of value-added enhancements should rejoice. For decades, providers of print and finishing services have sought to redirect buyers’ fixation on “price per unit” toward a discussion of the superior return on investment that comes from value-added processes. That time is finally arriving! As commodity print continues to shrink, look for the print applications that remain to leverage value-added enhancements in order to improve their effectiveness.

Hal Hinderliter serves the printing and publishing industries through his company, Hal Hinderliter Consulting Services. With more than a decade of on-site problem-solving experience, his consultations help clients to increase profitability, improve quality and select new technology related to graphic arts processes. For more information, visit www.halhinderliter.com.

Innovative Envelopes for Mail

September 4, 2015

by Trish Witkowski, Foldfactory.com/Rock the Mailbox

White #10 envelopes are the work horse of the mail industry. They’re practical, affordable and work well in many cases, but sometimes you just want something different.

These days, I spend a lot of time monitoring trends in the mailing industry. I watch mailers large and small looking for ways to shake things up and prevent marketing fatigue. I’ve been working on a list of my favorite envelope innovations and trends, and I wanted to share it with you, because I think there’s marketing gold in here. The solutions are in no particular order, and I invite you to investigate each of them further.

It’s Tear-ific!™
Western States Envelope & Label
Interaction is the name of the game when it comes to engagement, and what’s more intriguing than a little string embedded in an envelope? It’s Tear-ific!, from Western States Envelope & Label, makes it fun to open the mail. The recipient can pull the little perfed tab and string to access the contents or open it on the back with a flap. It’s Tear-ific! comes standard in a #10 regular, #10 window and a 6×9″ booklet size, and the string-pull mechanism also can be integrated into a custom envelope solution.

Intelimailer™
AccuLink
The Intelimailer™ is a uniquely designed, full-color “envelope” solution. The format, when delivered, looks like an envelope with a dramatic, diagonal flap. It stands out, given the uniqueness of its look. The Intelimailer is constructed from a full-color printed sheet, folded at an angle and glued at the edges. It can hold up to three 8.5×11″ inserts, with the option of a companion reply envelope or promotional card. The envelope opens into a flat 8.5×11″ sheet that can feature a full-color image and message on the interior for extra impact. Typically, the contents are digitally produced using high-quality HP Indigo presses, which lend themselves well to data-driven match mailings.

The Intelimailer gives you the ability to offer complete, hard-hitting letter packages supported by PURLs, QR codes and personalization in quantities from 300 up to 30,000. According to the manufacturer, the cost is only a few cents more than a one-dimensional postcard.

Hot•Note®
Tension Envelope
According to Tension Envelope, a little note can carry a big message. The company’s HotNote® envelope can boost readership and response to direct mailings, featuring a repositionable sticky note that is actually built into the envelope. It easily can be removed from the envelope and kept for later. The Hot•Note creates a long-term, visual reminder for the reader and can be printed in your choice of size, shape and color. You also can incorporate a message behind the sticky note, visible through a display window. The manufacturer states that the built-in sticky note can increase response rates by up to 60 percent over plain direct mail envelopes.

Envelofolds®
envelopments.com
Feeling fancy? This product is a bit frivolous and fun. Envelofolds®, from Envelopments, look like pointy-flap Baronial or Euro-Flap envelopes when they’re folded, but when opened, you realize that the envelope isn’t really an envelope – it’s a wrap. Four pointed panels open up to the center panel and to the possibility of inserts. This solution is a treat for special event invitations and anytime you want your customers to feel extra special.

Full View/Display Window Envelopes
WindowEnvelopes.com
There are endless standard and custom window configurations to consider, but the big mama is the full view window envelope. This envelope, as its name suggests, offers a full view of its contents without skimping on protection. These envelopes are machineable and can be ordered in #10, Booklet and catalog sizes.

Conformer® Mailers
Conformer Products
Conformer® mailers are expandable envelopes that are designed to be both durable and attractive. Every mailer features a patented construction that stands up to the mail process and offers extra capacity when you need it. If it is range youre looking for, Conformer mailers can be simple and white or full-color printed with embossing and foil.

The envelopes have been designed, tested and approved to run on Pitney Bowes, PFE and Bowe Bell + Howell inserters and are manufactured from a selection of environmentally-friendly FSC-certified premium papers. Conformer mailers are available in a wide variety of standard envelope options and designs, including windows and security features, and custom envelopes always are available.

Sim-Pull® Tab Mail Envelopes
Tension Envelope
It’s hard to resist a pull-tab, isn’t it? The Sim-Pull tab mail envelope features a pull-tab placed at the end of the envelope. Like its name, the Sim-Pull envelope is simple. The envelope’s contents are inserted like any other envelope; however, the recipient has the choice to open the envelope from the top or with the intriguing, side-opening device. It’s eye-catching and engaging, increasing the chances your offer will be read. The Sim-Pull is compatible with high-speed inserting systems and can be purchased as left or right opening and also is available with or without a window. Custom sizes and styles are available.

2-Way Reusable Envelopes
Various companies, including RECOCHET
Want to convey an environmental commitment to your customers? Try a reusable 2-way mailing envelope. The concept is that the envelope is designed to get to the consumer, be opened and then be re-used for the return mailing from the customer.

There are several 2-way envelopes on the market. The RECOCHET 2-Way Reusable Envelope includes traditional window and closed-face envelopes and are designed to use stamp, indicia or meter postage. The solution can be provided in ready-made or custom sizes with window configurations, paper selections and graphics to fit your marketing needs. RECOCHET 2-way envelopes are high-speed machine-insertable, USPS approved and DMM compliant. According to manufacturer ecoEnvelopes, marketers can save 15-45 percent on envelope and related mailing costs by eliminating the need for return envelopes.

Printable Clear Envelopes
EnvyPak
Clear envelopes are hard to resist. We’ve all seen them, but have you seen one that was printed? EnvyPak’s clear poly envelopes are 4-color printable for a dramatic presentation in the mailbox. Printed EnvyPak envelopes add extra dimension to your mail campaigns, and the creative opportunities are endless. They’re auto-insertion-compatible and available in standard and custom sizes.

Yes, There’s More

Other fun envelope trends include textured and embossed envelopes, zip strips and windows on the back instead of the front (I call this the “rear-view window” strategy). If you haven’t guessed it yet, the key is to keep people guessing. So, I hope this little exercise in envelope innovation has inspired you to try something new or to recommend some fresh ideas to your customers.

Trish Witkowski is president of Foldfactory.com/Rock the Mailbox. An educator, author, designer and presenter, Witkowski specializes in creative solutions and engagement strategies for direct mail and marketing – and she uses her expertise to help companies find solutions that can meet, or exceed, their marketing goals. She also is the curator of the world’s most exciting collection of folded print and direct mail samples, sharing the best of her collection on her popular e-video series “60-second Super-cool Fold of the Week.” For more information, visit www.foldfactory.com.

GRAPH EXPO 15 on Its Way to Chicago

September 4, 2015

Embrace technology at GRAPH EXPO 15 from Sept. 13 to 16 at McCormick Place South in Chicago, Illinois. GRAPH EXPO, an all-encompassing commercial printing, publishing, mailing and transactional exposition, is where top executives come to learn, network and make informed purchasing decisions. Over the course of four days, attendees will see the full spectrum of the newest equipment, products, technologies, applications and services from more than 550 exhibitors. Over 50 educational seminars will be offered, plus numerous special presentations throughout the event. GRAPH EXPO features a large display of equipment demonstrations and an unprecedented number of industry networking opportunities. For more information, visit www.graphexpo.com.

The following GRAPH EXPO exhibitors may be of interest to PostPress subscribers:

Absolute Printing Equipment
Booth 1944
Exhibiting a KAMA 76 diecutter with foiling, stripping and blanking, along with a 115 Perfecta TS-AWR with a microperf bed cutting system.

B&R Moll Inc.
Booth 3213
Demonstrating three different systems: the new Insignia 7 Versafold system, running an eight-up mailer; the Vantage 920 inline system, running two-up packaging work; and the company’s flagship machine for commercial print, the Regal system, which will fold and glue an iron cross with a tipped-on card.

Binding Industries Association (BIA)
Booth 3802
Serving as a postpress resource and dedicated to supporting its valuable members through networking and education on the latest innovative technologies. Members enjoy access to value-added resources that allow them to be more competitive and profitable.

Brandtjen & Kluge, Inc.
Booth 3625
Showcasing the new Kluge OmniFold 3000 fully modular folding and gluing system and the new OmniCoat 2000 UV roller coater, which is designed to be used inline or offline. Also showing the Kluge EHD diecutting and foil stamping press.

Breit Technologies
Booth 4408
Demonstrating equipment for the Cast & Cure™ process, which is suited for the short run and digital printing market.

Capital Adhesives
Booth 3546
Showcasing an assortment of adhesives for the graphic communications industry, including liquid and hot melt adhesives (PURs and glue sticks).

Challenge Machinery Company
Booth 3621
Displaying paper cutters from 15″ to 61″ in width, as well as three-knife trimmers, folders, single- and multiple-spindle drills, joggers, cornering machines, stock trucks and padding presses.

Colter & Peterson
Booth 3625
Introducing the 45″ Prism® P115 paper cutter, which features a new slotless table and a Microcut® 15″ touchscreen. Various Microcut control systems also will be on display, including the PLUS WS, which allows programs to be uploaded from a network connection with a USB device.

Compact Foilers
Booth 4226
Displaying the company’s latest range of cold foil and Cast & Cure™ application modules, as well as showing the newest digital modules, flexographic machines and the popular CF1000 units for offset presses. Also sharing the new special effects digital machine in partnership with Scodix.

D&K Group, Inc.
Booth 1067
Exhibiting the Diamond Hard Velvet Matte Finish, a high-end scuff-resistant matte finish that now is available with SuperStick digital adhesive for digital prints of all types.

Dorstener Wire Drawing
Booth 3844
Showing the company’s full line of its US-manufactured POWERBIND™ stitching wire, along with BINDSERVE™ wire lubricants, transport equipment, die spoolers and drum unloading systems. Also on display will be the companys torsion and twist-free wire system.

Duplo USA Corporation
Booth 1926
Exhibiting the new 600i Duetto booklet system, which produces saddle-, side- and corner-stitched booklets, as well as letter landscape applications, at a speed of up to 5,200 pieces per hour.

Foil & Specialty Effects Association (FSEA)
Booth 3943
Distributing PostPress magazine, a quarterly publication that serves as a resource and educational platform for print enhancement and bindery technologies. FSEA focuses on such areas as foil stamping, embossing, cold foil, specialty coatings, laminates and laser cutting.

Gateway Bookbinding Systems
Booth 3248
Displaying the company’s entire equipment lineup, including the PLASTIKOIL® Concept QS Interline system for in-house coil manufacturing and automated insertion.

Highcon Systems Ltd.
Booth 1939
Introducing the Highcon™ Euclid II S digital finishing solution. Also demonstrating the Axis web-to-pack. Peter Dahman, paper artist, will be showcasing his popup designs live in the booth.

IMC America
Booth 4320
Featuring stacking/bundling systems, palletizers and trimmers from RECMI Industries, as well as Penn Graphics’ PGE350 semiautomatic log maker for operation inline with flat sheet folding machines.

Lake Image Systems, Inc.
Booth 2263
Showing the Discovery MultiScan, which pulls together the images and data from a variety of cameras, RFID readers and scanners, and the Discovery Enterprise, winner of a Must See ‘Em award at GRAPH EXPO 2014, which provides a single point of control for managing integrity and print quality across printing and finishing devices.

Match Machinery, Inc.
Booth 4206
Discussing SBL Platinum folder-gluers, foil stampers and diecutters, as well as Heiber+Schröder window patching/tray forming machines.

Matik, Inc.
Booth 4520
Displaying the SEI Paperone, a laser diecutter, as well as sharing information on foil stamping by Gietz and finishing solutions by ESS Technology.

MGI USA
Booth 3013
Demonstrating the new iFOIL T toner-based digital production foiling system integrated inline with the Meteor digital press series, the new Meteor DP1000 high-speed digital press and the new DF Pro Solo finishing solution.

MBM Corporation
Booth 3218
Showcasing paper handling equipment, including Triumph® cutters and trimmers, digital finishing solutions, collators, folders and bookletmaking systems. Also offering a full line of print support products that include joggers, business card cutters and more.

Nordson Corporation
Booth 3640
Offering adhesive applicators and melters with EVA and PUR dispense systems for digital printers or full-scale commercial binders.

Precision Finishing Systems
Booth 2151
Introducing 10X full-width vacuum transports, which are built to support full-sheet applications for inkjet, folding or affixing. Also displaying the new 10X bump turning device, which enables users with a 10X vacuum transport to easily change the direction of a product at high speed.

Rollem International
Booth 425
Showcasing the Insignia Series, a new class of sheet-fed rotary diecutters, which is capable of diecutting, kisscutting, perforating, scoring and cut-scoring papers, plastics, magnetic material, PVC and styrene up to 24pt. Also displaying the Jetstream+Auto-Collator, which trims, slits, scored, perforates and cuts sheets of multiple-up products in one pass.

Scodix
Booth 2231
Debuting the Scodix Foil Station, which runs inline with the Scodix Ultra Pro digital press to enable high-quality foil for profitable short runs in-house.

Spiel Associates
Booth 3636
Debuting the Sterling Looper, a semiautomatic tabletop wire binder capable of binding up to 500bph, and the Wiremaster Pro, an economical automatic wire binder that can bind up to 3,000bph. The company also will showcase the fully automatic Sterling Digibinder Plus, a perfect binder, as well as the Sterling Coilmaster, an inline automatic plastic coil former and binder, and the Sterling Coilmaster Jr.

Standard Finishing Systems
Booth 831
Showcasing a broad range of postpress and paper handling solutions, including a complete lineup of Horizon perfect binders, folders, saddlestitchers, trimmers and diecutters, as well as Hunkeler pre- and post- continuous-feed print solutions.

THERM-O-TYPE
Booth 4013
Demonstrating the NSF Excel Foil Press, the RAS-mc right angle slitter, the Zip digital finishing machines, RDC-3852 rotary diecutter and foil-fusing equipment.

Vivid Laminating Technologies
Booth 3449
Exhibiting with DataBind Corporation in a new partnership, the company will be showcasing its full range of laminating equipment and showing print service providers how they can increase productivity and decrease costs.

WCJ Pilgrim Wire
Booth 4027
Showing various stitching wire sizes and spool weights, as well as de-spooling equipment, colored wire, spiral binding wire and baling wire.

Association News: BIA

September 4, 2015

Letter from the chair

What makes the world go round? YOU and your business! You are the ONLY customer. Consider this: what is in an association that should matter to you – knowledge, resources, networking, expert advice, one-to-one attention from suppliers and all the details at your fingertips to make sound decisions for your business? Simply, association membership is the best investment you can make to make you profitable.

Do you ever wish that you had superpowers like the Marvel characters in Hollywood? Even in the Marvel movies, no one character has the ability to do everything; instead, they work together as a team to accomplish their amazing feats of greatness. Just like these characters, you have the same ability by harnessing the talent at your own facility, along with the resources available from the BIA. You can conquer everything from Human Resource issues to OSHA, without having to contract an outside consultant. YOU have the power!

Speaking of superpowers, PostPress magazine gives you top resources at your fingertips to advance your knowledge of everything from loose leaf to large format and any processes in between. Take the time to read this issue from front to back and revel in the fact that our industry is alive, vibrant and charging into the future, full speed ahead!

GRAPH EXPO will arrive on the scene in Chicago, Sept. 13-16, 2015. How will you gain insight and knowledge into the new trends, technologies and all that this great event has to offer? Whether for a day or for the entire show, make time to come out and immerse yourself and your employees in the future of print and postpress. Don’t forget to stop by the Printing Industries of America booth (#3802) to find out more about the BIA. Someone will be there to answer all your questions about the resources we offer and membership details.

All the best,
Valerie Price, Coyne Graphic Finishing,
BIA Chair

2015 BIA Product of Excellence Awards

BIA has announced the winners of the 2015 Product of Excellence Awards. The pieces that were judged this year were truly some of the best in the world, and the judges feel that each company should be proud for developing such excellent pieces. Sixteen entries were recognized as the top in their respective categories.

The judges also awarded Product of Excellence: Best of Show awards to two of the Product of Excellence award winners. The Warhammer 40K Rulebook Limited Edition by C&C Joint Printing Co., (H.K.) Ltd. received the Loose Leaf Manufacturer of the Year Award and the 2015 Wall Calendar by Leo Paper Products Ltd. received the Graphic Finisher of the Year Award.

This year, the winners will be honored at the Premier Print Awards Gala featuring the InterTech™ Technology Awards and the Product of Excellence Awards on Sept. 13, 2015, in Chicago, Illinois.

The Best of Show winners were:
Loose leaf manufacturer of the year: C&C Joint Printing Co., (H.K.) Ltd.
Graphic Finisher of the Year: Leo Paper Products Ltd.

Click here for a listing of winners by category.

BIA to Exhibit at the Printing Industries of America Booth at GRAPH EXPO

The BIA will be represented at the PIA booth during GRAPH EXPO 15. This is the opportunity for attendees to talk with BIA board members and BIA Manager Chrystal Kapanyko, see first-hand the benefits of BIA membership and learn about how the BIA can help the postpress industry. If you are planning to attend GRAPH EXPO 15, be sure to stop by booth #3802 and learn all that the BIA can do for you.

BIA Offers New Membership Opportunities

The BIA is offering new membership options for companies looking to join the association. Some new opportunities include the following:

Trial Period: A free three-month trial membership into the BIA.
Findabindery.com: Post a company listing on findabindery.com for a discounted rate and enjoy a free three-month trial membership into the BIA.
Student/Educator Rate: Great rates for students and educators in the postpress field.

To learn more about these new opportunities for BIA membership, contact Chrystal Kapanyko at ckapanyko@printing.org or 412.259.1736.