2017 Aug/Sept

FSEA News

September 8, 2017

FSEA to Sponsor Programming at UV+EB Packaging Conference

The Foil & Specialty Effects Association will host an education track during RadTech International North America’s UV+EB Packaging Conference, a one-day event on Oct. 24 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

At the conference, RadTech will host presentations on migration, regulatory issues and the latest developments in UV- and EB-curable inks, coatings and adhesives for food and consumer goods packaging. A keynote on “Printing Inks for Food Contact Materials at Nestlé” will be given by Amaury Patin, Nestlé Research Center.

FSEA’s track – from 1 to 3 p.m. – includes such topics as UV-cured coatings, adhesives and foils. Scheduled speakers include:

Cold Foil Technology – UV Cured Adhesives and Foils Mike King, Eagle Systems, Inc. | 1 to 1:30 p.m.
Analysis of Specialty UV Coatings for Packaging and Printing Helen Rallis, Sun Chemical Corporation | 1:30 to 2 p.m.
UV LED Technology and Its Increasing Use in Specialty Curing Applications Jennifer Heathcote, Phoseon Technology | 2 to 2:30 p.m.
Impact of High Visibility Enhancements on Shelf Presence (Foils and Coatings) Jeff Peterson, Foil & Specialty Effects Association | 2:30 to 3 p.m.

The RadTech Fall Member Meeting will take place the day after the UV+EB Packaging Conference on Oct. 25. To register or view additional information, visit www.RadTech.org/uveb2017.

FSEA to Present Program On Foil and Coating Technologies at PRINT 17

Jeff Peterson, executive director of the Foil & Specialty Effects Association, has been selected to present at the upcoming PRINT 17, which will take place Sept. 10-14 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. The title of the seminar is “Foil and Coating Decorating Technologies Sparking Growth and Awareness.” It will take place Sept. 13 from 8 to 8:50 a.m.

The seminar will explore recent technology advancements in digital inkjet specialty coating and foil processes, including the increased use of inline cold foil for sheet-fed presses and offline specialty UV coatings. The presentation will discuss the details of these new types of decorating techniques and how they are changing the landscape of the commercial printing and packaging marketplace. It also will include information on how finishing techniques are complementing digitally printed cartons and labels, as well as share details on a recently completed study on the impact of high-visibility enhancements on shelf presence.

A special code is available: SPSAVE50 to receive $50 off seminar registration, which also provides access to all five days of the PRINT 17 show. To learn more about this seminar and other seminars that will take place during the PRINT 17 event, visit www.Print2017.com.

FSEA Reception at Hotel Chicago

Come help celebrate the FSEA silver anniversary! Planning to attend PRINT 17? Then take the opportunity to join the Foil & Specialty Effects Association for a casual reception at the Hotel Chicago (adjacent to the House of Blues). The reception will take place from 5 to 7:30 p.m., on Tuesday, Sept. 12, following the PRINT 17 show. FSEA members and guests will have a few drinks and eats and celebrate the 25th anniversary of FSEA. The FSEA is planning to showcase a few mementos of the association through the years.

Tickets to the reception are complimentary to active FSEA members (up to two people from each active member company) and are $30 for associate FSEA members, non-members and additional active members above the two allotted per company. For details and a registration form, visit www.fsea.com.

Thank you to the sponsors of the FSEA Reception:

API Americas
BOBST North America, Inc.
Brandtjen & Kluge, Inc.
Capital Adhesives
Infinity Foils, Inc.
ITW Foils
Kurz Transfer Products
Owosso Graphic Arts
Universal Engraving, Inc.
W.H. Leary

What Can a Valuation Expert Do for Your Succession Plan?

September 8, 2017

Reprinted with permission from www.carlson-advisors.com

Most business owners spend a lifetime building their businesses, and when it comes to succession, they face the difficult decision of whether to sell, dissolve or transfer the business to family members or a nonfamily successor.

Many complicated issues are involved, including how to divvy up business interests, allocate value and tackle complex tax issues. Thus, as you put together your succession plan, include not only your financial and legal advisors but also a qualified valuation professional.

Various value factors

When drafting a succession plan, a valuation expert can help you put a number on various factors that will affect your company’s value. Just a few examples include the following:

Projected cash flows: According to both the market and income valuation approaches, future earnings determine value. To the extent that a business experiences decreasing or increasing demand and rising or falling prices, expected cash flows will be affected. Historical financial statements may require adjustments to reflect changes in future expectations.

Perceived risk: Greater risk results in higher discount rates (under the income approach) and lower pricing multiplies (under the market approach), which translates into lower values (and vice versa). When making comparisons, the transaction date is an important selection criteria a valuator considers.

Expected growth: Greater expected revenue growth contributes to value. In addition, there’s a high correlation between revenue growth and earnings (and, thus, cash flow) growth.

Other determinants of discounts

In many cases, valuation discounts are applied to a company’s value. For example, decreased liquidity translates into higher marketability discounts, while increased liquidity reduces marketability discounts. Other factors that affect the magnitude of valuation discounts include the following:

Type of assets held
Financial performance of the underlying assets
Portfolio diversification
Leverage
Owner rights and restrictions
Distribution history
Personal characteristics of the general partners or managing members

Discounts vary significantly but can reach (or exceed) 40 percent of the entity’s net asset value, depending on the specifics of the situation.

For best results

An accurate and timely value estimate can facilitate the succession process and prevent costly and time-consuming conflicts.

Carlson Advisors is a CPA and business consulting firm with offices in Minneapolis and St. Cloud, Minnesota. With nearly 40 years of experience working for clients nationwide, Carlson Advisors offers a team of seasoned advocates ready to help you identify and maximize every business opportunity. For more information, contact valuation specialist Dawn Polfliet, CPA/ABV at Carlson Advisors, LLP, 763.535.8150 or dpolflieta@carlson-advisors.com.

Tech Watch: BOBST’s MASTERFOIL 106PR

September 8, 2017

by Lara Copeland, assistant editor, PostPress

More than three decades since the world’s first presses for hot foil stamping – the SP 102-BMA and SP 126-BMA – debuted, BOBST, headquartered in Mex, Switzerland, has released its MASTERFOIL 106 PR. This camshaft-driven machine is designed and built specifically for hot foil stamping, and it is suitable for carton, label and commercial print producers working with a number of end user industries, including cosmetics, pharma, food, beverages, toys and household cleaning products. “We were able to design into the machine all that BOBST has learned from the past 50+ years of producing Autoplaten® (automatic platens) for hot foil stamping and diecutting,” explained Doug Herr, director of sales, folding carton BOBST North America Inc.

Herr described several benefits of the BOBST MASTERFOIL 106PR – including improving registration, speed and the overall quality of the end product. With its Power Register II system, the MASTERFOIL ensures perfect foil-to-print register accuracy and offers the ability to register to printed marks on each individual sheet. The Power Register incorporates Registron® cameras and detects printed register marks on the print itself in addition to the sheet edge. This feature reduces feed-related production stops by at least 75 percent while also reducing downtime. These advantages ensure high-precision and excellence in foil stamping.

Complementing the MASTERFOIL’s high-quality production, BOBST also has decreased the amount of time it takes to makeready the machine, thereby increasing the net productivity. “More consistent stamping quality results in the production of fewer unsaleable sheets, Herr confirmed. Additionally, the Easy Foil system makes it effortless to prepare the foils for the next job, cutting setup times by up to 25 percent. The easy access external foil-loading cabinet means working on the foil reels inside the machine is not necessary. Simply mount the reel, feed or splice the foil and push a button to complete the job. Herr noted that, quicker changeovers and higher production speeds enable the converter to gain more business and become more profitable.” The abundance of controls and features on the MASTERFOIL can help to assure timely delivery of high-quality products to their customers.

Lastly, because foil is expensive, Herr said the company designed the machine with the ability to noticeably reduce total foil waste. “The accuracy of the foil advance has been improved, which means images can be stamped more closely together, substantially reducing the amount of foil used on many jobs.” He added, “The machine can be equipped with sophisticated software which accurately calculates the required amount of foil for a particular job, thereby eliminating errors when ordering the foil and pricing out the cost of a job.”

Customers have been pleased with the machinery. “In every situation, the MASTERFOIL has met or surpassed their expectations,” stated Herr. And on numerous occasions, “customers have placed orders for additional machines once they have experienced the advantages and benefits of the MASTERFOIL.” He continued saying that the built-in technology is a selling point, “attracting the highest skilled and dedicated operators in the industry.” Considering the pressure on suppliers to deliver perfect products as quickly as possible, BOBST has simplified makeready processes and has focused on delivering the high-end products customers desire.

Technical Details

The MASTERFOIL 106PR is 33ft long (10.00m), 24ft wide (7.30m), 11ft tall (3.30m) and weighs approximately 22 US tons (20t). Its stamping force is 0 to 100FTU, and its production speed is up to 8,000 s/h.

It offers a minimum sheet size of 15.75×13.75″ (400×350 mm) and a maximum sheet size of 41.75×30″ (1060×760 mm). The stamping and embossing maximum size is 41.25×29.2″ (1050×742 mm).

Sheet-fed Cold Foil Finding Niche with Folding Cartons

September 8, 2017

by Jeff Peterson, editor-in-chief, PostPress

Many companies have been making the switch from more expensive metallic board to cold foil applications.

The use of cold foil for large-format sheet-fed applications has certainly been on the rise in the last few years. Folding carton companies have been a prime candidate for cold foil technology. Why? First and foremost, the technology in equipment, foil and adhesives has continued to improve, thereby creating an efficient workflow for carton printers. This has led to a great deal of confidence that cold foil can be a reliable decorative choice for many packaging applications.

“The process of cold foiling is now recognized as a serious alternative to other systems,” commented Tim Self, president of Compact Foilers, manufacturer of cold foil and Cast and Cure™ equipment headquartered in the United Kingdom. “Foil manufacturers have improved the foil quality and consistency, and there also have been improvements with foil saving capabilities of the equipment.”

Increased confidence in cold foil technology has led many packaging manufacturers to begin replacing metallic foil board with the cold foil process, saving significant costs and helping with lead times as well.

“One of our largest customers had items that required foil board, which would have resulted in extended lead times, not to mention being quite expensive,” explained Jennifer Wozny, marketing communications manager for Rohrer Corporation, a blister card and folding carton manufacturer based in Wadsworth, Ohio. Having a close relationship with a printer in Germany (that was an early adopter of offset cold foil technology) gave Rohrer a better understanding of the benefits of the technology. “After evaluating our options, we knew that cold foil would be a good fit for us and our customer base,” she added.

Even lower-end packaging has begun taking advantage of opportunities provided by cold foil technology.

Jim Rutt, president of Keystone Paper & Box Co., a folding carton producer in South Windsor, Connecticut, added cold foil technology to help his company differentiate itself from the competition. “In the carton packaging business, there are not many things that we can speak to when seeking out new business,” he explained. “We all sell quality, service and the standard capabilities. Cold foil and Cast and Cure helps us bring something new to the table.”

Most cold foil equipment is set up to apply Cast and Cure as well. Cast and Cure applies a clear holographic effect to the printed sheet, where cold foil uses a special tacky UV coating to apply the foil. The Cast and Cure process lays down a special adhesive on the sheet in the areas where the holographic look will appear. However, the major difference in the process is that the Cast and Cure film is not actually applied to the sheet, and the roll can be used several times over on the same job. Rather than the foil being removed from the polyester film carrier, as with cold or hot foil, the Cast and Cure clear holographic look is achieved through micro-etched patterns in the film being pressed into the UV coating and instantly UV cured, with the pattern remaining on the printed sheet once the film is stripped away.

Potential new business with cold foil

With decreased cost potential when using cold foil vs. metallic board, folding carton companies have opened the door for more customers to consider cold foil technology. “Cold foil has attracted even lower-end packaging, such as soap boxes, pet food and breakfast cereal, especially on promotion packs,” Self said. “In many cases, cold foil has simply opened the door to more foil applications, not replaced current hot foil stamping.”

Rutt pointed out that adding cold foil/Cast and Cure equipment provided the opportunity for his compnay to land a job in the beverage carrier market. “Over time the account generated close to $250,000 in profitable revenue and gave us entry to an account we would not have had without it,” he said.

Rohrer has seen its cold foil capabilities help the company switch many of its existing customers to cold foil instead of more expensive metallic board. “We have been able to convert several customers from foil board to cold foil,” Wozny explained. “Just one pass on press delivers the high-end look without the high-end cost, making it a popular choice amongst new and existing customers, as well as setting us apart from our competition.”

Another advantage cold foil has over metallic board is the ability to reverse out the white areas on a printed layout instead of using white opaque ink, which is sometimes difficult to work with and may take more than one pass to cover up the metallic areas on the sheet.

Cold foil is not always the answer

There are many opportunities for cold foil, but it is certainly not the answer to every application. Many of the folding carton manufacturers that have added a cold foil module to a printing press have used it to help relieve capacity for their hot stamping equipment.

“Cold foil is not a direct replacement for hot foiling but an alternative process,” Self stated. If the job is predominantly longer runs and small coverage for the foiled area, then hot foil stamping is probably the better way to go.

If the customer is looking for embossing as well as foil, then hot stamping is usually the best choice because the foil and embossing can be achieved in one pass on press. However, this again depends on the overall coverage of foil the customer is looking for.

Conclusion

With the emergence of sheet-fed cold foil technology and the increased use of digital foil technology, metallic decorating is at an all-time high. Customers are demanding metallic decorating, and cold foil provides another alternative along with hot foil stamping and digital foil.

“The ability to offer inline foil to high-end cosmetic and confectionary accounts, among others, has generated some nice accounts with good margins and has created carton packaging that has done well for the customer,” Rutt explained.

He suggested folding carton manufacturers do their homework before investing and develop a marketing plan for the specific work cold foil technology provides. “It can make all the difference in a successful implementation.”

References

Rohrer Corporation – 330.335.1541, www.rohrer.com
Keystone Paper & Box Co., Inc. – 860.291.0027, www.keystonepaperbox.com
Compact Foilers LTD – +44-0-1823-283411, www.compactfoilers.com

PRINT 17 Returns to Chicago

September 8, 2017

PRINT 17, produced and owned by NPES, is the largest tradeshow in North America for the graphic communications and print industry. Taking place in Chicago, Illinois, Sept. 10-14, PRINT 17 features hundreds of exhibitors offering cutting-edge technologies and solutions. With a promise to “Grow YOUR Business,” attendees can take advantage of the pre-show conference OUTLOOK 17, in addition to educational seminars and hands-on labs, panel discussions, Distinguished Leader Speakers, live demonstrations and Learning Experience Theater presentations on the show floor. With several educational and networking opportunities available, show goers will expand their knowledge, collaborate and connect during this informative five-day event. For more information, visit www.print2017.com.

The following PRINT 17 exhibitors may be of interest to PostPress subscribers:

Absolute Printing Equipment Service, Inc.
Booth 2602
Debuting the KAMA FlexFold to the North American market during PRINT. See the award-winning, quickest changeover ever for folding cartons, along with the rest of the KAMA, Perfecta and Baumann line. It’s all about cartons at PRINT.

ACTEGA North America
Booth 3661
Featuring inks, coatings and adhesive experts with unbeatable service, available when and where needed. Consistent performance from ultra-reliable products, ensuring repeatable batch accuracy and customized products with individual service, specifically developed for individual processes, press and personnel. Offering the fastest product delivery because responsiveness counts.

American Ultraviolet
Booth 3858
Providing UV technology since 1960, its UV curing and coating equipment and feeders and stackers are 100 percent designed and manufactured in its Indiana and California manufacturing facilities. Its standard line of UV roll coaters can handle substrates from 16″ up to 80″ wide. American Ultraviolet also can design and build custom equipment to fit specific needs. Stop by and talk about the new LMS option on the AUV-Coat units, allowing fast and precise switching between substrates of varying thicknesses.

AP Lazer
Booth 4555
Manufacturing and distributing a range of high-power laser machines. Its machines are made for engraving large and heavy objects, while also having the precision to cut and engrave small, thin objects. 40-100W CO2 lasers make marking and cutting paper, cardboard, wood, plastics and fabric a breeze. The patented, open-architecture makes quick work of materials like brick, granite, coated metals, slate, glass and more.

B&R Moll, Inc.
Booth 3608
Showcasing its complete line of folder-gluers and specialized finishing equipment at PRINT 17, with an operating digi-mollPAK compact inline folder-gluer demonstrating fast, flexible performance for complex packaging projects, as well as the self-contained Rego Taping System continuously applying double-sided tape and the Premier 36 folder-gluer system.

Baumer hhs
Booth 3640
Highlighting Xtend3, the next generation of intuitive operator interfaces. Featuring a 21.5″ touchscreen using gesture technology, Xtend3 centralizes information for extrusion gluing, hot melt and the array of quality control devices available. The system can be configured to collect production data and is connected to the network for remote access troubleshooting. All Baumer hhs sensors are supported by Xtend3.

BindRite Dealers Association
Booth 4156
Introducing the Universal Punch pattern, an innovative solution to the proliferation of binding hole patterns, which includes a new interchangeable die module. The new die module allows machine operators to produce the full range of popular binding patters without having to purchase a new die for each pattern.

Brandtjen & Kluge
Booth 4015
Leading the industry in print finishing solutions, Kluge will demonstrate the new ApexFoil, Kurz Digital Metal®, OmniCoat 3000 and the OmniFold 3000. From advancements in diecutting, foil stamping and UV coating to packaging folding and gluing, Kluge has all print finishing needs covered.

Capital Adhesives
Booth 3346
Showcasing an assortment of adhesives for the graphic communications industry. The ISO 9001-certified manufacturer of liquid and hot melt adhesives (including PURs and glue sticks) focuses on building bonds through consistent products, technical support and devotion to the customer. When speed, consistency and quality matter, call Capital Adhesives.

The Challenge Machinery Company
Booth 3617
Showcasing the new CMT 330TC three-knife book trimmer capable of trimming landscape-formatted perfect bound books such as photo albums. The TC features large color touchscreen interface, integrated bar code reader and integrated inline and offline book feeding components.

Colter & Peterson
Booth 4013
Featuring three new products: The new E-Cut series, a 45″ SABER® paper cutting system with automated knife adjustment and a 31″ PRISM® paper cutter. The last two machines represent the company’s premier brand lines and will be showcased with the industry-leading Microcut® electronics package that can increase production by as much as 50 percent.

Compact Foilers Ltd.
Booth 4048
Manufacturing a wide range of machines for producing special effects in the offset, digital and flexographic printing industry. Popular machines include the CF1000 and CF1000PM for inline cold foiling and Cast and Cure™ and the new CF1400FLX offline web-fed machine. Working closely with Scodix to create the first fully digital cold foil module to work inline with Ultra and E106 presses.

D&K
Booth 4231
Hightlighting the AutoKote Pro, a fully automated laminating solution with a small footprint. The AutoKote Pro includes a sheet feeder, one-sided laminator and a diagonal cutter, all on a compact frame. The diagonal cutter is capable of separating thick laminating films that other compact bursting systems cannot process.

DataBind Corporation
Booth 4631
Highlighting and conducting demonstrations with over 30 machines from RENZ, Argos, Vivid, Stago and CreaseStream. Stop by to experience the breadth of professional print finishing processes and machines including punching, binding, stapling, folding, round-cornering, paper jogging, creasing and new unique laminating and foiling processes.

DERPROSA Specialty Films USA
Booth 3043
Introducing new SoFT TOUcH® products and other spectacular films. Visit DERPROSA™ to discover the qualities and properties of its exclusive films and the perfect way to turn any print job into an unforgettable experience. DERPROSA™ brings a world of special effects in printable and overlaminate films. Its multi-sensory films are designed to capture the senses and emotions of the most demanding customers in the graphic arts industry.

Duplo USA Corporation
Booth 1225
Spotlighting its new DDC-810 digital spot UV coater. A compact and design-driven solution, the DDC-810 utilizes 600×600 dpi inkjet technology, UV lamp curing and camera image registration to deliver production output with texture and depth by applying a gloss varnish to defined areas of the substrate.

Eagle Systems
Booth 3002
Specializing in lithographic cold foiling, an inline process performed on a sheet-fed offset press that allows a metallic foil to be placed anywhere on a printed sheet with litho precision. Attendees will have the opportunity to see three Eagle Systems machines on-site. The CFM74 designed for 29-30″ presses and the VLFM145 designed for 56″ presses will both be debuting at the show. The CFM105 for 40″ presses also will be on display.

FSEA
Booth 4435
Distributing PostPress magazine, a quarterly publication that serves as a resource and educational platform for print enhancement and bindery technologies.

Gateway Bookbinding Systems Ltd.
Booth 3816
Demonstrating its entire equipment line-up, the makers of PLASTIKOIL. The PLASTIKOIL Concept QS Interline series for in-house coil manufacturing and automated coil insertion. The PBS 2800 Koilmatic – a fully electric tabletop automatic coil inserter. All the way to simple countertop production machines. PLASTIKOIL – 45 colors / lead and phthalate free. Gateway Bookbinding – The Plastic Spiral Experts.

GEW
Booth 3849
Designing, specifying and manufacturing turnkey LED UV systems. Customers benefit from knowing that all components are designed to work together so compatibility and reliability are guaranteed for the long term. 100 percent system testing before shipping and installation by GEW engineers ensures projects are delivered on time and to specification every time.

Martin Yale Industries
Booth 3834
Featuring the latest breakthrough in knife folding machines, Martin Yales new COUNT™ KF-250, the first standalone knife folder designed to quickly and easily fold heavier-weight digitally produced media (up to 350 GSM). The Count™ NumberJet, the worlds fastest inkjet numbering machine, capable of handling 40,000 sheets per hour, also will be showcased.

Match Machinery, Inc.
Booth 4213
Specializing in finishing and binding equipment, including diecutting, creasing, embossing, foil stamping, cutters and folder-gluer machines. Whether for converting, finishing, binding or any other request, Match strives to provide the personal care and assistance necessary.

MBM Corporation
Booth 2644
Providing innovative finishing products to meet the demands of todays digital and offset print finishing industries. Its product line includes world-class Triumph® cutters, Aerocut digital print finishing systems, folders, creasers, collators, booklet makers and more. New to its line of products are the ideal.™ air purifiers, GoCrease creasers and a new line of folders. MBM products are backed by a team of factory-trained technicians, customer support specialists and one of the best warranty packages in the industry.

Meech International
Booth 3955
Manufacturing static control, compressed air technology and web cleaning systems, both contact and non-contact. Meech has specialized in industrial electrostatic control for over 50 years. This experience has led to R&D that matches changing customer needs. Meech pioneered the industrial use of pulsed DC technology for static control and now has thousands of systems installed in the plastics, converting, printing and packaging industries.

Muller Martini
Booth 625
Providing demonstrations of innovative solutions that represent the future of finishing. Leading the way is Connex, a singular workflow system that oversees, directs, troubleshoots and validates the quality and integrity of the entire printing process, from prepress to postpress. Connex is compatible with all major print engines.

Pro-Bind
Booth 3760
Manufacturing capabilities include offset and digital printing, foil stamping, silk screening, embossing and debossing, diecutting and fulfillment. Tabletop thermal binding equipment for hard- and soft-cover book binding and photobooks. Document packaging products for all formats of binding, ring binders, tabs, folders and custom-sealed vinyl products.

Punchmaster Tool & Die Ltd.
Booth 3944
Showcasing existing tools and introducing a new product line. Punchmaster has been making top quality paper punching dies since 1993. With its in-house manufacturing process, quick turnaround times on many popular patterns are guaranteed. Offering custom tool production with short lead times, Punchmaster also services an assortment of brands of dies.

PVC Spiral Supply
Booth 3837
Manufacturing plastic spiral coil and binding equipment for nearly 20 years. For bookbinding needs, experts are on hand to help customers find the perfect color and size of coil from an extensive inventory of pre-formed coil. More than 50 different colors and over 100 diameters are available to suit every taste.

Rollem International
Booth 845
Offering finishing demonstrations. Add embellishments and custom shapes to packaging, direct mail and labels with The Insignia Series. Diecut, kisscut and emboss with this flexo-magnetic diecutter – Shapes speak. Shapes Sell. Showing both the IS6 20×20″ and the IS7 30×24″. Learn about diecutting up close as 30 pt. ID cards are diecut. Demos include presentation folders, folding cartons, shaped mailers and cards. See a UV coater feeding coated menus thru the Jetstream for inline trimming and slitting.

Sakurai USA, Inc.
Booth 857
Showcasing its newly designated Maestro MS-102AX cylinder screen press. The 29 5/8″ x 41 1/2″ Maesteo 102AX prints on a wide range of substrates such as plastic film, paper, board and foil for accurate spot coating and specialty effects. Sakurai, the global leader in sheet-fed screen printing technology.

Spiel Associates
Booth 220
Showing its line of Digibinder perfect binders, five in all, including two PUR binders. Also on display will be two automatic punching machines, two automatic coil binders and two wire binders, including the Wiremaster Compact, an automatic wire binder capable of binding 2,000BPH.

Spiral Binding
Booth 3808
Offering the EX610 high-speed automatic punch, the DocuPunch® PLUS automatic punch, the Wire-O® Bind 3500 (WOB) semi-automatic binder, the Pitney Bowes Relay 3000 folder inserter, the i.JetColor envelope printer, Spiral’s DIY photo finishing line and much more.

Standard Finishing Systems
Booth 1231
Presenting an all-inclusive showcase of feeding and finishing, featuring live demonstrations, presentations and a range of application samples. An array of exciting new equipment will be on display, including the new Horizon BQ-480 perfect binder, North American debuts in folding and saddlestitching, and Hunkeler’s anticipated POPP8 machine generation.

THERM-O-TYPE Corp.
Booth 3631
Demonstrating the RAS-mc right angle slitter, RDC-Flex rotary die cutter, Zip-TS2L cutter/slitter/creaser, foil fusing equipment, the NSF Excel with inline waste stripping attachment and the new NSF Ultra foil stamping/embossing/die cutting press. THERM-O-TYPE is a leading manufacturer of digital finishing and enhancement technologies.

Trotec Laser, Inc.
Booth 3152
Offering advanced, high-speed laser equipment for cutting, engraving and industrial marking and a wide selection of engraving supplies. Trotec systems are used to cut, engrave and mark a wide range of materials. The company’s extensive line of quality laser systems, coupled with its unmatched service and support offerings, have made Trotec one of the industry’s leading resources for computer-controlled engraving equipment and marking systems.

W.H. Leary
Booth 3755
Demonstrating iQ Serialization for carton quality analysis, CXU 110 stainless steel pump for increasing adhesive performance and hot melt coating head solutions to expand portfolio offerings. W.H. Leary designs glue application and quality assurance equipment for folding carton lines with its customer’s customer in mind.

PIA’s Premier Print Awards

September 8, 2017

Two years ago, the BIA’s Product of Excellence Awards were integrated into the Printing Industries of America’s Premier Print Awards, the industry’s most prestigious awards program. Since the postpress categories have been expanded within the Premier Print Awards, a great number of outstanding pieces have been received from around the world.

The BIA is proud to recognize the following companies whose pieces won a Best of Category in the 2017 Premier Print Awards:

Imperial Communications Perlick Generations of Excellence Binder Binders (Loose leaf)
Main Graphics Jovenville Tarot Card Promotion Foil Stamping
Scodix, Inc. Printograph Inc. 2017 Brokers Promotion Package Digital Enhancement Printing
Nieman Printing Comex Color Life Trends 2017 Embossing/Debossing
Leo Paper Products Ltd. Beauty and the Beast Diecuts and Pop-ups
C & C Joint Printing Co., (H.K.) Ltd. Geronimo Stilton Book Specialty Inks or Coatings, Fragrances or Invisible Printing Inks
Fey Printing Juniper Blooming Box Folding
SHANGHAI ADD PRINTING CO., LTD ZHU CHONG YUN Binding
Color Incorporated AMC 2016 Emmy Consideration Mailer Other Special Finishing Techniques
WIDE OCEAN PRINTING COMPANY LIMITED Ritz Carlton Macau Mooncake Box Set Cartons, Containers, Boxes and Totes

To enter the 2018 awards competition, contact Mike Packard at mpackard@printing.org or 412.259.1704 for more details.

OSHA Regulatory Update For 2017

September 8, 2017

by Gary Jones, assistant VP EHS Affairs; Kaitlin Rundle, EHS associate; and Matthew Crownover, EHS associate, Printing Industries of America

Typically, when there is a change in the presidency, the outgoing administration rushes to issue new and revised regulations to complete their agenda. This is what occurred under the Obama administration. One of the more active agencies was the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as it issued several significant regulations impacting printing and finishing operations. This article will provide an overall summary of the rules.

Mandatory injury reporting

OSHA revised its mandatory injury reporting rule with the revised reporting requirements greatly expanding the scope of injuries that must be reported to OSHA. What remained unchanged was the requirement to report a fatality within eight hours.

Employers now are required to report within 24 hours of any work-related incident that results in:

in-patient hospitalization of one or more employees
an amputation
the loss of an eye

Since reporting of any in-patient hospitalization or amputation is required, it is important to understand how OSHA is defining them. While the definitions address the circumstances where OSHA wants to receive injury reports, they also raise many questions. OSHA has not issued any guidance to answer the questions.

Since the printing industry is classified as a high-hazard industry for amputations, any report of an amputation or a hospitalization due to an equipment-related injury will generally result in an inspection. Inspections generate large fines due to violations of either the machine guarding standard, the lockout/tagout standard or both.

OSHA is publicizing the injury information on its web page. Therefore, every company that reports a severe injury will be identified along with the circumstances associated with the injury.

Electronic injury and illness recordkeeping/non-discrimination provisions

The May 2016 recordkeeping rule requiring employers to annually submit injury and illness data became instantly controversial and has come under legal challenge. The rule, Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses, has two components. The first requires companies to submit records of workplace injuries and illnesses electronically to OSHA. The second prohibits employers from discouraging workplace injury and illness reporting and retaliation against employees who do report them.

The electronic injury and illness reporting was scheduled to begin July 1, 2017, but has been delayed by OSHA. The requirements apply to any company that has more than 20 full-time employees. Companies that have more than 250 employees are required to submit more detailed information. OSHA has not provided any details as to when the new reporting deadline will be finalized.

As part of the rule, OSHA mandated that by Dec. 1, 2016, all employers develop an injury reporting procedure and that it be communicated to all employees. The procedure must have reasonable requirements that do not discourage reporting. For example, OSHA has required companies to modify their procedure to not require reporting by the end of a work shift to accommodate an employee who may experience problems once they get home from work.

The rule also implemented bans on blanket post-accident drug and alcohol testing, safety incentive programs based on lack of injuries and indiscriminate discipline for violating safety rules. Companies that wish to conduct post-accident drug and alcohol testing need to show it is required by law (such as DOT requirements), or an employer is enrolled in a workers’ compensation rate reduction program. Otherwise, the employer must show good cause that it was a necessary step in the investigation to determine the cause of the injury. Safety incentive programs such as those that provide rewards for not having an injury or going a certain amount of days without a lost work day claim are now illegal. Companies that terminate injured employees for violating safety rules need to ensure they have a very well-documented program that can withstand OSHA scrutiny.

Increased OSHA penalties

For the first time in 25 years, OSHA dramatically increased its fines for violations of workplace health and safety requirements. At one time, the penalties for many first-time violations was $7,000, and those for willful or repeat violations was $70,000. Since OSHA was granted permission to increase their penalties, the agency will continue to do so each year based on the Consumer Price Index.

The current penalties are shown in the table shown at right.

Walking and working surfaces

The walking and working surfaces rule is a group of individual regulations designed to address hazards associated with every surface where an employee will work. Previously, the regulations were outdated and unclear. To clarify the rules, OSHA released its revision in January 2017 that phases in training and other requirements with various deadlines.

Walking-working surfaces include ladders, floors, elevated surfaces, openings, stairways and scaffolds. Many requirements address design, construction and installation specifications for the prevention of worker injury from falls. Other aspects cover procedures and guidelines for safe use of equipment, such as scaffolds and fixed and portable ladders. The revisions in the rule are significant and here is a summary of some of the requirements:

Periodic inspections for all walking and working surfaces are now required for slip, trip and fall hazards, with any deficiencies corrected. The frequency has not been defined by OSHA; therefore, it must be determined by the employer. Documentation is not required but is highly recommended.
Portable ladders must be inspected before each use. Defective ladders must be tagged out of service. Employees must be trained on how to inspect a ladder, as well as how to properly ascend and descend them.
Existing fixed ladders, 24 feet or higher, must have a personal fall arrest system or a ladder safety system by Nov. 19, 2036. For new fixed ladders, the deadline is November 2018. Wells and cages will no longer be acceptable. Platform openings must have an offset passage or a self-closing gate that swings away from the hole and has a top and midrail.
Employees who work on a flat roof are required to be provided fall protection if they are within six feet of the roof’s edge. There are additional requirements if the work is greater than six feet but less than 15 feet from the roof’s edge.
Fall protection is required when a work surface is elevated more than four feet. Fall protection systems and employee training is required.

Conclusion

In all, a whirlwind of changes has occurred with OSHA’s regulations. It is still unclear if these rules will remain in their current form, or if revisions will be proposed. Since these rules are in effect, the best course of action is to comply with them.

Understanding the Flow of Inventory Management

September 8, 2017

by Grainger Editorial Staff

Is a large percentage of your company’s dollars going toward inventory? Managing inventory efficiently can help cut down on many costs that you may not even be aware of. Poor inventory control can lead to emergencies, such as running out of much needed materials. This can take time away from production, and finding a quick replacement part can be expensive. On the other end, an overstock of products can take up valuable shelf space and lead to unnecessary purchase costs.

Knowing the flow of managing your inventory is the first step to getting a better understanding of how inventory control works and how you can manage your inventory properly.

Types of inventory

Different facilities keep stock of different items to fill different needs. Because hospitals are service-based businesses, their inventory will mostly consist of items needed to perform medical care. Bandages, disposable gloves, thermometers, even surgical tools – these are all items that must be available for everyday use.

Manufacturing plants, on the other hand, will have a strong inventory of production materials. Sheets of steel, plastics, parts for assembly – these materials must be on hand to keep business running. Retailers also carry a high inventory of items waiting to be sold, and running out means missing out on potential revenue.

Other industries, such as hotels and offices, may not need as large an inventory as manufacturers, retailers and hospitals, but they will have an inventory of maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) items. Light bulbs, reams of paper, ink cartridges, fuses you name it – this all contributes to an inventory that costs money to purchase, store and use.

The flow of inventory

Regardless of the type of inventory your business is handling – whether it’s for service, manufacturing, retail or maintenance – there is a common flow that can help you manage your inventory better.

Purchase
An initial purchase must be made to get things going. Unless your facility is an expansion, your first purchase will be based on your best estimate. In order to make the best guess possible, try researching what other facilities like yours are using and in what quantities. For your first buy, it is better to err on the side of caution – this is one time where having a little too much won’t hurt. This will allow you enough wiggle room for mistakes, but be sure to allot enough storage space for surplus.

Store
All the items you purchase have to go somewhere. You will need enough storage space, as well as an organized system in which your on-hand items are easy to find and get to. Time spent searching for an item or traveling to and from the storage location is time that is taken away from your business.

Use
Congratulations! You’re in business. That means that items that have gone into your inventory are now being taken out. One by one, the items are removed from their storage location and are sold, used or fabricated – whatever the case may be. In this stage, the items are being taken for their intended use.

Tracking
As items are purchased and used, it is essential that they are properly tracked. A system must be in place in order to know, at any given time, how much of a particular item you have on hand. This way you will know when your supply is low and needs to be replenished.

Reorder
Once an item has reached its reorder point, it is time to replenish your supply. This can be done manually or through automated systems.

Forecasting
Once you have used, tracked and reordered a few times, it is possible to start forecasting your future needs. This is a proactive attitude toward your inventory in which you take control of what to bring in ahead of time, rather than waiting for your supply to deplete and reacting after the fact.

Common management pitfalls

Just as inventory flow is similar among industries, so are the common issues that cause costly inventory problems. Being aware of common problem areas can help you avoid potential (costly) mistakes.

Lack of automation
With computerized options available to track, forecast and reorder items for you, there is no longer a need to miss a needed reorder. Manual tracking takes time, and even the most skilled data-entry person will make mistakes. There always will be a gap between updating records and the real-time use of your products.

Improper training
Any system you have in place for tracking your inventory won’t amount to much if the people responsible for keeping those records arent using it. Inventory software users should be fully trained on the program, and the workers using the inventory must be trained on how to account for the items that they use.

Picking inefficiency
Efficient organizing of your facility’s space can make a world of difference in your productivity. How much time are your workers using to get to the items they need? How difficult is it to get from the point of production (or sale, or service) to the storage space? How easy is it to find the most used items on your shelves?

Infrequent cycle counts
Yearly cycle counts represent a costly and ineffective way to reconcile what you think you have with what you actually have. This usually involves shutting down operations for a day or two to take your inventory counts for all the items you stock. More frequent cycle counts on specific areas can be more cost-effective and will keep a regular tab on what you have on hand.

Sources

http://mhlnews.com/warehousing/top-5-solutions-common-inventory-management-mistakes
https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/252704
http://www.dummies.com/business/accounting/how-to-track-inventory-flow

Reprinted with permission from Grainger. The information contained in this publication is intended for general information purposes. No representation is made that the information or references are complete or remain current.

Industry Influencer: Trish Witkowski

September 8, 2017

Trish Witkowski is an industry veteran who specializes in creative mail formats and direct marketing solutions. A self-described “analyst with great presentation skills,” she is known for her research in areas of direct mail, marketing strategy and folded formats.

Trish Witkowski has spent nearly 20 years researching the technical side of production folding and print finishing. An industry expert, Witkowski specializes in creative mail formats and engagement strategies for direct marketing, which allows her to help companies find solutions to meet – or exceed – marketing goals.

With a background in design, Witkowski is uniquely situated to provide a multi-dimensional perspective of aesthetics and production. Having designed for international brands such DAP, DeWalt and Cover Girl, Witkowski continues to influence the industry through productive software tools, books, online courses and a weekly YouTube series.

Able to connect with designers, marketing professionals and printers alike, Witkowski uses her analytical and presentation skills to help companies save money and increase marketing and production success.

What drew you to the industry as a career?

I was always an artist and graphic designer, having received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design from the Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York. However, I felt like a design education would only get me so far without the production background. I decided to return to RIT for my master’s degree in printing, and the rest is history. I’m an analyst at heart, but I have kind of a left brain/right brain thing going on, and it really helps me to communicate with printers and designers/marketers.

As an analyst, what patterns have you observed in the industry?

Over the years, I have seen quite a few changes and, for me, what has been the most exciting has been the advancements in digital printing and finishing, as well as what can be done in short-run lengths. I love offset printing, but sometimes you only need a few hundred pieces. Or fifty. Or five – and you don’t want sloppy, hand-made comps. It’s great that we now are able to afford and produce quality pieces at any run length.

How will these patterns continue to impact the industry?

I will say – from firsthand experience – that customers are expecting more and more for less. The fancier our processes and offerings get, the more hand-holding they require, which eats away at profits. Managing needy clients and streamlining offerings and workflows as we change our offerings, I think, will continue to be a challenge.

What is “folding compensation mathematics,” and how does this data serve the industry?

Simply put, folding compensation is the math applied to a folded format to ensure it folds properly. For example, a tri-fold consists of three panels, and one of them must be slightly shorter so that it can tuck in under the cover. There is math applied to that measurement, and it has to do with the thickness of the sheet of paper.

Early on in my career, I defined folding compensation mathematics for almost 200 folded formats – it is called The FoldRite System – and I won the InterTech Award for it. That math became the basis for our template-building software that still is available today at Foldfactory.

What are some techniques printers and finishers can utilize to remain competitive?

I’m on the road a lot, and one of the biggest challenges I hear about is the need for printing sales people to learn how to sell and service the new printing technologies printers are offering. There is an entirely different level of service involved, and it requires the willingness to get in there and problem solve for the customer.

Buying and installing the equipment is the easy part. If you can make the customer’s life easier, while making a nice profit, you’re on the right track.

What trends do you predict for the industry over the next few years?

If I had to guess, I’d say improvement in online experiences – the ability to do neat things quicker and better. Everything is getting faster – laser cutting, digital printing, special effects. I love all the attention on haptics and the tangibility of print. There’s so much power in it. I’m loving all of these inline, offline and near-line press coatings and effects. I think it’ll all get faster and easier and more accessible.

Of course, integration of technology with print will continue to be exciting – AI, augmented reality, etc. – but I think adoption will be very slow. Look at even the simplest form of VDP and QR codes and how long it’s taken just to get people to use these technologies. There are lots of cool technologies available, but you basically need the perfect storm to make it work. You need to understand the technology internally, then you need a sales person who can sell it and then you have to find clients who not only have the appropriate marketing scenario and target audience to leverage the technology, but also the budget, the timeline and creativity to make it happen. It’s a lot to ask. So, it’s going to take a while, and it’s going to have to get easier and somewhat inexpensive to use these technologies if we want them to go mainstream.

On a positive note – because I always close on a positive note – it’s a GREAT time to be in print. I love the changes and the excitement of breaking new ground. I was just over at the Komori demo facility in Chicago, and it was crazy to see a state-of-the-art Lithrone Press running at amazing speed, right next to a Highcon Euclid III digital laser cutter/creaser that was skillfully cutting intricate, custom packages on 24 pt. board. The range and the precision and the technology is impressive. I’m really looking forward to Print 17 this year. I hope to see everyone there!

Lamplighter Hardback: Judged by its Cover

September 8, 2017

by Lara Copeland, assistant editor, PostPress

For over 20 years, Lamplighter Publishing, a division of Lamplighter Ministries based in Mount Morris, New York, has produced numerous publications, including illustrated books, resource books and audio dramas. Additionally, Lamplighter has edited and published 130 vintage titles. The books contained in this collection feature stories originally published 100 to 400 years ago. With tales that take place around the world and feature a variety of characters – from kings and peasants, to sailors and warriors, to little girls and mischievous boys – the books are sure to capture a variety of readers. An intriguing cover also draws attention to a book, and Lamplighter’s 2017 edition of The Secret Bridge, by Amy Le Feuvre, originally published in 1899, does just that.

Lamplighter Publishing set out from the beginning of this project to create a striking and attractive hardback cover for Le Feuvre’s book. Hoping to fashion a more intricate design than what had previously been produced, Graphic Artist Lorraine Larsen was instructed to “make it the best one ever” because “the story was so wonderful,” she said. “Many of the previous covers had more generic, decorative motifs,” she continued, “but this time we wanted to create a cover that was compelling and specific to the storyline.” Often drawing from period sources, Larsen is accustomed to planning her cover designs to reflect specific facets of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Her cover for The Secret Bridge depicts a couple in Victorian-era garb looking longingly at one another. Larsen remarked, “The finished design has multiple sources, composed and altered, in fitting to the details of the characters portrayed.” The illustration was entirely hand drawn to maintain a line suitable for die reproduction.

The publisher was eager to test the bounds to see the range of details it could stamp on its cover. Managing Editor Bridgette Heap decided to do a test run using magnesium dies from OWOSSO Graphic Arts. As a result, the publishing team recognized that some lines were too heavy and some too thin, while others needed to be revised. “Our graphic artist had to go back into her image and rework most of the lines until we felt they were substantial enough, but still fine and detailed,” Heap said. Once Larsen altered the necessary lines, production-ready copper dies were ordered from Owosso and the hardback cover was completed.

Lamplighter chose cover board and spine hollow material and used a casemaking station to create the book. “As these materials go through this station, they become glued to our F143 Vivella Evolution cover material, shipped over from Italy,” explained Nathan Baxter, a bindery worker for Lamplighter. The book was printed on trade book cream stock, and the stamping process was done using an ACROMARK 10-ton press hot stamper. “There was a burnish stamp on both the cover and spine which required intense temperature and average dwell and pressure,” Baxter clarified. Additionally, there were three other stamps which all used foils. One foil, a K110 Cream foil, is stamped onto the cover and spine. A 333K1 copper is only stamped to the cover.

Creating such a meticulously designed cover did not come without its challenges. “During the production of the cover, our greatest challenge was keeping the K110 foil from flaking off when exposed to high heat,” Baxter added. To solve this problem, “we hand fed the foil so that it was not up against the hot copper die plate,” he said. Another production challenge – avoiding the fading of the burnish after repeated stamps – was solved by increasing the temperature and stamping the burnish more slowly so that even if the die plate cooled slightly, it would remain hot enough to burn properly.

Overcoming the production obstacles has paid off. Responses have been overwhelmingly positive to Lamplighter’s edition of the book. “Customers were calling and emailing to tell us this was the most beautiful book they have bought from us,” Heap recalled. Using words like “stunning” to describe the book’s binding, reviewers focused on the beauty of the bright foil accents adorning the title near the bottom third of the cover. In addition to this praise, the book cover also won the Foil & Specialty Effects Association’s (FSEA) Gold Leaf Award for most difficult use of foil and embossing – hardback book cover.