2017 Nov/Dec

A Study in Chocolate: API Foils Examines Premium Chocolate Packaging

December 18, 2017

Information provided by API Foils packaging study

The heat map drawn from the entire participant pool demonstrated the participants’ aggregate total fixation duration (TFD). Green indicates participants observed the area. Yellow indicates participants viewed certain product areas longer, with red areas viewed the longest (control left, stimuli right).

One of the fastest growing market segments, nearly half of the world’s total chocolate is consumed by Americans. A daily luxury for most, the root of Americans’ innate love of this sweet treat can be traced to several factors, one of which is the elegant and stylish packaging contributing to the luxury generally associated with high-end products.

A recent study conducted by Package InSight at Clemson University and sponsored by API Foils, “Brand Impact Delivered Through Packaging: Understanding Consumer Responses to Metallic Foil and Laminates on Chocolate Packaging,” examines the on-shelf impact of metallic materials in chocolate packaging and its influence on customer attraction and purchase intent. The study offers brand owners and designers valuable new insights into consumer preferences when purchasing premium chocolate and provides them with the knowledge required to create packages that stand out in an increasingly crowded and competitive market.

The study

Conducted in the CUshopTM Consumer Experience Laboratory at Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, 70 “shoppers” (64 percent female, 36 percent male) wore calibrated, state of the art, eye tracking glasses while selecting products from a list. Participants’ eye movements were recorded to provide nonconscious insight as to why individuals selected certain chocolate offerings.

During the quantitative eye tracking study, participants viewed two chocolate controls without and two chocolate stimuli with embellishments – one foil stamped and one in a laminate carton. Control and stimuli products were placed on the shelf at different times to avoid beauty contests between the stimuli and control.

Data gathered

Using eye movement metrics, it was possible to track the different factors influencing consumers’ decisions to purchase one product over another. The following data points were used to determine why consumers chose the stimuli over the control packaging or vice versa:

Time to First Fixation (TTFF): This measures the time, in seconds, from where the chocolate product (either stimuli or control) first entered a participant’s field of vision until the person fixated on it. The lower the number, the better the package performed.
Fixation Count (FC): This metric involves the number of times the participant scans the planogram in a particular area of interest, i.e. how often the participant fixates on the product in question. The higher the number, the better the package performed.
Total Fixation Duration (TFD): This metric involves the time, in seconds, the participant fixates on a specific item and is one of the most important metrics for a consumer study. The higher the number, the better the package performed.
Purchase Decision (PD): This metric measures how many participants chose to buy the item. The higher the number, the better the package performed.

Follow-up

Once participants completed the experiment, they were given an experiment questionnaire that gathered qualitative data regarding the packaging they viewed. Self-reports indicated that participants felt the metallic foils and laminates added a premium feel to the chocolate that represented a higher quality product. The following are some of the responses offered by participants:

The foil stamped version looks more elegant and expensive.
The gold foil portrays a more high-end product.
For chocolate, the foil stamp does give an image of higher quality if little is known about the brands.
“It just says ‘fancier.'” If I am looking for fancier chocolates, I look for fancier packaging.
It gives it a more premium look and shows attention to detail.

Conclusion

Shelf impact of decorated products is a major concern for brand owners – especially within a crowded marketplace with savvy consumers. This eye tracking study showcased the head-turning impact of foil stamping in helping various types of chocolate packaging to stand out.

Overall, purchase decisions, eye tracking results and survey results indicate that chocolate is an ideal product to be foil stamped because it communicates elegance, high-quality and a premium feel.

For chocolate, when it comes to the quality of packaging design that it inspires, it is crucial to give packages personality, and foil stamping can do this.

API Foils is a manufacturer and distributor of foils, laminates and holographic materials, which provide brand enhancements for consumer goods and printed media worldwide. For more information or to view the entire white paper, visit www.apigroup.com.

BIA News

December 18, 2017

BIA’s Website Has a New Look

Printing Industries of America has launched a new website, which means BIA’s webpages will have a new look. We will continue to populate the website with new information, but we need your help. If you want to be listed on Find A Bindery or BIA Supplier, please send the following information:

Company logo
Company description
Contact information
Links to your site

Check out the new BIA website at www.printing.org/programs/groups/bia. Please send your information to Mike Packard at mpackard@printing.org so we can promote your company and services.

Printing Industries of America’s Educational Conferences

Mark your calendars to attend, or have some of your staff attend, one of the following PIA educational conferences in 2018:

President’s Conference – March 4-6, 2018 – San Antonio, Texas
The President’s Conference targets the most influential industry leaders. Sponsors of the event will gain visibility with CEOs, presidents, owners and other industry executives who are seeking tools and resources to help them make the important decisions necessary to grow their businesses. Attendees will have the opportunity to build personal relationships through face-to-face networking with approximately 200 of the industry’s top leaders. For more information, visit www.presidentsconference.com.

Continuous Improvement Conference – April 8-11, 2018 – Rosemont, Illinois
The Continuous Improvement Conference is the only industry event focused on helping organizations achieve operational excellence by using the concepts of lean manufacturing and other management and quality systems. Attendees will have the opportunity to build personal relationships through face-to-face networking with approximately 275 attendees. For more information, visit ci.printing.org.

Continuing Education Opportunity

We still are looking for help with the Post Press and Finishing Orientation Course, which is new for 2017. This course will highlight key areas of bindery, such as safety, cutters, folds, binding options and finishing options. This course will be geared toward new postpress employees.

Suppliers, we need your support. If you are a company interested in sponsoring the Post Press and Finishing Orientation Course, you will have the opportunity to demo your product in a video within the training.

BIA Member Benefits

Don’t forget to take advantage of the benefits you receive as a BIA member.

Members receive the following:

Exclusive discounts on products, as well as networking and educational events
Access to professional peer-networking forums
Free economic reports focusing on postpress companies (participation in the survey required)
An informational monthly e-newsletter
Discounted online learning at the iLearning Center (www.printing.org/iLearning)
Free technical support
Quarterly magazine focusing on postpress
Access to the BIA member-only listserv

Benefits for your business include the following:

Learn about cutting-edge trends in finishing equipment and technology and how to apply them to your operation.
Discover ways to expand your offerings and product lines.
Branch into growing markets, such as packaging, with the necessary skills, equipment and other resources.
Increase on-time order delivery and meet customer demands.
Become more competitive in your market.

By joining BIA, you belong to an organization dedicated to supporting and enhancing our industry. We are your advocate, helping you increase growth and profitability every day. BIA is your postpress resource. Joining BIA helps your organization by offering benefits you cannot get anywhere else. Members gain access to an abundance of resources that deliver results to enhance your success today and in the future.

For more information about membership in BIA, please contact Mike Packard at 412.259.1704 or mpackard@printing.org.

Build an Emotional Connection with Interactive Pop-Ups

December 18, 2017

by Kevin Rickard, president, Rickard Bindery

Today’s jaded consumers and business customers think they’ve seen it all, so communication professionals need to work a little smarter to build an emotional connection through the printed image. When your message absolutely must be noticed, it’s essential to find the right format that accentuates what you have to say while helping you stand apart from everyday promotional clutter. For today’s consumer audience, one of the most effective formats is an interactive brochure that pops up upon opening.

Give me the facts

In their article 8 Keys to Creating an Emotional Connection Between Products and People, Sam Swisher and Trevor Shepard, founders of the influential product design agency, Woodshop, wrote:

“Fifty percent of every buying decision is driven by emotion. Which, for anyone responsible for bringing a product to market, makes a recent Forrester Research survey a concern. It reported that 89 percent of the respondents felt no personal connection to the brands they buy.”

Swisher and Shepard are experts in how physical motion drives buying emotion. Interactive pop-up folds do indeed provoke interest, and this helps drive emotional connections.

How pop-up folds work

Someone holds the printed piece with a hidden pop-up fold.
As the piece opens, the pop-up image rises.
The physical movement and the visual image drive emotion and reinforce the message.

Lurking undetected within the confines of a closed printed piece, the hidden pop-up image is waiting to spring to life. What looks like a normal brochure quickly transforms into a memorable user experience upon opening. Pop-up folds can be concealed in brochures, self-mailers, saddlestitched booklets, perfect bound books and other print formats. In a world of same-old, same-old communications, pop-up folds are a prime example of the cost- and time-saving recommendations your customers are craving. Properly designed interactive pop-up folds enhance a selling message in a uniquely tactile way.

Fold mechanics

The mechanics behind pop-up folds are easy to understand. A pop-up design starts out as a diecut 4-panel layout with an angled perforation. The pop-up area is pushed inward so when the piece is closed, the pop-up area remains sandwiched between the two folded outer panels. The following are the three main styles of pop-up folds:

Basic 4-page: The 4-page pop-up fold brochure is easy to plan and produce and can be used as a standalone brochure or incorporated into perfect bound and saddlestitched products. A notable design characteristic of the basic 4-page style is the “missing corner” when closed.
Multiple-panel: This design is where the pop-up is incorporated into a multi-panel gate, accordion or roll-folded piece. Properly designed, the multiple-panel style will temporarily hide the missing corner when fully closed and create intrigue as the piece unfolds.
Concealed corner: This double thick, glued-concealed corner design is considered the premium pop-up style because the missing corner is permanently concealed, completely hiding the pop-up image when closed.

Rickard Bindery has helped engineer and produce hundreds of pop-up projects with images ranging from people, mountains, bar charts, wings and grandfather clocks to donkeys, microscopes, kangaroos and even politicians. When thinking how to best promote your customers’ services and products, the best advice we can offer is to let your imagination run wild.

PostPress tech talk

Basics: Pop-up folds are interactive diecut pieces that automatically “pop up” when opened.
Benefits: Printed products containing pop-up folds drive emotion, and emotion helps drive desired behavior.
Variants: A concealed corner pop-up is an extra backing panel formed by a double parallel fold to conceal the missing corner in a standard pop-up design.
Max & mins: Max pop-up width is nine inches. The height of the pop-up (from the bottom of the “V” to the top of the pop-up) cannot be higher than the final folded width of the piece or the pop-up will stick out of the side of the product when folded.
Shop talk: Angled perforations are necessary. Choose a stock between six and 10 points. Perforation depth is always important, but especially so on thin or thick stock. Intricate diecut patterns could impact feeding of material, reducing production speed and increasing waste.

Kevin Rickard is president of Rickard Bindery. Rickard Bindery serves printers coast to coast and specializes in discovering solutions to challenging bindery jobs. He can be reached at 800.747.1389 or krickard@rickardbindery.com.

Creasing Solutions – Keeping Up with Digital Printing

December 18, 2017

by Brittany Willes, editor, PostPress

A fully automated solution, the Duplo DC-446 Creaser was specifically designed to prevent toner cracking and unattractive fold lines on digital stock.

The devil is in the details, as the saying goes. While this has always been true of the printing industry, it’s become even more important with the advent of digital technology. When it comes to printing on digital stock, strict attention to the smallest details is what transforms a good print job into an amazing one. Working with digital stock presents its own unique challenges – ones that experienced operators didn’t necessarily have to worry about in the old world of offset printing.

For instance, when it comes to creasing and folding digital stock, printers are bumping up against increasing instances of cracking and/or flaking along the fold. “Although it was not a problem in the past, a surefire way to guarantee a dissatisfied customer today is to present them with a completed folded project that has cracking along the paper folds,” read a blog post from Whitaker Brothers, a company of self-described office supply nerds based in Rockville, Maryland, specializing in cutters, folders and shredders. The blog post, Should You Be Scoring or Creasing, went on to state, “The good news is that while your competitors may tell their customers it is a necessary evil, there are solutions available to prevent this damaged final appearance.”

So, how can printers avoid cracking – and dissatisfied customers – when it comes to creasing on digital stock? As they say, the devil is in the details.

Creasing vs. scoring

With digitally-printed stock, it’s important to know which method of creating a fold is best: creasing or scoring. The two terms often are used interchangeably, yet experienced binders and printers know they are actually very different processes that produce very different results.

“Scoring machines fold paper by reducing its stiffness with the use of a rotary wheel,” explained Whitaker Brothers. “It stretches the paper and then utilizes severe pressure to create the fold in the paper.” This combination of pressure and stretching results in the top layer of paper fibers essentially being cut through. Most notably, scoring creates only a single stress point to achieve the fold.

By contrast, creasing relies on creating two parallel folding points on either side of the fold. According to Whitaker Brothers, “Since the folding points now have doubled, the paper still folds 180 degrees, but the stress disperses to two different points on the paper.”

Noting the differences between scoring and creasing is especially important when it comes to digitally-printed stock. Because the digital print process consists of pressing a layer of toner only upon the paper’s surface, scoring – which tears through the top layer of paper fibers – can ruin the printed piece. Furthermore, because scoring produces heat that fuses the toner to the paper, “this causes the paper to dry out, causing intensified cracking along the fold,” stated Whitaker Brothers.

Thus, when it comes to digital stock, creasing over scoring is the recommended process. However, creasing is not without its challenges.

Creasing on digital stock

Tech-Ni-Fold’s Tri-Creaser solution helps reduce or eliminate the inside flaking problems that can occur when using recycled/poorly produced stocks.

While excess heat is a pitfall when it comes to scoring digital stocks, it also has proven to be a challenge when it comes to creasing. Digital stock itself is heat treated and therefore is, “much more prone to the defect of cracking than traditional offset materials,” explained Graham Harris, managing director for Tech-ni-Fold, which specializes in creasing and print finishing. Headquartered in the United Kingdom, Tech-ni-Fold has spent more than 15 years addressing common finishing problems – such as the increased rate of cracking along folds that has occurred due to the rise of digital printing.

Kevin Chen, product manager for Duplo USA, Santa Ana, California, confirmed Harris’ assessment of the difficulty of creasing digital stock. According to Chen, “Creasing on digital stock is extremely difficult because of the different variations of toners and inks being used in the digital age right now. Each toner/ink reacts differently to certain creasing mechanisms.” Back in the days of traditional offset printing, the printing process was universal all around. Those days have mostly passed.

“It’s a vicious cycle that often repeats,” explained Harris. “Creasing machine manufacturers develop their latest super solution to solve a production headache, only to have the rules change all together.” As a result, creasing has become a critical application.

While the technology for creasing paper stocks has come a long way over the last several years, digital stock continues to present problems. For instance, the digital printing process can help cause brittleness to the stock and, in some cases, a static charge can make feeding/separation and finishing more difficult, Harris explained.

In addition to increased cracking along folded edges, another problem that is becoming apparent is the added threat of flaking on the inner side of the crease, meaning each side of the bead. “In other words,” Harris explained, “cracking on the outside of the fold used to be the only problem, but suddenly it was the other side of the sheet that posed threats. Quite literally, right now the folded sheet can easily hide a new surprise for those that pay for perfect creasing results.”

According to Harris, this new flaking problem is the result of increased numbers of recycled and poorly produced paper stocks. While this issue is hardly the fault of creasing machine manufacturers, it still is an issue that needs to be addressed in order to achieve the desired fold – and a happy customer. As Harris stated, “Creasing machine manufacturers are beginning to realize that stopping the cracking on the outside of the fold isn’t enough anymore, and therein lies the challenge for those who create creasing solutions.”

Along with increased flaking due to inferior stock, the slow speed of output versus the need for faster digital press speeds also can pose problems for printers. “One of the most critical areas with creasing digital stock is in the speed of output,” said Harris. “Cylinder methods may average 4,000 creased sheets per hour, but multiple crease applications significantly reduce this ratio as the same creasing blade is needed again. Furthermore, it isn’t uncommon for fewer than 1,000 sheets to be completed (per hour) in such cases.” All in all, this doesn’t bode well, especially as digital copiers and printers are getting faster.

So, how can binderies and printers avoid problems with cracking and flaking while getting more from their overall production process? For starters, they can help themselves by identifying higher quality stocks whenever possible. This will allow for better finishing results. “Really, just some forethought to the whole process is sensible,” remarked Harris. Next, binders and printers can turn to creasing solution experts for the latest in digital creasing technology, which can aid in turning a good print project into a great one.

Digital creasing solutions

Standard Horizon’s automatic creaser offers an automated feeding function that allows for high-quality creasing.

When it comes to creasing solutions, Tech-ni-Fold’s CreaseStream technology has made great strides in reducing cracking and flaking for digital stock. CreaseStream consists of a range of three creasing and micro-perforating machines, from manual and semi-automatic versions through to the fully-automatic solution.

“The newly patented Tri-Creaser tools used in all CreaseStream models reduce or eliminate the inside flaking problems that can occur when using recycled or poorly produced stocks,” stated Harris. This is achieved with a special double scoring tool in the female channel that irons out those fibers that are prone to such defects.

“As well as giving customers the quality crease they expect, the CreaseStream solutions significantly increase output ratio,” said Harris. “All machines have the same tooling shaft specifications and can combine creasing, cutting and micro-perforating in one easy operation, if required.”

Other options in the marketplace for creasing digital stocks include Duplo’s DC-446 Creaser, which was specifically designed to prevent toner cracking and unattractive fold lines on digital stock. A fully automated solution that creases up to 60 sheets per minute, the DC-446 comes with Duplo’s patented creasing mechanism, which prevents toner cracking and unattractive fold lines on digitally printed documents.

“A number of options are available on the DC-446 to suit the demands of digital printers,” remarked Chen. “For instance, a double-feed detector sensor stops the machine when two or more sheets are fed, preventing misfeeds and paper jams.” In keeping with the idea that printers desire more from the their creasing machines, slitting and perforating tools also can be added to eliminate white borders and/or create perforated pieces.

With greater amounts of recycled and/or poorly produced stocks introduced to the market, increases in cracking and flaking are almost unavoidable. Synthetic materials likewise pose a problem for creasing. “Synthetic material attracts a lot of static,” stated Chen, “which makes it hard to feed into the machine. When customers start using synthetic material, it is hard for machines like the DC-446 to process.” Luckily, Duplo has found a way of helping to combat the static problem. One of the options available on the DC-446 is an air knife, which provides additional air to reduce static problems. While this may not eliminate all static problems associated with synthetic materials, it’s a step in the right direction.

The Standard Horizon CRA-36 Auto Creaser also is designed to eliminate the cracking that is so common with digital print, cross grain and UV coating. Producing high-quality creasing through an automated feeding function, the CRA-36 is capable of creasing up to 10 lines per sheet. “Designed for digital and offset printed sheets, the CRA-36 offers rotary perforation, edge trim and gutter cut in a single pass, while impact creasing helps to prepare high-quality perfect bound book covers,” stated Marketing Specialist Will Frank.

The ability to crease in a single pass can be particularly important. “When creasing on digitally imaged stock, operators should be aware that one size does not fit all,” noted Frank. “In other words, based on the weight of the stock and the direction of the folds, operators will need to choose the right width and proper direction (up or down) of the creasing line. A general rule of thumb is that a lighter line is required for lighter weight stock, and a heavier line is best for heavier stock. On heavier stocks, it is best for the crease line to be opposite the direction of the fold, while a crease in the same direction of the fold may yield better results with lighter stocks. When looking at equipment, it is best to consider a solution that will provide up and down creasing in a single pass to avoid the need for multiple passes through the machine.”

Conclusion

The rules are changing – quickly – when it comes to digital printing and overall production processes. The tried and true solutions that once prevailed in the traditional world of offset printing no longer apply in the digital age. Binders, finishers and printers are looking for new and better solutions to ever-evolving issues, and suppliers of creasing technology are doing their best to combat those issues by addressing the challenges of digital printing head on. The devil may be in the details, but so is the solution that helps transform a digital print job from good to great.

Established Procedures Stop Email Fraud Attempt

December 18, 2017

by Dianna Brodine, managing editor, PostPress

While the stories about attempts to initiate fraudulent wire transfers have been circulating for a while now, a recent warning from the FBI brought additional attention to the problem. At the same time, a manufacturer in Erie, Pennsylvania, was the target of an attempt.

Fraudulent wire transfer request attempts on the rise

On May 4, 2017, the Federal Bureau of Investigation issued Public Service Announcement Alert Number I-050417-PSA to warn of an increase in the number of wire transfer fraud attempts. According to the alert, a 2,370 percent increase in identified exposed losses occurred between January 2015 and December 2016. The scam has reached all 50 US states and more than 130 countries. The alert provided the following explanation of the fraud and its intended victims:

Business Email Compromise (BEC) is defined as a sophisticated scam targeting businesses working with foreign suppliers and/or businesses that regularly perform wire transfer payments. The Email Account Compromise (EAC) component of BEC targets individuals that perform wire transfer payments.

The scam is carried out when a subject compromises legitimate business email accounts through social engineering or computer intrusion techniques to conduct unauthorized transfers of funds.

The victims of the BEC/EAC scam range from small businesses to large corporations. The victims continue to deal in a wide variety of goods and services, indicating that no specific sector is targeted more than another.

It is largely unknown how victims are selected; however, the subjects monitor and study their selected victims using social engineering techniques prior to initiating the BEC scam. The subjects are able to accurately identify the individuals and protocols necessary to perform wire transfers within a specific business environment.

The FBI’s collected data indicate banks in China, Hong Kong and the United Kingdom are the primary depositories for wire transfer fund requests. In the six months spanning June 2016 and December 2016, more than 3,000 US businesses were targeted, with an exposed dollar loss of nearly $350 million.

A manufacturer’s experience

Thanks to an alert employee and some informal training and internal procedures, a small Pennsylvania manufacturing firm avoided adding its names to the list of scammed businesses.

On May 19, an email was sent from Plastikos President Philip Katen to employee Sandy Walker with an urgent request for a wire transfer. The email asked if she was available and, when she replied in the affirmative, a second email arrived with wire transfer details. While the first email didn’t immediately raise any red flags, the second email made Walker pause.

“Nine out of 10 Fridays, I go over accounts payable in the afternoon,” explained Katen. “On the day the emails came through, I arrived and – coincidentally – that second email came within few minutes of when I walked in. I walked past Sandy to my desk, which is literally next door to hers.” When Walker saw Katen arrive, she wondered why he hadn’t stopped at her office if the request was truly urgent.

“A few minutes later,” Katen explained, “she came in to ask a question about the wire transfer – which obviously generated confusion. I looked at her with a ‘what are you talking about’ expression. Immediately, she knew something was not right.”

A few minor points tipped Walker off. First, the initial email contained very little information and was signed “Regards, Philip,” which is different than the language Katen would typically use. Second, although Katen might request a wire transfer initially via email, the company’s standard protocol calls for him to then call or visit her in person to discuss the process as a sort of verbal review and confirmation. “She was expecting those procedures to kick in,” he said, “and when they didn’t, it raised her suspicions further.”

The the company’s staff members weren’t completely unaware of the prevalence of internet fraud attempts. Katen had heard other companies discussing their own experiences at conferences and local Erie, Pennsylvania, manufacturer educational outreach efforts. As a result, he had shared the information with the accounting and IT departments during regularly scheduled team meetings. “It was an informal, continuing educational opportunity,” he said, “and something we shared at a time when we might also share cybersecurity updates from our bank. Luckily, those conversations planted a seed that saved us a significant amount of money in this instance.”

Katen called the FBI to report the attempt, and the responding agent stressed that awareness is the best tool to prevent these scams. “He encouraged us to keep people informed, educate them on the possibilities and come up with formal policies and procedures to bolster that defense,” said Katen. “Nothing can replace the human recognition/awareness component, however. And, that’s the first thing that kicked in here.”

Awareness is the first defense

Based on the company’s experiences, the company formalized some of the internal controls that had been a guideline, rather than the rule. Katen also took advantage of the educational opportunity to share the experience with other company employees.

“We printed off the emails and passed them around to the other department staff members,” he explained. “Although some felt it was a little strange when they initially read the emails, they all were shocked when we told them it was a fake request. We talked about what happened, reinforced that the internal protocols had worked and shared that the crisis had been averted. But, it was a good way to bring that awareness to the forefront for everyone on our team.”

In addition, a strict procedural outline was developed that includes a phone call to an authorized company executive to confirm the request as the first step. “If we legitimately have requested a funds transfer, we should be readily available to talk with our staff and discuss what’s needed,” said Katen. “If not, that’s the first indicator that something definitely isn’t right.”

Additional protocols are in place related to bank accounts and security authorizations – limits and restrictions intended to force checks and balances.

Lessons learned

Katen offered advice based on the his company’s experience and information shared by an FBI agent. The FBI agent encouraged companies to train their staffs to be aware of potential areas in which information is shared. Criminals are monitoring social media sites, reviewing company websites, reading industry articles and even potentially hacking into servers to read company emails in order to research names and titles of those responsible for financial transactions, all in an effort to make their wire transfer request emails appear more realistic.

The agent also told Katen that the vast majority of cyberattacks are state-sponsored events originating primarily in China, Russia and North Korea. Some of these attempts are run as military operations and, Katen was told, the US does not have the resources to effectively combat the threat. “The notion that the FBI or whomever else would be able to serve as a line of defense is not realistic because of the sheer volume of people on the other side who are employed to do this,” Katen explained.

In most cases, while all victims of the scam are asked to contact the FBI to help prevent future incidents, there is little that can be done if money is wired outside the US. Katen was told the money often is routed through countries that are not US allies, so the likelihood of retrieving any lost funds is virtually zero.

“We heeded the warning when we heard about it happening to other plastics processing companies, and we incorporated internal accounting procedures and controls as recommended when an FBI agent spoke to our local manufacturing industry group,” Katen continued.

The message to others is simple. “By and large, you’re largely responsible for yourself,” he said. “Come up with procedures to protect your company. Recognition and awareness are the best – and in many cases, the only – lines of defense.”

Suggestions for Protection

The FBI’s Public Service Announcement Alert offered a list of self-protection strategies. A few are listed here, but readers are encouraged to visit www.ic3.gov/media/2017/170504.aspx to view the entire list.
Avoid free web-based email accounts: Establish a company domain name and use it to establish company email accounts in lieu of free, web-based accounts.
Be careful what you post to social media and company websites, especially job duties and descriptions, hierarchal information and out-of-office details.
Consider additional IT and financial security procedures, including the implementation of a two-step verification process. For example:
- Out-of-Band Communication: Establish other communication channels, such as telephone calls, to verify significant transactions. Arrange this two-factor authentication early in the relationship and outside the email environment to avoid interception by a hacker.
- Digital Signatures: Both entities on each side of a transaction should utilize digital signatures. This will not work with web-based email accounts. Additionally, some countries ban or limit the use of encryption.
Do not use the Reply option to respond to any business emails. Instead, use the Forward option and either type in the correct email address or select it from the email address book to ensure the intended recipient’s correct email address is used.
Consider implementing two-factor authentication for corporate email accounts. Two-factor authentication mitigates the threat of a subject gaining access to an employee’s email account through a compromised password by requiring two pieces of information to log in: (1) something you know (a password) and (2) something you have (such as a dynamic PIN or code).
Register all company domains that are slightly different than the actual company domain.
Confirm requests for transfers of funds. When using phone verification as part of two-factor authentication, use previously known numbers, not the numbers provided in the email request.
Carefully scrutinize all email requests for transfers of funds to determine if the requests are out of the ordinary.

FSEA News

December 18, 2017

FSEA•IADD Joint Conference Set for Nashville

FSEA will partner with IADD again in 2018 for a combined event, the FSEA•IADD Joint Conference. It will take place April 11-13, 2018, in Franklin, Tennessee, at the Franklin Cool Springs Marriott Hotel.

FSEA is stressing to its members that 2018 is the time to Get Involved! The conference will include two days of programming that will consist of several sessions discussing current challenges and opportunities for the finishing, diemaking and folding carton industries. New this year will be a full afternoon of workshop sessions where attendees can talk in smaller groups on subjects such as decreasing spoilage on press, finding and keeping millennials and marketing finishing/diemaking services.

The event will start on the evening of April 11th with a supplier trade fair, allowing attendees to visit with suppliers of foil, dies, diemaking equipment and other finishing equipment and supplies. The second evening will honor the FSEA Gold Leaf Awards and IADD awards at a special reception, followed by a trip to downtown Nashville for a little fun on buses that will bring people down and back.

For the complete schedule, hotel information, speakers and registration, visit www.fsea-iaddconf.com.

FSEA Sponsors Track at RadTech Packaging Conference

FSEA hosted a full track of presentations at the recent RadTech International North Americas UV+EB Packaging Conference, held Oct. 24 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The event included sessions and speakers on cold foil technology, UV-cured adhesives and foils.

Mike King, Eagle Systems, Inc., spoke on “Analysis of Specialty UV Coatings for Packaging and Printing,” while Helen Rallis, Sun Chemical Corporation, gave a talk about “Specialty UV Coatings for Packaging and Printing.” Finally, Jennifer Heathcote, Phoseon Technology, addressed “UV LED Technology and Its Increasing Use in Specialty Curing Applications” and FSEA’s Jeff Peterson presented the “Impact of High-Visibility Enhancements on Shelf Presence (Foil and Coatings).”

“The RadTech Packaging Conference provided an opportunity for us to reach a different type of audience and advocate the use of decorating techniques, such as specialty UV coatings and metallic foils,” stated Jeff Peterson, FSEA executive director. “It was great to be part of an event in the Northeast portion of the country.”

For more information on RadTech International North America, visit www.radtech.org.

FSEA Gold Leaf Awards Entry Forms Now Online

FSEA urges you to submit your best work in the 25th Annual Gold Leaf Awards. Entries will be accepted up to February 15, 2018, and will be honored and displayed at the FSEA•IADD Joint Conference in April.

This is a great way for companies to gain recognition for their creative work – there are categories for foil stamping, embossing, cold foil, special diecuts, laser cutting, specialty UV coatings and digital foil and coatings.

Competition winners also will be highlighted in promotional campaigns and industry magazines, such as PostPress, BXP and Folding Carton Industry magazines, just to name a few. Many of the winners also will be proudly displayed at the Showcase of Packaging area during PACK EXPO 2018. To download the entry form (separate form for each entry) and further information on the competition, visit www.fsea.com and click on the Awards link.

Hurricanes Storm in with Lasting Impact

December 18, 2017

by Chris Kuehl, managing director, Armada Corporate Intelligence

It’s an ill wind that blows nobody good. This Scottish saying was not directed at the impact of a hurricane, but the sentiment is one that can be universally shared. This year has been a roller coaster due to the storms and other natural disasters that have befallen the US.

On the one hand the toll has been very high both in terms of lives lost and the economic damage. The totals still are being tallied, and already the numbers are in the hundreds of billions. But, even as the assessments are being made, there is the silver lining (at least from the perspective of the economist). What has been destroyed now has to be rebuilt. This process also will cost hundreds of billions, but this will be money spent to bring the infrastructure back and to make people and businesses whole.

There have been several unique aspects of these storms and disasters. Hurricane Harvey took aim at the part of Texas that hosts almost 50 percent of the country’s total refinery capacity. This concentration of capacity is even more profound when one understands the variety of refined product produced in the US. The storm affected the production of vehicle fuel, to be sure, but the most profound impact was in the production of ethylene, as well as other petrochemicals critical to the plastics industry. Initial estimates held that these production facilities would be out of commission for many months and, in some cases, that estimate is proving accurate. The damage caused by the storm itself was significant, but the flooding that followed did the real damage.

At the time of the disaster, the price of basic plastic material shot up to levels not seen in years. These price hikes affected many of the basics, such as polyethylene and PVC. The price hikes were expected to last into November, and that has been the case for many categories. The shortages reverberated through the entire supply chain and will continue to be an issue into the coming year. It is that cascade of reactions that will cause the greatest concern. The entity that can’t source the commodity will miss opportunities to fill that order – and then that customer misses opportunities and so on.

Some attempt has been made to source elsewhere, but the US has played a dominant role in this sector for a long time, and switching to some other supply network is far easier said than done. The majority of the world simply has to wait for the US to get back to its former production levels.

The good news in all this stems from the fact the recovery will bring new technology to the damaged areas. As recovery and rebuilding get underway, the operations will avail themselves of the newest and most technologically advanced equipment. The good news is that Houston is a wealthy city in a wealthy country, and the affected businesses have the wherewithal to rebuild. In contrast, there has been Puerto Rico – a part of the US that is not wealthy. The reconstruction process there has been extremely slow, and even the basic recovery of power is still months away.

The impact on fuel has been more limited, and the price per gallon for gasoline and diesel remained somewhat more reasonable. The recovery has been swift enough, although there are still transportation issues stemming from the fact the colonial pipeline is old and under capacity – limiting what can be sent from the middle of the country to the Eastern states.

Will there be lessons learned from these disasters? There should be, but it is likely there will be far more talk than action. The hurricanes were very different and hit in very different ways. It would have been hard to anticipate the path or the damage. Hurricane Harvey was a flood event, and no scenario anticipated the amount of rain that fell in the Houston area. The preparations that had been made would have been enough to handle a normal situation. The path of Hurricane Irma went toward an area that had not been hit for almost 30 years. The path of Hurricane Maria was a direct hit on Puerto Rico, and that had never happened previously. Certainly, plans must be in place to better protect and prepare, but there are limits to what can be done and what people are willing to pay.

The other aspect of preparation concerns the supply chain, and there is abundant evidence that companies are setting up contingency plans to cope with future issues of this magnitude. These range from creating a more diverse supplier base to storing more material than might have been the case before. The limiting factor is expense. It sounds good to have multiple suppliers, but this means giving up some of the volume discounts. It sounds good to have more product in reserve, but that means inventory costs and running the risk of missing out on price declines. The notion of “just-in-time” was a reaction to the costs of storage and warehousing. What seems like a great idea in the wake of a severe disruption looks like an unnecessary expense after years and years of no incidents.

The best estimate is that rebuilding will be largely complete by early next year, and it is likely that very little will change as far as the current system is concerned. This will apply to the petrochemical sector, as well as the other sectors that have been affected. The fuel situation is unlikely to alter, and there will be no change as far as shipping is concerned. Once the infrastructure for an industry this large has been established, it is very hard to change it. The options that look good now will not look as lucrative once the damaged infrastructure is developed.

The storms had a profound impact on the economy as a whole, but this is another case of good news following bad. The initial damage to the employment market was severe – Texas alone lost 133,000 jobs, and the national totals dipped for a month – down by 33,000 jobs. The majority of these have already been recovered, and a surge in new jobs will be seen as people arrive to engage in the reconstruction.

By the end of the year, job creation will be back up. The third quarter GDP numbers shook off the storms for the most part and finished above 3.0 percent. It had been expected to crest at around 3.6 percent, but the dip from storm impact was far less than had been thought.

Several industries got a major boost from the aftermath of the storm. The most aggressive was the automotive sector, as there was an immediate demand for some four million cars to replace those lost to the storm. This was an urgent situation, as there was no real alternative to the private vehicle in these communities. That surge was good for some solid, but temporary, numbers in car sales.

A major boost has been seen in demand for building materials, appliances, furniture and all the other accoutrements of modern life, and now there will be hiked demand for infrastructure supplies – everything from steel to aluminum and lumber. Much remains to be done to return these areas to some sense of normal.

Chris Kuehl is managing director of Armada Corporate Intelligence. Founded by Keith Prather and Chris Kuehl in January 2001, Armada focuses on the market forces bearing down on organizations. For more information, visit www.armada-intel.com.

Industry Influencer: Sabine Lenz

December 18, 2017

Sabine Lenz, the “Paper Queen,” has long had a fascination with paper and its ability to evoke emotional responses from users. From learning how to make paper to offering her decades of experience in helping others select the best paper and designs to meet their needs, Lenz’ passion for print and paper gives her a unique insight into the future of the print and finishing industries. (www.paperspecs.com)

Known as the “Paper Queen” to her colleagues, as the founder and CEO of PaperSpecs, Palo Alto, California, Sabine Lenz long ago embraced her love of print design and all it entails. A deep infatuation with paper even led her to learn how to make it while living in Australia, an opportunity she describes as “a messy, but very empowering and eye-opening experience.” It is little wonder that Lenz’ love of paper, especially its ability to evoke emotional responses from users, led to PaperSpecs’ mission to demonstrate all the ways in which paper can be transformed in the act of communication. Striving to help creatives select the best paper and designs to meet their communication needs, Lenz – and PaperSpecs – provides expert insights and practical, up-to-date information about paper and printing technologies.

What drew you to the industry as a career?

I became a designer in a roundabout way. I was born and raised in Germany and originally got my degree in hotel management. I organized tradeshows for Marriott Hotels, where I had a chance to work with designers for our invitations, marketing collateral, etc. I ended up acting as art director for a lot of the pieces – I am sure the designers did not appreciate this very much – and soon realized how much I loved to live and breathe design. I made the decision to leave hotel management and began my professional life all over again, this time with a focus on design. Then, as now, it was all about print for me all the way.

How does PaperSpecs contribute to the print industry?

Our mission is to inspire – or, as I like to say, “ignite” – compelling print design, which has the power to move people in delightful and unexpected ways. Yet designers have few options when it comes to learning what they need to know about paper and printing these days. The industry is changing so much and so fast that even seasoned creatives have a hard time staying on top of the options available to them.

That’s why I created PaperSpecs PRO. Our members can order all the latest swatchbooks and promotions from more than 30 mills. They also receive weekly PRO Tips on how to use the latest printing and finishing technologies, as well as text and video primers on just about everything printing and paper related. They can even receive a quarterly VIP box full of hard-to-find print pieces if they opt for VIP membership.

What impact have specialty effects had on print?

From foil stamping to raised ink, these finishing options really have the chance to elevate a printed piece, to enhance the story the designer or brand owner wants to tell. They can add a tactile touch; in this overly digitalized world, people crave a tactile experience. The feel of paper and all the different tactile effects that can be incorporated in print communication have the ability to connect with people on a whole different level. That’s where print has the edge over digital. It may not be as quick or cheap to produce as digital content, but it can elicit more of an emotional response when done right.

What industry trends or changes have you witnessed over the last few years?

As print runs have decreased, digital printing and finishing have stepped in and allowed us to enhance a printed piece even, and especially, on short print runs. That’s very exciting news for designers.

How has PaperSpecs worked to address these trends?

Contrary to popular belief, designers love print, but more often than not they are intimidated. They shy away from it because they are not aware of the options available to them. Our goal at PaperSpecs is to break the options down for them. We work hard to explain the various finishing opportunities available to them in plain English. We touch on these new technologies in our short weekly videos, but we also frequently hold webinars that allow us to go more in depth and answer questions directly. This allows us to connect with designers more deeply and better help them achieve their desired goals for a given piece.

What can the print/finishing industry do to help educate the design community?

The importance of print communication has never been questioned. While it is certainly true that a lot of documents are now shared in digital format, such as pdfs, when it comes to sharing important messages or points, print is undoubtedly still the way to go.

Our goal – and I mean our collective goal as the print and finishing industry – has to be to make print accessible and easy to understand for designers – to bridge the knowledge gap that clearly exists. We might have been talking about digital foil or digital embossing for years, but many would be astonished to see how few designers know about them. And, if they don’t know, it is very unlikely they will use them.

When I spoke at this year’s HOW Design Live conference, out of 600+ designers in my session not one of them had ever heard of “sleeking.” They were speechless to see that digital presses can print on foil substrates. So, we need to go where they are. We need to start speaking their language and not be afraid to start with the basics.

What predictions do you have for the industry in the next five to 10 years?

Now if I only had a crystal ball!

Let’s start with this: Print will not go away. As a matter of fact, print is currently experiencing something of a revival. Big online brands like Facebook, Google and Airbnb are all using print in fun and creative ways to tell their story and enhance their brands – and, believe me, they print a lot.

With more and more print and enhancement options available in small quantities and on a wider variety of substrates, we are in for some very creative times.

How will the design industry and the print/finishing industries continue to influence one another?

We both need one another. If designers do not know what is possible, they cannot design for it. Once they are aware, they are eager to push the envelope. The more open printers and finishers are to this, the more they will thrive and the more, in turn, creatives will create and push.

My advice to printers and finishers is to be open to trying something out of the box. It just might be the showpiece that spreads like wildfire through the design community, wins you awards and ultimately gets you more business. It is a win-win situation.

Installation and Training are Key with Folding/Gluing Equipment

December 18, 2017

Jeff Peterson, editor-in-chief, PostPress

The selection of a quality extrusion glue system is the first step in ensuring quality carton production.

In the purchasing of folding/gluing equipment, especially with more complex folding carton gluers, the training, set-up and installation are very important portions of the purchase decision. Everything from pre-planning, location of the folder-gluer and knowing where air and electrical connections will be made to allowing proper time for operator training will make for a smoother transition.

“New folder-gluers have many advancements that make them more versatile,” stated Jeff Wilcox, PPCTS’ product manager for DGM folder-gluers and Impack case packer design, Waukesha, Wisconsin. “Along with this added versatility comes added complexity, and it takes time to learn the new ways of doing things.”

Importance of training

The amount of training needed on a folder-gluer depends on the experience of the operator(s) and the experience level on the specific machine that is purchased. If the customer is purchasing an additional folder-gluer from the same manufacturer/supplier, training will be much easier and shorter. In any case, experts agree combined installation and operator training should take at least one to two weeks.

“It is important that the operator has a full understanding of the machine,” said Kevin Koplin, managing director at American International Machinery, Oak Creek, Wisconsin. “Trainer-assisted set-ups with a wide range of work/blanks that will be running on the machine is very important.” Koplin further explained that everything should be gone over in detail, from the jogging of the blanks through the machine to the pinch points, belt tension, transfer points, folding options and all other parts needed to complete the task.

Other important training points to include are how to change and adjust the amount of pressure being applied over the lower carriers by the upper carriers, as well as how to assemble tooling and where it is attached on the machine.

“The person training the operator should explain all of the tooling options available and when it may be necessary to use different tooling or alternative methods of setting up the machine,” continued Wilcox. Operators must be trained on different stocks and coatings, compressed air adjustments and, most importantly, how to set up the machine for all the different carton styles that will be running on the folder-gluer.

Besides training for running different types of cartons and jobs on the folder-gluer, it also is very important to go over maintenance procedures for the machine. Such things as how to clean and adjust internal components on the glue pot, how to change and adjust carrier belt tension and tracking, and how to change bearings on the machine are key maintenance items to review.

“An overall maintenance program should be put in place to keep the machine moving and performing at its optimal level,” stated Koplin. It is important to have the ability to complete much of the maintenance of the folder-gluer in-house, saving costs and downtime.

Auxiliary equipment

In today’s production environment, there are many different types of auxiliary equipment available for folder-gluers, including sophisticated glue systems, quality-control barcode and camera systems, and automated and semi-automated case packing and feeding systems at the front and back of the folder-gluer line.

The selection of a quality extrusion glue system is the first step in ensuring that consistent cartons are produced. “The implementation of quality control on the folder-gluer has become very common and usually starts with a system that includes glue scanning and code reading,” stated Chris Raney, president of Baumer hhs, with US headquarters in Dayton, Ohio. “Scanning the glue lines that are laid down by the extrusion guns, or glue wheel, ensures that enough glue is applied every time for a quality bond that meets specification.”

Including code reading with the glue system is the best way to ensure there is no mixing of cartons of identical profile but a different SKU. Whether cartons from the diecutter are separated manually or automatically, scanning the barcode in the gluer will ensure there is no mixing of the finished product. It also is possible to scan the UPC code both for product type and to check readability for future use in the store or elsewhere.

The controller of the extrusion glue system also can be used to drive other devices, such as a timed air blast to fold a specific panel or, for example, to drive a tape head. As customers seek to combine many processes into one to complete the production process, it is possible to lay down either one- or two-sided tape onto a carton to provide a sealing feature. When using a single silicon tape, it will typically be combined with a coating head, driven by the same controller, laying down a wider line of fugitive glue.

It also is possible to tip on different security devices, such as sensomatic or RFID tags for high-value items. To control the application of these, operators can use camera technology to control the position and presence of these devices. “Camera technology can be applied to control quality in a wide variety of ways,” stated Raney. “Cameras can be used to control the position and presence of other items, such as labels, cards, etc., as well as to detect the presence of printing, alignment, etc.”

Any type of quality-control function should be interfaced with some type of ejection system to ensure that the defective carton does not reach the final customer. There are different systems available on the market, from those integrated into the machine itself to add-on devices that can remove a specific carton from the line. The specific type of applications that the folder-gluer will be running will help determine if these types of features are necessary with the initial installation of the folder-gluer.

Today, carton folder-gluers can run well over 100,000 cartons per hour. Although this looks from the outside to be a huge rate of production, if the operation does not have the automatic ability to feed and pack the cartons at high speeds, it may not be feasible to reach this type of output. Thought must be given to the addition of automatic or semiautomatic feeding and case packing systems if the folder-gluer is going to run at these high speeds.

Wilcox pointed out that the customer should be aware that not all case packing systems are the same. “Some carton packers cannot pack certain types of carton styles because the carton batches must be alternated during case packing. Automatic lock-bottom cartons are one style where the carton batches must be alternated because the folded and glued carton will have a thicker bottom end than the top, due to the additional folds on the bottom of the carton,” he said.

Koplin also pointed out that those looking at folder-gluer options should consider a carton aligner to ensure all blanks are straight through the folding/gluing process. Also, consider any type of job-specific attachments (such as a Z-fold attachment) that will help reduce set-up and makeready time on the folder-gluer.

Conclusion

The experts agree that the specifics on installation and training should be included in writing before the final purchase of the folder-gluer is made. Prior to delivery, the purchaser should be sure to confirm if the shipping costs are – or are not – included in the price of the machine. Also, it is recommended to confirm who is responsible for any rigging costs to move the various pieces of the machine off the delivery truck and to the installation area on the plant floor. Finally, it is recommended to ask questions about what needs to be prepared for installation on the plant floor, such as air and the proper electricity set-up.

The bottom line: Be very thorough when purchasing any type of finishing or bindery equipment. Finding the right machine is step one, but step two is making sure everything is in place to receive a quality installation and the proper training on the machine.

References

American International Machinery (Signature Folder Gluers), www.signaturefoldergluers.com

Baumer hhs, www.baumerhhs.com

PPCTS Technologies & Solutions, www.ppcts.com

A Texas-Sized Holiday Card from Seidl’s Bindery

December 18, 2017

By Lara Copeland, assistant editor, PostPress

In the state where “everything is bigger” and the image of the American cowboy reigns, it’s no surprise that a greeting card from a Texas business would be oversized and feature a cowboy Santa. Slate Group, a commercial printer in Lubbock, Texas, wanted to make a big splash with its 2016 Christmas card, and the company called on Seidl’s Bindery, Inc., Houston, Texas, to help reach that goal.

“The customer desired an oversized Christmas card, with large foil stamping and embossing areas,” noted company Vice President Matt Seidl. The card isn’t the typical size, measuring 22×8.5″. Utilizing a Bobst Fuego folder-gluer, the piece was tri-folded to an 8.5×11″ finished size. A heavy 18 pt. uncoated stock (Concrete RAW Cover) from Neenah was used for the card.

It first was printed with a metallic silver ink by Slate Group for the word “from” and a background design that was included on the top and bottom flap of the card. The back side of the card features a printed Santa wearing a cowboy hat that was created in-house by the Slate Group design team. The greeting card then was sent to Seidl for the foil stamping, embossing and final scoring and folding. The foil stamping and embossing were completed on a DGM Majestic foil stamping and embossing press.

The first pass included both flat foil stamping and combination (foil and embossing), utilizing a bright silver #10 from API Americas. The pass encompassed a large foil and embossed “Texas” and the company’s logo at the bottom portion of the upper flap. On the bottom flap, the words “Wishing You A Merry Christmas” and “Holly Jolly” were flat stamped and the word “Christmas” was foil stamped and embossed (combination) in this pass as well. The back of the card with the printed Santa also includes a silver border accomplished in this same pass on press.

The second pass of foil included a border above and below the word “Texas,” as well as gold embellishments over-stamped on top of the metallic silver ornamentations printed on the card. The back of the card features more gold foil that frames the sketch of the long-bearded Santa with his cowboy hat. The gold foil used is a satin metallic #88 from Infinity Foils.

Seidl was presented with the challenge of producing a small quantity of Christmas cards in a short period of time. Wanting to keep costs reasonable, Seidl came up with a plan to fine-tune the layout to allow for less set-up. “The job was set up as a work and turn so that we could purchase one set of foil stamping and embossing dies for each of the two passes,” Seidl continued. “This allowed us to do one set-up and simply turn the sheet, saving both time and money.” Both the copper flat stamp and brass combination dies were provided by Universal Engraving, Inc.

Also facing a time constraint since the design wasn’t finalized until the middle of November, the team wanted to complete the job and get it in the mail in time for the holiday. “The customer’s flexibility to allow us to provide them with the selection of different foils already in our inventory not only saved them the cost of shipping, but also saved us time. We were able to expedite the production,” Seidl added.

The piece was well received by Seidl’s client, as well as the printing industry. It won the Gold for “Most Creative Use of Foil and Embossing – Greeting Card,” in the Foil & Specialty Effects Association’s 24th annual FSEA Gold Leaf Awards competition this year. “Winning a Gold Leaf award, to me, always is a great accomplishment, and it always is good to see what the competition is producing. Even a Bronze award is something to be proud of,” Seidl said.

Equally important, the greeting card impressed Slate Group. “The customer was pleased with our standards of quality,” Seidl relayed. The success of this “Texas Santa” piece has motivated the company to continue working to produce similar jobs. “We have already done a similar invitation with two color foils and the same layout, which we will be submitting for the next Gold Leaf Awards competition in 2018,” he affirmed.