We asked Julie Shaffer, Vice President, Digital Strategies, about the newest resource for digital printing and integrated marketing, the Integrated Print Center. Why did you decide to transform the Digital Printing Council into the new Integrated Print Center (IPC)?  “Digital printing” has become mainstream, and today printers are using “integrated” techniques like QR codes and augmented reality. Our transformation mirrors the industry’s in a way—as our members transition their focus to integrated technologies, we do as well. The new Integrated Print Center is the place to educate our members and the marketing industry on all the ways print is relevant and is a key feature in the marketing community. What types of print professionals can find solutions on this new site? Anyone who wants to take advantage of trends toward integrated marketing can find valuable, curated information on this site. If you are involved in digital and want to do more, this is where you can learn how—and the information is all in one place! There are so many resources available through the IPC. What are some of the top benefits our members can look forward to? The Learning Center, which has white papers, Tech Reports, and more The blog that provides timely industry news Integrated Print Forum information for the latest on the annual meeting that explores all things integrated PRIME and Test Drive Tools offer training and implementation of integrated marketing campaigns  If you could describe the new IPC site in three words, what would they be? Focused Content-rich Relevant Discover more integrated print information and go-to resources to transform your business at the new Integrated Print Center,...

We asked Julie Shaffer, Vice President, Digital Strategies, about the newest resource for digital printing and integrated marketing, the Integrated Print Center. Why did you decide to transform the Digital Printing Council into the new Integrated Print Center (IPC)?  “Digital printing” has become mainstream, and today printers are using “integrated” techniques like QR codes and augmented reality. Our transformation mirrors the industry’s in a way—as our members transition their focus to integrated technologies, we do as well. The new Integrated Print Center is the place to educate our members and the marketing industry on all the ways print is relevant and is a key feature in the marketing community. What types of print professionals can find solutions on this new site? Anyone who wants to take advantage of trends toward integrated marketing can find valuable, curated information on this site. If you are involved in digital and want to do more, this is where you can learn how—and the information is all in one place! There are so many resources available through the IPC. What are some of the top benefits our members can look forward to? The Learning Center, which has white papers, Tech Reports, and more The blog that provides timely industry news Integrated Print Forum information for the latest on the annual meeting that explores all things integrated PRIME and Test Drive Tools offer training and implementation of integrated marketing campaigns  If you could describe the new IPC site in three words, what would they be? Focused Content-rich Relevant Discover more integrated print information and go-to resources to transform your business at the new Integrated Print Center,...

How do you measure an event’s success? If the answer is by growing audiences and high attendee satisfaction, then the recent Continuous Improvement (CI), Binding Industries Association (BIA), and Printing Industry Financial Executives (PIFE) Conferences, co-located in Indianapolis, were a phenomenal success! Thanks to the diligent work of many people at Printing Industries of America, and our partners for CI, the Flexographic Technical Association (FTA) and Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA), and our Affiliates, these events saw record numbers of attendees in April 2013. CI attendance, which has been growing over the past decade, increased again. BIA experienced an even larger increase, and director, Justin Goldstein, remarked that, “one of our biggest goals for the 2013 BIA Conference was to attract a wider variety of attendees so that they could be immersed in not only industry-group-focused BIA sessions, but also well-suited CI sessions.” Exceptional content for ultimate learning “Continuous Improvement requires a unique mindset. It can’t be looked at as just a task or project, but more a way of life.” — 2013 CI Attendee, Russ Palm, Continuous Improvement Manager, IWCO Direct Any great educational event needs relevant, superior content to keep attendees coming back. These conferences were no exception with knowledgeable presenters, valuable networking sessions, and exceptional plant tours. With a combined attendance of more than 450, attendees reported that they were impressed with the CI keynote speakers. Here is a sampling of what they learned: Alan Robinson, author of Ideas Are Free, explained how to put in place an idea system that will generate multiple implemented improvement ideas from each employee each year.  He challenged attendees to have at least 12 implemented improvement ideas per employee before the 2014 CI Conference in Dallas. Mike Wroblewski, director of Kaizen Institute USA, reviewed exactly what front-line supervisors should be doing every day—hour by hour—in order to sustain an improvement culture. Jim Lancaster, CEO of Lantech, a manufacturer known for its use of Lean Manufacturing concepts, spoke about how he changed his leadership attitude, behavior, and activities in order to support the improvement efforts of employees.    Dan Marx, SGIA’s Vice President-Markets & Technologies, also learned that, “innovation and efficiency go hand-in-hand.” As he stated in a recent article in What They Think, printers “need to invest in innovation as a planned part of their business approach and to benefit from the strong benefits that innovation can bring.” Enhancements Many BIA and CI attendees took the opportunity to participate in local plant tours and networking sessions for experiential learning. The BIA conference was highlighted by tours of Great Lakes Graphics Association members D.E. Baugh’s and Eckhart & Co.’s state-of-the-art facilities. As Goldstein reports, BIA plant tours, along with peer and supplier...

How do you measure an event’s success? If the answer is by growing audiences and high attendee satisfaction, then the recent Continuous Improvement (CI), Binding Industries Association (BIA), and Printing Industry Financial Executives (PIFE) Conferences, co-located in Indianapolis, were a phenomenal success! Thanks to the diligent work of many people at Printing Industries of America, and our partners for CI, the Flexographic Technical Association (FTA) and Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA), and our Affiliates, these events saw record numbers of attendees in April 2013. CI attendance, which has been growing over the past decade, increased again. BIA experienced an even larger increase, and director, Justin Goldstein, remarked that, “one of our biggest goals for the 2013 BIA Conference was to attract a wider variety of attendees so that they could be immersed in not only industry-group-focused BIA sessions, but also well-suited CI sessions.” Exceptional content for ultimate learning “Continuous Improvement requires a unique mindset. It can’t be looked at as just a task or project, but more a way of life.” — 2013 CI Attendee, Russ Palm, Continuous Improvement Manager, IWCO Direct Any great educational event needs relevant, superior content to keep attendees coming back. These conferences were no exception with knowledgeable presenters, valuable networking sessions, and exceptional plant tours. With a combined attendance of more than 450, attendees reported that they were impressed with the CI keynote speakers. Here is a sampling of what they learned: Alan Robinson, author of Ideas Are Free, explained how to put in place an idea system that will generate multiple implemented improvement ideas from each employee each year.  He challenged attendees to have at least 12 implemented improvement ideas per employee before the 2014 CI Conference in Dallas. Mike Wroblewski, director of Kaizen Institute USA, reviewed exactly what front-line supervisors should be doing every day—hour by hour—in order to sustain an improvement culture. Jim Lancaster, CEO of Lantech, a manufacturer known for its use of Lean Manufacturing concepts, spoke about how he changed his leadership attitude, behavior, and activities in order to support the improvement efforts of employees.    Dan Marx, SGIA’s Vice President-Markets & Technologies, also learned that, “innovation and efficiency go hand-in-hand.” As he stated in a recent article in What They Think, printers “need to invest in innovation as a planned part of their business approach and to benefit from the strong benefits that innovation can bring.” Enhancements Many BIA and CI attendees took the opportunity to participate in local plant tours and networking sessions for experiential learning. The BIA conference was highlighted by tours of Great Lakes Graphics Association members D.E. Baugh’s and Eckhart & Co.’s state-of-the-art facilities. As Goldstein reports, BIA plant tours, along with peer and supplier...

We look at print differently today. Each piece produced is valuable, and attention to detail is critical. You can say that it transcends the physical product and becomes a greater symbol of what our industry is capable of achieving.   This makes the Premier Print Awards  competition even more pertinent. It celebrates outstanding achievements and recognizes companies’ work on a world stage. The chances that it offers companies, both large and small, from every corner of the earth, to showcase their finest printed pieces have become the annual target for many businesses. If you are like many printing companies, you have produced some award-worthy printed pieces. How can your company gain recognition? We spoke with two previous winning companies, Offset Alpine Printing and Bolger Vision Beyond Print, about how they found success. Show Your Customers the Value of Your Work Showcase the value of print like Dik Bolger, Chief Executive Officer, Bolger Vision Beyond Print, who says they, “continually speak out on the ‘Value of Print’ in today’s market, and the Benny certainly recognizes that value to our clients.” Bolger, located in the Midwest with 200 employees, earned two Best of Category awards in 2012. Your clients, as well as your peers, recognize the significance of a Premier Print Award. Entering the competition tells them that the work you produce has greater meaning beyond its intended use. Garth Hackett, General Manager, Sales, Offset Alpine Printing, states that they produced their winning piece to, “demonstrate that print as a medium is still relevant in an increasingly online world.” Showing outstanding printed pieces in this competition signifies that, “through the use of creative ideas, print can create a tactile and effective product of real and tangible value.” Recognize Your Team for Their Great Efforts They say that it takes a village—well, that stands true for print production, too. These companies instill pride in your dedicated staff members by gaining recognition for their combined efforts. “We are very proud of this outstanding achievement,” says Mr. Hackett, who’s team won multiple awards. “We feel it’s a reward for the hard work and commitment shown by our dedicated and talented team of staff and suppliers.” Mr. Hackett’s team, based in Australia, won three Best of Category awards in 2011. Additionally that year, the company of 350 won top honours for Best of Show, the highest award in the competition. Showcase Your Commitment in Each and Every Product Take a closer look at all of the work you have produced. “A large segment of the work we produce at Bolger involves exceptional quality,” Mr. Bolger states, “and winning a Benny demonstrates to our customers and prospects the commitment we have made in providing the very...