This article was contributed by Larry Kroll, Vice President, Development, PGSF, whose ongoing commitment to expanding the printing industry by cultivating the next generations of printers and graphic artists through the PGSF has resulted in an incredibly successful foundation for the past 56 years. Graphic arts students pose with Ben before a pressroom tour of Printing Industries of America headquarters in Sewickley, PA. Twenty-eight years ago, long before our current Print and Graphic Scholarship Foundation (PGSF) scholarship applicants were even born, one of this country’s leading scientists, Dr. Egon Spengler, stated for the record that “Print is dead.” Here is the video clip you may remember from 1984 declaring, “Print is dead.” For almost three decades the “experts” have been declaring that the printing industry was either dead or dying. However, I don’t believe that there is any knowledgeable person out there today who would not say that the printing industry is still alive, however, gravely injured. The printing and graphic arts industry has endured major damage and critical injury. It is a victim of huge advances in productivity through the use of highly automated equipment, a revolution in competing technologies, and media coupled with the pressures to deliver a finished product “better, faster, and cheaper.” Even though severely wounded, the printing and graphics arts industry will survive. It will survive for the very reasons that it has prospered and grown over the past 562 years when Johannes Gutenberg started up his first printing press in 1450. Since the invention of the Gutenberg press and movable type, the printing industry has faced many life-threatening challenges. I am sure that at each of these crossroads, there were those who declared that “Print is dead.” Just in the last 60 years the industry has moved from hand-set type and letterpress and then from letterpress to lithography to electronic publishing and, of course, to digital printing. And with the introduction of each new advancement came the cry that “Print was dead.” It wasn’t dead…it was evolving…improving and progressing to the next level of accomplishment. What does all this talk of death, injury, and printing history have to do with the Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation (PGSF) and our young graphic arts scholars? In my opinion, everything. I believe that the print and graphics industry will once again rebound from adversity. I believe that once again it will find a way to redefine itself and to prosper. Not at the exceedingly high levels and accelerated rate that we experienced just five and ten years ago, but at a more conservative sustainable level—a level that makes sense for stability and long-term growth. Research Shows Americans Still Prefer Print and Paper – WhatTheyThink. One of the primary...

Printing is not just a business for many print professionals. It is a passion. People have made printing an integral part of their lives, and we want to highlight some of these individuals as part of our 125th Anniversary here at Printing Industries of America. Watch as Brad performs quality control ink testing. Few people are more passionate than Brad Evans, Senior Research Technician/Lab Coordinator at Printing Industries of America, who has spent three decades performing various testing to make better, higher-quality materials for print production. One of the ways his department serves the printing industry and our members is by analyzing issues such as ink tack for quality control.  He is truly devoted to his trade and to assisting printing companies. Here, he shares with us some highlights of his career: Tell us about our testing facilities here at Printing Industries of America. We are able to do all of the Napiri and Tappi test methods to test ink and paper qualities here at Printing Industries of America. One of the services you provide is to perform ink and paper tests to help printing companies with various issues. How many companies do you regularly assist and how have they benefitted? We have two to three dozen companies that regularly use our testing services. Most companies call on us for quality control testing for raw materials such as ink and paper. Other companies order testing for conflict resolution. In one case, a company had a conflict with basis weight (or the weight of paper). If there is a variance in the basis weight, it causes a difference in mailing costs. We are currently testing their unprinted paper to resolve this issue. How long have you been performing this kind of research? For 30 years I have been performing research here; first as GATF, then as Printing Industries of America. What were some of your most interesting case studies over the years? I had a case performing research on packaging for a soap company. The company had been printing with reflex blue ink. After a couple weeks on the shelves, the reflex blue ink on the wrappers would turn pink. As a result, this company now packages their product in polyboard wrap. We discovered that the lye in the soap was reacting with the reflex blue ink. The resulting change to pink occurred because reflux blue is sensitive to the alkalinity of the lye. It seems like you have helped quite a few companies over the years. What is your favorite part about your job here at Printing Industries of America? There is always something new to discover. Every day is different. After 30 years you never know what is...

Join us for the Automation Solutions Network meeting hosted by the Japs-Olson Company on September 18-19, 2012, in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. You will have the opportunity to hear from Japs-Olson representatives, along with other industry leaders, about how to increase your profitability through automation. Specializing in direct mail and commercial printing, Japs-Olson Company is continually recognized as a leader in the printing industry. Tour this state-of-the-art plant and learn about the history that has helped shape this 512,000 square foot facility. Hear senior management expound upon the benefits of using automation as one strategy to maintain a leading competitive position. Learn how to continuously improve workflow while reducing touch points and improving your business model. Open Discussion SessionsNetwork with print leaders and peers as they discuss best practices to apply to your business. We invited the major suppliers to speak about Japs-Olson’s workflow solutions and integration techniques. Uncover the automation challenges and solutions to integrating inkjet and offset printing processes.  The Automation Solutions Network has established itself as the premiere event to exchange ideas and solutions for automated workflows. It focuses on the development and practical implementation of workflow automation and cross-vendor integration implementations. The group welcomes a wide range of users employing automated technology as well as suppliers of those systems. The steering committee of the Automation Solutions Network is made up entirely of printers who have either implemented systems or are in the process of doing so. If you have question about improving your workflow or for more information about the meeting, visit the Japs-Olson meeting page or contact Automation at 800-910-4283 or automation@printing.org. You don’t want to miss this chance to tour the integrated Japs-Olson facility and learn how to increase profitability through workflow automation.   We want to know: When you are looking at new software and equipment, what is the number one factor that goes in to your decision-making process? ROI calculations and strategy Stand alone performance of the software or equipment Integrating the software or equipment into your existing processes  Tell us, and Printing Industries of America can provide the solutions needed to achieve automation. See our links for more information: The Automation Solutions Network Japs-Olson Company meeting page Automated Solutions Network LinkedIn Page Become a Member of the Automated Solutions...

Print is all around us: it’s in the books and magazines we read, on the packages on our shelves, on the fabric of our clothing. Some of the most visually stunning printing have even won Premier Print Awards. Print is alive, and it is to this idea that we dedicate our new social site. If you have not joined Printing Industries of America on Pinterest yet, we would love to share with you our “Gallery of Print.” We are showcasing everything that is important to us—and important to you. What Is Pinterest? Some of you may be asking, “What is Pinterest?” It is, basically, a “virtual board” that lets you organize and share interesting photos that you find online. Voted one of TIME Magazine’s “50 Best Websites of 2011,” the new social media craze allows you to socialize with other pinners because you can browse their boards and “re-pin,”” like,” or “comment” on their photos.  Just visit Pinterest.com to start an account, start building your boards, and following others. Is It Time for You to Get Involved? We asked our resident expert, Julie Shaffer, Vice President, Digital Technologies at Printing Industries of America and head of the Digital Printing Council, which will also host the 2012 Integrated Print Forum this October, for some tips on how to utilize Pinterest to fit into your marketing mix by highlighting your printing products and services: “You might think that Pinterest has more value for individuals than businesses. After all, while stats show that Pinterest is growing rapidly. With over 21 million unique visits, it is heavily skewed toward females (over 80% of users) interested in crafts, hobbies, interior design, and fashion. Why, then, would a printing company want to have a presence there? Because,  unlike most other widely-used social media platforms, Pinterest provides a way to present a highly organized grouping of visual elements—so a company can show off specific products around a vertical market (like the ones already there, including retail and hobbies), a product type (calendars, stickers, books), or a holiday, event, or specific topic. Pinterest has become a top driver to many well-known websites, including those for Martha Stewart, Cooking Light, and Country Living. Note that all of those aforementioned brands have a magazine, too, so odds are it’s a potential print driver for them as well! Interactive marketing solution provider Strongmail considers Pinterest an effective channel that can be integrated into existing direct mail marketing initiatives. (The company recently announced the integration of Pinterest sharing with its word-of-mouth customer acquisition product Strongmail Influencer.)  Pinterest offers a business library on the site that provides case studies, statistics, vertical markets, tutorials, and many other valuable materials to help businesses leverage...

Once again, Printing Industries of America is featuring another great title from Printing Industries Press as our Book of the Month for April/May 2012. Direct Mail Pal 2012: A Direct Mail Production Handbook covers all of the changes in postal rules, rates, options, and practices in order to help you navigate through a changing environment and effectively plan and operate while maximizing your profitability. If you are a direct mail production professional or printer expanding into direct mail, novice or experienced, this handbook is for you. Direct mail personalization, according to recent data, rose 46 percent from 2010 to 2011. With the proper knowledge and planning this book provides,  you can take advantage of this growing trend. This publication is highly recommended by our staff here at Printing Industries of America for its current information and comprehensive scope. Amy Woodall, director of Technical Information, Printing Industries Press, shared some insights about Direct Mail Pal 2012. Ms. Woodall served as editor and project manager on this publication and worked closely with the book’s authors, T.  J. Tedesco and Charley Howard. Here, she shares her insights with us about the Book of the Month: Why did you choose Direct Mail Pal 2012 as the Book of the Month for April/May 2012? This is one of our newest titles from Printing Industries Press and a long-time best seller. The first edition was released ten years ago and has been on the top ten list of our publications since its release. An updated version was long overdue. This book was chosen as the book of the month because I wanted to be sure people knew about the wealth of information about direct mail available in this update. The authors mentioned in your interview with them that this book helps printers with new rates and regulations set by the USPS. In what ways does the book address these new concerns? The actual rate charts are included and broken down by per piece rates, per pound rates, automation, compatibility, and more. The USPS’s new rules and specs can be difficult to navigate, and the book is an easy reference tool. It also goes into a lot of detail about why changes went into effect and what you as a mailing professional can do to take advantage of them—and what to expect in the future. What are some other important topics explored in the book? A lot of attention is given to design and data concerns and other issues you should think about before preparing a mailing. There is also a new barcode called the Intelligent Mail barcode that encodes automation, tracking, and other mailstream information about the piece, such as routing codes, serial numbers, and...

The following information is contributed by Rick Hartwig and the Environmental, Health, and Safety Affairs Department of Printing Industries of America. Get ready for changes to your Hazard Communication program! After years of effort, theOccupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) revised its Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) to align with the United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). The revision was made to provide for consistency and to allow employees to better understand hazards, which will result in improved compliance, easier program management, and fewer injuries and illnesses.   The changes outlined under the new standard will be phased in over time and will be fully in effect by June 1, 2016. This rule includes three major changes to the current standards: Hazard classification. The definitions of “hazard” have been changed to provide specific criteria for classifications of health and physical hazards, as well as the classification of mixtures. The chemical manufacturer and importer are still responsible for hazard classification. Labels for chemical containers. Chemical manufacturers and importers will be required to provide a label that includes a signal word, pictogram, and hazard statement for each hazard class and category. Precautionary statements must also be provided. Safety data sheets. These documents will eventually replace the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) and will now have a uniform and specified 16-section format. The compliance requirements for the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) will essentially be the same as was required in the current standard. As a result of the changes to labeling and SDS’s, OSHA will require modified employee training to be provided. The revised rule requires that all applicable workers be trained on the new label elements and SDS format by December 1, 2013 in order to be prepared once the new information is released into the market. Also, in the event any new physical or health hazards are identified, additional employee training on the new information must be completed by June 1, 2016. This modified training is in addition to the current standard’s training requirements. The printing industry will primarily be affected by the labeling and Safety Data Sheet changes to the Hazard Communication Standard, as well as the training requirements that accompany these changes. OSHA will require employers who use an in-plant labeling system to update their labeling program, so companies should begin evaluating the labeling system used for in-plant containers during the transition period. Although the changes do not directly affect the written program requirements of Hazard Communication Standard, OSHA will require employers to update, as necessary, any portion of their programs that would reflect changes such as terminology, definitions, training, or any change in policies as a result of the new revision. To...