Agfa and i-Sub to host open days
For two days on 9 and 10 October wide-format printers are being invited to Agfa’s Leeds showroom for a series of live demonstrations and talks on how to use the Anapurna M2050 to increase and diversify their offer. The 2m UV-curable inkjet device has eight 12 picolitre heads, a top speed of 53m/hr and is capable of 720×1,440dpi on uncoated rigid media. It offers six colours and white ink, which i-Sub digital director Andy Spreag says will open new doors for wide-format business owners. “We really think the M2050 is the best in its class and genuinely affordable for businesses planning to spread their wings,” he said. “This is a great opportunity to see the device in action, as well as to pick the brains of the experts.” Visitors to the open days are invited to bring their own files for printing and will also see cutting and finishing demonstrations on a Zund cutting table. The days are split into morning and afternoon sessions with lunch and refreshments provided. Places are limited. For more information contact www.i-subopenday.com. i-sub Digital is also planning similar events showcasing Mimaki and Zund equipment, although further details are not yet available....
read moreNew CEO at Paperlinx
Executive director Andrew Price has replaced Dave Allen as chief executive and also becomes managing director of the group. Allen will remain with the business for a handover period until the end of the year. The move marks an astonishing trajectory for Price, who began mobilising a group of shareholders in the group in 2010/2011. He subsequently became executive director of the business a year ago and has since masterminded a major restructure at the paper merchant. “A lot of the heavy lifting has now been executed and we’re now in the implementation phase,” Price told PrintWeek. “Dave leaves with our absolute best wishes, he has been an utter professional and has worked very hard to get the business where it is now.” Losses at the group were slashed from A$266.7m (£156m) to A$90.2m in the year to June 2013, on sales down nearly 15% to A$2.8bn. Price said his focus now would be to implement plans that would return the business to profitability in its current financial year. “We’ll be rolling out some new initiatives in the UK in the next 30-60 days,” he stated. “I’m hoping our customers can see we’ve woken up and Paperlinx is back – we’ve got our mojo back! Our staff are also seeing the difference and we’ve got some really motivated and fired up people out there.” Price also said he hoped to make an announcement regarding Paperlinx’s hybrid shareholders in the next few weeks. Paperlinx is obliged to buy back the hybrids if it wishes to alter the company’s capital structure. Graham Critchley, who is the convenor of a group of Paperlinx hybrid shareholders, said: “It just could be the case that Andrew is sufficiently left of field to make the sort of changes that will really return profits.” Allen will receive a termination payment of 12 months’ pay, while Price’s new remuneration package will involve a base salary of A$751,000 plus an incentive plan....
read moreAgfa and i-Sub to host open days
For two days on 9 and 10 October wide-format printers are being invited to Agfa’s Leeds showroom for a series of live demonstrations and talks on how to use the Anapurna M2050 to increase and diversify their offer. The 2m UV-curable inkjet device has eight 12 picolitre heads, a top speed of 53m/hr and is capable of 720×1,440dpi on uncoated rigid media. It offers six colours and white ink, which i-Sub digital director Andy Spreag says will open new doors for wide-format business owners. “We really think the M2050 is the best in its class and genuinely affordable for businesses planning to spread their wings,” he said. “This is a great opportunity to see the device in action, as well as to pick the brains of the experts.” Visitors to the open days are invited to bring their own files for printing and will also see cutting and finishing demonstrations on a Zund cutting table. The days are split into morning and afternoon sessions with lunch and refreshments provided. Places are limited. For more information contact www.i-subopenday.com. i-sub Digital is also planning similar events showcasing Mimaki and Zund equipment, although further details are not yet available....
read moreNew CEO at Paperlinx
Executive director Andrew Price has replaced Dave Allen as chief executive and also becomes managing director of the group. Allen will remain with the business for a handover period until the end of the year. The move marks an astonishing trajectory for Price, who began mobilising a group of shareholders in the group in 2010/2011. He subsequently became executive director of the business a year ago and has since masterminded a major restructure at the paper merchant. “A lot of the heavy lifting has now been executed and we’re now in the implementation phase,” Price told PrintWeek. “Dave leaves with our absolute best wishes, he has been an utter professional and has worked very hard to get the business where it is now.” Losses at the group were slashed from A$266.7m (£156m) to A$90.2m in the year to June 2013, on sales down nearly 15% to A$2.8bn. Price said his focus now would be to implement plans that would return the business to profitability in its current financial year. “We’ll be rolling out some new initiatives in the UK in the next 30-60 days,” he stated. “I’m hoping our customers can see we’ve woken up and Paperlinx is back – we’ve got our mojo back! Our staff are also seeing the difference and we’ve got some really motivated and fired up people out there.” Price also said he hoped to make an announcement regarding Paperlinx’s hybrid shareholders in the next few weeks. Paperlinx is obliged to buy back the hybrids if it wishes to alter the company’s capital structure. Graham Critchley, who is the convenor of a group of Paperlinx hybrid shareholders, said: “It just could be the case that Andrew is sufficiently left of field to make the sort of changes that will really return profits.” Allen will receive a termination payment of 12 months’ pay, while Price’s new remuneration package will involve a base salary of A$751,000 plus an incentive plan....
read moreOffset vs. Digital Printing: Making Your Decision and Optimizing Output
You’re looking for more ways to optimize your workflow to stay competitive and turn a profit. As technology expands, however, so do your choices in printing methods. When deciding on a printing method, offset printing and digital printing offer plenty of their own advantages and disadvantages. Offset printing success depends largely on the optimized speed and efficiency of both your machinery and operators to achieve ISO 12647-2 and G7® qualifications. While digital allows for shorter variable runs, it does not always reproduce the high image quality associated with offset. So how do you choose a method? To help kick start your decision, here is a quick look at the advantages in offset vs. digital printing: Offset High image quality Lower cost-per-unit as quantities increase Wider range of substrates and finishes More accurate color match for Pantone® inks (Need a tip? Take a look at these “5 Best Bets for Your Offset Press: If You Can’t Measure It, You Can’t Control It!”) Digital Customization Quicker turnaround and delivery time Four-color process printing Accurate color proofing No matter the type of printing you use, to stay competitive your work must be virtually flawless—your press crew and equipment all have to run like a well-oiled machine! Therefore, we want to offer a solution. There’s a valuable training program coming this fall designed to help you optimize your offset printing. Take advantage of Extreme Offset: Troubleshoot, Control, Optimize, November 5–7, 2013, part of Printing Industries of America’s reputable training programs.In this popular hands-on workshop, you get to see how to meet ISO 12647-2 and G7® print quality in a live pressroom setting. Learn how to troubleshoot problems, control print components, and optimize your press performance for consistent quality and less waste. Led by experienced industry veterans, Lloyd DeJidas, Director, Graphic Services and Facility Manager, and Greg Workman, Pressroom and Bindery Supervisor and consultant for the Center for Technology and Research, you will get the tools and techniques you need to slash makeready time and accelerate press performance. Registration is open for Extreme Offset: Troubleshoot, Control, Optimize, November 5–7, 2013, at Printing Industries of America headquarters, Pittsburgh, PA. For information on offset printing and more, including cost calculators, technology articles, and white papers, visit the Free from Center for Technology and...
read moreOffset vs. Digital Printing: Making Your Decision and Optimizing Output
You’re looking for more ways to optimize your workflow to stay competitive and turn a profit. As technology expands, however, so do your choices in printing methods. When deciding on a printing method, offset printing and digital printing offer plenty of their own advantages and disadvantages. Offset printing success depends largely on the optimized speed and efficiency of both your machinery and operators to achieve ISO 12647-2 and G7® qualifications. While digital allows for shorter variable runs, it does not always reproduce the high image quality associated with offset. So how do you choose a method? To help kick start your decision, here is a quick look at the advantages in offset vs. digital printing: Offset High image quality Lower cost-per-unit as quantities increase Wider range of substrates and finishes More accurate color match for Pantone® inks (Need a tip? Take a look at these “5 Best Bets for Your Offset Press: If You Can’t Measure It, You Can’t Control It!”) Digital Customization Quicker turnaround and delivery time Four-color process printing Accurate color proofing No matter the type of printing you use, to stay competitive your work must be virtually flawless—your press crew and equipment all have to run like a well-oiled machine! Therefore, we want to offer a solution. There’s a valuable training program coming this fall designed to help you optimize your offset printing. Take advantage of Extreme Offset: Troubleshoot, Control, Optimize, November 5–7, 2013, part of Printing Industries of America’s reputable training programs.In this popular hands-on workshop, you get to see how to meet ISO 12647-2 and G7® print quality in a live pressroom setting. Learn how to troubleshoot problems, control print components, and optimize your press performance for consistent quality and less waste. Led by experienced industry veterans, Lloyd DeJidas, Director, Graphic Services and Facility Manager, and Greg Workman, Pressroom and Bindery Supervisor and consultant for the Center for Technology and Research, you will get the tools and techniques you need to slash makeready time and accelerate press performance. Registration is open for Extreme Offset: Troubleshoot, Control, Optimize, November 5–7, 2013, at Printing Industries of America headquarters, Pittsburgh, PA. For information on offset printing and more, including cost calculators, technology articles, and white papers, visit the Free from Center for Technology and...
read morePureprint acquires Abstract for undisclosed sum
Abstract, registered under holding company Colne VCS, only became part of Annodata in January 2012 when it merged with Annodata’s print division and handed over a 50% stake in the business. “Abstract simply ran out of cash,” said Pureprint chief executive Mark Handford. “They had been trying to market it for several months but it went down in the end. We were one of seven looking to buy it. In the end two of us bid and fortunately we won.” The £6m-turnover Bedfordshire-based POS and packaging printer was put into administration with Wilkins Kennedy on 2 September and sold to Pureprint on the same day. All 49 jobs have been retained with former managing director Alan Harbison becoming general manager of Abstract’s 2,787sqm facility in Houghton Regis. Commenting on the deal, partner at Wilkins Kennedy Stephen Grant, said: “As is not unusual with printing companies the order book can be erratic. And in a business with high capital investment costs, and in the short term a fixed staff base, a decline in orders and therefore sales can have a significant negative effect on a business. “The directors of the company sought insolvency advice, and, having reviewed the options, they believed that an administration sale would give the best return to creditors.” He added: “The transition to Pureprint has been seamless, that is the beauty of a pre-pack in that it keeps work going and people in jobs.” Following the acquisition the business will continue as a separate trading company under the name Abstract – a Pureprint Company. Handford said that ultimately the company would be rebranded after an initial period of bedding in. He added: “Usually after something like this people expect cutbacks but we want to grow this side of the business straight away. We will be investing in large format digital kit very quickly. We’re in negotiations with three parties with announcements due in around two weeks. “ New finishing equipment would also be installed to cope with the added output, he added. The acquisition forms part of a growth strategy for Pureprint and Handford said Abstract was a perfect match. “We were looking for another Speedmaster XL105 anyway which they have, we have the same MIS and workflow and we both use Indigo presses. Also we have opened a CAD department around creative packaging and Abstract has the same, so we hope we can develop that because the growth in this area is enormous. “It really fits with our strategy of growing into the creative packaging and POS world,” Handford said. Completion of the deal last week has brought the Pureprint Group’s projected turnover for 2013/2014 to £36m with a workforce of 275, and Handford said more acquisitions were on the cards. “We are looking to buy more by the end of the year. We desperately need a digital plant in London. We have come close to it a couple of times recently but for one reason or another deals have fallen flat. It’s definitely on our radar.”...
read morePureprint acquires Abstract for undisclosed sum
Abstract, registered under holding company Colne VCS, only became part of Annodata in January 2012 when it merged with Annodata’s print division and handed over a 50% stake in the business. “Abstract simply ran out of cash,” said Pureprint chief executive Mark Handford. “They had been trying to market it for several months but it went down in the end. We were one of seven looking to buy it. In the end two of us bid and fortunately we won.” The £6m-turnover Bedfordshire-based POS and packaging printer was put into administration with Wilkins Kennedy on 2 September and sold to Pureprint on the same day. All 49 jobs have been retained with former managing director Alan Harbison becoming general manager of Abstract’s 2,787sqm facility in Houghton Regis. Commenting on the deal, partner at Wilkins Kennedy Stephen Grant, said: “As is not unusual with printing companies the order book can be erratic. And in a business with high capital investment costs, and in the short term a fixed staff base, a decline in orders and therefore sales can have a significant negative effect on a business. “The directors of the company sought insolvency advice, and, having reviewed the options, they believed that an administration sale would give the best return to creditors.” He added: “The transition to Pureprint has been seamless, that is the beauty of a pre-pack in that it keeps work going and people in jobs.” Following the acquisition the business will continue as a separate trading company under the name Abstract – a Pureprint Company. Handford said that ultimately the company would be rebranded after an initial period of bedding in. He added: “Usually after something like this people expect cutbacks but we want to grow this side of the business straight away. We will be investing in large format digital kit very quickly. We’re in negotiations with three parties with announcements due in around two weeks. “ New finishing equipment would also be installed to cope with the added output, he added. The acquisition forms part of a growth strategy for Pureprint and Handford said Abstract was a perfect match. “We were looking for another Speedmaster XL105 anyway which they have, we have the same MIS and workflow and we both use Indigo presses. Also we have opened a CAD department around creative packaging and Abstract has the same, so we hope we can develop that because the growth in this area is enormous. “It really fits with our strategy of growing into the creative packaging and POS world,” Handford said. Completion of the deal last week has brought the Pureprint Group’s projected turnover for 2013/2014 to £36m with a workforce of 275, and Handford said more acquisitions were on the cards. “We are looking to buy more by the end of the year. We desperately need a digital plant in London. We have come close to it a couple of times recently but for one reason or another deals have fallen flat. It’s definitely on our radar.”...
read morePODi European AppForum not for the faint-hearted
The PODi European AppForum is due to take place in London on 24 and 25 September. PODi Europe director Tony Hodgson said: “PODi has strong educational objectives and seminars will focus on areas such as cross media and print-on-demand. This event is quite advanced and not for the faint-hearted.” He added: “Despite economic problems the market is encouraging for print, some of it due to the ‘mantelpiece effect’. “If you receive direct mail it doesn’t go in the bin immediately, but on to the mantelpiece where it is eventually opened – more than can be said for much email marketing. Print hangs around whereas digital tends to be much more ephemeral. “Print has qualities that perhaps marketers underestimate and consumers quite like.” One of the presentations at next week’s event will include a case study from specialist peronalised greetings cards producer Transarnia, which printed 650,000 personalised postcards at last year’s London Olympics. Using a mobile app, visitors took photos, added a message and ordered a printed version to be sent. Another event highlight will be a keynote presentation from David Cole, author of From Letterbox to Inbox, the DMA’s first attitudinal print tracking report, which surveyed 1,232 UK adults. Cole will explain the findings and their impact. The theme of PODi’s annual European AppForum this year is about creating customer value. The two-day conference will focus on the latest applications of digital printing and advanced data analytics in multi-channel marketing. It will bring together digital printers, marketing services providers, marketing and data professionals to explore how online media, personalised content, big data and digital print interact to create new value streams for businesses and consumers. PODi has also announced that HP will be a “gold sponsor” and conference contributor. Hodgson said the company “shares a commitment to the educational objectives of PODi”. HP UK and Ireland marketing manager Julia Cole said her company has a strong affiliation with the organisation. “The PODi European AppForum provides a platform for digital printers and marketing professionals to explore the benefits of using a mix of digitally printed marketing materials and online communications to achieve effective, creative and highly-targeted multi-media campaigns.” PODi is billed as the world’s leading independent organisation for digital printing. Its goals are to grow the market for digital print, help members expand their businesses and build a community of professionals who value sharing ideas and experience. PODi has championed the use of personalisation, cross-media and web to print and built the world’s largest collection of case studies of successful and innovative applications of digital printing. The European AppForum is produced by Individua, the PODi Affiliate for Europe. For more information click here...
read moreDomino readies white ink facility on digital label press
The UK-headquartered manufacturer of coding and printing equipment has also revamped other elements of the press. The latest N610i version will have its global launch at the show. It will be available with up to six colours, plus white. “We are using two printheads for the white, to create high levels of opacity,” explained Domino director of digital printing Philip Easton. “That doesn’t mean we will use more ink, though, because it’s a smaller drop size. And those smaller drops give better definition. “We recognised we would need white ink for this market when we first launched it, but we wanted to solve it with a higher-resolution head,” Easton added. Domino uses 600dpi Kyocera heads in the press, which also has new unwind and rewind units and a fresh look. “It looks spaceshippy!” said Easton. Pricing will be “consistent with the existing model”. In its interim management statement (IMS) issued today (17 September), Domino said sales in the ten months to the end of August were up 7% year-on-year, with latest acquisitions Graph-Tech and PostJet accounting for 2% of the increase. The firm was upbeat about trading in the USA and in parts of Asia including China. However, it said trading conditions in India had “worsened” and the weak Indian rupee could impact future results. India currently accounts for 6% of Domino’s global sales. Market conditions in Europe remained difficult Chairman Peter Byrom gave a cautious outlook statement: “There is little evidence that more positive economic news reported recently is yet having an impact on the confidence of our customers or their investment plans.” Domino said there had been no significant developments at TEN Media, the US egg-coding venture that resulted in a significant write-down in Domino’s interim results....
read more