Realizing the Elusive ‘Book-of-One’ Production Model
By Don Piontek Publisher’s of all stripes are after the same goal: an inventory-less workflow in which unique books can be seamlessly printed and bound, one after the other. The capability to do the printing part of that equation is here already. Assuming…
read moreQuarterly Market Survery: Digital Stats
The 2012 Third Quarter Print Market Update has just been published by the Printing Industries of America Economic and Market Research Team. With that, we’d like to share some of the numbers relating to digital processes contained in the report. As is typical of our membership demographics and the overall industry, a majority of the respondents to the market survey listed sheetfed as their primary process. However, 120 of the 182 respondents offered toner-based digital printing, while 34 of the respondents offered inkjet printing. These processes accounted for 16% and 4% of respondents’ total print sales respectively. In addition, more than 50 of the respondents engaged in wide- and super-wide-format inkjet printing. The latest Print Market Update also tracks the percentage change in total print sales through the last eight quarters. Beginning in Q4 2011 and going through Q3 2012, the respondents to our survey noted year-to-date increases in total toner-based sales of 8.5%, 5.2%, 8.0%, and 5.3%. Likewise, year-to-date increases in inkjet sales of 10.9%, 11.1%, 3.8%, and 2.4% were reported. All Printing Industries of America members can download the Quarterly Print Market Updates (along with many other resources) for free here. Our Economics and Market Research Team emails the results of these market surveys to all participants eight weeks after the end of each quarter and posts the results online two weeks later for all members to view. This data is also used to write Flash Reports and economic forecasts. The survey is emailed to the main contact at each member company three weeks after the end of each quarter. To be added to this email list please contact Ed Gleeson at egleeson@printing.org or...
read moreDuplo USA Named Exclusive Distributor of Photobook Technology Products
SANTA ANA, CA—Jan. 9, 2013—Duplo USA, a leading manufacturer of print finishing equipment, has entered into an exclusive agreement with Photobook Technology PBT to distribute the latter’s Mitamax, Mitabook, and Mitacase products…
read moreNew White Paper on SEO
Printing Industries of America’s Joe Marin has recently published a new white paper, free to all members, titled Your Website: Keep it or Start Over?. This white paper describes—from a printer’s perspective—how to make sure your website is properly optimized for search. Just a few of the topics covered include: -How to assess your own website: Update or start over?-What message should your website convey to get new business?-Key steps to successful SEO for your website…and so much more! To download the white paper, members simply need to login and then click...
read moreLabels, Labels, Labels!
By Don Piontek Printers are always casting about for new opportunities (a NECESSITY these days!). In a phone conversation I had with a knowledgeable print professional this week, the label segment came up. Almost everything has to be labeled in some form or…
read moreSimon Printing Selects Heidelberg SM 52 Anicolor to Support Short Runs
KENNESAW, GA—Jan. 3, 2013—Answering customer demand for shorter runs, Houston-based Simon Printing has taken the path toward greater efficiency and higher profits by choosing to install a four-color Speedmaster SM52 Anicolor press….
read moreOn the Road: Heidelberg Reveals Future Direction, Product Strategy
HEIDELBERG, GERMANY—Last month, Printing Impressions and its sister publications, Package Printing and In-plant Graphics , were invited to visit Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG's headquarters to talk with executives and tour…
read moreCombustible Dust Hazards: Is Your Facility Compliant with OSHA Standards?
The Environmental, Health, and Safety Department at Printing Industries of America offers advice on the control and cleaning of combustible dust, a top priority for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The control of combustible dust has become a top priority for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and they are focusing on many industries—including printing operations—where combustible dust is generated. Combustible dust can be generated by several activities involved with printing and binding, including cutting paper, perfect binding, finishing operations, material handling activities, deteriorating building materials, and use of offset spray powder. The generation, handling, and accumulation of combustible dust present both a fire and explosion hazard, and it must be managed to prevent a hazardous situation. In addition, excessive dust can cause problems with product quality and premature wear of motors, especially around motor sleeves. As a result of many fires and explosions occurring due to combustible dust, OSHA initiated a National Emphasis Program designed to target companies that generate, use, or handle combustible dusts and to cite them for violating OSHA standards. Individual printing and bindery operations are a target and have been inspected and cited for violations. A first step to address combustible dust hazards is to evaluate your current condition. This involves determining first whether you generate combustible dust and second whether there is an accumulation of dust that would exceed OSHA’s threshold for a hazardous environment., OSHA uses a combustible dust threshold of 1/32 of an inch (the thickness of a paper clip) over 5% of horizontal surfaces. If your dust accumulation exceeds this threshold, it is very likely that you have a combustible dust hazard situation that needs to be addressed. The two basic responses required are “cleaning” and “control.” Cleaning involves an initial cleaning of all dust in the area(s) or the entire facility and then implementing a regular cleaning schedule to keep the area(s) dust-free, or at least at or below the OSHA threshold. Control involves determining whether the equipment or operation is designed properly for the activities and performing regular inspection and maintenance of equipment and/or operations that have been identified as generating or contributing to combustible dust, such as dust collection systems, balers, production equipment, etc. With both cleaning and control activities, the efforts should be documented to show proof that the activities are implemented as policy within the company. Although these efforts cannot keep an OSHA inspection from occurring, it can help eliminate or greatly reduce the chances of receiving an OSHA citation For a helpful reminder toward safety in the production environments, the EHS Department has developed a series of safety posters. One poster addresses the topic of reducing combustible dust and can be displayed in key areas to remind employees to always clean their areas, monitor the accumulation of dust levels, and inspect and maintain the equipment that can contribute to the combustible dust. Members can download the safety posters for free at...
read moreGo Back to the Basics of the Printing Industry with Orientation
As a professional in the printing industry, it never hurts to get a refresher on the basics. These basics are not “old” ideas or theories of graphic communications. They are simply the building blocks of print and without them, you would not be able to grow with the industry or even understand it. Let’s face it, everyone can use a refresher once in a while. Printing Industries of America will take it back to basics with the workshop Orientation to the Graphic Arts. This popular worskhop is the must-attend event for anyone in the industry who wants to be reminded of basic technology and language. Have you stopped reading, thinking “this isn’t for me, I’ve been in the industry for 20 years?” Well the novice is not the only professional who can benefit from orientation. It is equally beneficial to an expert in the field who wants to get a refresher in technology and industry language. And you don’t need to work in the pressroom to take advantage of all that Orientation to the Graphic Arts has to offer. In past workshops, Orientation has been filled with attendees who are in sales, customer service, graphic design, human relations, marketing, production, and much more. Or if you are thinking of making a move in the industry, it doesn’t hurt to attend either. You will have the opportunity to learn about several different areas you may not have realized you were even interested in. Orientation to the Graphic Arts will be held twice in 2013 at Printing Industries’ state-of-the-art facility just outside of Pittsburgh, PA. Attendees will work hands-on and in classroom-style settings, instructed by Printing Industries’ own experts. The first workshop will be held April 15–18, 2013, and will feature the print production workflow, major printing processes, color theory and reproduction, bindery, desktop publishing, and much more. For more information about this event, visit www.printing.org/training and click on “Orientation to the Graphic Arts” under the “Public Workshops” tab. Get the refresher you need—attend Orientation to the Graphic Arts....
read moreAn Interview with Paul Cousineau, TAGA President
Below is an interview with Paul Cousineau, TAGA President. In this Q&A session, Paul explains the hidden benefits of the 65th Annual Technical Conference, what to expect of this year’s keynote presentations, and much more. Q: What level of understanding of the industry’s technological developments is required to benefit from the 65th Annual Technical Conference? A: The TAGA Conference content appeals to a broad base of academics, technologists, manufacturers, and managers of technology. Some level of understanding of graphics and related industries is helpful, but I never fail to be amazed at the nuggets of information I walk away with every year at this conference—topics I don’t know enough about or should know more about, several of which ultimately benefit my company. The great thing about the conference is the experts are present and attendees are encouraged to network and have discussions with the speakers. Q: A new addition to the conference this year is the addition of Technical Innovation Papers to the Scientific Papers. What can we look forward to from the addition of the Technical Innovation Papers? A: Technical Innovation papers were added as a category by the TAGA Board to recognize unique applications and integrations of existing technologies that in and of themselves are innovative. It provides a forum for going beyond research or the invention of technologies to provide a forum for how technology can be applied and successful in a manufacturing setting. Q: One of the major agenda topics of this year’s conference is inkjet technology. What are some of the exciting applications and changes in the inkjet industry? A: There is a lot of activity and investment in inkjet technologies and consumables. Between workflows, print engines, and finishing, it was clear at DRUPA 2012 this process has the potential to become the next “major” printing process. The most exciting is the bumper crop of new ways to integrate these devices into manufacturing systems capable of producing a wide variety of products. Several inkjet technology leaders will be present at this year’s TAGA—come meet them, ask questions. Q: How will understanding the new developments in technology impact an attendee’s day-to-day work performance? A: Two words: understanding and networking. Understanding. Each attendee has a different experience at the conference. They can participate as much or as little as they want. But it is the only conference I attend that has near full participation in every session. The content is that compelling—it leads to better understanding of what is behind the processes we use, and it helps the attendee to identify ways to apply this knowledge in their work careers. Networking. Meet the experts, talk with them, engage them. Attendees can learn from others and take advantage of the informal sessions at the conference—there are several opportunities to network. In addition to experts from industry, TAGA has the highest concentration of professors, academics, and undergraduate and graduate students from top universities and colleges worldwide all in one event. The great part of establishing a relationship is the attendees build a network of experts they can tap throughout the year. Q: What can you tell us about this year’s keynote speaker Lineup? (Bill Ray, Heidelberg and Fritz Bircher, Printing Competence Center, University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland) A: The keynote speakers are the leaders in their fields....
read more