Rob van den Braak
Er zijn al veel pogingen gedaan om via veilingen, inkoopcombinaties en tenders de inkoop van drukwerk te automatiseren. Doel van al deze pogingen is geld te besparen door drukwerk goedkoper in te kopen en het inkoopproces te stroomlijnen. Benchpool wil nog een stap verder gaan en ook de afhandeling van klachten en de selectie van leveranciers op basis van standaardcriteria online toegankelijk maken. Mede-oprichter Wil Amian omschrijft Benchpool.com als het platform dat een revolutie teweeg brengt in het drukwerk- en inkoopmanagement. “De print supply chain ontbeert het nog steeds aan automatisering en transparantie. Benchpool.com zet in één klap de complete print supply chain op de digitale kaart.” Een ambitieuze poging gebaseerd op een hele serie modules die alle deelprocessen in de inkoop met elkaar verbinden. Het succes van Benchpool, dat ook internationaal beschikbaar is, hangt af van hoe snel grote drukwerkinkopers de tools gaan gebruiken. Want alleen met Big Data van alle drukwerkproducenten heeft het op zich briljante idee een overlevingskans.
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Geert Fransen, product manager bij CHILI publish, schreef een white paper over de groeikansen in digital packaging. In de white paper “A boxful of -ization potential” legt hij duidelijk uit waar die groeikansen zitten en hoe deze te benutten. Met -ization doelt Geert niet alleen op de digitalisering van het packaging productieproces, maar vooral ook op de pluspunten daarvan. Dat zijn volgens Geert: regionalization, customization, individualization, centralization en optimization.
Geert Fransen, product manager at CHILI publish, wrote a white paper about growth in digital packaging. In the white paper “A boxful of -ization potential” he explains very clearly where this potential is and how it can be used. Examples of the -ization Geert uses are not just applicable to the packaging production process, but also to the benefits. According to Geert this is regionalization, customization, individualization, centralization and optimization.The benefits have already been recognized by marketeers and clients and explain the rapid growth of digitally printed packaging.
This worthwhile white paper gives a number of good examples of these -izations, from the personalized Coca Cola bottle to the regionalization for Ola icecream with their worldwide logo and local brand names.
The conclusion of the white paper is also clear. Yes, there is growth opportunity in packaging. And this potential can be picked up by both small and bigger companies by clever use of digital.
Geert Fransen´s white paper gives good information on how to use digital, but CHILI publish´s series of webinars is also a good source of information.
➤ The white paper can be downloaded for free via this link.
➤ More information about the webinars via this link
“For Eagle, this is a day of celebration,” stated Eagle president and CEO Mike King. “The patent protects our unique fully-automatic cold foil module and process on commercial printing presses, and the company’s
foil-optimization methods of using foil stocks more efficiently. We are extremely excited, especially when you take into account the extent of the patent pending process. Our dedication to the industry and especially the sciences of cold-foil becomes validated with this announcement.”For Eagle Systems, the patent pending has been going on for several years due to the progression and detail that has gone into the technological intricacies of what many believe is the most sophisticated and reliable cold-foiler in the world. This patent finally protects the company’s many years of dedication and resource investment into this defined yet expanding market. For founder Mike King, research and development began as far back as 42 years ago, and today Eagle is a global and respected leader, with installations in just about every major printing-savvy country in the world.
Truth from the Trenches
“How many vendors tell you they’re going to make you faster, better, and more profitable… and then do it? But that’s we’ve come to expect from Eagle Systems,” notes pressroom supervisor Gary Reyes for D’Andrea Graphic Communications, an Eagle customer since December 2013.
“We first installed our Eagle Cold Foil systems in June 2015 and it’s lived up to every promise made by Eagle President Mike King. We’ve learned to not only respect Mike but trust him. Eagle continues to prove that they’re indeed one manufacturer that cares enough to ensure we’re maximizing our capabilities and ROI with their system,” notes Operations Manager Stefan Congram, Glenmore Custom Print + Packaging.
“Four years ago Eagle President Mike King told us his machine would do everything he said it would do or our money back. That was what sealed the deal for us and he was true to his word. The Eagle system has been rock solid for our production department… We now view cold foil from a whole new perspective and anticipate even greater rewards for both Marrs and our customers,” adds Scott Marrs, Vice President, Marrs Printing and Packaging.
A few of the white ravens in our industry already use solar panels and other renewables to run their printers.Laurel Brunner is of the opinion that the industry can do more. In her Verdrigris blog she explains why an investment in solar panels is a perfect fit to enhance the print industry´s image in the coming years. The use of renewable energy can greatly aid in campaigns on recycling, modern production methods and how the industry is more environmentally friendly. Read her blog on our articles page via this link.
Een aantal witte raven in onze industrie zetten al zonnepanelen en andere vormen van groene energie in om hun persen te laten lopen.
A generous handful of graphics companies are off the grid when it comes to energy. They generally rely on solar power and biomass burners for their electricity and as such are in the vanguard. However they are not alone. A report jointly authored by the World Wildlife Fund and the Corporate Eco Fund takes a closer look at corporate renewable energy procurement. The work is based on an in depth survey of 37 Corporate Eco Forum members and signatories to the Renewable Energy Buyers’ Principles, representing various industries.
This is big corporate stuff and a far remove from the lives of the average graphics professional. However the Renewable Energy Buyers’ Principles together have combined revenues of over $1 trillion, so their intentions and efforts certainly do impact the little people. The motivation to procure renewable energy is mostly about money and leveraging such things as renewable energy credits from governments and local power purchase agreements. But still it can make a difference.
Governments make it easier for big corporates to incorporate renewables in their energy mix in order to bring them closer to GHG emissions reductions targets. Renewable energy targets get tighter with the passing of the years, however they are helping at least to improve environmental impacts, if not by very much. Probably a much bigger driver than financial incentives and altruism, is the desire to reduce costs and demonstrate climate change leadership.
It’s tempting to be a bit cynical about this sort of work. It seems to be too easy, too much a box ticking exercise, and in many cases for the contributors to Eco Forum survey, it is. However the companies have reported useful information, data that may be helpful for the average printing company considering a shift to renewables, with or without financial inducements. According to the report, wind power is the top source of renewable energy and the one with the shortest payback period. Those of you living in sunnier climes may question this, however companies investing in wind power are getting a return on their investment in under six years. That said, the price of solar photovoltaic panels has collapsed of late, making them extremely attractive as a power source, whatever the megacorps’ experience.
Graphics companies around the world, even in gloomy, grey places like Sweden and the UK should be looking into renewables. The investment into solar is easier and relatively inexpensive, and the return pretty swift. It may not be as fast as the return on a wind power investment, but it is likey to be cheaper and less risky in the first place. What are you waiting for?
Laurel Brunner
The Verdigris project is an industry initiative intended to raise awareness of print’s positive environmental impact. It provides a weekly commentary to help printing companies keep up to date with environmental standards, and how environmentally friendly business management can help improve their bottom lines. Verdigris is supported by the following companies: Agfa Graphics, EFI, Epson, Fespa, HP, Kodak, Kornit,Ricoh, Spindrift, Splash PR, Unity Publishing and Xeikon.
A generous handful of graphics companies are off the grid when it comes to energy. They generally rely on solar power and biomass burners for their electricity and as such are in the vanguard. However they are not alone. A report jointly authored by the World Wildlife Fund and the Corporate Eco Fund takes a closer look at corporate renewable energy procurement. The work is based on an in depth survey of 37 Corporate Eco Forum members and signatories to the Renewable Energy Buyers’ Principles, representing various industries.
This is big corporate stuff and a far remove from the lives of the average graphics professional. However the Renewable Energy Buyers’ Principles together have combined revenues of over $1 trillion, so their intentions and efforts certainly do impact the little people. The motivation to procure renewable energy is mostly about money and leveraging such things as renewable energy credits from governments and local power purchase agreements. But still it can make a difference.
Governments make it easier for big corporates to incorporate renewables in their energy mix in order to bring them closer to GHG emissions reductions targets. Renewable energy targets get tighter with the passing of the years, however they are helping at least to improve environmental impacts, if not by very much. Probably a much bigger driver than financial incentives and altruism, is the desire to reduce costs and demonstrate climate change leadership.
It’s tempting to be a bit cynical about this sort of work. It seems to be too easy, too much a box ticking exercise, and in many cases for the contributors to Eco Forum survey, it is. However the companies have reported useful information, data that may be helpful for the average printing company considering a shift to renewables, with or without financial inducements. According to the report, wind power is the top source of renewable energy and the one with the shortest payback period. Those of you living in sunnier climes may question this, however companies investing in wind power are getting a return on their investment in under six years. That said, the price of solar photovoltaic panels has collapsed of late, making them extremely attractive as a power source, whatever the megacorps’ experience.
Graphics companies around the world, even in gloomy, grey places like Sweden and the UK should be looking into renewables. The investment into solar is easier and relatively inexpensive, and the return pretty swift. It may not be as fast as the return on a wind power investment, but it is likey to be cheaper and less risky in the first place. What are you waiting for?
Laurel Brunner
The Verdigris project is an industry initiative intended to raise awareness of print’s positive environmental impact. It provides a weekly commentary to help printing companies keep up to date with environmental standards, and how environmentally friendly business management can help improve their bottom lines. Verdigris is supported by the following companies: Agfa Graphics, EFI, Epson, Fespa, HP, Kodak, Kornit,Ricoh, Spindrift, Splash PR, Unity Publishing and Xeikon.
Niet alleen het feit dat grote retailers als Neiman Marcus en Harrods perfect gedrukte catalogi uitbrengen voor kerst is een bewijs dat print een luxe product wordt. Als je door die catalogi bladert staan koffietafelboeken en speciale edities naast luxe producten als Chanel tassen en TAG Heuer horloges. Een beter bewijs voor de upgrade die print in de ogen van consumenten heeft gekregen is er niet. Goed om te weten is ook dat voor perfect gedrukte en gebonden boeken met interessante content, consumenten bereid zijn honderden euro’s te betalen, wat weer een verklaring is voor de opkomst van drukwerk en veredelingstechnieken als foliedruk en laserstansen. Ben je niet een van de 750.000 gelukkigen die het 300 pagina’s tellende Neiman Marcus kerstcatalogus heeft ontvangen, dan kun je hem ook online bekijken via deze link. Je kunt voor 1 miljoen dollar een roze privéjet bestellen of voor 150 dollar een eerste druk van een beroemd kinderboek.
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Not just the fact that big retailers such as Neiman Marcus and Harrods use perfectly printed catalogues for their Christmas campaigns is an indication that print has become a luxury product. When you look at the catalogues you will see coffee table books and special editions are showcased next to Chanel bags and Tag Heuer watches. There is no better way to show that print has upgraded in the eyes of the consumer. Good to know that people are willing to pay hundreds of dollars to buy perfectly printed and bound books. This is another explanation for the rise of print embellishment such as foil. If you were not one of the 750,000 lucky ones to receive the Neiman Marcus Christmas catalogue you can have a look online via this link. Perhaps to buy that 1MUS$ pink private jet or a 150US$ first edition children´s book.
The Delft TU spin off company Inkless developed a printer which does not use ink or toner. The letters are burned into the paper with a very accurate laser. This is called carbonisation. The challenge is to get a dark and permanent “print” without burning the paper. “Inkless has much better control over the carbonisation process, as a result of which we can print less deeply and therefore do not go through the paper. We have also developed a solution that ensures that the print is black enough and permanent”, according to founder Arnaud van der Veen. The Inkless method, developed in cooperation with Optics Research Group at the TU Delft has been patented.
Van der Veen confirms that the principle is similar to the old fashioned thermic printing method. “Inkless printing techniques already exist, like for till receipts, but they are not environment-friendly and the quality is poor; for example, the print fades quickly. As a result, these existing technologies can only be used in a limited number of applications. Inkless now achieves the quality standards of conventional printing techniques, including in terms of resolution and printing speed”, says Van der Veen. “This means we are now ready for the next step and further upscaling.”
Printing text, images and graphics is possible on paper, labels and the surface of packaging. ‘That means that we are talking about several different, large markets: coding & marking (e.g. printing best before dates and barcodes), digital production printers and business and home printers. Since we now have the technology at the level we need, we are currently exploring the most logical strategy and market for us’, says Van der Veen. ‘It may make most sense for us to join forces with one or more major players in the market – we have already started making contacts to achieve this. This will enable us to upscale relatively quickly and, we expect, to reduce prices still further.’
‘Our ink-free printing technology has many advantages. There is no longer any need for cartridges, toners or special coatings on the paper, which offers enormous environmental benefits. Cartridge and ink production uses a lot of energy and produces waste and harmful emissions. Also, with an ink-free printer, the problem of an empty cartridge just when you need to print something important will become a thing of the past. In addition, printing without cartridges or toners obviously means that there are no recurring costs once you have purchased the printer. That means a considerable cost advantage.’
Inkless is the result of a graduation project by Venkatesh Chandrasekar at TU Delft. With his fellow student Van der Veen, he set up a company to further develop the promising technology with the support of STW (Take Off initiative), Climate KIC and MIT-RVO. The company is part of the Yes!Delft business incubator and TU Delft is one of its shareholders. The start-up company founded by Chandrasekar and Van der Veen (who have since graduated) has seven employees and is based in Delft and Waddinxveen.
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Digitally printed packaging is a growth market. Especially production of packaging using modern inkjet presses is getting more attention. These digital presses have to be fed with ready to print data. How these data are compiled, automated and managed is the subject of CHILI´s white paper which can be requested via this link.
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