Printing Industry Commentary & Analysis

Is Consolidation the Future?

Published March 29, 2011

The planned sale of St Ives Web to Walstead creates the largest magazine printer in the UK. Is this trend for consolidation a key for bringing the magazine market under control with capacity geared more at publishers needs, and also bringing production prices back to realistic levels? Will this consolidation trend continue in other print markets?

Andy Tribute gives us an inside view of the recent HP T400 announcement

Published March 23, 2011

Andy gives us an inside look at the recent HP T400 announcement and shares his commentary on what this means for the industry and the impact it will have. We also hear from Jim Hamilton of InfoTrends, who attended the event in Los Angeles.

Hybrid Printing – The Future of Direct Mail?

Published March 15, 2011

Andy hadn’t heard much reporting on the process of adding inkjet printing heads to existing equipment - so he went out looking for it. He’s covered the latest and greatest on inkjet finshing , and he visited one of the largest UK direct mail printers to see how they’re utilizing the technology.

Andy Tribute talks Canon DreamLabo 5000

Published March 9, 2011

Andy's off relaxing on spring retreat, but he's still following the recent industry news. This week, he discusses Canon's announcement of the DreamLabo 5000, and their entry into the on demand, wide format, single-pass, color inkjet market.

Impressions of Hunkeler Innovationdays in Lucerne

Published February 23, 2011

Andy returns this week from Hunkeler's Innovationdays and shares some important insights from the event. He looks at the Xerox Inkjet Production System, Hunkeler's Full Book Finishing System, and some new products in the overprinting market.

Heidelberg – A Strategy for Succeeding in Digital Printing

Published February 23, 2011

As Heidelberg announces its plans to partner with Ricoh on a digital printing venture, Andy Tribute sees that Heidelberg has learned its lesson from its last foray into digital. He looks at the features of the press, its place in the pressroom and Heidelberg’s new relationship with Ricoh.

Hunkeler Innovationdays - Where It All Happens

Published February 15, 2011

Hunkeler Innovationdays running this week in Switzerland will cover trends and developments in digital printing and print finishing for digital printing. The following is a brief outline of the event, identifying some major announcements being made. WhatTheyThink will report on the event, keeping up to date with the latest news.

Andy Tribute: Memjet - The latest disruptive technology

Published February 9, 2011

Andy Tribute looks at the impact of disruptive technologies on the printing and publishing industries, and discusses how Memjet's inkjet technology will be the next disruptive technology to impact on the industry.

Tribute looks at Océ

Published February 1, 2011

Andy Tribute looks at how the agreement between Océ and manroland is about more than just distribution but an opportunity for these two companies to leverage their strengths. And Andy tells us what's the big deal about Kodak entering the consulting business for the printing and publishing markets.

This week with Andy: Heidelberg/EFI and simpler print algorithms

Published January 26, 2011

Andy covers his take on the recent announcement from EFI and Heidelberg and shares his impressions of two print samples using Harlequin's new printing algorithm.

When Will Digital Printing Take Over from Offset Printing?

Published January 18, 2011

The recent study by PRIMIR showed the changes in the printing market for offset and digital and looked at when the “tipping point” when digital would be of more value than offset would take place. This article looks at the PRIMIR projections and compares them with figures generated by Heidelberg. The assessment shows that the “tipping point” is still years away and that there is a good future for offset printing.

Andy Tribute talks about a surprising print announcement at CES

Published January 12, 2011

Andy welcomes in the new year by talking about past technological change and what's in store for us in 2011. He also highlights some interesting news coming out of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas relative to inkjet.

Pearson Leads the Switch to Color Digital Book Printing

Published December 14, 2010

This past year several publishers realized they could increase their print runs for digital books beyond what was previously thought profitable. The key was high-speed, continuous inkjet printing. WhatTheyThink caught up with Pearson Publishing to explore their thoughts on this new format.

Heidelberg and Digital Printing, Expect an Announcement by March

Published December 11, 2010

X-Rite – The Color Company

Published November 30, 2010

X-Rite has long been a leading supplier of color measurement tools, and with their recent acquisition Pantone they’re in the business ink color specifications. Now X-Rite is looking to move beyond the print world to become “The Color Company” for all your color needs.

Océ's New Strategy for the Future

Published November 16, 2010

Océ is already the leader in continuous feed inkjet presses. If things are working so well, it seems unlikely they would make a drastic change. At the recent Canon Expo though, they made an announcement that Andy Tribute claims will dramatically shift their strategy.

The Three-Letter Problem!

Published November 9, 2010

Why are so many companies in the print industry choosing three-initial names that prove completely indistinguishable from the next three-initial name. Whether it’s ABC or XYZ, Andy Tribute tries to sort out the confusion.

King Printing - The Birthplace of Digital Book Printing?

Published October 26, 2010

Digital book printing is one of the hottest areas in the print industry today. Andy Tribute went to visit King Printing – a medium sized printer of modest origins - that may have been the first to provide digitally printed books. He discovered a ridiculously innovative family–run shop that has kept itself on the edge of new print technologies.

Charlie Ying 1946 - 2010

Published October 20, 2010

The print industry lost a legend last month. Charlie Ying, and his company Atex, revolutionized prepress and changed the industry forever. Andy Tribute offers these memories of one of the great innovators of our industry.

Looking Back at Graph Expo 2010

Published October 12, 2010

There have been mixed reviews about Graph Expo. A slow start on Sunday. Not much offset. Andy Tribute, as always, was right in the thick of things. In this article he wraps up his thoughts on the event, and looks forward to Graph Expo 2011.

HP's Inkjet Presses Succeed in Book Printing

Published October 1, 2010

The most successful print supplier into the book printing market has been HP with their T300 press. Andy Tribute looks at the success of HP in this market. He also visits the first installation of the new HP T200 "entry-level" continuous feed color press at O'Neil Data Systems where it will operate alongside the O'Neil's T300 press.

Xerox - A New Business Again

Published September 28, 2010

Consultants in the print industry keep talking about the need for print companies to reinvent themselves. Andy Tribute takes a look at how Xerox has come back from the brink of bankruptcy to reposition themselves, and remain a power in the industry.

Catching The Cloud: The Future of Printing and Publishing

Published September 21, 2010

Working from “The Cloud” is changing the way we use software applications. HP and Google are leading the charge, and it promises major changes in the print and publishing industry. Andy Tribute examines the trend and discusses how the industry can get ahead of it.

Changing the Printer’s Mindset

Published August 31, 2010

We keep hearing that the future for print shops is to become “integrated communications providers”, but making the transition can seem like a daunting task to printers who are still stuck in the old print world. This week, Andy Tribute examines the adjustments printers need to make to survive.

Living with My iPad

Published August 17, 2010

Andy Tribute didn’t anticipate becoming an iPad evangelist, but now he’s hooked. He wrote a few months back that he wasn’t sure what he was going to do with it, but now he has seen the light. In his latest article he sings the iPad’s praises, and explains why it might just be the most important tool in your arsenal.

Inkjet Printing – Technology to Make a Change

Published July 27, 2010

The rise of inkjet printing is making its mark on the print industry. Andy Tribute has been following this trend, and he’s noticed some unexpected changes in short run book printing, shrinks sleeves production, label printing and localized news print production.

The Chinese Challenge

Published July 13, 2010

The print industry is yet another area where the Chinese are making enormous strides. How will American printers compete? Andy Tribute might not have all the answers, but he has the perfect vantage point for providing key insights about what the Chinese are doing so right.

RR Donnelley – Driving Forward in Inkjet Printing

Published June 15, 2010

RR Donnelley is the largest commercial printer in the world, but they are also way ahead in high-speed inkjet. Andy Tribute moderated a talk at IPEX with Ronnie Sarker of RR Donnelley, and he’s reported his insights on how they’re staying ahead of the curve.

Jeff Jacobson on Presstek's new 75DI

Published June 8, 2010

Peter Williams on Ricoh's graphic arts strategy

Published June 7, 2010

IPEX – A Digital Printing Show

Published June 1, 2010

Based on our experiences at IPEX 2010, it’s finally looking like the mood of the industry has changed and we might be entering a period of economic growth. The event showcased developments in a variety of areas, but the greatest interest seemed to be in the rise on inkjet printing. Andy Tribute offers his thoughts.

Aurelio Maruggi on HP's new T200

Published June 1, 2010

Andy Tribute says goodbye to IPEX 2010

Published May 26, 2010

Heidelberg CEO Bernhard Schreier talks about potential partnerships in digital

Published May 24, 2010

Day One from IPEX with Andy Tribute: HP, Fujifilm, Heidelberg, and Xerox

Published May 19, 2010

A busy day of announcements, including the new HP T200 inkjet, a new solid ink Xerox inkjet, and debate about digital versus offset. Plus a little note about volcanic ash over Britain. Andy Tribute's got it all covered.

Andy Tribute previews IPEX 2010

Published May 18, 2010

Is the economy turning the corner? Has the printing industry recovered? IPEX 2010 may give us a good idea. Andy Tribute's IPEX preview covers new technology and product rollouts, a potential new Xerox inkjet product, new sheetfed products, Indigo, toner, the Canon-Oce merger, and what may develop with offset. IPEX 2010 could be a great indicator for the industry going forward, and What They Think will have it covered.

Will Inkjet Printing Kill Offset?

Published May 4, 2010

If one reads many of the projections being made about the future of printing there is a belief that offset printing is in serious decline and the new high-speed inkjet printing will kill the offset business. Various claims have been made that we could see offset being replaced in almost all areas by inkjet printing by 2020 or earlier. What do I think about that? I think it is a total load of rubbish.

Radius Solutions Acquisition Is Complementary to EFI’s Other MIS Offerings

Published April 30, 2010

The planned acquisition of Radius Solutions is complementary to EFI’s other MIS software solutions for the printing industry.

A Look at the B2 Digital Press Market

Published April 13, 2010

The first B2 format sheet fed digital presses will come to market this year. This article doubts there is a market for the B2 format compared with the market for the current B3 format digital presses. Among the reasons for this are there are few applications that cannot be handled on the B3 format digital presses, and the increasing efficiency of B2 format offset presses and the arrival this year of Presstek 75DI B2 format D.I. press.

Xeikon at the Crossroads

Published April 9, 2010

Xeikon and Basys Print are likely to have new owners before Ipex starts. One of the largest private investment companies in Europe has made an offer that values Xeikon and Basys Print at $96m. At Ipex, Xeikon will introduce a new industrial label press they claim to be the most productive press in the industry. They will also introduce an enhanced Xeikon 8000 press for document printing.

CPI – Turning a Vision to Reality

Published March 30, 2010

This article looks at how HP partnered with Europe’s leading monochrome book printing group CPI in creating a totally new fully automated book production solution. This is a system that takes in digital data and outputs with out any manual intervention totally finished books. The article also provides an update on the current market status of HP’s T300 high-speed inkjet printing systems.

New For Ipex - What to expect

Published March 16, 2010

With Ipex rapidly approaching more and more companies are putting out advance information of what they will showing at the event. Today’s article covers Heidelberg, Atlantic Zeiser, EskoArtwork, Enfocus and Kodak. The more we hear the most interesting Ipex appears as a not to miss event.

Andy Tribute talks to Rotomail Italia GM Giorgio Albertini about acquiring a Kodak Prosper 5000XL

Published March 12, 2010

Heidelberg's Bernhard Schreier on the status of the offset market and their view on trade shows

Published March 8, 2010

Its Not Technological Change, Its How The Message is Presented and Financed

Published February 20, 2010

I read Frank Romano’s interesting opinion article last Friday concerning both Heidelberg and Komori deciding not to exhibit at Graph Expo this year. Frank puts the reasons for this down to the changing industry and timelines for different technologies. While in most cases Frank and I sing from the same song sheet, in this case I have to disagree with him.

Ipex – An Indicator for the Future

Published February 16, 2010

Last week’s Ipex Media summit in London outlined what we can expect at the Ipex show in May. In this we can expect to see many of the products previewed at drupa now becoming available in the market. The article outlines the size and scale of Ipex and why it is such as important show this year. It also gives a few briefs on new products being shown there.

A Buyer’s Guide for Inkjet Presses

Published February 2, 2010

This year is being seen as the real start for sales of high-speed inkjet presses. This article looks at some of the key items that need to be considered by potential buyers of these presses. This includes substrates that can used, the types of ink and the life of the print heads.

Is 2010 the Year for Digital Printing for Publishers?

Published January 19, 2010

The world of publishing has hardly been impacted by developments in digital printing, unlike other areas of printing. Almost all the developments in digital printing have been aimed at short-run commercial printing, variable data printing, and more recently web to print operations particularly in the business to consumer area. It is only in the area of reprints of monochrome books where reprinting by offset would be too expensive for publishers that digital printing has had an impact in the publishing space. It would appear that this year will see the start of a change as book publishers look to digital printing to change their business models to reduce their capital tied up in inventory. This is becoming possible through the use of high-speed continuous inkjet presses that will allow a switch from offset to digital printing for first runs of books. It is however unlikely that we see either many newspapers or magazine publishers moving to the use of digital printing at this time unless they rethink their advertising driven business models.

New Fuji Xerox Presses Indicate the Future

Published December 21, 2009

HP – Moving Ahead in High-Speed Color Printing

Published December 15, 2009

On a recent visit to the USA I was invited to meet with executives of HP’s Inkjet High Speed Production Solutions division to discuss the current status of its program for the HP T300 inkjet web press. I found this to be an interesting visit as almost nothing had been written about what HP had been doing by either the trade press or the industry analysts following Print 09.

Do We Need Graph Expo Each Year?

Published December 8, 2009

There has been much discussion about association consolidation and the limited funds industry suppliers have to support many of the organizations and events in the industry. I want to discuss the PRINT 09 event that is organized by the Graphic Arts Show Company (GASC).

Canon and Océ, Can They Become Number One?

Published November 17, 2009

Yesterday’s announcement that Canon is to acquire all the shares of Océ is obviously of great interest. Canon and Océ aim to create the overall No. 1 presence in the printing industry building on an enhanced scale and a combined history of innovation and excellent client servicing. The combination of the two companies is designed to capitalize on excellent complementary fit in the product range, channel mix, R&D and business lines.

Moving Inkjet Technology into the Future

Published November 10, 2009

I have just attended the IMI European Ink Jet Printing conference in Barcelona. One tends to think that inkjet printing is something new but this was the 17th annual conference on this subject. One tends to forget just how long the inkjet technology has been around and also just how long it has been used in the graphic arts markets.

A New Role for the Magazine Publisher

Published November 3, 2009

The traditional role for the magazine publisher in the graphic arts market has been to publish news and articles about the industry, provide a medium for advertisers to get their messages across to readers, and in some cases provide seminars and tutorials, and for some publishers to run prestigious printing award events. What we are now seeing that some of these publishers are successfully extending their role to providing this information via the web as well as by printed means, and in certain cases this can be on a daily basis.

Heidelberg & manroland – What’s Happening?

Published October 16, 2009

Xerox iGen4 Update: Advances made in Packaging and Photo Markets

Published October 13, 2009

Last year at drupa Xerox Corporation introduced a number of new products, two of which I want to cover in this article. The first is the Xerox iGen4 press and the second is the Xerox Automated Packaging Solution for the digital printing and production of folding cartons for packaging. Today, these two products make up the Xerox Automated Packaging Solution powered by Stora Enso Gallop. The automated digital system can print a variety of personalized packages in multiple languages. The packaging system can quickly switch from one job to the next, providing the flexibility needed in today's global and rapidly changing marketplace.

Océ Home of Color

Published October 6, 2009

Océ has for a long-time been a company that had excellent communication with its clients. For many years it has run an annual event, the Océ OpenHouse. This was a multi-day event at which Océ’s customers and prospects were invited to attend, plus a large number of analysts and press also attended. It was claimed that this was the largest digital printing fair in Europe.

The Real Solution for Highest Quality Color Printing?

Published September 29, 2009

It is not very often one comes across what could be termed industry changing or breakthrough products. I believe what I am writing about today could be such a product. One subject that has exercised the brains of many of the best technical experts in the industry is that of screening. It is also a subject that has generated a great degree of income for the patent lawyers who work with this industry’s suppliers.

So, How Was it For You?

Published September 22, 2009

Print’09 has now taken place. Unfortunately I was unable to be there but I have followed the event and comments about the event on a wide range of media. From this I have come to a number of conclusions, however I’m sure many attendees will not agree with what I concluded about the event.

A Message to Printers Attending Print 09

Published September 8, 2009

When we go to a major print show the major attraction for all of us is to spend time looking at the latest presses, whether these are conventional or digital. We love to see all the latest innovations on these presses to see just how efficient they are. Most printers yearn after the latest presses thinking how much they will improve their businesses with the productivity they can offer. I have to say that I too love looking at presses and there will be many new innovations in this area at Print’09 to attract the attention of visitors. There will be presses, some being shown for the first time in the US, in sizes from B3 through to VLF in the offset area. In digital many people will focus on the high-speed continuous feed presses, although two of the major suppliers, HP and Kodak, will not be showing these at the show.

Publishing and the E-Reader

Published August 25, 2009

Printing Can be a Growth Market

Published August 17, 2009

Did you know that there is a company whose business is printing, that calls itself a printing company, but which is categorized as a high-growth organization by many organizations like Deloitte and Inc Magazine. The company is Mimeo.com and Deloitte identified it as the 25th fastest growing technology company in the New York region in 2007. Admittedly in 2006 it held the 10th spot on this list so its growth is slowing slightly. However since few companies that call themselves printers ever make it on any list for rapid growth there must be something special about Mimeo. Also very few printing companies have a list of investors including venture capital, private equity funds and innovate leaders in high technology.

Is This Heidelberg’s New Digital Printing?

Published August 4, 2009

Kodak – Completing the Digital Printing Picture

Published July 30, 2009

In the previous article on the Kodak event in Dayton I concentrated on the Kodak Stream continuous inkjet technology and the new Kodak Prosper Press platform. At this event Kodak also spent time on covering the Kodak Versamark VL series continuous feed inkjet color presses and the Kodak Nexpress SE and Digimaster EX300 sheet fed digital presses.

Kodak – On Stream to Prosper?

Published July 29, 2009

Following the drupa event last year the major question that was being asked was what impact the new continuous feed color inkjet presses would have on the offset printing market. The vendors of these new presses took different positions in the areas of the market where they felt their presses were most appropriate. Most of them certainly saw their presses impacting in certain areas of the offset market where moderate quality on uncoated paper was a requirement, for example for newspapers and books.

The Next Industry Changing Technology?

Published July 21, 2009

Occasionally there are developments within this industry, often referred to as disruptive technology, that have the potential for fundamentally changing the market. The arrival of thermally imaged non-ablative CtP plates that came to market in 1995 is an example of such a disruptive technology. I have just come across another such disruptive technology that could have a similar impact to that of thermal CtP in changing the industry.

Articles by Andrew Tribute