Gröbenzell, Germany – PrintCity Alliance members Leonhard Kurz, manroland, MEGTEC, Merck, Océ, Sappi, Tolerans, UPM and Weilburger Graphics are exhibiting at Ipex 2010, focusing on three leading 'themes' PRINT: LEAN.GREEN.SEEN. 

Of the three PrintCity Alliance hot topics 'LEAN' is possibly the most important one to offer printers & packagers the route to reduced costs and improved profitability.

Productivity, Efficiency & Standardisation - LEAN

LEAN manufacturing achieves less waste across the entire value chain, reducing total cost. Any waste reduction also has a direct environmental benefit. This is an area of PrintCity Alliance work since 2004, where members have taken a leading role in process knowledge sharing, first with an Optimised UV Sheetfed Guide, now in its second edition. Most recently, a new study has begun on Process Standards Optimisation, which will be published by winter 2010, plus there is a new Ultra Wide Web Offset report for Ipex.

'LEAN' is about reducing waste in a broader sense. Waste is anything that doesn't contribute directly to adding value for the customer including over-production, inventory, work in process, transportation, processing waste, motion, waiting and defects. Its key metrics are cost and time.

The move to ISO/PSO standards optimisation in printing & packaging industry is a multi parameter process that needs a cross-industry approach to be effective. PrintCity Alliance members are ideally positioned to offer the required breadth of process knowledge required to assist formulation of the best current & future industry standards.

LEAN is strongly linked with GREEN because any waste reduction will also reduce energy demand and carbon emissions.

Benefits from Lean Manufacturing & Process Standards Optimisation

Utilising best practice knowledge from PrintCity Alliance members, this new study will help guide publishers, printers and packagers forward to apply best practice in this complex area.

Some of the benefits they will gain are:
- Significant improvements in lead times, customer service, productivity, inventory, quality & costs
- Reduction of waste, continuous improvement and simplification
- Stability and improved continuity of business
- Three times higher probability to be an industry best-in-class performer (indicated by research)
- Be LEAN and Efficient!

Successful LEAN strategies focus on end-to-end integrated processes and include suppliers, logistics and service providers.

PrintCity Alliance Shared Productivity, Efficiency & Standardisation Projects & Research

PrintCity Alliance members have been researching process standards subjects for many years and are among the world leaders in this area. At Ipex 2010 visitors can access their combined knowledge and discuss research findings from these PrintCity productivity, efficiency and standardisation activities:
- LEAN – Process Standards Optimisation – a new study available by winter 2010, it will become a vital guide to understand and apply best practice in productivity, efficiency and process standardisation for the printing & packaging industry. Visit PrintCity at Ipex to find out more….

- LEAN – Optimised UV Sheetfed Guide – the 2008 second edition of this leading guide for UV printing on sheetfed presses is recognised as a 'must have' publication for this sector.

- LEAN – Ultra Wide Web Offset Presses – this new publication for Ipex 2010 is the culmination of alliance member's work to assess the benefits of high productivity web offset presses of over 2 metres in web width. It takes into account all aspects of equipment investment, consumables and process benefits.

Who should visit PrintCity at Ipex?

All printers, publishers, brand owners, designers & advertising agencies can gain valuable knowledge benefits, plus process & technology application ideas by visiting PrintCity Alliance members at their Hall 17 'connection of competence hub' at Ipex.