Describe the Challenges You Want to Solve with Software

Published: April 27, 2017

Our default reaction to talking about software is to try to describe the solution or a feature of the potential solution (e.g. drag and drop). Focus on telling the story of the CHALLENGE you are trying to solve - this is so much more helpful. What do you want to solve and who do you want to solve it for?

Update on HP's JetFusion 3D Printing Solution from Steve Nigro

Published: April 25, 2017

Steve Nigro, President of HP's 3D business, provides an update on HP's JetFusion 3D printing solution, which is now commercially available. After a period of hype, Nigro believes 3D printing is "frothing" again ... and talks about how 3D printing can fit into a graphic arts business, and what new skills are required. He also predicts what market growth will look like.

What's Happening at ISA Expo 2017?

Published: April 24, 2017

Richard Romano visits with ISA President & CEO Lori Anderson from the show floor to talk about the 2017 expo and breaking attendance records once again.

Frank Visits Cal Poly's Shakespeare Museum

Published: April 21, 2017

Frank goes back in time as he visits the Cal Poly Shakespeare Museum. Surrounded by modern printing technology, this collection is a time warp of how printing was in the past.

After the Honeymoon of Selling Web-to-Print Program

Published: April 20, 2017

When you sell a web-to-print program, you have a brief honeymoon period that needs to be optimized. Stay focused on the business goals - get orders flowing through the system. Nobody wants to hear from a customer saying, its been six months and we've seen no value!

Esko's President Shares Thoughts on Being Part of the Danaher Family

Published: April 18, 2017

Udo Panenka, President of Esko, talks about being part of Danaher, the value to the business being part of the Danaher family brings. A toolbox of proven great processes has been key to continuing -- and even speeding up -- the innovation that has enabled Esko to continue to bring new products to market. He talks also about the ability to bring these tools to customers to strengthen relationships and help them improve their businesses as well.

Eversfrank Gruppe Promotes Real-Time Printing

Published: April 17, 2017

It was a pleasure to speak again with Gerhard Martterer of the Eversfrank Gruppe again at Hunkeler Innovationdays. He always has interesting applications to talk about, and this conversation is no exception. Take a look at the great success the company is having on behalf of its customers with real-time printing.

Frank: Judge a Book by its Covers

Published: April 14, 2017

Frank uses a book authored by RIT student Akshat Pardiwala to demonstrate that the cover often makes the book. He shows two versions to make his case.

Chain of Custody of Print Jobs

Published: April 13, 2017

One of the key functions of a Print MIS is to track where every single job is in your facility. Chain of custody is about inputting the transfer of ownership between resources in your plant. It always amazes us how powerful this one feature of a Print MIS when implemented properly.

Beyond the Box: Thinking Beyond Equipment to an End-to-End Workflow

Published: April 12, 2017

Jan De Roeck, Director of Solutions Management for Esko, talks about the importance of rooting out waste in every step of the business and production workflow to make sure equipment has a higher effectiveness rate. Esko published a white paper in partnership with InfoTrends and the International Signs Association on the topic.

Trends in Corrugated

Published: April 11, 2017

Pat McGrew, Director of Production Workflow at InfoTrends, talks with Senior Editor Cary Sherburne about trends in the corrugated market. The desire to create shorter run corrugated packaging is getting more popular and she explains how new digital technologies and workflows will facilitate that in a profitable manner while opening new opportunities for marketers.

Core Publishing Solutions to Install a Hybrid Bindery Solution to Address a Wide Range of Short- and Long-Run Work

Published: April 10, 2017

Steve Zweber, the Director of Manufacturing & Distribution Services at Thomson Reuters Core Publishing Solutions, talks about the company's diverse bindery operation and how its focus on continuous improvement has made much of its equipment short-run capable. That being said, the company is adding a new piece of equipment that can equally handle web offset and digital output. Hear the full story.

Printing with E-coli and Charging Students to Print Homework

Published: April 7, 2017

Frank has a potpourri of items to rail against, especially printing with e-coli bacterium. He also rants against charging students for printing homework assignments.

Print Is Not Dead AND Its Not Returning to Past Dominance

Published: April 6, 2017

Print is not dead, we still need print and it needs to work and play well with its digital alternatives. The use of print has changed, especially in marketing. Printers need to extend their value proposition to understand all communication options in order to keep print relevant.

Production Inkjet: Why Should You Care?

Published: April 5, 2017

Paul Gardner of Time Starvd works with clients to help them build their production inkjet businesses. He shares his insights into why businesses should seriously consider getting into inkjet, taking digital printing to scale but opening new opportunities by removing constraints of traditional technology.

Printing Firm LaGwana Finds Value in 3D Printing

Published: April 4, 2017

Dan Byler, President of LaGwana, a printing firm in Indiana, acquired a 3D printer to explore its possibilities and it's been worth the investment! The company modeled its new building, which led to new business in the Architectural arena; was able to print a repair part for a digital press; and is selling furniture models to Amish furniture builders! Hear the whole story.

Workflow and Automation in Book Manufacturing

Published: April 3, 2017

Rick Lindemann, President of Total Printing Systems, a short-run digital book manufacturer located in Newton IL, describes the workflow the company has implemented for book manufacturing, as well as his thoughts about the new technologies and solutions he saw for book manufacturing at Hunkeler Innovationdays, and these how technology investments can pay for themselves.

Esko Receives Prestigious RedDot Design Award for Product Design

Published: April 3, 2017

Esko's CDI Crystal 5080 XPS flexo platemaking solution was in good company when it was awarded the prestigious Red Dot Award for Product Design. Previous award winners have included HP, Polycom, Bosch, and others. Esko President Udo Panenka talks with Cary Sherburne about the award, which was entered into the competition by Esko's German desig agency, Designship.

New Software Technology Introduced to a Printer

Published: March 30, 2017

When new technology is introduced into a printer the success of it really depends on how your people engage (or don't engage) with the software. The success is way more dependent on your team than it is on vendor. You have to learn the software and then strategically apply it to your business.

Frank Romano Memorial Bookshelf at CalPoly

Published: March 30, 2017

Frank tours the Student Resource Room at Cal Poly and points out his books (because no one else will). Cal Poly has received many donations of research publications over the years.