Interviews with Industry Executives, Commentary & Analysis from WhatTheyThink Contributors and other video features.
We've known Tom O'Brien for many years and have always been impressed with his entrepreneurism, energy, and innovative approach to his business. He has now started a new chapter, despite his many threats to retire, with the acquisition of his companies by Taylor Corporation. In this interview, his enthusiasm for his new role is evident and we will continue to follow their news as it develops. Watch Video
Frank has saved every trade show directory since 1967. He uses the shelf of them to implore printers to attend the PRINTING United show in Las Vegas, October 19-21. Every major supplier to the industry is introducing new technology. Printers need the automation as well as the ability to move into new markets. Frank thinks it is worth the trip. Watch Video
Elizabeth Gooding talks to Tim Murphy, President of Printware, about the envelope market and the iJet Color series of inkjet envelope personalization printers. Tim also discusses Printware's successful development relationship with HP SPTS and how that helps them buffer potential supply chain issues for themselves and their customers. Watch Video
Raspberry Creek Fabrics, based in Salt Lake City, was founded a decade ago, and has continued to innovate to meet emerging and existing market needs. Co-founder Justin Rammell tells the Raspberry Creek story, shares how automation has dramatically changed their business, explains the recent patent the company acquired, and mentions a move into wallpaper, a new business for them. The company has also established a marketplace for designers to be able to upload and sell their own designs. More coming in the future! Watch Video
Frank comments on paper shortages affecting the book industry. As mills close down, book publishers have been hard-pressed (no pun intended) to find paper. They have been applying narrower margins and negative letterspacing to squeeze more lines on a page to cut paper use. Watch Video
Sometimes the hardest part of taking advantage of the available marketplace is having tools that work the way you need them to. One size does not fit every situation. That is where Customer’s Canvas comes in. The team at Aurigma/Customer's Canvas work with their clients to craft the web-to-print solution that will work most efficiently for their business. CEO and Founder Dmitry Sevostyanov tells us why Customer's Canvas makes it possible to create the perfect Web-to-Print solution for every customer. Watch Video
David Zwang talks to HP Indigo Folding Carton Category Manager Glen Adams about how folding carton is the next big opportunity for digital print providers. This is a great interview to learn some of the basics! Watch Video
This week, Warren talks to Awesome Graphics owner Tami Napolitano. Founded in 1994 in Napolitano’s attic, the company now has a 5,000-sq. ft. commercial location, 11 employees, and more than 10,000 customers. The Rutland, Vt.-based company is a wide-format graphics shop is a winner of Big Picture Media’s 2022 Women in Wide Format Awards, which will be presented at PRINTING United next week. Watch Video
Frank Mallozzi joined EFI 25 years ago with a charter to run the European business for the company. Today, he is the Chief Revenue Officer of the company and has seen many changes in the company and the industry over the years. At the end of 2022, Frank will be retiring from EFI, and we are sure he will be sorely missed. But we also look forward to seeing what the next chapter is for him. In this discussion, Frank talks about his experiences over the past 25 years and the opportunities ahead. Watch Video
Bob Barbera, Director of Marketing for Canon USA, talks with Eric Vessels about the upcoming PRINTING United Expo and the Canon presence there. The two talk booth space, equipment, and what product demos attendees can expect to see. Watch Video
Joe Gass, President and CEO of Heritage Printing, shares his industry journey. The family business started 46 years ago when Joe was 13, and after a stint in the US Navy, he took over the business in 1988. It has grown consistently, and Gass recently launched Heritage Signs & Displays to handle wide-format printing and signage and has launched BlueFire Visual to transform interior spaces. Watch Video
Mark Hunt, Director of Strategic Alliances at Standard Finishing, takes time out of busy preparations for PRINTING United to speak with Eric Vessels about their 4,000 square feet of space at the show and all the finishing and automation solutions they will be featuring. This is a great peek into what people will see from Standard at the show! Watch Video
In the first installment of our new Marketing Digital Embellishment Capabilities video series, Taktiful's Kevin Abergel talks with Matthew Greer, CEO of DMS Color/Gold Leaf Packaging, about how to best market digital embellishments in today's world. Watch Video
Frank bemoans the “electronic-ification” of American newspapers and traces the evolution that went from hot-metal type, to flongs, to curved plate cylinders for high-speed rotary presses, to offset printing with negative film and aluminum plates, and to CTP (computer-to-plate). He predicts that circulation drops will move some newspapers to rollfed inkjet and the only thing that might be displayed might be a PDF file. Watch Video
David Zwang talks to Koenig & Bauer President and CEO Killian Renschler and Sr. VP Marketing and Product Management Eric Frank. Koenig & Bauer has been a powerhouse equipment manufacturer in the commercial print and packaging market for over a century. Through all of the changes, they have managed to keep very relevant and even thrive. Renschler and Frank talk about what the company has been working on. Watch Video
David Zwang talks with Linnea Keen, President of Tag and Label Manufacturers Institute (TLMI), a North American association of about 300 label and packaging converters, printers, and suppliers. Like the label and packaging industry in general, TLMI is growing and seeking to add new members in the flexible packaging area. Watch Video
This week, Warren talks with Tim McClellan, VP Print & Strategy & Implementation for Integra Graphics Synergy. Integra is a print distributor/broker based in Lancaster, Pa., with two other locations. Being a distributor rather than a printer with in-house equipment, they are able to procure whatever print materials their customers require. Watch Video
David Zwang talks to Jeff Peterson, Executive Director of the Foil & Specialty Effects Association (FSEA), about the educational resources the association offers the industry. FSEA has also just announced the establishment of the Digital Embellishment Alliance (DEA), a new association dedicated to the growing digital embellishment segment of the printing industry. Watch Video
WhatTheyThink's Eric Vessels chats with Michael Marcian, former CEO of CCG (now a part of DCG One) about the upcoming PRINTING United Expo event in Las Vegas October 19-21, as well as his role as the incoming PRINTING United Alliance Chairman. Watch Video
Rob Bullen, Label Production Manager for Calyx Containers, talks to David Zwang at the recent Labelexpo Americas show. Calyx Containers specializes in producing square childproof containers for the cannabis industry—they make the container via injection molding, print labels, and ship them to customers. The company has HP Indigo digital printing equipment, as well as digital embellishment and laser cutting capabilities. Calyx is looking to expand into other markets. Watch Video
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