Profiles in Print
Premier Press (Portland, Oregon)
WhatTheyThink traveled to Portland to visit Premier Press to learn more about their business, how they operate, and what makes them unique. This film is the first in an ongoing series of Profiles in Print.
Product Spotlight: Ultraflex EcoVantage Films
Ultraflex’s EcoVantage line of comprises 100% PVC-free and phthalate-free films for outdoor advertising, POS, wall coverings, and retail displays that are frontlit, backlit, blockout, mesh, indoor, outdoor, and wallcoverings.
Yale Goldis on HP’s Latest Hardware and Software Introductions
Pat McGrew talks to HP’s Yale Goldis about HP’s most recent hardware and software introductions and the market forces driving new features in those products.
Growing Through Difficult Times
Having looked at the labor shortage problem from different perspectives in recent articles, Wayne Lynn gives his thoughts on root causes and how they still impact our companies going forward. The most difficult problem we face may well be trying to grow in the coming decade. Read on and see why Wayne thinks this could be our coming reality.
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Industry News
- eProductivity Software Acquires Tharstern Group
- The Power of Partnerships: BOBST Innovations Showcased by Key Partners at interpack 2023
- Graphco and Print & Finishing Solutions Team Up With Hybrid Production Workflow at ACUP
- Miraclon to Share Latest Technology Advancements at FORUM and INFOFLEX 2023
- Sabre Limited Offers Free Admission To Graphics Canada
- Along The Entire Value Chain: EyeC Presents the Perfect Integration of Various Inspection Systems at Interpack 2023
- Crossmark Graphics Doubles Productivity With Its New Ipress 106 K PRO Blanker – Its Second Koenig & Bauer Die Cutter In As Many Years
- Michael Makin Returns to Printing Industry with National Print and Sign Owners Association
- Alabama Printer Replaces Entire Offset Fleet with Digital Inkjet Technology Including the SCREEN Truepress Jet520HD+
- Sheryl and James Wisler Grow International Minute Press Franchise in Nampa, Idaho
- Expand your Business with OnPrintShopInnovat’s Integrated Packaging, Label & Wide Format Solution
Diversification Beyond Signage—The New Challenge for Wide-Format Print in the US
According to the new Smithers report—"The Future of Printed Signage in a Digital World to 2028”— that global value for wide-format and signage applications in 2023 will reach $40.99 billion—down around $5 billion on pre-pandemic value (constant prices). Across the same period the volume of printed signage has fallen, as well. However, the demand for textile and interior design graphics are increasing, providing the main diversification options for wide-format presses.
The Wild West of Graphene: What’s Real and What’s Not
Graphene was discovered in 2004, has been described as a miracle material, and its discoverers were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2010 as a completely new material. We’ve written about graphene before, and usually there’s a graphene item in our weekly Friday Around the Web feature. But for more depth, this article reviews a recent study on products claiming graphene content and also encourages materials suppliers and manufacturers to do their due diligence and to seek certification that their materials and/or products actually include graphene. Spoiler alert: 80% of the products tested had no graphene content!
ISA International Sign Expo Returns to Mandalay Bay with Upcoming Las Vegas Show
For the first time since before the pandemic, the ISA International Sign Expo is heading to its West Coast home at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, April 12–14. The Sign Expo is ever-evolving, and this year’s event will boast some new features, as well as some recurring favorites.
Canon’s Francis McMahon on “Leaving the Industry a Better Place”
David Zwang talks to Francis McMahon of Canon Solutions America about the need for printing industry veterans to “leave the industry a better place” and help prepare the next-generation of industry leaders to take over.
Kicking Off 2023: Best Shipments Since 2020
January 2023 printing shipments came in at $6.67 billion, the best start to a year since 2020.
Industry Data
INDUSTRY INSIGHT
Printing Outlook 2023 - The WhatTheyThink Overview of the Current State of the Printing Industry
The new Printing Outlook 2023 report provides detailed analysis of the latest WhatTheyThink Business Outlook Survey, the latest industry economic data and macroeconomic trends, as well as industry and cultural technological trends to look out for in 2023 and beyond.
Kicking Off 2023: Best Shipments Since 2020
January 2023 printing shipments came in at $6.67 billion, the best start to a year since 2020. Full Analysis
Turnover and Employment in Print in Europe—The Netherlands
This bi-weekly series of short articles aims at shedding a spotlight on the size of the printing industry in Europe per country and how revenues and employment developed in 2020, when the pandemic impacted businesses. This time we look at the Netherlands, the seventh largest printing industry by turnover in Europe. Full Analysis
Paperboard Container Manufacturing Establishments—2010–2020
According to County Business Patterns, in 2020 there were 1,910 establishments in NAICS 32221 (Paperboard Container Manufacturing). This category saw a net decrease of 13% since 2010. In macro news,inflation is sort of moving sideways. Full Analysis
Recent Discussion
Chuck Thornburg on The Roots of the Printing Industry
Hi Frank, My first experience in printing began in 1976 when I was a Junior in high school in California. First on the Mimeograph with its smelly blue ink and slick paper then later on the AB Dick 360. I went on to a vocational school to learn how t… Full comment Reply
Eddy Hagen on Quantum Leaps into Landa
Is that a 'recent' installment? The purchase was announced in September 2019, and in the press release they said: "The press will be installed mid-year 2020 (...)" See this: https://whattheythink.com/news/97369-quantum-group-innovation-continues-p… Full comment Reply
Warren Werbitt on Warren Werbitt Goes Printer to Print Vendor with Komcan’s Brad Ranson
Hi Jeff, Thanks so much for letting us know what's going on with Komori. Reply
Greg Goldman on Davy Verstaen and Tomas Van Rossom on Enfocus Software
Truly one of the best products in the printing and publishing industry, probably still does not get as much credit or publicity. Remains one of those “if you know, then you know” products. The Swiss Army knife of production and office automation. A g… Full comment Reply
WhatTheyThink Magazine
WhatTheyThink Magazine is the resource for the Commercial Printing, Visual and Graphic Arts Industries. Industry experts share their ideas and technical knowledge on ways to improve operations.
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- Shopping for Inkjet at Hunkeler Innovation Days
- KYOCERA to Acquire NIXKA, France-based Producer of Inkjet Print Engines and Systems
- Inkjet Insight presents an Inkjet Explainer webinar featuring Mark Bale and Elizabeth Gooding
- Making Money: Profit Takes More than Revenue
- The Changing Face of Pantone Colors and Branding
- Navigating Industrial Inkjet Development
- Inkjet Shopping Guide for Flexible Packaging Presses
- Don’t let good business go bad
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Dov Isaacs on Andrew Bailes-Collins on Ultimate TechnoGraphics’ Extensive Software Portfolio
And how does this new product relate to a PDF/VT-1 file that is properly created in the first place in which PDF forms xobjects are cached by one of very many PDF/VT-1 compliant DFEs? Does this new product convert “ordinary” PDF to something simil… Full comment Reply