Printing Industry Commentary & Analysis

Slow Fashion and Landmark Textile Recycling Bill: Some Progress Underway, But We Still Need More!

We’ve been talking a great deal about the deleterious effects of fast fashion on our planet. Now we have a counterpoint to discuss—an effort in Congress to rein in fast fashion with the launch of the Slow Fashion Caucus. Plus, California is putting even more teeth into its recycling efforts with a proposed bill that establishes an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program for recycling clothing and textile fibers. And France is proposing a Fast Fashion Tax and an EU ban on exporting used clothing.

All Other Converted Paper Product Manufacturing Establishments—2010–2021

According to County Business Patterns, in 2021 there were 358 establishments in NAICS 322299 (All Other Converted Paper Product Manufacturing). This category saw a net decrease in establishments of -22% since 2010. In macro news, inflation was virtually flat in August.

Around the Web: Darth Dreary. Horror House. Phone Folds. Misnamed Monitor. Toddling Table. Cassette Collection. Fridge Fashion. Insulation Initiative. Dew Deal.

The art of letterpress printing. James Earl Jones reads “The Raven.” “The year without summer” was great for Gothic horror. Huawei has introduced a trifold phone. The worst product name ever. The next trend in home décor: living furniture. An archive of audio cassette design. Good grief: “fridgescaping.” Traceable down insulation. Redesigning nail clippers. Trademarking “Mountain Time”? All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

The Target Report Annual Review—TTM August 2024 M&A Activity

Viewed from the perspective of M&A activity in the printing, packaging, and related graphic communication industries, the pandemic is finally firmly in the rearview mirror. Many printing and packaging businesses are doing well. However, there are some bumps in the road. Deal counts are down again, bankruptcies and non-bankruptcy closures have increased, and lenders have resumed pressuring poorly performing companies. Packaging is still the most active segment, but not close to the peak reached in 2022. The number of deals involving commercial print companies has increased for the second year in a row. Wide-format companies are showing up in greater numbers in our deal stats, while the number of direct mail companies selling or buying remains low.

Tech Highlight: Nine Digital Textile Printing Workflow Software Solutions for Accuracy, Efficiency, Speed, and Profitability

Looking for tools and solutions to increase efficiency and quality in textile printing? Look no further. Textiles expert and WhatTheyThink contributor Debbie McKeegan highlights nine software solutions that cater to the needs of digital textile print providers of all sizes, delivering tailored solutions to boost productivity, streamline workflows, and elevate profitability.

Why is Strategy Necessary?

If the goal of a business is to make money, both now and in the future, how does strategy help that happen? In the latest edition of bis Smart Strategy Insights Series, Wayne Lynn explains.

Technology Outlook: What’s the Future of Production Print?

Heidi Tolliver-Walker recaps last month’s Technology Outlook webinar on production print, which covered offset, toner, and inkjet.

Seaway Printing Is First with Nonstop Roll Splicing and Sheeting for Offset

It couldn’t be done until it was done by a Green Bay, Wis., printer with a keen eye for increasing press OEE and driving process improvement throughout the plant. Patrick Henry looks at how Seaway Printing boosted offset productivity with nonstop splicing and sheeting capabilities.

Remembering Bob Lindgren

Industry veteran Jim Olsen remembers his good friend and printing industry leader Bob Lindgren, who passed away on August 29.

Carbon Capture Dichotomy: Real Investments or Carbon Credits?

Two articles recently caught my attention relative to sustainability and carbon capture. Google and Microsoft are taking diametrically opposed actions. (And by the way, they are also collaborating on some initiatives!) In this article, we reiterate definitions of carbon offsets or credits and the most common ways it is implemented, as well as discuss the difference between investing in carbon capture or removal directly and through credits. Carbon capture is likely the fastest way to stem the tide of climate crisis, although it won’t happen overnight. There are some big projects underway, but many still need to reach scale and affordability. And they need to be done safely, ethically, and transparently.

Getting Ahead with Personalization: Key Trends for Print Businesses

In this article, sponsored by XMPie, Ayelet Szabo-Melamed from XMPie delves into the cutting-edge trends propelling personalization to the forefront of the print industry and highlights how print businesses can leverage these trends to stand out, engage customers more effectively, and achieve success in a competitive market.

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Empower Your Wide Format Print Production with PrintFactory

Customer requirements for color accuracy, print quality, and turnaround times in wide-format printing are becoming more demanding. PrintFactory empowers wide-format printing workflows with its renowned support for thousands of devices and easy-to-implement color management capabilities. It continues to expand its ecosystem to include desktop and cloud-based software. Pat McGrew takes a close look.

June Shipments: An Unpleasant Surprise

June 2024 shipments came in at $7.22 billion, down from May’s $7.42 billion—an unexpected and unwelcome drop.

Around the Web: Cut Categorizing. Birthday Branding. Tech Tomes. Timber Towers. Bookish Burglar. Rapid Radiator. Sprinkler Sprayer. Doll Doughnuts.

What types of paper are best (or worst) for paper cuts? A simple quiz for gauging your color perception. Creating the identity for Jane Austen’s 250th birthday. An online archive of Radioshack catalogs. Milwaukee is building a second wooden skyscraper. An Italian thief stops to read a book mid-burglary. “Robot controlled by a king oyster mushroom blends living organisms and machines,” for your dystopian nightmares. A graphene radiator capable of heating a room in a few seconds. Lego is switching to renewable materials for its bricks. A mural artist who hacks lawn sprinklers to spray paint. Krispy Kreme is helping celebrate Barbie’s 65th birthday. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Getting Noticed with Direct Mail: Strategies for Success

Tried and true direct mail campaigns can still attract attention, but standing out involves more than simply showing up in a recipient’s mailbox. Citing recent research from Keypoint Intelligence, this article explores some of the strategies for direct mail that drives engagement and makes an impression.

Get Ready For ESPR: Time Is Ticking—A Must Read for All Textile Brands and Suppliers

In this article, written by Marwa Zamaray, European Climate Pact Ambassador, European Commission, and provided compliments of Debbie McKeegan, textiles expert and WhatTheyThink contributor, you’ll find an in-depth discussion of the EU’s new rulebook, in effect as of July 18, to make products more durable, reusable, repairable, and recyclable. The rules proposed under these rules will apply to all products placed on the EU market, whether produced inside or outside the EU. Take note if you are, or are planning to, sell your products in Europe!

The Goal Approach to Strategy

In the latest installment of the Smart Strategy Insights series, Wayne Lynn takes an in-depth look at the critical success factors that must be done well for businesses to make a solid profit.

Technology Outlook: Transformation of Labels and Packaging

Heidi Tolliver-Walker recaps last month’s WhatTheyThink webinar “Labels and Packaging Are Transforming,” part of the Technology Outlook Week LunchNLearn Webinar Series.

Is Your File Really Ready to Print?

Every printer has stories about the files they receive for production that are labeled as print ready but as they are onboarded it becomes clear that there are issues that will impact production. It is a gap that emerges because of the variety of composition and design tools in use, as well as the different print production methods in use. Let’s look at the differences between print ready and production ready files.

Sizing the Print Industry in Europe—Czechia

This bi-weekly series of short articles provides some country details on the size of the printing industry in Europe per country, especially tracking the number of printing establishments. This time we look at Czechia.

Innovate and Thrive: The Role of Personalization and Automation in Modern Print

Personalization in print is rapidly advancing, presenting opportunities for brands, enterprises and print shops. In this article, sponsored by XMPie, Scott Houck from XMPie highlights the growth of Variable Data Printing (VDP), the resurgence of direct mail, the impact of automation and omnichannel personalization, and the need for streamlined workflows and data-driven solutions to stay competitive.

Johnson’s World: Steve Tips His Hat

In the latest edition of Johnson’s World, Steve Johnson tips his hat to some direct mail marketing efforts that could have settled for being good, but instead went the extra mile to achieve greatness.

Sanitary Paper Product Manufacturing Establishments—2010–2021

According to County Business Patterns, in 2021 there were 126 establishments in NAICS 322291 (Sanitary Paper Product Manufacturing). This category saw a net decrease in establishments of 11% since 2010. In macro news, the American Institute of Architects’ Architecture Billings Index (ABI) indicates that billings have declined for the 18th consecutive month.

Around the Web: Poster Parade. Tome Typing. Apian Anniversary. Flash Flames. Bicycle Breaks. Debunked Dodos. Space Snacks.

A gallery of classic movie posters. Hone your keyboard skills by retyping classic novels. What is the first recorded human voice? Celebrate Burt’s Bees’ 40th anniversary with some branded merch. Need a laugh? Use the Jokephone. Nxylon, a new super-black material that absorbs 99% of the light that hits it. Turn a flashlight into a flamethrower. Bicycles can now be hacked. New research reconsiders the dodo. Climate change is making seafood toxic. Doritos designed for zero gravity. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Got AI Image Generation? Sometimes You Should

If you haven’t yet tried AI image generation, here’s a fun fact you might not know: You can do more than simply create images. You can choose their style, as well.

TECHNOLOGY OUTLOOK: DIGITAL & INKJET—Inkjet Options for Folding Cartons

Ralf Schlözer surveys the current state of inkjet printing on folding cartons.

TECHNOLOGY OUTLOOK—Cool Tools with Mary Schilling

A round-up of interesting production products that Inkjet Insight contributor Mary Schilling saw on the show floor at drupa 2024.

TECHNOLOGY OUTLOOK: NEW & EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES—Embracing Change: 10 Technologies Transforming the Print Industry

From digital manufacturing to automated workflows to robots on the shop floor, the last decade has witnessed a seismic shift in the print industry. Meanwhile, the introduction of AI solutions has captured the attention of millions of users. As a result, these technological revolutions have left many print service providers at a crossroads: adapt and thrive or resist and risk obsolescence. Joanne Gore explores the 10 technologies that have reshaped the industry, their impact, adoption patterns, challenges faced by printers, and practical tips to overcome the fear of new tech.

TECHNOLOGY OUTLOOK: LABELS & PACKAGING—Inkjet Options for Flexible Packaging Printing

Ralf Schlözer surveys the current state of inkjet printing on flexible packaging materials.

TECHNOLOGY OUTLOOK: DISPLAY GRAPHICS—Mimaki Partners with Artists for Dynamic drupa Stand

Pat McGrew reported from Mimaki’s drupa stand that combined décor art, wearable art, and 3D art.

TECHNOLOGY OUTLOOK: NEW & EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES—Unlocking the Future: Printed Electronics

Contributor Pete Basiliere considers the print hardware technologies driving the growth of printed electronics and the market trends in this dynamic industry.

TECHNOLOGY OUTLOOK: SOFTWARE & WORKFLOW—Hybrid Software Drives Smart Print Factories

Hybrid Software today has grown organically and through the acquisition and integration of an extensive but synergetic group of companies. This has allowed them to build very complete and efficient solutions for both OEMs as well as PSP users. David Zwang explores how Hybrid software can control all aspects of print production.

Enfocus offers printers a brand new ball game at PRINTING United

Batter up! Enfocus is back and ready to knock it out of the park at PRINTING United in Las Vegas, Booth C113. This year, Enfocus is bringing the heat with its “Field of Automation."

TECHNOLOGY OUTLOOK: SOFTWARE & WORKFLOW—Software Roundup: Atomyx, eProductivity Software, and Esko

Pat McGrew and Ryan McAbee round up three software solutions providers who were showing their products at drupa.

TECHNOLOGY OUTLOOK: DIGITAL & INKJET—Larger Format Cutsheet Inkjet Has Arrived!

David Zwang rounds up the six new B2 and B1 cutsheet presses that were on display at drupa.

TECHNOLOGY OUTLOOK: LABELS & PACKAGING—Inkjet Options for Corrugated

Ralf Schlözer surveys the options available for inkjet printing on corrugated.

TECHNOLOGY OUTLOOK: BINDING & FINISHING—Müller Martini Reports Progress in Merger with Hunkeler

Patrick Henry reports on the state of the merger of Müller Martini and Hunkeler and how the joint venture is moving forward in an industry confronting challenges that oblige it to find new ways of doing business.

TECHNOLOGY OUTLOOK: BINDING & FINISHING—The Practical Guide to Mail Finishing Equipment Solutions

Pat McGrew offers some tips for evaluating mail finishing equipment.

TECHNOLOGY OUTLOOK: SUSTAINABILITY—Preparing for Sustainability Regulations: Evolving from Net Zero to Sustainability Management Systems

Pat McGrew and palamides marketing director Jonathan Graham discuss the pros and cons of “net zero,” the challenges of accurately gathering and reporting greenhouse gas emissions data, and the advantages of sustainability management systems.

TECHNOLOGY OUTLOOK: LABELS & PACKAGING—CloudLab’s printQ, packQ Simplify W2P Product Design

Patrick Henry looks at two Cloudlab tools—printQ and packQ—that simply web-to-print and web-to-pack.

TECHNOLOGY OUTLOOK: DIGITAL & INKJET—Compact Inkjet Solutions Are Trending

While productivity, print quality, and cost typically top the list of criteria for evaluating inkjet presses, the size of the press also matters. For space-constrained shops, Elizabeth Gooding looks at options for smaller, “compact” inkjet presses.

Tales from the Database: Technology Outlook

Drawing on six years’ worth of Print Business Outlook surveys, our “Tales from the Database” series looks at historical data to see if we can spot any particular hardware, software or business trends. This installment rounds up some technology outlook-related challenges and investments, as well as our periodic question about the extent to which print businesses are looking to expand into new product areas.

Around the Web: Print Peril. Offline Onion. Toxic Tomes. Glass Guests. Inside Instruments. Plane Probe. Milk Mystery. Chicken Channel. Rice Room.

Another classic tech magazine shuts down its print edition. On the other hand, The Onion is re-launching theirs. Some books produced in the Victorian era contained toxic dyes. Glass bottles are not as sustainable as we think. Who’d’a thought staying in a glass hotel room would make one feel vulnerable. Stunning images taken of musical instrument interiors. Graphene-based 3D printing to be used in home construction. In search of the original Air Force One. Can thunderstorms spoil milk? Chick-fil-A is apparently launching a streaming service. A Rice Krispies Treat-themed hotel suite. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

TECHNOLOGY OUTLOOK: DIGITAL & INKJET—Inkjet Options for Label Presses

Ralf Schlözer surveys the options on the market for digital label printing.

PRINTING United 2024: You Really Can’t Afford to Miss It!

Drupa 2024 was a successful event according to exhibitors and attendees. It looks like this success will carry over to Printing United 2024 being held in Las Vegas, NV September 10-12, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. While they are both big events, they are different.

TECHNOLOGY OUTLOOK: OFFSET—Komori’s Line of Commercial, Digital, and Packaging Print Equipment

Patrick Henry looks at the latest printing equipment technologies Komori had on display at drupa 2024.

Artificial Intelligence: Current Impact and Future Potential

What’s really happening with artificial intelligence adoption among businesses? Keypoint Intelligence recently published an AI readiness survey of over 450 business leaders across various industries. This article provides some key observations from our survey data and helps paint a picture of AI’s current impact and future potential.

TECHNOLOGY OUTLOOK: SOFTWARE & WORKFLOW—The Practical Case for Intelligent Automation

Pat McGrew provides an overview of how Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are only two aspects of building workflow automation that brings efficiency to print operations. Integrating diverse threads is an essential element in building an automated print shop.

TECHNOLOGY OUTLOOK: DISPLAY GRAPHICS—Display Graphics and Signage at ISA, drupa, PRINTING United, and Beyond

drupa has never been a big show for display graphics and signage, and while there were companies showing their wide-format printers, major announcements are usually reserved for the ISA Sign Expo, FESPA and/or PRINTING United. Richard Romano looks back at some solutions on display in Düsseldorf and what to look for in Las Vegas.

TECHNOLOGY OUTLOOK: LABELS & PACKAGING—Flexo Is Converting for Packaging

Flexo continues to be the most cost-effective solution for mid- to long-run printed packaging output, driven by the increase in quality and the continued digitalization of the flexo press equipment. David Zwang looks at the latest technological developments in flexo.

TECHNOLOGY OUTLOOK: BINDING & FINISHING—Your Practical Guide to Researching Book Finishing

Pat McGrew looks at the factors to consider when shopping for book finishing equipment.

TECHNOLOGY OUTLOOK: OFFSET PRINTING—manroland Goss Combines High Tech with Passion

Mark Vruno looks at the web offset solutions manroland Goss was showing at drupa.

Value-Based Strategy

In the latest installment in the Smart Strategy Insights series, Wayne Lynn takes an in-depth look at how printing companies can create and grow their value by helping other members of their value chain: customers, employees, and suppliers, grow their value.

TECHNOLOGY OUTLOOK: SOFTWARE & WORKFLOW—The Practical Guide to AI and Platforms

Pat McGrew provides an overview of how intelligent automation, machine learning, and artificial intelligence are implemented in industry software solutions.

TECHNOLOGY OUTLOOK: BINDING & FINISHING—Horizon Bets on the Smart Factory

Pat McGrew looks at Horizon’s “smart factory” approach to finishing automation.

TECHNOLOGY OUTLOOK: LABELS & PACKAGING—Automating Box Converting Workflows

When we think about supporting the new demands in packaging converting, we usually focus on the printing, whether that is flexo, offset, digital or inkjet. While each of those technologies has evolved to address the new demands, the actual converting part has lagged behind. Until now. David Zwang explains.

TECHNOLOGY OUTLOOK: SUSTAINABILITY—Factors Affecting Sustainability in Production Inkjet

Elizabeth Gooding takes a close look at the nuances of determining sustainability when it comes to production inkjet.

TECHNOLOGY OUTLOOK: DIGITAL & INKJET—B1 vs. B2 vs. B2+ vs. B2 XL: Decisions, Decisions

How should you make the decision of what size press—be it offset, EP, or inkjet—to acquire? David Zwang weighs the different factors.

TECHNOLOGY OUTLOOK: OFFSET—Ceaseless Progress in Workflow Automation for Offset

The elements of workflow have become standard features in the operating systems of late-generation, digitally controlled offset presses. Patrick Henry provides an overview.

Looking Back at Düsseldorf—and Ahead to Las Vegas

With drupa 2024 in the rear-view mirror and PRINTING United on the road ahead, here are some of the major announcements that came out of Düsseldorf, and a hint of what will be on display in Las Vegas.

TECHNOLOGY OUTLOOK—OFFSET PRINTING: The Transformation of Offset Press Technology

How has offset lithography retained its preferred place amidst all the technological change the industry has seen? We found the answers at drupa.

TECHNOLOGY OUTLOOK—LABELS & PACKAGING: Are You Ready for Web2Pack?

There is a growing increase in orders for short-run, on-demand packaging to satisfy shifting consumer purchasing requirements and operate at the “speed of retail.” There are also new regulations that dictate the amount of “free space” in a box to reduce packaging waste. Using what has been learned from commercial web2print implementations, there is also a desire to use it for package converter onboarding. David Zwang looks at the current state of Web2Pack

TECHNOLOGY OUTLOOK—SUSTAINABILITY: An Overview of Print Sustainability

Ralf Schlözer takes a look at the current print industry sustainability landscape, upcoming new regulations, and offers a list of “action items” printers should start implementing.

Welcome to the Technology Outlook Issue!

This week and next is dedicated to publishing the contents from Issue Four: The Technology Outlook Issue. This article provides an overview of what to expect in the next two weeks.

May Shipments: Another Pleasant Surprise

May 2024 shipments came in at $7.43 billion, up from April’s $7.35 billion—continuing an unexpected but welcome rebound.

Around the Web: Sports Symbols. Mitigating Microplastics. Dud Device. Car Copter. Sprinkle Suit. Lost Letter. Martian Moisture. Cat Conundrum. Death Dessert. Gull Grabbing. Mayo Musk.

Olympic sports pictogram design. The first board game printed in the United States was a geography lesson. Graphene-enhanced packaging aims to reduce contamination from microplastics. The much-hyped “Humane AI” pin is a complete flop. A flying car concept straight out of James Bond. Found amongst Hurricane Debby debris was a WWII-era message in a bottle. Finding water on Mars (but no message in a bottle). Liquid Death’s sparkling hot fudge sundae water (not on Mars). A Scottish seaside food truck offers “seagull insurance.” Hellmann’s introduces mayonnaise-scented perfume. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

That’s Amore! Print4All 2024 Gathered the Italian Print Industry

Bringing together printers and the vendors who serve them is one of the missions of every print association. Most recently, the Italian print industry came together at Print4All in the rolling hills of Valpolicella. The topics were relevant and the conversations insightful!

ACCGC Proposes New Taxonomy and “Crosswalks” for Education in Graphic Communications

ACCGC says the time has come to revise official but obsolete definitions that make graphic communications appear to be a dead end for students, career counselors, and employment seekers. Patrick Henry walks us through the changes.

Pass the Hamburger, Hold the AI (A McDonald’s Cautionary Tale)

Heidi Tolliver-Walker looks at McDonald’s recent ill-fated experiment with AI drive-throughs. A cautionary tale for anyone interested in implementing AI.

Koenig & Bauer Durst: An Interesting and Emerging Offspring

Historically, there has been much “quiet” intercompany collaboration in the manufacturing of press and finishing equipment. However, lately we have seen more outward collaboration between equipment manufacturers. Often, the collaboration ensures that they leverage each other’s strengths, while each of the companies retains their visibility and yet allows for a quicker development and go to market outcomes.

Sizing the Print Industry in Europe—Croatia

This bi-weekly series of short articles provides some country details on the size of the printing industry in Europe per country, especially tracking the number of printing establishments. This time we look at Croatia.

Around the Web: Missing Manuals. Tooth Tech. Roaming Reference. Image Investigation. Viable Vectors. Owl Oops. Pigeon Plinth. Pretzel Perfume.

AI can replace user manuals. Creating a visual identity for a new park. Good grief: an AI toothbrush. A new device lets you access Wikipedia offline. A close look at JEG encoding. A Spanish church’s botched restoration. A new color E Ink display is a bit pricey. The Shaper Trace quickly turns hand-drawn lines into vectors. Converting industrial plastic scrap into graphene. The Minnesota Zoo’s owl–tiger problem. NYC is getting a giant pigeon statue, for some reason. Auntie Anne’s new scent smells like pretzels. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Other Converted Paper Product Manufacturing Establishments—2010–2020

According to County Business Patterns, in 2021 there were 484 establishments in NAICS 32229 (Other Converted Paper Product Manufacturing). This category saw a net decrease in establishments of -20% since 2010. In macro news, the July jobs report may have been below expectations, but other economic indicators are still strong.

Developing a Solid Personal Brand

A solid personal brand can help attract clients, build relationships, and close business. A well-known and trusted brand name can eliminate decision uncertainty when it comes time to select a product or supplier. By putting thought into your brand now, you can soon see the benefits of increased visibility, credibility, and profitability.

The Target Report: Troubled Times for Graphic Machinery Innovators—July 2024 M&A Activity

Coloreel files Bankruptcy, and more …

Is Your Direct Mail Volume Growing, Too?

Much has been said about the declines in the volume of direct mail. As the volume in the mailbox has decreased, however, much is also being made about the direct mail’s increase in effectiveness when it does arrive. Heidi Tolliver-Walker looks at some data that find that direct mail’s effectiveness is fueling its comeback.

Climbing S2 and Other EskoWorld Adventures

The value of meeting in person to share ideas, learn, and even complain cannot be overstated. While it is hard to take time away from the day's work, events like drupa remind us of the value of discovery. After the doors in Germany closed, the doors to EskoWorld opened to continue the adventure.

Slow Fashion and Landmark Textile Recycling Bill: Some Progress Underway, but We Still Need More!

We’ve been talking a great deal about the deleterious effects of Fast Fashion on our planet. Now we have a counterpoint to discuss—an effort in Congress to rein in fast fashion with the launch of the Slow Fashion Caucus. Plus, California is putting even more teeth into its recycling efforts with a proposed bill that establishes an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program for recycling clothing and textile fibers. And France is proposing a Fast Fashion Tax and an EU ban on exporting used clothing.

Sign Non-Production and PR Firms Win June Graphic Arts Employment Report

Overall printing employment in June 2024 was generally unchanged—up 0.1% from May—with production employment up 0.8% and non-production employment down 1.5%.

Around the Web: Burg Branding. Print Practice. Button Bandit. Punctuation Palooza. Dated Devices. Bug Banisher. Mallard Manager. Converse Cookies.

How to brand a city. Atlas Obscura is offering a two-part nature printing workshop. A Chrome extension that copies a button from every website you visit and saves it to a collection. Matching works of art with sports photographs. “Fuzzy graphene”? If you like old tech, be sure to check out OldCrap.org. For example: a Seiko smartwatch from 1984. A fly-repelling fan. Runners can train with a special windshield to help eliminate wind resistance. Meet the Peabody Hotel’s “duckmaster.” The latest in “foodwear.” All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

The Evolution of Celebration Signage: Up With Higher Education!

If you have been out and about lately you may have seen the latest trend in celebration signage: lawn signs that announce what college or university a graduate is heading to in the fall. We look at some of the opportunities for display graphics providers in this area.

To B2 or Not to B2: Shop Prints Shakespeare’s Plays on a Single Press Sheet

Get thee to a magnifier. Everything that William Shakespeare wrote for the stage can be seen and read in this meticulous but straightforward piece of offset lithographic presswork.

Enhancing Direct Mail: The Impact of Personalization and Specialty Print in a Digital Era

A recent study of print demand in key vertical industries found the transition to digital is undeniable, but direct mail remains a vital component of modern messaging campaigns. This article explores how personalization and specialty print can further increase the effectiveness of direct mail.

Amazon’s Switch to Paper Fillers: Sustainable, but Highly Profitable

Amazon is eliminating its use of air pillows for its e-commerce packaging in favor of paper fillers. Heidi Tolliver-Walker looks at the real benefits of this switch.

Sizing the Print Industry in Europe—Bulgaria

This bi-weekly series of short articles provides some country details on the size of the printing industry in Europe per country, especially tracking the number of printing establishments. This time we look at Bulgaria.

Product Spotlight: New RISO Printing Unit Integlide Offers Easy Integration for Package Printing

The new RISO inkjet printing unit, marketed as Integlide, is intended for OEMs and other inkjet developers and integrators. The target customer for Integlide is expected to integrate RISO’s inkjet technology with their own production lines, or develop a complete corrugated packaging press, depending on their needs. Inkjet Insight’s Elizabeth Gooding takes a close look in this Product Spotlight.

Plastics: Promises or Progress?

In June, we published an article comparing how the plastics industry presents itself to the marketplace, comparing it to when the tobacco industry was trying to save itself. In this article, we look at Plastic Promises and whether the industry is truly living up to them or are they gaslighting us?

Stationery Product Manufacturing—2010–2021

According to County Business Patterns, in 2021 there were 318 establishments in NAICS 32223 (Stationery Product Manufacturing). This category saw a net decrease in establishments of -36% since 2010. In macro news, June inflation was practically 0.

Around the Web: Bead Bodega. Refrigerator Revolution. Chucking Checks. Trainer Tech. Automotive Audio. Cosmic Collision. S’more Story. Pickle Pastry.

Snack food packaging replicated using beads. A 3D-printed chair that is easy to assemble. The “Cold-Storage Banquet” of 1911 was the most frightening meal ever: it was the first to ever feature foods that had been refrigerated. Target will no longer accept personal checks. Nike is no longer supporting the app for its self-lacing sneakers. Electric vehicles make no noise, but are required to—what should they sound like? The James Webb Space Telescope captured two massive asteroids colliding in a nearby star system. A history of s’mores. Pickle cupcakes, for some reason. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

The Value of Embellishments: Making the Most of Your Printed Communications

Human beings love bright and shiny things. Glimmering objects have a way of catching our attention, and people tend to associate shine with higher quality. Many of today’s digital printing devices come equipped with specialty inks, inline or near line spot coating, varnishes, or finishing methods that make it easier than ever to produce high-value printed products in short runs. This article explores the appeal of embellished printing.

Growth in Shopping and Dining Drive Opportunities in Wide Format

Heidi Tolliver-Walker looks at two of the biggest markets for wide-format graphics: retail and dining.

An Overview of Strategy So Far

In the latest installment in the Smart Strategy Insights series, Wayne Lynn looks at the broad outlines of what strategy is and how it is created.

Sizing the Printing Industry in Europe—Belgium

This bi-weekly series of short articles provides some country details on the size of the printing industry in Europe per country, especially tracking the number of printing establishments. This time we look at Belgium.

OOPS! Your Vendor Isn’t Ready to Deliver to You! Now What?

For every product in our industry, hardware and software, there is a development cycle. Product managers use one of the standard methods to guide the development, testing, and release of new products and product updates, but sometimes things don’t go as planned. That can impact an anticipated machine installation, firmware upgrade, or software update. How hard should you push?

Upcoming EU Sustainability Regulations—Part 2: Deforestation Regulation

Intergraf, the European association of the national print associations, held its annual “Print Matters” conference in June 2024 in Romania. Among the topics covered, two garnered special interest: the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the EU deforestation regulation (EUDR). In this article, European section editor Ralf Schlözer looks at the EUDR.

Why Reaching Net Zero is More Urgent Than Ever Before: Defining Sustainability, What the Latest Climate Changes Mean for the Planet, and What You Can Do About It

Hurricane Beryl placed a spotlight on the accelerating effects of climate change on the planet, as did the rash of deadly heat waves seen around the planet. Why was understanding what caused Beryl to form as the earliest hurricane ever to reach Category 5, and the impact those conditions are having on our planet as a whole, are discussed here, along with references to the UN’s sustainable development goals that highlight actions each and every one of us can take to protect the planet.

Around the Web: Freeway Fix. Packaging Poetry. Tee Type. Singularity Sequel. Cap Conundrum. Supermarket Silence. Canonized Kid. Hair Horror. Pomme Pillow.

A renegade street artist fixed an LA freeway sign. “Blackout poetry” makes art out of packaging. “Why is soccer jersey typography so bad?” Ray Kurzweil is still planning to merge his consciousness with AI. A better design for tethered bottle caps. Why don’t Aldi supermarkets play music? A warp drive is actually a thing. The Vatican is about to canonize the first Millennial saint. The man who was killed by his own beard. Shake Shack’s new french fry body pillow. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

April Shipments: A Pleasant Surprise

April 2024 shipments came in at $7.30 billion, up from March’s $7.24 billion—an unexpected but welcome rebound.

Group Purchasing Organizations Offer Strength—and Savings—in Numbers

Discounts, rebates, and other incentives that are available to printers who purchase jointly can add up to tens of thousands of dollars worth of savings per year—and often more than that. Mutually beneficial group partnerships with vendors make the savings possible.

Unleashing the Potential of Fabric Design Through Advanced Dye-Sublimation Innovation: Meet Colourama

Colourama, a Polish textile printing firm, hosts a production volume of 12,000 to 15,000 linear meters of printed textile daily. Its diversified operations span an in-house design studio creating exclusive design collections for global distribution. Textile expert and WhatTheyThink contributor Debbie McKeegan explains more about the business and its road to success.

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