Printing Industry Commentary & Analysis

Textile Printing Is Better with PDF

At drupa 24, Adobe was demonstrating how PDF can be used for textile production. David Zwang reports from drupa’s touchpoint textile display area.

Panic in Plastics?

Are plastics manufactures starting to panic? I only ask because it seems that CNN—and maybe others—are being inundated by pro-plastic ads, reminiscent of when Big Tobacco was trying to save itself. In this article, we look at some of the PR plastics organizations are putting out, and you can draw your own conclusions!

Global Perspectives—Innovation and Resilience: The Fundamental Pillars of Portugal’s Print Businesses

Each edition of the drupa daily featured a Global Perspectives article that looked at the state of the printing industry in a specific nation or region. In this article, Alice Machado profiles Portugal.

Canon: The Power To Move Publishing

In this article, written and sponsored by Canon, the company looks at trends in publishing and how the products on display in Canon’s Publishing Zone drupa display help publication printers overcome these challenges.

Landa Showing B1 Digital Press with Offset Capacity

Landa Digital Print’s tagline for drupa 2024 was “Run More,” and they supported that with the introduction of new “faster and smarter” presses. David Zwang looks at the S11 simplex and S11P duplex B1 presses.

Kodak: A Partner for Analog and Digital

Ralf Schlözer looks at the analog and digital solutions Kodak was showcasing at drupa 24, including a new Sonora Ultra process-free plate, a new large-format platesetter, the Magnus Q3600 Titan, and the Prosper Ultra 520 press.

HP and Cimpress Embark On A New Chapter Of Collaboration

David Zwang reports from drupa 24 on the HP/Cimpress partnership and how Cimpress s actively contributing to the development of the newly announced HP Indigo 120K Digital Press.

Winning in Flexible Packaging through Chem-Stack Design

Inkjet Insight's Mary Schilling looks at Paper Converting Machine Company (PCMC), which was showcasing its flexible packaging printing capabilities at drupa 24.

Around the Web: Dye Discovery. Clay Creativity. Collapsing King. Autocorrect Adversaries. Tape Talk. Machine Muting. Retail Riffing. Bee Brew. Pool Potable.

Trying to recreate a long lost “recipe” for blue dye. Costco is now only selling books at Christmas. A Polish artist works with “3D-printed clay” to create unusual textures. A 3D-printed chess king that will collapse when checkmated. People whose names are routinely autocorrected have had enough. All about duct tape. Engineering students invent a leaf blower silencer. A new exhibition dedicated to MAD Magazine and we are so going. A heavy metal band turns UPC codes into guitar tabs for serious consumer product riffing. Microbiologists have brewed a beer using yeast obtained from the guts of killer bees, for some reason. Here’s a term we had never heard before: smoothie keg. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Other Paperboard Container Manufacturing Establishments—2010–2021

According to County Business Patterns, in 2021 there were 276 establishments in NAICS 322219 (Other Paperboard Container Manufacturing). This category saw a net decrease in establishments of -21% since 2010. In macro news, inflation was virtually unchanged in May.

The Plockmatic Group Celebrates 50 Successful and Innovative Years at drupa

In this article, written and sponsored by The Plockmatic Group, recounts the company's booklet making and feeding solutions as it marks its 50th anniversary at drupa 24.

How Midnight Oil Makes Pressroom Magic by Focusing on the Basics of Lithography

Offset lithographic presses have come a long way, but the offset lithographic process remains what it always has been. Optimizing the process with specially developed inks and chemistry has helped one plant achieve results so striking that they sometimes can be hard to believe. Patrick Henry looks at Midnight Oil, which has specialized in precisely this kind of impossible-dream offset lithographic printing for at least a decade.

Heidelberg Stakes New Claim to Industrial Inkjet with Jetfire

At drupa 24, Heidelberg announced the Jetfire 50 B3 and Jetfire 75 B2 presses, introduced in partnership with Canon, designed as solutions for hybrid production in combined offset and digital environments. Patrick Henry looks at the details of the announcement.

Advanced New Robotics and Next Generation Digital Cutting Technology Revealed by Kongsberg PCS

In this article, sponsored and written by Kongsberg Precision Systems, the company describes the new technologies the company showed for the first time at drupa 24, including the new Kongsberg Ultimate. It also looks to the future of automation.

All4Labels and HP Announce Multi-Unit Press Deal

As All4Labels continues its plans to completely digitize its production floors, the company announced at drupa 24 that it was investing in several units of HP Indigo V12, HP Indigo 200K and the enhanced version of the HP PageWide Advantage 2200. David Zwang looks at the details of this investment.

Sustainability Front and Center at EFI drupa Stand

In this article, sponsored by EFI, Cary Sherburne looks at the company’s sustainability efforts, ranging from its Reggiani ecoTERRA pigment textile printer, Nozomi’s sustainability credentials as compared to analog printing processes, new aqueous inks being used in the new EFI Nozomi 14000 AQ single-pass inkjet technology for corrugated packaging and displays, and the Nozomi 12000 MP single-pass LED inkjet technology for direct-to-metal printing using GREENGUARD Gold certified UV LED inks.

Global Perspectives: Printing Industry in the DACH Region—The Future Lies in Change!

The challenges facing the printing industry in the DACH region are similar to those in the rest of Western Europe. The multitude of geopolitical crises, the persistently high energy costs and the resulting rise in inflation and interest rates have led to uncertainty in the market—which has also had a direct impact on the printing industry. Knud Wassermann of Vienna’s Graphische Revue, looks at the state of the printing industry in the region comprising Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

BOBST Unveils Innovative Solutions and Forges Strategic Partnerships at drupa 2024

In this article, sponsored and written by BOBST, the company announced its latest solutions and strategic partnerships to help shape the future of the packaging world, contributing to a new era in packaging where the entire production line is connected, enabling seamless end-to-end workflows.

Epson Design Awards 2024: A Creative Celebration of Inclusivity, Sustainability, and Innovation

The 2024 Epson Design Awards honored outstanding creativity, unity, and progressive thinking in fashion design across the Benelux region. With inclusivity and diversity at the forefront, designers from various backgrounds converged to showcase their talents and ingenuity in a celebration of artistry and innovation. Debbie McKeegan looks at this year’s winners.

Will India Hold the Scepter of Print and Packaging Growth in the Next Five Years? An Overview

Each edition of the drupa daily featured a Global Perspectives article that looked at the state of the printing industry in a specific nation or region. In this article, PrintWeek/WhatPackaging? Managing editor Noel D’Cunha looks at the state of the printing industry in India.)

Strategy Does Not Exist in a Vacuum

In the latest installment in the Smart Strategy Insights series, Wayne Lynn explains how strategy is possible only after looking at the big picture of the economy, society, and industry your company is part of. Looking at the industries of your customers will help to predict trends, and changes in trends. These inevitably impact the growth or decline of your business.

CloudLab’s printQ, packQ Simplify W2P Product Design

At drupa 24, CloudLab announced two new web-to-print solutions—printQ and packQ—to enable printers of all sizes to quickly create products for their e-commerce customers without the need for IT support or long learning curves.

FUJIFILM Dimatix Introduces The SkyFire® SF600 Next Generation Printhead

At drupa 24, Fujifilm announced the new Dimatix SkyFire SF600 printhead. David Zwang taskes a close look at this announcement.

BW Converting Unlocks Next-Gen Printing, Packaging and Mail Solutions at drupa 2024

In this article, sponsored and written by BW Converting, the company explains how at drupa 24 it launched an updated branding identity on the heels of incorporating leading print and industrial technology company Baldwin into its roster.

Make Your New Hires Productive!

Hiring new people is exciting and agitating at the same time. Hire experienced people and you may need to retrain them away from how they have done things in the past. Hire inexperienced people and you need a plan to get them up-to-speed on processes and procedures. It takes a plan!

Modern Flexo: Driving the Transformation of Packaging Production

In this article, sponsored by Miraclon, David Zwang’s looks at recent developments in the technical “rebirth” of flexography that are allowing it to remain competitive as the go-to process for packaging production.

eProductivity Software Unveils New MIS for Commercial Printers

This article, written and sponsored by eProductivity Software, takes a look at Nubium, a cloud-native MIS solution designed for the underserved small- to medium-sized commercial print market, which was launched at drupa 24.

KAMA Takes a Bite Out of Digital Embellishments With New Hammerhead Tech at drupa 2024

Embellishment guru Kevin Abergel looks at KAMA’s unique approach to automation and digital embellishments and their major presence at drupa 24.

Global Perspectives: Print in Western Europe

Each edition of the drupa daily featured a Global Perspectives article that looked at the state of the printing industry in a specific nation or region. In this article, Sean Smyth profiles Western Europe.

Print Industry Banks on Sustainability

This article looks at how print businesses are embracing the concept of sustainability which, for some, is more than a green ethical choice.

EFI Takes Nozomi to an Entirely New Level with the X5 Nozomi in Partnership with Packsize

At drupa, EFI launched the latest breakthrough version of the EFI Nozomi single-pass direct-to-corrugated printer. With more than 60 Nozomi units installed worldwide, this brand-new version takes the Nozomi platform to an entirely new level.

HP and Canva Announce Partnership to Democratize Design and Printing

HP and Canva announced that they will join forces in a groundbreaking collaboration to provide unique design-to-print services and experiences for over 185 million monthly Canva users with HP Print Service Providers across the globe.

The Landa Legacy: Innovation and More Innovation, and It’s All About Sustainability

For years, Benny Landa has been saying that anything that can go digital, will go digital. In this interview, conducted at drupa 2024, Landa talks about the digital innovation Indigo and Landa Digital Printing brought to market, and so much more. You will be surprised at the breadth of the work The Landa Group and Landa Labs is doing to help preserve our planet.

The Target Report: Book Manufacturing in Turmoil—May 2024 M&A Activity

Grafica Venata Acquires P.A. Hutchison, OPM Closes Plant and more …

Vertical Market Research from Keypoint Intelligence Uncovers Key Industry Trends

In late 2023, Keypoint Intelligence completed a comprehensive multi-client study to gain a better understanding of how print demand is changing in key vertical industries. The vertical industries that were covered in depth include education, finance/banking, healthcare, hospitality, insurance, manufacturing, retail, and publishing.

Johnson's World: Live Your Life in Totality

Johnson’s World is in eclipse as Steve Johnson derives life lessons from last April’s “eclipse tourism.”

Tales from the Database: Finishing Up

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 issue, we turn our attention to various aspects of finishing, including mailing and embellishments.

Around the Web: Sign Shack. Agar Art. Hideous Handset. Hitch Homage. Arachnid Arrival. Clever Cabinet. Kellogg’s Crocs.

A woman lived inside a store’s rooftop sign for nearly a year. Creating art with modified E. coli. A phone so horrible no one will mind losing it. A mosaic tribute to Alfred Hitchcock in the Leytonstone Tube station. A winery specializes in creative and humorous wine descriptions. “Giant venomous flying spiders with 4-inch legs heading to New York area.” An automated step-pedal kitchen cabinet. Oscar Mayer’s gummy bologna. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Understanding Acronyms: What’s in a Name?

In specific industries or communities, acronyms can signify membership or expertise. They act as shorthand that only a select few understand, which can foster a sense of belonging. Successfully applying today's acronyms when talking with your clients involves more than just inserting trendy terms into conversations. It requires understanding your audience and the context in which the acronyms are used. This article explores acronyms and offers strategies on using them without alienating your customers.

How to Conquer Trade Show Season

Some folks have not gotten their trade show mojo back after the pandemic lockdown year, but after drupa, trade show season kicks off in earnest. Joanne Gore explains how to get your event groove back on and “survive” trade show season.

Table Talk: New Options for Display Graphics Cutting and Finishing

A round up of some of the latest wide-format cutting table product introductions.

AI In Textiles: A Different Approach

Cary Sherburne speaks with Dr. Seshadri Ramkumar, professor in the Department of Environmental Toxicology and The Institute of Environmental and Human Health, Texas Tech University, about a unique approach to using AI to make textiles more sustainable.

Packaging Automation from Ranpak Delivers Improved Results for Packing Operations

The packaging industry is poised for a transformative shift in the coming decade, with governments and brands actively pushing for change through legislation and innovative packaging solutions. To gain an understanding of how brands and retailers and the packing companies that support them can make this transition, Cary Sherburne spoke with Bryan Boatner, Global Managing Director for Automation at Ranpak.

Employee Recognition Programs Keep the Presses Busy, Too!

Employee recognition programs bring tangible benefits to companies that implement them. Printers serving those customers have an opportunity to get more “share of customer” by producing printed products to support those programs.

Building the Best Print Production Workflow: Leveraging Finishing Capabilities for Optimal Results

Finishing is the final gate for every print project. Successful, efficient finishing relies on the design, prepress, and print processes to ensure that the rolls or sheets can be finished as called for in the specifications. To optimize finishing, begin the design process with a clear view of the intended finishing. Cut marks, crease and fold locations, sheet binding, and every other finishing process will be smoother and more efficient!

The Pioneering Journey of Hudson Printing into Digital Embellishment

Paul Hudson believes in reinvention, and he believes in print. With the addition of new embellishment capabilities to augment his offset and digital print production solutions, he is leading Hudson Printing in Salt Lake City into a new era. Static and variable embellishment on a significant range of substrates allows them to produce spectacular magazine covers, postcards, and other commercial work for their growing clientele.

Die Cutting: The Latest Trends

Die cutting has been around for a long time, however the growth packaging and of shorter run packaging as well as display production has increased the need for die cutting dramatically. There are lots of new types of die cutting solutions in the market and more coming. In the end it is all about application.

Executive Q&A: Konica Minolta’s William Troxil

This issue, we spoke with William Troxil, who served the past ten years as President of the Industrial Print and Production Print Business at Konica Minolta Business Solutions and just promoted to a new and expanded role of Advisor to the CEO, about the company’s finishing and embellishment offerings, the relationships they have with their customers, and how the industrial print business is the growth area for the industry.

Welcome to the Finishing & Embellishments Issue!

This week, we are publishing the content from our latest print edition, Issue Three: Finishing & Embellishments. Here’s a preview.

About the WhatTheyThink Print Edition Cover

How the special embellished print edition cover was created, thanks to Konica Minolta and Burlington, N.C.’s Elite Print Finishing. It’s a design that demonstrates new techniques using texture, color, and form to inspire and show “the art of what’s possible.”

The Evolution of Digital Embellishment: A Glimpse into the Latest Innovations

Embellishment guru Kevin Abergel looks at advances in embellishment technologies from established players as well as new entrants. We’re heading into a transformative phase in digital printing and finishing. This article provides an overview of what was on display at drupa and what will be hitting the market post-show.

Around the Web: Apostrophe Annihilation. Staff Stamp. Essential Elements. Quill Queries. Speaking Cetacean. Odd Orcas. Webb Weather.

British towns are removing apostrophes from street signs as, it claims, they can cause trouble with geographical databases. To celebrate the baguette, the French Post Office has released a commemorative scratch-and-sniff postage stamp. Broadband plans now required to have “nutrition labels” that spell out what you’re getting and for how much. A cute stop-motion animation in which little felt spray cans appear to spray wool “paint.” How many Periodic Table elements are actually in the human body? Before alarm clocks, you could hire a “knocker upper.” Researchers used AI to decode sperm whale clicks. Are we in the midst of an orca uprising? Burger King celebrates its birthday with 70¢ specials. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

April Graphic Arts Employment A Mixed Bag

Overall printing employment in April 2024 was generally up—+0.5% from March—with production employment up +1.3% and non-production employment down +1.4%.

Looking Beyond Commercial Print with Mimaki

Mimaki is looking beyond the traditional paper-based print applications. Ralf Schlözer reports from Mimaki's drupa 24 press conference.

People Profile: Dr. Raša Urbas

WhatTheyThink/drupa daily is profiling selected attendees to this year's drupa 24. David Zwang profiles Dr. Rasa Urbas, Head of the Chair of Information and Graphic Arts Technology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering, University of Ljubljana.

Heidelberg Stakes New Claim to Industrial Inkjet with Jetfire

Patrick Henry reports from drupa 24 on Heidelberg's return to industrial inkjet printing with a pair of machines introduced in partnership with Canon.

Drupa 2024 Officially Kicks Off!

Drupa 24, eight years in the making, opened yesterday to much excitement. European Section Editor Ralf Schlozer attended the opening ceremony.

FUJIFILM Dimatix Introduces The SkyFire® SF600 Next Generation Printhead

At drupa 2024, FUJIFILM introduced the FUJIFILM Dimatix SkyFire® SF600 printhead. David Zwang provides an overview.

EFI Supports WhatTheyThink’s drupa Video Studio with Stunning Fabric Designs

WhatTheyThink partnered with EFI to use EFI Reggiani digitally printed textiles to accent the professional video studio WhatTheyThink operated onsite at drupa 2024.

Canon Announces Heidelberg Co-Operation and New Technologies at drupa 2024

In this article, sponsored and written by Canon, the company announced at drupa 24 a global sales and service co-operation in inkjet printing with Heidelberger Druckmaschinen which will see the varioPRINT iX3200 B3 sheetfed inkjet press and the newly announced varioPRESS iV7 B2 sheetfed inkjet press integrated into Heidelberg’s commercial print portfolio. Canobn also announced other new technologies.

WhatTheyThink and HP Join Forces to Make drupa daily 2024 Incomparable

The drupa daily for drupa 24 was produced in conjunction with HP Indigo, whose HP SmartStream Designer technology allowed every cover to have a unique image. This article looks inside the production of the daily.

Kongsberg Precision Cutting Systems Collaborates with WhatTheyThink at drupa

This article looks at how Kongsberg Precision Cutting Systems partnered with WhatTheyThink to produce the display stands for the drupa daily.

Canon Moves into B2 Inkjet

As drupa 24 opens, Canon has announced that it is launching its first B2 size press, the varioPRESS iV7. Ralf Schlözer takes a look at the announcement.

Why Should I Work for YOU?

The print industry is facing labor challenges at every level. The complaint is that no one is applying for open jobs, and when candidates do apply and get accepted, they don’t stay. It’s easy to point fingers at the upcoming generations and say that they don’t want to work, but is that really what’s happening?

Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing—2010–2021

According to County Business Patterns, in 2021 there were 578 establishments in NAICS 322212 (Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing). This category saw a net decrease of 18% since 2010. In macro news,inflation in April eased a bit.

Around the Web: Colour Compendium. Distributor Dilemma. Mail Man. Eel Edification. Softee Search. Atmosphere Antics. Gooey Gold.

Another tome for those building a color reference book library. Small Press Distribution abruptly closes, leaving small publishers in the lurch. Deloitte’s brand new Global 2024 Gen Z and Millennial Survey is out. Meet Reginald Bray, “The Human Letter.” A livestreaming portal connected New York City and Dublin—for a bit. Everything you ever wanted to know about eels. Find the nearest ice cream truck with the Mister Softee app. The James Webb Space telescope finds a distant exoplanet has an atmosphere, of sorts. Reese’s introduces an Olympic medal-shaped peanut butter cup. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Save the Printers! Major Ukrainian Print House Hit

In the Ukrainian city of Charkiw, dubbed “The City of Print,” Faktor Druk survived the first round of attacks in 2022. One of the largest printing houses in Ukraine, it remained open, albeit at reduced capacity—until yesterday, when the company was hit by a Russian rocket, killing staff and damaging production considerably. Donations to help the victims and rebuild production are welcome.

Minimalist Packaging: A Focus on Sustainability and Smart Design

Minimalist packaging is not a fleeting trend. It involves using the fewest possible elements to package a product while still effectively protecting and presenting it. This article explores how minimalist packaging design is impacting every layer of the packaging food chain, including brand owners, designers, converters, digital equipment manufacturers, and consumers.

CBM Labeling Challenges Looking for a Solution

Heid Tolliver-Walker looks at SkinDip’t, a Maryland-based provider of CBD products, and their unique labeling challenges.

The Essence of Strategy

In the second installment in his Smart Strategy Insights, Wayne Lynn explains how “strategy” is figuring out how to overcome the obstacles that stand between where you are and where you want to go.

Thysse: A Mindset of Growth

Heidi Tolliver-Walker profiles Thysse, a third-generation family business based in Madison, Wis., and the subject of the latest documentary from WhatTheyThink Films!

Maximizing Profitability: Data Driven Solutions for the Packaging Industry—Using Data and Business Intelligence to Drive Efficiency and Profits

In this article, written and sponsored by HiFlow Solutions, previews a webinar, hosted by Florida Graphic Alliance, that will help print businesses unlock insights into their costing process. The focus will be on determining the true costs by showcasing how software tools can automate a shop's costing system.

Four-Color Offset Press Gifted to Women’s Press Collective Is Put to Good Use

A shop run entirely by volunteers in the Bronx is teaching its members to print for the greater good with the help of friends in the printing industry.

An Expert Looks Back at Offset’s Progress from Art to Craft to Science

Once, the only consistent thing about offset lithography was its inconsistency. Harvey Levenson explains how testing, testing, and more testing stabilized the process and optimized its results.

Are U.S. Consumers Taking Sustainability Seriously?

Last month we wrote about the fact that among a wide range of organizations, progress toward sustainability goals has been lackluster, to say the least. In this article, we drill down on responsibility and accountability of individuals—looking at you!—in helping sustain our planet for our children, grandchildren, and beyond.

March Shipments: We Got Good News and Bad News

March 2024 shipments came in at $7.24 billion, up from February’s $7.04 billion—and yet the worst March the industry has had.

Around the Web: Aromatic Ads. Planted Plantagenet. Boat Brouhaha. Writing Removal. Print Preference. Gabbing Greenery. Organic Optics. Tank Trade. Waffle Wear.

The first scented billboard. Uncovering the remains of Richard III. Ordered to hide your boat from public view? Build a fence and paint a boat on it! Eliminating inaccessible graffiti using spray-painting drones. Costumed park rangers in Illinois act out the cicada emergence. Video of plants “talking” to each other. The winner of the annual Ugly Muppet Toy Pageant. The James Webb Space Telescope discovered complex organic chemicals surrounding two protostars. Red Lobster is closing locations and auctioning off their equipment. Eggo launches waffle-themed sneakers. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

The Display Graphics Evolution: Roland DG

This is the second in a series of articles that looks at the evolution of display graphics equipment manufacturers and their portfolios. Up next: Roland DG.

Market Shifts and the Impact of Behaviors/Trends on the Future of Print

In this article, textiles expert and WhatTheyThink contributor Debbie McKeegan shares insights she gained from Kristine Go, founder of Pattern Curator—a Print forecasting and design service concept based in New Jersey. This includes macro trends in fashion design, sustainability, and socioeconomic and technological trends.

Let’s Talk About Weed!

Heidi Tolliver-Walker offers some tips for how print businesses can tap into the growing market for cannabis products.

3 Signs Your Print Workflow Software Is Sabotaging Your Business

Oops! You might have bought the wrong software. Or, you may have outgrown the software you are using. The right software should integrate seamlessly, provide the needed features, and include ongoing vendor support. By being proactive, you can ensure your print software empowers your business, not hinders it.

Offset Stands Ready to Take its Rightful Place at drupa 2024

Those investigating their options in offset lithography will find an abundance of progress made within the category at drupa 2024. Offset section editor Patrick Henry rounds up what the major offset press manufacturers will be demonstrating on the show floor in Düsseldorf.

Gelato Connect: Software for—and from—On-Demand Printing

Procurement, workflows, and logistics need to be connected and optimized into one single workflow, as online print service providers need to be masters in cost-efficient and fast-turnaround print production spanning multiple sites and production devices. European section editor Ralf Schlözer points out how, in a remarkable move, online print provider Gelato is now opening up its software solution and production platform, GelatoConnect, to all print service providers.

Greenstalling: What Is It and Why Does It Matter?

As climate conditions continue to deteriorate and brands, retailers, government, companies and other organizations continue to message about how they will help to get to Net Zero, there are lots of “green” words being used, some of which are pejorative. For example, greenwashing, greenwishing, greenhushing, and now a new one: greenstalling. In this article we discuss those terms and why brands should avoid being associated with them.

Around the Web: Type Tome. Thames Type. Plato’s Plot. Bubbler Button. Gold Graphene. Quantum Quandary. Cryptic Creature. Cicada Swarms. Sriracha Shortage.

A new book looks at the 20th-century rise of typography. A dedicated designer retrieved the presumed lost Doves Type. A new AI-related Internet term is the new “spam.” AI helps find Plato’s burial spot. The Verge pays tribute to the water fountain button. The Australian Olympic Team will be sporting graphene-enhanced apparel at the Paris Olympics. A new image captures atoms behaving like waves, the hitherto unseen basis of quantum mechanics. NASA researchers have created an animation that takes the viewer into the black hole. The decades-long search for the Mongolian death worm. Prepare for trillions of cicadas to emerge, if they haven’t already. A pepper shortage is causing Huy Fong to cancel shipments of sriracha until the fall. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Paperboard Container Manufacturing Establishments—2010–2021

According to County Business Patterns, in 2021 there were 1,895 establishments in NAICS 32221 (Paperboard Container Manufacturing). This category saw a net decrease of 15% since 2010. In macro news, early Q2 GDP predictions are bullish.

Understanding Communication Preferences to Maximize Engagement

Consumer preferences are changing all the time, so print service providers find themselves at a critical juncture. To remain relevant, service providers must acknowledge and respond to the dynamic shifts in communication preferences. This article delves deeper into customers’ communication preferences, highlighting Keypoint Intelligence data on the trends that are shaping today’s direct marketing spending.

Smart Strategy Insights

Wayne Lynn kicks off his new Smart Strategy Insights series with an identification of what he means by strategy, which its components are, and why it is a vital skill set for leaders to possess.

Testing AI Image Generation for Personalized Packaging

We’ve written about AI image creation before, but this technology is always improving. Particularly for business use. Even traditional stock sites like iStock are offering their own options for AI-generated art.

The Target Report: Paper Manufacturers Shift Grades—April 2024 M&A Activity

International Paper Acquires DS Smith, and more …

Seven More Takeaways from the Online Print Symposium 2024

European section editor Ralf Schlözer highlights seven more takeaways from March's Online print Symposium that could be labelled "success factors" for online printing companies.

Transform Your Operation: Join Industry Leaders to Tackle Your Toughest Document Challenges at DSF ‘24

Attend DSF ’24 to gain actionable insights for Customer Communications Management (CCM), Document Management, and Content Management. Artificial intelligence with dynamic sessions and exhibitors focused on: Gen-AI, workflow automation, Customer Experience, and document migration.

March Graphic Arts Employment A Mixed Bag

Overall printing employment in March 2024 was generally up—+0.4% from February—with production employment down -0.2% and non-production employment up +1.5%.

Around the Web: Color Caution. Kicky Keyboard. Dyed Dairy. Bread Beanie. Polaroid Poems. Domestic Droid. Mutant Mouse. New Nebula. Bison Bashing. Marvelous Moody.

The color “magenta” has been designated the “worst and deadliest” of the heat threat categories. RIP author Paul Auster. In an old movie musical, a couple dance on a giant typewriter. Just in time for Star Wars Day, dairy producer TruMoo has introduced Blue Milk. Just in time for Kentucky Derby Day, Panera has introduced the “Bread Hat.” A camera that uses AI to compose a poem based on a picture it has just taken. We’re still trying to get true 5G wireless, but over in Japan, 6G is on the way. A domestic robot capable of performing a variety of household tasks. Scientists in Portugal accidently created a six-legged mouse. The James Webb Space telescope zooms in on the Horsehead Nebula. “Man accused of kicking a bison at Yellowstone National Park,” for some reason. RIP Mike Pinder. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Creative Collaboration and Industry Highlights from London Design Week 2024

London Design Week 2024, held at the iconic Chelsea Harbour, is an event filled with innovative, fresh ideas for textiles, wallcoverings, lighting and flooring, furniture and beyond. It's a chance for designers to showcase their work to a broad audience and to especially feature sustainable designs. Debbie McKeegan, textiles expert and WhatTheyThink contributor, explains.

Offset Lithography: Never More Relevant to Printing than Now

A printing process born in the 19th century remains the most-used method of graphic reproduction in the 21st. This is because of the tremendous technological advancements it has made and the rich profit opportunities its users continue to enjoy. A new editorial section, debuting here, will chart offset’s ongoing innovations and market success.

How Offset Ink Rises to the Challenge of High-Output Print Production

Technical advancements in offset lithographic ink typically don’t attract much notice. But they’re real, and they are as essential to quality as everything else that goes into offset litho presswork.

HubSpot’s State of Marketing 2024: Don’t Like AI? Get Over It

According to HubSpot, marketing has moved from the Age of Information to the Age of Intelligence. With so much information out there, the ability to filter and analyze data in ways that provide meaningful insights has become increasingly difficult. So if you don’t like AI, it’s time to get over it.

Navigating the Print Industry Community: User Groups vs. Customer Advisory Councils

There are many ways to learn about the latest changes in the print and e-communication industry. Industry associations and the events they host are a good start. The next most valuable sources are the user groups and vendor customer councils. They let you dial into the specific information that will help you grow your business.

Commentary & Analysis

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