Printing Industry Commentary & Analysis

Inkjet Shopping Guide – Label Presses – Part 2

Published August 23, 2023

Inkjet label presses come in different sizes and from a raft of different vendors, making selecting a device challenging. This article focuses on mid-to high-volume printers and will be followed by a third instalment on hybrid presses, which combine inkjet and analogue print.

Turnover and Employment in Print in Europe—Portugal

Published August 21, 2023

This bi-weekly series of 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 Portugal, the 15th-largest printing industry by turnover in Europe.

Finding and Developing Talent for the Printing Industry

Published August 15, 2023

At the top of the list of printing industry issues is a lack of skilled labor. The only difference now is that the shortage it is getting more severe and is affecting the pool of non-skilled labor as well. European section editor Ralf Schlözer looks at Germany’s vocational training initiative and the challenges it faces in supplying talent to the printing industry.

Inkjet Shopping Guide: Label Presses – Part 1

Published August 10, 2023

Labels are a large and growing market for inkjet presses with more than 25 suppliers serving the market. The buyer’s guide for label presses discusses segments, major decision criteria, and products currently on offer by segment. Part 1 introduces the main segments and printers available in the entry-level segment.

Turnover and Employment in Print in Europe—Hungary

Published August 1, 2023

This 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 Hungary, the 13th-largest printing industry by turnover in Europe and third largest in Central and Eastern Europe.

Zaikio: Progressing in Procurement

Published July 31, 2023

European section editor Ralf Schlözer takes a look at the current state of Zaikio, and its recent integration of a procurement app that can aid or fully automate supplies ordering processes.

Turnover and Employment in Print in Europe—Austria

Published July 25, 2023

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 Austria, the tenth-largest printing industry by turnover in Europe.

Ink, Sustainability, and Regulatory Challenges

Published July 17, 2023

A raft of legislation under the European Green Deal has been, or is planned to be, implemented by the EU to make society more sustainable. The activity with the biggest impact on the printing and packaging industry is the Packaging & Packaging Waste regulation. European section editor Ralf Schlözer looks at the issues involved in and potential impacts of these new laws.

Using B2 inkjet flexibility for packaging print

Published July 11, 2023

B2 inkjet presses can be a relatively cost-efficient way for moving into packaging print. The flexibility of the presses does allow for commercial and packaging print. User feedback shows that these presses can be successfully used for packaging or mixed environments.

Turnover and Employment in Print in Europe—Finland

Published July 11, 2023

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 Finland, the 14th largest printing industry by turnover in Europe and the second largest in the Nordic region.

Executive Q&A: Kyocera’s Jose Maria Estebanez

Published July 10, 2023

WhatTheyThink European Section Editor Ralf Schlözer talks with Jose Maria Estebanez, Vice President of Corporate Marketing for Kyocera, about the company’s first production inkjet press, the TASKalfa Pro 15000c.

Inkjet on Metal

Published June 29, 2023

One fascinating property of inkjet is its ability to print on almost any substrate – with the right inks and transport as a prerequisite. Metal is not the newest substrate for inkjet, however, mainstream adoption is just about to start.

Intergraf’s Print Matters for the Future Conference 2023 Looks at Industry Megatrends

Published June 26, 2023

Print Matters is an annual conference, organized by Intergraf, the European association of the national print associations, and the Nordic Printing Association NOPA. The 2023 conference took place in Riga, Latvia, and focuses on some of the most pressing issues of the European printing industry. European section editor Ralf Schlözer runs down the highlights of the presentations.

Scanning head versus fixed array inkjet

Published June 21, 2023

At FESPA 2023 in Munich, more than four halls of exhibits demonstrated the wide choice of scanning head inkjet printing available.

Turnover and Employment in Print in Europe—Czechia

Published June 14, 2023

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 Czechia (also called Czech Republic), the eleventh-largest printing industry by turnover in Europe and the second largest in Central and Eastern Europe.

Here Come the Robots—News and Trends from FESPA 2023

Published June 12, 2023

The FESPA Global Print Expo was held in Münich, Germany, May 23 to 26. WhatTheyThink European section editor Ralf Schlözer attended and identifies some highlights from the show.

Fighting Deforestation by Tracking Print

Published May 30, 2023

The European Union is introducing a regulation on deforestation-free products as part of the European Green Deal. European section editor Ralf Schlözer digs into what the new rules mean for printers.

Looking Out for Print at Interpack 2023

Published May 22, 2023

European section editor Ralf Schlözer reports from Interpack, held May 4–10 in Düsseldorf, Germany. Interpack focuses on technologies and materials for filling, packaging, and packaging printing.

Turnover and Employment in Print in Europe—Poland

Published May 15, 2023

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 Poland, the sixth-largest printing industry by turnover in Europe and the largest in Central and Eastern Europe.

Optimising inkjet paper supply with autosplicers

Published May 4, 2023

With inkjet moving into high quality, commercial print the prerequisites have changed. Faster speeds trigger more roll changes. Frequent paper changes and high productivity requirements call for automated solutions.

Turnover and Employment in Print in Europe—Sweden

Published May 1, 2023

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 Sweden, the 12th-largest printing industry by turnover in Europe.

Inline Quality Control for Inkjet

Published April 25, 2023

High end inkjet printers are increasingly addressing commercial print and high-end mailing markets, where print quality and consistency are paramount. Inline quality control systems can assure high print quality and additionally provide a quicker start-up and fewer manual interventions.

EU Packaging Sustainability Regulation and Impact

Published April 25, 2023

European section editor Ralf Schlözer looks at the potential growth of packaging waste, the European Union’s proposed Regulation on Packaging & Packaging Waste to help combat that growth, and the outlook for European packaging print.

Turnover and Employment in Print in Europe—Belgium

Published April 17, 2023

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 Belgium, the ninth-largest printing industry by turnover in Europe.

Koenig & Bauer in Inkjet

Published April 12, 2023

This article aims at providing an overview of the current activities of Koenig & Bauer in inkjet printing.

Turnover and Employment in Print in Europe—The Netherlands

Published March 21, 2023

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.

Eversfrank Gruppe’s Gerhard Martterer on Programmatic Printing

Published March 20, 2023

Ralf Schlözer talks with Gerhard Martterer of Eversfrank Gruppe about programmatic and variable-data printing. Martterer evangelizes the benefits of programmatic printing to advertisers and marketers and has formed the Programmatic Print Alliance (PPA) in Germany.

2023 Inkjet Shopping Guide for Flexible Packaging Presses

Published March 15, 2023

This shopping guide is intended to give a high-level overview of flexible packaging presses available or announced.

Hunkeler Exploring New Post-Processing Markets at Innovationdays

Published March 14, 2023

European section editor Ralf Schlözer reports on Hunkeler's finishing solutions launched at this year Innovationdays.

Hunkeler innovationdays 2023 – inkjet reaching maturity

Published March 6, 2023

The Hunkeler Innovationdays event evolved from an open house for web finishing into what is arguably the most important event for high volume digital printing.

Print Turnover and Employment in Europe—Spain

Published March 6, 2023

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 Spain, the fifth largest printing industry by turnover in Europe.

2023 Inkjet Shopping Guide for Corrugated Presses Part 2: Pre-Print Plus

Published February 28, 2023

Continuing our coverage of inkjet for corrugated, the second part in this shopping guide offers a high-level overview of the corrugated post-print devices available plus a few alternative approaches to corrugated print.

Media and Journalism Predictions for 2023

Published February 28, 2023

Every year, the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism publishes a global report on Journalism, Media, and Technology Trends and Predictions. European section editor Ralf Schlözer culls some implications for the printing and publishing industries.

2023 Inkjet Shopping Guide for Post-Print Corrugated Presses

Published February 21, 2023

High-volume production inkjet is still relatively new to the corrugated printing industry. However, the choices are already plentiful. This shopping guide is intended to give a high-level overview of the corrugated post-print devices available.

Xeikon Extending Its Label Line-Up

Published February 21, 2023

Digital label printing has been a growth market for many years, served by a large number of printer suppliers. Xeikon, offering both electrophotographic and inkjet label presses, expands both product lines. European section editor Ralf Schlözer looks at the new units.

Opportunities with single-pass dimensional inkjet print

Published February 14, 2023

Several companies offer tactile embellishment systems already and the market interest has been quite high. However, as multi-pass systems, they require some time to build up sufficient thickness.

Turnover and Employment in Print in Europe—UK

Published February 14, 2023

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 UK, the second-largest printing industry by turnover in Europe.

A closer look at the Landa S10P press

Published January 31, 2023

The Landa technology has captivated users since the first technology presentation. As with most new technology introductions, the roll-out has been slower than anticipated. An open house at Groupe Prenant gives an excellent opportunity for a technology update and learning from user experience.

MGI AlphaJET: changing the paper transport game

Published January 24, 2023

The MGI AlphaJET is a B1 inkjet print, embellish and finishing press. Unique is the sheet transport relying on trays and electromagnetic linear motors. This article looks at the status of the press, the first customers and potential future developments.

Turnover and Employment in Print in Europe—France

Published January 24, 2023

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 the businesses. This time we look at France, the fourth-largest printing industry by turnover in Europe.

AI-Generated Images Will Spark a Revolution

Published January 16, 2023

European section editor Ralf Schlözer takes a close look at AI-generated images, experimenting with some of the tools currently available, and exploring what the implications of AI imagery are for the graphic communications industry.

Turnover and Employment in Print in Europe—Italy

Published January 10, 2023

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 hit the market. This time we look at Italy, the third-largest printing industry by turnover in Europe.

Powerdrop – not the usual inkjet

Published January 5, 2023

Powerdrop is a new process of jetting fluids on a surface. The process allows jetting large amounts of viscous fluids, which is opening up a range of new applications.

Label & Packaging Inkjet in 2022

Published December 15, 2022

This article provides a view of the major launches of inkjet label and packaging presses in 2022 and how installation fared in 2022.

Key Developments in Digital Print: 2022 Was a Mixed Bag

Published December 13, 2022

European section editor Ralf Schlözer looks back at some of the notable product announcements in digital print—and identifies some trends to look for in 2023.

Kento Hybrid: a new player for corrugated inkjet

Published December 8, 2022

Kento, a new player in press manufacturing plans to shake up the corrugated print market with a new hybrid concept, combining inkjet and flexo. This article looks at the press and the opportunities.

Turnover and Employment in Print in Europe—Germany

Published December 6, 2022

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 hit the market. Kicking off the series is Germany, the largest printing industry by turnover in Europe.

Preparing for Hunkeler innovationdays 2023

Published November 29, 2022

WhatTheyThink European correspondent Ralf Schlözer talks with Daniel Erni, Chief Sales Officer Global at Hunkeler AG, to explore what to expect at the upcoming Hunkeler innovationdays, taking place from February 27 to March 2, 2023, in Lucerne, Switzerland.

Printing Newspapers with Inkjet

Published November 16, 2022

Newspaper printing with inkjet can offer many benefits, however, interest by publishers remained low. The Kodak Prosper installations on the channel island of Jersey demonstrate a successful installation.

Producing Board Games Is Not Child’s Play

Published November 15, 2022

The global board games market (including puzzles and card games) was valued at $13.75 billion in 2021, and it is expected to reach a value of $30.93 billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 13.7% according to The Global Board Games Market report from Skyquest. European section editor Ralf Schlözer takes a comprehensive look at the forces affecting this dynamic industry—from the surge in board game sales during the pandemic, to increasingly digital production of games, and more sustainable production processes.

Production Inkjet Shopping Guide 1 – Entry Level

Published November 10, 2022

This guide aims at providing an overview of the main inkjet presses available for commercial and document-oriented applications. This first in a four part series of articles will focus on entry and low volume devices, the most affordable presses in the market.

Production Inkjet Shopping Guide 4: Graphic Arts Presses

Published November 1, 2022

This is the fourth part of the buyers guide to inkjet presses on graphics arts quality presses for document and commercial print applications

Canon Make-It Returns 2022 with More Launches

Published November 1, 2022

European section editor Ralf Schlözer reports on Canon’s Make-It Future-Proof event, which took place October 19 and 20 at Canon’s continuous-feed press manufacturing site in Poing, Germany. Canon used the opportunity to make some new product announcements, such as additions to the imagePRESS V-Series and new Prisma software.

Miyakoshi: a powerhouse in inkjet press manufacturing

Published October 27, 2022

Lesser known in the industry, the Japanese press manufacturer Miyakoshi is an important and innovative supplier to the inkjet press market. This article gives an overview of the company and the latest press launches.

Sizing the European Printing Industry

Published October 25, 2022

European section editor Ralf Schlözer rounds up the latest data on European and UK printing industry establishments, revenues, and production volumes.

Printers Look on the Bright Side: Latest drupa Global Trends Report Sheds a Light on Print

Published October 18, 2022

A growth in optimism, increased planned investments, and operational challenges are some of the global print trends. European section editor Ralf Schlözer looks at some of highlights of the latest drupa Global Trends Report.

Production Inkjet Shopping Guide 1 - Entry Level

Published October 6, 2022

This guide aims at providing an overview of the main inkjet presses available for commercial and document-oriented applications. This first in a four part series of articles will focus on entry and low volume devices, the most affordable presses in the market.

RISO's 20 Years of Production Inkjet

Published September 15, 2022

RISO has a long history in inkjet printing, however serving lower volume bands, the offerings for production print are sometimes overlooked. This article looks at the latest devices, their positioning and usage cases.

Mapping the Future of the European Paper Market

Published August 23, 2022

The current paper shortage and price rises are the result of long-term trends in the paper industry that got upended by the pandemic and the recovery. European section editor Ralf Schlözer looks at the current situation, how we got here, and if and when paper problems will be alleviated.

Inkjet for Online Printers – Part II

Published August 18, 2022

Part 2 of this article will look at the considerations to be made when adopting inkjet at online print and some feedback from online printers using inkjet today.

Inkjet for Online Printers

Published August 11, 2022

Online printing is a major growth segment and inkjet printing and online printers should be a marriage made in heaven. Still, there are few inkjet solutions installed at typical online printers so far. Part 1 of the article will look at the current state of adoption and the strategic fit for inkjet

Imprimu Brings Online Print to Latin America

Published August 9, 2022

Online print is a major growth segment in the printing industry, but its market success has been country- or region-dependent. While in many European countries online print already has double-digit revenue share, in other regions—like Latin America—the share is fairly small. Start-up company Imprimu is preparing to change this, starting from their home base in Panama. Ralf Schlözer takes a look at this new start-up.

Post-Pandemic Print Applications in Germany—No Drop, No Growth

Published July 26, 2022

The German printing industry association (BVDM) recently published its 2021 print industry statistics, which includes an overview of print application revenues. Ralf Schlözer takes a look at print revenue growth in Germany and the impact the pandemic and post-pandemic recovery had on individual print applications.

Fujifilm Acquiring Unigraphica

Published July 20, 2022

With Fujifilm acquiring Unigraphica AG the company is setting their eyes on becoming a leading provider of inkjet integration services based on the technology developed by Fujifilm and the expertise of Unigraphica in bespoke inkjet solutions.

New Product Launches at FESPA 2022—A Handful of Highlights

Published July 18, 2022

European section editor Ralf Schlözer reports on some of the major new product launches at the recent FESPA Global Print Expo 2022.

Restarting the Live Print Show with Print4All 2022

Published July 12, 2022

European section editor Ralf Schlözer reports from Print4All, the largest European printing equipment fair this year, held May 3 to 6 at the Fiera Milano exhibition ground. The fair showcased several notable packaging printing and converting product introductions.

Inkjet in Corrugated - Gaining Traction

Published June 30, 2022

Inkjet in corrugated has been a success story. However, the pandemic did impact press installations noticeably. Suppliers are enhancing their product portfolio now and the outlook is bright as the demand for corrugated remains strong.

Bobst: Implementing a Vision

Published June 27, 2022

Bobst recently held a press event to detail its developments in packaging connectivity, digitalization, automation, and sustainability. European section editor Ralf Schlözer reports from Mex, Switzerland.

Setting Records – Kodak Prosper 7000 Turbo

Published June 22, 2022

It has been a while since an inkjet press manufacturer raised the bar for the print speed, now Kodak set a new record with the Prosper 7000 Turbo. At an event in Dayton press and customers had a chance to see the device, judge the output and gain more insight into Kodak’s portfolio and strategy.

HP Indigo VIP Event 2022: Better Together

Published June 21, 2022

HP Indigo held its first VIP event in three years in Israel May 24 and 15. European section editor Ralf Schlözer reports from the event, and highlights several technology introductions—as well as a few “on the horizon.”

FESPA Global Print Expo 2022 Felt Like a True Post-Pandemic Trade Show

Published June 14, 2022

The FESPA Global Print Expo 2022 was held May 31 to June 3 in Berlin, Germany. European section editor Ralf Schlözer was there, and highlights some of the major announcements and offers his initial impressions of the event.

Print Matters for the Future 2022—Feeling the Pulse of the European Printing Industry

Published June 6, 2022

European section editor Ralf Schlözer reports from Print Matters for the Future, the annual conference of Intergraf, the European association representing the national printing associations in Europe. The event was held live in Stockholm on May 20, 2022 and tackled a diverse range of topics including the paper shortage, Amazon’s impact on the industry, sustainability, and more.

Bobst: Building a Digital Strategy

Published May 26, 2022

Bobst has been widely in the news recently when the Digital Master Series was launched. While it is an interesting product by itself it gives a valuable insight into Bobst’s product and technology strategy.

Heidelberg Launches Prinect Direct

Published May 23, 2022

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen is not only a leading offset press manufacturer, but Heidelberg is also a leading provider of workflow solutions as well. In mid-May, the company launched Prinect Direct, a complete revamp of its Prinect print shop workflow, which will now be available in the cloud. European section editor Ralf Schlözer takes a close look at this new release.

Achieving More with Priming and Coating

Published May 19, 2022

If priming and coating are each important to the success of inkjet in commercial printing, both are crucial for inkjet printing in the label and packaging segments. In this article, sponsored by Michelman, Inc., and based on a just-released white paper, European section editor Ralf Schlözer explains how folding carton and corrugated packaging markets are expanding for inkjet in large part due to the application of these fluids.

Free Whitepaper - Improving TCO and Customer Satisfaction with Inkjet

Published May 17, 2022

This 12 page white paper covers the many ways that priming and coatings for inkjet reduce the total cost of ownership and improve product satisfaction for press buyers and their customers.

Online Print Symposium—Restarting Online Print

Published May 17, 2022

European section editor Ralf Schlözer reports from the Online Print Symposium, the largest dedicated conference on online printing that took place at the end of April 2022 in Munich. The event detailed the status of online print as it emerged from the pandemic year, and the trends taking the industry into 2022 and beyond.

Opening Opportunities – The Latest Inkjet in Folding Carton Print

Published May 12, 2022

Folding carton offers a huge opportunity for inkjet printing, yet the market is barely being addressed. This article will look at the inkjet press options available and future options being developed.

Coating and Varnishing for Inkjet

Published May 5, 2022

Coating & varnishing can add value to a print and is often used in commercial print. However, adoption in inkjet still lags. This articles looks at the reasons behind, changes in adoption and markets for growth.

Canon Launches the Canon imagePRESS V1000 at Make It ’22

Published May 2, 2022

European section editor Ralf Schlözer reports from Make It ’22, the return of live events for Canon EMEA. With about 500 customers in attendance, a considerable number of visitors had a chance to see production equipment live in operation. Canon also used the event to launch the imagePRESS V1000, the next generation of the imagePRESS platform.

Price Hikes in Online Print

Published April 18, 2022

It feels like there is an incessant stream of price increases for plates, inks, energy, and paper, but what impact have these had on print prices? European section editor Ralf Schlözer looks at print pricing trends among the European online printing companies.

In-Line Control for Inkjet

Published April 7, 2022

In-line quality control is a important step to automate print production and for short run inkjet printing it is especially crucial to minimise waste and interruptions. The article looks at strategies for in-line control options and gives an outlook.

Canon Acquires edale to Bridge the Digital-Analog Divide

Published April 7, 2022

This week, Canon announced the acquisition of 100% of the shares of edale, a manufacturer and OEM of narrow web printing presses and finishing equipment, including flexo carton web presses, label and packaging flexo presses, and web finishing equipment. European section editor Ralf Schlözer looks at how the acquisition will help bolster Canon’s presence in the label and packaging market.

Where Did All the Paper Go? The European Paper Crisis by the Numbers

Published April 5, 2022

European section editor Ralf Schlözer looks at paper price and production data to try to get at the root cause(s) of the paper shortages faced by European printing companies.

Gutenberg One: The Book-of-One Produced On-Site

Published March 29, 2022

European section editor Ralf Schlözer looks at the Gutenberg One, a compact and fully self-contained printing and binding unit for books, small and affordable enough to be placed in a wide range of locations.

Reading Printed Books Is Good for You—and Your Grades

Published March 21, 2022

Research based on the latest PISA educational survey results shows that readers of printed books read more, enjoy reading more, understand texts better, and are likely to have better grades. This confirms previous studies on the advantages of printed books in education.

Is Inkjet Environmentally Unfriendly?

Published March 17, 2022

The focus on sustainability is gathering steam among consumers, print buyers and other organisations involved. The more surprising it is to see digital printing, specifically inkjet, being labelled not environmentally friendly by the Royal Mail.

UK’s Lil Packaging Commits to Going Green and Carbon-Neutral

Published February 28, 2022

European section editor Ralf Schlözer takes a close look at the comprehensive environmental sustainability initiatives being pursued by the UK’s Lil Packaging—which has committed to making the entire company carbon-neutral in 2022.

Heliosonic: Inkjet Without Nozzles

Published February 24, 2022

Heliosonic proposes an inkjet process without nozzles in which a laser induces the jetting of drops. The advantage is that all kinds of inks can be used, from standard offset inks to specialty, functional inks.

Gutenberg One – The Book of One Produced on Site

Published February 3, 2022

A professionally finished single book printed on location can be an attractive proposal for consumers. The Gutenberg One, a fully self-contained print & finishing solution, sets out to fulfill this promise.

Printing in Motion: European Print Imports and Exports

Published February 1, 2022

Print is being traded across borders and the European Union is making trade a lot easier. However, printing on demand, shorter runs, and streamlining supply chains gave rise to more local print. This trend is illustrated in the print import and export data.

European Print Industry Snapshot: Turkey

Published January 25, 2022

In this bimonthly series, WhatTheyThink is presenting the state of the printing industry in different European countries based on the latest monthly production numbers. This week, we take an updated look at the printing industry in Turkey.

Europe: Looking Back at 2021 and Forward to 2022

Published January 20, 2022

2021 was not quite what we expected, with paper shortages, transport issues, and cost increases disrupting the industry. Ralf Schlözer offers some lessons learned by the European printing industry and how to take advantage of them as we move into 2022.

Europe: Looking Back at 2021 and Forward to 2022

Published January 17, 2022

2021 was not quite what we expected, with paper shortages, transport issues, and cost increases disrupting the industry. European section editor Ralf Schlözer offers some lessons learned by the European printing industry and how to take advantage of them as we move into 2022.

European Print Industry Snapshot: Bulgaria

Published January 11, 2022

In this bimonthly series, WhatTheyThink is presenting the state of the printing industry in different European countries based on the latest monthly production numbers. This week, we take an updated look at the printing industry in Bulgaria.

Going Green with Plant-Based Ink from Ricoh

Published January 6, 2022

Ricoh launched a plant-based ink, promising strong environmental benefits. The ink is available for integrators in packaging print and other markets.

Labor Pains: The Challenge of Attracting Young Talent to the Printing Industry

Published January 3, 2022

Although it’s not a new problem, the labor shortage in the graphic arts industry is becoming more pressing with many industries rallying for talent—and the print industry not necessarily being seen as very attractive. A lack of new staff to fill required roles is already affecting the competitiveness of many printing companies across Europe. European section editor Ralf Schlözer look at one Millennial and Gen Z employee recruitment project underway in Europe and the lessons it can teach globally.

Inkjet Packaging Print in 2021

Published December 16, 2021

A wrap-up of the most important inkjet press launches for label & packaging applications in 2021

Products in Motion: European Print Imports and Exports

Published December 13, 2021

Differing labor rates, scales of operations, and specialization contribute to a busy trade in print products among European countries. This article, by European section editor Ralf Schlözer, provides an overview of the types of print products crossing borders, as well as trends that have developed over the last five years.

Virtual Packaging: Expanding Their Market with Cutsheet Inkjet

Published December 8, 2021

Virtual Packaging demonstrates how a company can grow and expand its business with cut-sheet inkjet technology. With the investment in a Landa S10 the company was able to move into short run packaging production and expand into graphic arts applications.

Ralf Schlozer