Printing Industry Commentary & Analysis

Dataline: A Leader in ERP Software for the Graphic and Printing Industry

Published July 23, 2024

David Zwang sits down with Dirk Deroo, CEO, Dataline, a company specializing in ERP software for the graphic and printing industry since 1997. They talk about the features of Multipress, Dataline's flagship product, and its web-to-print solutions.

KYOCERA NIXKA: Revolutionizing Industrial Printing with Inkjet Technology

Published July 22, 2024

David Zwang and Paul Morgavi, President, KYOCERA NIXKA, introduce the newly merged companies to revolutionize industrial printing with inkjet technology. They discuss the potential of inkjet solutions across various applications and explore the niche market of photo printing and expresses optimism for future growth.

HP Pagewide T700i Packaging Press: The Inkjet Carton Solution

Published July 16, 2024

HP launched a new PageWide packaging press in Würzberg, Germany, at Koenig & Bauer that has a print width that fits nicely between their existing T400 and T1100 series corrugated preprint presses. However, the new T700i is designed for more than just corrugated preprint.

Product Spotlight: Connected Automation: Moving from Mass Production To Mass Customization

Published July 16, 2024

Atomyx a cloud-based platform that can both streamline the print business and production processes, while also reducing the skills needed to do the plant-wide automation integration to support production from Mass Production to Mass Customization. David Zwang takes a close look at Atomyx.

Exploring Atomyx: A Comprehensive Interview with Tom Piere, CEO of Four Pees

Published July 16, 2024

Tom Piere, CEO of Four Pees, comes to the drupa daily studio to talk about the company's Atomyx platform. Atomyx is a three-product suite: Atomyx Manage, which connects APIs and systems in the print industry; Atomyx Prepare, focusing on artwork processing; and Atomyx Layout, which facilitates ganging nesting and smart estimation for print jobs.

Exploring Cloud Solutions with Enfocus

Published July 16, 2024

David Zwang and Tim Bernaerdt, Director, Enfocus, discuss the transition to the cloud, its benefits, and the potential of moving PitStop and Switch to the cloud. They also talk about the growth of the app store and the mixed audience's need to embrace the cloud.

HP Industrial Launches PageWide T700i Packaging Press

Published July 16, 2024

HP launched a new Pagewide packaging press that fits between their T400 and T1100 presses. It is an ideal size and is more than just for litho-lam! David Zwang talks with Barbara McManus, Head of HP Pagewide Industrial Group.

Digital Printing and Automation with HP Indigo

Published July 15, 2024

David Zwang and Noam Zilbershtain, VP and General Manager, HP Indigo Industrial Print, talk about the world of digital printing with HP Indigo. They highlight the significance of automation and intelligent automation lines, and the transition to digital. Zibershtain also discusses importance of solutions, applications, a connected environment and interactions with other companies prioritizing automation.

Exploring PrintVIS: A Microsoft Partnered MIS System

Published July 12, 2024

David Zwang talks with Kasper Tomshoj, CEO PrintVIS, about the PrintVIS MIS system that stands out through its partnership with Microsoft and integration of AI features. They also touch on the benefits of PrintVIS' collaboration with Kodak and the advantages of cloud-based updates and innovation.

Inkjet Technology Evolution and its Impact on the Packaging Industry

Published July 11, 2024

David Zwang talks with Mary Schilling, certified Print Geek, about the evolution of inkjet technology and its impact on the commercial packaging industry at drupa 2024. They highlight the importance of print beyond paper and the role of innovative printing technologies. They also touch on the use of biomarkers and synthetic DNA in inks for security and tracking, emphasizing the significance of tracking and sustainability in various industries.

Highcon Management Transition

Published July 10, 2024

David Zwang talks with Shlomo Nimrodi, who, after five years as CEO of Highcon, transfers his CEO role to Yair Alcobi and takes on the position of Chairman of Highcon.

Product Spotlight: Canon’s PRISMA Home

Published June 27, 2024

PRISMA Home is a unique platform that houses valuable applications and tools in the cloud to help manage and support compatible print production processes. David Zwang takes a close look at how the PRISMA family has evolved.

Product Spotlight: Canon’s PRISMA Home

Published June 27, 2024

David Zwang talks with Karen Di Mora, Sr. Specialist Business Planning & Marketing, Canon USA, about PRISMA Home, a unique platform that houses valuable applications and tools in the cloud to help manage and support compatible print production processes.

A Deep Dive into Highcon's Success and Future Developments

Published June 27, 2024

David Zwang sits down with Shlomo Nimrodi, CEO, Highcon, to explore the company's journey and success in the packaging market. They discuss the rise of digital die-cutting, productivity enhancements and the surprising interest in their solutions from the corrugated market.

Xitron Climbs K2

Published June 26, 2024

At drupa 2024, Xitron introduced K2, a new software system that integrates some of the Hybrid Software offerings to create a complete workflow. David Zwang takes a closer look.

Embellishment and Ecology with Kurz

Published June 26, 2024

David Zwang looks at the new developments in embellishment and sustainability that Kurz was showing at drupa 24.

Would You Like Some Work with That Press?

Published June 25, 2024

While salespeople and web2print solutions still remain important forms of business development and onboarding work, as communication and business processes continue to become more connected, new types of partnerships and connected solutions will undoubtedly play a larger role in business development for PSPs.

Fujifilm Showing Impressive Line of New Products

Published June 20, 2024

David Zwang runs down the myriad hardware and software product announcements made by Fujifilm at drupa 24.

Fujifilm Smart Flow: Taking Workflow Holistically

Published June 19, 2024

David Zwang takes a deep dive into Fujifilm’s Smart Flow workflow software, being demonstrated at drupa 24.

Connected Automation with Atomyx

Published June 19, 2024

David Zwang looks at Atomyx, a platform built on the vision of Connected Automation to enable the profitable production of individualized print jobs at scale, which was being showcased at drupa 24.

Hybrid Software Drives Smart Print Factories

Published June 18, 2024

David Zwang looks at how Hybrid Software has grown organically and through the acquisition and integration of an extensive but synergetic group of companies, allowing them to build very complete and efficient solutions for both OEMs as well as PSP users.

Textile Printing Is Better with PDF

Published June 17, 2024

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

Landa Showing B1 Digital Press with Offset Capacity

Published June 17, 2024

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.

HP and Cimpress Embark On A New Chapter Of Collaboration

Published June 17, 2024

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.

All4Labels and HP Announce Multi-Unit Press Deal

Published June 13, 2024

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.

FUJIFILM Dimatix Introduces The SkyFire® SF600 Next Generation Printhead

Published June 12, 2024

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

Modern Flexo: Driving the Transformation of Packaging Production

Published June 11, 2024

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.

HP and Canva Announce Partnership to Democratize Design and Printing

Published June 10, 2024

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.

Kodak's PRINERGY Platform and Cloud-Based Solutions

Published June 10, 2024

David Zwang and Jim Barnes, Chief IT Implementation Officer, Kodak, talk about the workings of the PRINERGY platform. They discuss the platform's support for offset and digital printing, and the advantages of cloud and virtualization. They also touch on the adoption of cloud-based solutions and their long-term goal of supporting customers' current environments while shaping the future.

HP Industrial's Future-Ready Printing Solutions with Marcus Weiss

Published June 7, 2024

David Zwang and Marcus Weiss, General Manager, EMEA - HP Industrial Printing, HP, talk about HP's innovative printing and automation solutions showcased at drupa. They discuss the growing interest in general commercial print and HP's commitment to transforming the perception of print through value addition and customization. HP's holistic approach, which includes integrating existing workflows and openness to third-party integration, is also discussed.

Innovations in Book Production with Müller Martini

Published June 7, 2024

Ingolf Fritzsche, Product Manager, Digital Solutions, and Ronald Reddmann, Product Manager, Softcover Solutions, Müller Martini, introduce their latest innovations in book production at the drupa video studio. They highlight a new book block solution that changes folding patterns in under 10 seconds, enhancing productivity and sustainability. The Connex workflow system and high-speed unique book production are key digital advancements.

Digital Transformation in Packaging Industry: A Conversation with Christian Zeller

Published June 7, 2024

Christian Zeller, Head of Marketing, BOBST, delve into the industry's shift towards digitalization and connectivity. They introduce BOBST Connect, a data-driven solution for the packaging value chain. The discussion emphasizes an application-centric approach, end products and customer-centricity. They also highlight the global availability of competence centers and ways to connect with sales teams.

Transforming the Packaging World: A Discussion with BOBST CEO Jean-Pascal

Published June 6, 2024

Jean-Pascal Bobst, CEO of BOBST, shares his company's vision for revolutionizing the packaging industry. He outlines the strategic pillars of digitization, connectivity, automation and sustainability. Jean-Pascal discusses the digitization and automation of machines, starting from PDF files and the shift towards selling machines with performance-driven service contracts. He also talks about partnerships for sustainability and new technologies, and the company's plans for future software-driven solutions.

Die Cutting: The Latest Trends

Published June 4, 2024

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.

The Multifaceted Print Industry: A Conversation with Smithers

Published June 3, 2024

Sean Smyth, Senior Print Consultant, Smithers, dives into the multifaceted world of the print industry at drupa. He discusses the show's duration, standout exhibits, software and automation and speculates on drupa's future. Also discussed: print technology and innovation, the role of software and robots in print processes, application-based printing, and the importance of packaging and flexible printing.

Highcon 2.0: Transition and Focus on Packaging

Published June 3, 2024

Simon Lewis, SVP Marketing Strategy and Business Development, Highcon stopped by the drupa daily studio to talk about the transition to Highcon 2.0 and the company's focus on packaging. He talks about collaborations with vendors, optimal run lengths, and the upcoming corrugated product, Vulcan.

Exploring HP PageWide Products and Solutions with Yale Goldis

Published May 31, 2024

Yale Goldis Commercial Products and Solutions Director, HP PageWide Industrial, delves into HP's extensive product range, printing volume and upcoming milestone of printing 1 trillion pages. He emphasizes the customer value through upgradeability and the success of the Advantage press.

Exploring HP's Legacy and Future in Print and Imaging with Tuan Tran

Published May 31, 2024

Tuan Tran, President of Print and Imaging for HP, talks about HP's 40-year history in the printing industry. He explores the company's diverse machine portfolio, opportunities across different segments and the convenience offered to customers. He also discusses office workflows, the transition from analog to digital, and the potential of printing technologies.

People Profile: Dr. Raša Urbas

Published May 30, 2024

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.

Exploring the Vision and Growth of PrintOS with HP Indigo

Published May 30, 2024

David Zwang and Gershon Alon, Head of Solutions, HP Indigo, meet up at drupa to talk about the evolution and vision of PrintOS, the operating system for print operations. They discuss customer interaction, order flow, customization projects, and collaboration with Esko.

FUJIFILM Dimatix Introduces The SkyFire® SF600 Next Generation Printhead

Published May 29, 2024

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

HP's Daniel Martinez at drupa

Published May 29, 2024

David Zwang talks with Daniel Martinez, Global Head and General Manager, HP Large Format at drupa about markets HP is focusing on with potential for growth: décor, retail and backlit textiles.

Exploring HP Large Format: Evolution, Innovation, and Applications

Published May 29, 2024

David Zwang and Michael Boyle, Senior Vice President of HP Large Format, delve into the evolution and scope of HP Large Format. They discuss the changing landscape of large format sign and display technologies, the continuous improvement of media innovation, and the power of HP's latex technology. They also highlight the industrial applications of HP's technology, its flexibility, and HP's dedication to artwork and creativity.

Road to drupa: Komori's Lance Martin

Published May 13, 2024

David Zwang talks to Lance Martin, VP Product Marketing, Komori America, about new offset, inkjet, finishing, and connected automation solutions they will be showcasing in their and their partner booths.

Konica Minolta is Ready for drupa and the Future

Published May 13, 2024

David Zwang talks with Frank Mallozzi, President IPP, Konica Minolta US, about how the company is poised for continued growth.

Road to drupa: Fiery's Toby Weiss

Published May 9, 2024

David Zwang talks with Toby Weiss, CEO of Fiery. Fiery sits in front of the lion's share of production print devices across many applications. At drupa, they will be presenting lots of exciting new technologies to help their OEMs and their end users address market shifts and become more productive.

drupa 2024: A Preview

Published April 29, 2024

In anticipation of the upcoming drupa show, there is usually a “pre-drupa” media event. This has been the place for a sampling of the exhibitors to lay out what they see as their future direction and even pre-announce some of their latest technologies.

Road to Drupa: Kyocera Belharra Photo Printing

Published April 25, 2024

Kyocera, very much like Fujifilm, Epson, and others, have been developing and supplying system components to print solution providers for years. Those developments have been at the cornerstone of many products in the market today. Kyocera (NIXKA) has been working on an inkjet photo printer for a while and this full color 1200 dpi grayscale system press is ready for its introduction during drupa 2024.

Koenig & Bauer Is Ready for drupa!

Published April 11, 2024

Koenig & Bauer is a familiar name to printers and converters, but their involvement in drupa extends beyond just manufacturing equipment. In this video, sponsored by Koenig & Bauer, David Zwang talks with Sr. VP Marketing Eric Frank.

Agfa: Reinventing and Reemerging

Published April 4, 2024

Since 1867, Agfa has been at the forefront of many technological developments in imaging. As one of the founding graphic imaging powerhouse companies, it struggled through the transition from an analog to a digital economy. However, they have redefined their core business products and structures to not just survive but to grow in this rapidly changing world.

Enhance a Colour: Masters of Complete Visual Solutions

Published April 2, 2024

Enhance a Colour is like a big toy store for anyone who produces or purchases sign and display. However, they are very particular about purchasing equipment, entering markets, and selling solutions, but they emphasize that it’s all about the consultive relationship. David Zwang talks to the owner of this unique business.

Landa Digital Print Returns to drupa to “Run More”

Published March 27, 2024

Here we are, 12 years after the initial introduction of the Landa Digital Print technology, and roughly four years after initial commencement of commercial sales. Today, there are over 50 machines installed, with many more orders and some new product introductions in the pipeline. Landa Digital Print’s tagline for drupa 2024 is “Run More,” and they are supporting that with new faster and smarter press introductions.

HP Indigo’s drupa Announcements Aim to “Break the Analog to Digital Boundaries”

Published March 25, 2024

HP Indigo has not slowed down in their mission to drive the digital transition of print and packaging production. For drupa 2024, they have lots of new product announcements, all of them targeted at “Breaking the Analog to Digital Boundaries.”

Road to drupa: HP Indigo Continues Breaking Boundaries Between Digital and Offset

Published March 25, 2024

In anticipation of drupa, HP Indigo has announced new and upgraded products that focus on productivity, uptime, reliability, and cost of operation. David Zwang talks to Keren Yakolev, Head of Product and Strategy for HP Indigo.

The Digitalization of Koenig & Bauer

Published March 19, 2024

Koenig & Bauer has been a leader in the development of print and packaging equipment and solutions since 1817. In this video, sponsored by Koenig & Bauer, David Zwang talks with Sandra Wagner, VP Digitalization, about how they have always focused on optimizing their products, and are developing solutions that can optimize their customer base as well.

Müller Martini Aligning with the Future

Published March 19, 2024

Müller Martini has been slowly building their portfolio through development and acquisition. In this video, sponsored by Müller Martini, David Zwang talks with President CEO Andy Fetherman about how they have created a comprehensive process infrastructure that brings all of that equipment together to support the industry's need for automation.

Ensuring Packaging Meets Accurate Color Expectations: Remotely

Published March 19, 2024

Controlled digital proofing systems that ensure proper setup and maintenance with each of the stakeholders have a corresponding system seems to be the answer. While there were a number of systems introduced that endeavored to achieve that goal, most never seemed to be able to maintain that needed level of control across the stakeholder teams—until now.

drupa 2024: Can You Really Afford to Miss It?

Published February 20, 2024

When many in print and converting production and technologies around the globe get together, one of the discussions usually goes something like this: “How many drupa events have you been to?” or, “what was your first drupa?” There must be a good reason for that! David Zwang talks with Sabine Geldermann, Director drupa, Portfolio Print Technologies, Messe Düsseldorf, to discuss the upcoming drupa 2024 itself and the various regional events leading up to it.

Kyocera Focusing on the In-Plant Market

Published February 20, 2024

Kyocera is focusing their inkjet solutions on the in-plant printing department market, one of their key toner customer bases. In this video, sponsored by Kyocera, David Zwang talks with Dustin Graupman, Senior Director, Ink Jet Division, and Greg Lindsey, Business Development Manager, Inkjet Division, about the progress they are making.

Are All Printers Online Printers?

Published February 14, 2024

David Zwang talks with Bernd Zipper, Founder of Zipcon, about bringing print service providers together to connect and brainstorm on how to develop new solutions, solve problems, and increase volumes and margins.

Funeral Link: An Opportunity for Print Service Providers

Published February 13, 2024

The topic of funerals doesn't usually bring thoughts of print production opportunities, but the new Funeral Link software can actually help funeral homes as well as print service providers!

Atomyx Could Change the Way We Do Print

Published February 13, 2024

Imagine a cloud-based platform that could both streamline the print business and production processes, while also reducing the skills needed to implement a plant-wide automation integration. While still in the early stages of development, that is the goal of the Atomyx platform.

Atomyx: New Cloud-Based Print Production Platform

Published February 13, 2024

Most print orders arrive from the cloud, or could even be created in the cloud. They could even go back to the cloud for a proof. Wouldn't it make sense to handle the production there and reduce the up and down data transferring? David Zwang talks with Four Pees CEO Tom Peire about Atomyx, a new cloud-based platform that could both streamline the print business and production processes.

Rules Based Workflows: Connecting and Automating Processes to Fit Your Business Needs

Published February 8, 2024

Many of the current “off the shelf” workflow software and professional service offerings are being developed to support newer and disparate technologies and markets. Ultimately, solutions need to fit the specific needs of a PSP and their customer and partner relationships, and that’s where rules based workflows shine.

State of the Cloud: Looks Like Clear Skies Ahead!

Published February 5, 2024

As the cloud rapidly emerges as a key influencing technology, the integration of business and production management solutions into cloud-based platforms has become inevitable, and things are changing fast!

AI Is What Really Drives Marketing: Now You Can Engage!

Published February 1, 2024

Marketing AI is the process of using AI capabilities like data collection, data-driven analysis, natural language processing (NLP), and machine learning (ML) to deliver customer insights and automate critical marketing decisions. In the past, this technology has been relegated to those who can afford to build it. Now Boostt.ai (formerly known as Geofactor.com), has developed a platform for bringing Marketing AI to the masses.

Miraclon Sees Encouraging 2024 for Flexo Packaging Production

Published January 23, 2024

David Zwang talks with Chris Payne, CEO of Miraclon, about the global packaging industry. While the post-pandemic effects were felt in 2022 and 2023, 2024 should bring growth, stability, and a look at the new normal.

Analyst Roundtable: Goodbye, 2023—Hello, 2024!

Published January 17, 2024

David Zwang leads a roundtable discussion with IT Strategies' Marco Boer and Smithers' Sean Smyth on the challenges the industry faced in 2023 and the opportunities 2024 will bring.

Analyst Roundtable: The Agfa Speedset 1060

Published January 16, 2024

Agfa had invested a lot in acquiring Inca and launching the new Speedset 1060. David Zwang leads a group discussion with IT Strategies' Marco Boer and Smithers' Sean Smyth about the launch and Agfa's strategy.

Agfa Focuses on Digital Print

Published January 11, 2024

As part of Agfa's rebuilding, they have put digital print as one of their top areas of focus and growth, and VP Arnaud Callega is leading the effort.

Hybrid’s Label & Packaging Solutions

Published January 11, 2024

David Zwang talks with Mike Rottenborn, CEO of The Hybrid Group, about Hybrid’s complete set of solutions for producers of label and packaging products.

Agfa Speedset 1060: A Significant Step in the Evolution of Digital Folding Carton Print

Published January 9, 2024

Agfa’s first foray into production inkjet was with the introduction of Dotrix in 2004, a product that was ahead of its time and ultimately abandoned. Their new production inkjet folding carton press seems to check all the boxes for today’s and tomorrow’s growing and evolving market.

Agfa’s Matt Brooks on the New Speedset 1060

Published January 9, 2024

David Zwang talks with Matt Brooks, head of packaging for Agfa Digital Printing Solutions, about the launch of the new Speedset 1060.

Kongsberg: A New Life, New Platform, and New Opportunities

Published December 7, 2023

Kongsberg has always been the company that set the bar on precision cutting systems. With a new platform and the acquisition of Multicam, they have an exciting future! David Zwang talks to CEO Stuart Fox.

Müller Martini and Hunkeler: Two Families Join Forces

Published December 7, 2023

Consolidations are done for many reasons including, cost reduction, wider distribution, etc. However, this merger really does take two strong companies that are leaders in their respective fields and brings them together to feed off their synergies and prepare and build for those market and production shifts

Fujifilm Expands Footprint to North America and Beyond

Published December 4, 2023

Fujifilm is a well-known brand around the globe, but their presence in NA has been limited as a result of their former relationship with Xerox. Things are changing, and to see how they are expanding their footprint to a welcoming market, David Zwang talks with Fujifilm's Scott Mackie.

Kongsberg Ultimate: Designed for Current and Future Needs

Published December 1, 2023

Kongsberg has released their latest precision digital cutting platform with a new drive and a newly designed custom carbon fiber beam. This new, innovative drive technology has an impressive acceleration rate of up to 2.74G and a remarkable and productive cutting speed of 168 meters per minute.

Highcon Has Found Its Place—and the Industry Is Thankful

Published November 27, 2023

Highcon formed before the industry fully understood the benefits of its technologies. Today, the industry is catching up and Highcon is ready and able. David Zwang catches up with Highcon CEO Shlomo Nimrodi and Regional Business Manager Simon Lewis.

Do You Really Know PRINTING United Alliance?

Published November 16, 2023

PRINTING United Alliance is a lot more than the successful expo. It is the voice of the industry, covering many areas you might not even be aware of. David Zwang talks with PRINTING United Alliance CEO Ford Bowers about their growing membership, industry activities, government lobbying efforts, and outreach.

Thought Leadership: Ricoh TotalFlow Producer

Published November 16, 2023

In this video sponsored by Ricoh, David Zwang talks with Begum Walji, Ricoh Software Product Manager, about Ricoh TotalFlow Producer, an intuitive, vendor-agnostic print-on-demand SaaS workflow technology.

Fujifilm Dimatix Is a Lot More than Production Inkjet for Print

Published November 15, 2023

Dimatix is one of the leaders in printhead manufacturing, and has been doing it for decades. Steve Billow, CEO of Fujifilm Dimatix, takes us through the scope of ink and fluid deposition.

Sharp Goes Upstream to Production Print

Published November 14, 2023

Sharp is a well-known brand in the enterprise and even some in-plant facilities. Now they are moving upstream into production print with a proven digital technology. David Zwang talks with Bob Madaio, Vice President of Marketing for Sharp, about their strategy.

Ricoh Introduces the VC80000 Continuous-Feed Printer

Published November 14, 2023

On the heels of the introduction of the Z75 B2 cut-sheet inkjet press, Ricoh has introduced the VC80000 continuous-feed press, which offers significantly new technological enhancements over the VC70000. David Zwang talks to Ricoh’s Sr. Director Global Product Management Mark Little and Program Manager Continuous Feed Inkjet Nick Fiore about this announcement.

Thought Leadership: Ricoh Total Flow Producer for Job Onboarding

Published November 9, 2023

In this video sponsored by Ricoh, David Zwang talks with Lisa Oakleaf, Ricoh’s Sr. Director of Global Software Product Management, about the company’s expansion of its SaaS-based products, including the new Ricoh Total Flow Producer for job onboarding.

New RFID System that Competes with Barcodes

Published November 7, 2023

David Zwang talks with Louis Gautier, President of Idyllic Technology, which has developed a new RFID system that can compete with barcodes with many distinct advantages. It is currently targeted at logistics, but has a place in retail and many other identification scenarios.

Product Strategy: Canon imagePRESS V Series

Published November 6, 2023

In this video sponsored by Canon, David Zwang talks with Canon Senior Marketing Manager Matthew Poliniak talks about the Canon imagePRESS V series digital press and the focus on automation in models the series.

Thought Leadership: Vicks Printing and Distribution Moves Book Production to Completely Digital

Published November 1, 2023

In this video sponsored by HP, David Zwang talks with Dwight Vicks, President of Vicks Printing and Distribution Services. More than 100 years old, the company has evolved from letterpress to offset, to digital, to production inkjet. Now they are poised for further growth.

Thought Leadership: Beyond the Production Workflow with Canon PRISMA

Published November 1, 2023

In this video sponsored by Canon, David Zwang talks with Karen Dimora, Sr. Specialist in Business Planning and Marketing for Canon, about Canon PRISMA workflow software, the new cloud-based platform, and the new workflow tools available.

Thought Leadership: Sun Print Solutions Shifts More Work from Offset to Production Inkjet

Published October 30, 2023

In this video, sponsored by HP, Jennifer Pettinger, CEO of Sun Print Solutions, talks with David Zwang. Sun Print Solutions is an 85-year-old company that produces a wide range of products, including commercial printing, direct mail, and folding cartons. The company recently upgraded to an HP PageWide T250 to expand what they can print using production inkjet.

FLEXcon's Film Portfolio

Published October 25, 2023

In this video sponsored by FLEXcon, David Zwang talks with Jodi Sawyer, Strategic Business Unit Manager at FLEXcon, about the company’s portfolio of coated and laminated films used in labels and graphics applications, as well as functional components in manufactured goods.

PRINTING United Does Not Disappoint!

Published October 24, 2023

PRINTING United Expo 2023 was a great event. Its convergence model provided an opportunity to see and consider new product expansion and convergence opportunities. There were lots of product introductions and reintroductions, even with drupa looming in the background.

Landa Digital Print Has Found the Secret to Growth

Published October 12, 2023

10+ years after the initial introduction of the Landa Digital Print technology with over 40 machines installed, six installations coming up in the next three months, and right after that another dozen and more in the pipeline. In this article, sponsored by Landa, the company has found that it is more than just delivering a great press.

Canon Opens the Curtain on Two New Production Inkjet Printers

Published October 12, 2023

Today, Canon announced a sneak peek at two new production inkjet presses: the varioPRINT iX1700 cutsheet, and the LabelStream LS2000 label press. Since Canon has held the number one global position in inkjet presses for over 10 years, this is an important development and can only help ensure that they will retain that position.

Landa: Hitting Its Stride

Published October 12, 2023

Here we are, 10+ years after the initial introduction of the Landa Digital Print technology, and roughly four years after initial sales commencement. Today there are over 40 machines installed, six installations coming up in the next three months, and right after that, another dozen and more in the pipeline. Sponsored by Landa, this article by David Zwang looks at the Landa Press technology, how their customer-centric support relationships are fairly unique, and why they are growing.

Alexander’s Print Advantage’s Charlie Alexander: “Growth Is Expensive”

Published October 11, 2023

In this video, sponsored by HP, David Zwang talks with Charlie Alexander, Sales Executive at Alexander’s Print Advantage. Founded in 1979, Alexander’s is a 100% digital shop that produces photobooks, wedding invitations, yearbooks, and other products for e-commerce platforms. The company has been growing about 30% a year since 2018–2019, the pandemic notwithstanding.

Xeikon's Inkjet and Toner Product Strategy

Published October 10, 2023

Filip Weymans, Vice President at Xeikon talks with David Zwang about Xeikon's approach to using both toner and inkjet technology to build digital print devices that match the imaging technology requirements of specific print applications.

All in One vs. Hybrid: Living in Perfect Harmony

Published October 4, 2023

There aren’t a lot of all-in-one application-specific solutions that can address “all” application requirements. However, there is a lot of development among packaging press and converting machine manufacturers to address the new shifting market requirements. Ultimately application requirements can be fairly disparate, so a modular hybrid solution will undoubtedly provide the widest range of process adaptability.

At the Speed of Retail: Web-to-Pack Offers a Myriad of Opportunity and Complexity in the World of Online Consumerism

Published October 3, 2023

Orders are increasing for short-run, on-demand packaging to satisfy shifting consumer purchasing requirements. While converters and web-to-pack systems are being developed to operate at the “speed of retail,” there are many opportunities, complexities and value- added offerings not seen in commercial print.

Label Production Strategy at Xeikon

Published October 3, 2023

David Zwang talks with Robert Welford, President of Xeikon, about digital label production and Xeikon's product strategy.

Digital Labels’ HP Indigo-Driven Growth

Published October 2, 2023

In this video, sponsored by HP, David Zwang talks to Chris Henderson, President of Digital Labels. Henderson and his partner founded the company in 2010 with an HP Indigo 6000 and has added capacity—predominantly more HP Indigos—in the years since. Digital Labels also does some flexible packaging.

Articles by David Zwang