Taktiful’s Kevin Abergel spoke with Marika Knorr of CCL Label to unpack what is quietly becoming one of the most influential forces in packaging today. What emerged from the conversation was not just a discussion about printing techniques or decorative effects. It was a deeper look at how embellishment is reshaping the way brands compete, communicate, and convert at the shelf. Read More
Label converters facing margin pressure can shift from price competition to value creation through digital embellishment. By enabling premium finishes on short runs without complex setup, these technologies help differentiate products, enhance brand impact, and create more profitable opportunities in an increasingly competitive and demanding market. Read More
In this Product Showcase video, Jon Congdon, Skandacor's Print Embellishment Fanatic, talks about the FINISHPro 3D 1623 Flatbed UV Resin Printer, designed to add raised embellishment effects. Read More
Stuart Fox, CEO at Kongsberg, shares how the Kongsberg Ultimate 64 cutting table addresses the critical productivity and uptime challenges faced by high-volume corrugated converters. Engineered for continuous multi-batch production of corrugated and display applications, the modular cutting system achieves an acceleration rate of 2.7G and a cutting speed of 165 meters per minute. The system features three dedicated tool positions to enable seamless creasing, cutting, and perforating without operator intervention. To balance throughput with operator safety during automated workflows, the table integrates SmartZones and the Extended Automation Safety system. Read More
Scodix has announced their new Ultra 7000 SHD which is designed to embellish materials for sign and display including rigid material like Plexiglas, acrylics, and corrugated for applications like point of sale and point of display. David Zwang talks with Amit Svartz, COO of Scodix, about the new system. Read More
In this episode of the Digital Embellishment Show, Kevin Abergel sits down with Emelie Dahlbacka, Creative Director at VBS in Sweden, who is quickly emerging as one of the most exciting designers working with fifth- and sixth-color technology today. From her first experience with specialty toners to winning global awards, Emelie shares how she approaches design with the machine in mind and why that mindset is the key to unlocking real value in embellishments. Read More
David Zwang talks with Mike Herold, EVP Marketing and Sales for EMT International, about the industry, its changes, the shifting requirements for digital finishing, and how to address them. Read More
In this episode of the Digital Embellishment Show, Kevin Abergel talks with Michael Cox of Konica Minolta about where the label and packaging market is headed, why digital embellishment is gaining momentum, and how premium packaging helps brands win on shelf. Read More
Eric Vessels welcomes back WhatTheyThink Managing Editor Richard Romano to discuss how digital embellishment has evolved over the past few years and why the technology is now gaining significant industry attention. Romano shares his perspective on the increasing visibility of embellishment following drupa and explains how data from the annual Digital Embellishment Survey is helping analysts, vendors, and printers better understand adoption trends. Read More
Sharp is making serious moves in production print… and dealers are paying attention. In this episode of The Digital Embellishment Show, Kevin Abergel talks with Dino Pagliarello, Vice President of Product Management and Production Print at Sharp USA, for an impromptu but powerful conversation about embellishments. Read More
With embellishment becoming more widely available and used, the team at Taktiful decided that it was time to create a place to discuss, learn and share all things embellishment. David Zwang talks with Taktiful's Eric Vessels about the new Taktisphere. Read More
In this Product Showcase video, Chris Manley, President of Graphco, shows off the ProCut Fold Stream folding and gluing machine, which employs a multi-belt system that simplifies setup and reconfiguration for a broad range of plow folding applications. Read More
Digital embellishment is no longer a niche upgrade. It is becoming a strategic growth engine for commercial printers and packaging producers. In this episode of The Digital Embellishment Show, Kevin Abergel sits down with Paul Furse, Global Director of Marketing and Business Development at Harris and Bruno International, to talk about the embellishment market, Harris and Bruno's product offerings, and the “Out of This World” design competition and why educating designers matters. Read More
In this episode of the Digital Embellishment Show, Kevin Abergel talks with Andrew Gunn, Director of Product Marketing at Fujifilm, about how Fujifilm is expanding the limits of digital print. Read More
In this episode of The Digital Embellishment Show, Kevin Abergel talks with Sean Roberts, the national director of digital embellishment at Konica Minolta, to break down what is really happening in the market and why so many printers are paying attention right now. Read More
In this episode of The Digital Embellishment Show, Kevin Abergel sits down with Sam Glick, CEO of Impress Systems, to explore their $8,000 desktop digital embellishment unit. Sam shares his journey into print and embellishments, how he acquired Impress Systems, and why the Foil Xpress has quietly been a hidden gem in the industry. Read More
Mary talks with Jon Congdon, Product Consultant for Skandacor, about the company's Finish Pro 3D 1623, which applies a 3D embellishment effect to printed materials. Read More
As we try to bring at least some apparel manufacturing back to the U.S., a key barrier is lack of sewing skills. While suppliers to the sewn products industry are working on automation and integration of AI, new players are also entering the field. One such player is CreateMe, and in this interview with Cary Sherburne, its founder, Cam Myers, explains how their Adhesive Technology can replace sewing for certain garment types. Watch for a more detailed article, coming soon. Read More
In this Product Strategy video, Chris Manley, President of Graphco, talks about the Foliant line of laminating systems, including the Foliant Taurus 530 NG 4x4 rated for speeds up to 8,600 sheets per hour. Read More
Mary talks with Jakob Ekeberg, Vice President of Products for Plockmatic Group, about the company's growth into the labels and packaging market. Read More
In this product showcase, Chris Manley, President of Graphco, introduces the Augusta F150R Pro, their high-speed solution for wide-format, display, signage, and industrial producers who need hybrid flexibility. Read More
Marco Kunz, Product Manager for Hunkeler gives an overview of the Gen8 Evo and the new user interface to create ease of use for the operator. Mike Wing, Solutions Manager for Muller Martini North America, describes the process of the highly-automated Antaro Book Binder, and it includes business-changing magic. Read More
Mary Schilling, talks with Christine Yardley, President of Print Panther Direct, and Andrew Gunn, Head of Product Marketing for Fujifilm, about Fujifilm's Aspire Program, created to help designers understand print output and simplify the process of using metallic inks. Read More
Taktiful's Kevin Abergel talks with Jon Congdon and Neil Drever of Skandacor about one of the most talked-about launches at PRINTING United, the FinishPro 3D 1623. Read More
In this product strategy video, Michael Schubert of Renz/Plockmatic talks about the punching and binding equipment the company was showing at PRINTING United, and how it is well-suited for short runs, which are increasingly in demand by print customers. Read More
In this Business Update, Paul Steinke, Director of Sales for Standard Finishing discusses how printers desire to become a full end-to-end operation has increased their business activity. Read More
Printers today are asking how they can continue to add value to print as they face declining print runs. In this Business Update, Rick Salinas, President of Duplo USA suggests now is the time to invest in the variety of embellished print. Read More
In this business update video, Eric Vessels, Chief Experience Officer of Taktiful, talks about what is happening with Taktiful, and the embellishment tour they conducted at PRINTING United. Read More
In this product strategy video, Andy Fetherman, President and CEO of Müller Martini, talks about the new combined Müller Martini Hunkeler brand, and all the new opportunities and markets the acquisition has opened up to the company and its customers. Read More
Dino Pagliarello, VP, Product Management and Production Print for Sharp Imaging and Information Company of America, talks about Sharp's digital embellishment capabilities. Read More
Andy Fetherman, President and CEO of Müller Martini Corp. NA, talks about what he sees as the biggest trends in the industry today, including the digital transformation of many print businesses and how finishing equipment fits into the new workflows. Read More
Eric Vessels talks with Nick Gawreluk, founder of Print Profit, to talk about the global profitability challenge facing printers. Nick has worked across 40 countries and held leadership roles with Heidelberg, HP Indigo, and Taylor Corporation. He shares why century-old costing models don’t work in today’s market, how embellishment fits into a true profit strategy, and why software could be print’s next big disruption. Read More
David Zwang talks with Nick Bruno, President of Harris & Bruno, about the evolution of the company from a small flexo and offset shop to building their own flexo and sheetfed offset equipment, primarily for coating applications. The company has recently carved out a space in the embellishment market. Read More
Eric Vessels talks with print industry veteran Francis McMahon, now President and CMO at Tecnau. With a career that spans leadership roles at Kodak, HP, and Canon, Francis brings a unique lens to where the industry’s been—and where it’s going. They discuss the rise of embellishment, why finishing deserves a seat at the strategy table, and how the print world is increasingly fueled by human connection, mentorship, and community. Read More
David Zwang talks with Adee Mor, Chief Marketing Officer for Scodix, about the company's digital embellishment technology and applications. Read More
Taktiful's Kevin Abergel talks with Paul Furse of Harris & Bruno about all things print finishing. From high-performance coating systems to the evolving role of embellishment in modern print, Paul breaks down where the industry’s headed and how Harris & Bruno is staying ahead of the curve. Read More
Taktiful's Kevin Abergel talks with Steve Dianetti from Xerox for a deep dive into the future of digital print. Steve shares how Xerox is pushing boundaries with automation, personalization, and powerful new tech designed to help printers do more—faster, smarter, and with less waste. They also discuss a new project both Taktiful and Xerox have been working on and its debut at Amplify Print. Read More
Eric Vessels talks with Paul McCarthy, HP Industrial Print Region Manager, for a high-energy, wide-ranging conversation on the shifting landscape of industrial print. From helping printers navigate complex mergers (like Advertek and Custom Colour Labs) to championing the power of embellishment, hybrid workflows, and cross-border collaboration, Paul shares real-world stories, lessons from the road, and his signature people-first approach to transformation. Read More
Taktiful's Kevin Abergel connects with Jon Congdon of Skandacor at Amplify Print 2025 to talk about what’s really driving change in the print world. From premium finishes to smarter workflows, Jon shares how Skandacor is helping printers deliver more value—not just more volume. Read More
Taktiful's Eric Vessels interviews April Lytle from Scodix to talk about the magic of digital embellishment. April shares how Scodix is helping brands and printers alike stand out with stunning, high-impact finishes that add real value—and why the wow factor is more than just a trend. Read More
Eric Vessels sits down with Paul Hudson, CEO of Hudson Printing, to explore how a 115-year-old print company is staying on the cutting edge. Paul shares his journey from childhood box-making in the family print shop to leading a company that blends traditional web offset with innovative digital embellishment. Discover how tactile finishes, clean workflows, and a people-first culture are redefining what print can be. Read More
Christine Yardley, President of digital print agency Print Panther Direct, talks about best practices for designing for digital embellishments. Read More
Max Allen, Dealer Manager for Graphic Whizard, talks “live” from the Graphic Whizard Mobile Showroom about the company’s line of finishing equipment, including digital die-cutters, laminators, slitters and cutters, perfect binders, and the ability to add embellishments. Read More
Kevin Abergel talks to Paul Albano of Fujifilm for a candid conversation about where print is headed and how Fujifilm is helping lead the charge. From breakthrough technologies to evolving customer demands, Paul shares his take on what it really means to innovate in today's print landscape. Read More
Richard Romano talks with design strategist Vicki Strull about the results of a new study that gauged the impact of tactile packaging effects on retail sales. Read More
Mary Schilling talks with Andy Fetherman, President and CEO of Müller Martini, about the InfiniTrim robotic variable book production system. Read More
Kevin Abergel talks to "The Paper Queen," Sabine Lenz, founder of PaperSpecs, about the need for designer education when it comes to designing for embellishments. Read More
Taktiful's Kevin Abergel and WhatTheyThink's Richard Romano talk about some of the highlights from the recently released Digital Embellishments Study. Read More
Mary Schilling talks with Plockmatic Group CEO Jan Marstorp about the company's myriad finishing equipment options. Read More
Mary Schilling talks with Juan Soto, Product Manager for Harris & Bruno, about the company's coating equipment integrated into an HP print workflow. Read More
Kevin Abergel talks to Mike Scrutton, Director, Print Technology and Strategy for Adobe, about the company's participation at Amplify and the brand new Project Goldsmith by Adobe, a prepress toolkit for designing and producing digital embellishments. Read More
David Zwang talks with Sajiilth Pallippuram of Bindwel, a 30-year-old manufacturer of binding equipment, about the company's integration with other finishing equipment and the growing trend toward automation. Read More
Xeikon's Director of Marketing Kent Wolford talks about the company's new digital dry toner embellishment technology. Read More
Jeff Cox, Operations Manager, Dialog Direct and Qualfon, explains the applications that Dialog Direct products, using offset and digital technologies. He discusses how new technologies have helped gain customers, and talks about what he is looking for at Standard Finishing's Finishing 360 customer event. Read More
Paul Furse, Global Director of Marketing & Head of Business Development, Americas, for Harris & Bruno talks about the growing market for digital embellishments and Harris & Bruno's offerings. Read More
Rick Baker, President, Print Tech WPA, talks with Cary Sherburne about the company's strategy for transitioning to primarily digital production and increasing automation on the back end to keep up with digital production. He talks about the value of visiting customer centers like the one Standard Finishing hosts to keep up with what's coming and learning how new equipment can augment production. Read More
Mary Schilling talks with Roman Gerhard, Head of Marketing for Hunkeler Systems, about Hunkeler's unique system for removing paper waste during trimming and finishing. Read More
Kirk Rudy has been designing and manufacturing bespoke finishing, mailing, packaging, and RFID solutions since 1967. Today, it still in the family but has transformed to meet today's challenges. Dave Zwang talks with CEO Caroline Kirk. Read More
In this video, sponsored by Horizon, Business Development Manager Colin Flinn talks about the challenges Horizon’s customers face and how Horizon has solutions to those challenges. Read More
Eric Vessels sits down with Jeff Howicz, Chief Commercial Officer at Team Concept Printing. From sweeping floors and cleaning fish tanks to leading one of the most innovative print shops in the country, Jeff’s journey is a masterclass in growth, grit, and grabbing every opportunity. Read More
Cary Sherburne talks with Mike Scrutton, Director - Print Technology and Strategy at Adobe, about Project Goldsmith by Adobe, a prepress toolkit that makes it easy to add embellishments to printed files without all the time-consuming back and forth and rework that is often required to add foils or other embellishments to printed work. See it live at Amplify! Read More
Join Kevin from the Digital Embellishment Show for an in-depth talk with Joe Deboy, VP of Sales at NAPCO USA, about the cutting-edge world of digital packaging. Explore how NAPCO USA is redefining the industry with advanced digital printing, embellishment techniques, and laser cutting technology. Read More
Jay Mandarino, President & CEO of CJ Group of Companies, joins Taktiful’s Eric Vessels to discuss his remarkable path from overcoming early life struggles to building the world’s most awarded printing company. Jay shares insights into digital embellishments, partnering with clients as solutions providers, and why meaningful community engagement matters. Read More
Taktiful is the digital embellishment nerd's think tank. They have been researching the embellishment market for years and have developed educational programs and a new SaaS software to help printers and converters understand how to price the value add of embellishment. David Zwang talks with Kevin Abergel. Read More
Eric Vessels sits down with Morgan DiGiorgio, CRO at DirectMail2.0 and Who’s Mailing What, for a high-impact conversation about the future of print marketing. They take a deep dive into how omnichannel strategies are transforming direct mail into a measurable, ROI-driven channel by integrating it with digital platforms. Read More
In this video sponsored by APS Imaging Solutions, President & CEO Al Scolari showcases the company’s Zeno 360° AG line of products, including the ZenoBind Industria 2000RF high-speed layflat binding system. Read More
In this video, sponsored by Harris & Bruno, Paul Furse, Global Marketing & Business Development for the Americas, talks about the challenges Harris & Bruno customer face and the solutions the company has to help them overcome those challenges. Read More
Francis McMahon retired after 37 years in the industry, but we all knew he'd be back. Cary Sherburne talks with Francis about how, In his new role, he will be learning in more depth a part of the business he was involved with at previous companies, but wasn't the primary focus: feeding and finishing. Read More
In this episode of Taktiful Tuesdays, host Eric Vessels sits down with Bill Gillespie, a 40-year print industry veteran who’s turned decades of high-impact sales success into wisdom that helps today’s teams perform. From the early days of analog hustle to today’s digital tools, Bill shares timeless truths about trust, curiosity, and storytelling that remain the foundation of great sales.They explore what’s really changed in print sales (hint: it’s not just the tech), how to shift from quoting jobs to solving problems, and why good sales leadership is always personal. Add in a few stories about fly fishing in icy rivers and skiing 30 days a year at age 72, and you've got one of the most human conversations about selling in print you’ll hear this year. Read More
In this episode of The Digital Embellishment Show, "live" from Graphics Canada in Toronto, dives into the world of digital embellishments with Neil Drever, Product Manager at Scandacor. Discover how Skandacor is revolutionizing print finishing with their innovative sleeking technology, digital foiling, lamination films, and cutting-edge equipment like the Cheetah Photo. Read More
David Zwang talks with Julie Watson, CEO of Ultimate Tech, about Ultimate’s pioneering Impostrip, as well as other products the company has developed, such as Ultimate Bindery to help automate finishing. Read More
In this episode of Taktiful Tuesdays, Eric Vessels talks with April Lytle, Global Brand Innovation Manager at Scodix, about her journey from traditional print to high-impact embellishment. April discusses the future of print that’s both luxurious and inclusive—from ultra-fine polymer details to accessibility-driven design. Plus, she reveals her unexpected creative outlet in the world of Renaissance leather crafting. Read More
In this video, sponsored by Harris & Bruno, Product Manager Juan Soto talks about the trends the company is seeing in the various industry segments as they relate to embellishments and other finishing options. Read More
In this episode of the Digital Embellishment Show, Kevin Abergel is live from the Xerox booth at Graphics Canada 2025 with none other than Billy Stojanovski, global product marketing leader for the Xerox Versant family. They dive deep into Xerox’s Beyond CMYK innovations—from gold and silver embellishments to jaw-dropping fluorescent prints that glow under UV light. Billy breaks down how Xerox is making digital embellishments more accessible than ever. Read More
David Zwang talks with Micheal Aumann, Global Director, Digital Embellishment Solution, for Kurz, about the evolution of Kurz—which is celebrating its 125th anniversary—and the evolution embellishment technology from pounding foils to digital embellishments. Read More
David Zwang catches up with Marco Boer, VP of IT Strategies, and talks about the growing need to automate all the other processes around the print engine—including finishing solutions. Read More
At Graphics Canada 2025, Kevin Abergel talks with with Big Dawgs CEO Eddie Davin about how Big Dawgs uses the MGI Jetvarnish 3DS to create jaw-dropping products like holographic floor graphics, NFC-enabled coasters, and pop-up door hangers. Eddie shares how his engineering background and innovative mindset have pushed the boundaries of print, blending tactile effects with digital interactivity to grab attention in a crowded market. Read More
This week, Eric Vessels chats with Jeff Peterson, Executive Director of the Foil & Specialty Effects Association (FSEA). They explore how the FSEA has evolved alongside the industry—embracing everything from foil stamping to digital embellishment—and why now was the right time to launch the Digital Embellishment Alliance (DEA). Jeff also shares a sneak peek into what attendees can expect at Amplify Print 2025, including live tech demos and expanded programming. Read More
David Zwang talks with German Sacristan, Group Director Digital Printing for Keypoint Intelligence, about Fujifilm’s recent Digital Disruption Reveal event, at which it was showcasing its digital printing and digital embellishment technologies. Read More
Scodix has been around since 2007 and is one of the leaders in the field of Digital Embellishment. Eli Grinberg, the CEO talks with David Zwang about the past, present and future of their success and the industry. Read More
In this episode of Taktiful Tuesdays, we sit down with industry veteran Ken Huizenga, a print production expert with more than 40 years of hands-on experience. From running sheetfed presses in the ‘80s to embracing cutting-edge digital print and embellishment technology, Ken has seen it all. Read More
David Zwang talks with Yasuo Taketsugu, General Manager, Market Promotions, for Horizon International about Horizon’s presence—in their own and in many other exhibitors’ booths—at the most recent Hunkeler Innovationdays. Read More
David Zwang talks with Mark Hunt, Director, Strategic Alliances, for Standard Finishing Systems about the added value of embellishments—and finishing in general—to printed materials. Read More
Eric Vessels sits down with Xerox’s Senior Global Product Marketing Manager, Kelly Leahy, at the Xerox Partner Summit in Las Vegas. The two discuss the evolving role of digital embellishments in print, the psychology of print on consumer behavior, and how initiatives like Xerox’s Genesis Program are addressing key industry pain points—design, pricing, marketing, and sales. Read More
This week, we’re diving deep into the world of digital embellishments, print design, and creative innovation with none other than Matt Redbear, a design powerhouse and thought leader in specialty printing. From his roots in analog photography to pioneering modern digital embellishments, Matt shares his expert insights on the magic of blending artistry with technology. Read More
Andy Fetherman, President and CEO of Müller Martini, demonstrates the company’s hardware and software solutions for highly automated finishing workflows, especially book production. Read More
Welcome back to another episode of Taktiful Tuesdays! This week, host Eric Vessels sits down with the legendary Daniel Dejan, a graphic arts industry veteran, creative director at Dejan Associates, and co-founder of MarketWise Academy. With over four decades of experience in print production, paper selection, multi-channel marketing, and digital embellishment, Daniel brings a wealth of knowledge to the table. Read More
Marketing has come a long way from the Mad Men era to today’s hyper-targeted digital landscape. But have we sacrificed creativity for data? In this episode of Taktiful Tuesdays, Eric sits down with Gee Ranasinha, CEO of Kexino, to talk about the evolution of marketing, the pitfalls of over-reliance on metrics, and the timeless principles that still drive success. Read More
In this special episode of Taktiful Tuesdays, host Eric Vessels sits down with the legendary Frank Romano, a true luminary in the world of print. With a career spanning over six decades, Frank has played a pivotal role in the evolution of the printing industry—from hot metal type to digital printing and AI. Read More
Eric Vessels talks to Bill Duerr, President of Hatteras, as they do a deep dive into leadership, innovation, and the future of print. Bill shares his insights on how Hatteras stays competitive in a changing industry, the power of listening to customers, and the company’s investment in digital embellishments with the new Harris & Bruno ZRX press. Read More
Welcome back to Taktiful Tuesdays! This week, Eric Vessels chats with the talented Kendra Roberson, a soon-to-be graduate from CalPoly’s Graphic Communication program. Kendra shares her journey from high school graphic design enthusiast to exploring the vast world of print, digital embellishments, and industry networking. Read More
In this episode of The Digital Embellishment Show, host Kevin Abergel talks with print industry visionary David Drucker, also known as the “Guru of Printing.” Renowned for his innovative use of materials and exquisite finishing techniques, David takes us on a journey through his most jaw-dropping luxury print projects—including a copper-embossed, safari-inspired book and box set that truly pushes the boundaries of print craftsmanship. Read More
In this episode of Taktiful Tuesdays, Eric Vessels sits down with Ken Hanulec, Vice President of Worldwide Marketing at EFI, to discuss the game-changing innovations in the digital print world. From the revolutionary EFI X5 Nozomi and its impact on on-demand box production to the Pro 30H hybrid printer and the growing role of sustainability in print technology, this conversation is packed with insights you don’t want to miss.Ken also shares his thoughts on digital embellishments, the analog-to-digital shift in the industry, and practical advice for print service providers looking to stay competitive in a fast-evolving market. Plus, they dive into personal favorites—travel destinations, grilling tips, and even a little football talk! Read More
In this episode of Taktiful Tuesdays, host Eric Vessels sits down with the renowned print industry analyst and consultant David Zwang to explore the rapidly evolving world of digital embellishments, workflow automation, and what’s on the horizon for the printing industry. Read More
In this video, sponsored by Hunkeler, David Zwang talks with Rainer Wolf, VP Portfolio Management, Heidelberg about Hunkeler Innovationdays. This is the first time Heidelberg will bring printing and finishing in highly automated connected workflows to HID, with some exciting new solutions. Read More
Welcome to Episode 6 of Taktiful Tuesdays! Eric Vessels from Taktiful sits down with Warren Werbitt, aka "The Print Whisperer," to dive deep into the world of print, entrepreneurship, and the passion that drives the industry forward. Read More
In this video, sponsored by Hunkeler, Access Direct CEO John DiNozzi explains the importance of Hunkeler Innovationdays on transforming their direct mail business with connected workflows. Read More
Join Eric Vessels, Taktiful’s Chief Experience Officer, as he dives into an exciting conversation with Ryan Moskun, Marketing Manager at Harris & Bruno International. From Ryan’s journey into the print industry to groundbreaking digital embellishment technology like the ZRX, this episode is packed with insights, music, and a touch of humor. Stick around for Ryan’s life-changing advice at the end—you won’t want to miss it, digital print meets rock & roll. Read More
FSEA’s Jeff Peterson talks with Fujifilm’s Andrew Gunn about the upcoming Amplify Print finishing and embellishment event, coming June 10–12, 2025, to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill. Read More
Welcome back to another engaging episode of Taktiful Tuesdays! In this installment, host Eric Vessels sits down with his longtime friend Frank Mallozzi, the President of Konica Minolta’s Industrial Print and Production (IPP) Group. This conversation takes you on a journey through Frank’s unexpected return to the industry and his mission to drive innovation in the world of industrial printing. Read More
Ready to see what’s next for digital print? In this episode of Taktiful Tuesdays, Eric Vessels, CXO at Taktiful, sits down with Andrew Gunn of Fujifilm to pull back the curtain on the evolving world of digital embellishment. Curious about how to move beyond CMYK, unlock new ROI opportunities, and truly stand out from the competition? Andrew shares insights on the cutting-edge Revoria lineup, Fujifilm’s Aspire program, and the power of industry collaboration. Read More
Hunkeler Innovationdays (HID) is one of the most unique and valuable events for print service suppliers to see firsthand the premier inkjet manufacturers and their equipment in application configurations. Read More
In this exciting episode of Taktiful Tuesdays, Eric Vessels, Chief Experience Officer at Taktiful, chats with Richard Romano, Managing Editor at WhatTheyThink, about the future of digital embellishments and the critical need for industry standards. They dive into the evolution of digital embellishments; challenges face printers such as selling, pricing, and educating customers; the importance of creating universal standards for gloss, foil, embossing, and more; and insights from Taktiful and WhatTheyThink’s groundbreaking industry surveys. And of course, they redefine “Taco Tuesday” as “Taktiful Tuesdays” Read More
In this follow-up to the widely-discussed article, “The Case for Standards in Digital Embellishments,” the first-ever panel on The Digital Embellishment Show dives deep into the pressing need for standardization in the digital print embellishment industry. Host Kevin Abergel and moderator Eric Vessels are joined by an all-star panel featuring Sabine Lenz (PaperSpecs), Sean Roberts (Konica Minolta USA), and Ryan Moskun (Harris & Bruno International). Together, they debate how the lack of consistent terminology, quality control measures, and design standards creates confusion and hinders adoption across the industry. Read More
In this video sponsored by the Plockmatic Group, Jakob Ekeberg, Vice President of Product Management, talks about the company’s growth strategies and new products on display at PRINTING United. Read More
Join host Kevin Abergel in this enlightening episode of The Digital Embellishment Show as he chats with Bryar McDonald, Production Specialist at TUI Total Solutions—a family-owned Xerox dealer based in Central Florida. Discover how TUI evolved from a copier repair company into a pioneer in digital print embellishments. Read More
In this special episode of the Digital Embellishment Show, host Kevin Abergel introduces you to Sean Roberts, the newly appointed National Director for Digital Embellishment at Konica Minolta US. Join us as we explore Sean’s impressive background, his passion for innovation, and his vision for the future of digital embellishments in the printing industry. Read More
In this video sponsored by Duplo, President and CEO Rick Salinas shows off the Duplo DSM-1000 B2 platen die-cutting system, on display at last month's PRINTING United. Read More
In this installment of The Digital Embellishment Show, host Kevin Abergel sits down with John Carlin of Lahlouh to delve into the evolving landscape of the print industry. With over 28 years of experience, John shares invaluable insights on transitioning from management to sales, the power of personalization, digital embellishments, trends in packaging, and authenticity in marketing. Read More
In this video sponsored by Nobelus, V.P. of Marketing Angie Mohni, VP of Sales and Client Care John Corley, and Equipment Product Manager Tom Snooks show off the finishing solutions Nobelus was exhibiting at last month’s PRINTING United. Read More
In this video sponsored by Standard Finishing, Director of Sales Paul Steinke discusses the Horizon and Hunkeler finishing equipment the company was showcasing at PRINTING United, some of which made their North American debut in Las Vegas. Read More
In this video sponsored by Rollem, Richard Romano talks with Larry Corwin, President of Rollem International, about the current status of card printing—trading cards, playing cards, and hobby/game cards—what opportunities exist for commercial printers in card production, and Rollem's long history manufacturing equipment for card conversion. Read More
In this episode of the Digital Embellishment Show, Kevin Abergel talks with Mark Pomerantz, Director of Sales and Marketing at Xeikon, to discuss their groundbreaking digital embellishment technology. Mark reveals Xeikon's innovative single-pass foiling process that combines their dry toner printing with Kurz's digital metal technology. Read More
In this video sponsored by Zünd, Business Segment Manager Martin Thornton showcases the cutting and finishing solutions Zünd was showing at PRINTING United. Read More
In this video sponsored by Müller Martini, President and CEO Andy Fetherman talks about the company’s PRINTING United booth theme, “Driving the Digital Transformation” and the trends the company is seeing in book finishing. Read More
In this video sponsored by Graphco, Chris Manley, President, talks about some of the equipment the company was showing at PRINTING United, including laminating and foiling machines, and discusses the new RMGT 970PX Folding Carton & Packaging Series. Read More
Welcome to another exciting episode of the Digital Embellishment Show! Join host Kevin Abergel as he chats with Kelly Leahy, Senior Global Product Marketing Manager at Xerox, about the transformative power of digital embellishments in the print industry. Discover Kelly's unique journey with Xerox, from her roots in Rochester to her pivotal role in the Genesis Initiative. Dive into the world of print embellishments and see how Xerox is making it easier than ever for print service providers to enhance their offerings and drive market adoption. Read More
Rollem’s Doug Sherwood highlights the finishing solutions that Rollem was showing at last month’s PRINTING United. Read More
David Zwang talks to Graphco’s Chris Manley about the SD-Italy Augusta F150R PRO hybrid CNC routing and cutting plotter, an ultra-high-speed solution for wide-format, display, signage, and industrial production. The machine debuted at PRINTING United 2023 in Atlanta, and so far Graphco has installed six units, with another half dozen about to be installed. Read More
In this video sponsored by HP, Nick Gawreluk talks with Edwin Fioretti, Operations Manager for Bella Printing about how Bella has been using digital embellishments to enhance the company’s offerings to customers. Read More
In this video, sponsored by Fujifilm, Andrew Gunn leads a tour of the wide-format, digital toner and inkjet, and embellishment solutions that the company was showcasing in Las Vegas. Read More
In this video, sponsored by Hunkeler, Thayer Long talks with Daniel Erni, CEO of Hunkeler, about the company’s preparations for the upcoming Hunkeler Innovationdays, taking place February 24–27, 2025, in Lucerne, Switzerland. Read More
Join us for an exciting episode of the Digital Embellishment Show as host Kevin Abergel welcomes special guest Dino Pagliarello, VP of Management and Production Print at Sharp Electronics. Discover how Sharp is making waves in the production print industry by venturing into digital embellishments and specialty printing. Dino shares insights on Sharp's innovative strategies, including their focus on combining toner and inkjet technologies to create stunning print effects that go beyond traditional CMYK. Read More
In this edition of the Digital Embellishment Show, Kevin Abergel talks with Michael Aumann, Global Director - Digital Embellishment Solutions for LEONHARD KURZ, about the embellishment technologies the company was demonstrating at drupa 24. Read More
Mary Schilling talks with Klaus Kalthoff, Senior Vice President Global for IN-LOG/GAMMERLER, about the company’s finishing systems for book, magazine, or newspaper printing. Read More
In this episode of the Digital Embellishment Show, Kevin Abergel sits down with Steve Furlong, the VP of Operations at Hudson Printing in Salt Lake City. Steve shares insights into Hudson Printing’s journey, their pioneering use of Landa presses, and their leap into digital embellishments. Read More
Mary Schilling talks with Datta Deshpande, CEO of Pratham Technologies, about the company’s unique folding solution for pharmaceutical packaging. Read More
In this video, sponsored by Kongsberg, Frank Adegeest, Vice President Product Strategy & Business Processes for Kongsberg Precision Cutting Systems, offers an overview of the cutting solutions on display at drupa, the first drupa they had attended as an independent company. Read More
In this episode of "The Digital Embellishment Show," host Kevin Abergel sits down with Ryan Moskun, Marketing Manager at Harris & Bruno, to discuss their breakthrough in the digital embellishment industry with their new ZRX machine. Tune in as they delve into the creative possibilities of digital embellishment, the challenges of surface tension, and the game-changing features of X-MATTE technology. Read More
Cary Sherburne talks with Kevin Abergel, founder of Taktiful, as he shares his journey and insights into the digital embellishment industry. They discuss the importance of creating tools, educating the market, and the value of embellishments for printers and brands. Read More
In this video, sponsored by Nobelus, David Zwang talks with Angie Mohni, VP of Marketing for Nobelus, about the latest industry trends she has been seeing, notably automation, sustainability, and insourcing. Read More
Mary Schilling makes her way to the Taktiful booth at drupa in her Cool Tools journey to talk with Kevin Abergel, President and Founder. Together, they highlight the need for software that enables designers to visualize embellishments. They also discuss the challenges in digital embellishment design and introduces Taktitful's software tools. He underscores the importance of understanding market pricing and aims to improve the digital embellishment industry. Taktiful plans to offer free licenses and training to universities to educate upcoming designers. Read More
Kevin Abergel talks with Andrew Gunn, Director Production Sales Enablement, FUJIFILM Graphic Communication Division, about specialty colors and their latest embellishment solutions available at drupa. Read More
Mary Schilling and Amit Shvartz, General Manager and COO, Scodix, introduce Scodix AI, a solution designed to simplify embellishments in printing, especially for the web to print market. The software's features include image analysis, true font recognition and design software import capabilities. Read More
Kevin Abergel talks with Adee Mor, VP Global Marketing for Scodix, at Scodix’s booth at drupa 24. Adee has been with Scodix—and the industry—for only four months, and describes her journey. Read More
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. Read More
In this video, sponsored by Scodix, General Manager and COO Amit Shvartz talks about emerging trends in the industry and the company’s experiences at drupa 24. Read More
On the latest episode of the Digital Embellishment Show, Kevin Abergel talks with HP Indigo's Shirley Coifman. Don't miss this engaging conversation packed with valuable insights for anyone in the print industry. Read More
Kevin Abergel, Founder, Taktiful and Amit Shvartz, COO and General Manager of Scodix, discuss the increasing significance of embellishment in the printing industry. They talk about the shift to digital embellishment, highlighting current capabilities and future potential. Read More
Chris Burnley, CEO of Corefact, talks with Kevin Abergel President of Taktiful, about Kevin's background in embellishments and the founding of Taktiful. Read More
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. Read More
Kevin Abergel talks with Victor Abergel, EVP, MGI Digital Technology, in the MGI booth at drupa 24, where the company was demonstrating its flagship product the AlphaJET, an inkjet device that performs printing and embellishing in one pass. Read More
Nick Gawreluk talks with Kurz’s Makcus Hoffmann about the company’s presence at drupa 24 and the company’s slogan for the show: “Rethink What’s Possible.” Read More
Senior Editor Cary Sherburne had a conversation with Stuart Fox, Kongsberg Precision Cutting Systems' President & CEO, about his company's drupa experience—how did it compare to previous drupas and what kind of results did they achieve during the show? He also highlighted some of the developments shown in the Kongsberg stand, and we extended our thanks for his partnership in creating the stunning—and sustainable—distribution points for the drupa daily! Read More
Kevin Abergel and Nick Bruno take us through the digital embellishments that were displayed at drupa 2024. Read More
Spencer Bruno, Product Manager at Harris & Bruno International provides a product tour of the new Harris & Bruno ZRX Digital Embellishment System. The ZRX pairs the Harris & Bruno Chamber-Anilox system with inkjet technology to create a system that supports flood coat, spot coat, and foil stamp embellishments. Read More
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. Read More
Volker Leonhardt, Global Sales and Marketing and Andy Fetherman, President and CEO, Müller Martini North America, talk about their commitment to driving digital transformation and presenting their latest innovations. They share the positive response they've received for their Smart Factory solutions and discuss the challenges faced in the industry. Looking ahead, they see a future dominated by robotics, automation, and a strong emphasis on internal culture and customer relationships. Read More
Ronnie Schärer, Head of Product Management, Hunkeler and Ronald Reddmann, Product Manager, Müller Martini talk about the world premiere of the Hunkeler Starbook sheet folder at Müeller Martini booth at drupa. They talk about its benefits, the positive feedback received and the new opportunities it presents. The discussion emphasizes the market needs of flexibility, automation and simplified processes that drive innovation. They also reason on future possibilities for softcover and hardcover book blocks, global perspectives on book publishing, efficiency and sustainability, and the importance of quality and waste reduction. Read More
Nick Gawreluk talks with Victor Abergel, Executive Vice President, MGI about the strategic alliance between MGI and Konica Minolta with a focus on their industrial printing and embellishment product line. They discuss the significance of embellishment in the printing industry, offering guidance for companies considering investment. This tête-à-tête also covers market adoption of these solutions, the evolution of inkjet technology and MGI's dedication to innovation. Read More
Cary Sherburne interviews Chris Manley, President, Graphco, at drupa 2024. They talk about Graphco's focus at drupa, including RMGT, Foliant Laminating Equipment, SD Italy and Standard Horizon booths. He also introduces SD Italy's hybrid CNC routing and cutting machines and explains Graphco's 'Unfair Advantage' philosophy. Read More
Cary Sherburne and Windell McGill, Digital Launch Manager, BW Converting PCMC, talk about the introduction of the ION: a new hybrid digital press for flexible packaging. They explore the features, modularity, color options and its positive reception at drupa. Read More
Emily Schultz, Vice President of Sales and Client Services, John Roberts, a Minneapolis-based printing company, discusses their focus on commercial print, direct mail and packaging. She explores equipment options for efficiency and customer service, emphasizing their expertise in digital printing, data analytics and personalized direct mail. Key topics include sustainability, automation and AI, with a focus on data analysis, reducing human intervention and AI for content creation. Read More
Julie Watson, CEO, Ultimate Tech stops by the drupa daily studio to dig into the company's software solutions that simplify finishing for the print industry. She also discusses the significance of automation, efficient workflow organization, starting on a small scale, and planning with the end in mind. Read More
Cary Sherburne talks with Mathieu Tremblay, Deputy General Manager, IMPACK, about the company's contributions to enhancing folder gluers. They delve into the increasing need for automation due to labor shortages and speculate on the future of fully automatic processes. IMPACK is based in Hall 11 at drupa. Read More
Cary Sherburne interviews Eli Grinberg, CEO, Scodix. They discuss Scodix's digital print enhancement and embellishment services, including their new platforms, the Ultra 6000 and Ultra 2500. The conversation also covers the value of adding embellishments like foil and how offset printers are adopting these digital solutions for a faster time to market. Read More
Yasuo Taketsugu, General Manager, Market Promotions, Horizon International, highlights Horizon's various finishing devices and the importance of automation, user-friendliness, and connectivity in their development process. He also talks about the role of robotics and connectivity in addressing rising labor costs. Horizon is planning to expand from Japan to Europe and North America, promoting the concept of a smart factory. Read More
Deirdre Ryder, President and CEO of VITS International discusses the company's diverse components and how they can be pieced together into a finishing solution to best suit a customer's workflow. Read More
Arjen Evertse, General Sales Manager for Mimaki, previews the focus of the Mimaki booth at drupa: automation to help companies reduce waste. Read More
Linda Brütting, Head of Expert Subsidiaries, Leonhard Kurz, talks with Cary Sherburne about what drupa attendees can expect to see at the Kurz booth in Hall 3, Booth E71. Read More
In this video, produced and sponsored by Kongsberg, David Preskett, VP EMEA & APAC at Kongsberg, previews the cutting systems that attendees can expect to see when they visit Kongsberg’s stand at drupa 24. Read More
Nick Gawreluk talks with Jan Marstorp, CEO of Plockmatic Group about Plockmatic’s plans and presence at next week’s drupa 24. Read More
WhatTheyThink's Eric Vessels speaks with Highcon's Simon Lewis to get a preview of visitors can expect to see in Hall 9. The world premiere of the Beam 3 is among the offerings—along with some other surprises! Read More
Nick Gawreluk talks with Standard Finishing's Katelyn Pinch about her expectations for drupa 24—both personally and in terms of what Standard will be demonstrating at the show. Read More
WhatTheyThink's Eric Vessels spends some time with Kevin Abergel, Founder & CEO of Taktiful, about the company's recent launch of Taktiful Software Solutions. Hear more about the three major points in digital print embellishment and how this new company eliminates them for printers who have this technology. Read More
In this video, Ed Weigand and Mike Ferrari talk to Cary Sherburne about the overall market for embellishments in labels and packaging, how the JetFX solution differs, its market positioning, and also a preview of a new product that will be launched at drupa. Read More
Dive into the fascinating journey of MGI's transformation and innovation in the printing industry with Victor Abergel, EVP and Managing Director. In this episode of the Digital Embellishment Show, host Kevin Abergel chats with his uncle, Victor Abergel, about the origins of MGI, the evolution from a small team to a global leader in digital printing technologies, the pivotal moments that shaped their success, and the exciting lead-up to drupa 2024. Read More
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. Read More
Gear up for a fun episode of The Printer & The Suit, where Warren and Kevin sit down with Chris Hogge, the Director of Sales & Business Development from Harris & Bruno International. With a legacy spanning over 15 years, Chris delves into the evolution of printing technologies and Harris & Bruno's role in pioneering inline and offline coating solutions for an evolving market. Read More
Join us in this exhilarating episode of the Digital Embellishment Show as Kevin Abergel, our passionate host, sits down with Jeff Peterson, the Executive Director of the Foil and Specialty Effects Association (FSEA). Dive deep into the world of print embellishments as Jeff shares invaluable insights about the FSEA's mission, the burgeoning trends in digital and traditional embellishments, and the significant impact these processes have on the printing industry. Read More
Welcome to the latest episode of the Digital Embellishment Show! In this insightful episode, Kevin Abergel dives deep into the evolving world of digital embellishment and explores the significant role Kurz plays in shaping this dynamic market. Read More
In this episode of The Embellishment Show, join Kevin Abergel for an enlightening conversation with Paul Furse from Scodix as he delves into the transformative world of digital embellishment. With a rich background in sign painting, Paul shares his journey towards embracing digital technologies and how they're reshaping the printing landscape. This video is a treasure trove of insights for those curious about the latest trends and technologies in digital printing. Read More
Welcome to another thrilling episode of The Digital Embellishment Show! In this must-watch video, we are honored to host Jordi Giralt, a prominent figure in the world of print technology. Jordi, from the esteemed company Kama in Dresden, joins us to share his incredible journey in the print industry and discuss the remarkable advancements in digital embellishment. Read More
In this exciting episode of "The Digital Embellishment Show," Kevin Abergel's special guest is Nick Bruno, CEO of Harris & Bruno International. Nick addresses the swirling rumors about their latest development in digital embellishment technology, when we can expect to see their new machine, and what makes it so different from the competition. Read More
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. Read More
In this video sponsored by Graphco, Chris Manley spotlights the North American launch of the SD-Italy Augusta F150R Pro hybrid CNC routing and cutting machine. Read More
Welcome to another captivating episode of the Digital Embellishment Show! In this episode, Taktiful's Kevin Abergel talks to Leiman Chan, the visionary behind Nonstop Printing in the heart of Hollywood. Dive into the world of innovative printing as Leiman shares his insights and experiences in pushing the boundaries of digital embellishment. Read More
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. Read More
In this video sponsored by EMT International, Mike Herold, EVP of Marketing and Sales, showcases the company’s new DP22 PRO dynamic perf and punch continuous-feed processor line. Read More
In this video, sponsored by Tecnau, Product Marketing Manager Scott Peterson and Western Regional Account Manager John Beutel show off some of the equipment Tecnau had been demonstrating at PRINTING United in Atlanta, including the Phoenix 20 flood coater, Stack 1212 cutsheet solution, and Unwinder. Read More
In this video, sponsored by Ultimate TechnoGraphics, CEO Julie Watson talks about the company’s software for nesting optimization for wide-format printing, as well as Ultimate BestCut for automating guillotine cutting. Read More
In this video, sponsored by Duplo, President Rick Salinas provides an update on some of the finishing solutions Duplo is bringing to market, and highlighted in their booth at last week’s PRINTING United. Read More
In this video, sponsored by SEI Laser/Matik, Matik President Steve Leibin introduces the X-Type, the fastest laser plotter on the market, making its debut in the North American market. Read More
Julie Shaffer talks to David Drucker, founder and CEO of the award-winning printing firm highresolution, and special guest at the latest Amplify Roadshow, an embellishment happy hour that has been touring the country and heads to the Yards Brewing Company in Philadelphia on November 9. Read More
In the latest episode of The Digital Embellishment Podcast, host Kevin Abergel from Taktiful interviews Jose Gerardo, a trailblazer in the digital embellishment industry from Felicitos Leal in Monterrey, Mexico. The century-old, family-founded business has managed to stand out in a modern world, thanks to its early adoption of digital print embellishments. The episode covers a range of topics including the business's rich history, competitive edge, and strategies for success. Read More
Join Taktiful's 7-year-old Vice President, Aaron, as he unboxes a special package from Italic Press! Get a peek at their brand new 3D Emblem line called "Impress by Italic" through the delightful perspective of a 7-year-old. From the initial touch to the intricate details, experience the magic and wonder as only a child can express. What makes these 3D emblems so unique? How does Aaron react to seeing them for the first time? Read More
New unboxing adventure with Aaron! Our favorite 7-year-old VP, Aaron, is back with another delightful unboxing. This time, we've received a special package from Classic Color! From incredibly tactile samples to an exquisite popup book by Sappi Paper, join Aaron as he marvels at some of Classic Color's finest work. Experience the textures, colors, and surprises of print like never before—through the curious and vibrant eyes of a 7-year-old. How does Aaron react to the tactile wonders? Read More
In the latest episode of The Digital Embellishment Show, owners Dan Thompson and Shawn Irvine from Italic Press join Kevin Abergel to discuss the launch of their latest venture: Impress, a groundbreaking 3D emblem business. With their expertise in printing and design, Dan and Shawn have created a one-of-a-kind service that allows customers to transform their logos and designs into stunning, high-quality 3D emblems that can be used on a variety of products. Read More
In this episode of The Digital Embellishment Show, Kevin Abergel talks with Jeff Hernandez, Vice President of Classic Color, and a legend in the world of print embellishments. Jeff sheds light on the critical role of embellishments in making a lasting impression, elaborates on the mindset needed to truly impress customers, and how essential it is to know your craft inside and out. Read More
In this episode of The Digital Embellishment Show, Kevin Abergel talks to Andy Humble, the President of Post Press Specialties. Andy holds the remarkable distinction of being one of the pioneering trade finishers to invest in a digital embellishment unit. This episode delves into his transformative journey, including the initial hardships, the learning curve, and how the digital embellishment unit has now become a cornerstone of his operations. But the journey doesn't end there. Andy takes us through his recent phenomenal victory at the FSEA Gold Leaf Awards. Read More
David Zwang talks with Kevin Moll, VP of Sales of B&R Moll, a manufacturer of postpress equipment. B&R Moll has been seeing strong growth in such diverse applications as folding cartons and greeting cards. Read More
Joanne Gore talks to Shawn Irvine, owner of Italic Press, a Toronto-based commercial printer specializing in retail, events, and agency work. The company just introduced Impress, a new type of print embellishment technique. Read More
Join us on the latest episode of The Digital Embellishment Show as we sit down with Dave Baird, President of Truly Engaging, to learn about his journey from being a beginner in digital embellishment to mastering the craft and now embellishing nearly 80% of his work. Dave takes us through his early days of experimentation with digital embellishment and shares his insights on how he has evolved his techniques over the years. Read More
In this episode of The Digital Embellishment Show, we are joined by a special guest, Jeff Alexander, CEO of Alexander's. Jeff is a pioneer in the digital embellishment industry, and he shares his insights on how he created a new market by being one of the first to market with digital embellishment technology. Read More
Kevin Abergel talks with Alvaro Mantilla, Supplies Category Manager, Americas, for HP Indigo at Dscoop about the specialty inks and toner are available for HP Indigo machines to add digital embellishments to printed materials. Read More
In this episode of The Digital Embellishment Show, Kevin Abergel talks with Vince Manini, Partner and VP at Team Concept Printing, who shares his unique insights into the art of digital embellishments, revealing industry tips and techniques that have propelled him to the forefront of the field. Read More
Kevin Abergel talks with David Baird, President and CRO of Truly Engaging, a company that produces wedding invitations, save the date announcements, and other card and invitations. They are very active in digital embellishments, and David talks to Kevin about some unique products the company offers. Read More
In this video, sponsored by Standard Finishing, Standard’s Mark Hunt talks about the company’s recent appearance at Dscoop and highlights some of the recent product announcements and business and industry trends. Read More
In this edition of “What’s Up with WhatTheyThink,” Eric Vessels talks with Foil and Specialty Effects Association (FSEA) Director Jeff Peterson about the upcoming Digital Embellishments Conference, coming June 5-7 in Indianapolis, Ind. Read More
In this episode of The Digital Embellishment Show, we sit down with Bill White, Senior Account Executive for Meyers, who specializes in selling digitally embellished print and packaging. Bill has been in the print industry for over 40 years and has seen firsthand the evolution of digital embellishments. Join us as we explore the latest trends and innovations in digital embellishments and hear from Bill about his experience working with clients to create stunning and unique pieces that stand out in a crowded marketplace. Whether you're a print professional or just curious about the world of digital embellishments, this episode is not to be missed. Read More
Welcome to the latest episode of the Digital Embellishment Show, where we explore the world of digital print finishing and embellishment. In this episode, we have a special guest, Jakob Stone, a 20-year-old Digital Embellishment operator at Elite Print Finishing.Jakob shares his experiences and insights into the world of digital print finishing, discussing his journey to becoming a operator, and the unique challenges he faces in his role. He also shares his tips and tricks for achieving the perfect finish, and how to maintain high quality standards while working with a range of materials and techniques. Read More
In this video, sponsored by Standard Finishing, Johann Laurent, Director of Business Operations for Standard, provides a rundown of the finishing solutions Standard was showcasing at Hunkeler Innovationdays. Read More
Adam Stewart, Owner at Fresh Printz in Tulsa, Okla., talks to Taktiful's Kevin Abergel about his experiences starting a new 100% digital trade finishing shop with zero prior experience. Read More
David Zwang talks to Adam LeFebvre, president of Specialty Print Communications, about his first time attending Hunkeler Innovationdays and his impressions of the event. Read More
Eric Vessels of WhatTheyThink and Kevin Abergel of Taktiful speak with Andrew Gunn, Global Director of Production Marketing & Product Life Cycle with Xerox, about the digital embellishment market, the new study that is in the field, and how the results will benefit the industry. Read More
David Zwang talks to Ricoh’s Mike Herold about the equipment that Ricoh was showing at Hunkeler Innovationdays last week in Luzerne, Switzerland. Read More
Pat McGrew talks to Hunkeler CEO Daniel Erni about how he sees the trade show environment playing out over the next few years, and the future of Innovationdays. Read More
David Zwang talks to Mark Subers of the PRINTING United Alliance about his impressions of this year’s Hunkeler Innovationdays—the booths are packed and the event has experienced 3X growth since it began. Read More
Matt Baehr, Executive Director of the Book Manufacturers’ Institute (BMI), talks about the book manufacturing solutions being demonstrated at last week’s Hunkeler Innovationdays. BMI members include equipment manufacturers and suppliers exhibiting at the show as well as book printers looking to check out the latest equipment. Read More
Thomas Hofmann at Canon talks about emerging trends and product strategy at Hunkeler Innovationdays 2023. Read More
Juan Soto and Alessandro Bufalari at Harris and Bruno talk about emerging trends and product strategy at Hunkeler Innovationdays 2023. Read More
Jan Marstorp at Plockmatic Group talks about emerging trends and product strategy at Hunkeler Innovationdays 2023. Read More
Mike Herold at Ricoh talks about emerging trends and product strategy at Hunkeler Innovationdays 2023. Read More
Julie Watson at Ultimate TechnoGraphics talks about emerging trends and product strategy at Hunkeler Innovationdays 2023. Read More
Dimitri Van Gaever at Xeikon talks about emerging trends and product strategy at Hunkeler Innovationdays 2023. Read More
David Zwang talks to Hans Gut, Chief Marketing Officer for Hunkeler, about the company’s new Smart Logistics Solutions, which helps to quickly move on-demand printed materials, such as book blocks, from press to finishing equipment, tracking and monitoring where each job is and where it’s going. Read More
This week Warren talks with Mark Stephenson of Fujifilm Europe about embellishments and Taktiful and WhatTheyThink's new and exciting survey that will produce the first-of-its kind study on specialty ink usage in the printing industry. (To take the survey, click the link below the video.) Read More
David Zwang talks to Hans Gut, Chief Marketing Officer for Hunkeler, about digital web finishing. Hunkeler’s digital web finishing products initially served the transactional print market and has expanded into book production, launching next-generation solutions for automated book block production. Read More
David Zwang talks with Matthias Annaheim, Head of Marketing for Hunkeler, about the theme of this year’s Hunkeler Innovationdays: Next Level Automation, and how Hunkeler equipment needs to connect to a variety of different systems often within a single printing plant. Read More
David Zwang talks with Patrick Treyer, Area Sales Director for Hunkeler, about Hunkeler’s recent introductions for the cut-sheet finishing market including DocuTrim, a new line supporting the transactional and transformational markets that features dynamic perforating. Read More
David Zwang talks to Daniel Erni, Hunkeler’s new CEO, about his new position and the company’s vision for the future. The emphasis for finishing equipment manufacturers is on logistics, making it easy to integrate with different printing processes. Read More
Eric Vessels of WhatTheyThink speaks with Kevin Abergel of Taktiful and Mark Little of Ricoh about their partnership on a new and exciting survey that will produce the first-of-its kind study on specialty ink usage in the printing industry. (To take the survey, click the link below the video.) Read More
Eric Vessels of WhatTheyThink speaks with Kevin Abergel of Taktiful and Alvaro Mantilla of HP about their partnership on a new and exciting survey that will produce the first-of-its-kind study on specialty ink usage in the printing industry. To take the survey, click the ink below the video. Read More
Kevin Abergel, President of Taktiful, speaks with Eric Vessels of WhatTheyThink about their partnership on a new and exciting survey that will produce the first of its kind study on specialty ink usage in the printing industry. To take the survey, click the link below the video. Read More
This week, Warren talks to Jeff Karnoff of Kompac about how a 24-year-old who never knew what printing was before working in it, got into it and grew to love it. Thing is, he is not a printer, but works on the OEM side. Kompac is a seller of UV and aqueous coating equipment. Read More
Graphco’s Chris Manley and Gary Greis talk about and demonstrate some highlights of Graphco’s growing portfolio of graphic arts vendors, equipment, and consumables including RMGT presses, Horizon and Foliant finishing equipment, and Kodak plates, CTP systems, and digital and inkjet solutions. Read More
Stuart Fox and Matt Thackray of Kongsberg talk about the history of the 57-year-old company and showcase some of the precision cutting tables in its own portfolio, as well as that of the recently-acquired Multicam. Read More
Joe DeBoy, the newly minted VP of Sales at NAPCO USA, talks with Taktiful's Kevin Abergel about selling digital printed output in the rigid packaging market and provides some good tips on how to pitch the value on insourcing packaging back into the USA. Read More
In the latest episode of The Digital Embellishment Show, Taktiful's Kevin Abergel talks with Dominic Zaidan and Frank Deiuliis of NAPCO USA about embellishment design and equipment operating challenges they have overcome in the digital packaging world. Read More
Troy Shatus of Capital Mailing Equipment talks about the latest industry trends, such as the increased demand to be able to print on as many different kinds of papers as possible, as well as integration of new printing equipment with mailing and binding equipment. Capital Mailing Equipment offered solutions that will address these demands and more. Read More
Graphic Whizard’s Max Allen talks about Graphic Whizard’s new highly automated digital die-cutting solution designed for longer digital runs. Read More
Muller Martini President and CEO Andy Fetherman talks about how Muller Martini’s automated, “smart factory”-based finishing workflow helps overcome the challenge of finding bindery employees. Read More
Standard Finishing’s Paul Steinke talks about how the top challenges for Standard’s customers are people and paper. To help customers with staffing shortages, Standard’s manufacturers—Hunkeler and Horizon—are increasing levels of automation in their equipment as well as improving ease-of-use for less skilled bindery operators. Read More
Tecnau Product Marketing Manager Scott Peterson talks about how Tecnau’s versatile and easy-to-use finishing equipment helps customers address supplies and labor shortages. Read More
Deirdre Ryder of VITS International talks about increased customer needs for improved digital inks, wider format substrates, higher speeds, and a wider variety of substrates, such as papers, foils, and films. VITS is addressing these needs by designing equipment to run wider formats at faster speeds, as well as improve overall efficiency. Read More
W+D’s Brook Spaulding talks about how the ability to custom convert envelopes on the fly is a game changer for direct mailers. Read More
GEW’s Gary Doman discusses trends in sheetfed offset and how UV curing can address these trends. Read More
Zünd America’s Bill Richards talks about the challenges of keeping employees, and how the automation features on Zünd’s wide-format cutting equipment can help streamline workflows through data integration, metadata manipulation, and robotics. Read More
In the latest installment of our new Marketing Digital Embellishment Capabilities video series, Taktiful's Kevin Abergel talks with Aaron, Taktiful's 7 year old VP and Chief Toy Officer, as he unboxes a print sample kit from swissQprint. Read More
Rick Salinas, President of Duplo USA, leads a tour of Duplo’s booth at PRINTING United featuring finishing solutions for the B2 packaging market. He is joined by Technical Product Manager Anthony Blanco, talking about the DuSense DDC-8000 B2 Raised Spot UV Coater and DSM-1000 B2 Platen Die Cutter; Product Manager Kevin Chen discussing the DC-746 B2 Slitter/Cutter/Creaser and DFL-700 Foil/Laminator; and Product Manager David Nguyen, showing the DF-K2000 Thick Paper Creaser/Folder. Read More
Bob Flinn of Standard Finishing Systems talks about the binding and finishing equipment the company was demonstrating at PRINTING United, featuring units from Hunkeler and Horizon—and including a robotic arm feeding a Horizon perfect binder. Read More
In the latest installment of our new Marketing Digital Embellishment Capabilities video series, Taktiful's Kevin Abergel talks with Darren Kenning, the President of Sugar Print, about how to best market digital embellishment capabilities to clients. Read More
In the latest installment of our new Marketing Digital Embellishment Capabilities video series, Taktiful's Kevin Abergel talks with Michael Dillon, the new Chief Revenue Office at Meyers, about how he markets digital embellishments to his clientele. Read More
In the first installment of our new Marketing Digital Embellishment Capabilities video series, Taktiful's Kevin Abergel talks with Matthew Greer, CEO of DMS Color/Gold Leaf Packaging, about how to best market digital embellishments in today's world. Read More
Mark Hunt, Director of Strategic Alliances at Standard Finishing, takes time out of busy preparations for PRINTING United to speak with Eric Vessels about their 4,000 square feet of space at the show and all the finishing and automation solutions they will be featuring. This is a great peek into what people will see from Standard at the show! Read More
David Zwang talks to Jeff Peterson, Executive Director of the Foil & Specialty Effects Association (FSEA), about the educational resources the association offers the industry. FSEA has also just announced the establishment of the Digital Embellishment Alliance (DEA), a new association dedicated to the growing digital embellishment segment of the printing industry. Read More
Bindtech is a postpress service provider that offers a wide range of binding and finishing services for both hardcover and softcover books. Bindtech’s Chad Dillon shows “Simply Bourbon,” a coffee table book that features an elaborate three-piece cover incorporating debossing, foil stamping, and a real piece of laser-etched wood. Bindtech was showing even more exotic binding examples at last August’s Americas Print Show. Read More
Warren Werbitt talks to Kelley Holmes about Taktiful, a marketing agency focused on embellishments. Taktiful’s goal is to teach designers the technical aspects of working with embellishments as well as guiding printing company owners and operators in running the equipment effectively. Read More
Scodix’s Jason Rollo provides an update on Scodix’s mission to digitize, and become the leader in, print embellishment and decoration for the packaging and print markets. Read More
DG3 is a full-service solutions provider serving primarily the pharmaceutical and financial markets, as well as Fortune 1000 companies across a wide range of industries. A longtime HP customer, DG3 installed a PageWide T230 back in 2013, and were recently able to upgrade it to the latest T250 specs, taking advantage of the latest HP technologies such as Brilliant Ink. The partnership between HP and Tecnau has also helped DG3 weather the recent labor and supply chain challenges. Read More
Andrew Bailes-Collins of Ultimate TechnoGraphics talks to Kelley Holmes at the recent Amplify Print event. Ultimate TechnoGraphics’ Impostrip was the first electronic imposition program, and the company has since expanded into integrated software for automating finishing. Read More
In business for 40 years, A.B. Data produces direct mail and transactional statements, specializing in variable-data printing. Formerly relying on black-and-white toner-based digital printing, the company transitioned to production inkjet to improve its efficiency. See how partners Canon and Tecnau helped A.B. Data make its transition. Read More
Deirdre Ryder of VITS International talks to Kelley Holmes at the Amplify Print event. VITS International started as an inline finishing equipment company specializing in sheeters, and the company has evolved to produce a full range of finishing equipment, as well as customized bespoke solutions for customers. Read More
Jeff Petersen, executive director of the Foil and Specialty Effects Association (FSEA), talks with Kelley Holmes about FSEA’s partnership with APTech that led to the Amplify Print event highlighting the latest trends and technologies in embellishments and other finishing effects. Read More
Darren Kenning of Sugar Print talks to Kelley Holmes at the Amplify Print event. Founded three years ago, Sugar Print specializes in adding embellishments to printed materials, working with agencies and brand owners to design materials for embellishments. Read More
Doug Sherwood, National Sales Manager for Rollem, talks to Kelley Holmes at the Amplify Print event about how the 60+-year-old finishing equipment manufacturer has changed, evolved, and adapted over the years. Read More
Foldfactory’s Trish Witkowski talks about her impressions of last month’s Amplify Print event, including educational sessions, highlights from the show floor, conversations with show attendees and exhibitors, and many examples of how to take advantage of all the benefits of print. Read More
This week, Warren talks to Steven Roberts, President of Elite Print Finishing, about the benefits of digital embellishments and “sexy print.” Read More
Eagle Systems' Ellen Manning talks to Kelley Holmes at last month's Amplify event about the company’s inline cold foiling equipment and its capabilities for adding "pizzazz and glitz" to labels and packaging. Read More
Graphco’s Chris Manley talks to Kelley Holmes about the company’s participation in the Amplify event in Minneapolis last month. On the RMGT side of Graphco’s business, customers do a lot of high-value embellishments on their presses using UV LED curing technology, and Graphco’s booth highlighted these applications. Read More
Chris Hogge from Harris & Bruno talks to Kelley Homes at last week’s Amplify event about how, as printing has transitioned from offset to digital, finishing equipment—especially the coating equipment Harrison & Bruno manufactures—has had to make the transition as well. Read More
Duplo’s Rick Salinas talks with Kelley Holmes at last week’s Amplify event about Duplo’s offerings for finishing and embellishment. Their solutions have proven especially popular for short-run packaging, particularly for the cannabis industry. Read More
Clint Seckman talks to Kelley Holmes at the Amplify Print event about Parkland Direct. The company started 40 years ago as a litho printer, began producing envelopes 15 years ago, and for the last five years has completely focused on envelopes, adding embellishments and other effects to increase open and response rates. Read More
The State of Colorado uses Tecnau’s Revolution 50 Series high-speed cutting and stacking system in tandem with Ricoh’s VC60000 to produce a wide variety of transactional documents. The integrated equipment can produce graphic arts-quality documents with high ink coverage using coated papers in a wide variety of basis weights, and has helped the state transition from toner-based systems to production inkjet. Read More
Warren Knipple of Trotec Laser talks about the advantages of lasers in print finishing, giving users precise cutting control and, when used for cutting polyester textiles, sealing the edges of the fabric, precluding the need for hemming or welding. Read More
Kelley Holmes talks to APTech President Thayer Long at the inaugural Amplify event, presented in conjunction with the FSEA, a show dedicated to finishing and embellishment technology. Read More
Shelter Insurance in Columbia, Mo., is a property and casualty insurance company that operates in 21 different states. When they wanted to switch from toner to production inkjet for their—to add color and better compete against other insurers—they chose Screen, which has dedicated itself to continuous-feed inkjet. For finishing equipment, Shelter turned to its long-time partner Tecnau. See how Screen and Tecnau helped Shelter make its transition. Read More
Zünd America’s Beatrice Drury talks with Kelley Holmes about Zünd’s participation in the ISA Sign Expo, the markets the company is involved in, and the kinds of cutting and finishing equipment Zünd manufactures. She also shares some examples of the specialized cutting Zünd equipment can produce. Read More
Duplo’s new president Rick Salinas talks to Kelley Holmes talks about Duplo’s first time exhibiting at the International Sign Association (ISA) Sign Expo. He notes that the big growth areas in the industry are signage, POP, and packaging, and Duplo is moving to pursue those areas. Read More
The upcoming Amplify event in Minneapolis in June will be a great place to see all of the latest developments in finishing techniques. Embellishing print adds value and increases engagement, a good way to make direct mail, packaging and other applications more effective. In this discussion, Chris Leary talks about the offerings he will be showing at Amplify from Geitz and Vinfoil, two European companies that have heretofore had somewhat limited exposure in the Americas. Read More
Senior Editor Cary Sherburne speaks with Jeff Peterson, Executive Director, Foil & Specialty Effects Association (FSEA), one of the organizers of AmplifyPrint.com; Kevin Abergel, President, Taktiful, an exhibitor; and Haley Quick-Hutchison, Vice President Infinity Foils, Inc., also an exhibitor, about what to expect at Amplify, taking place in Minneapolis in June, and the importance of beginning with the end in mind—consider finishing at the beginning of the job. They also explain some of the advantages of embellished pieces in direct mail, packaging, display graphics, and more. Read More
This unique event is focused on finishing, with a large dash of embellishment. In this video discussion, you'll hear from APTech about the event, and gain the perspective of both an attendee and an exhibitor about why the show is important and what you might gain from attending or exhibiting! Read More
Joris Bosch from Holland-based Wihabo talks about digital printing and finishing. Wihabo offers commercial and packaging printing. Five years ago, they added an HP Indigo 10000, which was a game changer for the company. They have added digital die-cutting and recently added Highcon and Scodix machines to add even more value to printed materials. Read More
David Zwang talks to Chris Raney, VP Postpress Product Management, Heidelberg US, about Heidelberg's updated and expanded postpress offerings. These include introducing push-to-stop folding, more automated cutting for commercial print, and die-cutting and folder gluers for folding carton production. Read More
Mistakes in the bindery are arguably the most expensive mistakes a printing/packaging operation can make, and with today's short runs and fast turn times, bindery waste is not an option for a profitable business. In this interview, Rick Salinas, Vice President of Marketing for Duplo, talks about all of the ins, outs and latest developments in finishing technology, including the importance of "beginning with the end in mind" when planning work and process integration across the entire workflow. Read More
At the recent thINK Forum, representatives from Standard Finishing, Domtar Paper, Tecnau, Pixelle, Muller Martini, and Solimar Systems spoke about software, paper, and finishing solutions being showcased, and the value they bring as Canon’s solutions partners. Read More
Andy Fetherman, Vice President of Sales and Technology at Muller Martini, shares his thoughts about the importance of automation, not only in the bindery, but as an integrated workflow across the entire process. He notes some of the advances the company is making and what we should be looking forward to in the future. He also reports seeing a shift beginning from a preference for near-line finishing to the more efficient and less labor intensive in-line model. Read More
APTech and FSEA have teamed up to produce a new industry event: AmplifyPrint will be held 14-16 June 2022 in Minneapolis, a conference and exhibition dedicated to educating printers and designers about the latest possibilities in the realm of finishing. More info can be found at www.amplifyprint.org. Jeff Peterson and Thayer Long explain the event in this video interview. Read More
In this video interview, Shlomo Nimrodi, CEO, and Simon Lewis, VP Marketing, of Highcon, along with their newest addition, Alon Bar-Shany as Chairman, discuss the current state of Highcon following its very successful IPO, the target customer base, some of the changes driven by the pandemic, and their vision of the future in a dynamic, interactive discussion. Following this interview, Highcon and EFI announced a global partnership benefiting their common core of customers with ERP integration; Highcon also has a similar partnership with HP Indigo—and a common core of customers—where integration of print and finishing has offered many benefits. Read More
Sewing is often referred to as the "last mile" in the manufacture of sewn goods in terms of an overall automated workflow. Huge progress has been made in the level of automation, and an operator can be quickly trained to execute sewing of some types of items. But the fine work of sewing apparel is still out of reach. Rick Frye shares his thoughts about the current state of sewing automation, and describes Brother's new Bridge sewing technology. Read More
Frank Henderson of the Henderson Sewing Company is the third generation running this family business and has been doing so for the last 40 years. He has an extensive amount of experience to share, including what's being done to accelerate reshoring of manufacturing of sewn products, how his company interacts with others in the industry to create innovative workflows, and what he sees as future developments in sewing, robotics, and workforce development. Read More
Trish Witkowski, Chief Fold Fanatic for Fold Factory, talks to David Zwang about “embellishments”—people love them, but are often scared of them. There is a perception that “special effects” are only for special projects, and embellishment examples are often highly elaborate and aspirational. As a result, printers don’t often see how embellishments can be scaled down and used for more day-to-day print applications. Read More
A third-generation family-owned company in business for 50 years, Henderson Sewing Machine Company has changed with the times, according to CEO Frank Henderson. With sewing—the "last mile" in textile manufacturing automation—still requiring significant manual labor, Henderson talks about the challenges of automating textile sewn products and the progress that is being made. Read More
Bob Flinn from Standard Finishing talks about why, with the current labor market, investment in automation within binding and finishing is imperative. Read More
Yoshihiro Oe, General Manager at Horizon International Inc., talks about the "ICE Concept" that Horizon International introduced at the Think Smart Factory event. The concept brings Internet of Things (IoT) interconnection to finishing equipment to provide real-time data analytics, predictive maintenance, remote service, and support. Horizon is collaborating with customers to determine which type of IoT functionality is most useful within an automated print factory. Read More
2019 Think Smart Finishing, organized by Horizon International, showcases automated print production from order to finished product. WhatTheyThink spoke to Yasuo Taketsugu of Horizon International about bringing 14 industry partners together across software, print, and finishing to show a fully integrated print environment. Read More
Giselle del la Moriniere Product Marketing Manager in EFI’s Fiery Group talks about EFI’s Fiery partners, the Red Hot Technology Award-winning FreeForm Create software, and the integration of the Fiery digital front end with Duplo’s spot coater and slitter/cutter/creaser. Read More
Colter & Peterson’s Bruce Peterson talks about the company’s latest PRISM and SABER paper cutters, the company’s line of reconditioned cutters, and how cutters have evolved over the years. Read More
Hunkeler’s Hans Gut talks about the products the company was demonstrating at PRINT 19, including the Red Hot Technology Award-winning Hunkeler LS8-30 Long Stacker, which is designed to cut and stack a wide variety of print products. Read More
Graphco’s Chris Manley talks about the technologies the company was demonstrating at PRINT 19, including its chemical embossing system for RMGT offset presses, Foliant laminating, and GEW LED UV technology. Read More
Paul Steinke of Standard Finishing Systems showcases two Red Hot Technology Award-winning products Standard was demonstrating at last week’s PRINT 19: the Horizon VAC-L600H Air-Suction Collator and the Hunkeler LS8-30 Long Stacker. Read More
Jack Noonan, Marketing Manager at MGI Digital Technology, talks about embellishment of print as the next phase in the evolution of digital print for packaging. Digital special effects can add value to packaging, raise brand awareness, and foster customer engagement. Find out how. Read More
Yoshi Oe, General Manager of Global Business for Horizon Systems, talks about the company's new smart binding system, a fully-integrated and automated unwinder, cutter, folder, binder, and three-knife trimmer. Read More
Wim Maes, Executive Director at Summa, talks about the company's entry into textiles to address the bottleneck created in the cutting department as textile printers gain in speed. The company acquired CadCam Technology, resulting in the development of the Summa L3214, a 3.2-meter laser cutting device that cuts while the fabric feeds across the table, enabling cutting at 800 square meters per hour. Read More
Frank caught up with Christian Knapp of Highcon at the recent Canadian Graphic Arts show. Highcon is a pioneer in automatic creasing and laser diecutting. Read More
Andy Fetherman, VP of Sales and Technology for Muller Martini, talks about the company's complete Finishing 4.0 ideology that helps customers beyond finishing, taking advantage of automation and connecting it to drive variability in finishing. Read More
Hans Gut, VP of Marketing for Hunkeler AG, talks about the importance of drupa 2020 as a showcase for the industry, and Hunkeler's innovations in automation, workflow, and systems integration. Read More
Adina Shorr, CEO of Scodix, talks about the digital embellishment and enhancement, especially in packaging production. Thanks to its ability to mass customize printed packaging, digital embellishments can turn something that is functional—a package—into a form of communication, ultimately changing the way that products are consumed. Read More
Michel Hunkeler, CEO of Hunkeler AG, talks about the company's new product portfolio as well as how he sees the future of not only finishing technology, but entire print production systems. Read More
Stephan Estermann, VP of Services for Hunkeler AG, talks about the new service offerings that Hunkeler is bringing to market to increase customer productivity and profit. Read More
Marco Boer, Vice President of IT Strategies, joins David Zwang at Hunkeler Innovationdays to share his thoughts on the event and how cutting-edge technology has improved inkjet quality. Read More
Hans Gut, VP of Marketing, and Daniel Erni, VP of Sales, at Hunkeler AG talk about the latest finishing solutions the company is featuring at Innovationdays 2019. Hunkeler has continued to invest in automation features with its Generation 8 platform, and used the event to announce its entry into sheet finishing with the Hunkeler DOCUTRIM platform. Read More
David Zwang talks to Hunkeler AG President Stefan Hunkeler about Hunkeler Innovationdays. The 13th edition of Innovationdays focuses on "Success with Automation" and utilizing Industry 4.0 concepts in automated print production systems. Read More
Matt Poliniak, Advisor for Canon USA, demonstrates how the combination of the Canon imagePRESS and the Duplo DDC-810 gives customers the ability to add embellishments to digital prints. Read More
Scott Schinlever, President and COO of Automation Solutions for Gerber Technology, announces the acquisition of MCT Digital, a company the specializes in automated cutter technology. Read More
Si Nguyen, Vice President of Sales for Duplo, shares innovative texture and embellishment effects utilizing Duplo's spot UV solution. Read More
Christine Yardley, President of PrintPanther, talks about the advantages of being a member of PROKOM, Konica Minolta's user community, and how user groups are a great source of information, troubleshooting resources, and networking opportunities. Read More
Tony Rouse, President of Carol Stream, Ill.'s Team Concept Printing, talks to Kelley Holmes about the company's purchase of a new MGI JETVarnish 3-D to offer customers more options and "spice up" print. Read More
Finishing products manufacturer Colter and Peterson has been in the industry for 100 years and continues to innovate the paper finishing business. President Bruce Peterson, grandson of the company's founder, talks with Kelley Holmes about C&P's new line of Saber cutters. Read More
Mark Nixon, General Manager for Scodix, introduces the Ultra2 Pro at PRINT 18, able to cast and cure, a process that can create very high-value, digitally embossed applications, from holographics to foil. Read More
Paul Steinke, National Sales Manager for Standard Finishing Systems, talks about two new Horizon finishing units on display at PRINT 18: the StitchLiner Mark III and BQ-480 perfect binder, both of which include new automation features. Read More
Trish travels to Boston to visit the VIP Demonstration and Training Center at Standard Finishing Systems, and gets a tour and demonstration of their fully automated Smart Binding System. Read More
Frank interviews Jay Smith at Superior Packaging and Finishing in Braintree, Mass. Superior recently acquired Acme Binding and now is one of the largest finishing companies in America. Read More
Mark Hunt, Director of Strategic Alliances for Standard Finishing Systems, discusses the reasons behind the surge of popularity in roll-fed inkjet, and the importance of finishing. He also discusses what to expect at Hunkeler Innovations Days 2019. Read More
Trish's video this week features five different products that utilize “sticky” synthetic substrates for marketing communications. Each product uses completely different techniques and technologies, and she’ll demonstrate and compare them all. Read More
Duplo, the digital finishing company, usually runs customer events at hotels. This time they set up various pieces of equipment at the Museum of Printing in Haverhill, Mass. Their theme was “Old Print New Print” as modern finishing equipment was mixed in with older printing machines. Read More
In the ongoing search for new print techniques and technologies for mail, Trish highlights an exciting digital variable scratch-off collaboration between Mohawk, HP and Lawton Connect in Orlando. Read More
Frederic Gaillard, VP of Product Marketing for Lectra, talks to Cary Sherburne about Cutting 4.0, Lectra's new smart cutter for textile cutting that interfaces with Lectra Digital Cutting, a new cloud-based cutting platform. The machine receives orders and executes them, and sends back data so the entire process can be controlled in real time. The platform is designed to address the new challenges the company sees in the market, such as small runs and customization. The new platform also includes a fabric library. Read More
Trish Witkowski visits Impress Communications in Chatsworth, Calif., and speaks with owner Paul Marino about the challenges and the benefits of installing a 100%-accurate quality control inspection system on their Bobst EXPERTFOLD folder-gluer line. Read More
At the ISA Sign Expo 2018, Roland DGA introduced the DGSHAPE LD-80 laser foil decorator. Roland President Andrew Oransky talks about the new device and the opportunities it opens up for print service providers to offer unique, high-value printed specialty products. Read More
In the hunt for new print techniques and technologies for mail, Trish leads us to H&H Graphics in Chicago for a photochromatic ink technology that is designed to work in conjunction with the camera on your smartphone Read More
Tim McGinley of the Mail Innovations Program at the USPS challenges Finishing Section Editor Trish Witkowski to find new print finishing techniques and effects for mail. Trish begins her journey with Jeff Hernandez of Classic Color and his groundbreaking Brand Alchemy exploration. Jeff is developing realistic textures that mock actual products, and he’s putting the ideas directly into the hands of creatives. Read More
Jeff Peterson, President of FSEA, gives an overview of the association and how it serves members through their Odyssey show, magazine, and webinar events. He also discusses how new digital technologies like MGI and Scodix take specialty effects to the next level as well as a new study done in conjunction with Clemson University that showcases how end users tend to see embellished print first over standard package printing. Read More
Jack Glacken, President of TGI in Philadelphia, talked about his first visit to Hunkeler Innovationdays, saying his business today is all about automation and Hunkeler, Horizon and Standard Finishing have that covered. He learned a lot, was impressed with what he saw, and would like to return in 2019. Read More
Mark Hunt, Director of Strategic Alliances at Standard Finishing, shares his thoughts with Senior Editor Cary Sherburne on the increased automation trends and innovations on show at Hunkeler Innovationdays 2017. He characterizes the bindery as the "Last Frontier" for automation and is optimistic about today's solutions being able to stand up to the challenge and help customers be more productive and profitable. Read More
Bryan Constable, Director of Engineering at RPI Print, shares his thoughts about his first visit to Hunkeler Innovationdays, citing the beautiful surroundings and the more intimate environment than most other industry events. He also appreciated seeing the integrator of both Hunkeler and Horizon products in the same production line, as well as Hunkeler integration with Muller Martini. Read More
As a successful Hunkeler Innovationdays 2017 wraps up, Senior Editor Cary Sherburne speaks with Hunkeler CEO Michel Hunkeler about the company's strategies for the future. Key to the future is Hunkeler's partnerships with printing and finishing vendors to leverage respective strengths for the benefit of their mutual customers. Read More
Yoshihiro Oe, General Manager for Export at Horizon International, highlights the company's smart book binding systems being shown in partnership with Hunkeler at Hunkeler Innovationdays for complete inline automation book binding down to a book of one at up to 800 books per hour. He emphasizes the importance of Hunkeler Innovationdays in driving deeper customer relationships. Read More
Daniel Erni, Sales Director at Hunkeler, speaks with Senior Editor Cary Sherburne about the new products the company has on display at Hunkeler Innovationdays 2017. He highlights the increased integration among Hunkeler, Horizon and Muller Martini for better end-to-end finishing productivity. Read More
Ricoh's Mike Herold, Eric Staples, Nick Fiore, and John Blyth take us on a tour of the Ricoh booth at Hunkeler Innovation Days. They discuss the VC60000, Pro C9110, and software solutions. Read More
For a quarter of a century, Hunkeler Innovationdays has been a preferred venue for new product announcements, and 2017 is no exception. Hear what Hunkeler President and Innovationdays Project Director Stefan Hunkeler has to say about what to expect at this year's event, which is expected to draw nearly 7,000 visitors. Read More
Once again, Frank waxes poetic about a machine. We think he likes machines more than people. This time it is the B1 Scodix press for embellishment of all kinds. Read More
Michel Hunkeler, CEO of Hunkeler, speaks to Senior Editor Cary Sherburne from the drupa show floor, sharing the company's strategy of collaborating with clients, working from the application backwards to create an optimum configuration for clients and to guide new product development. He also shares some of the new solutions that were shown at drupa. Read More
WhatTheyThink attended a pre-drupa event for Highcon at their headquarters and manufacturing facilities in Yavne, Israel. We were able to get an early look at what will be on full display at the Dusseldorf trade fair. The takeaway is that in four short years Highcon has gone from a single machine to a full portfolio of digital finishing products. Read More
Andy Fetherman, Director of Digital Solutions for Muller Martini, reports that the company will be in Hall 2 at drupa 2016 as well as a significant presence in other exhibitors' stands. He encourages printers to take the time to investigate the future of finishing at the show. Read More
Andy Fetherman, Director of Digital Solutions at Muller Martini, speaks with Senior Editor Cary Sherburne about where finishing equipment decisions should fit into the digital press investment cycle. Begin with the end in mind and scalability is key! Read More
Jay Mandarino, President of CJ Graphics in Canada, continues his innovative approach by installing the first Highcon Euclid in Canada. He discusses how he used the Euclid to build a stunning cover for Design Edge, a magazine that goes to 11,000 designers across Canada. Read More
Amit Schvartz, Vice President of Marketing at Scodix, explains the range of digital print enhancements Scodix now offers, including its most recent foiling solution. He explains how digital print enhancement can change the market and drive higher margins. He shows samples! Read More
Steve Coburn, Director of Production Print Management at Pitney Bowes, talks about the Accelejet Printing and Finishing system at Graph Expo 2015. Read More
Senior Editor Cary Sherburne speaks with Hunkeler's Hans Gut who explains what's new from Hunkeler, including the DP-8 dynamic perfer and the smart book solution for short-run book production, both of which were shown for the first time at Hunkeler Innovationsdays 2015 in Lucerne. Read More
Senior Editor Cary Sherburne speaks with Marco Boer of I.T. Strategies about our recent visit to Hunkeler Innovationdays in Lucerne. His enthusiasm about this event was reflected by everyone who attended and he articulates its value well. Read More
Senior Editor Cary Sherburne talks with Marketing Leader Erich Hodel of Hunkeler about where attendees came from and what they saw at Hunkeler Innovationdays 2015. He highlights Hunkeler's brand-new control platform that enables end-to-end control of print jobs. Read More
The 11th edition of Hunkeler Innovationdays begins today. Stefan Hunkeler, owner and CEO of Hunkeler, talks with Senior Editor Cary Sherburne about what the nearly 5,500 visitors to this unique event can expect, including innovative new solutions from Hunkeler itself. Read More
Frank reviews the Highcon technology - a simple approach, yet very complex. He shows us several examples of what is possible, from packaging, to die cut cards, to stickers, and (coming soon) embossing. Read More
Michael Musgrave, COO of Heritage Paper, talks to Cary Sherburne about their business and the growth of digital in their shop. They also discuss the acquisition of an HP Scitex FB10000 and the drivers behind that. Read More
Cary Sherburne wraps up Graph Expo 2014 from the show floor talking about the size of the show, attendance, and many exciting announcements being made. Print software, workflow, production inkjet, new partnerships, and some smaller vendors all made a splash this year. Read More
Bill Graushar, Principal at Bill Graushar Consulting, talks about the MBO America Customer Open House event and gives his impressions on what he saw there and what he thought about the "The New MBO" offerings. Read More
Juan Sanchez, Plant Manager at Unitecblue in Argentina, talks to Cary Sherburne about the business and how MBO America is helping them develop innovative new products. Read More
Juan Sánchez , Gerente de Planta en Unitecblue en Argentina , conversa con Cary Sherburne sobre el negocio y cómo MBO America está ayudando a desarrollar nuevos productos innovadores. Read More
David Zwang and Cary Sherburne discuss what "The New MBO" means and what he took from their attendance at a customer event in New Jersey. Read More
Jay Foster, President of Soft Solutions, talks to Eric Vessels about the the needs for workflow management software in the fast changing book printing industry. Read More
Steve Carlson, Director of Operations at Prisma, talks to Cary Sherburne about the business and how they are working to improve bindery throughput using MBO America. Read More
John Cracknell, Managing Director of IBIS Bindery Systems, talks to Cary Sherburne about technology developments in the bindery and finishing side of the print workflow. Read More
Joe Upton, VP of Sales and Marketing at Edwards Brothers Malloy, talks to Eric Vessels about the merger that created their new company and the focus of their business and how they've responded to the changing nature of book printing. Read More
Lance Martin, Director of Sales for MBO America, talks to Cary Sherburne about "The New MBO" and why it's important to begin the print job with finishing in mind. Read More
Mike Seagram, President & COO of Sheridan Books, talks to Eric Vessels about the "internationalization" of book publishing production. Read More
Frank visits with Wim Koning of Screen Europe at Ipex and they look at the Motioncutter laster cut system, reviewing many samples that show off the capability. Read More
Mike King, President & CEO of Eagle Systems, talks to Cary Sherburne about some of the finishing technologies that make print stand out. They discuss the capabilities of both hot foil and cold foil technologies Read More
Larry Moore, VP of Partner Programs at Esko, talks to Cary Sherburne about the packaging sector moving to digital and what he sees in that transition. They also discuss finishing and color management. Read More
Jim Heckman, VP at HF Group, talks to Eric Vessels about going from being a library binder to fully embracing the digital revolution by getting into the printing side of the book business. Read More
Oren Teicher, CEO of the American Booksellers Association, talks to Eric Vessels about the cooperation between BMI and his organization. Read More
Dean Likas, RockTenn Director of Business Development, talks to Eric Vessels about the changes in the book printing industry and how it's impacted their business. Read More
Bill Hartman, SVP at Esko, talks to Richard Romano about introducing the new Kongsberg V Digital Finishing System at ISA. Read More
Mike King, President & CEO of Eagle Systems, talks to Cary Sherburne about the things they do to enhance printed material using foils. Read More
Oren Teicher, CEO of the American Booksellers Associations, talks to Eric Vessels about the pressures on booksellers by digital content and the relative renaissance of their sector. Read More
Ryan McManus, Marketing Director at Kern, talks to Eric Vessels about the company and how they've evolved from production mailing and finishing equipment to inkjet presses. Read More
Charles Marshall, VP of R&D at Lightning Source, talks about the digital one-off book publishing market and how things have changed and what the future holds. Read More
Ziki Kuly, Vice President at Scodix, talks to Cary Sherburne about their technology and what's new at the company. They discuss some of the applications being used with the technology including what Tukaiz is doing. Read More
Steve Hatlem, President of Sipe, talks to Richard Romano about the company and their relationship with MGI. They discuss how the process works and how they use the technology to differentiate their business. Read More
Kevin Karstedt interviews Dror Danai of Scodix who talks about their unique coatings technology and how they are applying them to the folding carton segment of the industry. Read More
Cary Sherburne and Frank Defino Jr., VP and Managing Director of Tukaiz, discuss the history of the company and the growing range of output devices they have expanded to utilize. Read More
Brad Koch, VP of Sales for Webcrafters, talks to Eric Vessels about how the digital transformation has impacted their book manufacturing business and how Kodak has contributed to those changes. Read More
Tony Bean, Field Marketing Manager with Sun Chemical, talks to Kevin Karstedt about some of the innovative coatings they offer to brand managers to enhance the "curb appeal" of their products. Read More
Janet McCarthy Grimm, VP of Sales for Lindenmeyer, talks to Eric Vessels about being a BMI Associate Member and what the association is doing for her career. Read More
Mike Collinge, President of BMI (Book Manufacturing Institute), speaks with Eric Vessels at their annual member conference about the association and what happens at their annual general meeting and conference. Read More
This week, Frank visits St. Jude School in Waltham Massachusetts and talks to three wonderful young ladies about books. What do we learn? We find out that despite their having electronic devices, these youth still read books and will continue to do so. This one's cute factor goes to 11. Read More
Frank joins us this week from the 56th Annual Book Builders Book Awards Show as he gives us a tour of the many different books on display - including ebooks! Read More
Erwin Busselot, Director of Digital Printing at Kodak, talks to Cary Sherburne about Prosper and trends in the European market in book printing and the effect of e-books on this segment. Read More
Adi Chinai, Managing Director of King Printing, talks to Cary Sherburne about moving from offset and toner to production inkjet technology with the HP T350. Read More
Frank Romano visits Tom Zotos, a noted pioneer in the licensed art movement and talks about his new work with dimensional printing using Scodix technology. Read More
John Krehbiel, Systems Specialist at the CJ Krehbiel Company in Cincinnati, talks about branching out into wide format at the xpedx Wide Format Summit. Read More
Giovanni Ghilardi, Sales and Marketing Director at Meccanotecnica, talks to Cary Sherburne about their book business and the reception of high end book binding. Read More
Kent Larson, VP at Bridgeport National Bindery in Massachusetts, talks to Cary Sherburne about trends in their business and how they've continued to transform themselves from bindery, to digital printer, and beyond. Read More
Stefan Hunkeler, CEO of Hunkeler AG, talks to Cary Sherburne about trends in the transactional printing market and what commercial printers should be doing to take advantage of them. Read More
Duncan Newton, Managing Director of Global Bookbindery, talks to Cary Sherburne about digital book binding at high speeds and high volumes. Read More
David Reny, EVP of Standard Finishing, talks to Cary Sherburne about managing the quality of data in print workflows. David talks about both print quality data and printed piece content data. Read More
Ricoh Europe GM Benoit Chatelard talks to Cary Sherburne about the many announcements made at the recent Hunkeler Innovations Days. Read More
Frank talks about seeing a Tripp Company demonstration of laser engraving at a New England Graphic Communications Club that impressed him greatly. Read More
Eric Hodel, Director of Sales for Hunkeler, gives his impressions of this years Hunkeler Innovation Days and what makes this event special. Read More
David Reny, EVP at Standard Finishing, talks to Cary Sherburne about disruptions in the print marketplace and how that creates opportunities for printers. Read More
Andy Fetherman, Director of Digital Solutions for Muller Martini, talks to Cary Sherburne about the trends today in finishing and the impact of digital and inkjet. Read More
Andre Brazeu, Senior VP & GM of Ricoh Americas, talks to Cary Sherburne about trends in the inkjet market and the acceptance of the technology. Read More
This week, Frank finds small things including the world's smallest gas engine that goes in the world's smallest smart car (don't worry it's a joke). He also finds news of the world's smallest printed book and reveals the escalating war going on to lay claim to the world's smallest book. Read More
Bill Graushar, Vice President of Post Press Technologies at QuadGraphics, gives us an update on what's happening with the company. They also discuss what's new in the post-press arena. Read More
Yoshihiro Oe, Export Manager at Horizon, gives Cary Sherburne an update on Horizon in North America and trends he's seeing in the market. Read More
Frank joins us from the Museum of Printing in North Andover Massachusetts where he talks die-cutting on old letterpress presses. Read More
Will Mansfield, Director of Inkjet Product Marketing at Kodak, talks about the importance of Hunkeler Innovations Days and gives updates on the Prosper press. Read More
This week, Frank shows us some beautifully printed magazines he receives in the mail (probably because he has a certain credit card). In one, he finds an ad for a printing company! Read More
Tim Taylor, VP of Marketing for Screen Europe, talks to Cary Sherburne about workflow solutions and integrating digital and offset workflows with a single solution. Read More
Senior Marketing Executive Buddy Mountcastle and Cary Sherburne discuss current book printing trends and how Canon is helping its customers as run lengths shrink down to as small as a Book-Of-One while the market continues to increase. Read More
David Kornbau, SVP or Strine Printing, talks to Eric Vessels about their business and how they've responded to the digital transformation of the industry. Read More
Wrapping up our series of videos taking a look at Hunkeler solutions at Innovation Days by taking a look at the Hunkeler Horizon book production system with Bob Flinn, Product Manager with Standard Finishing. Read More
We continue our series of videos taking a look at Hunkeler solutions at Innovation Days by taking a look at the DP6 dynamic perf and punch module with Product Manager Alex Hafliger. Read More
We continue our look at Hunkeler solutions at Innovation Days by taking a look at their web inspection platform with team leader Nicola Bologna. Read More
Frank Romano joins us from the EFI Connect Conference in Las Vegas earlier in the year where he talks to Giselle de la Morineier of MGI about their JETvarnish product. We get a feel for their ability to add up to 100 micron raised 3D effects. Read More
Cary Sherburne takes us on a tour of the Hunkeler Innovation Days show floor where we get an overview of the Hunkeler modular book block solution from Markus Neeser, product manager. Read More
Frank joins us from the EFI Connect Conference where he encounters the folks from Bunting Magnetics and wonders "what the heck they do". Frank learns about reusable die rollers and shares it with us viewers. Read More
Dave Zwang talks about the industry moving towards digital and inkjet technologies and automating both the input side (prepress) and output side (finishing) of the printing process. The key moving forward, he says, is to view it as one holistic process. Read More
George Ryan, President of the Printing Association of Florida, talks about Graphics of the Americas on the last day of the show. Read More
Frank Romano joins us from Toronto Canada at the Print World show where he gives us a tour and talks about small shows in the modern age of the printing industry and what these new dynamics mean for the commercia printer. Read More
WhatTheyThink's Cary Sherburne gives a wrap up from Hunkeler Innovation Days and talks about the evolution of the market and how the event has evolved to respond. Read More
Franz Hunkeler, Chairman of Hunkeler AG, talks to Cary Sherburne from Innovation Days and shares his thoughts on things that stood out about this particular event. Read More
This week, Frank uses the last print edition of Newsweek magazine as a jumping off point to talk about the print and digital mix and argues for "bi-textuality" - or that we need both print and electronic media. Read More
Johan Laurent of Standard Finishing talks about what's caught his eye at Hunkeler Innovation Days. Johan highlights the importance of increasing system up-time and productivity, two of the big themes at the show. Read More
Stefan Hunkeler, CEO of Hunkeler AG, gives Cary Sherburne some highlights from Innovations Days 2013 in Lucerne Switzerland. Read More
Frank joins us from Boston where he shows some interesting direct mail pieces that feature dimensional printing that makes them more compelling. The point? You can't do this kind of thing and get this kind of impact on The Internet! Read More
Kevin Karstedt of Karstedt Partners talks about their experience with digital printing specific to the packaging segment of the industry and the tools they've developed to help printers. Read More
Ultimate Technographics President & CEO Joanne David talks with Cary Sherburne about the how imposition and automation integrates with the finishing side of the printing process. Read More
Leslie Rutledge, Director of Operations at Clearstory, talks to Cary Sherburne about the business of digital book printing and moving from the academic world to the private sector. Read More
Kevin Horey, Xerox VP of Production Products, talks to Richard Romano about new technologies recently introduced by Xerox, including the Nuvera line as well as workflow solutions. Read More
Oce North America Partner Manager Bob Johnson takes us on a tour of their finishing partners at Graph Expo 2012. Featured are Hunkeler, Horizon, Lasermax Roll Systems, MBO America, bell+howell, Mueller Martini, Spiral James Burns, and Standard Finishing Systems. Read More
This week, Frank talks about the changing nature of magazine printing by showing his latest edition of AARP magazine and BusinessWeek. He covers inserts, promotions, and the emerging digital version. Read More
Mark Levenson, Manager of US Manufacturing at Sage, talks to Cary Sherburne about the mix of digital versus offset in their print buys and what is important to him as a buyer of print. Read More
Blurb SVP of Print Operations Bruce Waterman talks to Cary Sherburne about the relationship between printed books and e-books and trends he's seeing in this area. Read More
This week Frank Romano talks about attending his first industry event - The 7th Educational Graphic Arts Exposition at the newly built New York Coliseum in 1959. (Yes, he still has the flyer) Read More
Standard Finishing President Steve Reny speaks with Cary Sherburne about their long standing partnership with Hunkeler and about how North American printers can benefit from Hunkeler Innovation Days in Luzerne Switzerland. Read More
Whit Everett, President of Everett Graphics talks to Cary Sherburne about the trends in the folding carton printing market. They discuss run-length trends, copy obsolescence, just-in-time demands, and finishing. Read More
Stefan Hunkeler, CEO of Hunkeler AG speaks with Cary Sherburne about the Hunkeler Innovation Days event, giving a preview of the next event February 11-15 in Luzerne Switzerland. Read More
MGI Marketing Communications Manager Giselle de la Moriniere talks to Cary Sherburne about winning a Graph Expo Must See 'Em Award for the JetVarnish 3D Spot UV coater. Read More
Kent Larson, VP of Bridgeport National Bindery, talks to Cary Sherburne about transitioning their business from a bindery to full book printing services and the changes he's seeing in the industry. Read More
Michael Wilks, Product Manager of Bunting Magnetic Company talks to Cary Sherburne about his company and the increasing partnering they are doing with digital press manufacturers Read More
Frank visits with two industry consultants in Hong Kong and gets insights into how the Chinese printing industry compares to that of the United States. This week, Frank speaks with Joe Pasky of Cathay Consulting Services and gets his insights. Read More
Cary speaks with Chris Payne of Kodak and Jeff Ward of Timsons about the business of book manufacturing and explore their partnership which allows them to provide customers with a new generation of inkjet based book manufacturing. Read More
Cary Sherburne speaks with John Sillies of GSS and Chris Payne of Kodak on their partnership going back 15 years and the new business opportunities it opens up for hybrid print environments. Read More
Frank shares some print samples from a recent trade show that he thinks make print more interesting and talks about how they were produced using newer inkjet and dimensional technologies. Read More
Xerox VP of Graphic Communications Gina Testa talks about their Premier Partner program, explaining the use of a portal for networking with peers. Gina also touches on their Profit Accelerator Read More
Senior VP of Communications at Océ Jan Hol talks about the Canon stand at drupa and how it represents Canon and Océ working together and gives an overview of the reasons for the successful combination of the companies. Read More
Bridgeport National Bindery Vice President Kent Larson talks with Cary Sherburne about their business and how they evolved from binding only to printing and binding. They discuss HP's impact on this transition and how the digital transformation of the industry is changing the nature of book printing. Read More
WhatTheyThink contributor Andy Tribute gives kudos to the drupa team for their iphone app and then dives into some great packaging and finishing solutions at the show from both Scodix and Highcon. Read More
Cary Sherburne talks to Kevin Horey, Xerox VP of Production Product Marketing, about the many announcements they made at drupa. Biggest among them is the iGen 150. They also discuss a big finishing announcement made at the show as well as waterless inkjet. Read More
Frank answers the "two hottest things at drupa" question with a couple vendors that aren't generating as much buzz as others but are doing amazing things - Scodix and Highcon. Both are adding value to print in different ways, which Frank says is "a good thing". Read More
Frank brings us several quick anecdotes this week, an old vision of the future, the one of the worlds most expensive binding, and a growth in stationery. Read More
As Frank Romano reviews Packaging Design Magazine he compares current can printing to the custom printed cans from nearly 20 years ago. Read More
This week Frank dives deep into a finishing example, Swarthmore by the Numbers. Read More
Any fan of Frank Romano knows his love of printing gadgets. This week Frank showcases one of the more unusual gadgets he found during his recent trip to DMA, a handwriting machine. Read More
Cary Sherburne interviews CEO of Progressive Solutions Mark Sarpa about the company's recent ventures. Read More
COO of Graphic Tech Jim Blee sits down with Cary Sherburne to discuss the transition to include digital printing solutions but not fully replace their analog solutions. Read More
Frank goes over some very interesting bullet points from The Book Industry in Transition and discovers some very interesting similarities between printing's past and now. Read More
Mike Kyle gives an overview of how Pace transformed a 36 year old printer to Marketing Support Provider by adding a suite of new in house and technological services. Read More
Cary Sherburne interviews CEO of Hunkeler Stefan Hunkeler about owning a third generation Swiss company and their plans for the U.S. market. Read More
Cary Sherburne asks CEO of Hunkeler Stefan Hunkeler where he sees the future of feed and finishing products in an automated work flow. Read More
Yoshihiro Oe, General Manager at Horizon, talks about how they are bringing inline finishing even closer to help reduce the costly errors of finishing mistakes. Read More
Cary Sherburne grabs VP of Post Press Technology Bill Graushar from Quad Graphics to discuss what's going on in the future of the rapidly developing post press technology during a recent conversation at Hunkeler's Innovationdays. Read More
Frank gets a private tour of Concord Litho to see their latest innovations that keeps them ahead of the printing curve. Read More
Francis McMahon and Richard Romano chat about some of the exciting things covered at Océ's recent Wow customer event for book and transactional printing. Read More
O'Niel Data Systems started as an in-house printer for the stock market but Jim Lucanish, President of O'Niel Data Systems, shares how far they've grown and talks a little about their recent expansion. Read More
Aditya Chinai manages King Printing, whose business focuses primarily on book printing, discusses new technologies and some of the transitions the company is doing to keep the business up to date. Read More
President of Nipson Herberto Pachon gives Cary Sherburne an update on the company's advancements with their latest generation of presses. Read More
Asi Ben-Tov of Eichut Digital Print in Israel talks about a unique printing solution their shop offers to bring a tactile feel back to print. Read More
This week Frank talks about how vending machines are being used to cut back on retail staff which made him reminisce the old days of book vending and the modern equivalent printing on demand. Read More
Larry Vaughn and Ideal Printers host Océ's Envision the Future Forum in Houston, Texas. Larry has been a customer of Océ for over 10 years. He and Richard discuss his experiences as an Océ customer, including the superb level of service he receives. Read More
Amy Becham, Manager of Graphics and Printing Solutions at Georgia Pacific, details how they helped an internal client get a large binder resource guide as project manager from start to finish. With over 40+ collateral pieces all collated into one binder, outsourcing the right job to the right print vendor was no easy task. Read More
Frank takes a close look at a new magazine called Vintage Magazine and reviews the print quality and uniqueness and he really likes what he sees. Frank also talks about the printer who produced it. Frank also looks at some entries into the TAGA Project. It's a passionate defense of the power of print! Read More
This week Frank shares another great Dov Isaacs cartoon and comments on several news snippets. Kansas paper tax return taxes, Pittsburgh water and sewer authority bill errors, and the Espresso Book Machine all make the list. Frank continues with more commentary on bookstore on-demand book printing. Read More
This week Frank shares another great Dov Isaacs cartoon on "speaking in typeface", shares a great Thanksgiving card that marries print and electronics and some other direct mail pieces. Frank also shares his favorite pop-up book "Gutenberg's Gift". Finally, Frank talks about JC Penney's decision to stop printing their "Big Book" catalog and is skeptical of their social media strategy. Read More
This week Frank joins us from his office at RIT and shares some of his recent mail, which includes direct mail, trade magazines. Frank highlights his favorite 3 pieces: A foil stamped piece by manroland, Kodak's One publication, and Package Design magazine. Read More
