Editions   North America | Europe | Magazine

WhatTheyThink

Video

Interviews with Industry Executives, Commentary & Analysis from WhatTheyThink Contributors and other video features.

Profiles in Print BJU Press
Profiles in Print
BJU Press

 

Watch Film

Profiles in Print Thysse
Profiles in Print
Thysse

 

Watch Film

Profiles in Print Colorchrome
Profiles in Print
Colorchrome

 

Watch Film

Profiles in Print DCG ONE
Profiles in Print
DCG ONE

 

Watch Film

Profiles in Print Premier Press
Profiles in Print
Premier Press

 

Watch Film

TODO
Frank Stops the Presses

Frank bemoans the “electronic-ification” of American newspapers and traces the evolution that went from hot-metal type, to flongs, to curved plate cylinders for high-speed rotary presses, to offset printing with negative film and aluminum plates, and to CTP (computer-to-plate). He predicts that circulation drops will move some newspapers to rollfed inkjet and the only thing that might be displayed might be a PDF file. Watch Video

TODO
Koenig & Bauer Update…And Have They Been Busy!

David Zwang talks to Koenig & Bauer President and CEO Killian Renschler and Sr. VP Marketing and Product Management Eric Frank. Koenig & Bauer has been a powerhouse equipment manufacturer in the commercial print and packaging market for over a century. Through all of the changes, they have managed to keep very relevant and even thrive. Renschler and Frank talk about what the company has been working on. Watch Video

TODO
TLMI’s Linnea Keen on the Resilience of the Label and Packaging Industry

David Zwang talks with Linnea Keen, President of Tag and Label Manufacturers Institute (TLMI), a North American association of about 300 label and packaging converters, printers, and suppliers. Like the label and packaging industry in general, TLMI is growing and seeking to add new members in the flexible packaging area. Watch Video

TODO
Warren Werbitt Goes Printer to Printer with Integra Graphics Synergy

This week, Warren talks with Tim McClellan, VP Print & Strategy & Implementation for Integra Graphics Synergy. Integra is a print distributor/broker based in Lancaster, Pa., with two other locations. Being a distributor rather than a printer with in-house equipment, they are able to procure whatever print materials their customers require. Watch Video

TODO
FSEA’s Jeff Peterson Introduces the New Digital Embellishment Alliance

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. Watch Video

TODO
Michael Marcian Gives an Attendee Perspective Preview of PRINTING United Expo

WhatTheyThink's Eric Vessels chats with Michael Marcian, former CEO of CCG (now a part of DCG One) about the upcoming PRINTING United Expo event in Las Vegas October 19-21, as well as his role as the incoming PRINTING United Alliance Chairman. Watch Video

TODO
Calyx Containers Specializes in Childproof Containers

Rob Bullen, Label Production Manager for Calyx Containers, talks to David Zwang at the recent Labelexpo Americas show. Calyx Containers specializes in producing square childproof containers for the cannabis industry—they make the container via injection molding, print labels, and ship them to customers. The company has HP Indigo digital printing equipment, as well as digital embellishment and laser cutting capabilities. Calyx is looking to expand into other markets. Watch Video

TODO
SCREEN’s Mark Schlimme on SCREEN’s New User Group

Mark Schlimme from SCREEN Americas talks about the launch of SCREEN’s new user group, and discusses the advantages for SCREEN customers as well as upcoming events. Watch Video

TODO
Sonora Stitch Factory: Bringing Made in America to Sewn Products

Erica Yngve founded Sonora Stitch Factory a couple years ago in Tucson and acquired two existing businesses. She has about 150 sewing machines to address a wide range of cut-and-sew applications, from apparel and home decor to boat and airplane interiors. Due to the difficulty in sourcing local sewing skills, she has also established a training program for sewists, to benefit both her business and others in the area that require these skills. This is another example of a start-up that is helping to reshore the North American textile industry. Watch Video

TODO
HP's Tom Wittenberg Previews PRINTING United Expo 2022

WhatTheyThink's Eric Vessels chats with HP's Tom Wittenberg about the upcoming PRINTING United Expo in Las Vegas October 19-21. HP has made a significant investment in the show and has already made a big splash at LabelExpo and will again in Vegas. Catch up with Tom in this great conversation between Tom and Eric. Watch Video

TODO
Keypoint Intelligence’s Greg Cholmondeley on Renewed Industry Optimism

Keypoint Intelligence’s Greg Cholmondeley gives us an update on the latest industry trends—including a renewed sense of optimism as we head through 2022 and into 2023. Watch Video

TODO
A Frank Conversation

Frank is intrigued by a book produced in 1983 by graphic designers Milton Glaser and Jean Michel Folon called "A Conversation." The book is all images; one of the designers began an image and the other finished it. Seemingly printed on one long continuous sheet of paper, it folds out to over 19 feet long. (Frank and his detectives figured out how it was actually produced.) It, perhaps literally, stretches the definition of book. Watch Video

TODO
Warren Werbitt Goes Printer to Printer to Printer with The Kennickell Group

This week, Warren talks with Kennickell Group VP Kacey Kennickell Ray and VP of Sales Andrew Smith, the fourth generation of Kennickells to move into leadership positions. The company has evolved over its long life, from traditional commercial printing to wide format and direct mail. They still have 40-inch offset equipment but have been expanding digitally, having recently installed a Konica Minolta AccurioJet KM-1 high-speed inkjet press. They are also having a lot of fun. Watch Video

TODO
Jeff Zellmer On New Additions to Kodak’s Digital Printing Portfolio

Kodak’s Jeff Zellmer talks about some of Kodak’s recent product introductions, including two new Prosper high-speed inkjet presses—the Prosper Ultra 520 and the 1,345-ft./min. Prosper 7000—as well as the Ascend Digital Press, a toner-based machine that also adds embellishments. Watch Video

TODO
Karstedt Partners Acquired by Keypoint Intelligence

Kevin Karstedt talks to David Zwang about the history of packaging consultancy Karstedt Partners, which helps companies bring new and disruptive technologies to the market. They work with OEMs as well as brands and businesses throughout the label and packaging supply chain. It was recently announced that Karstedt Partners was acquired by Keypoint Intelligence. Watch Video

TODO
Ford Bowers Previews PRINTING United Expo 2022

WhatTheyThink's Eric Vessels chats with Ford Bowers, CEO of PRINTING United Alliance, about the upcoming PRINTING United Expo in Las Vegas October 19-21. The anticipation for the big North American trade show has been building and Ford provides a comprehensive overview of what to expect. Watch Video

TODO
HP’s Noam Zilbershtain on the New Indigo V12

Noam Zilbershtain, VP and GM of HP Indigo, talks to David Zwang at the recent Labelexpo about the HP Indigo V12 Digital Press for labels and flexible packaging. Watch Video

TODO
Bindtech’s Amazing Binding and Finishing Work

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. Watch Video

TODO
Brook+Whittle Looks to Expand Digital Printing, Embellishments

David Zwang talks to Jeremy Letterman, COO of Brook+Whittle, a Guilford, Conn.-based prime label printer with 15 locations across the US. They specialize in pressure sensitive and shrink labels as well as flexible packaging, operating a mix of digital (mostly HP), flexo, and rotogravure equipment. Letterman attended Labelexpo Americas to investigate the latest digital label printing technologies, and especially embellishments. Watch Video

TODO
HP Indigo Helps Natural State Labels Grow Rapidly

David Zwang talks to Tanner Brooks, general manager of Natural State Labels, at Labelexpo Americas. Founded in 2018, Natural State Labels is 100% digital, running two HP Indigo 6900 Digital Presses and three HP Indigo 8000s. They started off in pressure sensitive labels and had so much success they have since expanded into wine labels, adding hot stamping and embossing capabilities and shrink sleeves. Flexible packaging is in the company’s future. Watch Video