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