Interviews with Industry Executives, Commentary & Analysis from WhatTheyThink Contributors and other video features.
Rod Bristol of Graphic Arts Advisors talks with Ed Cook, President of ECI Screenprint, a “boutique” industrial printer. Cook sold his business at the height of the COVID pandemic, and he talks about his reasons for, and experiences in, selling the company at such an inauspicious time. Watch Video
In this interview, industry expert and Print & Packaging Portfolio Manager for X-Rite/Pantone Ray Cheydleur shares his thoughts on considerations for commercial print or display graphics companies who wish to add more textile printing to the mix, especially as it relates to good color management techniques. What's different, what's the same, and what types of instrumentation and processes work best for each. Watch Video
Frank takes us into one of the hidden treasures of the Museum of Printing: the type vault. Here you will find the drawings for every glyph in every typeface done by Linotype, plus type art from Photon, Intertype, and others. Watch Video
Industry veterans Joe Truncale and Mike Philie have implemented a new program that aims to bring leadership skills to printing company up-and-comers, filling a void that seems to exist in today's industry. Hear what they have to say about the program and learn how to get involved. Watch Video
Cary Sherburne talks to WhatTheyThink contributor and industry expert David Zwang about some of the latest, post-COVID developments in production inkjet and industrial printing. Watch Video
Pat McGrew and Ryan McAbee talk to Lemay Sanchez, managing director of PlanProphet, about how PlanProphet helps printers optimize their businesses by automating small but critical tasks that are involved in the day-to-day administration. Watch Video
Frank saw the latest James Bond movie and—naturally—all he could think of was the typeface used on the promotional materials. Futura Black came out in 1929 and had a stencil look to it. It was part of the Futura geometric sans serif family, the hottest typeface of its day. Watch Video
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. Watch Video
Black-and-white production continues to be a large, stable, cost-effective segment of print production. In this video sponsored by Canon USA, learn about the Canon varioPRINT 6000 TITAN, the fastest monochrome production press in its segment. Watch Video
This week, Warren talks to Nathaniel Grant, President of Gam and Chairman of the National Print & Sign Owners Association (NPSOA). Launched 10 years ago, the NPSOA has around 500 members nationwide, all owners of print and/or sign companies, and offers a venue for print business owners to talk about the trials and tribulations—and pleasures—of owning a print or sign business. Watch Video
Bryan Ormond, a professor at the Wilson College of Textiles, and his team received a grant from the CDC to take mask research to the next level. He explains it all in this video and also explains that you may be safer wearing different mask types in different conditions. We'll be back in touch with him as the research proceeds! Watch Video
Eric Vessels talks to Andrew Ettinger of The Best Postcards, which helps clients develop effective branding and direct mail and marketing. Ettinger shares his personal “origin story,” the highs and the lows, before landing on his feet at The Best Postcards. Watch Video
Frank tells the tale of how a printing press saved the Pilgrams and Thanksgiving. It involves an old Gutenbergian press, a less-than-seaworthy ship called the Mayflower, and Squanto, the one Native American who spoke English. Watch Video
Cary Sherburne talks to Inkjet Insight’s Elizabeth Gooding about the latest trends in production inkjet. With physical installations down due to the pandemic, there has been increased activity on the software side, facilitating better remote vendor-customer and printer-client interaction. Watch Video
This week, Warren talks with Phil Kelley of Salem One, which had been founded in 1987 by Kelley’s father as a true mom-and-pop shop in Winston-Salem, N.C. Phil came on board in 1997, not intending to stay with the company—but discovered he loved the business. He is now President and CEO. Watch Video
There are not all that many companies in our industry, at least in North America, that have been continuously operating for more than a century. It takes a lot of flexibility to evolve with the times and not only survive, but thrive, for that long! Rob Mauritz, President and CEO of Des Moines-based LBS, shares his story. Watch Video
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. Watch Video
Rod Bristol of Graphic Arts Advisors talks with Ed Cook, President of ECI Screenprint, a “boutique” industrial printer. Cook sold his business at the height of the COVID pandemic, and he talks about his reasons for, and experiences in, selling the company at such an inauspicious time. Watch Video
With most of the flagship equipment shows of 2020 and 2021 being postponed or cancelled, many in the industry were looking forward to Hunkeler Innovationdays in February of 2022. Unfortunately, this too has been postponed to February 2023. David Zwang talks to Stefan Hunkeler, President of Hunkeler AG, about this decision. Watch Video
BrandVizion’s Kiley Gonzalez talks about the company, which produces all kind of signs and graphics, from vehicle wraps, to pop up displays, event branding, banners—they specialize in anything customized or outside the ordinary. Watch Video
© 2024 WhatTheyThink. All Rights Reserved.