Interviews with Industry Executives, Commentary & Analysis from WhatTheyThink Contributors and other video features.
Cary Sherburne talks to Eef de Ridder, Vice President Graphic Communications Group EMEA, Ricoh Europe about his experience at drupa. They delve into Ricoh's new toner and inkjet solutions, the shift from offset to digital and the groundbreaking Pro Z75 sheetfed inkjet solution. They also discuss the successful collaboration with Heidelberg in the digital workflow transition. Watch Video
Carol Werle, CEO, and Tim D'Elia, Product Strategy Director, Dalim Software visit the drupa daily studio. They discuss the company's history and evolution into print and workflow automation, development, and future direction, which includes automation, AI, and empowering non-experts. They also discuss their onboarding process and the collaboration between AI and humans, emphasizing the cautious use of AI and the continued need for human involvement. Watch Video
Olaf Lorenz, General Manager, Brand Experience Division, Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe, provides an overview of the company, its presence at drupa, and key highlights like the industry 5.0 concept and the AccurioJet 60000 inkjet product. He emphasizes on automation and efficiency to address labor shortages and reduce human errors. Lorenz also shares insights on future developments, including the integration of AI and expansion into the packaging market with design software solutions. Watch Video
Cary Sherburne talks with Katie Pomerleau, Senior, and Zach Ramirez, Freshman, students in Cal Poly's Graphic Communications program. They share their reasons for choosing the program, their experiences and their insights from working in a production environment. They also discuss attending the drupa trade fair, understanding the global perspective of the industry and exploring various career options. Watch Video
Cary Sherburne talks with Pat McGrew, Managing Director, McGrew Group as they dive into drupa 2024, tracing its history and the evolution of the industry. They spotlight the event's emphasis on new technologies, sustainability and recycling. They also touch on advancements in flexography, UN global sustainability initiatives and the need to vocalize sustainability efforts. Watch Video
Cary Sherburne talks with George Antoniou, CEO, Antopack, a leader in the packaging industry. George unveils their revolutionary production process that enables the creation of corrugated products in under five minutes. This method minimizes the need for multiple machines, conserves space and requires fewer operators. Antopack's Optimum solution promises quicker market delivery, cost efficiency and environmental advantages. Watch Video
Itzhak Pichadze, CEO, frontline.io, a SaaS platform that revolutionizes training and support for hardware organizations, stops by the drupa daily studio. The frontline.io platform uses digital twins from CAD files for virtual training and support. It offers remote support sessions, tracking, and valuable insights. The collaboration with HP has enhanced the platform based on industry feedback. frontline.io addresses labor challenges and provides scalability and ease of use across various divisions. It has improved the pipeline, reduced procedure time, and boosted collaboration. Watch Video
Paolo Grasso, Sales Director, and Harald Jasper, Managing Director, ACTEGA discuss a new sustainable printing technology developed by ACTEGA. They've moved from using silver foil in the label industry to a more sustainable alternative: on-demand metalization. The technology aims to reduce waste and is designed to be recyclable. Watch Video
Edoardo Cotichini, European Senior Manager, Marketing, Label & Packaging, Canon EMEA, talks about the LS 2000 label printer. He highlights the printer's key features, its benefits for the label and packaging industry, and the challenges it addresses. He also touches on color reproduction, food safety standards compliance, sustainability, and Canon's future plans to collaborate with label converters and associations. Watch Video
Sean Smyth, Senior Print Consultant, Smithers, dives into the multifaceted world of the print industry at drupa. He discusses the show's duration, standout exhibits, software and automation and speculates on drupa's future. Also discussed: print technology and innovation, the role of software and robots in print processes, application-based printing, and the importance of packaging and flexible printing. Watch Video
Etienne de Wette, Customer Experience Officer, ProPrintPerformance (KPI), talks about the company which specializes in developing sales and marketing personnel in the printing industry. The company, acquired by Keypoint Intelligence, offers a competitive portal for product comparison and training services. Headquartered in Sweden, they have a presence in Europe and the US. Watch Video
Danna Drion, General Manager Mimaki Europe, talks about the importance of workplace diversity, sustainability and the role of women in the industry. She highlights the need for balance, inclusion and collaboration, as seen in their partnership with Tiny Miracles. Watch Video
Simon Lewis, SVP Marketing Strategy and Business Development, Highcon stopped by the drupa daily studio to talk about the transition to Highcon 2.0 and the company's focus on packaging. He talks about collaborations with vendors, optimal run lengths, and the upcoming corrugated product, Vulcan. Watch Video
Mike Scrutton, Director Print Technology & Strategy, Adobe, discusses his role as the evolution of PDF in the printing industry, the benefits of direct to film printing and challenges in garment printing. They also touch on Adobe's new building in San Jose and the company's efforts to preserve its print heritage for a new generation. Watch Video
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. Watch Video
In packaging, especially for ecommerce companies, there is an increased focus on sustainability, reducing packaging void (shipping air)and other waste, and improving the unboxing experience. This is driven partly by regulatory actions about packaging waste, but is also important to brands/retailers and to the packing operations that serve them. Bryan Boatner talks about how Ranpak can help companies meet those sustainability goals while eliminating plastic void fill and creating a more challenging and pleasant work experience in packing warehouses. Watch Video
Jim Myers, Executive Vice President, and Jason Wilburn, COO delve into the evolution of Art & Negative Graphics. They explore the company's transition to printing, its equipment automation, and its diverse customer base. They also share their experiences at drupa. Watch Video
Gavin Jordan-Smith, Senior Vice President and General Manager, and Mark Little, Senior Director, Global Product Marketing, Ricoh dig into the dynamics of the printing industry, underscoring the necessity for agility and adaptation. They discuss Ricoh's evolution, customer engagement, emerging opportunities, and products on display at drupa. They also touch on the significance of partnerships, workflow automation, and the need to attract young talent. Watch Video
Dennis Siepmann, Head of Sustainability, and Markus Locher VP Head of Barrier and Sustainable Packaging Solutions discuss sustainability; focusing on coatings, printing impacts, recycling and packaging challenges. He highlights the influence of regulations, customer perception, and brand owners on packaging and recycling. The necessity for recycling improvement and industry collaboration is stressed. New testing scenarios and guidelines to enhance recyclability are discussed. Watch Video
Bernd Zipper, Chairman, Initiative Online Print, and Roland Keppler, CEO, Onlineprinters talk about the vibe at drupa, vendors display technology and machinery, highlighting the significance of workflow and digitalization. They discuss the idea of mass customization and print on demand, and the challenges and opportunities of embracing new technology are discussed. Watch Video
© 2024 WhatTheyThink. All Rights Reserved.