Interviews with Industry Executives, Commentary & Analysis from WhatTheyThink Contributors and other video features.
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
Jim Continenza, Kodak's CEO, shares his insights on the print industry. Jim emphasizes the importance of customer needs, efficiency, and digital transition. He predicts a closer vendor-customer alignment and highlights the significance of planning and new technologies. Jim assures customers about the use of cloud-based software and discusses data protection and industry challenges. Watch Video
Yale Goldis Commercial Products and Solutions Director, HP PageWide Industrial, delves into HP's extensive product range, printing volume and upcoming milestone of printing 1 trillion pages. He emphasizes the customer value through upgradeability and the success of the Advantage press. Watch Video
Jacek Kusmierczyk, President, Polish Chamber of Printing talks about the Chamber's history, its emphasis on vocational training, and its initiatives to promote women in the printing industry. A key goal is to bridge the gap between Ukraine and China in the printing sector. He also discusses the Chamber's philanthropic efforts and support for Ukrainian printers affected by war. Watch Video
Leonard Badet, Chief Technology Officer, BOBST Mex SA talks about the digitalization and connectivity initiatives at BOBST. He shares insights the industry's digitalization progress, the role of AI and data-driven solutions, and collaborations with giants like Microsoft. He also touches on the importance of BOBST Connect software for small printers and the partnership with PAC for digitization. Watch Video
Tuan Tran, President of Print and Imaging for HP, talks about HP's 40-year history in the printing industry. He explores the company's diverse machine portfolio, opportunities across different segments and the convenience offered to customers. He also discusses office workflows, the transition from analog to digital, and the potential of printing technologies. Watch Video
Henrik Muller-Hansen, Founder & CEO, Gelato, introduces the future of the digital print industry, focusing on Gelato's partnership with Landa and drupa 2024's theme. The influence of Gen Z and Millennials on the demand for personalized, local, and sustainable products is explored. The conversation emphasizes the importance of competition and collaboration within the industry, consumer-driven change, and sustainability through local production and waste reduction. Watch Video
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. Watch Video
After Benny Landa invented digital color printing in 1993 with the Indigo press, he went on to up the ante with Landa Nanographic Printing. Landa Nanographic ink is a magic elixir and Frank expects more about this unique technology at drupa. Watch Video
Cary Sherburne talks with Gaby Matsliach, CEO of eProductivity Software at drupa. Gaby shares insights about the company's journey to independence, their strategic partnerships, and technology investments. Watch Video
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