Mar 14, 2011 | The innovation blog
Some words from the futureTim Greene of consultants Infotrends predicts that “in 2011, we’ll see a UV-curable metallic inkjet ink that could be applied to either wide-format printing or packaging” and that the aqueous durable...
Read MoreMar 1, 2011 | Industry Mole
Is a merger an option for me? I started in this business as an ‘entrepreneur’ and, after 15 years in it, I think it’s fair to say I’m defiantly a ‘printer’ now. But, from time to time I think about my exit strategy – do I still want to be doing this in another 15 years? Or do I sell the company to another person or company to retire or try something else?
Read MoreFeb 16, 2011 | The innovation blog
3D or not 3D?
To use an old political cliché, there is nothing as powerful as an idea whose time has come. And judging from the Economist’s latest cover story (http://www.economist.com/node/18114327), that time is now and that idea is 3D printing, hailed by the authoritative business magazine as “a manufacturing technology that will change the world”. The magazine even hails inkjet for performing “a multitude of printing roles” and possibly changing “the economics of making customised components”.
At Loughborough University, Dr Neil Hopkinson and his team have invented a high-speed sintering system which, the Economist says, uses “inkjet print heads to deposit infra-red absorbing ink on layers of polymer powder, which are fused into solid shapes with infra-red heating”. One of Hopkinson’s projects is to supply plastic buckles for a winter-sports equipment company.
The Economist is hardly a lone voice in predicting such a shift. Pira predicts healthy double-digit growth in the inkjet market between 2011 and 2015 and points out that “researchers are examining inkjet as a method of seeding artificial tissue engineering… inkjet is also being used to label and decorate pharmaceutical tablets and decorate confectionery and bakery products”.
Many of the opportunities created by these technological shifts will fall outside the remit of traditional wide-format printing. But the industry can ill afford to ignore a technology which could replace mass manufacturing and reduce the time to take a digital design from concept to production by 50-80%.
The ramifications are stupendous, varied and revolutionary. And now is a good time to start considering its affect on your business.
Read MoreFeb 1, 2011 | Industry Mole
Talk to anyone in the industry and the same comments keep coming back – I’m busy but my cashflow is a nightmare!
Getting
paid for our work seems to be harder than actually doing the work at
the moment. There is a trend among some of the major retailers to raise
money by extending credit terms with suppliers. More and more the terms
have slipped from 30 to 60 days and now I’m sure you will have all heard
the line ‘60 days end of month’, that’s a polite way of saying “I’m not
paying you for three months”.
Jan 12, 2011 | The innovation blog
The Maine attraction
You’d like to put your business on a more sustainable footing, but who has the time and the money?
With pressure on prices, time and cash flow, it’s easy to be deterred by
rules and regulations and decide that becoming greener is just too
difficult. The experience of Portland Color, a wide-format printer in
Maine, New England, certainly suggests there is no quick or easy fix
(http://blogs.whattheythink.com/going-green/2010/08/learn-from-the-winners-portland-color)
but the company is saving serious money on waste disposal and shipping
costs and has much stronger bonds with the local community. Portland’s
environmental credibility helped it win a prestigious valuable deal with
retailer Bloomingdale’s.
https://www.theprintshow.co.uk/
Where?
NEC Birmingham, UK • Hall 1
What is it?
The Print Show is committed to helping visitors discover new opportunities for their business, demonstrating that print is so much more than simply putting ink on paper. With access to exhibitors from all corners of the industry, all free of charge, The Print Show is an event that cannot be missed.
Now in its 10th anniversary year, The Print Show is established as the most important and best-attended industry event in the UK, and is still the only exhibition entirely dedicated to the UK print sector. The Print Show is the primary meeting point for the market, offering visitors the opportunity to see the latest technological developments, meet and network with peers, and access advice from some of the leading experts in print.
Where?
National Conference Centre, Birmingham.
What is it?
The Print Industry Awards celebrate excellence across the print and visual communications sector, recognising the achievements, innovation and talent that drive the industry forward. From outstanding print businesses and suppliers to individual professionals, the awards highlight the very best in print, digital and visual communications. Backed by decades of industry expertise, the Print Industry Awards provide a platform to showcase success, raise standards and honour those making a real impact.
