drupa Essentials of Print

BISS – Business Intelligence Software Solutions, encompasses a series of software developments that facilitate the management of a company’s full business cycle. How it is evolving, its benefits and the need for human guidance.

To illustrate an industry transformation, the book printing industry could be a prime example. I would like to focus on the book printing market, where printed books are still available, but the process of producing them has completely changed and will continue to evolve, primarily driven by a complete digital journey. Soon, we will all be gathered at drupa to share ideas and build a vision for this important industry using print at its best.

For more than 60 years, we have talked about workflow automation, driven by data, to add efficiency, reduce costs, manage labor challenges, and increase margins. In this century, we stepped up the volume, embracing the Fourth Industrial Revolution, branding it Industry 4.0, and demonstrating the value workflow automation brings to print manufacturing.

Our lives are changing and so are the prints we order and produce. Inkjet is unique not only in the breadth of print applications addressed, but also in the range of devices, from inexpensive entry-level solutions to high-end, lights-out production lines. This can take away the risk of moving into new print applications and allows exploring new opportunities for print.

The last in-person drupa took place seven years ago, and the packaging industry and the world have changed dramatically since then. A pandemic, a global economic crisis, a war in Europe, and the ever more obvious effects of global heating becoming clearer have changed the industry landscape beyond recognition. In this context, how have consumer attitudes towards packaging changed and evolved? I speak to two industry experts to find out more.

The packaging industry is poised for a transformative shift in the coming decade, particularly in the area of paper-based packaging. This shift is driven by a growing movement against plastic packaging and the recognition of its environmental impact. Governments and brands are actively pushing for change through legislation and innovative packaging solutions. This article will briefly look into the leading role that brands and innovative technology companies are playing in promoting sustainability through the adoption of paper packaging alternatives.

At last. drupa is back, with less than a year to go the anticipation is building. Trying to work out what the theme of the show will be tricky, after eight years and the impact of COVID.The drivers of sustainability, automation and workflow as the world continues to digitise dominate most print and packaging operations. Recruiting and retaining skilled staff is increasingly difficult for many businesses as baby boomers retire and the younger digital native generations demand a different approach to their working life.

To say that the packaging industry has been on a rollercoaster ride for the last few years would be an understatement! For the corrugated packaging sector, the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021 ended up being somewhat of a record-breaker. Like all industries, the sector had to seriously take a look at itself in the mirror in the opening weeks of the pandemic in March 2020, but within a matter of months and clearly identified as a ‘critical supply’ sector, the industry helped retailers convert to online business models and the boom in e-commerce is a well-documented outcome.

The common factor in many graphic creations, especially in packaging design, is that they are usually printed in large quantities to meet consumer demands. However, amid the focus on reducing packaging material consumption, one crucial aspect seems to have been overlooked: the environmental impact of printing inks. Often deemed insignificant, the inks used in graphic creations play a more substantial role than we might realize, both in terms of their ecological implications and economic considerations.

While sustainability is an increasingly issue for brand owners and an opportunity for print-service providers, technology suppliers strive to create more eco-friendly solutions.

Packaging is a trendy topic in the print industry because it affects the relationship between brands and consumers, and plays a crucial role in transporting, protecting, storing, and consuming the goods we buy every day. 

The erosion of consumer trust for social media platforms and unsolicited, intrusive and scam-based digital marketing has created a unique opportunity for print to swoop in and securely save the day. In this article, learn how discussing print from a “secure sender” position can get your business trending with customers and prospects.

drupa will be the most significant trade fair of the year.  A journey that began in 1951, this event has now become the leading trade fair for the graphic arts industry. Even after it closes its doors, it continues to influence the industry. For eleven days, it shapes the industry by unveiling emerging trends and innovations - even those that are set to be released in the coming years only. drupa serves as a platform for industry leaders to witness the latest advancements.

Who hasn't heard of artificial intelligence today? The exhibitors at drupa 2024 will certainly use this motto to attract clients. However, it is essential to remember that human intelligence will be needed to manage printing operations, whether it's in the upstream design phase, during production, or for the management and maintenance of production tools. Let's explore together the reasons and modalities of this coexistence.

The label printing sector has always been a dynamic market. Brand owners are looking for increasingly innovative labels to differentiate themselves and convey current and targeted messages to consumers. The current trends are leading suppliers and converters towards solutions that focus on sustainability and innovation. In the last years label converters felt the need for automation at various product life cycle stages.

Digital print has been promising broad transformation in corrugated for a long time. Significant progress has been made, but digital print today still only represents and addresses a small subset of corrugated print needs. New approaches are needed to broaden the reach and value of digitally printed corrugated packaging.

In the ever-evolving landscape of the print industry, thriving communities of print professionals are helping to shape the positive future of print. As executive director of Dscoop, I've had a front-row seat to the power and joy of community connection and collaboration. Every day, in every global region, there are digital print industry innovators who want to do more than just advance their companies and their customers. They want to advance the industry, and to spread print's remarkable impact on the world.

I am sure you will agree with me that for anyone who listens to the word 'Sustainability', a very special kind of sympathetic emotion gets evoked, and we do get connected with all the positive aspects or meaning of this word, which is not anymore just a buzz word but has become a driving force of multiple economies including print and packaging. From the perspective of the common man, the most general understanding of this magical word is ‘to preserve the natural resources.’ From the printing and packaging industries perspective, tremendous developments have been made, and over the past few years, the fraternity has succeeded in implementing multiple sustainable concepts by means of innovative materials, machinery solutions, and technical adaptations with a reduced use of natural and other resources.

Having started my lifetime career in print during the 1980s, I have seen so much incredible transformation in technology both specific to print and in our everyday lives. Moving to work for HP almost 20 years ago certainly gave me a new perspective. Heading up the marketing team, we created a marketing campaign to excite commercial printers to attend drupa, titled “How to Sell more Print to more People”.  Nearly two decades later, I’m taking a trip down memory lane to look at the predictions we made back then, how they’ve been realised far beyond anything we imagined, and why we should be excited for drupa 2024. 

"The waste that is recycled best is the one that we haven't produced." This adage, whose perspicacity cannot be questioned nowadays, applies to all areas, particularly the packaging world. As producers of packaging, we are accustomed to explaining to our clients that the packaging that is most easily recycled is the one we haven't produced and they haven't brought to the market! One might say we are schizophrenic. Or rather, it is an urgent and absolute necessity to align ourselves with values, both personal and applied to our company, even if it means shocking others.

In today’s world, we are constantly bombarded with all kinds of information in all possible formats, shapes, colours and sounds. Our brains receive thousands of messages every day and are constantly switching from one topic to another. At work, we are handling video conferencing, instant messaging, emails, phone calls and face-to-face meetings while also keeping an eye on our phone in case something urgent comes up and needs an immediate response. In a matter of years, generations have shifted from watching movies to YouTube videos to TikTok clips to Instagram adverts in their leisure time.