Specialist trade supplier, Avon Graphics, advised today that it has acquired Lorimier in a move which will bring more than 200 years of history – and two of the country’s most well-respected names in trade finishing and embellishment – under one brand. 

The announcement was made by Avon Graphics Managing Director, Tate Hone, who said both parties were delighted with the deal, which was done in a ‘very professional’ manner.

“Lorimier is a respected Melbourne-based specialist in foil stamping and embossing, and we have always held them in high regard as a professional, well-run business – and a worthy competitor,” Hone said today.

“The company has an exceptionally long history in the Victorian marketplace, having been in continuous operation ever since its inception in 1876, and they have an enviable reputation for quality, creativity and service.”

Initial discussions between Hone and Peter Johnston, Owner and Managing Director of Lorimier, were straightforward, open and positive, Hone reports, with both agreeing that the acquisition of Lorimier by the family-owned and operated Avon Graphics made ‘good sense’.

“We both felt that the time is right for further rationalisation in the trade supply market place, and that provided a sound basis for productive discussions which resulted very quickly in a deal which was acceptable to both parties,” he says. “We are delighted to be announcing the acquisition today.”

Avon is widely regarded as Australia’s leading specialist print trade supplier and embellishment company, with more than 80 staff across locations in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. With services covering foil stamping and embossing, cutting, coatings, verkotype and glitter, security printing and specialty prepress, as well as large-format print, the business offers a range of options to ‘enhance the artistry of print’.

Lorimier has a similar approach, with services including foil stamping and embossing, laminating and celloglazing, varnishing, forme cutting, strutting and mounting, and pattern gluing, as well as embellishment of leather goods and promotional products.

Hone sees the acquisition as a strategic move that will strengthen Avon’s offering for trade supply, particularly throughout Melbourne and Victoria. 

“Avon intends to continue operations from Lorimier’s Heidelberg West location, in addition to our own manufacturing facility in Rowville, spreading our footprint across greater Melbourne,” he says, adding that changes to the Lorimier facility are expected over time, to broaden the range of services offered from that location.

Most importantly, Hone says, the companies’ shared commitment to superior quality, personalised service and long-term relationships means the two teams of passionate and professional staff are expected to fit comfortably into the newly expanded operation.

“It’s been great working with Peter, and we thank him for his cooperation and professionalism as we have worked through the detail of this important agreement,” he says.

“We are looking forward to welcoming all Lorimier staff to the Avon team as we put our plans into action, including Peter who has agreed to stay on into 2023 to ensure a smooth transition across all aspects of the handover.

“Together, we can now not only look back on a proud combined history of more than two centuries of service, but look forward to a future of even better and more comprehensive support to our industry throughout the Melbourne metropolitan area – and across the country.”

The acquisition will be completed on 31 October 2022.

Ricoh, a leading provider of smart workplace technology, today announced it has been selected as a preferred print partner by leading holistic communications and marketing company, IVE Group.

Founded in 1921, IVE Group offers a broad range of creative, data-driven services as well as a portfolio of print and production capabilities. The company’s 2000 staff serve clients throughout Australia.

IVE Group Chief Operations Officer – Data-Driven Communications, Brent McCulloch, says the decision was made in December last year and the chosen Ricoh devices were fully operational by April of this year.

“Some of our printing infrastructure was reaching end of life and so it gave us an opportunity to see what alternatives there were in the market,” he says.

Detailed assessment process

Prior to signing the new agreement with Ricoh, the IVE Group team undertook a detailed, three-step RFP process. The first step involved issuing invitations to tender to seven print vendors before a shortlist of three was formed.

IVE Group had initially planned to then conduct week-long, high-volume print runs at each of the three vendor’s facilities, however COVID-19 restrictions on travel meant this was unable to proceed.

“As an alternative, we gave the three vendors the opportunity to install their proposed equipment at an IVE production facility for a four-week proof-of-concept test,” says McCulloch. “The POC was to allow IVE to gain first-hand experience with how the equipment and vendors would perform in a simulated production environment.”

McCulloch says this approach put Ricoh's Pro C9210 in a direct face-off with flagship digital colour printers from two other vendors. Each of the systems ran the same jobs with the output and performance stats presented to senior management for consideration.

“The third phase involved vendor capability presentations and final commercial submissions at the end of December,” he says. “At that point, we selected Ricoh as our new preferred technology partner.”

McCulloch says this rigorous process was necessary because of the critical role that the new equipment would perform within the company’s production facilities.

“Choosing Ricoh was large decision for us at IVE Group, to bring in a new print vendor. The first in many years,” he says. “We made the change because Ricoh was able to clearly show it was the vendor most capable of meeting the production requirements of Australia's largest commercial printer.”

The new printer fleet

A range of different Ricoh printers and associated equipment have been selected to meet IVE Group’s print production requirements. The models deployed are:

• 6 x Pro C9210 digital colour production presses each with six paper trays, banner sheet capability and multiple stackers
• 2 x Pro C7210X digital 5-colour production presses with a full complement of additional colour capability (white, clear, neon yellow, neon pink, gold, silver and invisible red)

·Top-of-the line EFI Fiery colour controllers drive each of the Ricoh digital colour presses.

“As part of the testing process, we found that the Ricoh printers gave us great quality and print registration ,” says McCulloch. “They were also able to deliver high levels of uptime and were preferred by our operating teams because of their ease of use.”

McCulloch says the new machines have been put to work on a number of different cut-sheet print runs and have also been used for some offset printing replacements.

“Ricoh has enabled us to increase our print efficiency which has lowered our cost base,” he says. “From initial installation to production, everything has gone very smoothly. Once each machine had been delivered to site, it was up and running within a week.

“The support we have received from Ricoh has been second to none. We look forward to working with them.”

“IVE Group is Australia’s largest diversified marketing and printing company and we are delighted that Ricoh has been selected as a preferred print provider after such a rigorous selection and testing process,” said Yasu Takahashi, Managing Director, Ricoh Australia.

“The unique aspect of having three competitive print engines operating alongside the machines to be replaced provided IVE Group with real insight into the production capabilities of the Pro C9210 and the support offered by Ricoh Australia.  It is a testament to the teamwork of our sales, support, service, logistics and operations that we were able to meet a very tight installation schedule.

“We look forward to strengthening our relationship with IVE Group.  Through improving our collaboration we can share expertise and experiences with each other, finding better ways to serve IVE Group and its customers, and incorporate feedback back into product development and the services we offer.”

The world is confronting a threat in the form of COVID-19, a virus that continues to restrict the way we have always lived. President and Representative Director, CEO of Seiko Epson Corporation, Yasunori Ogawa, explained how the company is dealing with COVID-19 and contributing to achieving sustainability and enriching communities.

President and Representative Director, CEO of Seiko Epson Corporation, Yasunori Ogawa

Ogawa said, “I would like to express my respect and thanks to the healthcare professionals and other frontline workers who are fighting to overcome this threat. COVID-19 has also severely impacted and changed our business activities. We have been doing everything we can in response to factory shutdowns, supply chain disruptions, national and regional restrictions on movement and changes in the market environment due to people modifying their behaviour.”
 
According to Ogawa, climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic are only a few examples of societal issues that we are currently facing.

Ogawa continued, “The United Nations has been sounding the alarm about the destruction of the natural world, saying that it is approaching the point of no return due to the actions of mankind. People have always sought enrichment, but the focus was on material and economic wealth. This desire for affluence may be a contributing cause to these issues. Going forward, it is both necessary and desirable to enrich not only ourselves but the rest of the world and the global environment as a whole.”

“I think the world desires more than just material and economic wealth. People also want other, less tangible forms of wealth. They want to be enriched spiritually and culturally. Sustainability is a fundamental requirement for achieving this. We revised Epson 25 Corporate Vision for the start of fiscal 2021. We added “quality of life” to “achieve sustainability in a circular economy” and “advance the frontiers of industry” as material themes that we can impact long-term.”
 
Epson sees climate change in particular as a long-term global threat, as they see climate as a foundation of our lives and society.

Ogawa added, “Epson’s unique Micro Piezo inkjet technology can help to reduce environmental impacts. We will tackle this issue by using this technology to drive innovation in co-creation projects with partners who share our aspirations of creating new products and services that are eco-conscious and that contribute to higher productivity and a better working environment.”

Epson also revised their Environmental Vision 2050. They analysed their 2°C scenario last year based on the TCFD’s report and are now studying a 1.5°C scenario.

Ogawa explained, “We will accelerate our environmental actions too. In 2020, Epson was named to the CDP’s prestigious A List after attaining the highest scores for the categories of climate change and water security. There are other environmental issues, such as energy saving and resource depletion, that we will also continue to address.”
 
In addition to these environmental issues, there are various societal issues such as those described in the SDGs. In 2004, Epson became a signatory to the U.N. Global Compact, which sets forth 10 basic principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment, and anti-corruption. 

Yasunori Ogawa concluded, “In 2018, we declared our commitment to achieving the SDGs. In 2019, Epson joined the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA), a global coalition dedicated to corporate social responsibility (CSR) in global supply chains and we have been promoting sustainability in our own supply chain. Multiple Epson sites earned platinum in RBA audits. We see this achievement as a result of our sincere efforts. We will further accelerate our efforts by working with our customers and partners and contribute to achieving sustainability and enriching communities.”

Follow Epson on social media:

LinkedIn: @Epson-Australia

Facebook: @EpsonAustralia

Twitter: @EpsonAust

YouTube: @EpsonAustralia

Instagram: @EpsonAust

The leading manufacturer of digital cutting solutions to the worldwide packaging, signage, display and manufacturing markets has underlined its commitment to customer service, unveiling a new online store to boost the speed and ease of ordering replacement consumables. 

With the new platform from Kongsberg Precision Cutting Systems (Kongsberg PCS), businesses can now minimise downtime when ordering and awaiting delivery of the vital components they need to bring designs to life. 

“One of our key objectives is to achieve best-in-class performance for our customer service,” said Stuart Fox, President and CEO of Kongsberg PCS. “Since launching as a standalone business we have been working hard to ensure we have the best people, processes and programs in place to help us achieve that goal. I am delighted to say that we have now launched our new online sales platform to help keep businesses moving with a service that is faster, better and easier to use.” 

The new cloud-based consumables platform, store.kongsbergsystems.com, is powered by Salesforce B2B, helping boost Kongsberg PCS response times and minimise delays. “The system also addresses one of our most common customer requests, enabling multiple account groups to be managed by a single purchaser,” said Stuart. “There’s also demo videos, advice guides and additional functionality to enable one-click re-ordering, as well as simplified access to a customer’s order history and information on their installed products. 

“All this, together with improved ways of searching for individual bits, blades or other consumables, means that our customers can now enjoy a much simpler and therefore quicker ordering experience, ensuring their purchases are ordered and dispatched without delay,” he said. 

“We know that great service results in a great customer experience, and we’re proud to have a real focus on training and supporting our team to deliver that,” added Stuart. “We want our customers to enjoy the experience of owning a Kongsberg machine and we are committed to putting every effort into ensuring our deployment and service is the best. Our new consumables sales platform is the latest step on our journey to achieving that.”

Following a hugely positive response to its debut at PacPrint, Currie Group has officially launched HP xRServices, a mixed reality platform which it says will transform not only service delivery on the company’s range of HP Indigo digital presses, but its entire product range. 

Marcus Robinson, Currie Group’s Director of Operations, says the company has been working for 12 months to implement this unique support platform that connects print service providers directly with Currie Group and HP product specialists at the touch of a virtual button.

“If you attended PacPrint in Melbourne, you may well have been able to experience HP xRServices or have seen other visitors on the Currie Group stand deeply engaged in activity using what appeared to be a set of virtual reality goggles,” Robinson says.

“These were in fact the Microsoft Hololens 2 headset which give users the feeling of being actually physically present with a virtual HP technical expert, who can guide them through basic service tasks, production troubleshooting or training on HP and other equipment, in real time.”

Like other augmented reality platforms, the headset combines real-world visuals with superimposed information, allowing the virtual coach to see exactly what the user sees, and collaborate to diagnose, identify and workshop issues.

“We’ve been fielding requests for reliable remote support for years but, until now, we hadn’t found a system we considered reliable enough to bring to market,” Robinson explains. “Now, with HP xRServices, we can confidently offer that virtual support drawing on the collaborative brilliance of HP and Microsoft in a print industry first.”

The technology, he says, is a ‘game-changer’, with the virtual support person able to display on-screen information, photos or drawings, circle or highlight various things in the user’s field of vision, identify parts, share documentation or provide other commentary – and also provide real-time feedback on the operator’s actions and adjustments.

“The benefits are obvious – no time wasted on long service calls, instant answers to production questions, swift resolution of any problems, all leading to minimal downtime on systems and equipment,” Robinson points out.

“The system has also proven valuable for installation and training purposes, an application that was successfully piloted during lockdown when technicians from Israel and Singapore collaborated with our technicians and CMYKhub staff on the installation of Australia’s first HP Indigo 100K Digital Press in Victoria,” he reports.

The innovative system has been specifically designed to support new or already-installed HP technologies with a high level of HP resourcing in the back end, but Robinson says it has now been made available for products across Currie Group’s entire range.

“This broad application, together with the affordability of the subscription-based system, is generating plenty of interest, with users able to add it to an existing service agreement, or as a stand-alone service. We’re also still offering it at our special PacPrint promotional price, making it a ‘no brainer’ for many of those who have seen it in action,” Robinson adds.

HP xRServices is just one example of how Currie Group is bringing even more resources to bear on supporting print service providers as they seek to successfully deliver on higher production targets in even shorter turnaround times.

“We’ve listened to our customers and responded with a differentiated service model which takes into account the delivery metrics businesses are subject to, and provides genuine value,” Robinson explains.

“Within weeks, we will also move to a ‘24/6’ support model which will see customers able to access technical advice and support 24 hours a day, six days a week, with our expanded technical support team.

“We’ll also be continuing to lift our service KPIs to further streamline call processing with instant call logging and response, extended remote support and reduced response times for on-site service, so printers can enjoy maximum uptime – and maximum profitability.”

Esko, the global developer of integrated hardware and software solutions for the print, packaging, and label industries, has acquired imposition A.I. software company Tilia Labs, in a deal that delivers on the need of brand owners and converters to connect and integrate the entire value chain through upstream digitalisation.

Tilia Labs’ range of intelligent algorithms for sheet layout, estimation, and planning complement Esko’s existing software suite and the two companies will work together to develop next-generation integrated solutions.

“Converters are coming under increasing pressure to deliver more volume with shorter print runs to bring versatility to the market, while the adoption of digital printing continues to grow,” said Mattias Byström, Vice President and Group Executive Product Identification, Danaher Corporation. “This acquisition demonstrates our ongoing commitment to providing integrated software and hardware solutions that accelerate the go-to-market process for consumer-packaged goods.”

Mattias explained that the combined solutions within its software platform enable Esko to better serve its customers in the packaging, label, and wide format markets.

Mattias Byström concluded: “This acquisition also underlines our commitment to delivering the tools that serve to connect brands and converters upstream. For all our customers continuing their digital transformation journey, the integration of these next generation tools means businesses will be able to digitise, automate and connect more efficiently to drive significant workflow and operational advantages, as well as sustainability benefits.”

Jet Technologies is thrilled to be expanding into a new, substantially larger Victorian HQ. Almost 3 times larger than our existing site, the expanded site allows us to stock a wider range of products in Victoria, enabling us to better serve our Victorian clients.

Please note that there will be no despatches on Friday 19^th of August from Melbourne due to the move.

Kindly update your records with our new address:

Jet Technologies Victoria

7 Yazaki Way, Carrum Downs VIC 3201

For any inquiries, please contact customer service on 02 8399 4999 or email us at orders@jet-ap.com

X-Rite Incorporated, Pantone LLC, and Sun Chemical announce a new Eco-Kraft corrugated board-dependent color library for PantoneLIVE, a cloud-based digital color standard ecosystem. The new library enables converters to set achievable expectations to produce Pantone color standards on corrugated board made from recycled materials.

Now available as part of the PantoneLIVE Production – Print and Packaging subscription, the Eco-Kraft library was built using a brown Kraft substrate with a substantially higher recycled content than in the previous libraries. The result is a base substrate color that is more chromatic. This new library captures the closest achievable match to the core Pantone Matching System colors that can be produced on Eco-Kraft substrate using water-based inks and flexographic printing.

“Consumers consider sustainability when making purchasing decisions and companies are responding by incorporating more recycled materials in their packaging,” said Chris Brooks, President, X-Rite. “With the addition of the Eco-Kraft library in PantoneLIVE, brands and their packaging suppliers can now see how a Pantone color will reproduce on recycled Eco-Kraft board and get recommendations on setting achievable and realistic color targets for this sustainable packaging substrate.”

“The market trend towards more sustainable substrates and inks opened a space for the creation of a new PantoneLIVE dependant library for the water-based market,” said Nicolas Betin, global sustainability business leader, Sun Chemical.

“We are glad to support X-Rite and Pantone in creating this new water-based library and we are ready at the local level with color management tools and processes to support customers matching these new color targets,” added Patrice Aurenty, global business leader for Color Management, Sun Chemical.

With over 84,000 Pantone color choices for the top packaging and printing applications, PantoneLIVE enables brand owners, designers, and printers to feel confident in selecting color standards that are achievable in production, resulting in improved speed to market and reduced press approvals, waste and rework.

PantoneLIVE is part of X-Rite’s digital color workflow and integrates with InkFormulation Software, ColorCert Suite, and X-Rite spectrophotometers such as the new eXact 2. With streamlined color communication, faster ink formulation, and improved quality control, brands, and printers can drive efficiencies and improve sustainability efforts.

For more information on PantoneLIVE, visit https://www.xrite.com/pantonelive-production

The outlook for this is profiled in a new detailed market data study – The Future of Inkjet Printing to 2027 – authored by Smithers print consultant Sean Smyth.

Supply chain and print buying changes, combined with technology advances mean digital print – and inkjet in particular – is now the most important print segment for innovation and market growth. The outlook for this is profiled in a new detailed market data study – The Future of Inkjet Printing to 2027 – authored by Smithers print consultant Sean Smyth.

In contrast to competing analogue processes, inkjet is forecast for strong future growth for a global market worth $86.8 billion in 2022. A compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.2% for 2022-2027 will drive this value to $128.9 billion in 2027. While inkjet is well established in some lower-run applications, faster presses mean that it is becoming more cost-competitive for longer print runs, even as many customers have revised their print buying strategies. This is reflected in the volume of inkjet prints, which will rise from 1.0 trillion A4 print equivalents (2022) to 1.7 trillion (2027) – equivalent to a 10.0% CAGR for 2022-2027.

The greatest expansion will come in packaging applications with installations of the latest dedicated presses for corrugated, cartonboard and flexible substrates. Inkjet is also broadening its market with double-digit growth forecast across the same period in commercial print, books, catalogues, magazines and directories. As the technology suite for inkjet improves it is increasingly pushing electrophotography (toner) print out of several core markets.

Smithers’ comprehensive market data is combined with critical analysis of the technical developments that will shape and support the future evolution of inkjet printing:

• Press speeds and resolution will continue to increase. Over five years, the 200m/min presses and printheads offering 1200dpi in 2022 will improve to a standard of 300m/min and resolution of 2400dpi in 2027. The segment will benefit from greater integration of robotics using smart monitoring to minimise downtime, and improving precision in direct-to-object print
• This productivity will be available in a wider range of press formats, including more large format sheet-fed machines, able to produce up to 10,000 A4 impressions per hour
• The wider uptake of inkjet will see ink prices fall from their current premium. The market will be bolstered by an improved range of UV-curing and water-based inks; and the steady evolution of more specialist whites, metallic effects, fluorescents, varnishes and security inks.
• The arrival of additional embellishment and tactile finishes, will allow further diversification into segments like home décor, transport, garments and other textile applications
• As inkjet prices fall and higher throughput equipment is installed digital print will become price competitive with analogue on all but the longest commissions
• The market is benefitting from technical developments that in enabling inkjet to print on standard paperboard substrates, with a quality that is already approaching that of offset litho at the top of the market. Through to 2027, inkjet print rooms will benefit from systems that give real-time comparison to digital masters to deliver defect-free print runs; and better integration with more options in finishing
• As a digital-native technology inkjet is best placed to integrate with online sales and maintenance – making it a strong fit for post-Covid boom segments, such as e-commerce packaging. It is also more accessible to new users, helping address the skills shortage that is now afflicting many print rooms.

These – along with complimentary market trends – are examined in-depth in the new Smithers study The Future of Inkjet Printing to 2027.

Its comprehensive market data forecasts are presented in over 250 data tables and figures, segmenting this dynamic sector by: End-use application (Books, Magazines, Newspapers, Directories, Catalogues, Advertising Print, Commercial Print, Photobooks, Transactional print, Security print, Graphics, Labels, Packaging, and eight functional/industrial print markets; Ink type (Solvent, Water-based, Radcure, Other); Eight geographic regions (North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, Australasia, The Middle East) and 58 leading national markets worldwide.

The authoritative technical and market guide is available to purchase now

EFI Reggiani, the industrial textile printing business of printing technology company Electronics For Imaging, Inc. (EFI), has broken ground on a new textile campus to accommodate ongoing growth. The new 20,000-square-metre campus in Comun Nuovo, Bergamo, Italy, is expected to be completed midyear in 2023.

“EFI Reggiani has always worked diligently to take our offerings to the next level, thinking ahead and developing high-tech, high-quality and reliable textile solutions,” said EFI Reggiani Senior Vice President and General Manager Adele Genoni. “The new campus is an important step in our journey, and it is proof of EFI’s strong commitment to continued development of the textiles business unit. Not only will this provide us more space to continue our growth, but it will also be a welcoming and sustainable environment for our employees.”

Sustainability and employee well-being at the centre

The new facility was designed with environmental sustainability and employee well-being in mind. That focus includes plans to install 400 kilowatts of solar panels supplying 60% of the facility’s total energy requirements. Moreover, the building will benefit from superior thermal insulation that will ensure a reduction in heating and cooling costs. Numerous skylights in the facility will provide better natural lighting and a reduction in artificial lighting usage.

Green space on the campus was a priority in the design process, covering an estimated 20% of the total area. For a more welcoming work environment, the campus will also feature a canteen and gymnasium for employee use.

A 3,000-square-metre demo centre in the new facility will be nearly twice as large as the current EFI Reggiani demo centre in Grassobbio, Italy, offering a high-end, high-tech showcase for state-of-the-art EFI Reggiani printers, as well as Mezzera pre- and post-treatment and Jaeggli yarn treatment products. The demo centre will also feature EFI Reggiani’s recently acquired portfolio of Inèdit raster image processing (RIP) and workflow software solutions.

Transforming the textile industry through innovation in green

Since the launch of its first analogue printer, to its newest digital solutions, EFI Reggiani has at its core a heritage and expertise that have contributed to the transformation of the textile industry worldwide. With its total commitment to providing “Innovation in Green,” EFI Reggiani’s leadership is the result of extensive research targeted at improving productivity, quality and sustainability in its customers’ operations. Building on Reggiani’s 75+ year legacy, the company is focused on optimising the textile manufacturing process – and reducing energy use, water consumption and overall environmental impact – to ensure customers’ business growth and profitability.

Over the years, EFI Reggiani’s product portfolio has continued to expand, ranging from rotary and flatbed printing machines, to scanning/multi-pass digital printers, to the world’s fastest digital textile printer – an award-winning EFI Reggiani BOLT single-pass inkjet printer that operates at 90 metres per minute. Additional leading-edge, best-in-class solutions in the portfolio include the world’s fastest scanning printer for textile, an EFI Reggiani HYPERmodel that can output up to 20 linear metres per minute at peak speed.

Known for high quality, flexibility and reliability, EFI Reggiani is also an innovator in ink – a recognised leader as one of the only companies to manufacture the full range of inks used in industrial textile manufacturing.

Epson has been selected for inclusion in the FTSE4Good Index Series, a responsible investment (RI) index of FTSE Russell, a London Stock Exchange Group company. This marks the 19th consecutive year that Epson has been selected.

Epson aspires to achieve sustainability and enrich communities over the long term. Epson sees its inclusion in this index as objective evidence that its efforts to address environmental and social issues are recognised, and that it is seen as a sustainable company.

Epson is committed to co-creating sustainable and enriched communities by addressing solutions to environmental problems and other societal issues, as well as by providing surprise and delight that exceed customer expectations. This commitment is aligned with the sustainable development goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations.

Epson will contribute to the achievement of a better and more sustainable future as envisioned by the SDGs by using their efficient, compact, and precision technologies and digital technology to connect people, things, and information and by applying new ideas and methods to create fresh value.

The FTSE4Good Index Series was created by global index provider FTSE Russell and is designed to measure the performance of companies that demonstrate strong environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices. The FTSE4Good Index Series is widely used to create and evaluate sustainable investment funds and other financial products.

Transparent management and clearly defined ESG criteria make FTSE4Good indexes suitable tools to be used by a wide variety of market participants when creating or assessing sustainable investment products. FTSE4Good indexes can be used in four main ways:

• Financial products - as tools in the creation of index-tracking investments, financial instruments or fund products focused on sustainable investment.

• Research - to identify environmentally and socially sustainable companies.

• Reference - as a transparent and evolving global ESG standard against which companies can assess their progress and achievement.

• Benchmarking - as a benchmark index to track the performance of sustainable investment portfolios.

Epson’s CSR and SDGs

In the 2020 fiscal year, Epson identified four materialities (priority issues) that it should address in order to contribute to solutions to societal issues and progress toward its aspirational goal of achieving sustainability and enriching communities. Epson selected 12 key sustainability topics that it will act on to achieve the materialities.

After analysing the relationship between the 12 key sustainability topics and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) based on the 169 SDG targets, Epson found that the actions they are currently taking will contribute to all 17 of the SDGs (please click on the link below for more details).

Epson will help to achieve the SDGs by acting on the key sustainability topics, thereby achieving sustainability and enriching communities.
https://global.epson.com/SR/csr_initiative/sdgs.html

Meteor Inkjet Ltd, leading supplier of electronics, software, tools and services for industrial inkjet, has developed a new electronics platform to avoid reliance on key computer chips that are in worldwide short supply in 2022.

Meteor’s Print Controller Card (PCC) is used by hundreds of OEM customers around the world to synchronise image data sent by a PC to arrays of printheads including those by Epson, FUJIFILM Dimatix, Konica Minolta, Kyocera, Seiko Instruments, Toshiba TEC, Xaar and Xerox. The PCC was reliant upon an electronic component which is in critically short supply this year, potentially delaying more than £4 million (British pounds) of printhead drive electronics.

Anticipating these long-term supply issues, Meteor embarked upon a fast-track project to rearchitect the PCC. In quick response to the diminishing availability of alternative components, Meteor identified a suitable replacement chip that was freely available in high volume, taking the unusual step to acquire more than a year’s supply of the new chip before even starting development. The risk of this decision paid off, and Meteor’s new PCC2 print controller is now shipping in production quantities.

“Meteor’s products are trusted as the most reliable components with which to build an industrial inkjet printer,” said Jonathan Wilson, Meteor’s vice president of business development. “Our customer base, having grown over the last decade to make Meteor the largest datapath supplier in the industry, had to wait for us to find a solution to what continues to be the worst chip supply shortage ever. I am delighted that their patience is now being rewarded, and we will quickly clear the order backlog that developed over the last two quarters.”

During the PCC2 development, Meteor worked closely with a handful of companies including Dantex Digital, a leading digital press manufacturer and long-time Meteor customer. Richard Hall, Dantex R&D director, comments, “We have been pleased to participate as a beta site for Meteor’s PCC2 development. Supply chain issues, and particularly shortages of electronic components, have taken their toll and we are happy to work with collaborative partners that demonstrate resilience and customer focus.”

Clive Ayling, Meteor’s managing director, comments, “It is a source of immense pride for everyone at Meteor that this enormous task has been achieved. In particular, praise is due to our engineering team in Cambridge who pivoted their attention to this one project which has resulted in a robust,
backward-compatible replacement product for our customers in record time.”

The advanced chipset used in the PCC2 brings with it increased speed as well as the potential for future functionality enhancements. For now, Meteor’s customers and partners are relieved to have once again an abundant supply of print controllers. The industrial inkjet industry, which is accustomed to year-on-year growth in breadth of application and penetration into markets previously dominated by conventional printing or manufacturing, now has an essential component back in production.

Italian manufacturer of converting and finishing technology Prati has cemented its partnership with Danish corona treatment specialist Vetaphone. The two companies are working on the DigiFast model for the HP 20000 and 25000 lines.

Since its inception in 1973 by Pietro Prati, the Italian manufacturer of converting and finishing technology, has always believed that quality breeds success. Today, almost 50 years later, the company is acknowledged worldwide as one of the leading manufacturers in the narrow and mid-web sectors of the market, with an annual output of more than 200 machines valued in excess of EUR 20m.

‘We first encountered Vetaphone when we were working on a special laminating line for one of the world’s largest manufacturers of tube laminates. It was 450mm wide and required a 4KW corona system for secure over-printing on a difficult substrate. We soon realised why Vetaphone was the most popular brand on the market – when you invent something, you have more experience than anyone else – and it matters,’ said ChiaraPrati, sales and marketing director at Prati.

Since then, the two companies have worked closely together on several special projects, and Vetaphone corona units have become the standard fit for Prati’s successful DigiFastOne and Digi Compact converting lines. Currently, the two companies are working on a special 630mm project in Spain that will handle linerless labels but needs the facility to spot-coat hotmelt adhesive.  

‘We enjoy working with Vetaphone because our company philosophies align – we both like a challenge and using our expertise to find the best solution,’ added Prati.

Currently, Prati is working on a new DigiFast20000 model for the HP 20000 and 25000 lines.  This 760mm-wide machine will need a 4KW corona system from Vetaphone, and global sales projections are ambitious.  

‘We are delighted to be working closely with Prati on a number of exciting new products that will be hot prospects for the market,’ commented Giuseppe Rossi, Vetaphone’s sales manager for Italy. ‘I think both companies appreciate each other’s attention to detail and the investment made in R&D. This can only bode well for the future.’

On Friday 24th of June OMET opened the Innovation Park, a 1500 square metre permanent showroom in Molteno (LC), with a high-profile event and officially presented the new KFlex line, a flexo printing machine with an ergonomic and flexible design, capable of being reconfigured at any time by the printer.

More than 150 industry players attended the official inauguration of the new OMET Innovation Park. In a spectacular frame, OMET CEO Antonio Bartesaghi welcomed the guests, presenting the OMET Group's exponential growth over the last 10 years, culminating in the relocation to the new headquarters in Molteno in 2021 and the realisation of the Innovation Park in 2022. 

The Innovation Park is a 1,500-square-meter space that OMET has set up with the aim of allowing printers, converters and suppliers to meet and collaborate, to host printing demonstrations and also to do trials of new materials on OMET machines. Everything is done with the will of improving not only the purchasing process, but above all the production process, strengthening a relationship of trust between sellers and buyers. In the exhibition area, in fact, there are reserved boxes and machinery from the Innovation Park's technology partners: Tesa, Simec Group, BST, GEW, Flexowash, Zeller+Gmelin, Simonazzi, Nazdar, Actega Ecoleaf and Rossini.

Marco Calcagni, OMET Marketing & Sales Director, explained the further potential of the Innovation Park, such as the possibility for printers to use the OMET machines in the showroom to support their production, making not only samples but proper production lots that they are unable to produce at their sites. 

OMET's product range is undoubtedly the most comprehensive for converting and printing labels and flexible packaging with narrow- and medium-web machines, and is now enriched by a new printing line: the KFlex, officially unveiled during the opening of the Innovation Park on 24 June.

The new machine, covered by a curtain in the first part of the event, was unveiled in a blaze of smoke and music before being beautifully presented point by point by OMET Sales Area Manager Andrea Angeli, who highlighted the machine's incredible flexibility. Tailor-made for the printer's needs, it has a design that allows total accessibility and easy maintenance, a new flexo printing unit with a contrasting UV lamp and, above all, an absolute innovation, the Switch System: the possibility of changing any of the machine's modules (printing units, pull-out die, digital print-bar, hotfoil, screen printing...) in a minute and in an extremely simple way. There are many other innovations presented on this line, which is, moreover, extremely scalable in its offer to meet the different needs of printers.

In the second part of the event, the participants were divided into groups for a tour of the Innovation Park, where OMET also showcased an iFlex and an XJet, plus there was also a stand by Ribes Tech, the OMET Group's start-up company that focuses on printed electronics, in particular smart labels, and offers integrated IoT solutions.

The Innovation Park is located just a few steps away from the new OMET Headquarters in Molteno. It was also possible for guests to visit the new headquarters, inaugurated in 2021 to allow further growth to the company's production reality, which extends over an area of more than 30 thousand square metres, more than 20 thousand of which are dedicated entirely to the production of label and flexible packaging printing machines. The OMET Headquarters represent the beginning of a path of change that aims to increase production capacity and make processes more efficient, indispensable factors for a breakthrough in terms of growth and innovation, which have always been the pillars of OMET's excellence.

For more information about OMET labels and packaging technology, speak to the Australian and New Zealand Distributor, Currie Group www.curriegroup.com.au

Earlier this year INX International Ink Co. expanded its information outreach to customers by introducing the Printer Space blog, which covers a wide range of printing-related topics. Taking another step to provide beneficial information, the INX Troubleshooting Guide App was recently updated with more solutions to common problems.

New information for users of water-based Flexo inks makes it the tenth guide to be available where customers can quickly find answers when they encounter printing issues. The library already consists of separate guides for Sheetfed, Web Offset/Heatset, EB Litho, UV Flexo, UV Litho, UV Hybrid, UV Metal Decorating, and both 2-piece and 3-piece metal decorating.

The app identifies problems and symptoms, provides recommended solutions, and now offers nine different languages for the three metal decorating guides with the addition of Czech. Besides English, it is also available in French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Polish and two Spanish versions – Latin America (Español) and Castilian.

“This latest update with the Troubleshooting Guide App is indicative of our commitment to help improve the flow of information to our customers,” said Renee Schouten, INX’s Vice President of Marketing. She pointed out that when it was first introduced in 2014, one of the main goals of the app was to limit the amount of downtime for printers.

“Our ink experts continue to keep the dialogue fresh because change is constant in our industry. There is great value in knowing about new products and capabilities, the most recent regulatory changes, and best practices and techniques to keep you at the forefront of print and package innovation. And like our free online INX University courses, we’ve added another language to this app.”

Learn more about the Troubleshooting Guide app by clicking here.

Australian Sign & Graphics Association (ASGA) is encouraging all business owners and staff based in NSW that have been working in the sign industry for at least two years but are not yet formally qualified, to consider a fee free Certificate III qualification under TAFE NSW’s Trade Pathways Program.

This training is subsidized by the NSW Government. The enrolment window has recently been pushed back to 31 August and the completion date for the course to 30 June 2023. As there are no guarantees that the program will be available after this time, the ASGA is urging those considering the opportunity to act now.

“We know a lot of the workforce in signage around Australia may not have technical qualifications. What the ASGA is working towards across Australia is to work with the training organisations to have RPL for registered Certificate III courses. TAFE NSW’s Trade Pathways Program is a start and we are hopeful of a positive take-up of this initiative as it will guide us for what we can do for the rest of the nation,” said Damian Nielsen, ASGA Education Sub-Committee Chair.

“If you have been in the industry for a period of time and you have the skills, you can then be assessed on those, and at the end of the day you are going to walk out with a Cert III. What does that mean for you? If you own a business, you can employ other apprentices. If you work in the industry, you’ll have a qualification which goes on your resume which makes you more employable. 

“What an increase in Cert III qualified workers means for the sign industry as a whole is a lift in standards of work practice, a higher number of qualified workers and greater recognition of signage as a skilled trade, all of which are of benefit to all that operate within the industry.”

For more information and eligibility criteria, visit https://www.tafensw.edu.au/trade-pathways .

Konica Minolta Australia has appointed Andrew Cocker to the role of general manager, production and industrial print, effective July 1, 2022. 

Andrew will be responsible for continuing to drive the production and industrial print business in Australia, helping customers in print, label, and packaging to evolve and thrive in a recovering market. He will continue to focus on accelerating high-growth in these areas of print, driven by the growing demand for short-run and increased onshore manufacturing. 

Andrew has more than 24 years of experience in the digital document and workflow industry, supplying hardware, software, and service enterprise solutions. He was previously sales manager – production and industrial print at Konica Minolta Australia. Prior to this, he has held management and leadership roles in operations and production sales within the industry. 

Yohei Konaka, managing director, Konica Minolta Australia, said, “Andrew brings extensive industry experience along with an innovative, creative, and organised operational style with strong leadership skills. Konica Minolta is renowned for its outstanding service and support and Andrew’s skillset ensures that this will continue well into the future. We congratulate him on this new role and have no doubt he will be successful in leading the team.” 

Andrew Cocker said, “I look forward working with the team, sharing my experiences in commercial print rooms and high-volume production environments to help our customers diversify, save time, and reduce costs to empower the growth of their business. Konica Minolta has a diverse product offering, unique market approach, and a great culture, which is what attracted me to the business in the first place. We offer many complementary industrial and production solutions that are relevant across a broad range of industries including government, education, corporate, franchises, and commercial print operations. After spending a year getting to know the team and the customers, I feel ready to lead them into the next phase of the production and industrial print era.” 

About Konica Minolta Australia    
Konica Minolta Business Solutions Australia Pty Ltd is a market-leading provider of trusted technology solutions for enterprise, government, small business, education, and manufacturing.    
   
Konica Minolta Australia helps Australian organisations keep pace with the needs of the changing workplace to start leveraging the technology of tomorrow today.     

EFI announced that it has acquired Inèdit Software S.L., a developer of raster image processors (RIPs) and related software for digital industrial textile printing. The acquisition extends EFI’s strategy to accelerate digital transformation in industrial print through investments that advance the company’s presence and capabilities in Packaging & Corrugated, Display Graphics, Textile, and Building Materials/Décor applications. Inèdit will be integrated into the Reggiani textile business.
 
“Digital represents the biggest transformational opportunity we have ever seen in industrial printing,” said EFI CEO and Executive Chairman Jeff Jacobson. “We are committed to driving innovation and expanding our offerings through all economic cycles as we address our customers’ critical need to digitise and automate their workflows.”
 
Delivering powerful digital print workflows for textile
 
Based in Barcelona, Inèdit will help build on the market leadership of the EFI Reggiani portfolio of digital inkjet printing products for the industrial textile space. 
 
“We are enthusiastic about the expanded business opportunities this acquisition creates by reinforcing EFI Reggiani’s strategic role as a trusted advisor for our customers,” said EFI Reggiani Senior Vice President and General Manager Adele Genoni. “Inèdit’s products and its world-class professional services organisation open the door to creating more-complete digital printing workflows that leverage best-in-class digital technologies. Our customers can continue to win new opportunities and grow by establishing higher-volume, higher-quality digital production services in ways that reduce the textile industry’s high carbon footprint.
 
“Inèdit’s extensive market coverage will be a key point of emphasis to fully leverage the strategic synergies arising from the combination of the EFI Reggiani and Inèdit businesses,” Genoni continued. “It is an acquisition that significantly strengthens our presence in key textile markets.” 
 
Similar to EFI’s Fiery® digital front end and RIP technologies for the digital commercial and industrial printing markets, Inèdit’s neoStampa product is a worldwide leader and recognised benchmark solution for RIPs in digital textile printing. The Inèdit product portfolio features proven, highly advanced workflow solutions for textile profiling, calibration, design integration and much more. Inèdit’s RIP technology is employed across the worldwide textile industry and is a leading RIP used to drive EFI Reggiani digital printers and other digital industrial textile printer brands. As part of EFI Reggiani, Inèdit will continue to support products for a broad range of digital printers. 
 
“Becoming part of the EFI Reggiani business empowers us to develop and deliver an even greater level of end-to-end textile integrated workflow solutions and Industry 4.0-driven automation enhancements that will further drive customers’ productivity, printing performance, profitability and sustainability in textile printing,” said Jose Antonio Caballero, Co-founder and Sales Manager of Inèdit. “Our team is excited to join a company that is a leading innovator in digital textile printing.”
 
Inèdit’s employees are joining EFI Reggiani but will continue to work from their current offices. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
 
For more information about EFI’s advanced portfolio of innovative digital printing solutions, visit www.efi.com.