Day2_40

GraphExpo_ShowDaily_September_26_2016

Change is the One Constant Paper is more than just paper, and not all substrates are created equal. It might be tempting to think that paper is just paper, or that all substrates are created equal, but that is simply not true. There are multiple options, from multiple vendors, for every conceivable application a printer might want to produce, with newer choices being launched all the time. The biggest ongoing trend in this segment of the industry is change itself. “One of the exciting things about this industry is the constant change—new trends to explore and new challenges to meet,” says Mellissa Campbell, Marketing Coordinator for Masterpiece Graphix (Booth 2512). “In the world of specialty substrates there are always new trend-setting materials, however printers still face the same obstacle; fi nding quality printing substrates that can be depended upon to work each and every time.” And that change can be daunting. With so many choices, it can be diffi cult to determine which vendors to align with, never mind which of their products to use. Campbell notes that it’s not a choice that should be left to chance, or a decision that should be made based on who a shop has worked with before. Rather, with as much change as the industry is facing, printers need to be more proactive about choosing who they work with. “To achieve the best performance from printing materials, Masterpiece Graphix recommends that printers pick a supplier that uses the following best practices for developing dependable digital material: thorough testing, pristine clean materials, corona treating, and professional drying,” Campbell says. Just because a material is new, doesn’t mean it should be untested, and printers need to make sure they know what they’re getting in to before committing to a brand or material. It goes beyond just vendor tests as well. Printers should be ready to run tests on their own equipment to ensure the results are what was expected. Change hasn’t only come to the substrates themselves, but to the equipment running them. Bart Robinson, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Mohawk (Booth 2413), notes that many of the new technologies fi rst introduced at drupa in Düsseldorf, Germany earlier this year will be on display here in the U.S. for the fi rst time at GRAPH EXPO. There are new inkjet platforms, new fi nishing options, new partnerships between vendors—a lot of new variables being introduced to the market. And substrates that ran perfectly on the old equipment might not perform as well on the new, making it even more imperative that printers be mindful of their substrate choices. With all of the change taking place, printers need a way to easily compare vendors and substrate options in a single place. That is where the Materials Matter pavilion comes in. It is a resource for examining all of the new options coming to market and exploring the popular constants and discovering why they have remained in the catalogs. It is a place to really see and understand just how many choices there are for substrates today, and learn more about which ones are the right fi t for every operation. Two Sides Touts the Sustainability of Print and Paper All members of the public are welcome to attend Two Sides North America’s annual meeting, which takes place Tuesday, September 27, 2016, from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm in Room N320BCD, North Building, Level 3. Two Sides North America was launched in 2012 to offer education and information about the sustainability of print and paper, as well as create a forum for members to work together and share experiences, improve standards and practices, and maximize customer confi dence in paper products. Mary Anne Hansan, Executive Director of the Paper and Packaging Board, will talk about the progress of the “Paper and Packaging–How Life Unfolds” consumption building campaign from the manufacturers and importers of paper and paper-based packaging. Hansan will also discuss preliminary plans for 2017. Martyn Eustace, Managing Director of Print Power Europe Ltd., will explain how print and paper are being promoted in Europe and, more widely, how the Two Sides campaign is correcting misleading environmental marketing across the world. He will report on the successes and the setbacks. Phil Riebel, President of Two Sides North America, Inc., will present the results of a Two Sides consumer perception study related to the environmental and social benefi ts of paper and print, as well as other recent Two Sides initiatives. Riebel will highlight the success of the anti-greenwash campaign, including the key fi ndings of a white paper: “Contrary to popular thinking: going paperless does not save trees.” “As usual we will have a few new things to present, including some new resources for teachers and students,” says Riebel, “and the results of a new U.S. nationwide consumer survey on the attractiveness and sustainability of print and paper with great results for our industry.” The Cannata Report Spotlights Growth Potential for Independent Dealers in Industrial Print The Cannata Report will present a co-located event at GRAPH EXPO 16 tomorrow, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm in Room N310C of the Orange County Convention Center. Highlighting the immense growth opportunities for dealers in the industrial print arena, it will be hosted by Frank Cannata, analyst, President and Editor-in-Chief; and CJ Cannata, Analyst, EVP and Publisher, Dealer Opportunities and Strategies for Expansion in Industrial Printing; and will feature a keynote presentation from Steve Urmano, Director of Wide Format, InfoTrends. This is the second year in a row The Cannata Report has showcased the industrial print arena for the independent dealer channel at GRAPH EXPO. Additional presentations will be given by Fred Carollo, Vice President of Originations, Everbank Commercial Finance; and Tanya Flores, Director, Marketing, AMETEK Electronic Systems Protection. 40 | September 26, 2016 | GRAPH EXPO 16 Offi cial Show Daily | PrintingNews.com


GraphExpo_ShowDaily_September_26_2016
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