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(continued from page 1) GRAPH EXPO 16 is Inkjet Full Throttle! Web Presses powered by High Defi nition Nozzle Architecture (HDNA) technology, the T390 HD, T390M HD, T380 HD, and T370 HD. Inkjet has always been about substrates, and the ability for inkjet to print on offset stocks is also driving the number of inkjet friendly applications. Last year, HP introduced a Bonding Agent to expand substrate compatibility, and this year, Canon Solutions America (CSA) (Booth 1500) has introduced its ColorGrip, an inline paper conditioning step that increases the number and types of media that can be run through high-speed production inkjet systems, including the Océ VarioPrint i300. “What’s exciting for us are the enhancements we’ve made to the i300 and the breadth of medias we are printing on,” says Mal Baboyian, EVP of Canon Solutions America. “ColorGrip has made a spectacular difference. Customers are going to see dramatically improved quality, but also the ability to print on offset stock that reduces the cost of the paper by some 10% to 15% over inkjet media. When customers and (continued from page 1) prospects come into our booth they’re going to be astounded by what inkjet can do.” The same forces that have been driving interest in inkjet in other aspects of commercial printing are now pushing it to new frontiers, such as packaging. EFI (Booth 1349) is active in virtually all of these spaces—except for high-speed production inkjet for commercial printing— and is talking At the HP booth, attendees are dazzled by the range of inkjetprinted products. up the announcement of its Nozomi platform, a single-pass LED inkjet technology which is said to reach speeds up to 75 meters (246 feet) per minute for corrugated packaging printing. As companies like EFI expand into these different markets and applications, bringing the full gamut—or even a representative sample—of equipment offerings is not logistically possible. So this year, EFI is taking a different tack and rather than showcasing the heavy metal, the company is focusing on what those machines actually produce. “We like to tell the story with applications and actual printed products, so we’re only bringing one printer that’s targeted to commercial printers, the HS1625 hybrid,” says Ken Hanulec, VP of Marketing for EFI’s Inkjet Solutions. Be it wide-format, small-format, commercial print or specialty printing, the same drivers are propelling inkjet into the forefront of technology introductions and adoptions. “There’s a bigger call for distributed manufacturing and a short-distance supply chain,” says Hanulec. “You should be able to do really short runs, order online, order a large number of unique jobs that are very customized and personalized, have almost no inventory, and you should be able print what you want, where you want it, and get it where you want it.” That statement could apply to virtually any aspect of the printing industry today, and the shift from analog technologies like offset will only become more acute. “As the quality of inkjet technology rises, we’re seeing a lot of offset applications move over to inkjet,” says Ricoh’s Fulena. “How is inkjet affecting offset? That’s a bigger discussion today than it’s ever been.” As inkjet moves full speed ahead, look for many more of these discussions. “We’re crossing a threshold that will take this technology further into the commercial space,” said HP’s Murphy. To Succeed in Today’s Marketplace, Know Thy Customer and the future, and by investing millions of dollars into technologies like the Océ ColorStream and Océ JetStream printers, along with the Océ VarioPrint i300, we continue to help commercial printers expand their offerings and thrive. However, with this dramatic shift comes the need for our customers and their own clients to fully understand this wave of new technology. With that comes a trend I feel will undeniably shape the future of this industry and help it prosper for years to come. While the industry is consolidating, the willingness to partner and work together at events like GRAPH EXPO is how print service providers will learn both the value and intricacies of emerging technologies like inkjet. Suffi ce to say, we must learn from our peers in order to adapt and succeed in this ever-evolving industry. Lastly, I think we’re seeing a vastly heightened demand for shorter runs. As omni channel marketing continues to pave the way for more personalization and versatility in jobs, short-turnaround on-demand options will become vital to sustained success. Short-run and high frequency work is on the rise. Show Daily: From your perspective, what’s keeping industry members up at night? Mal Baboyian: There’s no doubt that industry members will lose sleep over the pivotal need to increase their companies’ identity and visibility with the end user. This need to garner brand equity and form a resonating identity is paramount to reaching new customers. Visibility can be accomplished by attending events like GRAPH EXPO 16 and demonstrating the technologies and solutions that serve as differentiators for your company. Perhaps not as immediate, but nonetheless a real and potentially harmful issue, is the need to bring in a new and younger wave of talent that will keep this industry at the forefront. Industry mainstays far outnumber younger generations, proving a more concerted effort is needed to draw new members to our industry. To help usher in a wave of young and inspired individuals, we make sure that Canon Solutions America is involved with organizations like the Graphics Communications Scholarship Foundation and the Electronic Document Systems Foundation, which support and recognize the next generation of professionals in the print industry. Additionally, an investment in internship programs like Canon’s, designed to build leadership and develop skills related to the industry, will directly infl uence the younger generation that more often than not is genuinely surprised at how technical and advanced print technologies have become. Show Daily: Canon is a forward-thinking company with a record number of U.S. patents and net sales in the billions; using that as a framework, what words of wisdom can you offer to NPES members as they look to increase profi tability within their own companies? Mal Baboyian: One thing that NPES members–and really leaders of any organization– need to do in order to stay relevant today, tomorrow, and in the future, is thoroughly understand what their customers are looking for. With that comes the need for the right R&D investments; to look much longer term and be the eyes for your customer to see and anticipate changes in technology, e.g., the rapid evolution and development of inkjet. I urge members to also get meaningful feedback from their customers in order to properly enhance their solutions. Transparency is key–to share where your company is headed and make your customers a part of the whole solution must start at the executive level. Engraining this philosophy into the culture of a company can yield great results. At Canon we’ve seen it fi rsthand from developing advisory councils and enlisting third party partners to help us shape our portfolio of offerings. Equally important is building substantive relationships with the extremely knowledgeable analysts that keep this industry moving forward. This all-encompassing, collaborative approach can truly shape the future of an organization. Show Daily: What technology disruptors can we expect to see at GRAPH EXPO 16? Mal Baboyian: Look for sheetfed inkjet technology to be the disruptive technology at this year’s GRAPH EXPO. Here, exhibitors and attendees alike will get an unfettered look into the technologies changing our industry today. While drupa typically gives attendees a forecast into the future of print, GRAPH EXPO 16 will demonstrate technologies, like sheet-fed inkjet, that can have immediate impact on your company’s growth over the next year. Offi cial Show Daily | PrintingNews.com GRAPH EXPO 16 | September 26, 2016 | 61


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