29 Mar 2024

Ipex World creates a global resource and online business connector for the worldwide print community

IIR Print Group, the organisers of Ipex, the largest English-speaking global technology event for print, publishing and media has launched Ipex World [www.ipex.org], an easy to use online networking and resource portal dedicated to print professionals worldwide.

Ipex World is built on the huge amount of information generated by the Ipex exhibition; a database of currently over 1,000 industry suppliers, which is expected to increase rapidly over the coming months; as well as an established community of over 200,000 professionals worldwide. As such, it is fast becoming a trusted information hub, providing the print community with a global platform to build international business relationships.

The website provides users with a number of useful features, such as videos, latest products and industry developments, articles, white papers, press releases, presentations, an international digital events calendar as well as photos. Industry suppliers will also be able to source global agents and distributors suitable to their business requirements via Ipex Connect.

Nick Craig Waller, Ipex World Marketing Director, says: "Every four years, Ipex provides a powerful platform for the global print industry to network, buy and build business relationships. Following on from the success of Ipex 2010, we wanted to extend that value online between Ipex years to provide a powerful year-round directory, lead generator and valuable information hub to connect the global print community.

"The Ipex 2010 website generated remarkable user statistics pre-and post-event, so naturally we felt it was our responsibility to keep that momentum alive. We've already received very positive feedback from the industry with a number of suppliers, global associations, industry experts and publishing houses already committed to providing engaging content to the website as well as valuable market information and discussion forums."

Printers using the website can create their own profile to connect with other print professionals around the globe via the 'Printer2Printer' peer networking facility.

This will enable them to discuss ideas and questions, share experiences, best practices and gain important industry knowledge and feedback.

"With a comprehensive global marketing campaign for Ipex World under way, we are confident that Ipex World will become a strong and important link to provide suppliers with a platform to maintain ongoing relationships with visitors during non-Ipex years. We look forward to welcoming users to the website over the coming months," concludes Nick Craig Waller.

Semper International reports mixed indicators from its most recent print Industry Insight survey

 

Semper International has announced that there are still mixed signals about the state of the printing business from results of their most recent Industry Insight survey.

Since February 2003, Semper International has provided a quarterly survey offering estimates of trends in the printing and graphics industries. To prevent bias, survey questions—both qualitative and quantitative—are designed by Semper corporate partner Cvent. Survey participants include more than 300 small, medium and large printing companies; both clients and prospects of Semper International. Participants provide data on revenue and hiring as well as estimated outlooks on future trends. Data is requested from a random sample and are not screened. To preserve confidentiality, individual company information is not part of the tabulation.

"They warned us things would be a little bumpy," said Dave Regan, CEO Semper International. "This election season has certainly put a negative spin on just about everything. The pundits and the Fed warned us that things would be improving, but it would be up and down. It seems clear that we have seen several soft spots the last few months. While annoying, they are definitely surrounded by some busy spells. Overall, this fall has been decidedly better then a year ago and certainly better than the spring."

The most recent survey indicates a mixed bag of business trends:

 

  • About 60 percent of companies surveyed reported a profitable Q3. While down quarter-to-quarter, it was stronger than a year ago.
  • Looking at the first two weeks of Q4, current sales indicate a strong increase—although this could be a seasonal trend. The number of companies reporting a decrease in sales dropped from 35 percent to 24 percent, with those reporting increased sales taking a corresponding gain.
  • About 80 percent of the companies interviewed expected even or increased sales during Q1, 2011.
  • The vast majority of respondents indicated that hiring levels remained the same, although there was a slight increase in companies hiring—and a noticeable trend that they were releasing less employees.
  • More than two-thirds of companies reported that healthcare is the labour cost component that increased the fastest last quarter—nearly five times greater than those reporting base pay, the next component.
  • The greatest competitive threat to printers is technology (48 percent), far exceeding supply costs (24 percent) and labour costs (19 percent).
  • Print buyers place the greatest pricing pressure on offset printing (55 percent) and digital printing costs (20 percent), where there is clearly a lot of excess capacity, it is the largest component of job cost, and where print providers fight for market share.
  • While referrals (31 percent) and online searches (25 percent) seem to be the most popular ways to find employees, there was a jump in reliance on flex hiring (16 percent). In uncertain times 'try before you hire' still makes a lot of sense.

 

 

 

New Avery Graphics Online Vehicle Graphics Product Selector

 

Avery Dennison has added an extra dimension to its website to help make choosing the right material for the job easier for designers, converters, and applicators of vehicle wraps and graphics and their customers.

One-click access

The Online Vehicle Graphics Product Selector is simple to access.  A single click on the banner on the website home page takes the user to the first step in making the right decision.   First, choose the type of vehicle – from truck to passenger car – to be marked;  then decide where on the vehicle the graphics are to be located, or whether an all-over vehicle wrap is required;  and finally state the anticipated minimum durability.   Once these baseline criteria have been established, it is easy to choose an appropriate material from the extensive Avery Graphics range.

Growing portfolio of online Avery Graphics solutions

The Online Vehicle Graphics Product Selector is the latest addition to Avery Dennison Graphics and Reflective Products’ portfolio of online solutions.   It also includes the brand new Avery Graphics Academy and, for digital printers, nearly 2000 high-quality media profiles with a broad range of printer-ink-RIP combinations (www.avery.color-base.com).

To visit the Avery Graphics Online Vehicle Graphics Product Selector, go to www.europe.averygraphics.com.

 

Spotlight On... Stewart Bell of Digital Print Innovations

 

In the first of our ongoing series of Spotlight On… features, established wide-format sales and distribution specialist Stewart Bell here talks exclusively to Large Format Review about the experience which informed his decision to begin Digital Print Innovations (DPI) and the core values which motivate him to continue offering comprehensive solutions for the graphic display sector.

 

After more than 20 years in the graphic arts industry, Stewart Bell recognised the need for a service-oriented company catering to the complete wide-format workflow, including RIP software, printers and finishing equipment. In response, he began Digital Print Innovations (DPI), a Derbyshire-based customer-focused sales and distribution channel which provides the UK sign and display market with a fulsome choice of solutions suitable for an extensive array of applications and businesses.

Bell's experience in both printing and finishing products enables him to appreciate the types of products that will maximise a company’s performance from a holistic standpoint. He examines not only the engines that will best serve a customer but also the software which will drive it and the types of finishing products which will work well with the printers. “I’ve always enjoyed helping people grow their businesses,” he comments. “It’s so satisfying to know that you and your team have helped a customer to choose the perfect products for their needs, and for them to know that they’ll be supported by an end-to-end service. Richard Butler leads DPI’s technical team, and his experience has enabled us to further our ongoing support package.”

As the graphic arts market becomes increasingly demanding and print providers must find new routes to market from their production equipment, manufacturers respond with ever-more sophisticated products. Bell notes that the widening range of applications for which wide-format print is used necessitates engines that can print onto a broader choice of media. Machines must also offer unrivalled precision to support ever-growing expectations of colour fidelity and print quality.

“One of the most interesting aspects of wide-format printing is the sheer diversity of the applications which it is used for,” enthuses Bell. “From vehicle graphics to billboards, fine art canvasses to building wraps, the versatility of this sector’s output consistently fascinates me. There is always a new way of using print and a more ambitious manner in which to employ the technologies because the producers have to continue innovating; as a result, the manufacturers return printers to market which meet or surpass their customers’ expectations of quality and productivity.”

It was with this motivation that Bell and DPI decided to find machines that were less well known to the UK market, and that led the company to sole distribution agreements with WP Digital and MTL Print. “These are precise reliable production engines. The Virtu range from WP Digital is admired in architectural and industrial fields for its glass printing ability, but it’s also an incredibly adaptable machine for sign and display production,” Bell explains. “It can produce onto all the usual media, but also to unusual substrates, such as leather and aluminium foil. Meanwhile, the Meital from MTL Print has the high productivity changing tables for production houses that need to keep up with demanding clients. Combined with our Seiko and Epson solvent-based printers, Caldera and Onyx RIP software all complemented by production cutting tables from Esko Artwork, we can set our clients up with end-to-end solutions that offer diligence and diversity.”

Bell cites his time at NUR Macroprinters as a pivotal point in his career. Prior to the company’s acquisition by HP, Bell worked for the Israeli large-format ink-jet printer manufacturer as a UK sales manager. By demonstrating his expertise in identifying the most appropriate product for each customer, he established a wide professional network that valued his dedication to personalised service, ongoing support and a commitment to staying at the forefront of all technological developments within the field. Bell maintains that his close professional connections have reinforced his enjoyment of the industry.

“One of the greatest things about the large-format printing world is the people in it,” notes Bell. “There is a genuinely warm, convivial spirit – a sense that everyone’s there to push the products forward and drive innovation. There’s a friendly yet competitive edge to the graphic arts sector which keeps each business sharp, and I am proud to be involved in an industry with such vision and drive.”

Bell also views the earlier part of his career, during which he worked as a national account manager and later as a European sales manager for GBC, as instrumental in the professional path which he has chosen. His primary focus at this point was large-format industrial laminators but an increasing interest in emergent technical advances began to guide him towards printing rather than finishing.

“Between 1995 and 2000 I got my first taste of digital printing, and it soon became clear to me that this was where my future lay,” recalls Bell. “Digital technology was, and continues to be, one of the fastest evolving fields in which to work. In this industry, you always feel that you’re right at the cusp of innovation where a real commitment to research and development is crucial to remaining cutting edge. DPI is indicative of the dynamism of the market: we are dedicated to pushing technological boundaries and remaining at the forefront of this challenging, vibrant field.”

Bell predicts that the future of the graphic arts arena will largely be dominated by ethical discussions on greener technologies, such as the creation of more easily biodegradable inks and media. He also believes that the industry may become subject to stricter legislation on pertinent issues such as recycling and the use of plastics.

“As the public turns its attention more and more towards green concerns, businesses are going to have to adapt their practices to ensure that they comply with the requirements of an increasingly environmentally conscious society,” explains Bell. “This dedication to running sustainable businesses which minimise ecological impact has always been close to my heart. DPI is committed to providing products which can aid customers’ endeavours to run a more ecologically sound business.”

Although 2009 brought disappointment for Bell when Litho Supplies, for whom he was a national business development manager, went into administration, it also reinforced in Bell the need for a reliable sales and support channel to serve the UK market. “When Litho Supplies became insolvent there were numerous users who were going to be left without a stable provider of service and consumables for WP Digital and MTL Print’s machines, as well as future customers who would have no British provider. I also have solid and loyal relationships with both companies which I was determined to continue. In this way, 2009 brought opportunity too,” he affirms.

“There will be some extremely exciting announcements in 2011 relating to DPI’s progressive stance within the wide-format market-place,” concludes Bell. “Until then, the emphasis will remain on the ongoing provision of reliable products which maximise speed and quality, excellent advice and a robust customer support service.”

Outside of work, Bell enjoys motorcycle racing and touring, travelling, walking and admiring his children as they flourish and grow.

 

DPI is a display solutions provider formed to bring a fresh approach to the market. With combined technical experience of 65 years within the printing industry, DPI is the exclusive distributor for WP Digital and Meital UV-curing machines in the UK and Ireland. The company also supplies a range of selected display equipment, including Seiko II print technology and Esko Artwork’s Kongsberg cutting solutions, to provide start-to-finish graphics production solutions. Its comprehensive technical support is fully UK-based for both hardware and software.

For further information about DPI’s products and services visit their website at www.dpi-uk.com, contact Stewart Bell on +44 (0)1332 856355 or +44 (0)7540 726235, by e-mail at info@dpi-uk.com or at Digital Print Innovations Ltd, The Old Vicarage, Market Street, Castle Donington, Derby, DE74 2JB, UK. DPI is also on Twitter at @DigitalPrintInn

Want the Spotlight turned on you? Contact Abi Ricketts at Large Format Review on abi@largeformatreview.com

Results of the latest BAPC Membership Survey

 

Following on from an e-mail recently sent to their membership, asking a variety of questions regarding the current state of their business, the BAPC have kindly submitted a sample of the results for public release.

 

Question - In the 12 months to 31st Dec 09 how have sales performed compared with the same period in 2008?

 

  • 81%    of respondents reported a drop in turnover
  • 11%    of respondents reported no change in turnover
  • 8%    of respondents reported an increase in turnover

 

 

Question - During the same period how has company profitability performed?

 

  • 60%    of respondents reported a drop in profits
  • 35%    of respondents reported no significant change
  • 5%    of respondents reported an increase

 

 

Question -Turnover to 31st December 2009

 

  • 40% of respondents advised that turnover was in excess of £1million
  • 40% of respondents advised that turnover was between 500K and £1m
  • 20% of respondents advised that turnover was less than 500K

 

 

Question - Number of employees?

 

  • 72% of respondents advised that they employed between 11 and 50 staff
  • 18% of respondents advised that they employed less than 11 staff

 

 

Question – Business spread – contribution to profits

 

  • Pre-Press   20%
  • Digital  33.6%
  • Litho 33.6%
  • Finishing 12.8%

 

 

Question - Revenue Split – as a percentage of turnover

  • From Existing Clients 86.6%
  • New Business 13.4%

 

Question – Source of new business – as a percentage of revenue

  • Referrals from existing clients 22.5%
  • Advertising 2%
  • Direct Mail  5%
  • Salesperson 30%
  • Website 5%
  • Other 35.5%

 

Question – How has the service from your suppliers performed during the last 12 months compared to 2008

  • Better 32%
  • Worse  33%
  • No Change 35%
You can find out more about the services and benefits of BAPC membership at www.bapc.co.uk

 

Scottish Qualifications Authority, Graphic Enterprise Scotland & Proskills join forces to launch PrintIT! Scotland

PrintIT! has teamed up with the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and Graphic Enterprise Scotland (GES) to launch PrintIT! Scotland, which yields a potential catchment for PrintIT! of more than 300 secondary schools in Scotland.

This extension of the PrintIT! brand follows the success of PrintIT! in England, which was first launched to English schools in September 2005 and has recently registered its 100,000th student.

Says Paul Evans, project director of PrintIT!, “It’s been a truly collaborative effort getting PrintIT! Scotland off the ground, and once again, I am indebted to all the sponsors who have continued to support PrintIT! I’m delighted that we are able to introduce this initiative into Scottish schools, and am confident we can replicate the success that PrintIT! has enjoyed so far in showing students what print can achieve in today’s world and how they can play a part in its future as potential industry leaders of tomorrow.”

PrintIT! Scotland is a curriculum-mapped project aligned to the Standard Grade Graphic Communication Course and culminates in a competition whereby winning students and their schools are awarded prizes. The initiative includes free teaching course books and student guides, detailed lesson plans, online and multimedia resource materials, and flexible, easy-to-teach course units, all designed to meet criteria in the Illustration and Presentation elements of the course.

Neil MacGowan, head of corporate affairs at the Scottish Qualifications Authority adds, “PrintIT! Scotland has all the hallmarks of a valuable and effective means of engaging with students and introducing them to the many career opportunities within the printing industry while working towards a nationally recognised qualification.”

Schools will also be given access to the ‘Twinning programme’, which links schools with local print-related businesses who can further assist teachers in the delivery of the course and provide the students with real hands-on experience and mentoring.

The teachers and student books were printed by Montgomery Litho Group (MLG) based in Glasgow, a member of Graphic Enterprise Scotland.

Commenting on PrintIT! Scotland, Bob Hodgson, director of Graphic Enterprise Scotland says, “It’s really exciting to be involved in a project that not only plays a role in the education of our youngsters, but also gives them the opportunity to learn more about our high-tech industry. We will also be encouraging our members to get involved too as part of the Twinning Programme, so they too can become part of something really special.”

For further information about the programme, visit the PrintIT! Scotland website at www.printit.org.uk/scotland