Semper International has reported an industry sales boost during the last half of the second quarter of 2013. Semper's most recent quarterly survey, that highlights trends in the printing and graphics industries, reveals a positive outlook and improved sales.
To help educate printers on how to make a successful transition, xpedx—a full-service supplier of wide-format equipment, supplies and service—increased its Wide Format Solutions Summits to 28 shows at 14 new cities this year based on the success of the five summits it held in 2012.
This spring, astronaut Chris Hadfield unveiled the currency of Canada’s future by spinning a banknote in zero gravity. It was a (Canadian) $5 bill, the latest to be made not of paper or cotton fiber but of polymer.
The purpose is ostensibly to deter counterfeiters, with a side-effect of increased durability (2.5 times as durable, according to the Bank of Canada). But an even more distant side-effect is now being explored in Australia, by the research institution that spawned plastic money in the first place: printable solar power.
In an effort to bring its transpromo business to an even greater scale of production and quality, R.E. Gilmore of Ottawa, has added a Xerox CiPress 500 production inkjet system. The company is reported to be the first printer in Canada to purchase this press.
InfoTrends' Ultimate Guide Online platform now features access to the wide-format printing (WFP) market. With product specifications for over 300 products from a total of 40 vendors, the guide provides side-by-side comparisons of WFP printers from a wide range of vendors based in all regions.
Foremost Communicationsis of Grand Rapids, MI, is reportedly the first North American company to install a new Screen Truepress JetSX sheetfed inkjet press. The company forecasts significant growth in one-to-one solutions, targeted direct marketing and personalized packaging as the result of the investment.
Surveying helps preserve your brand on social media review sites. Surveying is a customer early warning system. If you are getting timely feedback, you are able to react before customers leave negative comments on social media sites. Customers now have the upper hand.
Lithographix in Hawthorne, CA, is reportedly the first commercial printer in the United States to install a Rho 1012 continuous inkjet production system. "Our main incentive to purchase the Rho 1012 is to give us the ability to offer a higher-resolution solution for printing on board and sheet products,” noted George Wolden, vice president of manufacturing for Lithographix.
We should all give back to the community and to causes that fit our business and our personal values. However, if we are to operate a successful business, we should give back strategically and make it a part our business plan and marketing plan.
Printing Impressions has launched an Inkjet Production Printing Industry Center as part of its Website, www.PIworld.com. Already a helpful information source, this Industry Center will become even more robust going forward—just as the production inkjet digital printing process continues to gain traction and market share.
