Blogs

Unlock AI's Full Potential by Mastering AI Native Communication

To unlock the full potential of AI, we must embrace “AI Native Lingo” which empowers us to collaborate more effectively.

The Changing Nature of the Employee/Employer Relationship

As workplace norms shift, employers are seeing a lack of engagement among employees. Here’s one approach that may drive better results.

How to Move From Habit to Ritual and Improve Your Print Sales

In sales, turning key activities into automatic habits — or rituals — can help drive consistent results. Here’s how.

From The Experts

The ‘Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’ was signed into law on Nov. 15. Here’s what print and packaging manufacturers should note.

The Alliance calls on Congressional leaders to end Build Back Better Act talks, and to focus on more immediate economic challenges.

As this plan crumbles, the path to recovery will require a quick pivot to other key policies and successful crisis management.



Other Staff Bloggers
Artificial Intelligence (AI)

To unlock the full potential of AI, we must embrace “AI Native Lingo” which empowers us to collaborate more effectively.

The most important sales skill a rep can have? Pre-call research. Learn how to harness the power of AI to secure more appointments.

Here’s how printing and packaging companies can use AI-powered deep reasoning and research models to access enterprise-level intel.

Business Management

As workplace norms shift, employers are seeing a lack of engagement among employees. Here’s one approach that may drive better results.

In sales, turning key activities into automatic habits — or rituals — can help drive consistent results. Here’s how.

What do a mediocre meal and sales reps have in common? The answer has to do with service, and Bill Gillespie explains it here.

Digital Printing - Wide Format

As DTF heat transfers have become popular, commercial printers can contract their services — provided they have the right equipment.

Many PSPs are familiar with window graphics. What may not be so clear is the options for installing and applying these graphics.

With the anticipated surge in political advertising for 2024, understanding best practices for political advertising is crucial.

Mailing/Fulfillment

Average direct mail doesn’t cut it anymore. But, when done right, it continues to outperform many digital channels. Here’s what works.

The best direct mail doesn’t just inform, it influences. Here are ways to tap into psychology to make your direct mail irresistible.

Here are some ways to get the most out of the mail industry’s biggest event.

Data Management

In this blog series, TEAM Concept Printing shares its journey to become SOC 2 compliant.

In this month’s Print Secure blog, Roger Lauger shares TEAM’s proactive approach to strengthen security and reinforcing client trust.

In this new blog series, TEAM Concept Printing will share its journey to become SOC 2 compliant.

Training and Education

Tara Smith breaks down what students are looking for when they’re searching for internships in the printing industry.

One month after PRINTING United Expo, Tara Seth reflects on her experience as a student attendee and what surprised her the most.

In the printing industry, there are opportunities for professionals and students to interact. Here is why it’s so important.

Finishing

Many printing companies are struggling to find profitable work. For some, artisan print may be the perfect answer. Here’s why.

Complete with a hashtag and over 2.7 million views, Truly Engaging has harnessed TikTok for its incredible marketing potential.

Mark Nixon, the EVP of global sales and marketing at Scodix, chats about the trends he sees impacting the space in the coming months.

Color/Quality Control

Color repeatability, quality, and accuracy are essential for preserving brand reputation and fostering customer trust.

With an ICC profile, we can convert the artwork with this definition to force it to match the standard with a non-standard ink set.

With management systems, printers should be equipped with the proper hardware and software to ensure consistency of output.

Software

Have you ever witnessed a failed attempt at launching management software in a business? There’s a root cause for that. Stay tuned.

If one trend is dominating marketing, it’s personalization. Let’s take a look at strategies you can employ to create marketing magic.

Workflow automation, driven by Industry 4.0, is crucial for print manufacturing to enhance efficiency and navigate challenges.

Consumables - Paper

Last year, I wrote an article about making the first Bible out of stone paper. Now, we really are. Here are my thoughts so far.

Research suggests a switch to electronic learning materials from paper materials may be detrimental to students’ ability to learn. 

If you’re looking to achieve brand protection, security, and more, Viridian holographic Eco-Paperboard may be the solution for you. 

Interactive Print

By adding mobile, you can spice up print, create a “wow” factor, and make it even easier to respond. Here are five ways to get started.

Here are five terms that may impact your organization and your clients’ print applications.

A recent article highlighted Harvey Levenson’s clickable paper book. Now, he describes how the interactive printed textbook came about.

Digital Printing - Digital Offset

The Anstadt Co. looked to new folding carton printing opportunities in digital packaging print technology for growth.

HP’s Indigo 12000 HD system is increasingly being used for applications such as professional and wedding photo prints. The system’s high-definition writing head doubles print resolution and outperforms the quality of most offset printing. PRINTING United Booth 6407.

What follows is an interview with Rosemarie Breske Garvey, VP at Blooming Color in Lombard, Ill. Blooming Color is doing some pretty spectacular work beyond traditional four-color printing and I wanted to learn more.

Digital Printing - Production Inkjet

While digital is a choice among printing processes, it continues to provide change, new opportunity, and compelling advantages.

Printing and packaging industries benefit from influx of digital printing platforms across commercial, in-plant, packaging segments.

According to the research, roughly 6,000 printers are considering an investment in B2 inkjet printing over the next two years.

Consumables - Ink

The printing industry is shifting toward inkjet printing. As such, more companies should evaluate the benefits of insourcing.

Lack of information can cause designers to miss out on exploiting new technologies or create unnecessary expense.

Slowing down and following a "Best Practices" method to paper trials and qualification will save you time and ink costs by focusing on ink and paper surface compatibility. As your cost for a better inkjet paper and print quality go up, your ink usage should go down. But only if there are best practices in place.

Digital Printing - Toner

The centerpiece was the virtual debut of a new, dry-toner digital press: the SX30000, a B2-format, continuous-feed device from Xeikon.

The imagePRESS C850 offers print speeds of up to 85 letter-size images per minute, duplex, long-sheet printing, and can handle heavier, coated or textured stock. The imagePRESS C850 also features in-line finishing options including creasing and trimming. PRINTING United Booth 7016.

Xerox recently unveiled the Iridesse. Now that the glitter has settled, there are a few questions to explore about its possibilities.

Consumables - General

The last couple of times we discussed how paper and then finishing can enhance your direct mail ROI, now let’s look at coatings.

The new, high-gloss printable laminate film from Nobelus offers scratch-resistance and can be used for gluing, foil stamping, UV coating and more. It is intended for direct mail, magazines, folding cartons and other applications. PRINTING United Booth 10141.

We have seen lots of advances in adhesives for bookbinding over the years, with PUR (polyurethane reactive) adhesive being the last major game changer. But there is now a revived interest in protein-based adhesives.

Offset Printing

Heidelberg’s Speedmaster XL 106-5 press is the machine of choice for a Canadian sheetfed printer: Its integrated LED drying technology gives companies additional product options, as well as a way to access higher-margin printing opportunities. PRINTING United Booth 10143.

Citing the need to increase capacity and gain a competitive advantage, the perfecting press from RMGT was the perfect choice for a growing business. This and other solutions from the company will be represented in Dallas. PRINTING United Booth 9551.

OK, I digress from my usual finishing tech. discussion this week. Although I’m on the digital finishing side, I spent enough time in the high-volume offset world to become quite familiar with publication, periodical and catalog production.

Binding

Don Piontek shares some of the diverse finishing applications and systems he’s come across in his career.

During a recent trade show, Don Piontek looked for the newest finishing technology and he found innovations in mechanical binding.

In the search for new finishing developments, Don Piontek received a LinkedIn press release alert on something called “Vpaper.”

Mergers and Acquisitions

It looked like a good fit. The seller, unfortunately, didn’t see it that way.

As a trade association president, I knew that one of my most important jobs was to offer our members a friendly, well informed, third-party perspective on strategic business issues. Today, our New Direction Partners clients want the same thing: not just information about the mechanics of M&As, but also a genuine understanding of the industry and the mindsets of the people who own those companies.

For many years, I had the privilege of serving in leadership positions with Printing Industries of New England (PINE), the largest printing trade association in the Northeast. Then as now, I was greatly impressed by the resiliency of our members and their ability to adapt to changing business circumstances.