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Topics of the month
Unlimited potential: Near Field Communication and printed electronics
Printed electronics and especially Near Field Communication (NFC) have gathered their fair share of interest for some time now, not the least as applications in mobile marketing among others. How soon the breakout, then? By Andrea Köhn
Unlimited potential: Near Field Communication and printed electronics - read more...
Reaching the consumer, regardless of location
Cross-medial campaigns have become a preferred method of advertising for branded goods manufacturers. Print may not necessarily play a part in each instance any-more. Yet it is likely to remain a vital element in the mix, especially in conjunction with mobile or social media. By Andrea Köhn
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Connecting Linz to the world
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In the beginning there was Google: Following in its footsteps, the online print shop Global-print, located in the upper-Austrian city of Linz, is placing its bets on strengthening customer ties and word-of-mouth recommendations. It seems to be working—not the least because of an outstanding product portfolio ranging from individualised press runs to personalised notebooks and from small brochures to super-sized commissions.
Connecting Linz to the world - read more...
Mobile Marketing: A great deal of untapped potential remains
The relentless proliferation of smartphones and tablet PCs turns out to be a boon for mobile advertising, as well. In particular by way of QR codes and augmented reality apps, Print plays a key role, too.
Mobile Marketing: A great deal of untapped potential remains - read more...
Advanced processing adds lustre to Print
The supposed crisis of the printing trade, together with prophesies of imminent doom, continues to be a hotly debated topic among industry mavens. Yet more often than not it totally ignores the many sectors that hold great promise for the future, like direct mail, packaging or security applications. Common to all is the fact that, next to the basic task of printing, an array of advanced processing technologies stands ready to enrich and upgrade the printed product. The sensual experience triggered by tactile interaction or even by a scent, as it were, is a uniquely distinguishing characteristic, which sets the graphic industry apart from the electronic media.
Advanced processing adds lustre to Print - read more...
Print has Plenty of Future Left
The media revolution shouldn’t blind us to the fact that Print’s future is hardly fraught with doom and gloom. Though some business models may lose their clout, opportunities for print shops and their offerings will continue to abound in our digitally woven society. By Andrea Köhn
Print has Plenty of Future Left - read more...
High growth rates in the East and explosive productivity gains in the West Part 2
With less than nine months to go until drupa, the industry has its eyes firmly set on the future. Printing in both the USA and Europe underwent tremendous changes since the crisis year of 2008. To boot, the industrial nations’ markets are largely saturated while the graphics industry contracts, along with a concomittant rise in labor-saving efficiencies and productivity. At the same time, the graphic arts business continues to shrink as efficiencies and productivity expand. Somewhat more positive news arrive from Asia, Latin America and the Indian subcontinent.
High growth rates in the East and explosive productivity gains in the West Part 2 - read more...
High growth rates in the East and explosive productivity gains in the West
With less than nine months to go until drupa, the industry has its eyes firmly set on the future. Printing in both the USA and Europe underwent tremendous changes since the crisis year of 2008. To boot, the industrial nations’ markets are largely saturated while the graphics industry contracts, along with a concomittant rise in labor-saving efficiencies and productivity. At the same time, the graphic arts business continues to shrink as efficiencies and productivity expand. Somewhat more positive news arrive from Asia, Latin America and the Indian subcontinent.
High growth rates in the East and explosive productivity gains in the West - read more...
Inkjet’s potential raises expectations for the future
Digital printing represents one of the great hopes for the industry. At a time when conventional printing processes like rotogravure and rotary offset are facing enormous economic challenges and the growth prospect for sheet offset is one of restrained optimism at best, digital printing seems to be a good bet for the future. Among its various applications, inkjet promises to be the frontrunner. Nearly every one of the digital print equipment manufacturers is actively engaged in the inkjet technology space and even traditional press manufacturers acknowledge its bright future. By Andrea Bötel
Inkjet’s potential raises expectations for the future - read more...
14 years of PrintCity—from trade show project to ‘value added’ strategic alliance
What was intended as a cooperative effort for presentation at drupa 2000 to demonstrate the feasibility of communication between different products of different manufacturers managed to grow over the past 14 years into a unique industry partnership. Moreover, PrintCity is anything but a virtual artifice making its presence felt at trade shows only; instead, as a strategic alliance, it actively supports its member businesses as well as its clientele and their clients with relevant, efficient information in terms of technology and markets. By Andrea Bötel
14 years of PrintCity—from trade show project to ‘value added’ strategic alliance - read more...
New worldwide marketing channel: Successful web-to-print models in daily practice
In times of crisis, such as the printing industry finds itself, good ideas are at a premium. One is web-to-print. Order processing and execution over the web is no longer a novelty, with market competition among internet print shops having grown into a bare-knuckles business; yet there are always rewarding niches for bright ideas and creative workflow options.
New worldwide marketing channel: Successful web-to-print models in daily practice - read more...
Topic of the month February 2011
“For me, newspapers are no more than printer’s ink on paper,” Otto von Bismarck averred more than110 years ago. Back in those days, the daily gazette—and the stock it was printed on—had gained exceptional standing as a source of information. Meanwhile, other outlets of communication have proliferated, yet irrespective of its digital competitors, paper continues to grow in significance even in the “digital era”. An almost limitless number of paper manufacturers make it easy for both designers and printers to let their creative juices flow. Whether through upgrading or processing, paper can be turned into small pieces of art.
Topic of the month February 2011 - read more...
Topic of the month January 2011
Anyone committed to modern and forward-looking production methods ignores environmental concerns in doing business at their peril. At a minimum, the idea seems to occupy the minds of entrepreneurs and their executives with increasing urgency. A crucial part of the trend toward sustainable production methods is played by the »Carbon Footprint«, which looms large as mitigating factor for carbon dioxide emissions. As of this writing, and in the absence of international standards, each country still seems inclined to follow an improvisational approach of its own. Yet an ISO technical committee for ecological media production in printing is already busy promulgating guidelines with the goal of introducing their first results at drupa 2012.
Topic of the month January 2011 - read more...
Topic of the month October 2010
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The internet tsunami proves to be an irresistible force. Broadband technology and powerful servers carry the web to the farthest corners of he earth and into every mobile receiver unit. On top, the development of applications for text, images and video is gathering a dynamic of its own, leaving traditional publishers struggling to keep up. Still, the bulk of sales continues to be provided by print and accordingly, most strategies are based on it. But the eye is clearly on the future. After all, publishers see themselves as distributors of information, which inevitably includes online activities, events, symposiums, et al. By Andrea Bötel
Topic of the month October 2010 - read more...
Topic of the month August 2010
The development of new media and a relentless advance in digital print technologies keep the printing and media industry in thrall. Press runs are getting smaller and production cycles compress further. Quick turnaround and last minute changes are par for the course in today’s work environment. It is a race against time for everybody involved, a race nobody can afford to lose. Those very facts make enhanced processing a much sought-after option. Plenty of value is hidden in the Postpress processing of printed matter, especially in the digital printing business. In this regard, photo books show exponential growth at this time. By Andrea Bötel
Topic of the month August 2010 - read more...
Topic of the month July 2010
Printing on packaging materials has been experiencing much less of a decline when compared to other market segments. Indeed, its growth potential is universally acknowledged, not the least because new technologies lend packaging a certain cachet—from personalized digital print to the incorporation of intelligent characteristics, notably various electronic functionalities. In addition, the integration of special security features designed to counter product piracy also becomes increasingly common. Such type of recession-proof packaging serves as both a powerful marketing force and sales tool.
By Andrea Bötel
Topic of the month July 2010 - read more...
Topic of the month June 2010
Long gone are the days when the internet was viewed as a threat to the printing industry. Web-to-Print has become a fact of life where nothing but comprehensive information and targeted networking matters. Within social media communities, industry-specific networks multiply and prove their worth to companies engaged in the printing and associated media industries.
As a consequence, any member of a print media-specific network is apt to quickly become aware of incipient trends, enabling him or her to readily establish professional relationships—be they local or global.
By Andrea Bötel
Topic of the month June 2010 - read more...
Topic of the month April 2010
The orbituary of the common daily has been written more often than that of any other printed matter. Indeed, large publishers in the USA have predicted the trusted newspaper’s demise often enough for it to almost become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Yet the oldest and most familiar of all printed matter is also one of the most durable in our changing times.
Topic of the month April 2010 - read more...
Topic of the month March 2010
The younger generation still takes to newspaper reading—notwithstanding all expert prognostications. Witness the two Berlin entrepreneurs Wanja Oberhof and Hendrik Tiedemann...
Topic of the month March 2010 - read more...
Topic of the month February 2010
What Does the New Decade Hold for the Graphic Arts Industry? Following a year that witnessed severe turbulence in both the financial and business sectors, together with discussions of mergers and takeovers as well as capacity shrinkage and, alas, redundancies, it is imperative for industry leaders to adjust to a new orthodoxy. Never before did prevailing circumstances demand as much pioneering spirit from service providers and manufacturers alike.
Topic of the month February 2010 - read more...
