Knowledge base

How Print Connects to Other Channels

When mass marketing lost its lustre as technology made targeted marketing possible, the marketing mantra became “get the right message to the right person.” As technology improved and print and personalization equipment became faster and more affordable, the mantra became “get the right message to the right person at the right time” to focus on relevant messaging.

North America: Digital Design and Automation Influence Molding Productivity

Trends shaping the North American plastics industry include growing use of advanced digital design and manufacturing software and increased automation of production. Recent developments give companies throughout the product chain more ways to optimize operations, speed products to market and increase competitiveness.

Dealing with large QR codes

By Helmut Schneider

Pharmaceutical serialization for China: The QR code that becomes obligatory for all veterinary medicines in China from June 30, 2016 is presenting most pharmaceutical producers and flat carton manufacturers with significant printing challenges.

Serialization is not the same everywhere

By Michael Urso

In recent years, laws and regulations have been passed in many parts of the world to mandate the serialization and/or track & trace of prescription drugs. They differ from region to region in many small details. Three principal questions keep recurring, however.

The More Company Communications Changes, the More it Stays the Same

By Andy Marken

On my office wall I have two images Picasso’s Don Quixote de la Mancha and the unofficial military public information crest, “Last to Know … First to Go.”

It’s tough getting the entire corporate team moving in the same direction and doing/saying the same thing when you are:
- Constantly tilting windmills to slay dragons
- Not certain if the team is going in the same direction as part of a parade or someone is intent on running others out of town

"It's an inkjet and toner world"

Highlights of the RT Media Imaging Summit & Expo

By Harvey R. Levenson, Ph. D., Professor Emeritus, Cal Poly Graphic Communication Department, San Luis Obispo, Calif.

One thing that was clear from the recent two-day RT Media Imaging Summit & Expo that took place at the South Point Hotel & Casino, in Las Vegas is that, "It's an inkjet and toner world."

Printer, PSP or what is a printer nowadays?

At the Xerox Premier Partner event in Madrid, keynote speakers and printers outlined their vision of the future to come.

Ensuring environmental and sustainability compliance

Green does not equal green – and this not only in terms of colour. How can all industry players – suppliers, print service providers and print customers – achieve a greener environment? Companies like HP help in achieving the goals that lead to less impact on the surrounds.

By Sabine A Slaughter

By now the decision has been taken to decrease the environmental impact. But how should it be done? What measures need to be taken and implemented? Quite a lot of questions arise that not be able to be answered straight away. A multitude of factors have to be taken into account and what is more – which and what measures will offer print industry participants solutions that are affordable yet fit to the individual budgets and jobs. Careful analysis is required to achieve the targets.

Environment and Sustainability go hand in hand

While the public is putting more emphasis towards green solutions, the print industry already has certifications and measures in place. Companies such as HP are actively promoting sustainability and environmentally friendly solutions that adhere to standards set around the world.

By Sabine A. Slaughter

More and more manufacturers are driving their operations towards sustainability, introducing processes and operations that are taking note of the environment. While the environment and sustainability go hand in hand, significant savings can thus be achieved too. Conserved energy, reduced waste, elimination of hazardous materials are just some of the many topics that not only lead to a "greener" production but also to higher reputation in terms of future-oriented manufacturing that is valued by customers.

From humble beginnings to big success: Inkjet technology

Who would have thought that Inkjet technology is one of the oldest technologies? Yes, you hear right. While the printing industry has only discovered it in the last 20 years, it has been around much longer. Sabine A Slaughter investigates its roots.

The triumphant success that inkjet technology has attained within the last 10 to 20 years is based on science and research covering almost 300 years of history. Although commercialisation and professional availability only cover a short period in history, the principles and basis theories referring to inkjet have been researched more than 200 years ago. The French scholar and cleric Abbé Jean Antoine Nollet already published a report in 1749 on the effects exerted by static charge on a drop. As part of his research on osmotic pressure and only a year after, he invented the electroscope, a device for detection of electric charge, this has only been one of the many discoveries the 18th century had to offer.

A journey from analogue to digital to additive

Years of trade events, news and developments mean a lot of ground has been covered in our fast-changing industry. Groundbreaking developments and new introductions in terms of technology, abilities and foremost applications have and are the norm. Well, print is evolving, and while traditional technologies are still asked for, new technologies and applications are just round the corner. Sabine A Slaughter voices some thoughts on our industry.