Roland wraps up Packaging Innovations 2013 with a number of strong sales leads

Roland DG has reported that the Packaging Innovations 2013 event was 'a roaring success', with a number of strong sales leads secured and considerable interest shown in its prototyping and proofing solutions from businesses right across the packaging sector.

Steve Chappell, Packaging, Proofing & Industrial Labelling Business Manager at Roland DG comments, “Packaging Innovations 2013 was a great show in many respects for Roland DG. Partnering with packaging heavy weights like Esko and CGS provided us with an excellent opportunity to profile our brand at the show. It also gave us a unique insight into the needs right through the production chain â€" from agencies and designers to packaging printers and brand owners.  The stand was busy throughout the show and the interest in all our solutions was incredibly high.”

Chappell says agencies and designers who visited the stand were especially interested in CGS’s new ORIS Flex Pack // Web contract proofing solution, which includes ORIS software and Roland’s VersaCAMM VS-series of printer/cutters, and has been developed as an on-demand alternative to slow and expensive legacy systems for packaging proofing. Packaging, box and carton printers took particular interest in the LEC printer/cutter solution, which allows users to create realistic mock-ups quickly using virtually any material, including final production stock. There is also the option to print prototypes with white and gloss ink, and embossed effects on-demand, offering the packaging designer and printer total versatility without additional cost.

He continues, “In the ORIS Flex Pack and our LEC printer/cutter series, we have a unique proposition for the packaging market that we believe will revolutionise packaging prototyping and proofing.  Both of these solutions aim to challenge the status quo and get designers and packaging producers thinking differently in terms of how they approach proofing and prototyping. 

“In the six months since we exhibited at the last Packaging Innovations in London, we have started to see a breakthrough in understanding and interest in this sector and this was confirmed at Packaging Innovations Birmingham 2013.  Visitors took the time to understand how these products could become real game changers by offering a quicker, more cost-efficient and on-demand proofing and prototyping solution without any compromise on quality.  The industry is definitely ready for this change as the general environment is calling for packaging designers and printers to be even more creative and competitive.  We are very excited about Roland’s prospects in this market.”

For more information on Roland DG, please visit www.rolanddg.co.uk

BroadSign confirmed as Platinum Sponsor of European Sign Expo

European Sign Expo - the dedicated signage event co-located with FESPA 2013 at ExCeL London from 25-27 June 2013 - is progressing positively, with 50% of the available floor space committed as at the end of February 2013. Together, the co-located events will occupy 35000 m2 at ExCeL.

BroadSign, the leading global provider of software-as-a-service for digital signage networks, is now confirmed as Platinum Sponsor of European Sign Expo, underlining the scope for the event to showcase how digital signage can be integrated with printed graphics to offer effective communication, branding and marketing solutions for brand owners.

“We are pleased to become the Platinum Sponsor of European Sign Expo in 2013,” comments Daniel Parisien, Vice President of Marketing and Strategy at BroadSign. “In the past BroadSign was a large supporter of the integrated event, Screenmedia Expo. Today we are very excited by the wider audience and new opportunities the show will offer us under the stewardship of FESPA.”

Other key exhibitors within European Sign Expo, organised by FESPA in partnership with the European Sign Federation, include iBase, PC Partner, Arch, Elbo Signs, Mid West Displays, Aluvista, Mouse, and Menden Buchstaben.

The acquisition by European Sign Expo of Screenmedia Expo at the end of January 2013 is substantially adding to the floorplan, as the sales team engages with European digital signage vendors. Feedback has been positive as they clearly identify the advantages of integrating the Screenmedia brand within the multichannel environment of European Sign Expo and alongside FESPA 2013. Just three weeks into the sales campaign targeting the digital signage and digital out-of-home (DOOH) community, European Sign Expo has already allocated space to 60% exhibitors previously contracted to Screenmedia Expo.

Managing Director of European Sign Expo Neil Felton says, “When we launched European Sign Expo in mid-December, we set out to enhance the overall value of FESPA for visitors from the sign-making community, to showcase the full spectrum of non-print signage technologies including digital signage. By acquiring Screenmedia Expo, we have increased the proposition of the event to reach a wider audience of retailers, marketers, media and brand owners to explore the latest innovations in visual communications.”

During European Sign Expo visitors will be able to take advantage of free high quality educational information through two conference theatres on the exhibition floor. While the Sign Forum will cover conventional signage topics, the Screenmedia Theatre will focus on digital signage and DOOH, exploring the convergence of the channel with social media, design considerations for digital signage, as well as a stream for sign-makers and printers looking to adopt digital technology.

Continues Neil Felton, “We’re delighted to have secured BroadSign’s support as a sponsor, in addition to key exhibitors, reflecting the wider interest already shown by many players in digital signage. BroadSign’s response reinforces our aims for European Sign Expo demonstrating how effectively conventional and digital signage can be integrated for maximum out-of-home impact alongside print.”

[photo shows Daniel Parisien, Vice President of Marketing and Strategy at BroadSign]

Hollanders appoints Kees van der Looij as Commercial Director

Hollanders Printing Systems has appointed Kees van der Looij as Commercial Director of the company, responsible for developing sales throughout Europe and internationally. Previously with Zünd, and with an in-depth knowledge of the wide-format digital printing market, his expertise will drive increased presence of ColorBooster textile solutions throughout the display, sign-making and décor sectors.

Van der Looij’s appointment follows the recent restructuring of Hollanders to enable it to expand its production and marketing facilities to meet the demands generated by the world-wide increase of interest in wide-format digital textile printing. The new long-term financial strategy now in place will enable the existing highly productive ColorBooster XL to be complemented by additional products covering differing market sectors, augmenting the company’s industry presence and simplifying the transition to textile production now sought by many print service providers.

Roland Biemans, Sales and Marketing Manager at Hollanders Printing Systems, states. “Kees joins the company at an exciting time as we are now anticipating steady growth that will enable us to bring our ColorBooster solutions to a wider market area. The addition this year of new products to our portfolio will broaden our customer base and give more businesses the opportunity to benefit from a truly productive turnkey textile production solution, so additional sales support is essential.”

“My time at Zünd has given me valuable long-term experience about the wide-format digital printing sector and the potential of new machine technologies, with textile production now making a significant impact in all the markets where decorated fabrics play a role,” adds van der Looij. “I’m looking forward to working with the team at Hollanders. The company’s solutions are designed and manufactured to the highest standards, backed up with full support from a company that thoroughly understands user requirements.”

The recent investment in Hollanders has seen the addition of two entrepreneurs who have joined the specialist manufacturer in active roles. Wout van der Wijk and Guy Zwart bring with them deep-founded experience of business management and additional wide-format experience, and their practical involvement in the company plays an important part in its forward development and growth.

Hollanders ColorBooster solutions are developed and manufactured in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, and incorporate all the hardware and software elements required for the production of high quality digital textile printing. With the emphasis on sustainable, versatile output, the systems are complemented by the company’s Competence Center that comprises a collaboration with specialist partners in pre-press, colour management, finishing and materials.

[photo shows Kees van der Looij]

Epson survey of UK retailers confirms growth of print and electronic POS advertising

According to a recent UK survey commissioned by Epson, 100% of the retailers interviewed said that they need to adapt and broaden their market focus to drive growth. As a result - and despite current economic pressures - over half of UK retailers are optimistic that their budgets for in-store point of sale (POS) advertising will increase substantially by 2020.

The Epson 20|20 Vision Survey interviewed 500 retail brand and marketing managers across the five largest European economies â€" the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain â€" to evaluate the retail industry’s use of in-store print and electronic POS signage today, and how it will change up to the year 2020.

The survey reveals that advances in POS technology and techniques, increasing competition and the drive for growth by diversifying into new specialist, mass or regional markets will result in more frequent print/electronic POS campaigns and, as a result, generate increased POS volumes overall. As a result, retailers predict that in-store POS campaigns will become much more dynamic and targeted in their design. While most retailers say that print will remain a vital component of in-store POS in the future, electronic POS will have a significant and growing presence. Today over half of all in-store POS activity is print-based, but this is predicted to fall to just over a third (39%) by 2020 when electronic POS will comprise the largest proportion of POS activity (61%).

In the future, the choice of using print and/or electronic POS will be linked much more closely to the product value and to the age and gender of the target customer.  Retailers link the choice of POS media to the value of the product being promoted with print POS preferred to convey brand quality and dynamic electronic POS preferred for special promotions that change every couple of days. While print POS is the most popular medium used to promote high-end goods today (used by 85% of companies polled), retailers predict that they will adopt a more integrated media approach by 2020 â€" using print and electronic media almost equally. Electronic POS will remain the most popular media (75%) used to promote fast moving, short life-cycle commodity items by 2020.

The Epson survey shows that reducing POS production costs and waste and improving campaign targeting and time to market are priorities for most retailers over the next few years.  POS materials not being produced or supplied on time and failure to target the right demographic are the main reasons for missing in-store POS objectives. Consequently, 81% of UK retailers say that ‘design centrally/print locally’  is the single most important print production model to support their drive to achieve more frequent, time-sensitive and localised campaigns by 2020.

“The research findings are interesting and certainly echo the trends we are already experiencing in the sector,” says James Henry, Head of Retail, Intermarketing Agency. “As a retail marketing agency our focus has always been on providing the best possible POS solutions based on our clients’ needs, brands and budgets and having a view on return on investment.  We’ve already started to see significant growth in digital POS. This is enabling us to deliver highly targeted and tactical campaigns that we can tailor based on targets, sales and seasonality. Face recognition, proximity sensors, footfall tracking and many other advances make digital POS increasingly well targeted and effective. Plus with its fast turnaround and low cost, it allows us to deploy campaigns quickly and cost effectively. Our in-store campaigns are always supported by printed POS that enhances the experience and provides an ‘always on’ brand message regardless of the digital element. POS can help enhance the retail experience and drive an emotional brand connection, whilst also delivering a more rational product offer message, which is key at that zero moment of truth â€" the point where a purchase decision is made.”

“As campaigns become more frequent, more dynamic, more localised and more targeted to specific consumer demographics, both print and electronic POS media will play important roles in retailers’ sales strategies,” says Nick White, Business Manager, Professional Graphics, Epson. “Over the next few years there are significant opportunities for innovative POS production companies to meet the retailer’s needs for cost-effective, fast-turnaround, localised, quality print campaigns and fast-refresh, dynamic electronic campaigns.”

Colourgen's 'Building Blocks for Business' Campaign to launch at Sign & Digital UK

Colourgen has announced it will be launching its ‘Building Blocks for Business’ product portfolio and showing the latest solutions from Mutoh, Seiko, Epson, Kala, Seal, Caldera and EFI on stand H50 at Sign & Digital UK.  The company will have its own 100m2 stand at the show and a business proposition it expects sign-makers of all sizes to relate to.

Jeff Biggs, managing director at Colourgen, comments, “End users will be able to see and compare printers and laminators from several different manufacturers in one location. Our ‘Building Blocks for Business’ campaign is focused on ensuring newcomers to wide format printing can develop a complete solution at great value. In addition, we have solutions suitable for more experienced print providers to meet increased productivity demands.”

He continues, “We have had a lot of success selling Mutoh ValueJets to new entrants in the market all the way up to high end production machines, such as the new ValueJet 2638 and Seiko H-Series. Our core message is that no printing requirement is too large or too small. We have fantastic solutions for everyone in the graphics production market.”

As well as printers, Colourgen can add finishing and RIP solutions to suit the printers' needs. It is also a well respected and established provider of support services, including engineering, training, colour management and workflow integration. The final building block is the consumables. Colourgen has tried and tested inks and media from 15 of the industries leading brands including Epson, Ilford, Kodak, Intelicoat and Kernow, as well as its own brand of quality, great value media.

One of the highlights at Sign UK will be the new Mutoh ValueJet 2638. This 2.6m printer will have its first public showing in the UK at Sign UK, alongside the new Mutoh ValueJet 1628W, which is due to launch shortly. The ValueJet 1628W is a water-based dye sublimation machine for textile and soft signage printing. There will also be a new range of Mutoh cutters which are yet to be officially announced.

From Seiko I Infotech, Colourgen will be showing the ColorPainter H2-74S and launching a new ColorPainter W-Series. These printers will confirm Seiko II’s reputation for high quality and unbeatable performance.

On the Epson front, Colourgen will be showing the new 4-colour SureColor SC-T7000, a solid entry level machine that delivers reliable, quality printing for point of sale, GIS and CAD applications.  The SC-T-7000 will be demonstrated with the new Kodak Photo Tex repositionable fabric.  All print engines on the stand will be driven by Caldera’s VisualRIP+ or EFI’s ColorProof eXpress

Finally, finishing equipment will be represented by laminators from Kala and Seal in the form of the Kala Starter 140 and Arkane and the new laminator from Seal â€" the Seal 65EL.

For more information on Colourgen, please visit www.colourgen.com

[image shows Mutoh ValueJet 2638]

Pre-register for FESPA London to be in with a chance to win 2 nights' free acommodation

Visitor pre-registration for FESPA 2013, London, is now open and delegates that register before 30th April 2013 are in with the chance of winning two nights’ free accommodation (25th & 26th June) at the four star Hilton Hyde Park hotel, London.  The event takes place at the ExCel exhibition centre between 25th and 29th June 2013.

Pre-registering for the event will save visitors £55/€65 admission fee if bought on the day, as well as gaining regular access to pre-show news and exciting information. To date, FESPA has received visitor registrations from over 106 countries. The top 15 pre-registration countries in order include visitors from the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, India, Netherlands, Portugal, Belgium, USA, Pakistan, Nigeria, Turkey, Australia and South Africa. FESPA 2013 London is on course to be the biggest FESPA show to date.

Located in Central London, the Hilton Hyde Park Hotel is close to many of main London’s attractions including Madame Tussauds, Kensington Palace, Harrods and Oxford Street. The room up for grabs is a complimentary double room, perfect for an individual with added room for an additional guest. For visitors wanting to make the most of their stay during FESPA the hotel provides a great location to enjoy what the city has to offer. It’s also accessible from London airports, train lines and the London underground and is only a short journey to the ExCeL exhibition centre.

This is the second time FESPA has taken the journey to London, focused on wide format print the exhibition will enable printers, creative’s and brands to explore and take notice of current opportunities the industry has to offer. Located at the ExCeL exhibition centre, in the Docklands area of London and with 56,000m2 floor space, FESPA will take visitors on a voyage of wide format print, with numerous features showcasing the creative possibilities of print and educational content.

FESPA Marketing manager, Lynda Sutton comments, “The breadth of countries and sheer number of pre-registered visitors making their way to the London destination is testament to the International reach of the FESPA brand. With Germany as the traditional host of the main show, it’s great to see it is currently the second largest pre-registered country after the UK. Our global community is very important to us and we are doing everything we can to add value to the show experience.”

For those who haven’t already booked accommodation during the show and who aren’t lucky enough to win this great prize, liaise with Events in Focus, FESPA’s accommodation partner. Lynda continues, “Events in Focus has selected a number of hotels from budget to deluxe located around the ExCeL as well as further afield such as Greenwich, Waterloo and in Central London. There are numerous choices for visitor’s specific requirements and budgets.”

For a chance to win two nights’ accommodation and to pre-register to attend FESPA 2013, please visit www.fespalondon.com. The accommodation winner will be announced on 2 May 2013.

Roland DG withdraws from Ipex 2014

The wide-format printer manufacturer, which had paid a deposit on its 196sqm stand, announced its decision on Friday (8 February) to quit Ipex 2014 to focus on "the country and industry-specific needs of all its market sectors".

Roland DG (UK) head of marketing Gillian Montanaro confirmed that the company would attend both Packaging Innovations shows this year, in Birmingham from 27-28 February and London from 1-2 October, as well as Sign & Digital UK from 30 April - 2 May in Birmingham, and Fespa 2013 from 25-29 June in London.

Internationally, Montanaro confirmed that Roland DG would exhibit at Print 13 in Chicago from 8-12 September.

She added that while the firm tended to plan on an annual basis, next year was likely to be "very similar" for the UK in terms of attending Sign & Digital UK and Packaging Innovations.

"We do find that a lot of commercial printers are coming to Sign & Digital UK now because they're seeking out wide-format equipment manufacturers so exhibiting at Ipex was almost duplicating a spend in a way," said Montanaro.

"Sign & Digital UK is a pivotal show for us and we are one of the largest exhibitors; however, that's not to say that we don't think Ipex is an important show or that we won't reconsider in four years time for Ipex 2018."

Ipex 2014 event director Trevor Crawford said: "The decision by Roland was been made before we had the opportunity to discuss the new, multi-channel focus of the 2014 event with them. Ipex 2014 now offers a greater opportunity than ever before for Roland DG to target the widest range of customers, and we are hoping to discuss this with them in the upcoming weeks."

Jerry Davies, managing director at Roland DG, said the firms customers wanted "more personalised, localised and immediate ways to learn and interact with the brand and its products".

"We have rolled out a number of specific initiatives over the last couple of years aimed at getting closer to each customer and understanding their individual needs," added Davies.

"Our online Roland Forum, Creative Centre, Roland Academy, Open Days, social media activities and the work we undertake with our Authorised Dealers and Partners have all been very successful and we look forward to announcing some additional exciting new initiatives over the coming months.

"It is with all this in mind that Roland DG has made the decision to withdraw from Ipex 2014 and further diversify its communication channels by focussing on the country and industry-specific needs of all its market sectors."

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