I recently returned from Düsseldorf, Germany, where drupa 2016 demonstrated that the graphic arts industry is rebounding after several difficult years. The world’s largest printing tradeshow attracted more than 260,000 visitors from 188 countries over 11 days. They came to learn about industry trends, future offerings, and innovative solutions from the 1,837 exhibitors from 54 countries.
By all accounts, the show was a huge success. Attendees were in a buying mood, and almost every day, exhibitors were announcing large sales. Distributors and dealers who attended also benefited. One distributor I spoke with who serves Central America and the Caribbean reported $25 million in sales (their annual turnover is usually about $35 million!).
drupa is about the future; in fact, its theme was Touch the Future. But it is also about today, and immediate opportunities for new business and revenue growth. It was a place to truly see Industry 4.0 in action for the graphic arts industry.
Canon stand at drupa
Industry 4.0, or the fourth industrial revolution, is the current trend of automation and data exchange in manufacturing technologies. It includes cyber-physical systems, the Internet of things and cloud computing. Industry 4.0 creates what has been called a “smart factory.” And drupa clearly demonstrated that it is well underway.
Increased Multi-Vendor Collaboration Drives Industry 4.0
One thing that was clearly evident, and that is driving Industry 4.0 for us, was the increase in collaboration among vendors, even those who are or have been competitors. This is an important development, a move away from the not-invented-here mentality that has plagued our industry in the past. It signifies a recognition that single-vendor operations are a thing of the past, and no one vendor can provide everything that is needed in a modern printing operation. To the extent they collaborate with each other, the more they each will have a satisfied customer base. It also means that it becomes easier for dealers and distributors to more affordably and profitably offer end-to-end integrated solutions to their customers since much of the integration work is now happening upstream.
One example is a deeper collaboration between EFI and Esko with a plan to bring a combined workflow solution to market that will enable companies to produce packaging with a single seamless and integrated workflow. The idea is to connect EFI Fiery digital front ends, Esko workflows and EFI ERP/MIS solutions to provide a unified production ecosystem for packaging companies. And that was just one of many.
Even in single-vendor workflows, the end-to-end automation theme is evident. Using EFI and Esko as examples again, both EFI’s Productivity Suite offerings and Esko’s Software Platform 16 ensure full alignment and certified interoperability among various modules, which previously were updated separately. With this new integrated approach, both companies ensure a more seamless install and upgrade path, reducing opportunity for error and downtime due to software upgrades. Productivity Suites are available for enterprises, packaging, wide format and more. Combining the two under the new agreement is a force multiplier.
Another good example is Aleyant. The company was showing its Pressero Web2Print solution, which has been integrated with a number of MIS and other solutions for ease of building an end-to-end workflow, along with its cloud-based PrintJobManager for shop management. Aleyant was also showing Automated Workflow Integrator (AWI), a handy desktop application that automates the transfer of Pressero orders into back-end production processes using hot folders. This makes it easier for users or partners to integrate solutions that have not already been addressed. Aleyant is also an early participant in HP’s PrintOS.
With PrintOS, HP envisions an integrated, multi-vendor environment through a cloud-based operating system that changes the way operations manages print production. At drupa, HP announced that more than 500 presses at over 300 customer sites are now connected to PrintOS. The vision is to continue to add HP and third-party apps to the PrintOS app store, making implementation modular and convenient.
Konica Minolta partnered with Tharsten (MIS) and Vpress (cloud-based Web2Print) to bring an end-to-end integrated workflow to its AccurioJet KM-1 production inkjet press. Kodak and Komori announced a strategic partnership set to deliver seamless interoperability between Komori KP-Connect (K-Station 4) Printing Task Control Software and KODAK PRINERGY Workflow for both digital and offset presses.
Another important solution for workflow integration, often overlooked and underappreciated, is Enfocus Switch. There is already a significant base of Switch configurators and pre-designed workflows available, but Enfocus is taking that to the next level with its own Appstore, where users can access applications that have been developed for the Switch community. Enfocus reports dozens of interested app creators and more apps introduced daily.
These types of communities – such as the Enfocus Switch community and HP PrintOS – are critical enablers for a profitable future. Expect to see more of this type of multi-vendor activity moving forward.
3D Printing Takes Center Stage
3D printing, also referred to as additive manufacturing, was a highlight at drupa 2016. Most 3D printing activity is currently taking place in the industrial segment, but there are other opportunities as well.
HP unveiled its Jet Fusion technology, touted as 10X faster than anything else on the market. Kodak showed off its partnership with Silicon Valley firm Carbon 3D with a brand-new approach to 3D printing they claim is up to 100X faster than anything else out there.
Already, most airplanes contain 3D printed parts, from engine injectors to bulkheads. At the Berlin airshow, Airbus showed off a small windowless airplane weighing in at 46 pounds, made of parts printed from nylon (except for the electronics). The idea was to demonstrate how the airplane of the future could be made lighter, faster and less expensive using 3D printing. And technologies such as those from Carbon 3D and HP will accelerate these developments.
But what does this mean for graphic arts? The HP and Carbon 3D solutions are interesting but pricey. Their work will help drive more 3D printing adoption. But there are plenty of developments at the lower end as well. 3D Systems (a Konica Minolta partner) has a wide range of 3D printers ideal for education, architecture and more. While not exhibiting at the show, SinterIt announced earlier this year that it would be making a 3D printer available in the $5,000 range. These printers are being used to create all kinds of objects, including unique gift and giveaway items that almost any company can use.
Xaar showed new print heads designed for 3D printing. Ricoh and Canon were also showing off their 3D printing technologies. Mimaki had a technology demonstration of its CMYK full-color 3D printing, expected to be available sometime next year. And perhaps one of the most interesting exhibits was the MASSIVit 1800 3D printer, designed specifically for the graphic arts industry. While at the top end (with two print heads), the printer sells for about a half million dollars, the opportunities it presents are boundless. The first North American install is at Carisma Large Format in New York. The company has had amazing success combining 2D and 3D in its bus and large vehicle wrap business for applications such as promotion of Sony’s Angry Birds movie.
Highcon Shape with Chair
Another interesting take on 3D printing was found in the Highcon stand. The company was showing a future product called the Highcon Shape which uses paper (and it can be makeready waste) to build 3D objects and molds. On show was a concrete bench that was created using a Highcon Shape mold as well as a chair built out of layers of paper.
3D printing offers an interesting new business opportunity for dealers and distributors in both graphic arts and industrial applications, as well as in partnerships with educational institutions who are rapidly adding 3D printing to their curricula.
The other aspect of 3D that was interesting was the ability to digitally print directly on 3D objects. This was shown by Mimaki, Heidelberg and Xerox, all of whom had very interesting solutions, printing on everything from hockey sticks to wine bottles.
Embellishing the Future
The other application that is reaching market maturity and was highly evident at drupa is digital embellishment. This ranged from Scodix and MGI’s offerings of digital embossing and foiling, to a Xeikon technology demonstration of end-to-end production of embellished labels with its Fusion Technology, to the digital cutting capabilities of solutions from companies like Highcon, Mimaki and Esko, replacing the need for physical dyes.
As digital printing becomes mainstream for a growing number of applications, being able to digitally finish printed products becomes increasingly important. As run lengths get shorter and there is increased demand for versioned and personalized materials, the ability to quickly and cost-effectively apply sophisticated finishing to short-run work is becoming a non-negotiable. And once brand owners and marketers understand how these technologies “take the handcuffs off,” as one Highcon customer put it, they will be clamoring to take advantage of these capabilities for packaging, point of sale, signage and more.
And Let’s Not Forget 2D Print
This was obviously a printing fair, and there was a vast array of 2D printing solutions on show. Both inkjet and toner technologies continue to advance, in both small and large format. New toners and inks, higher quality, more colors (including white), a wider array of substrates—these are just a few of the improvements shown by Canon, Ricoh, HP, Xerox, EFI, Durst, Konica Minolta, Kodak, Mimaki, Delphax, Epson, Fujifilm, Screen…the list is long.
Epson TShirt Printing
And speaking of color, TECHKON, X-Rite Pantone and others were showing the latest generation of color measurement instruments, along with quality control and ink formulation software, placing color management squarely in the middle of Industry 4.0. New digital front ends from Global Graphics, EFI, Color Gate and more also featured faster, easier ways to get to great color. And a hot topic at the show was fixed color palette printing (also referred to as Extended Gamut Printing), enabling more than 90% of Pantone colors to be achieved with up to seven ink colors, minimizing the need for spot color inks. As fixed color palette continues to evolve, expect to see more digital presses using seven colors – usually CMYK + Orange, Green and Violet or Blue – to extend their color gamut as well.
More than a Box
A key message to come out of drupa 2016 is that it is no longer enough to simply “sell the box.” Users in both office and production alike are looking for total solutions, and the vendors are stepping up to provide them, in both single- and multi-vendor configurations. Within the industry, we’ve been talking about solutions selling for years, and in many cases it has been more talk than walk. But today, as we saw at drupa, total solutions are a market reality and not hard or expensive to achieve. In many cases, they operate right out of the box, minimizing the need for heavy investments in IT resources. But don’t panic – there are plenty of opportunities still for professional services to help organizations get to Industry 4.0 in their document and printing environments. Dealers and distributors should take a critical look at their staffing, skills and product portfolios to make sure they are well positioned to address the needs of Industry 4.0 for their customers.
For more information …
With a show the size of drupa 2016, it is impossible to cover everything in one article. Here, we have tried to hit on the high points we think will be of most interest and importance to you. For more information, we recommend that you visit www.drupa.com. We also recommend that you talk to your current and potential partners to get their take on the show and understand how their offerings will help you take your customers into an Industry 4.0 state.
