Daniel Brunton, Publisher of International Paper Board Industry magazine, and writing for drupa, said that for the corrugated packaging sector, the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021 ended up being somewhat of a record-breaker. Like all industries, the sector had to seriously take a look at itself in the mirror in the opening weeks of the pandemic in March 2020, but within a matter of months and clearly identified as a ‘critical supply’ sector, the industry helped retailers convert to online business models and the boom in e-commerce is [...]

Fabrice Peltier, designer and eco-design consultant, and writing for drupa, encourages fellow designers, manufacturers and businesses to embrace eco-inking and unlock the potential for positive change in their creative industries. The common factor in many graphic creations, especially in packaging design, is that they are usually printed in large quantities to meet consumer demands. However, amid the focus on reducing packaging material consumption, one crucial aspect seems to have been overlooked: the environmental impact of printing inks. Often deemed insignificant, the inks used in graphic creations play a more [...]

John Tschohl of the Service Quality Institute says being relentless is an obsession with providing exceptional service to your customers. It’s a propulsive, self-directed passion to continue to learn, improve and exceed expectations in everything you do. Much like breathing, it’s essential to your being, and it never stops. It’s a race without a finish line. It’s a reflection of the core principles, beliefs, and attitudes of people within healthy and hugely successful businesses. No matter what you are pursuing in life, it’s critical that you commit to being [...]

Deborah Corn from Print Media Centr, and writing for drupa, says print can capitalise on this moment and help businesses and brands create trust through their printed communications. At this point in time, we all live, communicate, learn, market, sell, shop and so on in digital and physical spaces whether they are separate or combined experiences. Print rarely lives in a physical world only silo anymore. Including links of any kind to digital media makes it part of a multi or omnichannel strategy. Even my one-time use grocery bags [...]

Drupa’s report series tracks key economic and market developments across the print industry globally, regionally and within markets. Over 600 printers and suppliers contributed. Last year’s report, the first since the Covid pandemic, was remarkably positive as the ever-resilient print industry bounced back, reporting a more positive condition than in 2019 i.e. before Covid-19. The results this year have maintained that momentum, with a further improvement in sentiment for 2023 and very positive expectations for 2024. Globally in 2023, 44% stated their company’s current economic situation was ‘good’, and 12% [...]

According to Focus Label Machinery, as technology continues to advance, digital printing machines are at the forefront of an evolving industry that promises better results for more cost-efficient prices in future. The printing industry has undergone significant transformation in recent years, and the future of digital print promises even more innovative developments. So, what are the key trends that will revolutionise the printing landscape in years to come? Advanced Print Technologies The future of digital print is marked by the continual development of more advanced printing technologies, with high-speed inkjet [...]

Focus Label Machinery explores environmentally friendly ink alternatives that have gained traction in the printing industry. For many years, solvent inks were the go-to choice for many printing and packaging applications, but soaring demand for sustainable printing, coupled with legislation on Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emissions, fire hazards, and energy consumption, means businesses had to seek alternative products that offer environmental and economic benefits. Inks contain a few different components: pigments (provides the colour), additives (that improve performance, drying time, resistance to smudging, etc), and carriers (the vehicle that [...]

Africa Print expo organisers Practical Publishing have announced an exciting 2024 calendar, with events to be hosted in Bloemfontein, Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg. Visitors to the 2024 Africa Print expo’s can see the latest opportunities in digital printing presses, binding equipment, digital packaging solutions, screen printing, digital textile printing, finishing equipment, ink, software, pad printing, paper and board, litho print solutions, encapsulating/laminating and digital label printing. A major theme of the Africa Print Expos will be live, on-site demonstrations conducted by product experts from various leading companies, who [...]