And more good news from equipment manufacturers
Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu once said: “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” Well, I may need a new pair of shoes after walking the floors at Sign Expo Canada in Mississauga, Print 18 in Chicago, and SGIA in Las Vegas. It seemed like I’ve indeed walked a thousand miles – but I must tell you that all three events were extremely successful and the mood among exhibitors and visitors alike was very positive. The latest, the SGIA Expo (soon to be the Printing United trade show in 2019), drew over 24,000 to a sold-out exhibitor floor. The upcoming Printing United in Dallas, Texas is about convergence – and bringing all the different silos in the graphic arts industry under one roof. We’ve got brief wrap-ups and some photos from Print 18 and the SGIA Expo in this issue.
There were a lot of “firsts” in our industry recently. Congratulations to the Burke Group of Edmonton, Alberta who signed the first Heidelberg subscription contract in North America that will help them to double their productivity without the challenges of equipment ownership. Through the model, Heidelberg will provide new equipment, Prinect software, Saphira consumables, parts, consulting and service – all for a fee based on the number of printed sheets Burke produces each month. Congratulations also to the Winnipeg Free Press and University of British Columbia who earned 2018 EPPY Awards in its 23rd annual digital media website competition.
HP also announced a record $100 million sale of 20 HP Indigo digital presses for US-based digital flexible packaging giant ePac. It was the largest deal to date for HP Graphics’ Packaging Division. Plus, multi-channel marketing communications company Sandy Alexander in New Jersey became first in the US to purchase Agfa Graphics’ new Jeti Tauro H3300 LED Inkjet System.
Finally, I’d like to acknowledge the rebirth of the Canadian Printing Industries Association (CPIA) that our editors and news pages discuss in more detail in this issue. Rest assured that this magazine fully supports its initiatives moving forward. And don’t forget that our new Wide-Format Guide is now available for free online download on our website – www.graphicartsmag.com.
As always, stay positive and stay focused.