Inkjet has changed how printers define themselves. For the last 40 years five categories described the print industry. Companies would say their primary purpose was transactional, direct mail, financial, commercial or specialty print. Print buyers, procurement teams, lines of business staff, and original equipment manufacturers (OEM) sought services based on the category the company fit in.

Many print operations are considering new inkjet investments to realize their strategic goals. There are many cutsheet and continuous feed production inkjet options to choose from, with more product announcements expected before the drupa trade show.

Production print providers across industry segments gathered at the Hunkeler Innovation Days (HID) Conference in Switzerland. Attendees were there to make decisions about new investments in print, workflow and finishing. While predominantly a European show, US attendance also increased over 2019.

With significant growth in 2022, Ontario based book printer Maracle, began their journey to upgrade print capabilities. Their sales grew by 30% and they were unable to accept all the work their clients wanted to print in the 2nd half of the year. Under the new leadership of Alec Couckuyt, they embarked on a solution to replace one of their three digital presses, an older HP Indigo. Who is Maracle?

Maracle is a midsized, privately owned, commercial printer serving Canadian and US customers, running a 2-shift operation

As organizations look to streamline their print and mail operations, many are reevaluating software platforms and workflow solutions for their operation. The decision criteria to evaluate software solutions has shifted in response to many changes in the last two years. Technical resources are stretched thin – with staffing shortages and increased workloads to maintain security patches on servers and platforms.

For the last 2 plus years, I have read many articles, attended webinars, and listened to several podcasts. All of these communication modes are informative, and I have learned a great deal. But I have that found I learn best with face-to-face interactions and peer sharing. As I book travel for my next in-person conference, I’m excited about the interactions, sharing and learning I anticipate from attending sessions with a knowledgeable and diverse group of industry peers

I recently spoke with senior managers at three distinctly different print operations to get their perspective on staffing and the changes they have made to fill open positions and grow their business. I talked with: Dairyland Power Cooperative, Kennickell Group in Savanah, and SPC a direct mail company in the Midwest.