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The Hot Potato of Automated Postpress
For many printers who have invested in JDF-enabled prepress and press with varying degrees of solid ROI results there still seems to be hesitancy to extend that effective network into the bindery. And yet there seems to be no concern about the proven capabilities of the automated CIP3/4 compatible cutters, folders, stitchers and binders.
Commitments to digital printing are forcing many printers to set up segregated finishing operations because their older legacy bindery has such slow make ready times. These new dedicated binderies are tabletop accessories resulting in heavy labor content. This move again is to save money presumably because there is not enough short run digital print yet to afford the full bore solutions.
The software compatibility issues between prepress, press and bindery from 2-3 different manufacturers may be a concern as there are only isolated successful case studies of across the grain compatibility. The in house print IT staff rarely exists, but that staffing decision is inevitable if this strategic and marketing opportunity was acknowledged.
There may in fact be more purchases being made than reported, as the printers simply don't want their competitors to know of their investments. Such secrets rarely remain close-to-the-vest very long.
Creative Philanthropy
Trendletter has had a number of articles highlighting the benefits of “cause marketing.” Firms are “doing well financially by doing good socially is a winning brand building formula.” (February 14, 2005 issue, page 8) An effective example of that at Print ’05 was Komori’s producing the annual holiday greeting card for the Greater Chicago Food Depository on their Lithrone 628 during Print ‘05. Last year this holiday card raised $170,000 for GCFD, which helped to pay the overhead for this social service agency as it provides 84,000 meals a day, 365 days a year to 300,000 residents of Cook County Illinois.
The Smithsonian Institution Libraries had an exhibit in courtesy space provided by NPES featuring book illustrations. A number of suppliers including AGFA, Automatic Graphic Imaging, Brandtjen & Kluge, D&K Group, Flint Ink, Heidelberg, MAN Roland, PIA/GATF and UEI Group produced marketing support materials which will assist this group to take the same exhibit to a number of regional locations throughput the country. This same collaborative group also produced a 24-page, 81/2 by 11” booklet to be donated to Chicago elementary schools to teach writing skills.
It is important to note that quite often these in kind contributions do not have the logos of the contributing manufacturers prominently displayed, but a more subtle acknowledgement. Word of mouth and pride of the employees in their knowledge that their employer is actively committing resources to help such worthy efforts pays strong dividends. Small printers can be just as creative in their own neighborhood markets by being sensitive to philanthropic projects that they might contribute to in conjunction with other suppliers like a paper merchant, a converter and a specialty designer.
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