Blogs

Large-format trade printer RMC will be one of those exhibiting at the Sign and Digital UK show at the NEC on 25-27 February, where it “seeks to facilitate valuable connections with existing and future clients”. I’m seeking to strengthen my own connections at the event, and now frantically planning my diary appointments, so let me know if you want to catch-up in Brum.

It’s great to hear that the pollution eating Clean Air product is beginning to be used a bit more widely on outdoor graphics - see the news story about it being sprayed onto trailer graphics - but I can’t quite believe it’s taking so long to become better established. Have you researched the possibility of using the product and had any kind of chat with your customers about it? I’d be interested to get your take and hear about their responses.

Are you having supply chain issues due to the situation in the Red Sea? I thought it appropriate to flag up here that inks and coatings specialist Flint Group has issued a statement commenting on the escalating impact caused by shipping delays across trade routes in the Middle East, saying “the redirection of sea freight around the Cape of Good Hope, bypassing the Red Sea-Suez Canal route, is anticipated to lead to extended transit times, ranging from two to six weeks. These changes also affect other sea freight routes - notably transatlantic crossings - due to the limited availability of containers and ships. Flint Group continues to evaluate cost increases carefully and, where relevant, may evaluate the implementation of freight surcharges. We will update our customers as the situation evolves and continue to do everything we can to minimise any adverse impacts. The company recommends that customers proactively plan stock levels in anticipation of increased lead times.” Perhaps you need a conversation with your consumables suppliers - if only to set your mind at rest?

Today, 5 February, is National Sickie Day - statistically the day when most workers are likely to call in sick, according to research first conducted by British law firm ELAS in 2011, with a recent report by the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development (CIPD) finding that sick days at work have hit the highest level in 10 years. There are blogs coming out of the woodwork on how to help staff deal with today’s stresses and strains but putting them in touch with The Printing Charity’s helpline might be a useful move too.

A heads-up to those of you involved in the retail display sector that the Popai Awards 2024 are now open for entry. The final deadline is 26 April, with the winners being announced on 1 October with the usual gala fanfare.

The amount of red flags I’m currently getting regarding owners/directors of companies acting unscrupulously - if not illegally - is worrying. So what can the industry do about it? Is there a way of co-funding a centralised ‘investigation team’ that can collate information from multiple sources on companies/people of concern and deal with the outcomes as necessary? There must be a way…

Are you looking for still faster wide- and superwide-format printers? I ask on the back of Agfa’s latest introduction, the Anapurna H3200, which it says is up to 70% faster than its predecessor. Do you have the volumes to necessitate such workhorses? Wondering if printer speeds are still a real pain point? I'm just going to press with the February issue, in which we ask a handful of print chiefs for their wishlist of technical developments. Speed doesn't feature. No doubt it's a horses for courses kind of situation - so where are you finding increased speeds of the essence?

Entry to The Printing Charity’s Rising Star Awards 2024 opens in a week’s time - Monday 29 January. Applicants have until Friday 5 April to apply but if you have youngsters working for you I’d urge you to get them started on their application now. In case this annual financial awards scheme has passed you by, it provides up to £1,500 for emerging talent working in print, paper, packaging, publishing and graphics to invest in personal skills development and training.

Inflation and interest rates are still expected to fall this year, despite recent news that the inflation rate rose unexpectedly to 4% in December. Is that expectation impacting your strategic thinking?

Following on from my last newsletter comment about the use of white ink in the wide-format inkjet print space, those of you wanting more info might be interested in this - a free webinar from HP on the benefits of working with its Latex white ink. It takes place at 10am this coming Thursday, 18 January.

White ink - do you use much of it? Epson’s introduction of an entry-level direct-to-garment printer with white ink capability just got me pondering. How much white ink is now used in the large-format digital inkjet sector here in the UK? Not that long ago it was a niche offering, but now?

I was checking out print events to update my 2024 calendar when I came across a ‘Print and Prosecco Night: Lino Printmaking’, a workshop on 25 Jan at Lavender Leonardos art school in London apparently. Just in case you need more fizz….. and think you can get away with this as a ‘work event’. Welcome to a new year all!

Here’s hoping you all have a wonderful festive break and return re-energised as the show season will be upon us before we know it - fast-track entry to SDUK 2024 (25-27 February) is already open! Wishing you all you wish yourselves. Happy days.

As we draw towards the end of 2023 I’d love to hear from you on what you consider your most ‘creative’ job of the year - and why. What has pushed you to develop new techniques when it comes to the options you can now offer? Looking forward to getting your feedback - with pictures where possible!