Current IFS managing director Eric Keane has shared the following obituary:

We are very sad to learn of the passing of Tony Hards, former Chairman and Managing Director of Intelligent Finishing Systems (IFS) and Graphic Arts Equipment (GAE). Tony passed away aged 84 after a short illness.

Tony’s long association with IFS dates from 1965 when he joined our forerunner company Graphic Arts Equipment (GAE) as an Area Sales Representative. Tony oversaw the successful growth of GAE / IFS to become one of the leading suppliers in the UK printing industry. Obituary

Tony possessed a dogged, never-give-up approach to business and this, along with his intellect, quit wit, enquiring mind, sense of urgency and ability to see an opportunity, enabled him to quickly become established in GAE in the 1960s as the best salesperson in the company. These traits served him well in his journey over the decades with our business, all of which brought much corporate and personal success his way and when he moved into senior management in the mid-1980s the company went from strength to strength, which eventually led to Tony acquiring the ownership of the company, in partnership with long-term business partner Bryan Godwyn.

Tony was very much a ‘disrupter’ in the printing machinery market and simply loved the challenge of bringing into the market many new product ranges, new innovations and working to establish a foothold for those brands, often against the fiercest competition from established brands. The most successful of these introductions being Horizon. Tony secured the agency for Horizon Print Finishing products in 1981 and established their products as UK market leaders.

I first met Tony in 1980 when I joined GAE as a young salesman. Tony was great mentor, he taught me so much about the business, all of which served me well over the decades in several successful business ventures. Tony was great at spotting talent and so many current and former colleagues enjoyed their time in successful careers working under Tony’s direction.

During his career with IFS/GAE Tony built up a massive network of relationships with suppliers, manufacturers and customers and became one of the best known ‘characters’ in the commercial print sector and machinery supply side, in particular. Tony was an active leading light in Picon and had a long association with the BPIF. Tony was an acclaimed golfer, a former non-league footballer and a passionate follower of Tottenham Hotspur.

Tony’s life-long contribution to the printing industry was recognised in 2012 when he was awarded the title of Liveryman of The Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspapermakers.

Tony will be missed very much by his family, friends, associates, former colleagues and everyone that knew him.

R I P  Tony Hards

Mr Hards was also well-known to many current and former directors and staff at Whitmar Publications.

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IFS managing director Eric Keane

In 2024 there will be a continuation of the pressures felt during 2023 – high interest rates, high inflation, labour and skill shortages, and some disrupted supply chains. There will likely be an accelerated trend in mergers and acquisitions for ambitious print companies to make either strategic acquisitions of their competitors, or in order to secure diversity in their product offering, do this through acquisition of other companies.

The sector will continue with consolidation and this will drive more investment in more technology and automation. The latter, in particular, was an accelerating trend in 2023. Most leading print companies have been looking to increase investment in more automated print finishing systems. This in turn has enabled IFS, in collaboration with our partners Horizon and Tecnau, to be at the forefront in supplying innovative, automated print finishing systems, that meet this demand to reduce operator touch points, improve output speeds and utilise less labour.

With the world around us so uncertain, trade fairs like drupa really do bring the business communities together. Business people do mix, and with that entrepreneurship and enterprise flourishes.

Phil McMullin, head of sales for Commercial & Industrial, Epson UK

Continuous improvements with sustainability considerations at their core will remain a significant focus for print production environments and suppliers in the short-to-medium term. Epson strives to build technologies that last and support responsible and efficient production. As we develop our own printheads, print hardware, and print software, we’re able to deliver a very customer-focused portfolio that responds to increased demand for product longevity and reduced energy and waste. We can also help operations explore the most effective options as well as offer support, advice, and guidance when it is needed. 

Ease of use is crucial for both operational efficiency and the ability to move into new markets. Simple and fast setup via user-friendly touchscreen ensures operator confidence and quick throughput to maintain agile and responsive production. These are key persuaders for businesses considering their next steps towards successful growth, and  empower operations to expand their offerings. This is important to help them capitalise on the growth opportunities of markets such as personalisation, where production needs to be right the first time, and every time.

Martyn Train, managing director, Duplo UK

With a steady 2023 under our belt we turn our sights to 2024 and the future of print, which appears to be thriving with resilience and innovation. Despite digital communication’s prevalence, our industry is undergoing a renaissance, embracing cutting-edge technologies to enhance its relevance to add value to the consumer, especially in sectors such as education, greetings cards and the recovery of in-plants.

This resurgence is fuelled by a growing appreciation for tangible, tactile experiences as well as the enduring appeal of high-quality printed products. As we have always said, print in its various forms continues to play a pivotal role in communication and the purchasing experience, offering a unique and timeless way to engage audiences.

At Duplo we are really excited about drupa and some of the new products we’ve been itching to show the industry. This includes upgrades to our range, brand new products that will take Duplo into new areas, as well as some innovations that will show how we are preparing for the future of our industry.

Yale Goldis, director strategy, commercial products and solutions at HP PageWide Industrial

As traditional print volumes decline, digital print will continue to grow. Commercial printers adopting the latest high volume production printing capabilities find better economics for themselves and their clients. They will also redefine their offerings and reimagine applications that bridge digital online and physical media.

Publishers are moving towards sustainable, targeted production. Shorter, frequent runs in the market are replacing large, centrally produced orders to mitigate supply chain risks and reduce book miles. Publishers are also adopting ‘gap’ printing, using POD production from the onset of a book’s life cycle, to meet unpredicted demand. 

Direct mail will continue its renaissance in 2024 as marketers rediscover the performance and value of print in the overall marketing mix. While postal and paper costs pressure overall mail volume, digitally printed, personalised, impactful and relevant mail will see healthy growth. 

Business models such as web-to-print meet growing consumer demands for convenient online ordering, customisation and improved customer experience. Closer integration with large data warehouses and powerful marketing engines enable true multi-channel campaigns executed across online and print media.

Will Mansfield, director, solutions marketing, Kodak

In 2023, the pursuit of production efficiencies was paramount. Advances such as higher quality faster inkjet presses, smarter workflow platforms and more automated CtP systems have significantly streamlined production. These innovations have reduced labour requirements and also improved the accuracy and consistency of printing, thus reducing waste. The economic landscape was again characterised by uncertainties and inflationary pressures. To adapt to these challenges for our plate customers, Kodak continued to invest in regional manufacturing as well as technology innovations.

Kodak is anticipating drupa 2024 as a unique opportunity to connect with printers from around the globe and debut new solutions. The show provides a valuable platform for Kodak to engage with customers and prospects and gain deeper insights into their evolving needs. We are excited to showcase our latest innovations in high-speed inkjet, workflow and offset solutions, demonstrating our commitment to advancing the industry. We are committed to being a strategic partner to our customers, helping them navigate the challenges and seize the opportunities that lie ahead.

Duncan Smith, country director, production, Canon UK & Ireland

As customers are expecting faster turnaround times and higher quality products than ever before, we at Canon have seen an increasing demand for cutting-edge inkjet technology in 2023.

Alongside quality and productivity, businesses are starting to realise that inkjet also delivers many economic and environmental benefits. With reliable equipment that harnesses automation, businesses can save on total cost of ownership with reduced power consumption and streamlined workflows. Additionally, inkjet enables print solution providers to broaden their media capabilities and branch out to a variety of markets, such as retail, manufacturing and interior décor.

We’re excited to return to drupa next year alongside some of the key players in the industry. We see this as a huge opportunity to not only showcase new technology, but also celebrate our achievements over the last few years. We expect to see a lot of conversation around the advancement of inkjet technology when it comes to production and wide-format print and are excited to share our developments in this space.

Andy Kent, general manager, Fujifilm UK

Sustainable and energy-efficient machinery and practices were key factors in 2023 when printers were looking at suppliers for equipment or consumables. The market has also seen many mergers and acquisitions as companies join forces to reduce fixed costs.

Energy costs remain a problem but other costs are stabilising, or even going down in some cases. With interest rates moving upwards, we initially saw some reluctance to invest in new equipment in 2023. I think this was because people felt it might be a temporary situation, but are now accepting that the higher rates appear to be here to stay for some time.

Analogue processes are increasingly transforming to digital, particularly in the packaging space where the market is still growing. I expect this to be one of the main trends and biggest opportunities in 2024.

I see AI as another trend with complimentary technology for making quick decisions in time-limited situations. I expect drupa to be well-attended because we will see new sustainable products and services that will inspire print businesses looking for an extra edge.

Charlotte Tueckmantel, GM Enterprise Print & eCommerce, eProductivity Software

2023 in many ways was the reset of the new normal. Coming out of Covid we saw a huge resurgence in our customers’ businesses, and record numbers in many areas. While 2023 took a slight step back it was still well above the Covid years, despite increasing costs across the board. This included the rising cost of people/talent; difficulty attracting new talent is a challenge that the industry has seen for a few years now and we will continue to see in 2024.

The rising costs of people, materials and energy will continue to drive higher levels of automation, supported by the emergence of actionable insights and AI starting to appear in the industry.

For 2024, we see a trend towards more remote or hybrid work in the front office driven by the need for greater flexibility and the challenges to hire skilled people. This shift, enabled by technology and coupled with the arrival or more automation, actionable insight, API integrations and AI will continue to change the landscape.

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After holding annual virtual showcases, Tecnau will stage a physical presentation of its technology. Intelligent Finishing Systems (IFS), Tecnau’s UK and Ireland distribution partner, will host UK operations looking to develop their print production capabilities.

Attendees will be able to see the latest integrated options in post-press paper handling automation for digital printing that support an array of applications, including transactional printing, transpromo, direct mail, publishing, graphic arts, books on demand and short runs.

The event will host live and virtual demonstrations of many of Tecnau’s feeding and finishing products for high-speed production digital presses. They include versions of the new Revolution 50 series for high-speed cutting and stacking of web-fed inkjet output, fully automated BookReady and Stack 1212 for cutting B2/B2+ press sheets down to finished size in a single pass, and a member of Tecnau’s Libra family of book finishing systems. Attendees will be able to participate in a networking forum with colleagues from across the industry.

Eric Keane, IFS managing director, commented, ‘After a couple of years of virtual Spring Forward with Tecnau events, this in-person opportunity will enable operations to explore up close and personal what Tecnau technology can deliver. Tecnau is widely recognised for its vital product development partnerships with customers and every major printer manufacturer. Its history and background in industrial automation has also enabled the development of customised solutions to support specific requests. This approach ensures the development of responsive solutions that meet today’s market demands and, in fact, several products have been inspired by customer requests. At this event UK operations will be able to see for themselves how they can drive their successful ongoing evolution.’

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Billed as IFS finish+bind 360, the event will offer morning and afternoon sessions each day, commencing at 10:00 and 13:00 respectively, at which the Horizon BQ-500 Ice Binder will run inline with the Horizon HT-300 Ice Trimmer. These will run alongside the Horizon AFV-566FKT Ice Folder.

Live applications will include the dynamic and flexible creation of folded signatures and the binding and inline trimming of perfect bound books and PUR books. All three systems will demonstrate the capabilities of the Horizon Ice Link cloud-based workflow management system. This is said to optimise production to create a new work environment with increased efficiency and productivity.

Visitors will see how Ice Link it connects via the cloud to an easy-to-use dashboard that reports real-time production analysis for improved efficiency and profitability, with  remote update capabilities and a scheduled maintenance facility. Data can be accessed via smartphone, tablet or desktop PC and the software is designed for integration with popular MIS offerings.

Attendees will also see live demonstrations of the Foliant Taurus 530NG B2 Laminator laminating book covers for binding.

IFS managing director Eric Keane explained, ‘Finish+bind 360 will focus on the benefits and efficiencies of automation in print finishing and binding now further enhanced by Horizon’s Ice Link cloud-based workflow management system. They will discover more about how it enables a modern and efficient bindery to deliver the most responsive print finishing production. Attendees and existing IFS and Horizon customers will also benefit from offers on the Horizon Ice Link IoT Basic, Automated and Enterprise subscription models.’

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‘During the pandemic, despite the downturn, we have remained steady to the extent that we never had to downsize our team,’ said managing director Eric Keane. ‘We’ve stayed busy with installations and training work. Now we are seeing significant increase in demand from printers requiring additional print finishing operator training – in particular for Horizon or Tecnau print finishing solutions. As a result, we have hired two new experienced technicians. We will soon be taking on a further two technicians as part of our general expansion.’

Mr Keane added that he expects investment from printers in automated finishing solutions to hit a new high over the next year. ‘There is a lot of pent-up demand right now, particularly for automation,’ he explained. ‘We already have an advanced order book for Q4 that is equal to our best in previous years and we are gearing our Tech Team up to deliver and support these solutions. We are very excited to see more installations of the recently launched Horizon ‘ICE’ range of highly automated internet connected finishing solutions. Supporting their introduction is a series of advanced training sessions in with Horizon and Tecnau to ensure our Tech Team have all the latest knowledge.’

The MD went on to stress his company’s partnership with Horizon, which is now 40 years old. ‘We work very closely at all stages with Horizon, providing an after sales service that includes service and maintenance. We are able to uniquely provide Horizon approved technical advice on best practice, original approved spare parts and have exclusive access to provide free software upgrades where appropriate.’

Mr Keane concluded by saying that IFS onsite one hour technical ‘health check’ is proving very popular. ‘By expanding our team we will have the capacity to provide more onsite advice,’ he said. ‘It’s all part of what we do, we want our customers to get the best use from their IFS supplied systems including Horizon, Tecnau Foliant, baumannperfecta and DigiBook.’

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The binder, available in the UK via IFS, can support a production speed of up to 300 books per hour, offers a maximum thickness of 40mm and format sizes of A4, A5 and A4E. 

IFS says that the new arm had been developed to support ‘an increasing number of print operations seeking simpler print to bind capabilities to better streamline the variety of jobs they are required to manage and the shorter turnaround times they need to meet.’

‘The Robot Arm has been designed to offer a cost-effective operator-free alternative for operations completing simple, on demand, variable, short runs and runs of one,’ explained IFS Managing Director Eric Keane. ‘It is ideal for production environments running a two or three shift pattern who are struggling with staffing issues. It is also an effective way to ensure social distancing measures are adhered to in busy binderies.’

The company highlighted several other key features of the binder and arm, including its labour saving benefits, how easy it is to switch between handling simple jobs automatically and being run by an operator for more complex work, barcode verification and the end-to-end nature of the solution with cut sheet digital printers.

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Available through IFS, the new folder is the successor to the AFC-566FKT model. Its key features include up to 20% faster changeovers, thanks to a library of stored folds which are accessible via the 12.1-inch touchscreen. An Auto Interval function adjusts automatically to optimum production speed for each job and various enhancements have been made to the knife fold section for reduced stoppages/downtime and best position for smooth working.

The AFV-566FKT also includes Horizon’s cloud-based IceLink automation, which gives access to a dashboard that reports real-time production analysis for improved efficiency, remote update capabilities and scheduled maintenance for reduced downtime. This is accessible via anything with internet access and the software is designed for integration with MIS as part of wider business automation and data gathering/analysis.

‘Operations are under increasing pressure to minimise production costs effectively while managing an increasingly broad range of products and run lengths,’ said IFS managing director Eric Keane.

‘To do that effectively requires fully automated, easy to set up, simple to operate systems that deliver high quality results – fast. With the new Horizon AFV-566FKT, Horizon has retained the core capabilities of the robustly engineered folder series. Following an end-to-end review it has made enhancements throughout and together they create a powerfully responsive solution.’

The Horizon AFV-566FKT is available immediately.

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The 200m/min semi-automatic folding and gluing machine, which is available immediately, boasts a compact footprint and can be run by a single operator. Described as ‘ideally suited’ to the production of short run packaging, including cartons, boxes and sleeves, it supports a maximum format of 78 x 78cm and stock weights up to 400gsm.

‘This entry-level low cost folding and gluing solution is perfectly positioned to help printers diversify and enter new markets,’ said Eric Keane, IFS managing director. ‘Operations can cost effectively explore new opportunities with the confidence of knowing they can scale up operations as and when their business grows.’

The Petratto Metro Startup can be upgraded at a later date to a Petratto Metro Mini or a complete Petratto Metro 78 model.

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Building on the capabilities of the Horizon AF-406F folder, the 30,000sph AF-408F has been designed to respond to market pressures such as demand for shorter and more variable runs, increased labour cost, increased material cost, price competition and difficulty in finding skilled operators. Accepting sheets up to 430 x 660mm (or up to 900mm with an optional extension table) the unit can produce fold lengths down to 20mm, suitable for pharmaceutical product instruction and warning leaflets.

The AF-408F also supports socially-distanced operation, is fully compatible with Horizon’s cloud-based IceLink workflow and can be configured inline, parallel or at 90 degrees with a Horizon T-406F/S 6-buckle to provide a total of 14 buckle plates.

‘The highly automated Horizon AF-408F small format folder has been developed to manage the broadest range of applications from pharmaceutical leaflets to general commercial small-format print,’ said Eric Keane, IFS managing director. ‘The fully automatic solution ensures easy job completion no matter the skill level of the operator. It makes short run variable jobs easy and reduces the number of touchpoints required for fast, safe operation.’

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Able to cut and stack a range of finished products from postcards to letters to books, the new Tecnau unit is specifically aimed at converting multi-up output from the ’emerging’ generation of B2+ digital presses that currently includes inkjets from Fujifilm and Konica Minolta as well as HP Indigo’s B2 models, reducing manual print handling and labour-intensive operations and consolidating them into a single-pass automated process.

The Stack 1212 supports 1-up to 21-up impositions on stocks from 70 to 350gsm, with an input capacity of 6000 B2 sheets per hour and output size down to 4 x 5-in (102 x 127mm) postcards. The unit is said to have a space-saving footprint on around 30sqm. A double cut/gutter capability allows for bleed print and the unit uses a cutter/slitter cartridge design for quick job changeovers.

Intended for offline operation to support multiple presses, the Stack 1212 has a pallet feeder option and finished jobs can be delivered to a conveyor one at a time, individually offset within a stack or when an operator-programmed stack height is reached, to facilitate easy and consistent packing, for example.

IFS managing director Eric Keane stated, ‘This cost-effective and space efficient cutting/stacking solution is ideally suited to users of B2 colour digital presses looking to automate their finishing. Its smooth and streamlined operation supports greater production efficiency and flexibility – ideal for operations looking to responsively increase their capacity.’

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