Whether it’s presses or software, substrates or finishing equipment, there’ll be a bit of everything at The Print Show, so whatever you’re after you’ll probably find it. Here’s an alphabetical list of exhibitors who had provided preview information as of late July. MIS developer Accura sees the show as a pivotal event in restoring confidence in the market after the problems of the last couple of years.

Managing director Trevor Cocks, who has exhibited previously, comments, ‘The Print Show 2022 will be massively important as we hope it will help restore and rebuild confidence in the state of the printing industry, whilst also providing a meeting place for counterparts, and enable visitors ‘touch and feel’ new technologies for the first time in two years.’

To be showcased on Accura’s stand is Accura online, its e-commerce and web-to-print platform that Mr Cocks says features improved hosting performance, reliability and flexibility. This also brings a variety of new B2C features for consumer-facing portals, such as additional payment systems and voucher code support. Also on show will be the latest version of Accura SQL which brings benefits in scalability and robustness, plus an open API for integration with other systems.

‘Accura SQL will pave the way for the next generation of Accura MIS including mobile, and responsive browser applications,’ Mr Cocks says.

Amaya will be showing its garment decoration equipment, with live demonstrations of a range products. A UK first will be Polyprint’s new NG series of DtG printers that bridge the gap between entry level and mass production, combining fulfillment speed production with high-definition quality. All Polyprint Texjet DTG printers are DtF-compatible, adding flexibility for hard-to print positions and non-cotton fabrics.

For diversification, Amaya says embroidery is a proven profit opportunity, and it will show the Melco EMT16X modular embroidery machine for efficient and uninterrupted production. Also showing for the first time at a trade show is the Uninet Icolor 540 A4 white toner printer which gives businesses a lower entry point to the heat transfer market, opening up more applications. From Roland will be the SG3-540 Print & Cut machine for in house garment transfer production, banner and signage work, the LEF 12i entry-level UV printer for hard substrate printing, and the GS-24 plotter for basic vinyl cutting. The Oki white toner printers will be on show in combination with Forever transfer paper. A variety of papers caters for applications from full colour transfers to single colour, all with no ‘weeding’.

Another returning previous exhibitor is finishing specialist Ashgate Automation, which will present its Fastbind range of binders and Kas booklet-makers and creasers. The range reflects the rapidly-growing popularity of PUR binding, which managing director Lewis Price says is ‘one of the most profitable products that printers can offer.’ Ashgate will demonstrate the Kasfold KT 640 compact booklet-making system, which can produce books up to 320 x 320mm as well as A4 (both landscape and portrait) and A5 and supports run lengths from low bespoke ranges up to larger digital and even litho work.

Also on show will be the manual Neo, which Mr Price says has an attractive price for PUR binding while also supporting EVA hot melt, and is able to handle both soft- and hardcover books at up to three books per minute. This complements the Pureva Smart PUR and EVA semi-automated binder which suits longer runs thanks to automation and overall speed, while maintaining consistency. Duplo’s stand looks set to be busy with a wide range of finishing equipment on display. One highlight will be the new DC 648 multifinisher which slits, cuts and creases and is said to offer speed and quality plus overall productivity through automation. This will be complemented by the PFI Di-Cut 310 rotary die-cutter which allows users to die cut, kiss cut, crease, perforate, slit, hole punch and cut round corners in one process.

Duplo will be showing a wide range of finishing products

Other products on the stand will include the DC-618 multi-finisher which has the ability to process up six slits, 30 cuts and 20 creases per sheet in a single pass, and the PFI Blade B2 digital cutting table that can cut, kiss cut, crease and perforate substrates including paper, laminates, boards, adhesives and synthetic stocks. The popular DBM-150 booklet-maker and Bagel iLam Pro Laminator, now available in the UK exclusively through Duplo will also appear, as will the embellishment and packaging capabilities of the recently launched DDC-8000 B2 format DuSense digital UV spot coater and DC-20K B2 cutting system.

‘We will be showing live demonstrations of automation in action and our staff will be on hand to show how Duplo embellishment can substantially increase profit and add value to end users’ products,’ said Duplo managing director Martyn Train.

E-Productivity Software (EPS) will be making its first appearance at a UK commercial print trade show since its divergence from EFI and will feature its range of MIS, data capture and analysis tools that are designed to support revenue growth and drive operating and production efficiencies. The company will specifically showcase its print management solutions PrintSmith Vision and Midmarket Print Suite. The former is aimed at franchises, smaller commercial printers, print on-demand and inplant facilities; the latter is a browser-based solution built around the Pace MIS that provides certified end to-end workflows and integrates with other EPS and third-party applications. It is designed to allow mid-sized and large printers to run their businesses in an integrated manner, from order acquisition through to shipping.

Also to be demonstrated are the MarketDirect Storefront web-to-print, fulfilment and document procurement solution, including software to create 3D box designs, alongside MarketDirect Cross Media multi-channel marketing and communications software. EPS will also feature its iQuote, Auto-Count 4D and PrintFlow estimating, data collection and scheduling offerings, which work with any MIS/ERP. Hybrid Services, UK and Ireland exclusive distributor for Mimaki’s range of roll-fed, desktop, flatbed and print and-cut devices, will have a prominent stand just inside the entrance to Hall 17 at the NEC, aiming to attract visitors’ attention as soon as they arrive. While the company hadn’t at the time of writing specified which machines would be presented on its stand, recent Mimaki introductions include 330 series of wide-format printers and CG-AR cutting plotters, both of which were announced earlier in 2022. The 330 series printers, developed for signage, graphics and textile applications, build on the foundations laid by the company’s 100 and 300 Plus Series, and offer 1.6m eco-solvent and dye sublimation transfer models.

The CG-AR Series cutting plotter series comes in three different sizes, with Mimaki saying they go ‘above and beyond currently available entry-level options.’ ‘Commercial printers looking to incorporate a wide-format workflow into their business will find plenty of inspiration, applications and technology from Mimaki on the Hybrid stand, and we look forward to meeting them at the show,’ said Duncan Jefferies, head of marketing and business development. Another long-term supporter of the show is Intec, which will display a selection of its finishing and embellishment offerings. Highlights on the company’s stand will include the ColorCut FB9000, its flagship automatic digital die-cutter, which will be shown running unattended. Visitors will be able to see both the type and quality of work the machine can produce in this mode.

Also due to appear on Intec’s stand in September is the popular ColorCut automatic sheet cutter, alongside the ColorCut LC600 automatic label kiss-cutting machine. Visitors will also be able to see a number of Intec’s large-format flatbed cutters, while it will also display and demonstrate the ColorFlare line of desktop and professional-level foiling and lamination machines. The Print Show 2022 will also be the first major industry event where Intec will exhibit under the Plockmatic Group umbrella, having been acquired in July by the group that also owns fellow exhibitor Morgana Systems.

‘Being the only UK event for the industry, it is important that we are there,’ said Terri Winstanley, product and marketing manager at Intec. ‘It ensures that we are able to engage with customers and industry professionals alike and to see what everyone has to offer.’

Konica Minolta will be one of the few digital press vendors to appear at the show in its own right, reflecting increased activity in and support for the UK market. It will be the company’s fourth appearance at the show, however, and while no official announcement has been made, we expect to see the debut of a new complement to the AccurioPress line of cut-sheet toner presses, the Accurio Shine, a digital embellishment/spot coater that will allow users to add value to ‘standard’ CMYK digital (or litho) print.

No further details were at the time of writing but it seems likely that the technology will have been derived at least in part from the French-made MGI line of digital embellishment presses in which Konica Minolta owns a significant share. On the press side, recent introductions from KM have included the 100ppm AccurioPrint 2100, a mono press, and the AccurioPress C7100, a 100ppm colour model introduced in June 2021, which completed the revamp of the company’s colour line that began with the C14000 in late 2018.

These are complemented by a range of DFEs, including EFI Fiery-based models, workflow and inline quality control and finishing options. More finishing kit will be on display from Morgana, which will premiere the BM4000 series of booklet-makers. Described as ‘a new kind of booklet-maker’, these can produce both A4 landscape and 297 x 297mm booklets with either corner or edge stapling as standard, plus an option for SquareBack finishing.

Designed to work with low-to-mid volume digital production presses, the BM4000 range can staple and fold booklets of 35 or 50 sheets, depending on model, including long SRA3 sheets up 660mm for A4 landscape products, such as photo books. The minimum booklet format is A6. Stalin options are corner for A4 portrait and edge for either orientation A4. Booklets of up 200 pages can be produced, depending on model. Morgana will also feature the recently introduced Uchida Aero DieCut, a compact cutting and creasing unit that uses regular forms together with a patented moving roller system that provides the pressure to cut or score sheets.

Also on display will be the AutoCreaser and DigiFold Pro XL, a long-sheet version of the creasing, folding and perforating unit that supports sheets up to 1300mm in length, and the new 50cm AutoCreaser Pro XW.

Another UK first will be the Valiani Integra flatbed cutting table. Industry body Picon, which represents industry suppliers, will also be at the show, providing a meeting point for existing and potential members, but not through a conventional exhibition stand. Instead, the organisation will run a lounge for its members to relax or do business. Those interested in joining, or existing members wanting to catch up on the latest goings on from within the association, including information on the grants it can offer them to help them recruit young people or train staff, can also drop by.

‘I know that printers like shows like this where they can research developments and compare and contrast competing products easily, and in a time-efficient way. Suppliers have not halted their research and development during the pandemic, so this is a great platform to signpost new trends, new products and new ways of thinking,’ noted Picon chief executive Bettine Pellant.

A show first-timer will be large format solutions provider Perfect Colours, which will focus primarily on HP offerings, with a sustainability slant. For general signage and display work, the 1.6m HP Latex 700W includes white ink and is able to print at up to 31sqm/hr for ‘outdoor’ (distance viewing) applications. Also to be demonstrated is the HP DesignJet Z9+, also a1.6m unit, but this one is a plotter/printer able to provide professional photo quality prints. It can run at up to 14.1sqm/hr and supports a range of media. Perfect Colours will also display the HP PageWide 5200XL Pro, a large format multi-function printer for lower quality poster, CAD or GIS applications at up to 400sqm/hr.

In addition, Perfect Colours will show how customers can save on materials and inks by using Print Factory workflow software, with specialists on hand to explain the benefits of the product. Premier was an early sign-up for this year’s show, having appeared at every previous edition. The company’s primary aim at The Print Show 2022 is to network face-to-face with printers, designers and paper buyers. This will see its team of knowledgeable experts help identify and provide solutions with products from its extensive portfolio of paper and other substrates.

The company will also raise awareness of its Carbon Capture programme and speak with visitors about how its environmental initiatives can help them to achieve their key CSR objectives. According to Solopress, a benefit of attending The Print Show for an online trade printer is the opportunity to meet customers face-to-face.

The new BM4000 booklet-maker from Morgana can handle
A4 books in both orientations, plus 297x297mm products

‘With existing customers, it’s great to be able to put a face to a name, and of course there’s the opportunity to build new relationships with people who might not have used Solopress before,’ said Glen Eckett, head of marketing. ‘The Print Show cancellations in 2020 and 2021 have meant that it’s been a long time since we’ve been able to engage in this way. Last time we did in 2019, we discovered an appetite among our trade customers for an exclusive service to cater more closely to their needs as print buyers and resellers.

‘As a result, we launched Solopro in November 2020 to offer a more personal and bespoke experience for these businesses. It’s great to be able to come back to the Print Show where Solopro was conceived and give it its first public outing since launch,’ he concluded.

Flatbed laser cutter/engraver specialist Trotec will deliver live ‘print and cut’ demonstrations of its flagship Speedy 400 laser system. This features the recently-launched Vision Design & Position lid camera and is powered by Trotec’s Ruby design and job management software. Visitors to the stand will also get to see the Q500 mid-range laser cutter in action, processing clear acrylic to produce a flame polished edge and engraved detailing. Trotec says its Q-series lasers are built to deliver reliable cutting and engraving results. The company will also be hosting the Engraving booth in the show’s Diversification Zone, featuring a selection of laser-cut and engraved product samples; Trotec experts will be on hand there to explain how to take advantage of the opportunities that laser processing offers.

Very Displays services the display and printing industry with portable display products that address four main application categories: Event & Exhibitions, Outdoor Solutions, Retail & PoS and Fabric Display Solutions. The firm has more than 50 years’ experience and says it has selected a mix of the most efficient and effective products, complemented by specialist in-house product designs and its own print facilities to provide a complete solution for trade customers. At this year’s show the firm will feature its best-sellers, plus the introduction of the new and exclusive Slim R Banner, in addition to live product demonstrations and unbranded literature, another new introduction. Web-to-print developer Vpress kept hard at work through the pandemic and now has a number of updates and innovations to present as a result. These start with a rewrite of the home page preview that is designed to improve customer experience, allowing personalised site layout and content, with promotions, login alerts, notifications and information panels. Embedded personalisation allows Vpress Coreprint technologies such as the Dynamic Editor to be integrated within customer websites, while integration into MIS platforms such as those from Tharstern or PrintIQ continues to be developed for more seamless automation.

Job submission file checking enables colour/mono splits to be established and used for accurate dynamic pricing, while the dynamic proof view presents a live interactive proof or new or saved jobs without needing to open the Editor module. Vpress is also partnering with various other exhibitors around the show to demonstrate the creation and printing of a personalised label.

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Arguing that saving businesses from ‘the most vicious economic conditions in a generation’ must be a top priority in cabinet and Whitehall, the Alliance noted that some printing businesses had seen energy price rises of up to 600% in the past 12 months, figures confirmed to Digital Printer in recent days by a variety of commercial printers, including SImon Cooper of Solopress and Gary Peeling of Precision Proco/Where the Trade Buys.

The Alliance points out that energy-intensive industries and SMEs are are particularly susceptible to the impact of energy price rises and that print is an integral component of many industries, as well as an important economic contributor in its own right. Warning that continued cost increases will result in substantial job losses and a decline in business investment, the GMPA said ‘It is time for the Government to acknowledge this reality [and] take radical action to tackle a crisis which represents and existential threat for the UK’s graphics and print media sector’.

Measure that the GPMA proposes to work on with the government include:

a cost-containment mechanism to cap the costs of industrial gas and electricity, combined with urgent efforts to increase UK energy supplies for UK consumption;;

a long-term commitment to return UK industrial energy prices to the median of our EU competitors;

the potential for sector-specific support to ensure that the good work done by the Government during the pandemic is not undone; and

the immediate announcement of a business rates freeze for 2023/24.

In a joint statement, GPMA chair and CEO of the British Printing Industries Federation (BPIF), Charles Jarrold and Printing Industry Confederation (Picon) CEO Bettine Pellant said:

‘The government’s primary concern is of course helping households most at risk. Yet an unavoidable consequence of unchecked cost increases for businesses will be ever-spiralling cost increases for consumers, potentially cancelling out the impact of government support for individuals.

‘It was hoped that 2022 would be the year that graphics and print media businesses could move forward and build back stronger: it is now clear that this will be impossible without urgent government action to cap industrial energy costs. An unprecedented crisis demands unprecedented intervention.

‘The new Prime Minister must move decisively to save jobs, save consumers money, and save our sector from an unsustainable blow. Inaction is no longer an option.’

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Awards co-chair Linda Drew commented on the news, ‘It is excellent to be able to confirm headline sponsors for 2022 will again be Picon and Mathys & Squire. In 2022, each Award will receive £3000 worth of consultancy from intellectual property specialists Mathys and Squire, a service which has been used very successfully by past winners. The company is extremely grateful for their continued support, especially as we move the awards back into our refurbished hall.’

Fellow co-chair Jill Jones added, ’The company is also delighted to confirm there will also be an accompanying exhibition, ahead of the awards luncheon. Due to Covid-19, it will be three years since the last exhibition took place, so we are really looking forward to this wonderful opportunity for shortlisted companies to gain even more exposure, and we thank our sponsors for enabling this to happen’.’

Finally, Bettine Pellant, CEO at Picon, said, ‘Many of our members have entered these awards in past years and we have seen no let-up in breakthrough technologies. The Innovation Excellence Awards provide a really valuable platform for companies to shout about the latest products and applications.”’

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‘Necessity is the mother of invention, and new and exciting developments are already emerging from areas as diverse as online education and disposable paper products,’ said chair Jill Jones. ‘We want to celebrate achievements within the content and communications industries, particularly in these challenging times. 2019 saw a wealth of innovations in service and customer experience, and for the first time, entries focused on the Internet of Things. We look forward to hearing more about innovations that improve experiences for customers and communities in 2021 and seeing the emergence of new trends.’

The awards are open to any company working in the communications and content industries including global, SME and non-profit businesses. Start-ups are also welcome, with a new award having been introduced specifically for them this year.

In total there are seven categories:

• Business Process
• Communications and Marketing
• Customer Experience
• Product Design
• Product Performance
• Service design
• Start-ups.

An overall ‘Innovator of the Year’ will be chosen from the winners of each category. 

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The Graphics and Print Media Alliance (GPMA) has received a formal response from the Government after calling for a means-tested ‘disaster relief’ fund to support printers facing closure.

The official response acknowledged that the UK print industry remains a key concern for the Government and that the data and proposals provided to it by the GPMA and its members was being factored into its policy response to the pandemic.

Responding to the response, IPIA Chairman Graeme Smith, BPIF CEO Charles Jarrold, Picon CEO Bettine Pellant and BAPC Chairman Brendan Perring, issued a joint statement. 

‘The response from Government is heartening to say the least,’ the statement read. ‘They clearly recognise the specific challenges the UK print industry faces, have asserted that they will be borne in mind as policy is now developed, and have requested that we continue to work closely with them.

‘What we now need is a continuation of concerted effort from across our industry, which has so far seen hundreds of business owners write directly to their MPs and to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to make them aware of their individual circumstances and the help that would be required to support them moving forward. We will continue our collective efforts to work with the Government in securing a sustainable solution.’

Key extracts from the governments letter read:

‘Thank you for your letter of 24 September, to the Rt Hon Alok Sharma MP, and the Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP, about the impact that the restrictions currently in place across the UK are having on the graphics and print media sector.

‘The Government fully recognises the importance of the graphics and print media sector to the UK economy, and to the consumers who rely on printed materials for information and communication.

‘BEIS is grateful to the sector for your continued engagement with officials throughout this crisis, which we will continue going forwards.

‘As you are aware, recent events in the UK and worldwide have demonstrated that Coronavirus continues to pose a very real threat to people’s health and livelihoods.

‘The Government is therefore focused on measures to combat the virus in the places where it is most prevalent, whilst also doing everything possible to keep our economy moving forwards with people working in a COVID-19 Secure way.

‘We would like to further assure you that your proposal that a means-tested ‘disaster relief’ style grant should be made available to the printing industry has been noted, and will be borne in mind as the policy response to the pandemic evolves.’

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To: Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Rt Hon Alok Sharma MP, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

The Graphics and Print Media Alliance appreciate the work your Departments, and the Government more widely, have done to protect jobs and business across the UK at this extremely challenging time. As such, we understand the need for the new restrictions on social gatherings and normal business activity being introduced this week.

We do wish, however, to draw your attention to the impacts of these measures on the graphics and print media sector. We are keen that the efforts that have been made by your Departments to prevent job and business losses, are not undone.

Our particular concern is for the printing industry and its future, the maintenance and integrity of its supply chains, and the threat to thousands of businesses and tens of thousands of jobs that this pandemic continues to pose.

Our industry

Our industry is important to the UK economy. As the fifth largest producer of printed products in the world, prior to the pandemic we generated in the region of £14 billion and employed 112,000 people across 8000 businesses in the UK. In addition to this, printing businesses are part of an extensive and complex supply chain, with millions of ordinary consumers relying on print to meet their needs for information and communication.

Impacts

Without further direct Government intervention to support businesses in our sector, our industry is facing a significant challenge. As the Job Retention Scheme ends, our industry is still suffering from low demand, which is now being exacerbated by the ‘Rule of Six’ and additional social restriction measures. This week’s measures imposed on the retail, leisure, entertainment and hospitality industries will have a knock-on effect on those industries’ need for printed materials. Please see the Annex for more detailed insight into how social restrictions impact the printing industry.

If the restrictions remain in place until the end of the year, and if there is no additional Government support announced, we estimate that:

• Approximately 3000 companies in our industry will need to declare insolvency;

• A further 3000 will be capable of staying in business for a further six months maximum;

• Less than 10% are in a situation to take out further Government-backed loans to remain solvent;

• The remainder will likely need to make redundancies, but will be able to continue working (if our supply chain retains its integrity), as they have a specialism producing print for frontline services, or are in turn suppliers to these specialist organisations.

Unlike machine parts, cars, electronic goods and so forth, demand for printed goods as the pandemic comes to an end will not replace the loss of income our industry has already sustained. Individual consumers may delay purchasing decisions for cars, home entertainment systems and so on until the economic situation is improved. We can expect a surge in demand for these items when it seems the crisis is coming to an end. Print, however, is largely bought on a weekly and monthly basis as needs require – in other words, little and often. At best, order levels will return to where they were prior to the crisis, however it will not be possible for the industry to service all the debt which will have built up due to the need to remain solvent.

Our proposal

As mentioned, we understand the need for the continued action to control the pandemic. Therefore, we are calling for a solution to support the industry to remain solvent while these restrictions continue.

We would appreciate an understanding from your Departments of the specific challenges facing businesses where demand for their products is of the ‘little and often’ type, and which are therefore unlikely to enjoy a post-Covid business bounce.

It is our view that a mean-tested ‘disaster relief’ style grant should be made available to the printing industry (and potentially others who face the above scenario). Businesses would need to demonstrate the scale of business damage year-on-year in order qualify for the appropriate support (it is important to note that not all sectors of, and companies within, our industry have experienced the downturn).

We would very much appreciate your consideration of these concerns and proposals, and any feedback that may arise from internal discussions or those with HM Treasury.

Please contact us if you require any further information. We would, of course, be happy to meet to discuss further.

Your sincerely,

The Graphics and Print Media Alliance –– representing the member signatories to this statement overleaf [below].

Graeme Smith, Independent Print Industries Association – Chairman

Bettine Pellant, Print Industry Confederation – CEO

Charles Jarrold, British Printing Industries Federation – CEO (and Chair of the GPMA)

Brendan Perring, British Association for Print and Communication – Chairman

Neil Lovell, The Printing Charity – CEO

Amy Hutchinson, British Office Supplies and Services Federation – Chief Executive

Andrew Large, Confederation of Paper Industries – Director General

Anthony Evans, Association of Print and Communication Managers – President

Carey Trevill, British Promotional Merchandise Association – CEO

David Harrison, PPMA Group of Associations – COO

Clive Fricker, The Rubicon Network – CEO

Tom Bowtell, British Coatings Federation – CEO

Debbie Waldron-Hoines, European Flexographic Industry Association – Consultant CEO

Martyn Eustace, Two Sides UK – Chairman

Dick Searle, The Packaging Federation – CEO

Annex 1 – The impact of the ‘Rule of Six’ on the UK printing industry

The impact of the ‘Rule of 6’ and the wider tightening of restrictions across the UK is having a rapid impact on business confidence and direct print orders. This is now rolling out from its initial immediate impact on the business-to-consumer print community, most of whom have a retail aspect, through to larger business-to-business commercial print and print management organisations –– specifically with a concentration of customers in metropolitan centres.

Large organised events such as conferences, exhibitions, festivals and sporting/hobby competitions and gatherings that were due to take place from October, now will be unable to do so.

These activities alone compromise around 15% of UK total print volumes and will be a fundamental building block of our industry’s recovery.

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