Issue 360 - May | June 2026 www.printmonthly.co.uk
CONTENTS Issue 360 May | June 2026 ISSN 2977-005X NEWS Industry 06 Business 10 Kit and Consumables 12 Software 14 People 16 Events 20 We preview this year’s FESPA Global Print Expo taking place in Barcelona, Spain SPECIALS Under the Hood: Mimaki ujv300dtF-75 23 INDUSTRY TIPS: Colin sinclair mcdermott 26 fresh Perspectives: joe moon 29 Company spotlight: dynamic print 32 closer look: swissqprint 36 Q&A: grace hussey 39 FEATURES hardware: lithographic and digital print 42 Business: finance and funding 47 software: prepress software 51 specialist: small-format cutters 56 trending: packaging opportunities 61 IN THIS ISSUE 10 42 29 23 51 61 56 32 3 May | June 2026 - Issue 360 08 16 printmonthly PrintMonthlyMagazine printmonthly_signlink printmonthly
Hello and welcome to Print Monthly May/June! It’s that time of year again where we’re all wondering where the first half of the year has gone but also praying for a summer of sun and simplicity, especially as we face more and more disruptions and price rises. For many I’m sure the start of the year has already been quite busy with elections taking place throughout the UK as well as several companies continuing to explore new marketing and communication methods. In general, many of our lives can be busier than ever, so sometimes it can be hard to find time to sit down and catch up on the news. With this in mind, I am happy to say we have now launched The Print Monthly Podcast, a new way to keep up to date with the latest news in the industry, as well as hear from different voices inside and outside of the worlds of print. The podcast gives a great way to catch up on the news and topics in print when working, driving, or even travelling to the likes of FESPA Global Print Expo? Launching this podcast has been a goal of mine since becoming editor, so it feels great to finally unveil it to the world, with a handful of episodes already available on all major podcast platforms – just search Print Monthly. I’d also like to take this opportunity to welcome our new sales executive Billy Milne, who is taking over the reins from Tim Hall who has moved onto pastures new after working for Print Monthly for six years. Thank you to Tim and his service during that time from the entire team at Print Monthly, and welcome to Billy! As already alluded to, FESPA Global Print Expo is taking place this May in Barcelona, the first time the event has been hosted in the Spanish city since 2012. I’m sure a large variety of businesses will be attending this year to either exhibit or see what is on offer from this very diverse trade show. You can get the lowdown on what to expect from this year’s show in our events news on page 21. Me and Jonathan will be at FESPA for the entirety of the event so keep an eye out on social media and our website for all the news and interviews from the show. This edition is also packed with several useful features and specials, ranging from advice for finance and funding (pages 47 to 49), prepress software (pages 51 to 54), and small-format cutters (pages 56 to 59). This edition also spotlights the unique company that is Dynamic Print on pages 32 to 33, as well as young talent in the industry on pages 29 to 30 and pages 39 to 40. Until next time! ISSUE 360 May | June 2026 Publishing director: Page Tuck Production: Ben Mallon Contributors: Rob Fletcher, Michael Walker, Colin Sinclair McDermott, Joe Moon, James Coldman Contact Editorial: 0117 980 5040 Sales: 0117 960 3255 Production: 0117 980 5041 Accounts: 0117 980 5042 Find us online www.printmonthly.co.uk Socials All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system without the prior consent of the publisher. The views expressed by contributors to Print Monthly magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher or editorial team and Koru Media Ltd. takes no responsibility for any errors that may have occurred. The publisher also accepts no responsibility for the advertising content, including any error, omission or inaccuracy therein. Calls may be recorded for training purposes. Koru Media Ltd. retains the right to publish and re-publish any images or information sent to the publication. Koru Media Ltd. Unit G, Link House, Britton Gardens, Kingswood, Bristol BS15 1TF Editor David Osgar david@linkpublishing.co.uk Accounts Jan Thomas jan@linkpublishing.co.uk Production Manager Ben Mallon ben@linkpublishing.co.uk Accounts Kathryn Quinn k.quinn@linkpublishing.co.uk printmonthly PrintMonthlyMagazine printmonthly_signlink printmonthly MEET THE TEAM PODCAST Scan the QR code to listen to our Print Monthly podcast Commissioning Editor Jonathan Pert jonathan@linkpublishing.co.uk Sales Billy Milne billy@linkpublishing.co.uk EDITOR S NOTE Jonathan Pert [L] with Nathan Ward [R], a paper artist who has been responsible for a number of inventive paper creations over the past few years for the likes of James Cropper, GF Smith, and Mount St Printers in London. SPOTTED AT VM AND DISPLAY SHOW! 4 website: www.printmonthly.co.uk May | June 2026 - Issue 360 Printed on Sappi Magno Satin from EBB Paper CBP034244 Sales Page Tuck page@linkpublishing.co.uk printmonthly PrintMonthlyMagazine printmonthly_signlink printmonthly
6 email: editor@printmonthly.co.uk May | June 2026 - Issue 360 INDUSTRY | NEWS printmonthly PrintMonthlyMagazine printmonthly_signlink printmonthly Print Scotland, the official representative body for the print and graphics industries in Scotland, has issued a warning that Scotland risks a “skills cliff edge” unless apprenticeship funding disparities with England are urgently addressed. According to Print Scotland, under the current system a Print Industry Occupations apprenticeship in Scotland attracts just £3,200 in training contribution (age 16 to 19) on average and only £1200 for 19 to 24-year-olds. The trade association calculates that in England, comparable Print Technician apprenticeships attract funding closer to £10,000, representing a gap of almost £7,000 per apprentice. Industry figures from across Scotland’s print, packaging, and label industries have spoken about the issues, saying that the disparity places Scottish businesses and training providers at a serious disadvantage. Richard McCombe, vice president of Print Scotland, has been a lead voice in the warning, and recently discussed the issue on The Print Monthly Podcast. Since the warnings were announced, the Scottish Government has officially launched a full review of Modern Apprenticeship contribution rates. The association also recently announced the addition of 22 new associate members, bringing total membership to 64 organisations. The latest additions include Ricoh, Kodak, and Bank of Scotland, with Print Scotland saying that the latter’s inclusion reflects a “continued confidence in the sector and its future.” A series of documents sent to customers of UK and European paper and board merchants have confirmed imminent paper price increases, with the hikes attributed to global conflicts along with freight, energy, and raw material costs all increasing simultaneously A number of communications have been sent to the customers of paper producers within recent months, informing them of upcoming price rises for materials including mechanical and woodfree paper, as well as kraft board and cartonboard. Paper producers have highlighted issues including electricity and natural gas price rises in the past few years, as well as a general rise in the cost of paper pulp. Both have risen dramatically since the start of 2026 and have been forecasted to remain significantly higher than normal seasonal levels. Many companies also point to an especially competitive global market in recent months, resulting in tighter margins and further impact on profitability. The price increases are in line with a recent unified pricing strategy from major paper producers in other global regions, with the first announcements coming primarily from North American producers. PCA was the ‘first mover’, announcing a $70 (£52.75) per tonne increase for containerboard on January 23rd. International Paper matched this increase just days later on January 29th, with companies including Cascades and Smurfit Westrock quickly following with their own matching announcements. Over in Europe, in February Sappi Europe publicly announced a series of price increases across its paper and packaging portfolio of between €50 - €70 (£43.6 - £61.1) per tonne, for products including its woodfree coated sheets and coated mechanical portfolios. This was in the wake of further consolidation and optimisation strategies by manufacturers in recent months. The increases are part of a ‘lockstep’ pricing strategy from global paper producers English apprentices get triple the funding, says Print Scotland The organisers behind drupa have launched a new digital knowledge platform, drupa insights, in order to expand its information offering and provide continuous market analysis for the international print and packaging industries. Drupa insights aims to provide analyses of technological developments, market changes, and economic trends based on international studies and research, tailored to the needs of an evolving industry. The new online format is developed in cooperation with Alliance Insights, the research division of PRINTING United Alliance. Access is available via onetime, free registration on the drupa website. Drupa has also unveiled a new brand identity for 2028, repositioning as a ‘connected experience space’ of intelligent, networked printing, and packaging solutions. The new brand identity includes an octopus and the slogan ‘dive into the unseen’. Global paper price hikes set to impact the UK Drupa launches digital knowledge platform By Jonathan Pert By Jonathan Pert By Jonathan Pert The new platform transforms drupa’s Global Trends Report into an ongoing digital format
8 email: editor@printmonthly.co.uk May | June 2026 - Issue 360 INDUSTRY | NEWS printmonthly PrintMonthlyMagazine printmonthly_signlink printmonthly Fujifilm has told staff members that it has taken the decision to discontinue the Acuity Prime and Acuity Ultra product lines due to changes in the wide-format inkjet sector and the pressures of the graphics printing market. In a statement directly to Print Monthly, Fujifilm says the decision to end the Acuity Prime and Acuity Ultra systems has been linked to the ‘maturing’ of the wide-format inkjet sector. The company confirmed that it sees inkjet as a market growth area and so is not withdrawing from the category but instead concentrating on areas which can bring stronger profitability and growth. The company says that all existing inventory will be reduced by Summer 2026 while inks, service and maintenance services, and the supply of consumables for existing machines will continue to be offered. Fujifilm has also said that machines and inks for Acuity Aristo and Acuity will remain available, with the company confirming that it remains committed to supporting its existing customers, fulfilling its contractual obligations, and complying with all applicable laws and regulations. Fujifilm has partially linked the decision to the competitive pressure from Chinese manufacturers which has led Fujifilm to review its long-term value strategy. Fujifilm has taken the decision to make a strategic update to its wide-format inkjet machines Fujifilm to cease sales of Acuity Prime and Acuity Ultra Xerox Holdings Group Xerox has replaced its chief executive officer, Steve Bandrowczak, after Xerox share prices fell to new lows in the last few months. In Bandrowczak’s place, the Xerox board of directors has appointed Louie Pastor as its new chief executive officer, who previously worked as chief operating officer for the corporation. The latest move from Xerox follows drops in the share price of Xerox Holdings which hit lows of $1.30 (£0.98) per share in March. The stock lost well over 80% of its value since the start of 2025, when the price was as high as $9.68 (£7.35) per share. The continued decline in share price is being attributed to several critical financial and structural factors, with investor confidence seemingly dropping despite Xerox’s acquisition of Lexmark and a recent announcement of a new global structure which aims to accelerate growth and “expand market leadership”. Speaking of his new role, Pastor says: “I am honoured to step into the role of chief executive officer and lead Xerox into its next chapter. “Steve’s leadership has been instrumental in strengthening the company’s foundation and positioning Xerox for long‑term success. We have a strong team and a clear focus on execution. I look forward to driving results and delivering on our priorities.” A statement from Xerox following the new appointment says that the company is “reaffirming its full-year 2026 guidance” and that it “remains on track to deliver on its financial and operational targets.” While headline revenue for the corporation grew by 26% in Q4 of 2025, primarily due to its acquisition of Lexmark, pro forma revenue declined by 9.0%, indicating to some that the organic core business is still shrinking. The news follows Xerox’s recent announcement of a new global structure which aims to accelerate growth and “expand market leadership”. Xerox CEO steps down following share slump Total market value for flexographic and gravure printing will reach $358.5bn (£269.3bn) in 2026, according to Smithers – a provider of testing, consulting, information, and compliance services and a global authority on the print industry. Data in Smithers’ newly published report, titled ‘The Future of Flexo vs Gravure to 2030’, reveal that flexo printing is worth $250.7bn (£188.4bn) in 2026 and is forecast to reach $284.2bn (£213.5bn) by 2030, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.2% CAGR. Meanwhile, gravure is a market valued by Smithers at $107.8bn (£81bn) in 2026, and will grow by 3.6% CAGR to 2030, reaching a total value of $124.7bn (£93.7bn). According to the report, while flexo printing continues to win market share wherever it competes directly with gravure, gravure printing is still growing faster in overall global volume – driven by rapidly expanding Asian packaging markets and industrial print sectors. The analysis, covering applications across packaging, publication, labels, décor, and functional printing, finds that gravure’s strength in high-growth Asian markets and decorative printing offsets flexo’s competitive gains in Europe and North America. Flexo and gravure printing worth £270bn By Jonathan Pert By Jonathan Pert David Osgar Smithers claims that flexo will see an annual growth rate of 3.2% to 2030 Senior figures at Xerox insist that the company is showing strong signs of growth
BUSINESS | NEWS 10 email: editor@printmonthly.co.uk May | June 2026 - Issue 360 printmonthly PrintMonthlyMagazine printmonthly_signlink printmonthly Foilco, a UK specialist in hot stamping foils, has been acquired by Japanese manufacturer, Washin. Established in 1987 in Greater Manchester, Foilco specialises in the marketing and supply of hot stamping foils for premium packaging, print, and product decoration. Founded in 1924, Washin is a global manufacturer of hot stamping foil with a main focus on decoration in the plastics market, as well as specialising in technical coatings. The deal gives Foilco access to Washin’s extensive portfolio of over 3,000 colours and 300 grade formulations. Foilco directors, Matt and Paul Hornby, first met representatives from Washin in 2025. The company was reportedly impressed by Foilco's technical knowledge, ambition for growth, and its appreciation for what has been built since it was founded in 1987. Reach, a commercial news publisher for the UK and Ireland, has announced it will be consolidating its print operations in order to improve cash generation and save on costs. The news means the closure of print sites in Saltire and Watford this year. With brands like the Mirror, Express, Daily Star, Manchester Evening News, and BelfastLive, Reach is one of the largest news organisations in the UK. In September 2025, Reach announced it was cutting hundreds of journalism jobs in a bid to create more video content and share content across its various titles. The latest plans from Reach mean the work done by the Saltire print site in Scotland is moving to Reach’s Oldham site, with a smaller portion of work going to DC Thomson’s facility in Dundee. DC Thomson is a media company that publishes the likes of The Evening Telegraph, The Sunday Post, and The Beano and Dandy comics. The work undertaken by the Watford site is planned to move operations to Broxbourne via a commercial outsourcing agreement. Reach says a thorough consultation process with all impacted employees of both sites has begun. The proposals could affect around 247 jobs across both print sites. The change has been highlighted as ending a long history of printing in Watford which has industry roots as far back as the early 19th century. The Watford site was said to employ 147 people, and was once the largest printing plant in the world Foilco acquired by Washin Reach brings an end to historic print operation Washin’s hot stamping foils includes flagship brand, KOMA FOIL By Jonathan Pert By Jonathan Pert HP has entered a reseller agreement with manroland Goss for the latter’s digital finishing solutions, FormerLine and FoldLine. Described as a “long-term strategic collaboration”, the arrangement will see HP offer the finishing solutions to complement its HP PageWide Web Press series of inkjet web printing platforms. This, HP says, will enable fully integrated production lines from print to finished book blocks or newspaper products. FormerLine is designed as a roll-to-book block solution for short and medium book runs, allowing for print runs of up to 10,000 copies in industrial digital printing. Used together with HP PageWide Web Press systems, HP says this offers the potential for a throughput of up to 7,000 book blocks per hour, each with 160 pages. As for the FoldLine multi-purpose system, the solution is designed for web speeds of up to 305m/min and can run a range of applications such as newspapers, commercial print, and direct mail. The deal comes after Manroland Sheetfed – a separate business to the manroland Goss operation – announced it had entered into insolvency proceedings (see next page). Quadient, a global automation platform designed to power secure and sustainable business connections, has announced a partnership with UK-based print service provider (PSP), Print Evolved, to launch a new intelligent mail fulfilment centre. The new centre in Tunbridge Wells is designed to deliver faster, more personalised mail services for organisations across the UK, allowing Print Evolved to significantly increase the volume of customised mail it produces. The implementation brings together Quadient’s production mail inserters, dynamic envelope printing, and AIMS data integrity software to build a fully automated operation. The automated processes can manage each step from order to delivery, with features that can improve speed, visibility, and regulatory accuracy, while also reducing manual work and shortens turnaround times. The company installed and brought its new mail fulfilment centre in Tunbridge Wells into service within eight weeks of the order. The new automated Quadient production line can manage each step from order to delivery HP sign reseller deal with manroland Goss Print Evolved and Quadient launch new mail fulfilment centre Manroland Goss is a separate business to Manroland Sheetfed By Jonathan Pert By Rob Fletcher
BUSINESS | NEWS Manroland Sheetfed to cease offset press production German offset print press manufacturer, Manroland Sheetfed, will cease operations at its Offenbach factory, with the closure directly affecting more than 660 jobs. According to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper, the decision was communicated during a recent staff meeting at the site. According to the report, it was announced that all new machine production is scheduled to end in late May, with 660 of the total 740 staff members on site to leave. All operations at the site will then conclude in early June. A smaller group of around 80 personnel will continue working through the end of the year to manage the shutdown and facilitate the potential sale of the service and spare parts business units. Regional sales operations including Manroland GB in the UK will continue to operate as service and engineering organisations. The news regarding the Offenbach site follows the announcement in March that Manroland was entering into insolvency proceedings with financial support from its parent company, Langley Holdings. The company entered what is known as ‘Schutzschirmverfahren’, which means protective shield proceedings. In an official statement the company described itself as “the beleaguered German press builder”, suggesting it was bracing itself and shareholders for turbulent news. The company was temporarily placed under protective insolvency proceedings, but Langley was unable to find an investor willing to support production of its sheetfed offset presses from its Offenbach site. In its insolvency announcement, Manroland said that despite a “technologically advanced product portfolio”, sales at the company have been declining in recent years with “mounting losses”. The decline has been attributed primarily to the shrinking market for litho printing presses, with China representing the biggest drop of around 40% of historic sales. Founded in Offenbach as Faber & Schleicher before renaming to Roland Offsetmaschinenfabrik, the company pioneered the world’s first sheetfed rotary offset press in 1911. Merging with the print division of MAN in 1979 to form Manroland, it remained a major player and innovator in the offset print market for over a century, The company fell into financial difficulty in 2000s and despite a 2012 rescue by UK-based conglomerate, Langley Holdings, the manufacturer succumbed to factors including a shifting digital landscape and failed attempts at restructuring. Manroland will cease manufacture of presses including the ROLAND 700 and 900 Friedheim announces exclusive partnerships Friedheim International, a UK supplier of print finishing, converting, and binding solutions, has secured exclusive sales representation rights in the United Kingdom for Digibook’s range of production and finishing equipment. Digibook Technology is a Swiss manufacturer specialising in automated bookbinding and finishing equipment for the digital printing industry. Digibook solutions are designed to perform all phases of book manufacturing in house, including perfect binding, endsheet and backlining, layflat binding for photobooks, three-side trimming, case making, and casing in. Earlier this year, Friedheim was also appointed as the exclusive UK sales representative for Sun Automation Group, a global leader in corrugated converting, automation, and material handling systems. This new partnership expands Friedheim’s portfolio to include the full range of Sun Automation solutions including SUN proprietary equipment, Latitude Machinery Corporation (LMC) machinery, and PARA handling systems. The agreement brings LMC’s industry-proven flexo folder-gluers, rotary die-cutters, and printer-slotters to the UK market under exclusive representation. Solutions from Digibook include the Mitabook range of finishing machinery The Wimbledon Print Company acquired by Minuteman Press The Wimbledon Print Company has officially announced its merge with Minuteman Press in a deal made with the franchise and Margaux Evans, owner of a Minuteman Press which was previously based in Epsom. Evans opened her Minuteman Press store in October of 2018, and has now acquired The Wimbledon Print Company, in a move seen as a major win and expansion for the Minuteman Press franchisee. The Wimbledon Print Company is a third-generation printing business with over 25 years in operation which was owned by Michael Woolsey and offers digital, lithographic, large-format, and display printing. Woolsey wanted to sell the business within a short timeframe due to personal circumstances and “lifechanging circumstances”. Woolsey says it was a significant decision after years of dedication and wanted to ensure the future of the company, staff, and customers were in safe hands. [L to R] Michael Woolsey, previous owner of The Wimbledon Print Company, and Margaux Evans, new owner of Minuteman Press in Wimbledon By Jonathan Pert By Jonathan Pert By Jonathan Pert 11 www.printmonthly.co.uk May | June 2026 - Issue 360
KIT & CONSUMABLES | NEWS 12 email: editor@printmonthly.co.uk May | June 2026 - Issue 360 printmonthly PrintMonthlyMagazine printmonthly_signlink printmonthly Konica Minolta announces JETvarnish 3D Web 400 Konica Minolta Business Solutions UK has unveiled the JETvarnish 3D Web 400, a new digital embellishment solution for label converters. The JETvarnish 3D Web 400 is the latest-generation roll-to-roll digital embellishment press from strategic partner, MGI Digital Technology. The roll-to-roll solution enables single-pass spot UV varnishing and hot foil stamping using a 100% digital process on a wide range of substrates. It is suitable for offset, flexo, toner, or inkjet printing, and can work with both fixed or variable data for either flat or 3D labels. With a modular concept, the JETvarnish 3D Web 400 is available in six configurations Trade printer and online print provider, Solopress, has been announced as the first UK company to install a RICOH Pro VC80000 high-speed inkjet press. The investment is said to be a part of a £2m+ investment by Solopress which is hoping to boost its digital print capacity by around 80%, strengthening its production capabilities and turnaround times in the process. Solopress’ investment includes the VC80000 as well as a Ricoh C9500 toner engine and a Horizon Ice StichLiner Mark V which was purchased from Intelligent Finishing Systems (IFS). The VC80000 is reported to deliver speeds of up to 150m per minute with AI-driven automation, and real-time print quality monitoring. UK online trade printer, Route 1 Print, has announced an initial £1m investment into its Stickers & Labels range, with further investment planned in the coming months. The investment at the Rotheram-based printer, which operates from a 300,000sq ft production facility, is part of its ongoing commitment to innovation and supporting print resellers. At the core of this investment is the addition of a new HP Indigo 6K digital press, which is designed for high-quality, consistent output across a wide range of label materials while supporting flexible, short-run production, and fast turnaround times. The HP press has been complemented by further investment into finishing capabilities, including the installation of an ABG Digicon Lite digital finishing system, designed to provide precise cutting and efficient finishing in order to increase capacity and maintain quality across stickers and labels. The business has also hinted at a major additional finishing technology set to be introduced in the coming months which it believes will further strengthen its position to create “one of the most advanced stickers and labels setups in the UK market.” This development has continued into 2026 with the introduction of new material options, including transparent polypropylene and silver metallic polypropylene, opening further opportunities for premium label applications. To further support its trade customers, Route 1 Print has introduced a fully unbranded Stickers & Labels sample pack, which enables resellers to showcase the range directly to their own clients. Route 1’s new HP Indigo 6K press will support flexible and short-run label and sticker production First VC80000 installed at Solopress Route 1 Print makes £1m investment [R to L] Jack Clifford from Solopress with engineers from Ricoh at Solopress’ premises in Southend-on-Sea By Jonathan Pert By David Osgar Flexpress makes UK first investment Trade printer, Flexpress, has ordered a RMGT 970PF-8 from MPL, the UK distributor for RMGT offset litho presses based in Surrey. The investment has been cited as the first of its kind for mainland UK, due to the new SimulChange automatic plate changing system which is incorporated into the system. The press includes an eight-colour system which incorporates LED-UV drying and camera-based quality control equipment. As part of the SimulChange system, the press can remove and load eight plates in 65 seconds. Chairman of Flexpress, Steve Wenlock, calls the purchase the company’s “biggest ever investment” ands a major upgrade to operations. CDS Print Services boosts output with Plockmatic Following a major investment programme in 2024 and 2025, CDS Print Services has upgraded multiple finishing lines with the latest systems from Morgana and Plockmatic. The business recently unified all its print-related activity under the CDS Print Services name, following an internal reorganisation designed to drive closer alignment across its teams and enable faster turnaround for clients. Installed in 2024, the Morgana BM5035 bookletmaker unit has already produced more than 380,000 books for CDS, transforming digitally printed sheets into fully finished booklets. The RMGT 970PF-8 long perfector is part of the RMGT 9 Series [Pictured] Darren Burley, head of operations at CDS Print Services By Jonathan Pert By Jonathan Pert
KIT & CONSUMABLES | NEWS Commercial printer, Creative Print Leeds, has sourced, installed, and calibrated a replacement Computer-to-Plate (CtP) system in under one business day, with the help of International Graphic Supplies (IGS). Creative Print Leeds specialises in B2 lithographic printing, with its core output coming from ten-colour and six-colour HEIDELBERG B2 presses. After a recent catastrophic failure of the company’s aging CtP device left it beyond repair, its owner Delroy Goodison had to act fast to avoid major impact to its high-volume jobs. Following a consultation with Peter Flynn from IGS, a deal was finalised within days for a fully refurbished Screen 4300-S with an automatic plate loader. A day after the deal was made, the CtP was delivered and the IGS technical team was on-site. HP has used the Dscoop Edge Rockies digital print conference to unveil new AI-driven software and press innovations designed to help commercial print service providers (PSPs) unlock profitable growth. Dscoop Edge Rockies took place in Colorado, USA, with attendees able to explore new automation technology, attend expert-led education sessions, and network with industry peers. Among the announcements, the print press manufacturer has launched the new HP Indigo 7K+ mid-range A3 commercial print digital press. Built on HP Indigo’s 7X00 platform which more than 2,200 presses worldwide already run on, the new press has been developed to deliver enhanced cost efficiency, versatility, and operational simplicity by aligning with HP’s broader vision for “nonstop digital printing.” The new HP Indigo 7K+ is designed to address mid-range customers’ needs for higher automation and operational simplicity, along with better economics and flexible print mode options, to support both high margin specialty applications and cost-efficient everyday jobs. The 7K+ incorporates on-press automation and AI tools that aim to streamline manual processes and can enable more efficient, data-driven decision-making. HP Indigo also announced the addition of new print‑focused Automated Mobile Robots (AMRs), designed through an extended collaboration with MoviĜo Robotics. For the first time, HP will sell and fully support these AMRs directly, offering a strengthened portfolio that includes AMRs designed for B2 pallets of HP Indigo Commercial sheet-fed presses, as well as postal pallets, carts, and racks. The new HP Indigo 7K+ offers new colour monitoring tools and an AI-based inspection system IGS ‘saves the day’ with 24-hour CtP replacement HP launches new Indigo press at Dscoop [L to R] Peter Flynn, managing director of IGS, and Creative Print Leeds owner, Delroy Goodison By Jonathan Pert Northern Irish packaging firm, Print Library, has announced the arrival of a HEIDELBERG Speedmaster CX104, a press and plate machine that will enable the business to double production capacity. The new equipment purchase is part of a £1.5m investment to enhance Print Library’s kit and output. The CX104 is HEIDLEBERG’s global bestseller designed for commercial, label, and packaging printing, with more than 6,100 units currently in use worldwide and a record of 42 million sheets printed on CX104s in a single year. As part of the announcement of the new press, the Print Library team enlisted the help of Belfast-based CGI studio, Squint Creative, to create a new fake out-of-home (FOOH) video showcasing the press, which has been posted on social media. The film shows a supersized HEIDELBERG printer landing at iconic spots around Belfast while printed items float, fly, and land around it. This includes the CX104 crash-landing at the top of Cave Hill before shooting out packaging from drinks brand, Dunville’s. Scodix, a manufacturer of digital print embellishment solutions, has announced the launch of its latest press, the Scodix Ultra 7000 SHD. The press is engineered specifically for rigid and corrugated substrates, allowing for high-definition tactile finishes to be applied directly to heavy-duty media. The new capability allows printers and converters to apply tactile effects to a diverse range of substrates including Dibond, acrylic, Forex, foam board, and corrugated board. The launch of the press also marks a strategic expansion into the signage, display, and corrugated packaging sectors for Scodix. The company will officially unveil the Ultra 7000 SHD at the co-located ‘Corrugated' event during FESPA Global Print Expo 2026, which takes place from May 19th to 22nd at the Fira de Barcelona in Spain. Alongside the Scodix Ultra 7000 SHD, Scodix has announced a new software embellishment visualisation tool that allows users to generate realistic previews of how their embellishments will look and feel on a finished piece. The Ultra 7000 SHD is compatible with media including acrylic, foam board, and corrugated board Print Library invests in HEIDELBERG Speedmaster Scodix releases new ‘market first’ embellishment solution The campaign video includes giant packaged boxes flying from a HEIDELBERG press in central Belfast By Jonathan Pert By Jonathan Pert 13 www.printmonthly.co.uk May | June 2026 - Issue 360
14 email: editor@printmonthly.co.uk May | June 2026 - Issue 360 printmonthly PrintMonthlyMagazine printmonthly_signlink printmonthly SOFTWARE | NEWS UK-based advertising marketplace, Advercado, has announced plans for Version 2 of its marketplace platform, which introduces a refined interface, improved booking tools, and greater scalability. Advercado was first founded as a ‘one-stop shop’ for small businesses to browse, book, and buy local out-of-home (OOH) advertising spaces. The website acts as a middleman, connecting small business owners directly with vendors who sell advertising space. Speaking to Print Monthly about the core concept behind the company, Advercado’s managing director, Joe Reid, says: “We wanted to offer the same OOH opportunities to the 99% of small businesses, by giving them the tools to create a marketplace where local ad spend also stays within the community.” Advercado has since expanded its offering to incorporate a range of other potential marketing services, including small-format and wide-format print. The latest update to the community‑driven online marketplace now enables small- and medium‑sized printers to create their own online storefronts and product catalogues, in a format that Advercado labels as “comparable to Vistaprint, but without the cost, complexity, or ongoing technical burden.” Explaining this concept further, Reid says: “Where we can offer a suite of tools to list variable products to print businesses, the printers can simply take advantage of these listing tools to create their own store and storefront.” TRACK7 Technology Group, the parent group of Newcastle-based digital development agency Enigma Interactive, has acquired RWS Web Solutions, the Cumbrian business behind Flex4 Online Print Solution (OPS). Flex4 OPS, which is based in Kendal, Cumbria, will continue to operate as an independent business, with co-founder Francis Whiteley remaining as managing director and the existing team staying in place. Founded and developed in the UK, the Online Print Solution (OPS) from Flex4 combines web-to-print technology with digital marketing to help print businesses develop profitable online sales channels. Its client and partner base includes companies such as Optimus MIS and Konica Minolta. The acquisition represents an extension of Enigma’s output into the specialist digital commerce segment. For Flex4 OPS, the deal aims to provide access to greater technical depth and strategic investment. The move is Enigma’s parent group’s first acquisition, forming part of a longer-term strategy to expand TRACK7 through the addition of complementary digital platforms and specialist teams. Steve Grainger, founder and managing director at Enigma Interactive, says: “Flex4 OPS has built a strong product and is market leader in a highly competitive sector. Bringing the business under the umbrella of the Track7 Technology Group will allow it to consolidate its market leading position and support its next stage of growth. Over the coming months we’ll be investing in the platform, strengthening capability, and helping the team scale, while keeping Flex4’s day-today operations independent.” Francis Whiteley, managing director at Flex4 OPS, adds: “This is a positive step for Flex4. After many years as a familyrun business, this acquisition gives us the backing, leadership support, and investment we need to take the company to the next level, while keeping things ‘business as usual’ for our customers.” [Pictured] Steve Grainger, founder and managing director at Enigma Interactive Advercado challenges status quo Print-focused technology provider, Fiery, has announced the official launch of Fiery Scribe, an agentic AI solution designed to automatically read email job requests and convert them into ready-to-print jobs. Fiery Scribe can analyse email requests to determine the print specifications of a job before uploading them into the Fiery Command WorkStation, with the aim of avoiding human errors and shortening time spent in prepress. The Scribe AI system is agentic, meaning that it acts independently to achieve its task without human intervention, automatically monitoring email inboxes for job requests. Once a job is detected, Fiery Scribe uses large language model (LLM) training to extract key details like quantity, media, and finishing before applying relevant job properties. The system is also designed to actively learn from past jobs to further improve its accuracy. Company behind Flex4 OPS purchased Fiery launches Fiery Scribe Advercado connects small businesses directly with vendors who sell marketing or advertising services By Jonathan Pert By Jonathan Pert By Jonathan Pert Fiery Scribe is designed to actively learn from past jobs to improve accuracy
15 www.printmonthly.co.uk May | June 2026 - Issue 360
Zebra Print Group, a familyrun print solutions provider, is celebrating after two prestigious wins at the Yorkshire Leadership Awards 2026 by its managing director, Samantha Overton. Overton picked up both the Leader of the Year and Manufacturing Leader of the Year awards at the ceremony after impressing the judges and succeeding over some of Yorkshire’s most prominent business leaders. The judges praised Overton’s clear strategic vision, commitment to operational excellence, and passion for nurturing talent within the manufacturing sector. Zebra Print Group says that under Overton’s leadership the company has gone from “strength to strength” as it has championed British manufacturing but also delivered sustained growth and investment in people, technology, and customer service. Mark Stephenson has launched a new corporate storytelling venture, named ‘The Spark Organisation’, following the news of him leaving Fujifilm after almost 27 years. Stephenson was a longstanding business development manager at Fujifilm Europe and a key figure of the UK print industry, with a range of promotional and presenting experience including representing Fujifilm at drupa 2024. With The Spark Organisation, Stephenson will now offer his unique approach to storytelling to a wider range of clients. The Spark Organisation, so-called because of its founder’s nickname of ‘Mark the Spark’, will focus on telling engaging print stories through a variety of mediums including videos, exhibition panels, and podcasts. Speaking about his new organisation, Stephenson says: “I couldn’t resist the opportunity to work with some of the best in the print industry. I’ve become close to many top companies and made some great friends due to my involvement with the Independent Print Industries Association (IPIA). Now I hope to apply what I’ve learned to help them reach an even greater, more diverse audience.” Stephenson has already landed a host of new collaborations and ventures since announcing that he was leaving Fujifilm. Stephenson has launched a new series, titled ‘Diary of a Castaway’, with media platform Print Island. The news coincides with the announcement of a new partnership between Print Island and North American print association, PRINTING United Alliance. Those wishing to collaborate with Stephenson have been encouraged to contact him on mark@thespark.email MD at Zebra Print wins Leader of the Year award Mark Stephenson launches new organisation Overton [pictured] says the awards are testament to the hard work, creativity, and dedication of the Zebra Print Group team By Jonathan Pert By David Osgar UK specialty paper artisan, James Cropper, is celebrating a team success after being named as finalists in six categories at this year’s Women in Packaging Excellence Awards. Among the nominations is Stephanie Walker, head of technical at James Cropper, who is included in the list for Woman of the Year in Recycling & Circular Innovation. Both Jordan Scott, head of marketing, and Zoe Lovell, marketing and key account coordinator, are finalists for the Packaging Marketing & Brand Impact Award. Charlotte Knowles, customer experience and planning lead, is nominated for the Packaging Operations Excellence Award in the Manufacturers, Suppliers & Technology Specialists category. Last but not least, Julia Lawrence, regional head of sales, is a finalist for the Sales & Business Development Leader Award in the Manufacturers, Converters & Producers category. James Cropper is itself named as a finalist for the Packaging Services or Team Excellence Award. Featuring a host of new award categories, the Women in Packaging Excellence Awards 2026 aims to shine a spotlight on women from the entire packaging value chain. Iain Bullock, currently managing director of print finishing equipment manufacturer, Renz UK, will succeed Bettine Pellant as the new chief executive officer of Printing Industry Confederation (Picon) from October 2026. According to Picon, Bullock was first identified as a potential candidate for the role two years ago. Speaking about the appointment, Pellant says: “Renz UK has been a Picon member since 1997 and Iain has represented the company all that time and has been on the Council since 2019. He is well known in the industry, approachable, and he understands the challenges faced by graphic arts companies, especially SMEs.” Speaking about his predecessor, Bullock says: “I have known Bettine for nearly 20 years. During this time, at Picon events and industry functions, I have only ever heard complimentary comments about her.” Bullock will shadow Pellant from July 1st to September 30th, assuming his new role on October 1st. [L to R] Current Picon CEO, Bettine Pellant, with her successor, Iain Bullock James Cropper receives six nominations in Women in Packaging Awards Iain Bullock announced as new Picon CEO Five team members from James Cropper received individual awards, with the company itself also nominated By Jonathan Pert PEOPLE | NEWS printmonthly PrintMonthlyMagazine printmonthly_signlink printmonthly 16 email: editor@printmonthly.co.uk May | June 2026 - Issue 360
EVENTS | NEWS 20 email: editor@printmonthly.co.uk May | June 2026 - Issue 360 printmonthly PrintMonthlyMagazine printmonthly_signlink printmonthly The British Printing Industries Federation (BPIF) has announced the winners of this year’s edition of the British Book Design & Production Awards, with Beowulf (The Morris Edition) going away with the coveted ‘Book of the Year’ honour. All winners were revealed during a ceremony at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London on April 14th, hosted for the third time by designer and illustrator Anita Mangan. This year’s competition ran with the theme of ‘BOUND’ to celebrate the array of binding methods and the history and intricacies that can be applied to books. Some 101 books were shortlisted for the 2025 awards, with winners announced across 19 categories. Beowulf (The Morris Edition) won the top gong this year with judges saying the publication “punched well above its weight”. “With traditional creative and artisanal activities under pressure like never before, and with letterpress printing classified as endangered in the UK by the Heritage Crafts Association, this book is a timely reminder of the importance and beauty of hand-printed works,” the BPIF says in a statement. Elsewhere, Rhys Lewis from University of West England (UWE) Bristol clinched top spot in the student category for his creative book, A Month's Celery Gets You Four Leeks Pay. The judges praised the book for its “inventive use of materials, thoughtful design, varied production methods, and overall creativity”. After the ceremony, each guest received a copy of the Book of the Night, designed by EN-TE and printed by Northend on paper by Sappi and Elliot Baxter & Company (EBB). In addition, binding by Diamond Print Services tied the book with the ‘BOUND’ theme for 2025’s awards. BPIF chief executive, Charles Jarrold, also took the opportunity to pay tribute to the wider book production market. During a speech at the event, he set out how British consumers spent over £1.8bn on print books in 2025, and that total physical book revenue is approaching £4bn, reinforcing the UK’s position as a leading book-producing nation – and crucially, demonstrating an ongoing demand for printed books. The full list of winners can be found on the BPIF website By Rob Fletcher BPIF celebrates 2025 British Book Design & Production Awards winners Paper advocacy group, Two Sides, has reported a very strong response to the second edition of Love Paper Week. Taking place from February 2nd to 6th this year, Love Paper Week is designed to highlight the unique role of paper in our everyday lives while promoting its strong environmental credentials. The campaign provided a variety of free resources such as social media content, email signatures, virtual backgrounds, and promotional graphics for companies, brands, and organisations to share, aiming to debunk a number of misconceptions about the environmental impact of paper. Following the event, Two Sides has described this year’s Love Paper Week as a “highly successful five days of celebration and education about the sustainable qualities of print and paper.” Over the five-day campaign, almost 400 companies and organisations downloaded the Love Paper Week 2026 materials, with the majority distributing them across social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and X. Industry participants included Ricoh, Konica Minolta, and Burgo Group, as well as the Paperboard Packaging Council, the British Printing Industries Federation (BPIF), and Belgian industry body, Papier.be. Meanwhile, a UK-based Love Paper Week competition on Instagram gained nearly 90,000 views and more than 650 entries. The campaign also broadened its global reach with Love Paper North America, Brazil, and Latin America creating their own resources and landing pages. During the celebrations, Essex-based print provider, Solopress said on Linkedin: “This week, we’re proudly showing our support for Love Paper Week and celebrating everything we love about paper. From its creativity and versatility to the fact it’s renewable, recyclable, and sustainably sourced, paper plays a huge role in bringing brands and ideas to life.” Two Sides campaign manager, Josh Birch, adds: “Paper continues to be one of the most sustainable and effective forms of communication – it’s renewable, recyclable, and biodegradable, yet many misconceptions remain. Love Paper Week is about giving the industry a collective voice to challenge myths, share facts, and celebrate the benefits of paper with businesses and consumers.” Two Sides is already working on plans for Love Paper Week 2027, building on the success of the first two years and expanding the range of resources available for companies to use. More information on the next edition will be announced in due course. The campaign broadened its global reach this year with engagement in North America, Brazil, and Latin America Love Paper Week sees “staggering” response By Jonathan Pert
21 www.printmonthly.co.uk May | June 2026 - Issue 360 EVENTS | NEWS While it is easy to get into the minutia of stand sizes, exhibition space, and visitor numbers, FESPA 2026 includes six events, three conferences, and special features including the World Wrap Masters competition – which all shows how the trade event space is changing. As sectors have changed, spending has altered, and value is needed from trips and expenditures more than ever, FESPA is addressing this with a ‘value for money’ exhibition. Under the FESPA 2026 lineup is the usual FESPA Global Print Expo along with European Sign Expo, and the Personalisation Experience, both returning after runs in previous years. New for 2026 is the addition of WrapFest, which has previously held two iterations at Silverstone in the UK, as well as two brand-new shows: Corrugated and Textile. Michael Ryan, head of FESPA Global Print Expo, describes this year’s show as a “directional meeting point for speciality printers and sign-makers”. The show this year is running under the strapline ‘The Place for Experts’ which Ryan says places the community front of mind. “Whether you’re an exhibitor, associations member, visitor, or part of the FESPA team, you are the experts and we’re confident that FESPA Global Print Expo and it’s co-located events will enable you to broaden your expertise.” The thinking behind this year’s strapline is to set the tone for what visitors can expect by entering what Ryan calls an “environment where knowledge sharing and innovation are at the forefront.” When talking about the new additions that have been added to this year’s show, Ryan says that the FESPA federation has seen several different trends emerge, and businesses entering verticals such as apparel print, and corrugated packaging and display products. Textile will focus on printed textiles including fashion, apparel, and interior décor, with experts on hands to share knowledge and exchange ideas. Brands specifically in the Textile section include STAHLS’, Kornit Digital, Roq, TRUJET, and Brother, which will offer a variety of decoration and printing solutions. Visitors can also see a range of screen printing solutions from the likes of Anatol, CST, Easiway, Exile Technologies, and Saati Iberica. Discussing the Corrugated show, which will focus on corrugated packaging and point-of-sale (POS) display production, Ryan says the event will provide a platform for manufacturers of corrugated cardboard packaging and display solutions to meet suppliers of materials, machinery, workflow software, and other technologies. Corrugated is a joint venture with Brunton Publications and will have 1,500sq m of hall space in Hall 3, and will offer visitors solutions in high-speed print, precision converting, sustainable substrates, robotics and automation, and more. The space is made for the “next generation of packaging manufacturing” as well as other corrugated applications. Finally, WrapFest 2026 will take up more than 2,000sq m of exhibition space in Hall 2 of the Fire de Barcelona and will bring together global brands and specialists in films, adhesives, laminates, and surface wrapping solutions. FESPA says that WrapFest visitors will also have the chance to see the latest printing and cutting technologies via brands like Epson, HP, Mimaki, Mutoh, and Roland, which will highlight their involvement in WrapFest from different parts of the exhibition. FESPA has also highlighted its range of knowledge-sharing experiences and demonstrations including its dedicated WrapTalks conference programme, as well as the high-energy World Wrap Masters competition, which has been a staple of FESPA exhibitions for over a decade. The Europe and Series Final will take place throughout the exhibition, which takes place between May 18th and 22nd, 2026. FESPA Set to Become ‘The Place for Experts’ By David Osgar This year’s FESPA will take place at the Fira de Barcelona in Spain FESPA 2026 will bring together over 550 exhibitors across six shows
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