Darwin conference promotes print innovation

Reinforcing its claim as the leading digital printing association for the industry, the National Inplant Printing and Publishing Association (NIPPA) launched a groundbreaking White Paper in Darwin this week that charts the convergence of information technologies and the role inplant printing can play in the knowledge age. Referred to as the Darwin Protocols the seminal document details the drivers of innovation in the rapidly growing inplant industry and the impact of external factors on its future.

Commissioned by Canon in response to NIPPA’s request, and written by high-profile industry analyst, Richard Vines, the White Paper is seen as the launching pad of a process of industry examination and development. According to David Harrison, president of NIPPA, “It has exceeded my expectations and highlights many of the challenges facing the industry, but more importantly it provides lots of solutions and ways of moving forward. It is a very impressive document and will lead to more discussions as the industry comes to terms with its future.”

The White Paper, which is available for download at www.nippa.com.au is an analysis of the challenges facing organizations as they deal with the rapid convergence of information and by on-demand digital printing. It clarifies the debate as to whether in-plant printing or out-sourcing and facilities management (FM) is the most suitable way of dealing with the knowledge era for many organizations.

Martin Booth, Box Hill TAFE and MC of the conference, launched and commended the White Paper as a useful tool for in-plant professionals who may have to market themselves and their divisions within host organizations. “Innovation is the key,” he said. “This White Paper recognises that we are one of the most innovative printing sectors.”

He proposed the creation of a number of ‘focused’ versions of the White Paper to make it more accessible for CEOs and other stakeholders.


Staying at the Top

The launch of the White Paper was one of the highlights in a conference that marks a watershed for NIPPA. The organization, which represents many (138) of the 310 inplant printing facilities in Australia and New Zealand, including almost the entire university sector, finds itself playing a pivotal role in the integration of digital imaging technology. As major equipment supply companies such as Fuji Xerox and Ricoh move into FM, the professional in-plant managers, who often have the crucial say on the purchase of equipment, are becoming more assertive of their role in the process. This often leads to overt competition and clashes between the professionals and the suppliers. Fuji Xerox was a notable absence from the line-up of sponsors at this year’s NIPPA event.

The growing importance of the association is easily gauged by the line-up of major industry suppliers keen to be identified as part of what is an increasingly important sector with latest figures from the USA (which can be taken as an indication to the local scene) showing in-plants produce US$15.6 billion of retail value print every year. The sector accounts for over one-third of all black & white copier/printers producing 70+ppm, 23.5% of colour copier/printers, and 23.9% of all offset presses.


Digital technology Darwin style

Darwin is not the kind of town where formality holds much sway – shorts, t-shirts and bare feet is the conference garb of choice. But the casual attire at NIPPA did not detract from the high-level of presentations from members and invitees. Brian Evans, Queensland University of Technology, set the standard with his exposition of FlexiPrint, a system to deliver printed material to students on-demand and at reasonable costs following the shift of teaching materials onto the internet. (See further story this bulletin).

Other presentations from supplier representatives such as Brian Pettit of GBC and Heyman Zelm of Currie Group concentrated on the technology, specifically the importance of keeping up with the latest in document finishing equipment. While recognising that digital printing speeds have increased to a huge degree, finishing tends to be the forgotten relative in terms of investment. Yet, according to Brian Pettit, it accounts for 20 –25% of profit from print-on-demand shops.

Howard Chang and Steve Grzegorczyn of Australian Paper left it to their merchant colleague, Tony Bertrand of Spicers Office Paper, to launch a new cut-sheet paper product, Australian. Unashamedly pitching for the increasingly significant green factor, Australian is an 80gsm sheet composed of 10% recycled content. A special discount for NIPPA members will apply from December.

Spicers Office Paper also announced the formation of DTec, a new division of PaperlinX that is focusing on the digital printing sector. Set-up to handle the specific requirements of digital facilities such as in-plant with its shorter runs and more complex logistic demands, DTec provides information and trouble-shooting on various substrates suitable for digital printing.