ISO knowledge is power for printers

ISO affects everyone in the printing industry; from the buyer to the seller, according to speakers at the You Can Do it! Printing Colour Standard The Complete Pathway dinner.

The three guest speakers offered different perspectives on what has undeniably become the buzzword of the Australian printing industry. Dave Mann, Stream Solutions design studio manager spoke about what it is that customers want; David Hopewell, Craft Inprint’s national operations manager, provide a case study on what printing to AS ISO 12647-2 standard has done for the business while Luke Wooldridge, Kayell Australia graphic arts and print specialist, gave some tips on what it takes to gain ISO certification.

Pictured: ISO experts, (l-r), Dave Mann; Bob Lamont; David Hopewell and Luke Wooldridge.

According to the LIA’s NSW executive officer, Bob Lamont, the dinner is the next step in educating the printing industry.

“It is a practical follow-on from our last meeting to show our attendees why print buyers demand that printers use ISO-certified processes along with an opportunity for them to hear from someone who has implemented the process into their business,” he said.

Last year, Michael Hannan’s IPMG group kicked off its ISO rollout around Australia. Hopewell, who chose Kayell to conduct the process, spoke honestly and openly about the journey. “The rigour required for third-party certification is in the long-term best interests of our business and clients,” he said.

“It [ISO] threw many challenges our way and we’re proud to say that we met them head-on. Since implementation we’ve not had a colour issue with a client in Sydney or Queensland.”

Wooldridge, who has assessed Craft Inprint and many other print businesses around the country, sees calibration as of key importance. “Calibration is the key to making everything work predictably so you know what the final result will be,” he said. “You need to do it regularly.”

Dealing with customers on a regular basis, Mann can attest that their understanding of printing has increased. It is vital for printers to stay one step ahead.

“Don’t let your customer master your knowledge before you,” he warned.

Starting the ISO journey
Tim Lu, manager of Sydney-based CTI Colour Printer, made the move towards ISO earlier this year after noticing the increase of its importance.

“There has been a lot of interest in the ISO standard,” he said. “At PacPrint I visited the Kayell stand and learnt how we could use the ISO standard to enhance our printing.”

Pictured: Tim Lu (left) with Luke Wooldridge.

Lu undertook the Kayell ISO ANZ compliance program in June this year. Luke Wooldridge, Kayell Australia graphic arts and print specialist, who assisted in the process, believes that it was a great learning curve for the CTI Colour Printer team.

“They now have a better understanding of the ISO standard and the tools and training to check the process regularly,” Wooldridge said.