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Sustana Advances as a Clean Materials Company

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The rebrand will consolidate its fiber, paper, and recovery businesses under the united Sustana umbrella, signifying a bold new step in the organization’s transformation as a clean materials company.

Sustana new logo

[De Pere, WI – January 16, 2024] – In a strategic move to streamline its operations and enhance its commitment to sustainability, Sustana proudly announces the rebranding of its subsidiary companies, including Sustana Fiber, Rolland, and Hanna Paper, under the united Sustana umbrella.

Fabian de Armas, Chairman and CEO of Sustana, expressed his enthusiasm for the rebrand, stating, “This strategic move marks a significant milestone in our journey toward a more circular and nature-positive future. By uniting our business units under the Sustana brand, we are creating a stronger, more united company around our shared purpose – to make sustainability an ingredient in everyday products.”

Aaron Ling, Director of Sustainability at Sustana, highlighted the company’s ambition to drive the clean materials and methods movement forward. “A more sustainable future isn’t possible unless materials adopt more eco-friendly practices. Sustana’s mission is to develop sustainable solutions with clean materials and a circular mindset. Through innovation and collaboration, we can show that it’s possible to produce high-quality, fiber-based materials while minimizing waste, preserving natural resources, and protecting biodiversity.”

De Armas emphasized how the rebrand positions Sustana as the premier provider of holistic, sustainable fiber-based solutions and services. “From waste prevention to sourcing alternative fiber to paper production, we embrace a circular mindset at every step. We believe this will draw and invite prospects and partners who are committed to delivering a more sustainable future. It’s about creating a shared vision that aligns us toward a common goal.”

Ling added, “This rebrand is about inspiring action. Sustana doesn’t just promote sustainability; we practice it. We apply that principle to every point in the sustainability journey – from day-to-day operations to strategic direction setting. This move is a testament to our commitment to creating positive change in the industry and beyond.”

Renee Yardley, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Sustana, emphasized how this rebrand signifies a new chapter for the company, reinforcing its dedication to sustainability and innovation, “This rebrand allows Sustana to deliver on customers’ needs every step of the way from sourcing clean materials, to producing finished goods to recycling, positioning our brand as a complete solution.”

About Sustana

Sustana is dedicated to finding new ways of putting clean materials within more everyday paper products—sustainably, responsibly, and meaningfully. We are an industry-leading producer of quality fiber-based products and services built on a solid commitment to sustainability and continuous improvement. From recovery to fiber to paper production, Sustana produces the clean materials used in coffee cups, food packaging, your favorite book, and so much more. At Sustana, creating real change starts from within. Learn more about how our products and manufacturing practices support the circular economy at www.sustanasolutions.com.

Art Advertising adds Domino N610i,their first digital narrow web press

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Stacy and Gary Gestring

Art Advertising, located in Jonesboro, Arkansas USA was founded in 1969, opening its doors as Art Sign Company. Transitioning into screen-printed graphics in the 1970’s, the sign division was sold off in 1980 and the company became Art Adverting focusing solely on industrial labels and other screen-printed products. The company’s quick growth across a broader range of industries necessitated moving into a new building in 1985. Over the next decade, Art Advertising’s offering would expand to include flexographic roll labels and traditional offset printing, still catering to the needs of regional, industrial clients. In 1995, Stacy & Gary Gestring joined the business and began efforts to accelerate growth. Their customer base expanded nationwide as they continued to add new products and services. In 2007, the company relocated to its current location. Since then, they have added another 10,000 sq. ft. building to house their wide format division, bringing them full circle to be able to offer larger outdoor sign products again. Today with over 28,000 square feet of production across two facilities, Art Advertising is one of the most diversified printing companies nationwide. And they continue to grow. In December 2023, Art Advertising added their first digital narrow web press …the Domino N610i 7-color digital UV inkjet label press.

We caught up with Art Advertising’s owners Stacy & Gary Gestring to learn more about their business, the drivers for adding digital, and why Domino. Stacy is president and oversees finance and production. Gary is vice president and oversees sales, purchasing, estimating, and HR.

Exceeding customer expectations

Gary begins, “We specialize in decals and labels for manufacturers. Our strength is in meeting custom requirements and outdoor durable markets. Our customers value our reliability in providing their labels and decals on time and within their high-quality requirements and specifications. Our key strength is our ability to solve our customers’ problems, whether it be a need for custom adhesive, creating decal kits, or fulfilment services. We’re committed to exceeding their expectations.”

Why digital? Why Domino?

Stacy says, “We have long recognized the value of digital printing for great color and ease of setup, and we are looking forward to the increased speed and variable data capabilities of the Domino. The Domino N610i is our first digital narrow web press.”

Gary says, “We’ve been familiar with Domino for years, seeing them at trade shows and knowing their offering as a high-end piece of equipment, while hoping our increasing demand would justify having one.” Stacy adds, “Domino was on our short list for its ink durability, high-resolution print, and wide color gamut. The great communication and responsiveness of the Domino team gave us the confidence to make the final purchase decision.”

When asked if they anticipate any changes in the type of label jobs run or projects they pursue due to the capabilities of the N610i, both Stacy and Gary show tremendous excitement. Gary says, “We are most excited by the greater efficiency and new markets we’ll be able to pursue with the Domino. We’ve been mainly focused on long term outdoor durable markets. The Domino will greatly increase our competitiveness in short term durability and consumer goods markets.”

And Stacy is also enthusiastic on the Domino N610i maximizing their productivity, efficiency, profit, and opportunities. “We expect that the Domino will greatly reduce our production time on certain label lines, increasing productivity and improving profit margins. Our more recent investments were all in the screen department where we have the latest high speed rotary presses. Now, we anticipate the Domino N610i will bring our roll label department a huge leap forward and open up markets we’ve previously not had access to because our existing flexo equipment was too slow, or we had a cost disadvantage because we would need to outsource larger or full color roll label orders. When considering the cost justification of the Domino, we looked at both, the improved efficiency we will gain from the orders we have been running through other processes, and the potential to grow into new markets. So, we are very excited with the installation of the Domino digital press.”

Installed, Trained, Ready to Go!

The Domino N610i was installed at Art Advertising in December 2023, and their team went through a very comprehensive training program. Stacy says, “We have been very pleased with Domino. The detailed scheduling of the install and training were impressive. When our team came back from Gurnee, they said it was the best training they have ever received on a piece of equipment. While we are just getting the Domino up and running, we are confident their team is with us, and committed to our success and growth moving forward.”

Is there a ‘Domino Difference’?

Gary says, “I think the Domino Difference is their people. We have felt a comfort level with the Domino team, and a trust that they’ll be with us as a true partner to a level higher than we’ve experienced.”

Stacy concludes, “While we’ve continually added new printing technologies and production types, we are more excited about the potential the Domino N610i has to propel our company to the next level, than any equipment purchase we’ve ever made.”

Domino is a leading manufacturer and distributor of digital printing and product identification solutions. Celebrating its 46th year in business, Domino is a global organization with world headquarters in the UK, and North America headquarters in Gurnee, IL. Domino has 25 subsidiaries, representation in over 120 countries, and over 3,000 employees worldwide. For more information on Domino digital printing, please visit dominodigitalprinting.com

Immel Construction: Paul Martzke named recipient of 2024 Wisconsin Titan 100

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(Green Bay, WI) Titan CEO and headline sponsor Wipfli LLP are pleased to announce Paul Martzke, President of Immel Construction, as a 2024 Wisconsin Titan 100. The Titan 100 program recognizes Wisconsin’s Top 100 CEO’s & C-level executives. They are the area’s most accomplished business leaders in their industry using criteria that includes demonstrating exceptional leadership, vision, and passion. Collectively the 2024 Wisconsin Titan 100 and their companies employ more than 148,000 individuals and generate $76.4 billion dollars in annual revenues.

Paul Martzke

It’s not every day that you hear about an architect leading a construction firm, but Paul Martzke is not your typical architect, having worked as a general contractor for over 15 years with Immel Construction. Paul started his role in leadership by directing projects for clients like the University of Wisconsin and Door County’s Cana Island Lighthouse. Shortly after, Paul took on the role as Immel’s Director of Business Development, securing opportunities with some of the region’s most recognizable landmarks and utilizing his extensive involvement in the community to build meaningful relationships. Paul transitioned into his current role as President of Immel Construction in 2020 and was instrumental in Immel’s evolution to a 100% employee-owned company, creating an atmosphere of ownership and teamwork. In 2023, Paul led Immel to their highest sales year, generating $135 million in revenue.

Serving as the 2023 President of the Associated General Contractors of Wisconsin and as a previous President for American Institute of Architects Wisconsin, he is believed to be the only professional in the state of Wisconsin to have achieved both accolades.

Immel team at 2024 Titan awards

“I find that by volunteering I am able to stay passionate and focused at the business level. It allows me to understand that the successes and failures at our company are not unique, and that I can learn from and also mentor others. By serving outside of our company and its day-to-day responsibilities, I recharge and become more positive about the work that we do.”

Paul Martzke, President, Immel Construction

Paul Martzke along with the 99 other honorees were recognized at the annual Titan 100 awards celebration January 18th, 2024, at the Fiserv Forum. It is an incredible honor to have Paul Martzke represented for his success in the industry alongside this diverse group of leaders in Wisconsin.

About Immel Construction

Immel Construction is a construction services company providing general construction, project management, estimating, and skilled craftsmen to meet the needs of the commercial, healthcare, industrial, and institutional markets.

Advancements In Web Gauging Systems and Their Impact on Quality Control

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Advancements in Web Gauging Systems Transforms the Manufacturing Landscape

Two Quad Plus techs installing gauging sensor

In the ever-evolving world of manufacturing, precision and consistency are essential elements of a company’s success. Industries such as printing and packaging require a level of accuracy that cannot be found through traditional methods. Advanced web gauging systems have taken a technical leap that is transforming the terrain of quality control. Where precision is vital, these innovations make a substantial impact on product quality and cost reduction.

Real-time Precision Is the Key to Outstanding Accuracy

Traditional gauging methods were subject to periodic sampling which left gaps in product quality. Modern web gauging systems have removed these limitations by including real time, continuous measuring. Manufacturers can now assess every inch of material as it goes through the production line, significantly improving quality control. This real-time precision significantly minimizes defects by reducing the need for costly rework and enhancing overall production efficiency.

Print Perfection Across Every Run

Web gauging systems are indispensable in the printing industry that thrives on precise color and print consistency. The ability to maintain uniform print quality across large print runs empowers manufacturers by decreasing misprints and improving operational productivity. This integration of web gauging with automation technologies leads to a substantial reduction in manufacturing processes, revolutionizing the industry.

Striving For Packaging Excellence

Material thickness is a critical component of the packaging industry. Advanced web gauging systems play an important role in detecting even the slightest variations in thickness, allowing for immediate adjustments to maintain consistency. Material waste is minimized and production costs are lowered significantly.

Advanced Data Analysis Beyond Measurements

Today’s web gauging systems are made up of more than just elevated measuring; they come equipped with extensive data analysis capabilities. By collecting and analyzing data in real time, manufacturers receive valuable insights into their production processes. Trends and potential issues can be identified early on allowing for proactive measures. Preventing defects and providing the consistent delivery of high-quality products can uplevel business reputations.

Elevating Operations through Seamless Automation Integration

By performing automated adjustments based on real-time measurements production lines remain in excellent condition and overall efficiency is increased by minimizing human errors. This integration not only elevates the overall product quality but results in substantial cost savings by diminishing the necessity for manual adjustments and revisions.

New Era of Manufacturing

The advancements in web gauging systems have created a new era of manufacturing excellence. The innovative technologies not only alter the traditional landscape of production but also result in heightened precision, efficiency and quality control across printing and packaging industries. By embracing this modern wave, the opportunities for seamless productivity and product consistency becomes increasingly promising.

For businesses seeking to stay ahead of the curve, Quad Plus stands as a trusted partner, providing tailored solutions to improve manufacturing processes. To learn more about how our expertise can transform your operations, contact Jim Would at jwoulf@quadplus.com or call (920) 515-4155.

JP Morgan/Chase 2024 Business Leaders Outlook

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2024 Business Leaders Outlook

Despite mixed economic signals, leaders remain steady, nimble and primed for opportunities. In the Chase’s annual survey, attitudes about the national economy were nearly evenly split between optimist, pessimism and neutrality. Uncertainty has been a hallmark of the markets in the post-pandemic era. Hiring and inflations challenges remain top of mind. Middle market leaders are increasingly exploring ways to adopt artificial intelligence and machine learning. Nearly half of companies are using or considering AI tools for 2024. Only 6 percent identified AI/machine learning as one of their business’ primary challenges.

Download Business Leaders Outlook

K Laser: A New Process in Sheetfed Offset Cold Foil

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Klaser Cold Foil package

Sheetfed offset printing has long been known for its high quality, intricate, luxurious print capabilities. However, one of its few downfalls has been the industry’s ability to print brilliant cold foil applications. Though many have tried, few have succeeded in achieving the sheen and shine of a smooth, glossy metallic effect that cold foil is known for. The existing cold foil process in sheetfed offset is largely to blame for this. Recently, cold foil equipment manufacturer, Eagle Systems, has introduced a new equipment solution and new process for sheetfed offset cold foil printing.

As a leader in cold foil substrates and adhesives manufacturing, K Laser Technology will discuss in this article how the new process differs from the old way, how it resolves many common cold foil defects the industry has struggled with for years, and the KOLDfoil ONE substrate solution for brilliant, shiny cold foil print.

OUT WITH THE OLD

Since the advent of cold foil in the sheetfed offset printing industry, printers have suffered from dull, tacky cold foil print, prone to dulling, scratching, and skewing. This is due to the old process of cold foil printing. Traditionally, cold foil printing in sheetfed offset has been run in the following order.

  1. A tacky conventional or UV cold foil adhesive is applied with a standard litho plate in the first print station.
  2. The second print station, with a special hard durometer cylinder, is used as the nipping station.
  3. The foil is then nipped between the blanket and impression cylinder onto the cold foil adhesive, slightly raised and gummy in order to effectively stick and pull the foil from the liner.
  4. After successful cold foil transfer, the remaining print units are used to apply CMYK and spot color printing around or over the cold foil for a unique colors and design.
  5. Lastly, the cold foil adhesive and printed inks are air dried or UV-cured at the end of the print process.

There have been a few troubles with this cold foil process, as follows:

  1. The printer requires very loose foils in order to adhere to the tacky glue. This causes a lot of airborne glitter that may end up in the press or the printed material, ruining your print quality.
  2. Due to the raised tackiness of the glue adhesive, the finished cold foil can appear bump resulting in a dull, grainy finish.
  3. An additional problem with the glue stickiness is the adhesive tends to gum up the ink train system making it difficult to clean and impacting print quality.
  4. Printers failed to have foil indexing capabilities, leaving a high amount of foil waste.
  5. Poor adhesion to the substrate and its likeliness to scratch or rub off requires printers to apply a top coating to improve scratch resistance.
  6. Finding a good combination of cold foil and conventional ink to provide good adhesion has been difficult.

Often, sheetfed offset printers that embraced this cold foil process struggled with less profitable operations, lower press speeds, increased downtime for cleaning, and more customer rejections. If this sounds like you, we have good news! At the 2022 Print UV Conference, Eagle Systems, a leader in cold foil equipment for sheetfed offset applications, announced their new cold foil equipment and foil cure process, compatible with many popular press makes and models. This emerging technology has paved the way for brilliant, glossy cold foil to shine in the sheetfed offset industry – let’s take a look!

IN WITH THE NEW

The new way to print cold foil in sheetfed offset is very similar to the successful cold foil process found in the flexographic printing industry. The new processes changes the previous order to prioritize drying the adhesive prior to stripping the substrate. The new cold foil process is:

Cold Foil press process
1. Print the cold foil adhesive using standard printing plates, 2. Nip the foil on top of the wet cold foil adhesive, 3. Cure the cold foil adhesive through the foil with a UV dryer, 4. Strip off excess foil
  1. A thin, uniform, and non-tacky UV cold foil adhesive is printed on the first station using a standard printing plate.
  2. The foil is then nipped at the second print station.
  3. The foil remains laminated on top of the substrate as it passes through a UV dryer, curing the cold foil adhesive thoroughly.
  4. The excess foil is then stripped off using a stripping roll and the sheet enters the rest of the press for CMYK, CMYKOGV or spot color printing.

This new cold foil application solves several issues, due to the removal of the tacky adhesive and moving the UV dryer earlier into the process. This application is also similar to the cast and cure process, so if you have cast and cure equipment you can use it for this process as well. Thanks to these innovations:

  1. Cold foils in this new process do not need to be loose, significantly reducing glitter residue in the press or final print product.
  2. The cold foil adhesive is not tacky and does not stick to the various cylinders in the press, reducing downtime to clean the gumming issue throughout the various localized components.
  3. By replacing the raised, tacky glue with a thin, uniform layer of UV adhesive, the system can achieve a smooth laydown of cold foil, resulting in the slick and shiny metallic finish you expect with cold foil printing.
  4. KOLDfoil ONE is formulated for this process to be highly overprintable with both conventional and UV curable inks.

With this rearrangement in the process, sheetfed offset printers can effectively realize brilliant special effects packaging with cold foil substrates. But wait – not all cold foil materials and adhesives are compatible with this new process. In trial runs, many struggle with adhesion, brilliance, and scratching. KOLDfoil ONE, exclusively manufactured by K Laser Technology, offers a special formulation for the new sheetfed offset cold foil application. Here’s the details…

Kold Foil brochure

KOLDFOIL ONE FOR THE NEW SHEETFED OFFSET COLD FOIL PROCESS

K Laser Technology has been manufacturing metallic and holographic cold foil substrates for decades. Our KOLDfoil ONE product line is proven to adhere at high offset press speeds, maintain brilliance and shine, resist rubbing and scratching, and be compatible with a variety of conventional and UV curable inks. Since the release of the new cold foil process, KOLDfoil ONE has been tested in various print trials with customers around the nation, showing consistent success in this new application. With the largest selection of cold foil colors and holographic patterns in the industry, KOLDfoil ONE offers a variety of specialty effects to take your packaging designs to the next level. By combining the new process in sheetfed offset cold foil with the brilliance and variety of the KOLDfoil ONE substrates, you have the power to improve performance, reduce downtime, improve foil quality, and delight customers at your facility. To learn more about KOLDfoil ONE, contact our team at www.coldfoil.com. To discover the new cold foil process from Eagle Systems, contact our team or speak with the folks at Eagle Systems at www.thefoilexperts.com.

The Digital Opportunity – Wide Format Print and More!

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In early January, we wrote in the GBIG Newsletter about the “Digital Opportunity” and the reason that print manufactures should consider this growing segment. In this edition we will discuss new technologies in Wide Format roll to roll, cutting systems, specialty print to fabric and film applications.

Wide format printers (or large format printers) are accepted to be printers that support a maximum print roll width of between 17 and 100 inches (460 millimeters and 3.2 meters). Printers with capacities over 100 inches wide are considered super-wide or grand format.

Big Systems logo

There are many attributes that make wide-format printing stand out versus other print segments. It is the wide range of materials and applications that are fueling growth in acquiring new technology. Commercial printers are looking for new revenue streams and creating new services to keep more work in-house.

A recent industry survey by NAPCO research of established print service providers (PSP’s) indicates that 9 of 10 providers expect wide format output to grow in the next 12 months and close to half expect growth to be double digit. More than half think that their customers will expect them to be sources of products and services beyond their core offerings.

Start Small: There are many roll-to-roll inkjet options with most starting at 17”. Although “little” and “low cost”, printer options in this segment can pack a punch with ink sets that start at 4 colors and expand to 12 colors to allow for multiple applications. These include drawings, enhanced black and white photography, fine art, graphics, labels and proofing applications. These printers will support roll and sheet fed media. On board features include postscript file processing, on board spectrophotometers and enhanced security features.

Go Big: The sweet spot of wide format printers are devices that typically range in width from 54” to 64”. At this size, the range of media choices increases from smaller width machines especially in outdoor durable substrates and specialty films. Ink options become more plentiful with traditional aqueous and solvent ink expanding into Latex, UV and Gel chemistries. Each ink option offers its own set of advantages. White ink options become more prevalent and increased savings can be found with bulk ink / high-capacity ink sets.

Go Grand: the larger end of roll-to-roll print increases in size to 126” or 3.2-meter width. Thes printers will print single roll media up to 126” wide or 2 x 63” rolls. Advance print speed increase up and over 1000ft/2 for outdoor media. They also print double sided automatically and offer instant curing and scratch resistance. You can reduce running costs with economical 5-liter box ink sets.

Print High Speed: Originally designed for the reprographic market, printers in this class feature wider or “PageWide” printhead arrays with improved color output and compatibility with a wider array of sheet and roll fed media. Printers in this class print up to 30 posters per minute with multi-role media switching and on-board storage drawers’ ability to store up to six rolls. These printers can also print on card stock and rigid board.

Direct to Fabric, Direct to Film and Dye Sublimation: Direct to fabric printers and dye sublimation printers have been around for some time. A newer entry to the market is updated direct to film systems. The primary shift to this technology is versatility.

Special finishes, textures and compatibility with multiple fabric types are not always possible with other print methods. PSP’s and commercial printers are attracted to this technology by unattended printing in large quantity and by client demand for work wear and corporate clothing ID. You can also print and sell transfers to other businesses. Textile printing technology continues to advance with solutions that will allow printing direct to fabric or via Dye Sublimation which a transfer process. In addition to printing on soft sided fabric, dye sublimation it is Ideal for personalizing awards, mugs, mousepads and more.

Finishing technologies include lamination, cutting technology and automation add-ons. As wide format inkjet devices have developed greater capacity, it has become imperative for finishing technologies to keep up. These are essential complements to wide / grand format printers: Many wide format (24” to 63”) systems now come with a matched cutting device that links to the printer via integrated “print and cut” software.

Lamination has made a strong rebound with the rapid expansion of graphics for car, vans, trucks and the leisure market. The second major influence has been the pandemic and post pandemic activity has encouraged protective covering for graphics located on many surfaces in public spaces. Laminators come in many formats and also serve as a mounting mechanism for adhesive medias to rigid board. Modular table systems feature conveyer systems, knife and laser cutting as well as table-based heat presses and lamination systems.

Go Green: The industry has made great strides in this area starting with printer refurbishment and recycling of plastic and metal for end of life for equipment. Many OEM’s offer media and ink cartridge “take back” programs. Newer printers are switching from plastic ink cartridges to cardboard bag in box or bag/pouch only ink containers. Water based inks deliver comparable outdoor durability, quick cure capability and enhanced color with increased pigment loads per milliliter. The newest RIP and printhead technologies use less ink with better color output.

In our next segment we will review digital inkjet print to rigid flatbed systems and hybrid / specialty technologies.

At Big Systems, our Service Mark is “Print Brilliant”. We do our absolute best to help our customers improve their workflow and print results every day. Big Systems is a dealer of Wide Format equipment, supplies, software, installation and repair services and specialty applications. We are located in Menomonee Falls, WI.

Joe Jones – President

Printing Industry In Wisconsin 2024

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Close up of printing machine
  • Projected Annual Growth in 2024 – 2030: – 2.9% CAGR for Offset Commercial Printers
  • Projected Annual Growth in 2024 – 2030: + 5 to + 6% CAGR for Packaging Printers and Related Sectors.
  • Annual Revenue: $5.2 Billion 2024 Commercial Printing
  • Establishments: 552 * Wisconsin has a number of Quick Printers with less than 10 employees outside of our survey!
  • Employment: 23,500 – Wisconsin has a large base of Label, Wide Format, Digital, Flexible Packaging and Packaging Printers not counted in this figure. GBIG will be putting together a comprehensive report on these sectors of the printing industry in 2024.
  • Wages: $1.6 Billion – Commercial Offset Printers.
  • Area Industry Data on Printers: Milwaukee & Waukesha County – 153, Dane Country – 53, Brown – 34, Outagamie – 27, Winnebago – 26, Lacrosse – 23, Washington – 18, Sheboygan – 15, Fond Du Lac – 13.

PRODUCT SERVICES SEGMENTATION – Industry Revenue in 2023 Broken Down by key product and service lines.

  • Commercial Printing: $31.6 Billion – 36%
  • Digital Printing: $16.7 Billion – 19%
  • Flexographic Printing: $13 Billion – 14.9%
  • Screen Printing: $7.9 Billion – 9%
  • Book Printing: $5 Billion – 7%
  • Gravure Printing: $2.5 Billion – 2.8%
  • Other Printing: $11 Billion – 12.4%

The largest concentration of Printers in Wisconsin is in Milwaukee Country accounting for 15.2% of the total establishments in the State of Wisconsin. The Northeastern Wisconsin area has 115 companies, with the second largest concentration of Printers.

OVERVIEW:

The long-term projection in commercial printing will continue to drop at – 2.6% CAGR with the exception of the Commercial Printers entering the Packaging Markets! We will see the Packaging Sector grow at 5 6% CAGR and Wisconsin will benefit from it. Wisconsin has a very strong base of Label Printers, Flexographic Printers, Gravure Printers, Digital Printers and Wide format Printers. In addition, Wisconsin has one of the largest concentrations of Converters in the United States supporting our printing industries. We continue to see the decline in Paper and Pulp Manufacturing. However, we see strength in Specialty Papers, Corrugated and Board Products.

The Great Lakes States have the largest spread of businesses compared to its population. Wisconsin is fortunate to have some of the largest USA Printers located in Wisconsin.

  • RR Donnelly – 3 Plants
  • Quad Graphics – 9 Plants
  • Multi-Color Corporation – 3 Plants
  • Lakeside Book – 1 Plant
  • Sheridan – 3 Plants
  • Freedom Graphics – 1 Plant
  • Arandel Corporation – 1
  • 4-Imprint – 1
  • Symth Companies – 1
  • Inland Printing – 2
  • Castle-Pierce – 2
  • Heartland Label Printers – 1
  • Belmark – 3
  • Amcor – 5
  • Nexxa – 1
  • Legacy Flexo – 1
  • Glenroy – 1
  • Print Pro – 1
  • American Packaging – 2
  • Schuman Printers – 1
  • Seaway Printers – 1

Direct Mail Printing Update

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Marty Oaks

The USPS has announced that Forever First-Class stamps will cost $0.68 cents starting January 21, 2024. This is the fifth price increase in the two years. When the stamps were introduced in 2007, they cost $0.41 cents. The increases are part of the Postal Services 10-years American plan, enacted by Postmaster General Louis Joy. The plan was to put the Postal Service on the path to service excellence and financial stability. These increases come as mail volume has declined. Traditional mail is still the biggest money maker for the USPS, and each rate hike just drives more mail from the system.

Wisconsin Printers are major players in the production of Direct Mail. R.R. Donnelly, the largest printer in the United States has multiple facilities in Wisconsin dedicated printing direct mail products. Quad Graphics – Quad Direct, the second largest printer in the United States has large facility dedicated to direct mail production. Freedom Graphics, Inc. in Milton, Wisconsin produced and mailed over five billion pieces annually with over 800,000 square feet operating under one roof. In addition, Wisconsin has over thirty other Printers and Mail Houses producing direct mail products. In addition, the Wisconsin Printing industry is a leader in the production of catalogs with over ten major players.

With the price of postage, dropping demand and the lack of Paper Production in Wisconsin, the Printing Industry has a lot of challenges. The Direct Mailing Advertising industry is $10.9 billion in 2023 and expected volume to decline -1.6% in 2023. We have seen a five-year decline of -1.3% between 2018 – 2023.

The question is why is direct mail still relevant to 2024 marketing strategies? Direct Mail has consistently proved itself as one of the most compelling and effecting marketing tools. Direct Mail is driving traffic to one’s website. The constructive collaboration in combining digital and offline marketing is one of the biggest reasons for promoting brand awareness. While social media can reach billions of people, direct mail is focused on specific target markets by building a relationship. While we have witnessed a drop in mail volume the Printing Industry has embarked on using personalized techniques such as variable data printing, personalized URL’s creating a direct mail piece that feels thoughtfully tailored to the recipient.

The bottom line is direct mail is not going away and more businesses are waking up to the power of direct mail. With modern technologies for gathering data, the Direct Mail Industry will see smaller volumes highly targeted at specific buyers.

GBIG NEWS | 94 Stories and Links on the Internet 1/17/2023

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GBIG News

Get links to the latest news, events, stories, and interviews from our 5P news sponsors. Our goal is to remind the decision-makers in Wisconsin of the importance of our industry both historically, and more importantly, into the future.

Read the latest 94 Stories and Links on the Internet below.

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