Greg Hrinya, Editor05.10.23
The Dscoop digital print community gathered in St. Louis, MO, USA, from May 7-10, 2023, for networking, education, and inspiration. The HP users group welcomed more than 1,200 attendees from 38 countries and 36 states for Edge St. Louis World Expo, which was designed with the spirit of St. Louis in mind. The 1904 World’s Fair, which was held in St. Louis, was used as a theme for the event.
Dscoop is comprised of more than 16,000 HP Industrial digital press owners across the globe.
In addition to a wide range of education sessions – touching upon everything from automation and the workforce to the new HP Indigo V12 digital press – Dscoop hosted 75 partner companies in its Solutions Showcase. As part of the showcase, HP debuted the 200K digital press, which has been engineered for flexible packaging.
Following the first two days, Dscoop delivered inspirational content from celebrity royalty. On the first evening, drummer Mark Schulman touted gratitude and a positive business attitude. Meanwhile, Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson delivered an inspiring presentation on business acumen and giving back to the community.
“The global Dscoop community has an impressive history of looking forward instead of backward,” stated Kyle Pendley, Dscoop Edge St. Louis Conference chair and a member of Arizona State University’s Print and Imaging Lab. “Even as our companies face big challenges, we do whatever it takes to continually learn, connect, and advance. That’s the awesome spirit of Dscoop.”
“Our Solutions Showcase is where you learn how to progress your business and bring it to places it’s never been before,” added Kelvin Gage, chairman of Dscoop APJ.
HP is developing products and services that intended to meet customer demand for the latest trends, including glocalization, the labor crisis, sustainability, automation, and buying behaviors from consumers.
“We are investing right now in labels and flexible packaging, and starting to penetrate corrugated and folding carton,” said Haim Levit, SVP and GM of HP Industrial Print. “We bring the widest versatility and productivity. We have over 8,000 presses around the world and more than 5,500 customers in 82 countries. Overall, we are very diverse in covering the entire world. The markets we’re focusing on are valued at $28 billion. This is a big opportunity for us and where we’re investing.
“We have the widest portfolio in the printing industry, bringing a solution to every segment of the market,” added Levit. “We’re investing $180 million a year to better serve the printing market. HP is committed to investing and growing the business.”
According to HP, Indigo and PageWide customers are growing at triple the market rate. The wide range of solutions, including software like PrintOS, have been designed to improve customer service and drive productivity.
“Our goal is to make sure our customers grow, be profitable, and have the best experience,” remarked Levit. “This is our DNA. Better Together’ is not a slogan, it’s our way of life.”
“We really want to unlock the label market,” added Levit. “We are accelerating analog to digital conversion in the label market. And for Indigo, we are announcing the launch of the 200K press. It’s not just about the product, it’s the complete solutions we’re bringing to the market to help you to grow your businesses.”
Elad Zmora, product team manager, HP, and Brian Cleary, label product manager, HP, discussed the “new math of label printing,” citing the advantages of switching over to the HP Indigo V12 digital press.
“The V12 will have the earning power of three state-of-the-art flexo presses,” said Zmora. “The V12 is an Indigo press but now printing at 400 fpm. The break-even point is not relevant anymore for our industry.”
According to HP, the V12 has been optimized for larger jobs. For example, the average run length for the HP Indigo 6800 has been 5,000 feet. Meanwhile, the 8K boasts a longer run length at 10,000 feet. The V12 has been optimized for 15,000 foot runs. However, as participants noted, they run their respective presses for far greater than the averages. The goal is a 1-2 day turnaround with jobs coming off the new press.
“It’s possible to run longer, but it’s not as efficient,” noted Zmora.
The V12 is 2.5 times faster than the 8K, with a goal of reimaging a pressroom structure. “This is how we see production for the future,” Zmora said. “Now, 80% of the jobs can go on digital technology versus analog.”
Zmora noted that flexo will still have its place in the industry, with the two technologies working in conjunction. “I’m not saying analog will disappear,” said Zmora. “Analog will stay, especially for ultra-long label runs of one and two colors.”
Plus, previous generations of HP Indigo label printing presses will still be advantageous for shorter average run lengths.
By adding new technology, HP is targeting many of the hidden costs of flexo. Additional labor, dedicated floor space, time, and tooling are all addressed with the V12.
Dscoop is comprised of more than 16,000 HP Industrial digital press owners across the globe.
In addition to a wide range of education sessions – touching upon everything from automation and the workforce to the new HP Indigo V12 digital press – Dscoop hosted 75 partner companies in its Solutions Showcase. As part of the showcase, HP debuted the 200K digital press, which has been engineered for flexible packaging.
Following the first two days, Dscoop delivered inspirational content from celebrity royalty. On the first evening, drummer Mark Schulman touted gratitude and a positive business attitude. Meanwhile, Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson delivered an inspiring presentation on business acumen and giving back to the community.
“The global Dscoop community has an impressive history of looking forward instead of backward,” stated Kyle Pendley, Dscoop Edge St. Louis Conference chair and a member of Arizona State University’s Print and Imaging Lab. “Even as our companies face big challenges, we do whatever it takes to continually learn, connect, and advance. That’s the awesome spirit of Dscoop.”
“Our Solutions Showcase is where you learn how to progress your business and bring it to places it’s never been before,” added Kelvin Gage, chairman of Dscoop APJ.
HP is developing products and services that intended to meet customer demand for the latest trends, including glocalization, the labor crisis, sustainability, automation, and buying behaviors from consumers.
“We are investing right now in labels and flexible packaging, and starting to penetrate corrugated and folding carton,” said Haim Levit, SVP and GM of HP Industrial Print. “We bring the widest versatility and productivity. We have over 8,000 presses around the world and more than 5,500 customers in 82 countries. Overall, we are very diverse in covering the entire world. The markets we’re focusing on are valued at $28 billion. This is a big opportunity for us and where we’re investing.
“We have the widest portfolio in the printing industry, bringing a solution to every segment of the market,” added Levit. “We’re investing $180 million a year to better serve the printing market. HP is committed to investing and growing the business.”
According to HP, Indigo and PageWide customers are growing at triple the market rate. The wide range of solutions, including software like PrintOS, have been designed to improve customer service and drive productivity.
“Our goal is to make sure our customers grow, be profitable, and have the best experience,” remarked Levit. “This is our DNA. Better Together’ is not a slogan, it’s our way of life.”
HP touts new V12 digital press
As part of Dscoop Edge St. Louis World Expo, educational sessions explored the latest trends in printing and packaging. Dscoop provided a dedicated session to a digital press designed to “revolutionize” label printing.“We really want to unlock the label market,” added Levit. “We are accelerating analog to digital conversion in the label market. And for Indigo, we are announcing the launch of the 200K press. It’s not just about the product, it’s the complete solutions we’re bringing to the market to help you to grow your businesses.”
Elad Zmora, product team manager, HP, and Brian Cleary, label product manager, HP, discussed the “new math of label printing,” citing the advantages of switching over to the HP Indigo V12 digital press.
“The V12 will have the earning power of three state-of-the-art flexo presses,” said Zmora. “The V12 is an Indigo press but now printing at 400 fpm. The break-even point is not relevant anymore for our industry.”
According to HP, the V12 has been optimized for larger jobs. For example, the average run length for the HP Indigo 6800 has been 5,000 feet. Meanwhile, the 8K boasts a longer run length at 10,000 feet. The V12 has been optimized for 15,000 foot runs. However, as participants noted, they run their respective presses for far greater than the averages. The goal is a 1-2 day turnaround with jobs coming off the new press.
“It’s possible to run longer, but it’s not as efficient,” noted Zmora.
The V12 is 2.5 times faster than the 8K, with a goal of reimaging a pressroom structure. “This is how we see production for the future,” Zmora said. “Now, 80% of the jobs can go on digital technology versus analog.”
Zmora noted that flexo will still have its place in the industry, with the two technologies working in conjunction. “I’m not saying analog will disappear,” said Zmora. “Analog will stay, especially for ultra-long label runs of one and two colors.”
Plus, previous generations of HP Indigo label printing presses will still be advantageous for shorter average run lengths.
By adding new technology, HP is targeting many of the hidden costs of flexo. Additional labor, dedicated floor space, time, and tooling are all addressed with the V12.