Hunkeler innovationdays 2023 – next level automation

It was good to be at the Hunkeler innovationdays 2023 again, with next level automation as its motto. This certainly held true. 50 print application lines were shown live with many in-line or highly integration solutions.

Hunkeler launched several interesting new pieces of equipment like a B2 cut-sheet finisher moving into a new level of productivity. In the traditional web finishing space a high volume, yet variable book block production line (the Starbook) with added Book Sorting Module was presented. Adding to flexibility and automation was a new autosplicer for fast and easy roll change – either in front of a press or for near-line web finishing lines.

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8. March 2023 Blog No Comments on Hunkeler innovationdays 2023 – next level automation

AI in journalism

Recently I wrote an article for WhatTheyThink.com on AI image generation tools. I wrote it at the end of last year, shortly before text tools like ChatGPT kept on making headlines. I can still very much recommend reading the article and I am sure it is worth the subscription 😉. While I am confident that AI image generation will revolutionise image production, at first, I was reluctant about the capabilities of AI in journalism and text generation in general.

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10. February 2023 Blog No Comments on AI in journalism

Hunkeler innovationdays bringing more inkjet

Finally, the Hunkeler innovationdays are back, not only bringing more inkjet devices, but also a lot of technology around the presses – of course with finishing being very prominent. If you have not been to the Hunkeler innovationdays: it is the event to get the best possible overview on continuous feed production presses. Not only will all important vendors for digital commercial, publishing and document printing presses be there, the event also allows seeing the latest presses printing side-by-side.

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16. January 2023 Blog No Comments on Hunkeler innovationdays bringing more inkjet

inkjet placements

Hi Ralf, thanks for your insights! Small questions: when you talk about ink jet press installs in 2022, which ink-jet presses do you count under B1/B2? And if you count CF ink jet, do you count towers/engines or do you consider a duplex press with 2 engines as one press? Best regards and best wishes for 2023!

Hi, the answers in short:
press counts depends on the categories. B3, B2 and B1 are counted as single device. For CF installs they are counted as full print lines, which is almost always two engines.
Keep in mind the numbers are based on installations made public and are not the full number of installations. They give an insight which customers are using inkjet and how placements developed when comparing to similar data sets in the previous years.

 

27. December 2022 Question No Comments on inkjet placements

Inkjet press placements picking up

2022 started fairly well in terms of inkjet press activities. It was supposed to be a decent year after the pandemic weighed down on businesses in 2020 and 2021. However, sales/placement announcements dropped off in Q2 and Q3. Finally, Q4 2022 sees inkjet press placements picking up finally. It ties in with printing companies having a more positive outlook again, e.g. in Germany.

For years I keep on collecting sales and placement announcements for production inkjet devices and use those to analyse trends and data. Placements and sales numbers for 2022 show a good start into the year with a decisive drop in activity in Q2 and Q3. However, Q4 showed a significant rise in numbers, easily surpassing even Q1 2022. Keep in mind that Q4 has not even ended, so there might be a few more units to add.

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14. December 2022 Blog No Comments on Inkjet press placements picking up