Blogs at Inkjet Insight

2019 has been a busy year and thanks for following my blogs on this website or on LinkedIn. Especially my blog comparing the technology line-up of HP and Xerox garnered quite some interest. But there is more: my blogs at Inkjet Insight.

Inkjet Insight

Shortly after becoming a freelancer I decided to become a regular contributor to Inkjet Insight, having seen as an industry analyst that inkjet is the most dynamic printing technology in production printing. Accordingly it is the technology which requires the most explanations and insight, not just from the suppliers but from an independent community.

Inkjet Insight is a web community that provides valuable tools and resources to help companies objectively evaluate the potential of inkjet for their business, optimize their operations and grow their businesses using production inkjet. It includes articles on in an extensive knowledge base. A product finder makes it easy to navigate the papers, printers, finishing and software available for inkjet printing. We strive to provide an unbiased listing of all options available. Access for most content is for free, but obviously we welcome if you become a member for full access to all details.

If you are a supplier and not listed yet with your offerings for inkjet, please let us know.

More blogs and articles

The full list of my blogs at Inkjet Insight can be found here. The most recent addition is a look at the Kyocera TASKalfa Pro 15000c. A short series of articles on inkjet printing in Europe has been started as well, with articles on transaction print and direct mail using inkjet published so far. The series will be continued in 2020, with a view on book printing with inkjet. A look at specialty applications and cut-sheet inkjet in Europe will be following later in 2020.

There will be a lot more exclusive coverage for inkjet insight this year on pre-drupa and drupa product launches. Stay tuned and get unbiased information on what is new.

Xerox and HP – Comparing Technologies & Synergies

A lot has been talked about Xerox’ intent to buy HP and the stock value created. But I have not seen reports comparing the technologies and device line-up and whether there are synergies to be found. However, this is the area that interests users and employees most. Let’s have a quick comparison by the main segments (and I know this could be 30 page report even without considering the PC business, but let’s keep it simple here) on where both companies stand.

Mergers & Acquisitions – What they can tell us about the future of print

Merger and acquisitions in inkjet

Last week IMI Europe hosted a mergers & acquisitions in inkjet forum on the day before the 2019 European digital printing conference. I have to admit that it has been a long time that I gained that much insight on trends that will shape our industry from a conference – although I am not even in danger of buying or selling a company any time soon.

Ken Stack from Proximus LLC led through the forum on drivers and market activity in mergers & acquisitions for production inkjet technology and related companies. Despite the negative assessments print is receiving sometimes, there is a healthy interest in production inkjet companies from various sectors such as public companies, private equity (PE) and increasingly private companies as well. There is no lack of funding capital either, especially in the era of zero interest rates. On the other hand, R&D in new technologies is pricey and protracted, with spending well above a hundred million US$ for a new inkjet head generation or press design. Hence even for established players acquisitions can make a lot of sense.

Xerox Baltoro – a new platform for inkjet

The model choice for SRA3 based inkjet production printers is still quite limited, especially when compared to the choice in colour toner devices. While the sales of toner-based systems in high-end SRA3 are levelling off however, inkjet can extend the market by bringing its own strengths to the table, like: highest speeds, lower consumable cost – especially for low coverage – and a simplified marking engine. Inkjet will not make toner obsolete, but it will enlarge the scope of digital cut-sheet production presses noticeably.

Baltoro

Accordingly, it should lift some eyebrows when Xerox is launching a new model with the Baltoro HF. It is not the first foray for Xerox, having launched the Brenva HD at drupa 2016. On the 17th of October 2019 the Baltoro was shown publicly in Europe for the first time after having had its launch in Rochester in June already. On the first appearance the Baltoro and Brenva look quite similar – both use the tried & tested paper transport of the iGen5. This includes a wide range of paper decks and in-line finishers, which become available for the Baltoro. The drier is a very compact NIR drier.

250 days to drupa 2020 – and what to look out for

drupa 2020

We just passed the mark of 250 days left until drupa 2020, the Olympics and football world championship of print rolled into one. There was a noticeable uptick in activity from Messe Düsseldorf recently with floorplans published, interviews given, and the ticket shop opened (for the very very impatient among us). In times of flailing trade shows drupa still goes strong with 1,800 exhibitors announced already and the floor space almost sold out. There is no doubt that drupa 2020 will set the agenda again for years to come around printing technology.