HP Licenses Inkjet Printer Technology to Handheld

HP recently announced that they have agreed to develop and sell printing products for the Swedish firm Handheld Group. The license is relevant to HP’s patented thermal ink technology, which the company will use to develop handheld printer for the logistics industry. The electrical, mechanical, and system design of the inkjet printer is what HP will patent to Handheld. 

Once developed, the printer can feature quick-drying, smudge-free magenta ink. According to Kathy Tobin, vice president and general manager, Specialty Printing Systems, “HP continues uncovering new applications where our inkjet technology can address specific industry challenges.  We’re excited to combine our resources with Handheld Group to create printing solutions that will simplify logistics and supply chain operations.”

Additional detail about Handheld Group is available at their website. Follow HP on Twitter @hpgraphicarts or on YouTube at www.youtube.com/hpgraphicarts.  

Print or Digital?

Modern technology has brought a lot of changes—and challenges—to the print industry. In fact, digital media is one of the greatest challenges of traditional media over the past decades. Whether it’s print or broadcast, every media platform is affected by these changes. The once popular media such as newspaper, DVDs, and hard copy albums are now only becoming a part of history. They have been rapidly replaced by e-books and streaming movies. 

Linotype: The Film—Story of Old, Wacky Machinists

The linotype is a 19^th century machine developed by Ottmar Mergenthaler. It’s a type casting machine that was popular in 1884 until it became obsolete in the 1970s. The invention of the linotype revolutionized printing in such a way that it was called by Thomas Edison as the “Eight Wonder of the World”. It is this machine that inspired the Linotype: The Film.

The film is a documentary about the linotype machine, but it doesn’t focus entirely on the equipment but rather on the stories of the people connected to the machine. It’s a brainchild of three young filmmakers Doug Wilson, Brandon Goodwin and Jess Heugel. Their goal for the film is not to reminiscence the historical machine, but rather to disclose stories behind machinists. Among the questions the film seeks to answer as mentioned in their official website are: What place does the Linotype have in the age of new technology? Should the machine be shoved into a museum and left to rust? Why should anyone care about typography or the technology of communication?  

Wilson, who acts as director and producer of the film, said to Miami News Times the movie is “not just a dry, boring history film. There isn't even a narrator. It's more about the crazy old people who worked with these crazy old machines."    

Production of the film started in August 2010 and the world premiere was held in New York last February 3, 2012 with subsequent screenings in the East and West Coast. For screening schedule, visit this site.

Social Enterprises Gaining Momentum

In a recession stricken community, social enterprises are growing more than SMEs (Small and medium-sized enterprises), that’s according to the State of Social Enterprise survey 2011. The report found out that the social enterprise sector is out-pacing and out-innovating SMEs in the recession. This is surely something the printing industry should look into.

A social enterprise, according to Social Enterprise UK, is “a business that trades for a social and/or environmental purpose. ..it will know what difference it is trying to make, who it aims to help, and how it plans to do it.”      

On the Fightback Britain Report which used the report from the State of the Social Enterprise survey 2011, it found out that 58% of social enterprises grew during the past year compared to the 28% growth of SMEs. Additionally, social enterprises are surpassing SMEs in business confidence in a growth rate of 57% to 41%, respectively; and 55% to 47% in innovation.  

3D Printing set to Create a New Revolution

In Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, clone troopers (Republic) and battle droid armies (Separatists) were created in huge number to serve as defense force of the protagonist and antagonist in the movie. These cloned armies are easy to replicate in a science-fiction movie. The screenwriter or director can simply put a replicator in the set and make it look like it’s the source of the clones.

However, in real life, replicators don’t come as high-powered clone machines; they come as three-dimensional printers. In the past, 3D printing is expensive and time-consuming. But with advances in technology as reveled in a news feature entitled Science in three dimensions: The print revolution published online, is now affordable and quick.

3D printing not only has positive benefit on science and research but on advertising, manufacturing, the economy, and our lives in general. People now can print materials, data, and information right at home. But until engineers and inventors can create a cheap 3D printer, this printing technique still has to go through several refinement stages.    

Presenting This Year’s Printing Industry Hall of Fame Inductees

This year’s Printing Impressions/RIT Printing Industry Hall of Fame, a joined award given by Printing Impressions and the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) School of Print Media, has been announced. The inductees include:

• Carl Gerhardt, chairman, Allegra Network. Together with his wife, they successfully operated Allegra Network for 20 years before selling it off in 2003. He served as President and COO of the company in 2004, CEO in 2007, and Chairman in 2010.

• Michael Graff, president and CEO, Sandy Alexander. He first worked with Americom Graphics (formerly Press of A. Colish) and then moved to Sandy Alexander and was appointed as the director of color and prepress operations. In 2008, he was appointed President and CEO of Sandy Alexander.  

Beautiful and Inspiring Brochure Design Ideas

Promotion and advertising are standard in the corporate world. And one of the most important tool businesses, organizations, and individuals can use to promote their company is the brochure.

Brochures are the small books or magazines often given as a freebie and left in offices and waiting rooms. They serve as informative materials that give readers an idea of what the company or organization is about. Beautiful, interesting, and unique brochures should be created if you are to catch people’s attention.

Looking for ideas for your next brochure design? Take a look at these samples:

Perfil Institucional

Yahoo Search Marketing Brochure

Atmosphere Corporate Brochure