Industry News
Editor’s Note
At the start of the pandemic last March, I don’t think anyone thought we would still be in the thick of it a year later but, unfortunately, here we are. Live events and face-to-face networking are still on hold, whilst international travel is not a viable option for many. I know how much people are missing interaction with others, including their industry peers, and I appreciate a lot of people are over the novelty of Zoom meetings, but there are currently some fantastic things happening online!
I’ve written several stories in recent weeks for this issue and on
convertermag.com about webinars, virtual events, digital launches, and even an online networking breakfast with the IPIA that allows participants to move around a virtual room and network with people in real time. The ban on events has forced people to get creative but, it seems, the digital possibilities are endless. There may even be some perks – and I’m not talking about the chance to stay in loungewear from the waist down! For example, exhibitors at Printing Expo can have any stand design rendered into a 3D virtual space. A somewhat preferable option to the usual back-breaking fun of exhibition build-up. Of course, nothing quite replicates the social gatherings and interaction people have at these key events but it’s great that companies haven’t stood still and have found ways to come together. As the song goes, “We’ll meet again”… but, as we definitely don’t know where or when; for now, these digital events are a huge opportunity to connect and continue to share with and learn from one another to help drive your businesses forward.
Fiona Garcia Editor
fgarcia@datateam.co.uk
Printing Expo announces opening of Zone 2 and new exhibitors in Zone 1
C&T invests in sustainable manufacturing
Following a surge in interest from both visitors and exhibitors, Printing Expo has announced the opening of Zone 2 of its online exhibition, which includes the Xeikon Wall Decoration Showroom and the Trade Association Hub. The event has also announced new exhibitors for Zone 1. With over 21,000 visitors to date from over 150 countries, the innovative virtual show is proving to be of great interest to a diversity of printers and suppliers worldwide. The feedback received so far states that Printing Expo’s 3D visual browsing experience is successfully bridging the gap between the physical and the virtual for many in the global printing community.
Director, Wayne Beckett said: “We are listening to the feedback. It is very important to us that we continue to improve the user experience. We believe that anything virtual has to be interactive and most of all needs to be fun to visit as well as useful. With new exhibitors coming on board, we are working on populating the surrounding space and have recently added people avatars – also a show audio sound track to give a real life feel to the visitor experience. As we see the number of visitors increasing daily, there is more and more interest from exhibitors. The opening of Zone 2 is a natural progression as Printing Expo becomes more established.”
convertermag.com
C&T Matrix (C&T) set an objective to reduce manufacturing waste by up to 40% by 2022 through initiatives, such as recycling selected waste streams produced during manufacture. It is doing this by transforming manufacturing processes at its UK production plant and investing in new technology. To achieve this goal, C&T has recently invested a significant figure into new equipment including extruders, laser measuring devices and routing gear, which
will allow the company to increase its output of single piece matrix. Single piece matrix not only reduces the amount of trim and scrap PVC material produced, it also offers end user benefits in terms of the overall accuracy of the channel and integrity of the matrix shoulders. The new laser equipment measures the single piece matrix during manufacture to ensure uniformity, allowing for adjustments to be made and thus avoiding waste. C&T has also introduced other sustainable measures, such as the recycling and the reuse of its locator component throughout the factory, as well as a move to more environmentally-friendly product packaging. MD Simon Shenton said: “Cultivating sustainable credentials is a long-term strategy for C&T. Ongoing operational improvements, increasing the reuse of internal waste and investing in new planning and manufacturing technology is part of a wider strategy which we will continue to review and implement.”
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