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BPIF celebrates 125 years at Members’ Day 2026
The BPIF Member’s Day 2026 saw panels from key BPIF employees and members
Made Smarter provides SMEs financial support for technological investments
SME manufacturers in the print, graphics and signage sector are investing in digital technologies with support from Made Smarter, a government-backed programme.
Businesses producing varies types of print are among those embracing advanced production technologies after grants from Government- backed programmes in the North West, South East and Yorkshire. They include Firpress Printers, based in
On Tuesday July 14, the BPIF hosted its 2026 Members’ Day bringing together key industry leaders and members from across the printing industry for a day of discussion, insight and celebration. This year’s event marked a significant milestone as the BPIF celebrated 125 years – an incredible achievement for both the BPIF and the UK printing industry. The day started with the Annual General Meeting
(AGM) where Charles Jarrold, BPIF chief executive provided members with an exploration of BPIF’s history and mission, and its future aspirations. Following the AGM, members heard from three panel sessions exploring the past, present and future of the printing industry. The afternoon saw the presentation of two
industry awards, with The Kathy Woodward Award for Learning being awarded to Izelda Lala. The award honours the memory of former BPIF CEO Kathy Woodward and supports the career development of individuals working in print, packaging and graphic design sectors.
CMYUK Group expands marketing department
Workington, Cumbria, which secured a £20,000 Made Smarter grant towards a £40,000 investment in PrintIQ, a cloud-based management information system. Co-owner Kerri Black said: “Made Smarter
gave us the confidence to take a step we simply wouldn’t have taken on our own. The new system will transform the way we operate, reducing administration, improving visibility across the business and helping us respond more quickly to customers.” In Greater Manchester, PP Graphics
invested £46,000 in a customer portal and systems integration project, supported by a
Zell-Em Branding bolsters productions with new ColorJet printer
Zell-Em Branding has reported a considerable increase in output speeds since installing a ColorJet Vulcan Hybrid 3202 from Quality Print Services (QPS).
The business continues to invest in the latest print technology to ensure it remains well positioned to meet its customers’ demands, which is what led it to seek a new investment in the ColorJet Vulcan Hybrid 3202. Steve Cartmell, operations manager at
Helen Beresford Jay, product marketing manager
CMYUK Group has expanded its central marketing department with the appointment of Helen Beresford Jay as product marketing manager. Ms Beresford Jay joins the business from Contra Vision, where she was most recently head of marketing and brings over 20 years’ experience in B2B marketing. Reporting to group marketing director, Sarah
Neate, Ms Beresford Jay will support integrated marketing activity across the CMYUK Group, including distributor partner programmes and exhibitions.
Sarah Neate, group marketing director, said: “I am delighted to welcome Helen to the marketing team.
“She brings a valuable combination of strategic
marketing experience, product knowledge and hands-on industry understanding.”
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Zell-Em, said: “We didn’t want a like-for-like replacement. We wanted a machine that would allow us to handle greater volumes, improve productivity, create new opportunities and remove the need to outsource jobs that were too large for our old printer. The Vulcan ticked all those boxes.” The ColorJet Vulcan Hybrid is a 3.2m UV-LED hybrid printer designed to handle both rigid and
roll-to-roll media on a single platform. Configured with Ricoh Gen6 print heads and CMYK plus white ink, the device can print at speeds of up to 91m sq/hr, supports rigid media as thick as 35mm and produces output at resolutions of up to 2,400dpi. Other features include dual UV-LED curing and an Onyx Thrive RIP workflow. Despite having only been in place since
April, Mr Cartmell said the new ColorJet printer has already become a key part of the company’s large-format department and is used across a wide range of applications. He continued: “The productivity gains
have exceeded our expectations. We’re producing work faster, improving quality, reducing waste and still have significant spare capacity available. It has given us a genuine competitive advantage.”
ColorJet Vulcan Hybrid 3202 printer
£20,000 Made Smarter grant. General Manager Andrew McIntyre said: “The
new software is a vital part of our automation journey. It also gives customers a much smoother experience, allowing them to place orders, upload artwork and manage campaigns through a single portal.” As well as grant funding, Made Smarter offers SME manufacturers a range of support, including digital transformation workshops, impartial technology advice, leadership and skills training, and a digital internship programme.
(L-R) General manager Andrew McIntyre and head of graphics Tony Marsh at PP Graphics
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