C2D: Digital printing's ready for Prime Time

Well, here I am, face-to-face with the blogosphere with the kick-off post for Converting to Digital…henceforth, affectionately known as C2D. When Mark Spaulding approached me to be Converting Magazine’s blogger on Digital Printing for Packaging, I was hit between the eyes with the thought, “We are now ready for prime time.”

For years, I have been involved with digital “everything” for packaging…in 2002, I authored the first Pira report on the topic, “The Future of Digital Printing for Packaging,” and since then have spoken to audiences on four continents, participated in numerous Webinars (as early as 2004) and consulted with many who were looking to integrate Digital Printing (DP) into packaging and industrial environments. So Mark’s invitation was a huge dose of validation that DP has come-of-age! My “baby” has crawled, stood, walked, run, and is now starting on the varsity team….a long time coming but well worth the wait.

Okay, 147 words is enough looking back, this blog is going to be a forward-looking endeavor, and with your [readers/participants of this blog] help, it will be a great resource for all those in the industry who are suppliers, users, buyers, engineers, marketers, integrators, or just plain followers of the technology. For C2D to be all-it-can-be, it will require:

1. That I provide worthwhile, timely, and relevant posts in an interesting and easily digestible manner…that is my challenge.

2. That you the readers interact with the posts….ask questions….add insights….challenge!

3. That those in the industry who have DP products and services keep me informed on your latest and greatest and participate in the discussions….see my contact information below if you do not already have it.

So, what will be addressed in C2D? Well, surely the mainstream digital-printing solutions will be covered…HP Indigo, EFI Jetrion, Agfa, Xeikon…all will get their fair amount of electrons (used to be ink in the old days), but newcomers to the packaging arena and those who are sticking a toe in the water, Xerox, FujiFilm, Screen, EPSON, Kodak…will also be covered. In addition to the big guys, we will address the niches served by companies such as Primera, QuickLabels, and Allen Datagraph. Not to be forgotten in the mix will be the large-format systems, laser and conventional diecutting (as it applies to DP systems), ink discussion (UV, EB, water- and solvent-based), imaging technologies from DOD, CIJ, liquid ink, dry toner, piezo, thermal, stream, river, mountain, and just about anything else you can think of regarding DP for packaging and labels.

The beauty of a blog is that many discussions can be going on at once, and unlike printed media, an author can have more freedom to react to immediate news and pressing reader needs. So I implore you, don’t leave me hanging out here in the blogosphere swinging in the digital breezes. Send me your ideas for topics, your questions that just don’t seem to have answers, your great ideas, your worst nightmares (keep them about DP, please), your newest innovations, your best kept secrets (again, keep them about DP), or even just your words of assurance, that someone is really out there and paying attention.

Lastly, it will take some time to build a following to C2D, and it will be incumbent on me to provide a compelling reason for you to spend 2-3 minutes with me each week. I promise I’ll do my best to provide the best content in a concise and usable way. I ask that you bookmark this page and to pass word on to others you feel would be interested in this topic. Together, we will continue to bring DP for packaging further into the mainstream and help to blow away some of the myths out there, raising the bar for everyone!

ONE LAST NOTE: I’m looking for a catchy closing phrase that will become an icon for the blog. “Keep those cards and letters comin…” just doesn’t cut it. Any suggestions? Email me at Kevin@karstedt.com or better yet, post it as a comment.

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Please post a comment to this blog or feel free to contact Kevin directly at kevin@karstedt.com or 716/992-2017 with comments on this blog, questions you would like to ask privately, or with industry information that you feel Kevin would want to include in future C2D blogs.