July 2011
Written by Martin Habekost on Friday, 01 July 2011 09:54

Bioplastics are an emerging and growing trend in the packaging industry. But before these plastics are discussed in more detail one needs to know what bioplastics are. Bioplastics are plastics that are based on raw materials from renewable sources and that they can be recycled through composting. Most of us have come in contact with a bioplastic in the form of the liner bag for the kitchen garbage that goes into the green bin for curb-side collection. The first time I came in contact with this type of plastic I realized that it felt different from the known plastics. This is quite understandable since bioplastics are made from a different type of polymer than the plastics that are based on petrochemicals.

Written by Diana Brown on Friday, 01 July 2011 09:52

Automation is the process of using technology to make repetitive tasks easier and to reduce human intervention to a minimum. Increased technological advancements enable enhanced levels of productivity in our everyday lives, from automated home appliances to alarm clocks that wake us up when we want, to cars that automatically regulate the internal temperature of the vehicle. We all experience automation daily in our personal lives, and we can also experience automation in our printing lives, too. From front-end processes, to the pressroom floor, to bindery and post-bindery, the automated options for our industry are growing at a steady pace.

Written by Kelley Robertson on Friday, 01 July 2011 09:51 A recent editor's note in a sleep products magazine discussed how many people suffer from poor sleep and the editor referred to these individuals as zombies. Instantly, I thought of dozens of salespeople I have encountered over the years who could be classified as zombies, too.

Here are 14 signs that you might be turning into a sales zombie.

Written by Kristen Read on Friday, 01 July 2011 09:50

If you weren't already overwhelmed with the number of online networking platforms floating around on the Web, Google has just launched a new social media tool called Google+. In hopes of competing with Facebook (after previous attempts at social networking by Google have gone the way of the Dodo) this service is looking like it might actually stick around. Though it is still in its early days and not everyone has access yet, the positive buzz around Google+ can't be ignored.

Written by Peter Dulis on Friday, 01 July 2011 09:48

In January 2011, we reported on the rapid growth of 3D design technology in product development and online consumer 3D print services, and the growing adoption of 3D software in architecture, interior design and manufacturing, resulting in a strong demand for 3D printers to produce these prototypes.

Written by Tim Mitra on Friday, 01 July 2011 09:46

Q. I have thousands of contacts in my MobileMe account, and I am having trouble editing them. If I edit them on my iPhone, iPad or my Mac the old contact records keep coming back. How can I edit them and stop the duplicate address?

Written by Tony Curcio on Friday, 01 July 2011 08:43

First, a good writer must break through to the reader on an emotional level, and second, genuinely care about a client's success. These are arguably the two most important things that I've learned in my 45 years as a writer.

Written by Thomas Gagnon on Friday, 21 October 2011 08:38 Relative humidity and the temperature of the pressroom contribute significantly to the paper's "runnability" on press. To ensure dimensional stability of the paper, it is important to measure the relative humidity of the paper and pressroom on a regular basis.
Written by Tony Curcio on Friday, 01 July 2011 08:37

Controversy and some common-sense strategies for your survival

So while some of the best U.S. thinkers gathered at the Postal Vision 2020 Conference June 15 to offer workable strategies to rescue their postal service, what did we do afterwards here in Canada? We endured another strike! As a result, many printers and related service providers lost income – even though postal workers were legislated back to work in a relatively short time.

Written by C. Clint Bolte on Friday, 01 July 2011 08:35

Experts gather to offer solutions for America's postal dilemma

Edited excerpts from an article by Clint Bolte, Growth Management Consultant to the printing industry worldwide (www.clintbolte.com)

Written by Diana Brown on Friday, 01 July 2011 07:57

So you have a great business idea and you're ready to move forward with it, but how do you secure the necessary capital to build your dream? There are a number of options available, which will be discussed in brief and additional insights will be left up to the financial pros in the "Resources" section.

Written by Natalia Gilewicz on Friday, 01 July 2011 07:47 For several years social media has been a hot topic; however, now we are seeing an industry beginning to build around this new means of communication. There was a period during which it was hard to tell what business impact social media would have, if any! Today, a majority agree that social media is not a disappearing fad. This new way of communicating with customers needs to be understood by companies both large and small.
Written by Natalia Gilewicz on Friday, 01 July 2011 07:46 I hope that you are reading this issue the same way I'm writing this: with half of yourself diligently working and the other half on some sort of vacation! This month's issue focuses on ways that printers can use social media to promote their business. Often summer is a great time to think about these types of initiatives. Our lead article, "Social media for the printer" is written from a novice perspective, but for those of you who are already engaging in social media, the article ends with a comprehensive list of resources that can continue to help you grow in the area. Mentally, the switch is starting to happen across our industry as consumers more than ever are expecting community and rejecting persuasion.
Written by Joe Mulcahy on Friday, 01 July 2011 07:45 Hopefully we're all breathing a bit easier now because of the quick, legislated end to the strike at Canada Post Corporation. No matter where you stand on the issues (and feelings were flying high both in parliament, in the media and throughout the printing industry), you might want to check out the articles on pages 26 and 27.

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