Thursday, February 25, 2021

At least one segment of the Printing & Graphics Industry is growing and expected to continue to grow – Printed Packaging - HP C 500 - Company Box

 At least one segment of the Printing & Graphics Industry is growing and expected to continue to grow – Printed Packaging

Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, we are doing a lot more “on-line” shopping than ever before.  Rarely does a day go by that a box or package doesn’t show up outside our front door. Years ago, most boxes and packages were unprinted.  That is definitely not the case today.


I am a follower of WhatTheyThink.com and enjoy reading the articles and watching the videos WTT publishes.  Although I don’t always agree with the “economic” opinions WTT authors have, I do, very much, enjoy the information they share about different segments of the Printing & Graphics Industry – new products, new equipment and technology, innovations, who’s doing what.


And, with that thought in mind, today, I watched a video/interview on WTT, one that I found so interesting that I thought I’d share it on Reprographics 101……


CompanyBox’s Louis DeJesus Talks about On-Demand Packaging

David Zwang talks to Louis DeJesus, CEO and Founder of CompanyBox, which specializes in digital, on-demand packaging. The company leverages digital platforms, automation, and order aggregation so that the cost of one package is "the same as the cost of a truckload.”


Published on February 23, 2021, Link to video:

https://whattheythink.com/video/104617-companyboxs-louis-dejesus-talks-about-demand-packaging/?utm_source=newsletter1&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily

 

Going further, here’s some information about “Company Box”…..

 

A Fresh Approach to Packaging

 

OUR FACILITY

See How We Build Your Box & Your Brand

All of our work is done in-house to ensure that you get your order as fast as possible. In fact, all orders are guaranteed to ship within 8 business days of receiving payment and artwork approval. Plus, our on-site printing makes it even easier for us to perform quality control audits, ensuring that you receive a box with the sharpest, most vivid graphics possible.

 

The BoxMaker Invests in Second HP PageWide C500 to Expand Corrugated Services in US


Friday, October 30, 2020

Press release from the issuing company


New press to be installed in Arkansas to extend nationwide reach

Seattle, Wash. – The BoxMaker, a US leader in digitally produced packaging, announced it has purchased a second HP PageWide C500 Press to add capacity for its growing corrugated business, as the converter launches a nationwide expansion. 

The multi-million-dollar investment makes The BoxMaker the first converter in the world to operate two HP C500 presses for flexible, on-demand direct-to-board production of corrugated boxes with offset quality print using true water-based inks.

"The HP C500 has proven valuable to both our business and our brands, playing a key role in doubling our business volume for digitally produced packaging and display. Digital print technology enables our client brands greater flexibility for quick turnaround times, high-impact designs for multiple SKUs, and the ability to engage consumers with marketing promotions directly integrated into their packaging,” said Richard Brown, President and Co-Owner of The BoxMaker. “The HP C500 is proven technology that will serve as the print platform to drive our growth strategy as we continue on our journey with HP to transform the market to digital.” 


The new press will be installed near Springdale, Arkansas where The BoxMaker is acquiring Tango Press, an all-digital production plant for corrugated packaging and displays.


Link to the full press release:

https://whattheythink.com/news/103131-boxmaker-invests-second-hp-pagewide-c500-expand-corrugated-services-us/

 

Link to the company’s web-site:

https://www.companybox.com

 

INFORMATION ABOUT THE HP C 500:

 

HP PageWide C500 Press

 

Digital post-print simplicity with offset print quality

Benefit from consistent offset print quality for a wide range of corrugated applications on both coated and uncoated paper, along with post-print process simplicity and the versatility advantages of food-safe¹ true water-based inks. Produce jobs digitally in runs of anything from one to thousands, while focusing your analog presses on very long runs.

 

Videos of installations;  one of these videos takes a look inside Company Box’s facility:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oStETO-vbqY

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bbd8Jh6ed_I

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3iD7Yt34FI


HP C 500 Data Sheet:

https://www8.hp.com/h20195/v2/GetPDF.aspx/4AA7-0925ENW.pdf

Wednesday, February 24, 2021

AIA ABI Index for December 2020 came in at 42.6. Ending the year on a sour note.

The AIA’s ABI Index for December was below 50, again, as has been the case since March 2020.  Ten months under 50 in a row.

Business conditions at architecture firms backslid in December, ending a tough year on a disappointing note. The AIA’s Architecture Billings Index (ABI) score declined to 42.6 for the month, indicating that more firms saw declining billings in December than in November. Although some year-end softness is to be expected at many firms, the ABI analysis takes these seasonal factors into account, so it is unlikely the decline is due to just the typical December slowdown. Instead, ongoing uncertainty with an increase in COVID-19 cases and delays on the new stimulus package until late in the month are more likely contributors to the decline.

However, firms do remain relatively optimistic about 2021, and the indicators of future work tend to support that. Inquiries into new projects at firms increased for the fifth month in a row in December, and while the pace of growth was slower than in September and October, it still means that most firms are having project discussions with potential clients.And while the value of new design contracts decreased for the second consecutive month after rising in October, it remained near the 50 threshold, indicating that a nearly equivalent share of firms saw an increase in new contracts signed as saw a decrease. In addition, firm backlogs remained generally steady from the third quarter to the fourth quarter of 2020, declining slightly from an average of 5.4 to 5.3 months. This remains about a month below pre-pandemic backlog levels for the last two years, but has improved from the first quarter, where they fell all the way to 5.0 months from 6.3 months in the fourth quarter of 2019.

The full report issued in January 2021 for December 2020 can be found at this link:

 

https://www.aia.org/pages/6366635-abi-december-2020-architecture-firm-billin

ARC Document Solutions reported Q4 2020 and Full Year 2020 Results

Yesterday, ARC Document Solutions, the largest “reprographics” company in the U.S. (if not the world) reported its Q4 2020 and Full Year 2020 results.

 

On full year basis, ARC’s Sales dropped $93.0 million (24.32%) from year 2019 to year 2020, but, in spite of that huge drop, ARC’s “Earnings Attributable to ARC” dropped only $500,000.  That, to me, is remarkable performance.


 SALES     
     2020 to 20192020 to 2019 
 Period201820192020$ change% change 
 Q1 $     97.71  $      97.10  $      88.40  $    (8.70)-8.96% 
 Q2 $  104.19  $      98.90  $      64.30  $  (34.60)-34.98% 
 1st H $  201.90  $    196.00  $    152.70  $  (43.30)-22.09% 
 Q3 $  100.47  $      94.10  $      72.40  $  (21.70)-23.06% 
 9 Mo $  302.37  $    290.10  $    225.10  $  (65.00)-28.88% 
 Q4 $     98.40  $      92.30  $      64.30  $  (28.00)-30.34% 
 Year $  400.77  $    382.40  $    289.40  $  (93.00)-24.32% 
        
 ADJUSTED NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO ARC  
 201820192020   
 Year $       8.50  $         6.80  $         6.30    
        


I’ve been involved in the “Reprographics” Industry for over 50 years by now.  Year 2020 was one of the weirdest years, EVER, due to the impact of the Covid-19 virus. You would be hard pressed to find any reprographics company – anywhere in the U.S. or the world – that did not experience an incredibly difficult and challenging year.  

 

For most reprographers, and, apparently, ARC was no different, the year broke down like this:

 

·      Q1 2020 – off slightly

·      Q2 2020 – deeply off

·      Q3 2020 – somewhat of a minor rebound

·      Q4 2020 – deeply off again

 

The “typical” reprographics company operates several different business segments, among them:

 

·      A/E/C reprographics services

·      On-Site (FM/MPS) Services

·      Wide-Format Color services

·      Some also offer Equipment, Equipment Service and Supplies

 

In Year 2020, the impact on these separate business segments looked like this:

 

·      A/E/C reprographics services was significantly down for the year, as some projects were delayed or put off and as architects and engineers worked from home rather than having everyone come in to the office.  Last time I looked (which was recently), the AIA ABI Billing Index has been south of 50 for nine consecutive months.

 

·      On-Site (FM/MPS) services were very hard hit because the customers who use this service are typically architects, engineers and construction companies, and because most of the revenue is generated from customer team members printing to imaging devices located at the A/E/C firms office.  Since architects and engineers were working for home a lot of 2020, the volume of OSS/MPS/FM revenue was well off in 2020.

 

·      Wide-Format Color services, well, the results of this segment were good for some and awful for others.  Retailers, restauranteurs, entertainment venues, etc. cut back spending on display (advertising and promotional) graphics, but virtually all businesses and government agencies and schools had to spend on signage/graphics related to Covid-19.

 

·      Those companies who are in the business of selling/leasing/renting and servicing wide-format equipment and media and supplies, well, they too, suffered a down year for that business, similar to the reasons given for A/E/C reprographics services and On-Site services.

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

Bob Knappage, Reprographics Industry legend, passed away on February 4, 2021. R.I.P.

For those of you who are unaware of this very sad news, Reprographics Industry veteran, Robert (Bob) Knappage, passed away on February 4, 2021.  May he rest in peace.

 

·     - Bob was a long-term member of the Thomas Printworks family; some of us referred to Bob as Bill Thomas’ right-hand-man.   After a career that spanned decades, Bob retired from active duty in 2011.

 

·     - Bob served as President of the International Reprographics Association (the IRgA is now called the APDSP / Association of Printing & Data Solutions Professionals).

 

·     - Bob was a Bukovsky Award winner.  The Bukovsky Award was created in memory of George K. Bukovsky, who worked in the reprographics industry for more than 30 years and was a dedicated member of the IRgA. The award was established in 1990 to honor his great contributions by recognizing others who have similarly made a lasting impact on the reprographics industry. 

 

Gene Klein, CEO of Barker Blue, was the one who mentioned to me that Bob had recently passed away:

 

In a LinkedIn message, Gene said….. My Dad died 30 years ago.  I thought of him when Bob Knappage of Thomas died a few weeks ago.  Bob was a close friend and he and my Dad had those old-school business values that still stand up today.”

 

Bill Thomas, Chairman of the Board of Thomas Printworks, shared Bob’s obituary with me:

 

Bob Knappage was born March 17, 1945 passed away February 4, 2021 after a lengthy stay in the hospital. 

Bob’s passion was golf and boating. He could often be found cruising the lake or golfing on the simulator in his house. Working a lifetime at Thomas Printworks, he was well-respected by all his peers and was recognized as a significant contributor to the reprographics industry. He served as President of the International Reprographic Industry and was awarded the George Bukovsky award in 2005 as a significant contributor to the reprographics industry. Bob’s ability to work a spreadsheet was impressive! Bob was blessed by the friendships he formed with fellow employees, colleagues, and customers who surrounded him with love and support throughout his life, work and retirement. 

He is survived by his son Robert Bobby Knappage and his wife Amy, sister & brother-in -law, Barbara & Gary Jenkins, grandson Robert Knappage, nephew Daniel Maynard & his wife Kim, niece Debra Baird and dearest friends Bill and Beverly Thomas, Sherri Gustie, Randy Paulus and cousin Vesta Roberts and Bob’s 4 footed and beloved pets Bebe and Sugar. 

Due to COVID-19 there will not be a Memorial Service. 

In lieu of flowers Bob would prefer donations to your favorite Charity.

 

Bill Thomas wrote this about Bob:

 

“FOND MEMORIES OF A FRIEND”

 

“Bob Knappage and I became friends at the early age of 13 as we met through our parents who were friends.  Both families lived in Dallas but about 5 miles apart.  To play with each other we would ride our bikes to the other one’s house.  The summer before our Junior year in high school, both families moved to Garland, Texas where we both played on the Garland High School Golf Team.  We played golf almost every day, except on weekends we would caddy some.  Bob was a big strong guy that could carry double even with the heavy pro bags.  Me, with my statue, did good to carry one bag. It was the best of times.

 

After we had completed our education, Bob went into real estate with his dad and I went into the family business, Thomas Blueprint. Bob’s dad died the same week that my son, Bryan, was born in 1969.  Afterward, Bob stayed in real estate sales for a few years, but it was not the same. I asked him to come to work with me and he did.  He became a store manager, then District Manager of our Houston operation, and later Vice-President of the company.

 

Our mantra was work hard and play hard and we were able to successfully grow the company and be recognized in our industry as a leader.  When we were not working, we were playing golf or water skiing at Lake Texoma.  I still remember the day we decided to try to learn how I could ride on his shoulders while he was on skis.  It did not work out too well!

 

Our golf outings were similar.  I remember playing in the Member-Guest Golf Tournament with him at his club.  He hooked his drive in the left rough under a tree.  He pulled up in the golf cart and went to his ball and looked under the limb. Down the fairway was a lake with a hill on the other side with the green on top of that knoll and a sand trap in front of the green.  Bob looked at me and said, “I got this shot”.  I laughed so hard I almost fell out of the cart.

 

Bob was a unique personality.  I remember acquiring a company in San Antonio and Bob and I flew down there to meet with the employees and examine the operating procedures of the company.  Bob with his abrupt and direct to the point way upset the owner of that business. After we flew back to Dallas, the guy called me and asked me to not ever send that son of a gun back down there.  Of course, that is exactly what I did, and the man came to love Bob.  I asked him about it and he said that not only did Bob know what he was doing but when you got past his abrupt manner you quickly realized that he had a heart of gold and truly cared about people.  He even tried to talk Bob into retiring in San Antonio when Bob was considering retiring in Phoenix.  Bob retired in Phoenix, but they remained great friends.

 

I will miss Bob for the rest of my life.”

 

______________

 

When Bob Knappage retired from Thomas Printworks, a video-tribute was produced by Thomas, and, below, I’m going to share that with you. This video is priceless. It is a “must watch.”

 

March 2011 Newscast

 

Featuring a special tribute to Bob Knappage with Bill Thomas, Bryan Thomas, David Laza and leaders from around the industry.

 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL419AD26793DE733B


_______________


Update:  just after I put up this post about Bob’s passing, I received an email from Paul Korman, CEO of Trukmann’s Reprographics.  Paul shared with me a post he put up – about Bob Knappage - on the RMX forum on Feb 5th:


“What I have learned through life has in large measure been taught by those I have encountered along the way. Real transformation though comes from lessons that are not just taught but caught.”

 

“Bob's wisdom, personality and sense of humor made him and his lessons infectious. I learned so much from this great man. What Bob imparted to us in the sessions, on the Thomas tours, at breakfast, lunch and dinner, in the lobbies, on the buses and in the bars until late at night had a major impact on who I am as a business person. His lessons and stories impacted the success of our company and even our survival through the tough times. He wasn't the only one but he was one of the special ones. Bob Knappage (and so many of you) is why I belonged to ReproCAD, ReproMAX and now RMX. He can't be forgotten. There is too much of him still in me and passed on to those who work with me every day. The more I think about him, the harder a time I'm having with his passing. Whew...”