Home Alone

It’s a?1990 movie reference?to that Christmas gem that is almost as violent as Die Hard. In the “drupa version” Mom and Dad (aka Julie Shaffer and Eric Vessels) pulled out of the driveway, and I was not in the car. The WhatTheyThink family is off to Düsseldorf? to manage the drupa show daily and I’m here holding the fort. Since the WhatTheyThink operation is entirely remote and distributed, the only “home” I will have to defend is my own, but I am expecting an onslaught of inkjet news to parry and publish. I am prepared!

The coverage actually began a few months ago with a?flurry of press releases?and our?Spring Update webinar?(which includes booth locations for new inkjet offers.) Then, Ralf Schlozer put together two announcement summaries, the first?for production inkjet?and the second for?everything else inkjet, including inkjet integrator resources.?

We often hear the phrase “inkjet drupa” and 2024 is no different. However, I think that this time integrators and supporting inkjet component solutions like printbars, drying, quality control systems?and supporting RIP and other software will play a more prominent role. There are also quite a few press solutions on the market from integration companies or based on inkjet partnerships. Ralf Schl?zer?recently profiled MCS?in our ongoing inkjet integrator series. MCS builds equipment and white-labels other equipment constantly pushing for high-value, low cost solutions across several application segments.

There is no question that inkjet is expanding to new application segments, but increasingly there are production inkjet solutions that can straddle multiple application segments and allow printing companies to do more. Pat McGrew M-edp shares?her perspective?on the benefits of using inkjet to expand your horizons.?

We are also happy to bring you a case study of a healthcare in-plant operation that is both expanding and contracting. Christus Health has consolidated and automated their operations while positioning themselves to offer more services to their customers with faster turn-around.?Read?Lois Ritarossi’s latest interview.

For all of you headed to drupa I wish you a great show and safe travels. If you want to send me something from the show, I kindly request the “Barbaras Rhabarberbar” song to be performed in front of the Barberán stand. I will happily publish your videos.

Elizabeth?

P.S. the press announcements were already rolling in as I wrote this newsletter. 9 more days of drupa!