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DIGITAL NEWS

Print industry AI challenges Printed Easy
into inkjet

identified in report Printed Easy is expanding

its use of inkjet printing with
a deal for two Canon sheetfed
The personalised printing AI-generated images used by presses – including its
industry faces numerous clients – an issue already upcoming B2 model.The
challenges before it can faced by printers. web-to-print specialist has
profit from the artificial just posted another set of stel-
intelligence (AI) goldrush, Generative AI tends to lar results, with sales up by
according to a new report produce low-resolution just over 15% to £14.2m and
from AI print software firm images, rarely exceeding operating margins increasing
Printbox. Despite a massive 1,024x1,024 pixels. to 37.7% in the year to 30
rush to invest in AI – espe- Upscaling technology – September 2023.
cially generative AI, which The latest buys follow a
nearly octupled from 2022 which analyses the image, string of significant invest-
to reach £20bn of invest- High expectations of AI may lead to disappointment: Report adding new pixels to effec- ments this year that included
ment worldwide in 2023 – tively fill in the blanks and its first production inkjet
the report warned that many of productivity gains will be for smaller firms. The report create a larger version of the device, a Durst Tau RSC-E
users would find themselves found in the years following said: “Implementing AI sys- same image, theoretically for label printing. During his
disillusioned with the tech- the first flush of technologi- tems can be costly, and visit to Drupa managing
nology after overinflated cal progress. smaller printing companies without losing quality – will director Jon Lancaster also
expectations fell short. Implementing the tech- often face huge costs. AI sys- become necessary. assessed the sheetfed inkjet
Citing consultancy firm nology into the print indus- tems become more complex While these challenges market and came down in
Gartner’s model of an ‘inno- try will itself be a when designed for user-fac- are real, said Sylwia Kope, favour of Canon’s offering.
vation trigger’ leading to challenging process, the ing applications, where they Printbox’s head of market- Canon announced the
high expectations, followed report said: implementation must navigate issues such as 8,700sph B2-plus varioPress
by a ‘trough of disillusion- costs, staff training, and data copyright infringement.” ing, AI promises enough to iV7 at Drupa, with the new
ment,’ the report pointed to security would all create a Another issue highlighted the print industry to make device set to become com-
the fact that the major part financial barrier, especially by the report was that of the investment worthwhile. mercially available in 2025.
Datagraphic becomes latest Ricoh and Toshiba

industry B Corp Tec name their JV

Ricoh and Toshiba Tec
Datagraphic has become a have completed the integra-
Certified B Corporation (B tion of their joint venture
Corp). The digital mailing with the new business
specialist achieved the certi- named Etria. Plans for the
fication on 10 June. Verified joint venture spanning mul-
by B Lab, the not-for-profit tifunction printers (MFPs)
behind the B Corp move- and other products were
ment, the achievement dem- announced just over a year New business named Etria
onstrates that Datagraphic ago. On 1 July, Ricoh and
meets the highest standards Toshiba Tec confirmed the Digital Products business
of social and environmental partnership and business unit, is president and CEO
performance, transparency, Datagraphic achieved the certification on 10 June 2024 of the newco. As well as
and accountability alongside more recent years, we have era l i mpac t a rea s. integration had been com- MFPs, the venture will
involve collaboration on
a commitment to goals formalised our efforts in a Datagraphic achieved a pleted, which includes man- new products to help cus-
beyond shareholder value. far-reaching Social Impact score of 89.5 points in the B ufacturing operations tomers with their digital
Datagraphic CEO Glyn King Strategy and built initiatives related to MFPs in Japan and transformation initiatives in
said: “At the heart of that encourage us to do Impact Assessment, provid- overseas. the workplace. Etria will
Datagraphic are a team of more and others to join us.” ing evidence of responsible Etria begins operations also integrate image recog-
passionate people, who for practices relating to energy with capital of ¥500m nition tech from the two
years have been working to To achieve certification, supplies, waste and water (£2.45m). It is a consoli- firms, using Toshiba Tec’s
make our business more sus- Datagraphic had to undergo use, worker compensation, dated subsidiary of Ricoh, barcode printer and RFID
tainable for the benefits of a rigorous assessment pro- and an affiliated company to and Ricoh’s optical and
people, the planet, commu- cess administered by B Lab diversity, and corporate Toshiba Tec. Katsunori image processing technolo-
nities and our partners. In to measure and verify sev- transparency. Nakata, president of Ricoh’s gies.
www.printweekmena.com July-August 2024 PrintWeek MENA 13