FuturePrint Podcast

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A football looks simple until you try to print on it. The curves, seams, and tricky surface finish make traditional flatbed approaches awkward at best. So we sat down with Grant Copson from Cyan Tec to unpack how RoboJet, a modular robotic inkjet printing platform, manages true direct-to-object printing with the kind of quality you actually want to put in front of customers.

We walk through the full production flow, from plasma pre-treatment (with options like corona depending on the substrate) to multi-module inkjet printing with full colour CMYK plus white ink for darker products. Grant explains why UV pinning matters during printing, how the final UV cure locks in durability, and how a six-axis robotic arm gives you the freedom to manipulate complex geometry in open space rather than forcing everything under a fixed printhead. If you are searching for practical answers on UV inkjet printing, 3D object printing, robotic automation in print, or mass customisation, this conversation gets into the details without the fluff.

We also dig into the engineering behind repeatability: bespoke moulds designed in 3D CAD, fixtures produced in-house on 3D printers, and a digital twin workflow that lets the team offline programme and test robot movements before ink ever goes into the machine. That means faster commissioning, less downtime, and a clearer path from prototype to production line. We wrap with where you can see RoboJet in action next, including live demos and upcoming events.

Subscribe for more Future Print conversations, share this with a colleague who cares about industrial inkjet, and leave a review to help more people find the show.

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What is FuturePrint?

FuturePrint is a digital and in person platform and community dedicated to future print technology. Over 20,000 people per month read our articles, listen to our podcasts, view our TV features, click on our e-newsletters and attend our in-person and virtual events. 

We hope to see you at one of our future in-person events:

FuturePrint Packaging, Labels & DTS Summit, 29-30 September '26, Valencia, Spain

FuturePrint Industrial Print Show, 11-12 May '27, Munich, Germany

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Perhaps surprisingly, the best wide format print projects rarely begin with print.

Rather, they begin with an idea, a vision, a story, and a shared ambition to create something that moves people.

In this episode of the FuturePrint Podcast, Marcus Timson is joined by Stanislas de Missolz from Groupe MediaGraphic to explore the remarkable story behind their second consecutive success at the Kavalan Green Leader Awards. 

The discussion centres on the spectacular La Gacilly Photo Festival, Europe's largest open-air photography exhibition, where more than 800 large-format photographs transform an entire French village into an immersive artistic experience that attracts over 300,000 visitors every year. 

Marcus and Stan discuss how the project brought together photographers, event organisers, media specialists and material innovators to prove that sustainability and premium visual quality are no longer opposing objectives.

Topics include:

•  Why outdoor print demands exceptional colour accuracy and durability 
•  The importance of collaboration across the print supply chain 
•  How sustainable media is redefining expectations for large-format graphics 
•  Why immersive visual storytelling is becoming increasingly important 
•  Lessons the wider print industry can learn from one of Europe's most celebrated photography festivals 
•  Why sustainability is rapidly becoming the new benchmark rather than a specialist option 

This conversation demonstrates that the future of print is not simply about producing graphics—it is about enabling experiences, telling stories and creating emotional connections while reducing environmental impact.

Check out this film that perfectly brings to life La Gacilly Festival

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What is FuturePrint?

FuturePrint is a digital and in person platform and community dedicated to future print technology. Over 20,000 people per month read our articles, listen to our podcasts, view our TV features, click on our e-newsletters and attend our in-person and virtual events. 

We hope to see you at one of our future in-person events:

FuturePrint Packaging, Labels & DTS Summit, 29-30 September '26, Valencia, Spain

FuturePrint Industrial Print Show, 11-12 May '27, Munich, Germany

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of the FuturePrint Podcast, we are joined by Edd West, Business Unit Manager for Continuous Inkjet (CIJ), Emma Anderson, Global Marketing Manager, and Charlotte Baile, who supported the launch of the new Linx 9000 Series at Interpack.

The conversation explores a refreshing approach to industrial product development—one that begins not with technology, but with understanding the people who use it. Rather than asking customers what new features they wanted, Linx undertook a global Voice of Customer programme to understand the everyday pressures faced by production managers. The result was "Steve", a customer persona that became the guiding principle behind both the product's development and its launch strategy.

We discuss why uptime, reliability and operational simplicity often matter more than technical specifications, how customer insight shaped innovations including automated cleaning, battery-backed shutdown protection and integrated code verification, and why removing anxiety from the production line can be a powerful form of innovation.

The episode also examines the marketing strategy behind the successful Interpack launch, where Linx built its exhibition presence around real customer challenges rather than product specifications. From live demonstrations and immersive storytelling to partner engagement and PR, the discussion offers valuable lessons for any business launching technology into competitive industrial markets.

More broadly, this conversation highlights a growing shift within manufacturing: engineering excellence remains essential, but the companies that truly stand out are those that invest just as much effort in understanding their customers as they do in developing their technology.

Whether your focus is industrial printing, manufacturing, product development or B2B marketing, this episode provides practical insights into how customer-led innovation can become a genuine competitive advantage.

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What is FuturePrint?

FuturePrint is a digital and in person platform and community dedicated to future print technology. Over 20,000 people per month read our articles, listen to our podcasts, view our TV features, click on our e-newsletters and attend our in-person and virtual events. 

We hope to see you at one of our future in-person events:

FuturePrint Packaging, Labels & DTS Summit, 29-30 September '26, Valencia, Spain

FuturePrint Industrial Print Show, 11-12 May '27, Munich, Germany

Send us Fan Mail

Digital marketing moves fast, gets measured in clicks, and disappears in a day. Print does the opposite, and that tension sits at the heart of our conversation with Kierian Cameron, the founding editor of Brand Cult, the UK’s first print-only business newspaper for entrepreneurs and founders.

Kierian shares her unconventional path into publishing and brand building, then unpacks why Brand Cult stays intentionally offline. We talk about premium print media as a physical experience that changes perception: the feel of real newspaper stock, the way weight signals credibility, and why “just uploading a PDF” misses the point. If you care about print technology, print marketing, or how founders actually learn to scale and grow, you will hear how a well-made newspaper can become a tool for focus rather than another stream of noise.

We also dig into the craft of building a brand world. Brand Cult arrives wrapped in tissue, sealed with a hand-poured wax stamp, and even carries a bespoke scent. Kierian explains how sensory details create recognition and emotional connection, and how that thinking extends to bold brand activation, including a travelling confession booth turned photo booth where founders share business sins and client horror stories at major UK business events.

To close, we get practical about storytelling and strategy: why most brands make themselves the hero, how to flip the script so the customer is the main character, and why print forces you to be intentional because you cannot delete it 24 hours later. Subscribe, share this with a founder who feels stuck in the content treadmill, and leave us a review with your favourite print memory.

Kierian has kindly given listeners a chance to sign up to receive Brand Cult at a discounted price using the code: FUTUREPRINTCULT which can be redeemed at brandcult.uk

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What is FuturePrint?

FuturePrint is a digital and in person platform and community dedicated to future print technology. Over 20,000 people per month read our articles, listen to our podcasts, view our TV features, click on our e-newsletters and attend our in-person and virtual events. 

We hope to see you at one of our future in-person events:

FuturePrint Packaging, Labels & DTS Summit, 29-30 September '26, Valencia, Spain

FuturePrint Industrial Print Show, 11-12 May '27, Munich, Germany

Send us Fan Mail

A corrugated box looks simple until you try to print something different on every single one, at speed, with the same reliability you expect from industrial production. We’re joined by Charles Tonna, CEO at Buskro, and Christophe Merlier, VP of Research and Innovation, to explain how their 50-year heritage in mailing and high-throughput variable data is powering a new push into direct-to-box inkjet printing for packaging, pharma and food applications. 

We talk about what customers are really asking for right now: shorter runs, fast changeovers, start-stop capability, and less day-to-day printhead fuss. From there we get into the Argo platform and the idea of a modular printer that can scale as your needs grow, plus the practical value of being a fully integrated OEM that designs the transport, electronics, software, ink delivery and controls in-house. That approach matters when you want one accountable supplier for a complete print solution rather than a chain of vendors. 

You’ll also hear the story behind Buskro iconic Blue Door, and why it represents more than a colour. We explore modern printhead capability, real trade-offs around speed, and a show-floor “shoebox printer” demo that makes personalisation feel tangible. Finally, we look at RFID printing and encoding workflows that link a unique tag to a unique box, opening the door to better tracking, inventory accuracy and customer experience. 

If you care about industrial inkjet, water-based printing, variable data, corrugated packaging and end-of-line personalisation, this conversation is built to spark ideas. Subscribe, share this with a colleague, and leave us a review with your take: where should packaging print go next?

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What is FuturePrint?

FuturePrint is a digital and in person platform and community dedicated to future print technology. Over 20,000 people per month read our articles, listen to our podcasts, view our TV features, click on our e-newsletters and attend our in-person and virtual events. 

We hope to see you at one of our future in-person events:

FuturePrint Packaging, Labels & DTS Summit, 29-30 September '26, Valencia, Spain

FuturePrint Industrial Print Show, 11-12 May '27, Munich, Germany

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of the FuturePrint Podcast, Marcus Timson speaks with Mark Stephenson about the launch of his new venture, The Spark Organisation, and why storytelling has become one of the most powerful differentiators in the print and technology industries.

Drawing on nearly three decades of experience at Fujifilm, Mark reflects on the shift from traditional corporate communications toward more human, intuitive and emotionally resonant storytelling. In a world filled with “another grey box”, technical specifications alone are rarely enough to inspire confidence, build trust or create lasting customer relationships.

The conversation explores why people remember how brands make them feel rather than simply what they say, and how authentic storytelling can help companies stand out in increasingly competitive and uncertain markets. Marcus and Mark discuss the importance of trust in B2B sales, the growing role of video and podcasts, the challenges of getting technical experts comfortable on camera, and why over-rehearsed corporate messaging often loses its emotional impact.

They also examine how lockdown accelerated digital communities across print, the role of organisations such as IPIA, and why content should ultimately serve the audience rather than internal stakeholders.

This episode is a thoughtful and often humorous discussion about communication, creativity, vulnerability, and the growing need for the print industry to connect through stories, not just specifications.

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What is FuturePrint?

FuturePrint is a digital and in person platform and community dedicated to future print technology. Over 20,000 people per month read our articles, listen to our podcasts, view our TV features, click on our e-newsletters and attend our in-person and virtual events. 

We hope to see you at one of our future in-person events:

FuturePrint Packaging, Labels & DTS Summit, 29-30 September '26, Valencia, Spain

FuturePrint Industrial Print Show, 11-12 May '27, Munich, Germany

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of the FuturePrint Podcast, Marcus Timson speaks with Natalie Thrall, Marketing Manager at Nazdar, about the changing role of marketing, storytelling and communication in industrial print.

Operating in a highly technical world of ink chemistry, performance data and application expertise, Nazdar faces the challenge of translating complex innovation into clear, engaging and commercially relevant stories. Natalie explains why the most effective communication starts not with the product, but with the customer - what they need, what will help their business, and what will make complex technology easier to understand.

The conversation explores how B2B buying behaviour is becoming more like B2C, with customers researching, validating and forming opinions long before direct engagement. Natalie shares how Nazdar is responding through a more focused content strategy built around R&D capability, sustainability leadership, new technologies and partnerships.

She also discusses the growing importance of short-form video, visual proof, customer success stories and authentic brand voice. From high viscosity ink demonstrations to solar panels at Nazdar’s California facility and inks used on NFL helmet decals, the episode highlights how technical performance can be made tangible and relatable.

Natalie also reflects on the balance between storytelling and confidentiality, particularly in OEM work, and explains how internal alignment across R&D, sales and leadership helps create a stronger external message.

A thoughtful discussion on how industrial brands can simplify complexity, build trust and communicate innovation with greater human relevance.

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What is FuturePrint?

FuturePrint is a digital and in person platform and community dedicated to future print technology. Over 20,000 people per month read our articles, listen to our podcasts, view our TV features, click on our e-newsletters and attend our in-person and virtual events. 

We hope to see you at one of our future in-person events:

FuturePrint Packaging, Labels & DTS Summit, 29-30 September '26, Valencia, Spain

FuturePrint Industrial Print Show, 11-12 May '27, Munich, Germany

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of the FuturePrint Podcast, Marcus Timson is joined by Matteo Conte, Marketing Manager at Polytype, to explore the evolving role of marketing and storytelling in industrial print.

While the sector has traditionally focused on technical specifications and performance metrics, Matteo argues that a shift is underway - from B2B to what he calls “B2H” (business-to-human). As digital transformation and global uncertainty reshape buying behaviours, industrial marketers are increasingly recognising the importance of trust, emotion, and human connection in decision-making.

Matteo shares insights from his first year at Polytype, where he has focused on elevating the company’s visibility and communicating its rich heritage, innovation, and global impact. He highlights the importance of authentic storytelling - grounded in reality rather than exaggeration - as a way to build credibility and differentiate in a crowded market.

The conversation also explores how industrial companies can learn from B2C practices without losing sight of the unique dynamics of B2B, particularly when it comes to long-term investment decisions and multi-stakeholder buying processes.

Finally, Matteo discusses Polytype’s latest innovations, including DigiCan for beverage can printing and the hybrid “Prime Offset” solution, both of which reflect changing market demands and the growing role of digital technologies.

A thoughtful and timely discussion on how industrial brands can communicate more effectively in a rapidly changing world.

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What is FuturePrint?

FuturePrint is a digital and in person platform and community dedicated to future print technology. Over 20,000 people per month read our articles, listen to our podcasts, view our TV features, click on our e-newsletters and attend our in-person and virtual events. 

We hope to see you at one of our future in-person events:

FuturePrint Packaging, Labels & DTS Summit, 29-30 September '26, Valencia, Spain

FuturePrint Industrial Print Show, 11-12 May '27, Munich, Germany

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of the FuturePrint Podcast, Frazer Chesterman speaks with Steve Williamson, CEO of Global Inkjet Systems (GIS), about leadership, technology, market change and the future direction of industrial inkjet.

Steve reflects on his four years at GIS, having joined the business from outside the inkjet sector after a career in RF, defence and security. He shares how his initial assumptions about the market changed as he came to understand the complexity of industrial inkjet and the engineering challenges behind print quality, reliability and integration.

The conversation explores the role of GIS as an enabling technology partner, providing drive electronics, ink systems and software for a wide range of applications, from textiles, ceramics and labels to additive manufacturing, aerospace and complex direct-to-shape printing.

Steve also discusses his leadership style, the importance of building a strong senior team, and the need for commercial discipline, profitability and portfolio clarity. He explains how GIS is strengthening product management, improving testing and stability, and diversifying across regions and applications to build resilience.

Looking ahead, the discussion turns to partnerships, collaboration and the need for the inkjet sector to work more effectively across the value chain. Steve highlights growing interest in robotics, complex 3D shapes and applications beyond conventional print.

With GIS approaching its 20th anniversary, this is a thoughtful conversation about the hard engineering, teamwork and strategic focus required to move inkjet forward.

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What is FuturePrint?

FuturePrint is a digital and in person platform and community dedicated to future print technology. Over 20,000 people per month read our articles, listen to our podcasts, view our TV features, click on our e-newsletters and attend our in-person and virtual events. 

We hope to see you at one of our future in-person events:

FuturePrint Packaging, Labels & DTS Summit, 29-30 September '26, Valencia, Spain

FuturePrint Industrial Print Show, 11-12 May '27, Munich, Germany

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of the FuturePrint Podcast, Frazer Chesterman speaks with Edgar Llop and Aliasgar Eranpurwala about printhead performance, recovery, and the launch of a new diagnostic technology set to change how the industry measures print quality.

The conversation centres on the introduction of ANA (Automatic Nozzle Test Analyser), developed by People & Technology and launched at Interpack. Designed to provide a detailed, data-driven assessment of printhead condition, ANA analyses printed patterns to identify missing nozzles, droplet deviations, clustering, and other factors that impact overall print quality.

Edgar explains how the system moves beyond traditional visual checks, offering a precise “map” of printhead performance. This enables manufacturers, developers, and operators to better understand how printheads behave in real production environments, and to take a more predictive approach to maintenance and quality control.

Aliasgar provides context from the Seiko Instruments perspective, highlighting the increasing demands placed on coding and marking applications. As the industry shifts towards more complex QR codes and higher data density, even minor defects can render codes unusable, making consistent print quality critical.

The discussion also explores the realities of industrial inkjet environments, where dust, vibration, ink chemistry, and operator handling all influence performance over time. Together, these factors reinforce the need for both robust printhead design and effective maintenance strategies.

A key theme throughout is collaboration. By combining Seiko’s expertise in printhead development with People & Technology’s capabilities in diagnostics and recovery, the partnership aims to extend printhead lifespan, improve reliability, and reduce total cost of ownership for end users.

A timely and practical discussion on why measuring, maintaining, and understanding print quality is becoming just as important as achieving it in the first place.

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What is FuturePrint?

FuturePrint is a digital and in person platform and community dedicated to future print technology. Over 20,000 people per month read our articles, listen to our podcasts, view our TV features, click on our e-newsletters and attend our in-person and virtual events. 

We hope to see you at one of our future in-person events:

FuturePrint Packaging, Labels & DTS Summit, 29-30 September '26, Valencia, Spain

FuturePrint Industrial Print Show, 11-12 May '27, Munich, Germany