PIM The Loupe - May 2022

LOOKING FOR TALENT PIM DE&I UPDATE & TO ESTABLISH YOUR PIPELINE? - page 3 pg. 2 Printing Industry Midwest (PIM) creates PIM RECRUIT & RETAIN a map for all Print Service Providers (PSP) and their partners in the industry pg. 4 a guide to Finding Talent, that guide can be found on PIM’s website or continue SO, THERE’S ANOTHER reading more on page 3. EMAIL ABOUT PIPI… WHAT’S THIS ALL ABOUT?? pg. 5 RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, AND PATHWAYS TO EMPLOYMENT IN THE PRINTING INDUSTRY pg. 6 IDEAL PRINTERS & GRAVIE CASE STUDY pg. 9 WHAT ARE PIM MEMBERS UP TO? pg. 10 PROOFING IN A DIGITAL WORLD pg. 13 UPCOMING PIM EVENTS & WEBINARS pg. 14 WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT MAY 2022 1 Printing TInhde uLosutpreybMy PidriwnteinsgtI’nsd(uPstIrMy M) iNdweewsts(lePtIMte)r

PIM News PIM DE&I UPDATE STAY IN THE LOUPE HIGHLIGHTED ON WHATTHEYTHINK NEW TO THE GROUP PIM’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) Printing Industry Midwest (PIM) would like to welcome Accreditation Pilot Program is taking off! the following companies to our organization. If you Check out a video interview where Kristin see (virtual or in-person) employees from these Pilling-Davis of PIM explains the program. companies, please reach out and welcome them. Debby Boyd of John Roberts and Mariel Bolger of Bolger, two companies enrolled in the pilot program, • Fusebox One - Urbandale, IA talk about why the program is important to their • MGX - Fenton, MO companies and the industry. The video can be found on PIM’s website or on WhatTheyThink’s website. PIM’s mission is to ensure the vitality, innovation and success of our printing and associate members, and NEW TO THE PILOT PROGRAM the industry we serve. More information about PIM membership and member benefits can be found at Three PIM members – Anchor Paper Company, Studio on www.pimw.org/benefits/. Fire & Wright Printing – have joined the elite DE&I Pilot Program group comprised of nine member companies. TAKE CONTROL OVER YOUR EMAIL These three companies have started the process towards closing the racial and diversity gap in the print industry. Did you know you can control how many PIM emails Thank you to all the companies participating in this pilot you receive? You can select and deselect categories program. PIM is excited to share the progress of the of interest to help monitor the amount of emails you pilot members and to give more details about the official receive. If you want even less emails you can opt to program in the coming months! receive roughly two emails a month, PIM The eLoupe News emails. Please email Ben Dally ([email protected]) www.pimw.org/diversity/ if you have any questions. www.pimw.org Powerful Print. Strong Finish. As your expert provider of equipment, media, and technology, we are on the pulse Perfect your print and finishing game. of the newest technologies in addition to quality equipment that has stood the test of time. Whether you’re looking to upgrade current or expand to new capabilities, we’ll find the right equipment to fit your unique needs and goals. The Loupe by Printing Industry Midwest (PIM) Request a free print assessment 844-365-4968 • eojohnson.com © EO Johnson Company, Inc. All rights reserved. 2

Stay in The Loupe - Connect with us! PIM STAFF MESSAGE FROM PIM INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & LOOKING FOR TALENT & TO DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION: ESTABLISH YOUR PIPELINE? Kristin Pilling-Davis It’s time to start developing your pipeline. We have been saying all along that Print Service Providers (PSPs) are misunderstood. It is hard to put an engaging [email protected], 612.400.6208 hook to attract readers who are not in the print industry! DIRECTOR OF FINANCE: We know that PSPs are looking for talent. It is important that we identify what we need to do to compete for the best and brightest. In addition, we need to look Ben Dally for pipelines we might not have normally looked to in the past. [email protected], 612.400.6207 Printing Industry Midwest (PIM) creates a map for all PSPs and their partners in the industry. This guide to Finding Talent can be found on the PIM Website, let’s MARKETING SPECIALIST: highlight a few important steps here: Sadie Johnson Create the Job Description. This means you may need to re-write those job descriptions. Many job descriptions are outdated. Ask yourself “what are you [email protected], 612.400.6204 really looking for in a new team member?”. DIRECTOR OF SAFETY & Use the PIM Employment Section. Jobs can be posted and you can review ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES: resumes. This is free to PIM Members and is an extremely popular way to work on locating talent. Learn more at www.pimw.org/jobs/. Paul Gutkowski Locate the Talent. Start working on your relationships with high schools, [email protected], 612.400.6205 community/technical colleges, and community-based organizations (CBO). – If you just focus on establishing a relationship with one high school, one technical ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SAFETY & college, and one CBO – this can get you very far. Familiarize yourself with each. ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES: Identify a contact, teacher, or career counselor. Find out how you can volunteer, participate in a career fair, present at a class, and allow for job shadowing or a facility Cathy Malinowski tour. Establishing this relationship can not only go far, but it will also last a lifetime. [email protected], 612.868.6771 Identify your career support. Identify your city, state & federal government agencies that help with employment and career-seeking individuals. They are PRESIDENT: often looking for employers to help in an initiative. Make sure you are known to them and they have your contact information at their fingertips. The entire guide Steve Bonoff can be found at www.pimw.org/finding-talent/. [email protected], 612.400.6203 Remember PIM is invested in workforce development – we are working every day on advocacy, careers, and training PIM BOARD OF DIRECTORS Sincerely, CHAIR: Kristin Pilling-Davis, PIM Interim Executive Director Tom Murphy, CEO, CARDSource VICE-CHAIR: www.pimw.org/workforce-jobs-youth/ Mike Lane, Executive Director, Meyers CHAIR ELECT: KEEP REGULATORS AT BAY Perry Klein, Vice President, Mittera SECRETARY/ TREASURER: MINIMIZE EHS RISKS Tim Johnson, CEO, Impact PAST CHAIR: Printing Industry Midwest (PIM) Environmental, Health and John Barnhart, President, Barnhart Press Safety (EHS) Audits works with you. Plan and implement corrective actions before a regulatory inspection occurs. PIM Audits minimize regulatory fines DIRECTORS: and penalties. As well as minimize EHS risks, uncover ways to reduce waste management and reduce your workers’ compensation costs. Sean Cushing, VP Growth, Taylor Corporation Creston Dorothy, CEO, Pro Print www.pimw.org/ehs-audits/ Justin Feickert, CEO, Quality Quick Print/Midstates Alan Hillmann, CEO, Standard Dynamics 3 The Loupe by Printing Industry Midwest (PIM) John Lynch, CEO, Woolverton Samantha Metcalf, Principal, Clifton Larson Allen Ben Olk, President, NCCO Tim Olsby, President, Graphic Finishing Services Ryan Wenning, President, Priority Envelope

PIM News RECRUIT & RETAIN SAVE THE DATE EMPLOYMENT REFERRAL TWO GOLF OUTINGS If you are seeking employees, look no further. Printing August 4, 2022 • Coon Rapids, MN Industry Midwest (PIM) can help employers find August 11, 2022 • Polk City, IA qualified people to fill your open positions by providing a list of resumes for you to review. PIM also maintains We do not want to wish away the summer a listing of job openings from employers that would like but PIM is extremely excited for our annual to talk with you. golf outings in August! Come join PIM and the print industry for an afternoon of golf. Attend Use of the job board is free for all PIM members. While PIM’s Minnesota Golf Outing held in Minnesota on all visitors to the PIM website can browse the listings August 5th, PIM’s Midlands Golf Outing held in Iowa in our Resume Service, only PIM member companies on August 11th or attend both. Each outing includes can request and receive complete resumes for review. hole sponsors, games, raffles prizes, dinner and awards Discover all the benefits PIM’s Employment Referral are presented to golfers after dinner. Thank you to all offers at www.pimw.org/jobs/. our 2022 Golf Sponsors, we are excited to see what prices and games they bring to the course! JOB SEEKERS: • Positions Available - Review job openings from Visit www.pimw.org/golf-tournaments/for employers registration and more event details. Contact Kristin • Submit Resume - Confidential posting of your Pilling-Davis ([email protected]) with any questions. resume for potential employers to download www.pimw.org/events/ EMPLOYERS: • Review Resumes - Select resumes to be ONLINE PIM RESOURCES forwarded to you • Post an Opening - Provide information about your openings so that job seekers can find you CAREER GUIDE 2022 PRINTACCESS The 2022 Print Career Guide PrintAccess is the largest directory of graphically conveys the opportunities printing, graphics, design and marketing of rewarding careers in print and graphic companies in the US, including all PIM communications. Discover the print members. With over 5,000 member industry’s impact on the global economy as well as our companies in 50 states it is the number local community. Learn what career in print matches one choice for finding solutions to your printing needs. your unique talent and interests. Contact Kristin For the past 20 years PrintAccess has provided a way for Pilling-Davis ([email protected]) with any questions. member printers and print buyers to get in direct contact with each other. Whether you’re looking for a local printer www.pimw.org/workforce-jobs-youth/ for small jobs or a highly specialized company you’ll be able to find them with our search engine which contains EXCLUSIVE SAVINGS over 650 specialized capabilities and allows searches both nationwide and local. Review your listing, make edits & HERE TO HELP YOU SAVE more at www.printaccess.com. Reduce your bottom line with PIM discounts and group PRINTER RESOURCE buying programs. PIM Members receive great discounts free with their membership such credit card processing, PIM’s Printer Resources Directory connects insurance, print supplies, subscription package and print service providers with a comprehensive training discounts. Review PIM’s list of Group Buying and trusted source for equipment, services Discounts and learn more about the program at and supplies offered by PIM Associate www.pimw.org/group-buying-discounts/. Members. Go to www.pimw.org/print-resources/. www.pimw.org/group-buying-discounts/ The Loupe by Printing Industry Midwest (PIM) 4

PIPI Survey SO, THERE’S ANOTHER EMAIL associations engaged in PIPI are so helpful in conducting ABOUT PIPI… WHAT’S THIS ALL the studies and are an excellent conduit for the knowledge ABOUT?? we garner, going down that path was a good decision. By Dr. Ralph Williams, Printing Industry Performance & Insights (PIPI) All that said, here’s the PIPI Mission: To provide printing company leaders data related to our industry’s outlook That’s a reasonable question many printing company and performance. To provide printing company leaders leaders may ask when they receive another email about with helpful and actionable knowledge. And to contribute a Printing Industry Performance and Insights (PIPI) to the value regional printing industry associations provide study. Before addressing that question, let me share a their members. little personal history related to what motivates me to conduct these studies. My connection to our industry So, how do we do that? What’s our strategy? We conduct started when I took a printing course in a vocational surveys quarterly. We keep the surveys open for about high school. And through high school and college, I two weeks, and we strive to produce reports a couple worked “hands-on” in printing. Over about 30 years, of weeks after a survey closes. Every quarter, we ask I served as president of three printing firms, holding questions exploring printing company leaders’ outlook major ownership in two. Two of those businesses had for the near future. Similarlly, every other quarter we around 60 employees, and the other had about 120. will explore industry performance. We explore outlook Then I was drawn to academia and taught college and performance both regionally and nationally, and we classes while consulting printing firms. After about five compare those findings to other economic reports. As years of teaching and consulting, I went back to school the PIPI studies develop, hopefully, we will uncover both to earn my Doctorate. I am now an Associate Professor outlook and performance trends. These industry outlook of Management at Middle Tennessee State University, and performance insights may assist leaders in their where I earned my bachelors and MBA degrees. strategic planning and provide comparison points for their expectations and their firm’s performance trends. As an Associate Professor, I focus on teaching, research, and engaging my industry. I genuinely enjoy those three Furthermore, we study relevant topics in our surveys, facets of my vocation. Most of my research has focused seeking to provide printing company leaders insights on small business strategy and management. From my applicable to the current environment. For instance, in our experience, I know that small business leaders wear many October 2021 survey we explored workforce shortages hats, which makes strategic thinking and leadership a and supply chain issues. In our January 2020 survey challenge. In addition, our industry is very dynamic now, we are trying to form “strategic groups” and provide which makes strategic thinking and leading even more related benchmarks and strategic insights. Future topics tricky (However, in that context, effective strategic under consideration include effective marketing and thinking and strong leadership can provide a competitive sales management approaches, the strategic planning advantage). I have observed that academic researchers processes, budgeting, and others. Following association rarely connect their work to practitioners, which I want to leaders’ advice, I pull other professors into our studies, do. Given I have “ink in my veins” and I desire to make my seeking their guidance in studying topics related to our academic research applicable to the “real world,” I want to industry and analyzing the data we draw. For instance, provide printing company leaders helpful knowledge. I engaged multiple human resource and supply-chain professors in developing our October study. I conducted research with Dr. Ron Davis at PIA, a great friend and mentor, for about five years. When Covid Developing the PIPI studies is a work-in-process, and landed, we set our research aside – we felt addressing we continually seek to improve the value we deliver current issues was more important than participating printing company leaders. Therefore, we welcome any in our research. During that industry research pause, I suggestions or comments. Feel free to email Dr. Ralph pondered how to best produce and disperse actionable Williams ([email protected]) with thoughts, ideas, knowledge to printing company leaders, and my suggestions, anything! Now that we have answered the membership in a regional printing industry association question “…PIPI - What’s this all about??”, please consider came to mind. As a PIAS (Printing Industry Association participating in our surveys. The more participation we of the South) member for over 40 years, and still a get, the more helpful you will find our results! The PIPI tree member, I reflected on the significant contributions an can produce much fruit! industry association made to my business leadership – providing valuable and timely information, networking opportunities, and relevant seminars. After considering PIAS’s contributions to the businesses I led (which I see in all the 15 associations I connect with now), I wanted my research to contribute to the value printing industry associations provide their members. As the 15 5 The Loupe by Printing Industry Midwest (PIM)

Feature Article web offset operation that specializes in high-speed, long- run print manufacturing. In such a business, Majerski RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, AND says, “the lack of printing experience is always a problem. PATHWAYS TO EMPLOYMENT IN One of the biggest challenges we have is trying to find THE PRINTING INDUSTRY people with that type of experience.” By Patrick Henry “Where we’re finding the most difficulty is at that top end: actual pressmen, and men in charge. That’s really where Editor’s note: the following is an excerpt from a white paper we need qualified people, and it takes years to develop of the same title from Printing Industries Alliance, the trade and get to that level.” association representing printing businesses in New York, New Jersey, and northwestern Pennsylvania. View full The pool of available talent is “certainly not what it used report - https://bit.ly/rrwhitepaper to be,” Majerski acknowledges. “As the number of printing plants decline, that’s always a huge challenge.” Finding For many years in the printing industry, another way to people willing to work in a form of manufacturing like say “intractable problem” has been “recruitment and printing makes the challenge that much tougher. retention.” No management issue confronts printing companies more stubbornly than the perennial difficulty “We don’t live in a society anymore where people really of hiring qualified people and keeping them in their jobs. want to roll up their sleeves,” Majerski observes. “It’s a dirty environment. It’s a loud environment. The hours are Workforce shrinkage in the printing industry is a fact, and long, and it’s physically laborious work.” the problems it causes are more complex than they may appear at first glance. But, printers are looking realistically Asked if there are positions open at BNP now, Majerski at the situation and responding with practical solutions. answers, “Plenty. We’re desperate for people.” AN ‘UNHEARD OF’ SHORTAGE OF TALENT In Tinton Falls, NJ, Bill Duerr is president of Hatteras, a three-shift commercial printing business that is To get a clearer picture of the labor pressures that expanding into packaging. He, too, is running into printers are facing, a coalition of 15 regional printing trade obstacles when it comes to filling openings for skilled associations took part in a survey that had two aims: jobs. gauging the impact of unfilled jobs on the industry; and identifying ways in which companies can address the “We’re not geographically close to our competition, so problems that gaps in employment cause them. it’s not like there’s a talent pool that we can pull from,” Duerr notes. That means doubling down on “home The October 2021 report, “Workforce Shortages: Its grown training” for folding, gluing, die cutting, and related Effects and Effective Related Practices,” is one of a tasks. “Machine operators that have the skill to set up series of Printing Industry Performance & Insights (PIPI) a complex job – that’s a tough position to fill right now, reports sponsored by the coalition. It was prepared by Dr. especially on second or third shifts. It’s really hard for us Ralph Williams Jr. and Dr. Tim Moake of Middle Tennessee to find those people.” State University (MTSU), where both are professors of management in the Jones College of Business. CAN’T LOCATE CANDIDATES LOCALLY The findings were plain. Nearly 70% of survey The perennial difficulty of finding the right candidates is respondents said that labor shortages had affected their what prompted the H&H Group of Lancaster, PA, to join businesses. At their companies, job turnover from all with others in creating a formal apprenticeship program causes averaged 14%. More tellingly, employers indicated to create the skill sets the company needs (described in that on average, they were unable to fill 36% of their open detail in the full report). Deb Williams, HR and finance positions for more than a year. manager, says that building them for the signage portion of H&H’s business was especially important, Williams served as the president of three printing given the shortage of that kind of talent in the companies before he entered academia. He says that company’s home territory. during his career in the private sector, “we never had that kind of problem” with employment. Times clearly Nate Heisey, operations manager at H&H, says that have changed since then. He says, for example, that a besides wanting to hire machine operators for its signage friend of his who operates a 15-employee company has division, the company also has openings for installers: experienced 50% turnover recently. “That’s unheard of for “someone who is comfortable getting up on a ladder and them,” Williams comments. putting a mural on a wall, or hanging a sign from a ceiling, or digging a hole in the ground to install a post-and-panel But not for other printers who are feeling the same pinch sign.” It can be a struggle to find people who are able and in their own ways. Thomas J. Majerski, president of BNP Empowered Printing in Buffalo, NY, oversees a heatset The Loupe by Printing Industry Midwest (PIM) 6

willing to put their backs into that kind of work, Heisey Feature Article acknowledges. stiffest competition taking place in the $15 to $20 Williams points out that a shortage of hands-on labor hourly pay range. “In today’s terms, that’s entry-level,” isn’t just an issue for printers. She says that in the he says. People will not work for less than that, or if they normal course of its business, H&H encounters other will, they “won’t care” about keeping or putting serious manufacturers and service companies that are in the effort into the job. same boat. “We hear it over and over again. They’re just struggling to find people who aren’t afraid of a hard Printers understand the competition they face for labor day’s work.” of all types, and they’ve seen that the traditional ways of recruiting people – classified advertising, commercial NOT ONLY THE SKILLED trade schools, poaching from other employers – either no longer exist or aren’t adequate to the present task. So, This exposes the mistake of thinking that only skilled they are turning to more resourceful ways of closing their workers are the ones in short supply. The degree of employment gaps and leveraging the talent they have. difficulty an employer faces in hiring “depends on the position you are trying to hire for,” says Becky Almeter, Sometimes, good solutions to the talent shortfall can president of Hodgins Engraving in Batavia, NY. “I think come from sources that printers haven’t previously it’s easier to find folks with skilled experience such as investigated. Facing difficulty in getting the people it HR, accounting, customer service, prepress. It’s harder to needed from the local labor pool, BNP worked with the find people to fill less skilled, manual labor jobs and in my International Institute of Buffalo, a group that advocates opinion, it’s a social problem across many industries, not for immigrants and refugees, to find talent among the just printing.” city’s foreign-born community. At the root of the problem, according to Almeter, are FROM MYANMAR TO THE QUEEN CITY attitudinal changes that make it difficult for a business like hers to engage new people when so many potential The effort paid off. “We have some Burmese employees hires, especially younger ones, are insisting on rapid on our press floor,” says Majerski. “It’s a close-knit advancement and higher wages “right out of the gate.” community. We’ve hired friends and family from the people we initially hired.” At one point, the company In her opinion, the “work ethic mindset” and the sense employed as many as a dozen people who hailed from of loyalty shared by the veteran employees of Hodgins Myanmar. Majerski adds that BNP has a partnership Engraving aren’t prevalent among younger people who with another Buffalo organization, Journey’s End only want to leapfrog to “the next best thing” in their Refugee Services, aimed at job placement for the area’s careers, wherever they can find it. non-native residents. ‘THE GREAT CHANGE’ Duerr says that Hatteras has recalibrated its thinking about hiring for “front office” positions such as sales, Brian Regan is the founder and president of the Semper customer service, production planning, and estimating. Group, a provider of staffing solutions to the graphic “We’ve tried to focus less on skill set, and more on communications industry since 1995. He sees a dynamic culture,” he explains, citing a positive attitude, a strong similar to the one Almeter describes in what he calls “the work ethic, and a desire for continuous personal great change” that the U.S. labor force has undergone improvement as the most desirable attributes for front- recently: large numbers of workers pursuing their office candidates to have. own dreams, becoming self-employed, putting family obligations ahead of their jobs, or flocking to the gig “We feel that if we’re just going to look for somebody just economy for the greater flexibility they believe it offers. like what we’ve got in printing industry experience, we are limiting ourselves to a very small talent pool,” Duerr Meanwhile, the printing industry’s existing work force says. “So we start more with cultural fit. If they have a continues to shrink as it ages. This means that whatever printing skill set, great; if not, we’ll teach them what they employable talent there is will be hard for printers to need to know.” win over, according to Regan. “You’ve got the rest of the world desperately fighting for those same workers,” Hatteras has a four- to six-week orientation program for he says, noting that other industries are pitching their new hires, and it extensively cross-trains its production attractiveness in ways that the printing industry may not employees to broaden their skills and increase their value be able to match. to the company. Duerr also introduced an incentive payment program that rewards both new hires and the Jobs in manufacturing industries like printing are hard to employees who referred them after the new hires have fill across the board, but Regan sees some of the completed six months in their jobs. 7 The Loupe by Printing Industry Midwest (PIM)

Feature Article ROI FROM MONEY WELL SPENT more efficient” across the board. The referring and signing bonuses “definitely helped “The focus on continuous improvement has been us attract some new talent,” Duerr says. “Yes, it cost us such a push for the past couple of decades,” he says. money, but we grew our labor force by about 50 people “For companies that are high-performing, continuous doing that. We paid for it, but if we keep those people for improvement is trickling over into the way they treat their several years, it will pay for itself.” employees – the way they manage their employees.” Workers tend to repay companies for good management Compensation in all the forms it can take is a key with their loyalty, Moake adds. ingredient of hiring and retention in any industry. Regan notes, however, that because printers typically don’t have Another common-sense finding is that using more profit margins as high as companies in the industries recruiting sources – the report identifies 10 of them – they are vying with for talent, “trying to compete on pay brings in more qualified candidates. The survey data also and wages alone is a challenging thing for them. It’s suggest that higher-performing firms get their better oftentimes not even feasible.” results by applying just a few more tools for making hiring decisions than lower-performing firms (see charts Regan says that Semper has been advising printers on this page). “for years” that they need to pay more, and he sees evidence that lately, the message has started to These resources are available to every printer, but they resonate. He advises those unable to increase their have to be used judiciously. “Companies still need to be pay scales to use non-monetary compensation – for very careful and very strategic, because those recruiting example, better healthcare benefits, extra time off, more dollars are very precious,” Moake advises. “You don’t flexible work schedules – as alternatives for rewarding want to just throw money at anything and everything their valued employees. that everyone else is doing.” Something to bear in mind here is how technology is changing the way recruiting AGE-ACCOMMODATING WORK SPACES occurs: for example, through applicant tracking software systems that let employers maximize the efficiency of Given the continuous difficulty of replacing a greying work the hiring process. force, says Regan, the industry also ought to think about changing its manufacturing environments in ways that In all cases, Ralph Williams emphasizes, “you have to enable older workers to stay on the job longer. Automated strategically decide what you are going to use both in systems for cutting, jogging, and stacking in the bindery recruiting and hiring to fit the position that you’re seeking illustrate the kinds of labor- and stress-reducing solutions to fill. One basket of those tools doesn’t fit every position that printers and OEMs can deploy throughout the plant you have.” to assist older employees, Regan believes. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Each of the foregoing examples shows what can happen when printers apply basic principles of good Patrick Henry, the director of Liberty or Death management to solving their problems of recruitment Communications, has covered the printing and graphic and retention. In fact, one of the key findings of the PIPI arts industry as a journalist for nearly 40 years. He holds Workforce Shortages study was that higher-performing numerous awards for his industry service and support printing firms tend to have less employee turnover than of professional education. Contact him at pathenry@ weaker performers. Part of the explanation, according libordeath.com. to Moake, is simply that “higher-performing firms are The Loupe by Printing Industry Midwest (PIM) 8

Partner Article IDEAL PRINTERS & BETTER COVERAGE, BETTER VALUE GRAVIE CASE STUDY Results of switching to Comfort: Ideal Printers is an independent, woman-owned • Ideal Printers saved 22% against their fully insured commercial printer located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Ideal renewal rates. Printers is a long time member and supporter of Printing • Employee enrollment in Comfort increased from Industry Midwest (PIM). This family business has been 73% in 2021 to 80% in 2022. providing quality printing and creative services since • Healthcare utilization improved overall for their 83 1979, and after 40+ years offering only traditional health employees, which can lead to fewer catastrophic benefits, they were ready for a fresh start with Gravie. claims down the road. THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX “We are always looking for creative ways to implement solutions that help customers like Ideal Printers recruit Like many businesses, Ideal Printers was facing a variety and retain their employees while also helping to reduce of challenges in 2020. From navigating the pandemic costs. Gravie gives us cutting-edge solutions to help our while continuing to serve clients, to dealing with a serious customers improve benefits while reducing costs for the health claims history, they found themselves facing a organization and employees.” -- Drew Engebrecht, CC, unique set of challenges. As their renewal approached, Sr. Vice President – Team Lead, EB/Shareholder, Holmes Ideal Printers wasn’t confident they could handle another Murphy big increase in the cost of their small group fully insured plan. As rates continued to rise, while offering only ABOUT GRAVIE stagnant or decreasing value for their employees, they were ready to make a change. Gravie’s straightforward enrollment process, impressive coverage and plan perks, along with the Gravie Care ENTER GRAVIE advisors who help members navigate the complexities of health benefits have made all the difference for Through PIM and the brokers at Holmes Murphy, Ideal Joan and her team as they aim to meet and exceed Printers was introduced to Comfort™, an innovative the needs of their workforce today. If you're interested health plan offered through Gravie. In 2021, they in exploring Gravie's health benefits solutions for your made the switch to Comfort, allowing them to offer business, contact: Drew Engebrecht (DEngebrecht@ competitive health benefits to their 83 employees at holmesmurphy.com, 515.223.6849) or Alex Sandvig a cost they could afford with modern and useful plan ([email protected], 515.223.6914). perks, and 100% coverage on most common healthcare services including primary and preventive care, mental health care, specialist visits, labs and imaging, generic prescriptions, online care and more. Comfort makes navigating healthcare easier for all involved and provides true value for every member from day one, without steep deductibles or other cost barriers to overcome before accessing care. And the cherry on top: Gravie’s health plan has led to significant savings for Ideal Printers that they have been able to pass on to their employees. “We’re really pleased. This has been a positive move when historically, [health benefits] are a huge expense. All you hear about is rates going up. This a breath of fresh air,” said Joan Siewert-Cardona, co-owner and CFO of Ideal Printers, speaking about members’ improved accessibility to healthcare services and unprecedented access to preventative and needed care. “People are just happy and doing things they may not have done in the past due to the high cost of previous health insurance. They’re scheduling that dermatologist visit.” 9 The Loupe by Printing Industry Midwest (PIM)

Member News Shuffled Ink chooses Labels & Packaging, Inc. (AWT), a quality and a first-class customer the Rollem Insignia6 leading provider of specialty labels and experience aligns well with our core Die Cutter for dedicated packaging for the healthcare, food & values, and their innovative, best-in- production of specialty & beverage, personal care, and industrial class manufacturing facility will become game card Folding Cartons durable end markets, today announced AWT’s flagship site on the West Coast. February 15, 2022 – Shuffled Ink, a the acquisition of Labeltronix. We are excited to continue acquiring family owned & operated company, great businesses and partnering with has produced millions of decks of Labeltronix is a leading label great teams to find ways to deliver more custom playing cards, card games and manufacturer of premium craft labels value to our customers’ ongoing needs.” tarot & flash cards for individuals and with headquarters in Anaheim, CA. The companies around the world. Their company serves some of the country’s AWT’s acquisition of Labeltronix will products are manufactured at their most prominent brands, in a variety of add to their attractive end-market state of the art production facilities in markets including wine and spirits, craft presence, high-end premium crafted Orlando, Florida. Seeking to improve beer, nutraceutical, food and beverage, label manufacturing capabilities, and their production method for creating and other CPG sectors. The business will have an immediate impact in adding card boxes, Shuffled Ink identified will continue to operate under the value for existing and new customers. Rollem’s award-winning Insignia6 die- Labeltronix name. cutter to increase the box quality along “We’re thrilled with the opportunity to with greater production outputs. They “We are elated with the addition become part of AWT,” said John Trail, recently received installation of Rollem’s of Labeltronix to the AWT family,” President of Labeltronix. “With the Insignia6 Die Cutter to help produce said Bruce Hanson, CEO of AWT. support of AWT’s diverse operations, their playing card boxes and cartons. “Labeltronix has built an incredible broad facility network, and national reputation of providing award winning resources, we’ll be able to bring our The Insignia Series eliminates sending labels that help brands stand out premium product labels to more out profitable work and allows for more in the crowd. Their commitment to customers and brands. Additionally, control over production and turn-around times. The Insignia6 has a 20x20” sheet A Perfect Fit size – this size gives the user the ability to for Protecting Your feed sheets either portrait or landscape to maximize press sheet impositions. American Dream The IS6 performs die cutting, kiss cutting, embossing, perforating, Federated Insurance’s partnership with your association has scoring and cut-scoring on a range one goal: helping your business succeed. You deserve an of papers, plastics, PVC, styrene and insurance provider who understands your industry. Put our polypropylenes. It handles substrates knowledge and experience to work for you. between 0.006 – 0.024” thick with run speeds up to 5,000 sph. The Insignia * is offered in four different size models and the X3 model handles up to 30 pt. thicknesses. Two types of delivery units are available along with in-line folding/ gluing units for uninterrupted flat sheet to folded and glued products. ABOUT ROLLEM INTERNATIONAL For more information on Insignia Die Cutting products, visit www.rollemusa. com/rotary-die-cutters/ or call (847) 923-0100. Photo: Shuffled Ink Operator– Will Harrison with the Insignia6 Die Cutter. AWT Labels & Packaging Commercial Insurance Property & Casualty | Life & Disability Income | Workers Compensation Extends Labeling Portfolio With Business Succession and Estate Planning | Bonding Labeltronix Acquisition MINNEAPOLIS, MN – February Federated Mutual Insurance Company and its subsidiaries* | federatedinsurance.com 16, 2022 – Minneapolis-based AWT 22.10 Ed. 11/21 *View A.M. Best Rating Guide information at www.ambest.com. **Not licensed in all states. © 2020 Federated Mutual Insurance Company The Loupe by Printing Industry Midwest (PIM) 10

Member News ReThink Labeling, a division of first GX40 advance installation in operates at speeds up to 18,000 Labeltronix, is dedicated to bringing the U.S. and the company’s second sheets per hour and offers a host innovative on-demand label solutions Komori press. Wallace Carlson chose of automated features, such as the to more customers.” the GLX640 advance for its higher newest Asynchronous Automatic Plate speed, wider substrate capability and Changing system (A-APC), reducing Under AWT, Labeltronix will continue larger sheet size needed to meet the plate change and makeready times to to provide the highest-quality product diverse requirements of its expanding a fraction of traditional systems. It is labeling solutions, including their packaging and secured specialty also equipped with KHS-AI, Komori’s proprietary Lean Labeling® process, to packaging customers. productivity improvement system, that customers across North America. optimizes various press presets by self- “We've been expanding our capabilities learning according to changes in the Labeltronix represents the second in specialty packaging over the last machine, environment and substrates. acquisition by AWT in recent months, several years, particularly specialty following the January acquisition secured-type packaging with gift “The GLX640 advance is the perfect of MacArthur Corporation, a leading card carriers, and that sector of our press for producing the creative, manufacturer of custom engineered business continues to just get bigger unique applications Wallace Carlson industrial and durable label solutions with and bigger,” said Charlie Cox, COO is known for,” said Mark Milbourn, headquarters in Grand Blanc, MI, and at Wallace Carlson. “We are always executive vice president at Komori operations in Michigan, Poland, and China. looking for ways to differentiate what America. “Wallace Carlson has been we offer by experimenting with special a loyal Komori customer for years and ABOUT AWT effects. We started getting into some we are more than thrilled that it is the Founded in 1991, AWT is a narrow unique applications with different first company in the U.S. to experience and wide web converter of labels coatings, glitter, pearlescence and the benefits the GLX640 advance’s and flexible packaging focused more and we wanted a press that was cutting-edge technology will add to on the Healthcare, Personal Care, equipped with the advanced features their continued success.” Food, Beverage, and Durable end required for delivering high-end markets. AWT’s primary business is specialty package printing.” Meyers Joins The Climate Pledge converting film and paper substrates Alongside 300 Other Leading into pressure-sensitive labels, shrink- Specialty package printing requires Global Businesses sleeves, extended content labels, a heavier stock, special substrates, MINNEAPOLIS, MN – March 14, digital labels, flexible packaging, and special colors and distinct types of 2022 – Meyers, a national leader in other specialty products for a variety finishing. When COVID-19 was at its branded packaging, product labeling, of applications and end markets. The peak and people were sheltering in and retail in-store display solutions company uses the latest in flexographic place, Wallace Carlson experienced for global brands, is proud to join The and digital printing equipment, a surge in its packaging business. To Climate Pledge alongside 300 other and currently operates facilities in meet this demand, a press that offered leading businesses, including Amazon, Minneapolis, Minnesota (HQ), South more robust features was needed. The BestBuy, PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble, Elgin, Illinois, Hauppauge, New York GLX640 advance is built to print on up Unilever, Nespresso, Quorn, and (Citation Healthcare Labels), Grand to 40-point substrates, including board, others. Sustainability has long been Blanc, Michigan (MacArthur LLC). paper board, synthetic materials, plastics, a core value at Meyers, with reducing More information about AWT can be polyurethane and polyethylene with a emissions being a primary area of focus found at www.awtlabelpack.com. host of special effects, like the glitter the in how the company makes its products company was producing, that appeal to and conducts business in general. Wallace Carlson the secured packaging industry. Installs First Komori The Climate Pledge is a commitment Lithrone GX40 Speed to market is critical in all to net zero carbon by 2040 that advance Press in the U.S. to industries, but often more so in timely forms a cross-sector community of Support Expanding Specialty secured specialty packaging. “The companies and organizations, working Packaging Business speed of this press is amazing,” noted together to crack the climate crisis and ROLLING MEADOWS, IL — March 10, Cox. “Another feature we looked solve the challenges of decarbonizing 2022— Komori America Corporation, for, and this press delivers on, is the our economy. The Climate Pledge a premier manufacturer of printing ability to pull up a job six months from was co-founded by Amazon and solutions, announced that Wallace now and go right to the perfect print Global Optimism in 2019 and calls on Carlson, a woman-owned commercial setting, knowing that everything that signatories to be net zero carbon across print provider, has purchased a six- we ran on that job previously will be their businesses by 2040. Companies color Komori Lithrone GX40 (GLX640) there because the press has self- and organizations that sign the Pledge advance press with UV. This is the learned those settings.” commit to three areas of action: The company’s new GLX640 11 The Loupe by Printing Industry Midwest (PIM)

Member News • Measure and report greenhouse “It’s important that businesses focus on the Food & Beverage, Health gas emissions on a regular basis. recognize that greenhouse gas & Beauty, and Sports & Outdoors emissions, including carbon emissions, industries, Meyers creates visual • Implement decarbonization are a form of pollution. And, that packaging and displays for companies strategies in line with the Paris pollution is catching up with all of us including Hormel, Frito-Lay, Estee Agreement through real business in a very serious way,” states Michael Lauder, Ulta Beauty, Saucony, Levi’s, changes and innovations, Dillon, Chief Revenue Officer, Meyers. Microsoft, Verizon and many more. The including efficiency improvements, “That helps clarify why it’s critical company’s sustainability efforts include renewable energy, materials that we stop creating this pollution as reaching its goal of powering 100 reductions, and other carbon quickly as we can and why we must percent of its operations using carbon- emission elimination strategies. offset any pollution that remains. While free electricity sources by the end of the situation grows more dire each year, 2021, visit www.meyers.com. Additional • Neutralize any remaining it’s never too late to join the movement significant sustainability plans at emissions with additional, to protect our planet.” Meyers will be announced later this year. quantifiable, real, permanent, and socially-beneficial offsets to ABOUT MEYERS: Support PIM's achieve net zero annual carbon Meyers is a print services company that Education Foundation emissions by 2040. designs and manufactures innovative packaging, labels, retail displays, and when you shop at \"Leadership is about building a coalition more. Recognized for its commitment Amazon Smile and getting that group moving in the to excellence and sustainability, the right direction – a direction that leaves company has grown from a small print www.smile.amazon.com the world in a better place than we shop when it was founded in 1949, to found it, not one focused solely on an internationally respected business financial success,” said Chris Dillion, that works with global and emerging CEO, Meyers. “I applaud The Climate brands at thousands of high-profile Pledge for helping lead us in the right retail outlets throughout the U.S. With a direction on climate change and I'm proud to see our team join.\" ACCOUNTING SERVICES ASSURANCE & ATTESTATION MANAGEMENT CONSULTING SOC REPORTING TAX SERVICES Discover what we can do for your graphic arts business. 45 YEARS HELPING GRAPHIC ARTS ACHIEVE FINANCIAL SUCCESS MEL ENGER [email protected] CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS RICK RIESGRAF [email protected] MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS LBCARLSON.COM 763.535.8150 12 The Loupe by Printing Industry Midwest (PIM)

Solutions Article PROOFING IN A DIGITAL WORLD it can be a slower or a base model so-long-as the imaging and ink are the same as the other devices. By Lynn Leppo, CGS ORIS I AMERICAS In a digital environment which produces short, medium, It’s been a few years and a pandemic since many or long run jobs, proofing is practical. In highly automated of us on the vendor side of the industry have been workflows, it’s necessary. A highly automated internal on the road, making in-person visits to customers digital proof typically costs under $5 to make. If the risk and prospects. The development of the tools and of a reprint cost is greater than $5, it would be logical technologies we promote, however, have continued to create physical proofs. Less automated and external to advance during this time—innovation seemingly proofs can cost upwards of $50 and similarly, creating unphased by the global crisis happening around us. physical proofs in this scenario, just fits. Much of this development, as I observe, appears to have a direct correlation to the continued movement of our COLOR MANAGEMENT industry toward digital technology. As quality gaps continue to shorten and the industry As digital technology advancements continue to be continues to adopt digital technology, it’s becoming substantive, and the quality gap between offset and exceptionally important for printers to ensure that they digital inevitably shortens—what does this mean for are investing in color management servers that are robust. environments that have been traditionally, conventional Having a centralized color server bulletproof and verifiable that are migrating to digital? Where should we be in the press room, correlates directly with the ability to leveraging color management technology? Should we be properly proof production work. It also ensures that as re-examining the contract proofing practices known to business moves digitally, that the ability to match color be synonymous with commercial print environments? across devices and print processes, isn’t a daunting task. CONVENTIONAL ENVIRONMENTS CGS ORIS has developed solutions for matching color cross-fleet within a single production environment. In the hay-day of offset, contract proofing was ‘it’. It There are others on the market. I encourage you to became the standard practice—the checks and balances. shop for solutions that are agnostic of brand, model, In the last fifteen years, the contract proofing practice make, and which color manage mixed environments. has matured and become the industry standard for These solutions allow for repeatability, consistency, and substantiating an ability to accurately reproduce color, accuracy across devices—offset and digital. and consistently. Proofing eliminates the need to defend ‘good print’ and serves as an agreement between a shop In my experience working with printers, palatable and a customer. It helps to communicate expectations software investments routinely produce quick ROI’s. visually and numerically. Often, taking inventory of current practices uncovers the opportunity for cost savings, as well as increased In a conventional environment, inkjet proofing is an efficiency and consistency. The ‘new normal’ feels as established part of the workflow. Is proofing required? good a time as any to plan our future goals as businesses It depends. It depends on where color management and determine how to set ourselves up for success as we is being leveraged; the amount of repeat production; move forward in achieving them. the expectations of a customer; job size; consistency among devices, and, in general, workflow. It depends ABOUT THE AUTHOR on, whether a shop co-works with another facility—or, if a client cross-campaigns. It depends on the number on Lynn Leppo is the Business Development process colors vs. extended gamut colors a shop runs Manager for Eastern North America at CGS and what type of jobs they produce. In conventional ORIS I AMERICAS. She is a certified G7 environments, all contract and content-only work is Expert and Color Management Professional proofed, and on an aqueous inkjet device. with global industry association, IDEALLIANCE. With an entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for thinking DIGITAL ENVIRONMENTS outside the box, Lynn is a successful and self-motivated professional who has worked through various roles In digital environments, the decision to proof and how in her decade at CGS ORIS. Previously a Media Sales depends significantly on workstream + workflow. For Manager and Media Product Manager for CGS ORIS I printers producing thousands to tens of thousands of any AMERICAS, Lynn is an industry subject matter expert job of one environment per day, proofing is not necessarily in proofing substrates and a CMP Expert in Premedia. relevant and instead, frequent validation to a standard With a dozen years of professional sales experience, (visual and numeric) tends to be the preferred practice. Lynn is responsible for the sale of ORIS software and media solutions through the graphic arts market and is Digital environments share a strong preference for ‘on- currently based in Minneapolis, MN. press’ proofs. Where multiple machines of the same type are concerned, only one press needs to do the proofing— 13 The Loupe by Printing Industry Midwest (PIM)

Mark Your Calendars UPCOMING PIM EVENTS & WEBINARS Printing Industry Midwest (PIM) is always adding and adjusting our events and webinars. Make sure to check your emails and our website for the most up-to-date information - www.pimw.org/events/. WHEN: WHAT: WHERE: June 7-8, 2022 PIM Quality Mail Preparation PIM’s Office Specialist Certification Program Golden Valley, MN 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM (CST) June 9, 2022 PIM Workshop – Red Cross CPR, AED PIM’s Office & First Aid Training Golden Valley, MN 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM (CST) June 14-16, 2022 Amplify – Print Finishing & Embellishment Mpls Convention Center Minneapolis, MN June 22, 2022 2022 Star Awards Banquet Hyatt Regency Minneapolis, MN 4:30 PM to 9:00 PM (CST) August 4, 2022 PIM Minnesota Golf Outing Bunker Hills Golf Club Coon Rapids, MN 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM (CST) August 11, 2022 PIM Midlands Golf Outing Tournament Club of Iowa Polk City, IA 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM (CST) August 17-19, 2022 American Print Show Convention Center Columbus, OH October 13, 2022 PIM 15th Annual Women in Print Embassy Suites, Brooklyn Center, MN 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM (CST) MAIL CLASS AMPLIFY 2022 WOMEN IN June 7-8, 2022 June 14-16, 2022 PRINT A thorough Amplify brings October 13, 2022 understanding of how print finishing and the USPS processes and embellishments to the For more than a decade, women from delivers mail is critical forefront. Experience the printing industry have come together to attaining both maximum discounts live equipment demonstrations in the to network and celebrate one another’s and minimum delivery times. This unique Technology Zone, connect with leading accomplishments at the PIM Women PIM course is designed to give learners a brands in the Exhibit Hall and learn from in Print luncheon! Each event includes thorough knowledge of US Postal Service industry experts during Educational an inspirational speaker addressing the regulations and their relationship to both Seminars. PIM Members attend exhibit opportunities and experiences of women mailpiece design and postage costs. hall for free - use code PIMVIP to register. in print. This luncheon includes lunch, door prizes, gift bag items, and plenty of RED CROSS WORKSHOP AMERICAS PRINT SHOW networking opportunities! June 9, 2022 August 17-19, 2022 Mark your calendars for PIM’s 15th Annual Women in Print luncheon. More PIM offers an Red Cross Americas Print information about who is speaking this CPR, AED & First Aid Show will bring year and registration will be available Training workshops together regional and Summer 2022. quarterly to help you national associations and your workforce stay representing more than Thank you to Anchor Paper, Canon, Case safe. If this dates do not work for you, 5,000 companies, along with commercial Paper, Federated Insurance, Gravie, PIM is willing to come to you and teach a printers, screen and garment producers, Kodak and LB Carlson for being support class. Upon class completion, attendees large format and sign printers, binderies sponsors for this fantastic annual event! will be certified for two years in Red Cross and graphic finishers, and industry CPR, AED & First Aid Training. suppliers. More information, sponsorship & registration can be found on www.pimw.org/events/ The Loupe by Printing Industry Midwest (PIM) 14

Why Attend APS22? WE ARE THE PEOPLE THE PARTNERSHIPS BOUND FOR SUCCESS Network with peers, mentors, Advance your company, Are you with us? vendors, and customers, and clients, and career by bringing learn from our impressive home valuable connections line-up of speakers. on the show floor. THE PRODUCTS THE FUTURE Explore products, services, Visit with potential employees and software designed to grow and students, and join our your business. panel events in our Workforce Development area at APS. Americas Print Show is a ATTENDEES REGISTER FREE Americas Print Show national three-day print industry event focused on REGISTER TODAY! August 17, 18 & 19, 2022 col aboration and growth. americasprintshow.com Greater Columbus Convention Center Columbus, Ohio THE LEADING INDEPENDENT PAPER DISTRIBUTOR since 1859 PAPER CUSTOM DIGITAL SHEETING SUBSTRATES AVAILABLE! ENVELOPES 41 Northern Stacks Dr. | Fridley, MN 55421 | 651.634.0024 Learn more online at Li1n5 denmeyrMunroThee L.ocupoe bmy Printing Industry Midwest (PIM)

Printing Industry Midwest 8085 Wayzata Blvd. Suite 101A Golden Valley, MN 55426 PRINT RESOURCE DID YOU GET YOUR COPY? Printing Industry Midwest’s (PIM) 2022 Print Buyers Guide & Membership Directory is finished! If you did not receive a copy or would like additional copies, please email Sadie (sadieh@pimw. org) with your address and she will send you a printed guide. Check out the online flip book of the 2022 guide at - www.pimw.org/print-buyers-guide/. This guide displays enhanced listings—both in print and online at PrintAccess— ensuring companies capabilities jump off each page for print decision makers to locate. A huge thank you to all companies who helped create this guide and to all the members who advertised in the guide! www.pimw.org/print-buyers-guide/ CELEBRATE WITH THE BEST PRINTERS IN THE MIDWEST 2022 STAR AWARDS BANQUET June 22, 2022 from 4:30 PM to 9:00 PM Location: Hyatt Regency Minneapolis, MN RSVP at www.pimw.org/star-2022/ The evening begins with a Social Hour with refreshing drinks, tasty appetizers and voting for the People's Choice Award. Enjoy a delicious dinner before we kick off the show and announce the 2022 Star Awards winners! Come be recognized and congratulate your peers!! THANK YOU 2022 STAR AWARDS SPONSORS! Lindenmeyr Munroe, Anchor Paper Company, Bremer Bank, Canon Solutions America, Case Paper Company, CGS, Daily Printing Inc., EO Johnson Business Technologies, Federated Insurance, FUJIFILM North America Corporation, Gravie, Heidelberg USA, Kodak, LB Carlson LLP, Midland Paper Packaging & Supplies, Peters Revnew Kappenman & Anderson P.A., and Standard Dynamics an EO Johnson Business Technologies Company More information & registration can be found at www.pimw.org/star-2022/ THANK YOU PIM's The Loupe is brought to you by the generous contributions of EO Johnson Business Technologies. TThheiLsomupaegbayzPinrientwinagsInsdeunstttryoMthidewpersitn(tPeIrMo)n April 15, 2022 16