The 2010 GASAA Executive Committee has now been announced, with plenty of experienced GASAA champions and some fresh faces amonst the group of industry leaders.

The GASAA committee worked hard in 2009 to build on the very affordable services offered to members and add more value to the membership, particularly in the areas of the environment, colour management and business advice.

With a new president and three new faces on the committee, 2010 looks to be another year of strong growth for the association. David Leach, CEO of Look Print, a highly regarded wide format print business in Leichhardt, Sydney, will take on the presidency this year, following on from the strong effort of 2008/09 president Luke Everingham (Shepson Printing), who will be maintaining a committee position.

"As a strong believer in the association I'm looking forward to being at the helm this year and working with such a diverse and strong committee. In 2010 GASAA will be looking to enhance and improve its member services as well as take a more proactive and leading role in the 'one industry voice' debate" said David.

The committee also welcomes Brian Gibson, from Mail Marketing Works, Mike Palmer from Snap Printing, and Paul Richardson from Lindsay Yates & Partners. The full Executive Committee members elected are:

• David Leach, Look Print (President)
• Richard Baker, Kwik Kopy
• David D'Astoli, Focus Press
• Luke Everingham, Shepson Printing
• Brian Gibson, Mail Marketing Works
• James Hawkes, ACP Magazines
• Michael Jones, CDM Print
• Russell Montgomery, DDB Sydney
• Mike Palmer, Snap Printing
• Theo Pettaras, Digitalpress
• Paul Richardson, Lindsay Yates & Partners

The GASAA Executive meets four - six times a year to review strategic directions for the association and to consider wider industry issues. Executive members formulate association policy and work with salaried staff to assist members and the wider graphic arts community.

GASAA Executive members take an active role in GASAA initiatives, including member services, attending and promoting GASAA events, and speaking about industry issues.

To put an issue forward for the committee's attention please email the GASAA office on support@gasaa.asn.au or call Garry Knespal on 02 9386 1595.

12 firms have now gained the industry wide GASAA Truly Green Certification, having been comprehensively trained in maintaining a fully operational environmental management system capable of achieving ISO 14001.

Joining the Truly Green group are recent graduates from NSW ; Centrum Printing (Mascot), Look Print (Leichardt), Snap Printing CBD (O’Connell St, Sydney) and  Snap Printing (Westpac).

Garry Knespal, GASAA Executive officer said he “…congratulates the newest recipients of the ACCC and IP Australia approved Truly Green Certificate as the industry’s highest green credentials”

“Gaining the Truly Green Certification is testimony to the commitment and determination of firms to move from talking about being green to positive action.  In consulting with participating firms we have found the group dynamics and individual attention shown by GASAA consultant and ISO expert Paul Kohn, have made the process much more manageable and affordable.”

Paul Kohn added “The course not only lays all the important groundwork for obtaining ISO14001 certification, but implements a comprehensive environmental management system that is vital for sustainable and responsible print businesses”.

Firms that have previously gained the Truly Green standing (a number have gone on to obtain ISO14001) are: CDM Print (Rosebery, NSW), Digitalpress (Surry Hills, NSW), Excel - Australasia (Carrum Dawns VIC), Gippsland Trade Printers (Churchill VIC), JA Wales Printers (Alexandria NSW), NSW Land and Property Management Authority (Bathurst NSW), Rawson Graphics (North Ryde NSW) and Shepson Printing (Mascot NSW).

GASAA runs three levels of environmental management training:
Environmentally Responsible (ERI) – Awareness
Environmentally Responsible (ERII) – Improvement
Truly Green - leading to ISO14001

New training course commencing in early 2010 …. Call GASAA today on 1300 131 787 or go to  www.gasaa.asn.au/enviro/  For more details and a listing of the industry’s Truly Green Printers – leading to ISO14001

As a guest of the Chinese government, GASAA Executive Officer Garry Knespal attended the 2nd Trade in Services Congress in Beijing this November.

Focused on establishing business ties with overseas firms and associations in the services sector including advertising and design, the congress was a unique opportunity to see, firsthand, how to engage this economic powerhouse.

While imports from China continue to grow and put pressure on local manufacturing, China is also a huge consumer of resources and now, services.
Australian creative and print services providers have a great opportunity through this GASAA initiative to do business directly with the Chinese government and its major enterprises.

The aim of the Congress was to exchange trade services information, explore international projects, expand international trade in services and seek a common development approach.

Specialised trade talks covered seven sectors including design, advertising, digital animation and games, financial services, environmental services, cultural services and technology.

In particular, the design services and advertising forums presented GASAA with the opportunity to influence the direction and development of these industries in China, and open up discussion on trade to the benefit of Australian creative and print service providers.
Information released at the Congress showed the world average for the service sector as accounting for 69% in global GDP. The service sector in China however accounts for only 40% of the nation’s GDP. The Chinese government concedes that its’ service industries are undeveloped even compared to other developing countries that average 54% of GDP. Export volume of China’s service trade grew from a meagre $2.5 billion in 1982 to $146.45 billion in 2008, with annual growth rate of 17% (about twice the average growth rate of the world). The world ranking of China’s service trade exports rose from No.28 in 1982 to No.5 in 2008. Manufacturing still dominates the Chinese economy but the services sector is certainly on the rise.

Restrictions to foreign firms providing services in Asian countries are now easing as the absence or underdevelopment of important services becomes apparent in many Asian countries.

Some of the influential organisations represented at the Congress were:

• China Ministry of Commerce
• Department of Trade in Service
• China Advertising Association
• China Academy of Printing Technology
• Minister of Knowledge Economy of Korea
• World Trade Organisation
• World Bank
• Directorate General for Trade, EU
• UN Conference on Trade and Development
• Organisation of Economic Development Minister of Knowledge Economy of Korea
• German Economics Ministry
• Singapore Design Institute
• Italian Industrial Design Association
• UK Trade and Investment
• International Advertising Association
• Frankfurt and Beijing Book Fare
• Graphic Arts Services Association of Australia
• Australian Interactive Media Industry Association
• Australian Services Roundtable
• Design Institute of Australia
• Austrade
  

In all there were over 2,000 attendees with 200 foreign guests participating from the UK, German, U.S.A., Canada, Korea, Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. Australians formed one of the largest groups of attending nations. By contrast the USA in particular was under-represented at this important trade event.

The growing importance of this bi-annual event is clear when one looks at the 1st Trade in Services Congress held in Shanghai in 2007 that attracted just 400 mainly Chinese based participants.

Whilst managing the threat of cheap Chinese imports and the pressure they put on local manufacturing, the question is … can Australian service providers leverage off the Chinese government determination on significantly increasing the contribution the service sectors make to economy and international trade .

GASAA is working with other interested organisations and Chinese and Austrade officials to be one of the first countries to establish a Trade in Services Bureaux (China) in the near future. The body would provide a central point of contact and advice to services sector firms (including creative and print service providers) to more easily and cost effectively establish business ties with China.

Firms interested in being part of this exciting initiative should call or email Garry Knespal on 02 9386 1595 or garry@gasaa.asn.au.

Speaking at the 2009 PODi AppForum, Sydney, will be Kate Dunn, President of the Digital Innovations Group, USA, and Waleed Ashoo, CEO of LithExcel USA, Chairman of the Digital Imaging Customer Exchange and PODi USA board member. Both speakers have had long and impressive careers in the print industry, and are leaders in the use and marketing of relevant digital print. Ahead of the AppForum they shared their thoughts with GASAA and PODi Aust NZ on the know-how, why and trends of relevant digital print.

Kate Dunn, President DIG, USA
	Where do you see the future of digital print? Color digital print is growing mainly because of the migration from offset printing. But print on the whole is down and we aren’t going to see it come back to the pre-recession levels. Marketing budgets were slashed because of the recession and communicators were forced to look at more cost effective ways to get their messages into the market place. Stand-alone print of any kind is not the future. Print, as a medium is not dead but the world is learning that it works best in conjunction with other forms of communication. Cross Channel or Multi-Channel communication is the future of marketing. As an industry, our opportunity lies in looking at forms of communicating that are also stand-alone and stealing that market by adding multiple channels including print to how they are used. For instance think of billboards which include a gurl (generic url) for response which now makes it possible to track the value of the billboard advertising, create an interactive conduit for learning what is important to the prospect and incorporate a nurture and conversion process for that lead that may include print, email, cell or even social media. What’s the uptake of variable data like in the US? What’s driving it? What’s holding it back? Digital color print is the only part of print volume that is growing at this time in the US. Many in the US are still mistakenly thinking that print volume will rebound after the recession but I don’t think  it is going to. There are just too many other ways to communicate today and we’ve learned that there are more effective ways to accomplish business objectives than sending out a million pieces of mail and hoping for a .08% response rate. A lot of marketers had just taken the easy way and continued to do mass mailings because it’s something that they had always done. But it’s a different world now. Everybody is looking at more efficient and effective ways to communicate their message. That’s where variable data comes in although I really don’t like the name ‘variable data.’ It doesn’t mean anything to those outside of our industry. The point is that you can communicate with individually relevant copy, images, response mechanisms and offers. It’s the relevance that cuts through the clutter and gets noticed. We’re not talking about putting a name on something – that’s more cleaver than anything else. I’m talking about unique content based on your demographic characteristics, buying patterns, interests etc. Once you marry what can be done with relevance at the print level with multiple channels also using relevant content you have something that can generate interest,  consideration, conversion and loyalty cost effectively. We all know it works but for years spreading the word about it was left in the hands of the printers who had spent tons of money on the equipment and software but very little on a sales force capable of understanding communication needs and building a business case for their clients to integrate relevant print into their mix. It simply can’t be sold by ‘pitching’ the capabilities and technology. It has to be sold by sales professionals who understand how to develop a need for business results into a solution incorporating variable data print and now relevant communication using multiple channels. How has the global financial crisis impacted on relevant digital print? Has it presented any opportunities for targeted marketing? The global financial crisis is really helping to open the eyes of a lot of marketers out there to other methods of communication. It is at the root of the growth in social media as a business tool because it can be done relatively cost effectively. However, digital print hasn’t grown like it should because there really aren’t enough sales people out there who know how to sell it. Poorly trained sales reps turn everything into a conversation about price which has resulted in  margin erosion. Right now in the US, printers are selling whatever they’ve got for whatever they can get for it. In many cases the sales price is less than the raw material costs. Obviously this can’t go on indefinitely for those businesses but it will have a  lasting effect on the perceived value in the market place. Digital print can do so many good things from increased response rates to reduced inventory costs to better cash management. The sales price should be based on the return it can bring not the actual cost to produce it. Our industry just has a terrible time with that concept. Think of Starbucks, it doesn’t cost them $4.00 to make a latte but I gladly pay it because of how I feel when I drink it. I’m paying for that feeling, not some coffee and milk in a cup. The price of digital print should be based on the value that it brings the buyer not the production costs. There are tons of opportunities out there for targeted marketing right now but again we are handcuffed by our sales people. They are used to calling on people who see print as a commodity. Those folks in production or purchasing or traffic have been told to reduce spending so they are looking around for people who will cut their prices and on any given day there will always be a printer more desperate than the next one. But if we were calling on senior level decision makers, we would learn that they don’t just want reduced spending they want increased sales too. Digital print can help them do this but in most cases they don’t hear about it because someone below them as made a decision based on price, not on the return. If I had one wish for this industry, I’d wish for one big webinar with every CEO in America where I could show them examples of how getting the right message, to the right person, at the right time and now, in the right way, can make them money and save them money. If you were an offset printer today, how would you get into VDP? Is the emphasis on equipment or people? Well at the risk of upsetting the vendors, I wouldn’t buy anything right now. I’d focus on finding a sales professional who was comfortable talking to C-level decision makers, who understood how to solve business problems and had some grass roots knowledge of marketing. They need enough marketing expertise to figure out a plan to effectively communicate a message to a targeted audience and then nurture that interest through to conversion and beyond. I’d partner up with businesses who don’t get that part but can manufacture the digital print, emails, landing pages, or whatever else I needed to execute the strategy. I’d build my business that way and then decide if I wanted to add manufacturing or just focus on thinking up the solutions. I’m not sure that the two should even be combined. It takes a different mindset to be a manufacturer than it does to be a creative solution provider. One sells what they can make and the other figures out how to get made what they can sell.   Can you name five key requirements of moving into VDP? The answer to this one depends on if you are a manufacturer or a communication solution provider. To be successful manufacturing a quality variable data application you need: A different workflow than your offset workflow. It’s got to be different. You can’t do all the steps just faster or you make mistakes. You can’t use the same checks and balances that you have in your offset workflow because it take too long. Start with what you need it to be and develop it don’t just try to cram into what you already have. An effective proofing and QA process. Mistakes are costly for you and the customer. Organize your employees into teams who are responsible for the finished product not just a portion of the process. Everybody involved has to understand the ‘whys’ and not just the ‘hows’ of the project. Everybody has to be on their toes all the way through the process with no finger pointing. An intuitive data person, not a button pusher. This probably means that the same person who has been doing your mailing data is not this person. You need a person who can add value by double checking what the customer has given you, finding their errors and seeing things that they don’t even see. Select only software partners with fantastic training who  teach not just the ‘hows’ but the ‘whys.’ We probably know more about the inner workings of our software than the providers know about their own product. We’ve been at this now for 15 years and in the early days I was constantly frustrated because I’d dream something up to solve a customer’s problem or achieve an objective and be told by our partner that the software couldn’t do it.  I can’t tell you how many times I sat around with my team and said “Here’s what I want to do. They say it can’t be done but I think it can. Let’s figure something out to get from point A to point B and they made it happen.” You aren’t going to be able to wait 3 days for a call back or for a specialist to be called in either so make sure their training will teach what you need to know to figure it out yourself. As I said before you need a sales team of professionals that know how to sell solutions and you need a basic understanding of marketing. A lot of that is common sense but you need people that realize it’s common sense and aren’t going to be afraid to talk to senior executives. What impact has online marketing and communications had on print in the USA? Are they seeing a swing back to print? Success is about integrating all of the communication channels that make sense together to solve the objectives. Whenever something comes into the mainstream the pendulum swings too far to one side. Right now you are seeing that with social media. Everybody is using it and many aren’t using it well but that’s not such a bad thing. The rest of us get to learn from them. Eventually you end up with some best practices that you can use to develop effective strategies. Everybody loves the web and for good reason but it’s not perfect. For instance, if you wait for the prospect to have his needs change, realize they’ve changed, research his options, compare all of them and then call you for a price or buy it directly via the web, he’s done all the hard work. You’ve missed a chance to help him solve his problem a different way than he was thinking. Basically, print needs to be used where it makes sense and other things where they make sense. There are no one-size-fits-all answers. It will be different for every company based on their value proposition and competitive differentiators. That’s why successful companies will have some expertise in helping their clients figure out the best way to get the right message, to the right person, at the right time and in the right way, to drive awareness, interest, consideration and loyalty. Has there been growth in transpromo marketing in the USA? It’s growing because if you are communicating the statement information to a person who can also make a purchase decision or even influence a decision, it the perfect combination of objectives. However, it’s not just about print here either. The recipient is going to want to learn more so all of your other channels need to be integrated too. There is definitely opportunity here. Typically you will need a more complex front end software solution and production capabilities to go after this opportunity. When you are responsible for billing you’d better be sure it’s right and on-time or you are messing with your customer’s cash flow. As for the future, I’m a fan of electronic everything so as long as those trans-promos documents are delivered electronically I’m in. The jury is still out for the future of print in this area. Will people want paper bills in 20 years when the boomers are out of the mainstream? I’m not sure. I haven’t been inside a bank now in almost 7 years, would anybody have imagined that 20 years ago?
Waleed Ashoo, CEO of LithExcel USA, Chairman of the Digital Imaging Customer Exchange and PODi USA board member
	Where do you see the future of digital print? Digital print will continue to grow, but the growth will accelerate and move in the 50% annually. What’s the uptake of variable data in the US? What‘s driving it? What’s holding it back? There are a lot of misconceptions with regards to what constitutes variable data in the US market.   We are also finding that while variable data helps increase response rates a bit, by it self is not enough to generate the expected returns.  We must couple it with other touch points such as emails, QR codes, Purl’s and intelligent response mechanism.  What drives VDP are good mined data and strong multi touch marketing plan.  What ends up holding it back are budget restrictions, enough time to implement a program and the absence of data from the client. How has the global financial crisis impacted on relevant digital print? Has it presented any opportunities for targeted marketing? On the one hand it has slashed marketing budgets, eliminated entire marketing departments in the US and postponed or shelved any projects for 1 to 2 years.  On the other hand it has put Communications Services Providers like my company, Lithexcel in first position ahead of expensive and ineffective other media. If you were an offset printer today, how would you get into VDP? Is the emphasis on equipment or people? I would first put together a 3 -5 year strategic plan.  Second, I would put together a team of people: digital graphic designer, IT or data person, web designer, marketing/business developer, mailing expert and a young electronic wise kid that understands how to use the various social networks.  The emphasis is absolutely on people and software and not on equipment. Can you name 5 key requirements for moving into VDP? A strong and comprehensive strategic plan. Developing a strong marketing/business development team Engage a smart and very effective consultant/coach to shorten the learning cycle. Join industry groups like PODi, Digital Imaging Customer Exchange (which is part of Caslon and PODi now) and other industry peer groups to get training for you marketing/business development staff Focus your efforts on one or two vertical markets to start with and don’t attempt to tackle all markets at one time. You must develop expertise in a vertical market to successes. What impact has online marketing and communications had on print in the USA?  Are they seeing a swing back to print? Online marketing and communication has devastated print in the USA.  Print as we know it is continually evolving and will be supported by electronic media and the World Wide Web.  We are not seeing a swing back to print in the USA; as a matter of fact we continue to see further deterioration. Has there been growth in transpromo marketing in the USA? Yes there has been growth in transpromo marketing, how ever its been very slow and will take some time to educate the marketing executives as to the benefits.   As with the advent of the color VDP in the mid 90’s, there are a lot of misconceptions about transpromo marketing.

GASAA has announced the starting dates for the next round of the Truly Green Environmental Management Course leading to ISO14001. The association is now accepting applications for the courses beginning 14 October in Sydney and 15 October in Melbourne. GASAA is also accepting expressions of interest for Brisbane and other cities.

By mid October, 15 print businesses will have graduated as Truly Green printers, well on their way to ISO14001 certification. One of the first Truly Green graduates, the NSW Department of Lands, Bathurst, recently obtained their ISO14001, within 3 months of graduating from the course.

Other graduates include CDMPrint, Digitalpress, J A Wales Printers, Rawson Graphics and Shepson Printing. Current course participants from New South Wales and Victoria include Centrum Printing (NSW), Excel (VIC), Gippsland Trade Printers (VIC), Look Print (NSW), Printmode (VIC), Snap CBD Printing (NSW), Snap Westpac (NSW) and Total Print Control (NSW).

The Truly Green certification has also recently achieved ACCC and IP Australia trademark approval. The process and rules of certification of the course have been thoroughly scrutinised by the ACCC and were formally accepted mid August. The trademark is now in the final stages of registration.

To find out more about the Truly Green Environmental Management Course visit GASAA’s website at www.gasaa.asn.au/enviro/. To apply for the upcoming round, please contact the GASAA office on 02 9386 1595.

Australia now ranks second only to China as UGRA’s largest regional sector of UGRA Certified Experts (UCE) outside of Europe. Those to recently pass the 2 day training and assessment programme conducted by Swiss based head of UGRA, Erwin Widmer; were Garry Knespal, GASAA, Gavin Daniels, G R Daniels Technical Services and David D’Astoli, Focus Press. They join Jason Hall, technical specialist and director of CMYKit, who was the first Australian to gain UCE status in mid 2008.

Garry Knespal has been the Executive Officer of the Graphic Arts Services Association of Australia since 1986. Over these years he has served on numerous industry technical and business bodies and has wide grounding in the area of colour management.

Gavin Daniels, principal of G.R.Daniels Technical Services, has 20 years industry experience ranging from printing device technical support to Digital Front End development and integration combined with IT hardware, software and networking experience.

David D’Astoli is the Pre Press Manager at Focus Press, with over 25 years experience in the pre-press and print industry. During his 8 years at Focus Press, the company has experienced considerable growth, continually upgrading technology and management systems to ensure the highest quality and environmental standards.

Jason Hall, CMYKit is a specialist colour management integrator. With primary focus on implementation Jason will only be asked to accompany and independent UGRA PSO audit where he has not been involved in implementation.

The UGRA certification requires an independent audit, hence an expert cannot participate in audits on systems that they have helped reach ISO specifications. However, with a team of four UCEs, the Australian print industry now has access to a completely independent UGRA team that can perform PSO audits and grant certification (via UGRA following measurement of printed sheets) to those companies who reach and even exceed PSO standards.

GASAA has an exclusive arrangement to represent UGRA in the region.

To find out more, contact regional lead UGRA auditor, Garry Knespal on 02 9386 1595 or garry@gasaa.asn.au

Canon Australia, an industry leader in imaging and production print services, has joined the Graphic Arts Services Association of Australia as a major sponsor. Canon, through its production printing division, joins the association’s other major supporters including Adobe, Creo Color Services, Databasics, DubSat, eBook Creator, EFI, Kodak, Fuji Xerox, HP Indigo, Oce and Quark.

“Canon coming on as a sponsor strengthens the digital print capabilities of the association as a whole, and this will enhance our ability to deliver high quality services and information to GASAA members and the graphic arts community in general,” Garry Knespal, Executive Officer of GASAA, commented on the new sponsorship.

According to Gabrielle Wandl, Canon Australia’s Channel Marketing Manager – Production Printing Systems: “Canon Australia is committed to the commercial digital print market and is actively strengthening its position so it can better service customers. We are delighted to be working with GASAA to inform its community of the exciting developments in this sector.”

Garry Knespal concluded, “This new major sponsor represents an area of key interest to GASAA in digital print, and we look forward to working with the team at Canon Australia.”

For more information contact:

Garry Knespal
GASAA
Ph: (02) 9386 1595
Email: garry@gasaa.asn.au

Gabrielle Wandl
Canon Australia
Ph: (02) 9805 2861
Email: wandl_gabrielle@canon.com.au

Following the success of the first GASAA EMC group (read story below) GASAA is well underway to the preparation of additional courses, GASAA will now take the course to Brisbane and Melbourne as well as Sydney. Included in the course will be training for FSC Coc audit (Forest Stewardship Council Chain of Custory). Book now and you will receive a free Carbon Footprint Audit by the course presenter, Paul Kohn, valued at $500. Course commences 11th February in Brisbane, 18th February in Melbourne and 20th February in Sydney.

To register and find out more about GASAA's Environmental Management Course, click here

In early December, GASAA in conjunction with UGRA - the swiss based ISO Colour Certification body will conduct the first full PSO certifying audit in the region based on UGRA’s rigorous ISO standards.

Visiting Australia, to assist GASAA with this first audit will be Ugra Managing Director, Erwin Widmer. The UGRA head is travelling on from audit visits in Asia at the request of GASAA and a member to complete the process before the year’s end.

Subsequent audits will be conducted by GASAA Executive Officer, Garry Knespal and a team of evaluators being engaged to independently review implementation work done by print staff and colour consultants.

For over 50 years Ugra has provided technical and standards based research for the graphic arts industry. It is a full member of ISO TC 130 international committee and provides world-wide and independent services; along with products for the assessment and improvement of quality. Ugra certifies materials, persons and companies according to internationally accepted standards or specifications through its PSO programme.

While it has a number of selected and individual auditor arrangements around the globe, this is the first time Ugra has appointed an industry organisation to conduct audits on its behalf. With GASAA’s database reach of over 13,000 industry contacts of both print buyers and service providers; and its longstanding reputation for standards based education Ugra is assured its name and services will be well represented in the region.

Members interested in knowing more about the PSO Colour certification from UGRA should contact Garry Knespal at the GASAA Office.

Websend, the leading web-based display advertising pre-flight and delivery company announced that Vio Worldwide, one of the world’s largest providers of advertising delivery solutions, has licensed the innovative Websend browser-based solution for its entire UK, North American and Canadian operations.

Websend is part of Omnilab Media, Australia and New Zealand’s largest privately owned vertically integrated media company. Grant Schuetrumpf, General Manager, Media Innovation & Technology, Omnilab Media said, “Vio’s decision to adopt Websend as its cornerstone technology further cements Websend’s strategic international expansion. Vio and Websendshare a mutual belief and direction for display advertising management and distribution. With this new agreement advertisers will be able to reach over 10,000 publications across UK, USA, Canada, Australia & New Zealand through a single web based interface. Vio is the advertising service of choice for many of the world’s blue chip advertisers and publishers and our partnership with them makes that choice an even more formidable one. Websend has grown primarily based on its unique and innovative R&D and efficient integration of technology. This is an approach we are continuing to invest heavily in.”

Chris Friend, MD of Vio Worldwide added, “The partnership with Websend is an important strategic decision for Vio and will give the advertising and publishing industries the most powerful and flexible ad management and delivery solution possible. We needed to fundamentally change our platform to support our rapidly growing customer base, and their desire to move to a SaaS (Software as a Service) environment. Websend is technically very advanced and by implementing it as our core technology we can bring considerable benefits and value to advertisers and publishers in a highly automated web-based advertising pre-flight and delivery system. The new
platform gives us a powerful foundation to develop the Vio service to meet our customers’ rapidly developing media needs and is backed by Websend’s considerable R&D capability.”

The exclusive agreement allows Vio to integrate Websend and effect a major upgrade to its core print advertising pre-flight, proofing and delivery technology that will have a significant impact for its customers worldwide and the Vio business as a whole. Tens of thousands of users around the world rely daily on Websend and Vio to streamline and enhance their digital supply chain. Advertisers and their
suppliers use both companies’ solutions for automating ad creation, proofing and delivery; and publishers benefit from ad checking and managed reception.

Websend is a fully centralised web-based solution where all users find it very easy to get immediate use of the system from any web browser with no downloads or desktop software required. Advertisers simply log on and follow the simple steps to upload ads, preflight, size check, proof and send to the selected magazines and newspapers, ensuring that every ad meets the correct publishers specification. The service can also provide automated corrections specific to publication specifications including ink weight conversion and image resolutions, which are all controlled through the one interface.

Grant Schuetrumpf concluded, “The new Websend-enabled Vio service will bring further significant financial benefits to publishers. Websend’s XML, XMP, JDF, AdsML and PDF/X compliant architecture will enable publishers to integrate ad delivery directly into their internal workflows, booking and billing systems. In turn, this will directly help to avoiding costly errors, disputes and time-consuming reconciliation. Omnilab Media and Websend’s aim is to continue to invest in more global partnerships and we will have more news in
the coming months.”

The Websend Vio agreement is effective immediately and Vio will complete the migration of its technologies and publisher portals to the Websend platform by March 2009.

ABOUT WEBSEND
Websend is one of the Omnilab Media portfolio of companies. Founded in 2002 by Peter Lamont it is the advanced web-based pre-flight and delivery solution that offers comprehensive PDF preflighting, tracking and distribution services for advertisers and publishers. Effectively, Websend preflights an artwork’s digital DNA and puts it through its paces on behalf of publishers. Websend also works towards meeting industry standards including XML, XMP, JDF, AdsML, and PDF/X. Websend also publishes an API for seamless
3rd party system integration. www.websend.com.au

ABOUT OMNILAB MEDIA GROUP
Omnilab Media is Australia and New Zealand’s largest privately owned vertically integrated media company, incorporating four key media arms: content development, professional media services, innovation & technology, and content sales & distribution partnerships. Omnilab Media delivers, worldclass solutions for our clients, employing over 500 of the very best creative and technical talent across a portfolio of 16 media businesses. www.omnilab.com

ABOUT VIO WORLDWIDE:
Vio Worldwide provides solutions to streamline and brand digital supply chains. The tools to achieve this include: customer-facing service portals; automated advertising creation; digital asset management; automated, remote preflighting solutions; colour-managed soft proofing; standards based integration of business and operations systems, including insertion management and booking reconciliation; securely managed, tracked and automated online delivery; and innovative network design and outsourced 24/7 network management. Vio Worldwide leads the way in technology standards, participating in XML standards setting bodies for online and print media. It has offices in the U.S., U.K., Israel and France. In the US, the company does business as AdSEND, which specializes in the development of
solutions that link workflow partners in innovative ways that allow them to not only exchange files, but also vital information about those files. Vio Worldwide is part of LMS Capital plc (www.lmscapital.com), a UK-based quoted company with over £250 million in assets.
www.vio.com

Ugra, the Swiss Centre of Competence for Media and Printing Technology and the Graphic Arts Services Association of Australia (GASAA); has signed an exclusive agreement to promote and audit Ugra PSO Certification in Australia and New Zealand.

 For over 50 years Ugra has provided technical and standards based research for the graphic arts industry. It is a full member of ISO TC 130 international committee and provides world-wide and independent services; along with products for the assessment and improvement of quality. Ugra certifies materials, persons and companies according to internationally accepted standards or specifications through its PSO programme.

 “Recognising the importance of printing standards both from a print producer and buyer perspective, GASAA has always helped members and the wider industry meet the challenges and opportunities that repeatability and consistency bring. The GASAA Board is delighted our efforts in connecting with Ugra have resulted in this regional co-operation” said Luke Everingham, GASAA President.

 “The arrangements now in place with Ugra (a world-wide ISO accrediting body)is another major step in GASAA’s efforts to help the industry embrace international standards. Coupled with the recently launched GASAA Environmental Management Course leading to ISO 14001, the association is taking much of the “leg work” out for graphic communications businesses wishing to adopt ISO standard practices and promote themselves accordingly.” Said Mr Everingham.

 GASAA Executive Officer, Garry Knespal is a 25 year veteran of the prepress and print industry who will lead the regional Ugra audit team.  

 “I am excited about taking a lead role in promoting the Ugra PSO certification to those print firms seeking this highest recognition. Ugra is a great fit for GASAA as we build our capabilities to help the industry with print, environmental and business standards”. Said Mr Knespal.

 Ugra Managing Director, Erwin Widmer, said of the regional arrangements with GASAA “while we have a number of selected and individual auditor arrangements around the globe, this is the first time Ugra has appointed an industry organisation to conduct audits on its’ behalf. With GASAA’s database reach of over 13,000 industry contacts of both print buyers and service providers; and its’ longstanding reputation for standards based education we believe the Ugra name and services are well represented in the important Asia/Pacific region.”

 For more information about the Ugra/GASAA PSO audit service; and details on several consultancies able to advise on PSO implementation contact GASAA on 1300 131 787 or email support@gasaa.asn.au

About Ugra

 For over 50 years Ugra has provided technical and standards based research for the graphic arts industry. It is a full member of ISO TC 130 international committee and provides independent services and products for the assessment and improvement of quality. Ugra certifies materials, persons and companies according to internationally accepted standards or specifications including:

• Proofer according to ISO 12647-7
• Displays according to ISO 12646
• PDF/X data production according to ISO 15930
• Printing according to ISO 12647

Ugra, it’s self accreditation according to ISO 17025, is dedicated  to standardisation in the printing industry. It represents the Swiss printing industry in ISO TC 130 and collaborates on the standards for the paper industry. In addition, Ugra is a member of the Swiss Standard Association SNV. It provides world-wide independent testing, consulting, expert's assessments, certification and research projects for the industry.

CMYKit product offerings from ALWAN allow standardised data into the print workflow.  “We recommend the use of CMYK Optimizer, because it addresses a real need for standardisation of file separations. For us, it’s the perfect complement to our standardisation services and ISO 12647 certification.  You cannot have standardised printing without standardised data.”  Erwin Widmer – Managing Director, UGRA

 CMYKit’s pressSIGN and proofSIGN products make for easy certification of print and proofs back to the ISO standard.  pressSIGN allows standardised printing with 5 steps to ISO standards achievable within 2-3 days, not 2-3 weeks. Jason Hall’s UGRA certification confirms CMYKit’s ability to bring the best in the market to the Australian market.

UGRA is the "Association for the Promotion of Research in the Graphic Arts Industry". This association operates the "Swiss Centre of Competence for Media and Printing Technology", which did overtake the printing, paper and packaging activities from EMPA St. Gallen and is an independent organisation since January 1, 2005. UGRA operates from offices and laboratories within the EMPA building in St. Gallen.

 With 20 years of experience in the development and implementation of colour-managed workflows, CMYKit specialises in ways to increase your businesses bottom line.  As your colour mechanic, CMYKit utilises leading edge workflow solutions to ensure your business can comply with industry standards such as ISO-12647.  CMYKit optimises your colour management workflow through analysis and diagnosis of your entire print production processes. Customised solution implementation services, training and ongoing support provide you with total peace of mind.

For more information contact jason@CMYKit.com.au or go to www.cmykit.com.au

We are proud to announce that eBookCreator, a European based software developer, has become a Major Sponsor to the industry association.

eBookCreator offers a low cost entry to in-house creation of eBooks with ongoing service and access to upgrades. Their desktop software enables users to easily turn PDF documents into highly functional online e-publications with the popular page flip effect. Software solution is suitable for creating online magazines, catalogues, annual reports, product manuals, newspapers or simply any made for web document.

GASAA Executive Officer, Garry Knespal commented, “We are very excited to have eBookCreator to come on board as one of our Major Sponsors as their sponsorship offers many benefits to our member.”

“The eBookCreator software will be used by GASAA to create our own association newsletter online and we looking forward to the opportunity to complement our printed publication with this innovative software,” continued Mr Knespal.

eBookCreator’s Country Manager, Raj Singh, is also pleased with the choice to support GASAA. “I believe GASAA is a good contact to bring Flip page eBooks to the region. Also it’s a strategic way for us to establish business links with Australian publishers and support ad and web agencies in supplying their customers with Flip page eBooks.” Mr Singh said. “Our solution is a completely in-house production tool, fully customisable & has facilities like hyper-linking, pdf download, tool tips and menu buttons. There are more features to come” Mr. Singh added.

For more information please contact Garry Knespal at garry@gasaa.asn.au or call (02) 9386 1595

Find out more about eBookCreator at www.ebookcreator.com.au  . Contact Raj Singh Country Manager on 0449 25 80 82 or email: info@ebookcreator.com.au