When it’s got to be Good

Ask 10 different people to define commercial printing and you’ll get 10 different answers. One thing, however, is a given—whether it’s a glossy, high-color poster on a rich substrate, a black-and-white owner’s manual on uncoated stock or a business card with a PMS logo, the job must be done perfectly and delivered on time.

Considering various prepress services, including design (in some cases), the actual printing, finishing options and fulfillment services, there are plenty of opportunities for manufacturers and distributors to demonstrate their talents and skills, proving their value to customers. One-stop-shop trends are making it more and more likely that distributors will be asked at some point to provide more unique, innovative types of printing. With a full understanding of the application, as many samples from the customer as possible and the right manufacturing partner, commercial printing can significantly boost profits while satisfying the creative spirit.

Here, three distinctly different commercial printers—specializing in structural packaging designs, large-format products and traditional products, respectively—discuss demand, suggest applications and offer tips for success.

Structurally Sound

Approximately three years ago, York, Pennsylvania-based Triangle Printing did some serious thinking outside the box—literally. The upshot is an in-house engineering department specializing in structural designs. Mike Dohm, vice president of sales, explained that the high-end commercial printing company, well-known for its die-cutting work, added some special equipment, including cutting plotters, converters, a new press specifically designed to handle thicker paperboards, high-speed diecutters and high-speed gluers, to produce products such as folding cartons, POP items, promotional packaging and 3-D printing.

“We are doing a lot of origami with paperboard,” he joked. “We have a packaging engineer who can figure out how to produce a project from the structural side, working with our machine operators to design around automation, before any thought is given to placing graphics.”