On the Road to HP’s Israel

Published: June 21, 2010, By Yolanda Simonsis

Last week on June 14–17, I was among the fortunate few who were invited to Israel to experience HP on home soil at its HP Indigo Labels & packaging VIP Event. The participant mix included at least 35 North American converters, many with guests, as well as a contingency of trade press editors–all numbering around 120 people in total, which included our HP hosts. The tour began in Tel Aviv on Monday, June 14, at our Hilton Hotel “base camp.” As one would guess, this was one working tour that came with some pretty nice benefits.

Our first day of meetings provided insight from our hosts, starting with a welcome from Vince Pentella, business manager Label & Packaging, HP Indigo, GSB Americas. He introduced Alon Bar-Shany, VP & GM HP Indigo Div., who shared that only a year ago, the company’s focus was on labels; now it is on flexible packaging where its WS6000 is a perfect match for higher production runs than traditionally offered by its series 4000 digital presses. In order to make the variables that complicate any printing process—but particularly the newer digital printing process—an easier adjustment, HP has expanded its relationship through a certification program with a number of Media partners that have optimized their products to meet the specific needs of HP equipment.

Additionally, said Bar-Shany, HP has focused heavily on workflow with its new SmartPlanner software that quantifies the economics of printing analog versus digital as well as its partnership with LabelTraxx for a label web-to-print MIS solution.

Tell you more tomorrow!

Left: Cocktail reception features a golden sunset over the Mediterranean on June 14.

Right: It's down to business at HP's Labels & Packaging VIP Event on June 15 with about 120 guests.