The January 8, 2019 edition of What’s Happening, our first of the year, looks at people in new positions, the philanthropy of one player in the printing space and new customer service initiatives.
What’s Happening January 8, 2019
Fujifilm Names National Sales Manager for Acuity Wide-Format Printers
Fujifilm Graphic Systems Division hired Nick Roder as the national sales manager for its Acuity wide-format presses. With more than 30 years in the graphics industry, Roder’s experience includes leadership within sales, new digital product launches and people management.
“The Acuity product family of wide-format presses is a growing segment in this marketplace,” said Roder. “My team and I are eager to take this innovative series to the next level. Print service providers can experience tremendous profit margins with an Acuity press, and the opportunities are endless. The Acuity platform provides a truly flexible production system that delivers consistent results, reliable production performance and economical cost-in-use.”
Acuity UV inkjet flatbed printers offer near-photographic quality images on rigid, flexible and roll media. The platform comprises almost 20 configurations built around one of three models: the Acuity Select, the Acuity Select HS and the Acuity F.
Each platform, with Uvijet UV ink technology, enables PSPs to produce point-of-sale graphics, indoor signage, industrial graphics and product decoration. They print on PVC, polycarbonate, styrene, acrylic, paper, board, wood and aluminum composite. PSPs can create customer proofs that are identical to the production run.
The presses print vibrant color images while grayscale printheads vary dot sizes to produce high definition and smooth skin tone graduations. The printers also use spot varnish ink to add impact (6/8 channel models) and white ink to produce images on transparent or colored materials. Moreover, they can print color-white-color layers in one pass for two-sided images on transparent materials.
Shutterfly Funds Wildfire Disaster Relief & Helps Rebuild Photo Memories
Shutterfly funded efforts supporting disaster relief in the wake of the California wildfires. It also committed to help families rebuild photographic memories lost in the fires.
Shutterfly donated $150,000 to relief efforts, with $75,000 donated to the American Red Cross to support relief efforts across California. In addition, Shutterfly is matching employee donations, up to $75,000, to its Employee Hardship Fund, which supports employees in need.
“Shutterfly was founded in California and our headquarters is in the Bay Area. With the acquisition of Lifetouch, the leading U.S. school photographer, earlier this year, we now also have a manufacturing site in Chico,” said Christopher North, president and CEO, Shutterfly, Inc.
“Our hearts go out to our employees as well as their families in Chico. Dozens of them have lost their homes in the fires. We’re fortunate to have a program in place to support employees in need with individual grants, which are funded through donations from the Shutterfly and Lifetouch Foundations as well as from fellow employees.” 
In addition, Shutterfly is helping replace photo memories lost in the fires. “People often say their pictures are among the first things they grab in evacuation scenarios,” added North. “Our promise has long been to preserve our customers’ photos for free in the Shutterfly Photo Cloud. For families impacted by the California fires, as you begin to rebuild—whenever that is—we’ll also help recreate your most important memories, reprinting your prints and photo books free of charge.”
Families impacted by the wildfires can reach out to Shutterfly customer service at shutterflycares@cs.shutterfly.com.
HP Appoints President, Strategy and Business Management
Kim Rivera was named president of Strategy and Business Management, HP, effective January 1. Formerly chief legal officer and general counsel, she succeeds interim chief operating officer Cathie Lesjak, who announced she would retire in early 2019.
Rivera has spent her career with Fortune 500 companies across multiple industries. Moreover, she has managed an array of business, strategy, risk and legal disciplines. She joined HP in 2015 and was responsible for all aspects of legal, government relations, compliance and ethics.
“Since joining HP, Kim has proven herself time and again not only as an expert in legal and policy areas, but also as an essential advisor to our business and regional leadership team and board of directors. Her understanding of the entire organization combined with her ability to thoughtfully navigate highly complex issues have added tremendous value to our business,” said Dion Weisler, HP president and CEO.
Prior to HP, Rivera held various positions, including: chief legal officer and corporate secretary for DaVita HealthCare Partners; chief compliance officer and head of International Legal Services at the Clorox Company; and chief litigation counsel for Rockwell Automation. Moreover, she is a recent recipient of the Burton Legends in Law award and Harvard Law School’s Center on the Legal Profession Award for Professional Excellence.
First East Coast Epson Certified Solution Center Opens
The Equipment Zone in New Jersey opened the first Epson Certified Solution Center on the East Coast. Potential Epson customers can visit Equipment Zone to engage with product experts and run test print samples using their own files. They can print on Epson photography, dye-sublimation, signage and direct-to-garment solutions.
“We want to encourage customers to create innovative projects with confidence. We are thrilled to partner with Equipment Zone to create this unique Epson experience,” said John Meyer, manager, Wide Format Channel, Epson America. “These Epson Certified Solution Centers are designed to showcase the depth of capabilities that Epson has to offer. They also allow customers to realize the full potential of partnering with Epson.”
The new Epson Certified Solution Center is located at the Equipment Zone offices in Franklin Lakes. It provides customers with an immersive experience that includes a suite of SureColor production equipment. Print samples, applications and customer training opportunities are also provided.
“By providing access to this technology, we’ve been able to host the first annual Epson Expo. The event provided our customers in the New Jersey and New York City area a chance to experience the full range of Epson professional solutions,” said Harry Oster, president, Equipment Zone. “We are looking forward to continuing to host similar Epson events in the years to come.”
Mimaki Adds 3M MSC Warranty on the UCJV300 Series
Mimaki USA is providing the 3M MCS warranty on its UCJV300 series of wide-format printers with LUS-200 inks. The 3M MCS warranty offers full, non-prorated protection for the intended life of each graphic.
It includes protection against fading, cracking, peeling and other aspects of the graphic’s performance. 3M offers this level of assurance based on its expertise in weathering technology as well as the testing of ink and printer combinations. 
“Mimaki is excited that the 3M MCS warranty is now available on the widely successful UCJV300 series when used with LUS-200 inks,” said Naoya Kawagoshi, president, Mimaki USA. “This warranty adds value for customers of both companies’ products and solutions. Customers will be able to benefit from the high performance of the UCJV300 series with LUS-200 inks, while also enjoying the additional security the warranty provides on 3M specific workflows.”
The warranty covers up to eight years on some interior finished graphics and five years on some outdoor applications. These include vehicle wraps using 3M media and installed using 3M guidelines.
Mimaki’s UCJV300 printers feature in-line cutting capabilities. They also offer and layered print technology, such as four-layer and five-layer for transitional or double-facing images. Prints are instantly cured, even at high production speeds. And specs state Mimaki LUS-200 inks, jointly developed with 3M, can stretch up to 200% after curing without cracking.
