Future Links October 2nd 2014
Here are our daily links with the most important news from the printing industry. Today they feature plastic containers made from plants, a new way to present software cards, 3D printing on Main Street, a book on Linotype, HP’s security solutions, a 3D skin printer, and the successful Inkjet Conference.
Plastic containers made from plants
NatureWorks’ sustainable food packages look like ordinary plastic containers – but are a different species altogether. Instead of oil, the containers are made of plant material. Producing the containers emits 60 % less greenhouse gas and uses 50 % less energy in comparison to PET plastics, according to the producers.
More at Trend Hunter
Showcase for software cards
Buying software is usually a pretty dry affair – a few mouse clicks, a credit card number – and voilà. The company Multipackaging Solutions is trying to change this. It offers colorful packaging that allows software, game or music cards to be displayed prominently in retail stores. The packaging offers enough space to present information about the software in an exciting manner, thus allowing for more emotional buying. The packaging is currently being used for 505 Games’ PayDay2 and is fully recyclable.
More at Business Wire
3D printing on Main Street
Good ideas are a dime a dozen but only a few ever make it to the prototyping stage. That could change soon. Last week, the international shipping company UPS announced its plans to put 3D printers in 100 of its U.S. stores. The decision came after a successful test run at a few stores where customers started using the printers for their innovative business ideas – as two surfers did who now sell their mouth mount for GoPro cameras online and in surf stores. UPS is not the only company offering 3D printing on Main Street – Staples, several 3D Hubs and some public libraries offer 3D printing as well.
More at New Scientist
Learning all about Linotype
Frank Romano’s History of the Linotype Company (RIT Press) is an essential resource for all students and aficionados of printing. It is filled with detailed documentation of the Linotype’s beginnings and corporate history. But you don’t have to be a printing or type nerd to enjoy its profusion of factual and visual offerings.
More at Print Mag
HP addresses security needs
As more and more devices are being connected to the internet, the need for security increases. Hewlett-Packard has recognized this need and offers a variety of solutions from consulting to implementation to increase the safety of critical data.
More at Forbes
Inkjet Conference exceeds expectations
The first Inkjet Conference in Düsseldorf, Germany, was a success. More than 300 attendees came to see the innovations for the industrial markets presented by the leading companies in inkjet printing. As the fastest growing area within the printing market, inkjet printing is expected to gain even more importance in the future.
More at What They Think