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The Standing-Ovation Keynote Everyone Is Still Talking About

Dscoop Edge Indy 101

Peter van Teeseling

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This webinar tells the story of how three companies came together to reimagine the greeting card — and in the process, built a compelling model for what print-on-demand can look like when e-commerce, fine art, and smart production technology converge. Franz Gerhardter, founder of ArdorU, shares the origin of his platform: a COVID-era moment of rediscovering handwritten letters from his mother sparked a mission to make beautifully crafted, personalized cards accessible online. Every card features original fine art from gallery-represented artists, a machine-learning system that authentically replicates handwriting, and — thanks to HP Indigo and DCC — a tactile raised-ink effect that makes the final piece feel genuinely handmade. DCC's Nick Chavez and Cary Battaglia walk through the production side: months of testing specialty inks, textures, grain direction, and even invisible UV QR codes to crack the fulfillment workflow. Using HP's Site Flow and Brand Center, every order flows seamlessly from the Ardor You platform through press, bindery, and mail sorting — fully automated, fully unique. HP's Aaron Archer and Sima Toltzis Morad frame the bigger picture: far from threatening print, AI and e-commerce are creating new print products and new volume. Ardor You is a front-row example of that shift — and a reminder that in a screen-saturated world, a physical piece of art in the mailbox hits differently than ever.
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In this episode, Dscoop Executive Director Peter van Teeseling sits down with Thomas Dahbura, owner of Hub Labels and a self-described "printer at heart." Thomas traces his roots in flexo printing back to his parents' operation in El Salvador in the 1960s, and shares how that foundation shaped his obsession with quality — summed up in Hub Labels' unapologetic tagline: we kick ass labels. The conversation ranges from the hard lessons of adopting digital printing in 2003 to how Thomas is now weaving AI into his operation — using tools like NotebookLM to make SOPs accessible on the shop floor, and Claude to build a custom project management tool. He's candid about the limits of automation, the frustrations of legacy ERP systems, and why he concluded that his shop isn't built for short runs — and why that realization was actually liberating. Thomas also talks about culture over credentials when hiring, the myth of the "magic print button," why spot color will always beat a CMYK build for brand consistency, and the surprising ROI of just being generous with knowledge in a tight-knit industry.
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In this Dscoop webinar, Roy Eitan is joined by Greta Cutulenco of Acerta and Rod Flores of Handbook for a practical look at how AI can transform both the front office and the pressroom. Using a Ferrari racing analogy to connect strategy, administration, and production, the session demonstrates how print businesses can put their technology investments to work at full capacity. Attendees will discover how AI can streamline daily admin and sales workflows, reduce onboarding and follow-up friction, and predict print quality issues before they result in costly waste. Drawing on real-world examples from Handbook — which serves as the operational "brain" of the business — and Acerta, the AI-powered "nervous system" of the pressroom, the session makes a compelling case that smarter automation is well within reach for any operation running HP Indigo or PageWide equipment. Designed for print business owners, operations managers, and anyone responsible for quality and growth, this webinar delivers actionable insights without the hype — just clear, practical steps toward faster decisions, fewer errors, and better results.
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Skandacor concluded a successful week at Dscoop Edge Rockies 2026, engaging with global print service providers and witnessing a rising interest in digital embellishment. The event highlighted the growing demand for premium finishing applications, with strong interest in Skandacor's FINISHpro 3D 1623 solution. Skandacor also noted significant interest in laminators and digital die-cutting solutions, as print providers aim to enhance efficiency and expand their offerings.
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Peter van Teeseling
Peter van Teeseling · Mar 16th, 2026
I visited a sophisticated e-commerce print-on-demand operation in Philadelphia and witnessed something rare—a hundred-plus-person company still grounded in the founding values of doing the right thing. What I learned there matters for anyone building a business that lasts.
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# Americas
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# Print on demand
In this case study, explore how ArdorU, DCC and HP Indigo combined creativity, automation and platform integration to create a scalable print-on-demand greeting card operation built for today’s e-commerce demands. Their story highlights the operational discipline, technology integration and brand thinking required to succeed in modern e-commerce print.
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In a live episode of "The LINK," James Nilles of etikett.de shares how automation, entrepreneurial thinking and strong systems helped transform a startup into one of Europe’s most advanced online label operations.
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TOPICS COVERED IN THIS ASK AN EXPERT SESSION Mark Sets / Sheet Marks — How to create and apply slug lines/sheet marks to jobs and imposition templates in Production Pro Server, including variable data fields and barcode options. EPM + Black Workflow — How to force EPM (full color) on the front side of a sheet and black-only on the back using ICC profiles and ticket template settings. DFE Storage Upgrades — The option to upgrade the DFE's image memory drive (e.g., from 2TB to 8TB) and add RAM to handle large variable data jobs. Smart Stream Designer Plugin for InDesign — Where to find and install the plugin via Print OS Knowledge Zone, how licensing works through the Creativity Power Pack, and how to assign licenses. 5-Up Dutch Cut Imposition — How to create a mixed-rotation imposition in Smart Stream Designer and import it into the DFE for use in ticket templates. Transfer Profiles — How press operators can adjust transfer force, blanket temperature, and cleaning frequency to improve ink adhesion on various substrates. Automation (Q&A) — A brief discussion on starting automation, highlighting tools like InFocus Switch, HP Site Flow, and Print OS Composer as options for workflow automation and variable data processing.
The Melbourne Sustainability Forum 2026 brought Australia’s print leaders together to show how HP Indigo ink and toner are collected and transformed by Close the Loop, turning waste into real infrastructure. For printers, ink recovery is fast becoming a competitive advantage, backed by traceable proof.
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Skandacor is proud to join the Dscoop community, bringing expertise in print finishing and embellishment to help HP Indigo and digital press users achieve exceptional results. Learn how we support printers with reliable equipment, expert advice, and resources, and meet us at the Edge Rockies Conference to connect and explore finishing solutions.
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