In-plant Outlook

We talked with eight in-plant managers at the 2026 Inkjet Summit to learn why they’re considering production inkjet and how they expect it will cut color costs, boost capacity, and future proof their operations.

In this special podcast, we take you behind the scenes of the In-Print™ 2026 contest judging. Host Bob Neubauer talks with the judges as they are making decisions to find out what flaws they spotted and what impressive features caught their attention and led to pieces being chosen as winners.

Though Michele Woodrum has achieved success and found family at Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, her path to the in-plant was winding, encompassing stints in law enforcement and the military, following a family tradition of service stretching back to the Revolutionary War.

In an episode generated entirely by AI — including the voices in the conversation — we explore how production inkjet is transforming in-plants into faster, leaner, and more essential operations — saving millions, solving labor shortages, and delivering better educational and business outcomes with less waste.

Anyone who's attended an in-plant conference is sure to have met our guest Debra Payne, a loyal supporter of in-plants for more than 30 years. In this conversation, she talks about her unexpected start at Kodak and how that led to a lifelong career serving in-plant printers; what she’s learned from working with in-plants over the years; and why the collaborative, non-competitive spirit of in-plants keeps her committed to the field.

With years of experience consulting for in-plants and their parent organizations, Lois Ritarossi, president of High Rock Strategies, shares insights and best practices for in-plant print and mail operations, covering topics such as workflow automation, technology gaps, and strategies for reducing expenses.

To learn more about trends at school district in-plants, In-plant Impressions Editor Bob Neubauer sat down with three K-12 in-plant managers from different parts of the country during PRINTING United Expo. They talked about production inkjet, wide-format projects, recent expansions, apparel printing, AI, Expo discoveries and more.

As in-plant industry veteran Debbie Pavletich prepares for retirement, we chatted with her about her her remarkable career in the in-plant printing world, from her days running Briggs & Stratton’s award-winning in-plant, to her time leading the In-plant Printing and Mailing Association, to her second career as an in-plant consultant with Ricoh.

In this candid conversation, Mike Loyd, executive director of the In-plant Printing and Mailing Association, reflects on his decades-long journey through the in-plant world — from managing Louisiana State University’s print operation to leading IPMA and shaping its future. He shares behind-the-scenes insights from the Spokane conference, discusses the strength, challenges, and camaraderie of the in-plant community, and contemplates his upcoming retirement.

Sylvia Palmer, supervisor of Reprographics at Jurupa Unified School District, talks about her path into printing, her in-plant’s embrace of inkjet, and her experience at PRINTING United Expo, which she called  “an incredible opportunity.”