FLAAR offers professional consulting services on UV-cured flatbed and roll-to-roll printers for a variety of business and industries in the professional printing markets as well as on digital photography, scanning, giclee and printing for interior decoration.

FLAAR offers a variety of consulting services for the inkjet printing, scanning, and digital photography industry. FLAAR is increasingly sought after by investment analysts. One investment analyst said clearly that the FLAAR data is valuable for documentation of sales potential, which directions the markets are going, and most of all the true pros and cons of a product and a company, "all we otherwise ever hear is management's rosy picture.”

Dr. Hellmuth was educated at Harvard, trained at Yale, and received his Ph.D. from Karl-Franzens Universität (Graz, Austria). We are also available for consulting for museums, museum exhibits, and field research programs since we have also spent many decades doing field projects in remote areas of Central America.

Dr. Hellmuth/FLAAR consult on UV-cured flatbed and UV-curable roll-to-roll applications, RIP software, inkjet printers in general, inks (all kinds: UV, textile, innovative new inks), media, liquid lamination, liquid coaters, and components. We also provide knowledge on market research. Several printer companies have come to us to ask assistance in acquisitions (either them acquiring another company, or preparing themselves to be acquired).

In addition, he is knowledgeable in giclee, fine art photography, solvent, eco-solvent, mild-solvent, bio-solvent, latex ink, as well as in scanning and high end digital photography.

For training in color management and ICC color profiles we work together with experienced color consultants who can provide hands-on training. Two of our color management partners are multi-lingual. Dr Hellmuth is tri-lingual (German, English, Spanish) and he can understand Italian, basic Portuguese and basic French.

Dr. Hellmuth's consulting services are valuable for universities, museums, government agencies, manufacturers, distributors, dealers of any size, as well as print shop owners, operators, and individuals.

The difference between reading the FLAAR reports and web site, compared to retaining Dr. Hellmuth for an on-site visit, is that he can provide fresh information not yet published in the written reports, or posted on the web site. Therefore, an on-site consultation with Dr. Hellmuth is invaluable to keeping up with the latest trends and technologies in professional printing.

Testing an advanced digital camera in Slovenia. FLAAR evaluates medium format, large format, and 35mm SLR digital cameras. We are gradually moving into evaluating 3D scanners and 3D rendering software and associated technology.

Listed below are a few of the topics our consultation services cover. This list is not exhaustive and is only meant to highlight the consulting services FLAAR has to offer. A brief list of services includes:

• Discussing which printer(s) are optimal for your business, franchise sign shop, museum, studio, university or company's specific needs;
• Explaining of the pros and cons of piezo vs. industrial piezo vs. thermal vs. continuous inkjet technologies for your specific printing needs;
• Discussing which inks and media work in which printers (and which inks and media will not function in popular printers);
• Explaining inks, colorants, media, paper, substrates in a non-technical, easy to understand manner;
• Providing a follow-up list of key contacts within the industry, pertinent individuals in ink chemistry, media/substrates, printer technology, business-plans and strategy;
• Discussing digital image storage options, digital asset management software, computer platforms (Macintosh vs. PC);
• Discussing color management options, training, follow-up, software, color measurement tools;
• Teaching techniques for printing on ceramic tiles, wood, leather and metal foil (even onto solid metal);
• Understanding how to print art onto silk, cotton, and onto other fabrics with a wide format inkjet printer;
• Providing analysis of market potential for the market(s) your company is seeking to enter.
• Market analysis, who are the competitive players (strengths and weaknesses both of products and company per se).
• trends: what is new and happening behind the scenes

Market Analysis, Marketing Survey Data, etc.

FLAAR also offers market survey information and product analysis for ink, media, hardware, and software manufacturers. FLAAR's market information can help your business focus on the features end-users are most happy with or would like to see improved.

Almost every month investment analysts are coming to ask for information from FLAAR. This suggests that the data and knowledge that we possess is not readily available elsewhere. Seemingly our reputation for blunt pros and cons is becoming better known.

Consulting on large format printer reality in China, Korea, and Taiwan

Are you a Chinese manufacturer wishing to enter markets in Europe, the US, or Latin America?

Are you a manufacturer in the US, Europe, or Asia who seeks a trustworthy OEM manufacturing partner in China?

Are you a printshop owner, manager, or investory seeking to learn the pros and cons of Chinese, Korean, or Taiwanese printers?

Dr Nicholas Hellmuth can assist your company relative to China, Korea, and Taiwan. FLAAR is a good research because Dr Hellmuth has first-hand experience inside the Chinese, Korean, and Taiwan factories and demo rooms.

Distributors

Are you unsure which brand or model of printer to distribute in your country?

We can provide you the knowledge so you can decide which printer to distribute or resell in your country.

If you are a manufacturer, we can assist you to judge which distributor in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Eastern Europe, Balkan area, North America, or Latin America might be willing to distribute your product.

Expert Witness

We prefer to do the research aspects leading up to an Expert Witness, since an actual court case appearance is difficult due to our busy schedule. So far, of the lawsuits that have been shown to us, half were inappropriate. So we may be able to save your stress simply as a consultant in advance of the actual case going to trial.

Patent litagation

FLAAR is a good place to start for background information if you are beginning a patent dispute, or if you are already in the middle of a patent dispute.

Contact Info

If you wish to hire Professor Hellmuth as a consultant to come to your company, please contact ReaderService@FLAAR.org. If no answer, telephone 419 823-9218 (Vonage/VoIP service). But this is NOT a telephone number for access to general FLAAR information whatsoever. No information is provided by phone other than to companies and individuals who wish to consider sign professional consulting at standard industry rates; we ask that all other contact be via e-mail please.

These contact routes are not intended for:

• Circumventing the inquiry survey form; or
• Submitting miscellaneous questions before a professional consulting relationship is established

This contact route is only for opening up a professional consulting appointment with Dr. Hellmuth coming to your company or to arrange a conference call. We can sign an NDA or your preferred Confidentiality Agreement if necessary, though that just adds a layer of additional paperwork.

FLAAR serves as consultant for Fortune 500 companies as well as companies who wish to reach that level. Because about 100,000 people every month read the FLAAR reports on our dozen web sites it is not possible to respond to telephone inquiries or e-mail inquiries unless to establish a professional relationship on a fee basis.

If you are an individual, a small business, as well as a large company, we reply to the Inquiry-Survey Form usually within 48 hours, so submitting the form via e-mail is the best way to contact us. There is no cost for the e-mail service. We are not able to respond to random e-mails or random telephone messages unless you seek professional consulting service.

Please understand that due to the size of the readership it is not realistic to handle inquiries by telephone unless we have a working relationship with your company initiated by your email followed by a day of consulting at your place or at FLAAR's home facility.

We accept inquiries in Español, Deutsch, English, French, Portuguese, and Italian.

Consulting for UV printer manufacturers, available to manufacturers only: ink, media, substrate, scanner, RIP software, printer manufacturers, integrators, parts manufacturers, please request this by e-mail from: ReaderService@FLAAR.org	Consulting for giclee, decor, fine art photography and scanning. (FREE Download)	For all wide-format inkjet printers, RIP, Ink & Substrates. (FREE Download)	To obtain this PDF on consulting services for financial analysts and business strategy consultants, please request this by e-mail from: ReaderService@FLAAR.org

FLAAR Schedule for 2012

Most recently updated November 2011.
Previous updates: October 2011, November 15, 2010. August 26, 2009, June 30, 2009, January 23, 2009, October 2008, April 23, 2007, Jan. 6, 2004, Feb. 18, 2003, Oct. 26, 2002, Apr. 16, 2002.