Archives
It's all in the cards
Feb 01, 2011Ageneration ago, a business card was a printed product. If you were in business, a business card was essential, and it was printed. Period. When I opened my new printing company 24 years ago, the first thing I did was order letterhead, envelopes and business cards. That is what everyone did. (I didn't print them myself because I was not in the stationery business.) Here in the 21st century, the first
Send the very best
Feb 01, 2011I am from Mundelein, a small town north of Chicago. I usually just tell people I am from Chicago because to do otherwise is to engage in the conversational equivalent of a constantly reconfiguring GPS, as the listener struggles to arrive at some point of reference. It's near the Wisconsin border, I often say, a statement analogous to saying someone with a first aid kit is a doctor. Occasionally, a
Rock on
Feb 01, 2011You are only as good as your last job, says Greg Smith, president of Georgia folding carton maker Printed Specialties Inc. (www.printedspecialties.com). PSI had a great year in 2009, despite a very tough economy. But the additional business put a strain on PSI's ability to turn jobs as quickly as its customers had come to expect. Smith moved quickly, bringing in new pressroom and finishing equipment
People
Feb 01, 2011Public Printer Bill Boarman has named Davita Vance-Cooks as Chief of Staff for the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO). Vance-Cooks is Boarman's principal advisor on overall management of the agency, responsible for formulation and coordination of all internal and external agency policies. KBA North America has named George Drew as its new project manager for North America. Drew will be managing
Digital print then vs. now
Feb 01, 2011Floral-patterned toilet paper won't be going digital anytime soon. But just about everything else is fair game, says Benny Landa, founder of Indigo. Since the mid-1980s, when we started the development of the Indigo digital printing press, I have believed that all printing will become digital, he says. Christopher Morgan, senior vice president of HP's Graphics Solutions global business unit says digital
Industry | Events 2011
Feb 01, 2011FEBRUARY 24-26 Graphics of the Americas (GOA) / FESPA Americas 2011, Printing Assn. of FL, Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL, www.graphicsoftheamericas.com MARCH 1-3 MailCom 2011, Washington Hilton, Washington, DC, www.mailcom-conference.com 13-16 Vision3 Summit, NAPL/NPES/PIA, J.W. Marriott Desert Springs Resort, Palm Desert, CA, www.vision3summit.org. 23-25 Lithographic Relationships
Black-and-white & read all over QR Codes offer Ohio paper growth potential
Feb 01, 2011Based in Dayton, Ohio, the Dayton City Paper is an alternative weekly with a dynamic mix of arts, entertainment, culture, events, dining, and politics. Over the past 15 years, the paper has continued to transform, providing its readers (who average between 32 and 37 years of age) information of interest for the active and professional community. As a publication funded strictly by advertisers, part
The selling revolution
Feb 01, 2011No one questions the technological revolution that has characterized the graphic arts industry during the past several decades. An equally important revolution in print selling has taken place during the same period. The difference in management of the two revolutions lies in the fact that, usually, it is simpler to replace equipment than a serviceable sales or customer service representative. This
Mailing essentials
Feb 01, 2011Whether it's management software, conversion and presort systems or the right tabber or inserter, the foundation of any efficient mailing service center starts with good equipment. The following equipment and software can help keep your mailing operation productive and profitable. Dual-head tabber The Pitney Bowes (www.pb.com) W360 multifunction tabber system provides several tabbing applications
The best of both worlds LED & UV will coexist
Feb 01, 2011There's been a lot of talk about the potential advantages of LED curing technology on sheetfed presses. But don't mothball those UV lamps just yet, advises Bill Bonallo, vice president of IST America Corp.'s (Bolingbrook, IL) sheetfed group. The complete replacement of conventional UV technology on a large scale seems improbable, says Bonallo. We think it will supplement conventional UV and may actually
Kudos to these creative types
Feb 01, 2011Serving Naperville since 1985 Kent and Julie Phillips launched their Sir Speedy franchise during the closing days of the Reagan Administration. Kent worked in the printing industry virtually since childhood. Prior to launching the Illinois shop, he was a business management consultant with Sir Speedy's corporate office. Adding mailing services, promotional products and integrated direct marketing
QR Codes 101
Feb 01, 2011In the past two years, we've heard quite a Quick Response (QR) Code buzz in the printing industry. In an increasingly wireless world, they offer instant gratification. Invented in Japan in 1994, these codes are becoming more commonplace in the United States, particularly as smart phone usage grows. QR Codes are two-dimensional matrix (as opposed to bar) codes that connect the physical world to the
Print adapts to the wireless age (Not bad for a 500-year-old technology)
Feb 01, 2011When you care enough to send some augmented reality Hallmark has offered cards with sounds since 2006. Augmented reality cards debuted in January 2010. The card recipient visits www.hallmark.com/extra and follows the directions to view a 2D or 3D animated feature by holding the greeting card up to a web camera. The animation tracks with the movement of the card. We say: Neat-o. But we hope Grandma
Ensure press operator safety when running UV
Feb 01, 2011The UV process is wonderful for many reasons: High gloss. Sharp dots, especially on uncoated stock. Instant drying. No VOCs in the ink. Printed waste can be recycled. High rub. No setoff. But you have to use it properly to reap the benefits. UV inks, like any chemical, must be handled safely. Based on the input of several ink companies and associations, as well as printers, here are some tips: Show
Bindery news & installations
Feb 01, 2011Smyth sewing for the digital age Smyth USA recently debuted the Digital Sewing Line for inline production of digitally printed books. It can process roll fed or flat sheets from any digital press. The Digital Sewing Line folds, inserts and produces Smyth sewn books in one operation. It's a dual use machine capable of producing hybrid books in any configuration of conventional and
Leveraging digital ads
Feb 01, 2011Adobe has released a research study titled Digital Ad Engagement: Perceived Interactivity as a Driver of Advertising Effectiveness. The study exposed participants aged 18 to 32 to print or iPad versions of advertisements featured in a past issue of a digital magazine. Participants were surveyed to measure perceived interactivity, perceived engagement, message involvement, attitude toward the ads and
State of consumables
Feb 01, 2011PRIMIR (www.primir.org) has funded a new research study, Printing Industry Consumables Usage & Trends. The results of this research will provide an understanding of the usage trends for flexo, gravure, offset, digital and wide-format consumables. Consumables included in the study are: coatings (UV and aqueous); toner; inks; blankets; plates; and pressroom chemistry including fountain solutions, silicone
Mel Printing amps up digital performance
Feb 01, 2011Mel Printing Co., Inc., a 50-year-old Detroit area commercial printing and mailing company is the first in its region to purchase a new HP Indigo 7500 digital press. This adds to its existing lineup of high-end multicolor print capability with both analog and digital equipment. Print manufacturing is changing rapidly, and [we are] committed to investing in the highest quality technology for our customers'
New Products
Jan 01, 2011What's your maintenance budget for a 4-year-old press?
Jan 01, 2011How electronic is the press? The more electronics, the more maintenance is required. In a large printing company that charted cost of maintence as a percentage of sales, the percentage kept increasing over a 30-year period. Look at your press today you need an electrical expert as well as a mechanic. Is it UV or conventional? A full UV press will last longer than a conventional press, due to not having
People
Jan 01, 2011Antoine Fady has been appointed CEO of Flint Group, succeeding Charles Knott, who will continue as chairman. Fady most recently served as GM for Akzo Nobel Decorative Paints-Europe. Prior to that, he was CEO, ICI Packaging & Coatings. HubCast announces Tony Dolph has been promoted to president, following founder Toby LaVigne's decision to step down but continue as an active member of the board of
The fundamental question
Jan 01, 2011I hate to deal in but I believe there is one overwhelming truth in industries such as print that largely involve customized products and services: Nothing counts not equipment, technology, demeanor, experience of staff, physical facility, size of staff, anything unless it can be converted into perceived value to customers. Business is all about formation and retention of customers. Determining customer
Oce, manroland announce partnership
Jan 01, 2011Oce and manroland AG have teamed up to offer a single source for print data management, digital printing, offset printing and postpress solutions. The two companies will jointly advise customers selecting advanced technology and workflow solutions. The partnership's strategy on inkjet entails its use as a supplement to offset printing for small runs and just-in-time production. Oc recently joined the
Dear Postmaster General
Jan 01, 2011December 2, 2010, marked Jack Potter's last day as Postmaster General. We would like to thank Jack for his 32 years of service with the USPS, particularly the past nine as PMG. During the longest tenure as PMG since the early 1800s, Potter dealt with many tough circumstances, including 9/11, the anthrax scare and declining mail volumes. He was an ally to the mailing community and his leadership has
Sun Chem announces price hike
Jan 01, 2011Faced with continued increases in the costs of raw materials and volatility in the global supply chain, Sun Chemical will raise prices in North America on February 1, 2011. The increases: $0.14/lb. for sheetfed blending bases. $0.10/lb. for sheetfed blacks, whites and varnishes. $0.12/lb. for heatset process black and color inks. $0.07/lb. for solvent-based liquid inks. $0.10/lb. for all white liquid
