Industry News

Jun 1, 2005 12:00 AM, AP staff

News from: The PaperMill Store.com, Admore, Exstream Software, Scitex Vision, Kennickell Print, Agfa, Reflections Printing, Streamfeeder, Vertis, Quad/Graphics, Baldwin Jimek, PrintPlanet.com, KPG, IWCO Direct, Quark, Web Offset Assn., PIA/GATF, Day Intl., Quebecor World, SWOP, EPI Companies, INX, TanaSeybert, RR Donnelley, Esko-Graphics, Ipex 2006, ArTak, Williamson Printing and Time Inc., as well as appointments, hirings and promotions in the industry.

Hot Topics, Management Tips and Newsmakers

TIDBITS…
» The PaperMill Store.com welcomes a new addition. Fox River Paper Co. has joined TPMS’ list of partners, making Starwhite, Capitol Bond, Evergreen 100PC, Howard Linen and Neutech brands available for purchase. See www.thepapermillstore.com.

» Good friends might be hard to come by, but Admore is one of Graphic Design USA’s "Top 100 Designer-Friendly Companies," commended for its user-friendly Web site: www.admoreonline.com.

» Exstream Software has unveiled a new logo to reflect its position in enterprise personalization.

» Scitex Vision America has appointed Alpha Imaging Technolgies as its first U.S. dealer serving CT, ME, NY, NJ, NH, MA, PA, RI and VT.

» Kennickell Print’s fulfillment and direct mail operations are bigger and better at its new 60,000-sq.-ft. facility.

» More than 100 printers are using Agfa’s :Azura chemistry-free plate system worldwide.

» Reflections Printing (Minneapolis) has shortened its name to Reflections.

» Streamfeeder has redesigned its Web site. Check it out at www.streamfeeder.com.

» Fortune magazine has named Vertis one of America’s most admired companies, ranking it second in advertising and marketing.

» The 20th time’s a charm! Quad/Graphics has been named Newsweek’s 2004 "Printer of the Year" for the 20th consecutive year.

» Baldwin Jimek has signed a worldwide distribution agreement with Hildebrand Systeme, giving Baldwin the exclusive global manufacturing rights for Hildebrand’s Jetstream and Jetvac web cleaning systems.

» Stay connected with the CIP4 User Forum. CIP4 and PrintPlanet.com have formed this technical forum to connect printers, researchers and developers. Visit www.printplanet.com.

» Kodak Polychrome Graphics (KPG) is creating a network of certified Matchprint Virtual Proofing System users. Users can apply for certification at www.kpggraphics.com/matchprintvirtualcertified.

» IWCO Direct has posted an expanded Winter 2005 Postal Issues Update to the Resources section of its Web site: www.iwco.com.

» Quark now is a member of the Ghent PDF Workgroup (GWG), an international assembly of graphic arts professionals established to create, test and disseminate best practices and specifications for publishing workflow.

WOA takes a new tack
The Web Offset Assn. (WOA) has a new agenda, according to Goss Intl. Corp. CEO Robert Brown: to promote, innovate, grow market share and attract advertising. "We need more business," Brown told a crowd of approximately 700 attendees of the WOA’s 53rd annual Management and Technical Conference in Grapevine, TX. "Regaining and growing our share [vs. advertising media other than print] is of paramount importance," he said.

Latest PIA/GATF numbers
According to PIA/GATF chief economist Ron Davis, Ph.D., 2004 print shipments represent the strongest rebound in five years. In 2004, overall shipments increased 2.8 percent vs. 2003. Sales in offset increased 2.3 percent, digital increased 4.8 percent and ancillary services increased 3.6 percent.

The print market is restructuring, said Davis. 1,538 plants closed during the past year, resulting in 18,000 lost jobs. Davis projects an increase in the number of larger plants as midsize plants grow, with a loss of 4,000 to 10,000 plants during the next 10 years. "It’s not enough to replace overcapacity," he noted. "As we’re losing plants, we’re adding equipment with more capacity." Price pressure is expected to continue. In 2005, Davis expects to see stronger growth in direct mail, book, packaging/label and periodicals printing.

Brand new Day Intl.
Celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, Day Intl. (Dayton, Ohio) is reintroducing the company with a new logo. Since 1995, the printing and textile consumables maker has acquired multiple companies and brands, developed new product innovations and enhanced customer service. Day also has realigned its sales and service organization to provide more field service and in-depth technical support.

The new logo is an evolution of the original Day logo introduced in 1986. It still displays the rays of a rising sun, signifying a brand new day, and the theme line, "Defining Excellence," has been added to reinforce Day’s commitment to continuous improvement.

Quebecor World to sell commercial print business
Quebecor World Inc. (Montreal) has entered negotiations to sell its North American commercial printing business, with plants in the United States and Canada. President and CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau cites reasons for the sale including the loss of two major U.S. and U.K. customers and a drop in Quebecor’s magazine volume due to low ad pages for weekly magazines. Following a disappointing first quarter, the company decided its North American commercial platform is a non-core business. "Our cost containment and cost reduction efforts have helped offset the negative impact of lower prices," says Péladeau. "In the first quarter, several of our business groups delivered results ahead of last year. But our overall performance was hampered by our commercial group in the United States."

New technology intended to improve efficiency in the company’s U.S. offset magazine production facilities is expected to be operational before the end of 2005. Quebecor World’s first quarter 2005 restructuring initiatives, including the closing of a Canadian facility, eliminated 284 jobs and resulted in 66 new jobs in other facilities.

SWOP certifies seven
Specifications for Web Offset Publications (SWOP) (Alexandria, VA) recently granted certification to several proofing systems that have demonstrated they are capable of producing contract proofs that conform to the organization’s specifications.

The newly certified products:

ColorBurst for Epson Stylus Pro 4x00 and Premium paper semimatte.
Kodak Polychrome Graphics Matchprint digital halftone proofing system with Device Link Profile (DLP).
ORIS digital proofing system for Canon W2200.
Onyx Graphics PosterShop with HP DesignJet 5500 using dye ink.
Onyx Graphics Production House with HP DesignJet 5500 using dye ink.
Dalim Dialogue with Apple 23-inch Cinema display.
EFI Proofing Solutions using EPSON Stylus Pro 7600/9600 and EFI 9180 semimatte proofing paper.

X-Rite expanding to new HQ
X-Rite (Grandville, MI) is moving its corporate headquarters, including manufacturing, by the end of June 2006. The new address will be in nearby Kentwood, MI, at 4300 44th St. SE. During the next five years, X-Rite plans to invest approximately $44.5 million in the acquisition, renovation and furnishing of the 350,000-sq.-ft. property, including planned capital equipment purchases.

Printers, buyers talk color
The EPI Companies’ (Marietta, GA) "Color Talk" conference drew more than 400 attendees, including printers, corporate communications executives, marketing coordinators and print procurement specialists, to Atlanta in April.

EPI sponsored the event as an educational opportunity for clients and prospects, and to build awareness of the company’s single-source array of marketing services.

Among the presenters was color specialist Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. She addressed the psychology and emotion of color, consumer and client color preferences, color forecasts and cultural, socio-economic, entertainment and fashion influences.

MN senator talks postal reform with IWCO Direct
Direct mail services supplier IWCO Direct (Chanhassen, MN) recently hosted a meeting to discuss issues impacting the direct marketing industry. Greco conveyed DMA’s stance on postal reform legislation. Coleman, a member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, will be voting on the issue. Greco said, "Updating the postal service’s 34-year-old operating model is critically important for businesses in Minnesota and around the country."

Speaking to approximately 100 IWCO Direct employees, Coleman covered a number of topics, including his support of postal reform and the impact of rising energy costs on the nation’s economy.

INX to offer MetalFX
The third largest ink maker in the United States, INX Intl. Ink (Elk Grove Village, IL) is now offering inks compatible with the MetalFX process from Wolstenholme Intl. (Lancashire, England). INX is offering MetalFX as an option for paper packaging, flexible packaging, rigid packaging and commercial printing.

MetalFX technology enables thousands of metallic colors to be created by overprinting CMYK values onto the MetalFX Base silver ink. Color specification is controlled via MetalFX software and swatchbooks.

Manhattan printer stakes NYC turf
"The printing industry has shrunk dramatically in Manhattan," says TanaSeybert managing partner Eric Bernstein. "We’re hoping to begin to reverse that."

Under pressure from residential developers clamoring to obtain industrial space in the borough, the company decided to purchase a 140,000-sq.-ft. building at 525 W. 52nd St. instead of moving to New Jersey. The move will add 85 jobs to $65 M printer, which was formed last year when two printers with neighboring buildings on the city’s West Side merged.

As part of the move, TanaSeybert will acquire the print manufacturing assets of United Envelope Co. and add its three presses for a total of 16. The company plans to complete its move in late summer 2005.

RR Donnelley seals big deals
RR Donnelley & Sons Co. (Chicago) has been awarded a contract to produce all of directory publisher R.H. Donnelley’s (Cary, NC) current telephone directories. This contract extends a more than 15-year relationship between the two companies, with a total distribution of 28 million products serving approximately 260,000 local and national advertisers in 19 states. The work will be produced across RR Donnelley’s entire U.S. directory manufacturing platform, to minimize distribution costs and accelerate time to market.

The company also has been awarded a contract extension to produce substantially all of Lebhar-Friedman Inc.’s (New York) business-to-business and consumer magazine retail and foodservice titles to half a million subscribers. This agreement extends an almost 20-year relationship. The term value of the multi-year contract renewal, which includes file processing, print production and distribution, is approximately $25 million.

Penton Media, Inc., (Cleveland, OH) has renewed RR Donnelley’s contract to print approximately 50 business magazines. This multi-year contract’s value is expected to exceed $60 million. RR Donnelley will produce Penton’s work in several of its magazine plants that specialize in short-run publications, and its Logistics Services Distribution Optimization Team will focus on minimizing distribution costs.

Esko-Graphics, Collaborative Studio integrate using JDF, XMP
Esko-Graphics (Ghent, Belgium) and Collaborative Studio, Inc. (Chicago) announce the availability of a Job Definition Format (JDF)-based workflow solution between Esko-Graphics’ Scope BackStage workflow and intraFLEX, Collaborative Studio’s "on-demand" enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. With the new integration, information can be passed between both systems while work on the job is in progress.

The jointly developed solution incorporates JDF technologies and recommendations set forth by the CIP4 Consortium (www.cip4.org). According to Esko-Graphics, the XMP plug-in will enable intraFLEX users to view and incorporate job information such as barcode settings, layers, ink coverage and structural information.

Ipex 2006 sees mailing boom
Ipex 2006 will take place April 4-11, 2006, at the NEC in Birmingham, England. The show’s organizers say it is experiencing a boom in signings from mailroom machinery companies vying for space in the postpress halls. Stand space exceeding 6,500 sq. ft. has been sold to mailroom machinery companies, and the number of first-time exhibitors in this product sector has doubled the postpress area’s size vs. Ipex 2002.

Exhibition director Trevor Crawford says, "The quality of exhibitors from the DM and converting sectors reflects the increasing importance of mailing systems for print companies. It has been a real priority for Ipex to continue to represent the dynamics of the marketplace."

To date, more than 400 exhibitors have signed up for Ipex 2006 and more than 85 percent of stand space has been confirmed.

See www.ipex.org.

Texas printer installs big Speedmaster
Williamson Printing (Dallas) is proving once again that everything is big in Texas. The company reportedly has installed the longest Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 102 press anywhere.

With 12 printing units plus coaters, the 40-inch press can print six colors on both sides of a sheet 6/5 with two-side coating. It also can print 12 colors inline with aqueous coating. Williamson also purchased a Heidelberg CutStar roll-to-sheet feeder for the press. Visit the company online at www.twpc.com.

ArTrak authenticates fine art prints
ArTrak (Lake Forest, CA) has developed a fine art authentication technology to eliminate forgeries, deter theft, aid insurance identification and increase fine art buyer confidence. According to the company, recent advances in Giclee inkjet technology allow inexpensive forgeries to be produced easily, negatively impacting the fine art market.

ArTrak’s Fine Art Authentication System (FAAS) uses a non-reproducible tag, which is attached to the back of the printing substrate using an inert compound that will not react with canvas or inks. An RFID device embedded in the tag is covered with a Lexan disk identifying the art as an "Authenticated ArTrak Original Reproduction." The RFID contains an electronic serial number that can be read by an inexpensive scanner or at the ArTrak facility.

See www.ArTrakSystems.com.

100 WORDS OR LESS:
How can commercial printers make the Internet work for them?
"Printers should think about the Internet in two ways. First, there are new business opportunities, and here printers need to focus on where the Internet drives print. One example: fulfilling Web-based requests for printed materials. The other aspect of the Web that deserves attention is in the tools it can provide to improve efficiency and attract or retain customers. Printers could do well to spend more time thinking about the value Web-based technologies like virtual proofing and online ordering might bring to their customers."
—Barry Meinerth, Time Inc.’s senior vice president, production & fulfillment

PEOPLE

The Board of Directors at Mohawk Paper Mills (Cohoes, NY) has named Thomas O’Connor, Jr., chairman and CEO.
Indexx Printing Solutions has added Dennis Carter as assistant plant manager/scheduler.
Rider Dickerson’s (Chicago) William "Bill" J. Gibson has been appointed chairman of the Presidents Conference Advisory Committee of PIA/GATF, while Gino Cosentino joins the Rider Dickerson sales team.
Southern Lithoplate (Wake Forest, SC) announces Randall A. Reese as West Coast business manager.
Eric Glassco has accepted the position of senior account manager, publication papers, Western region at Stora Enso North America (Wisconsin Rapids, WI). Bill Cunningham has been promoted to senior account manager, publication papers, Eastern region.
Quad/Graphics (Sussex, WI) has appointed David A. Blais senior vice president of sales and administration. John C. Fowler has been appointed CFO in addition to his position as senior vice president.

Diana Griffith has been named director of sales for Graphco (Solon, OH).
EFI (Foster City, CA) appoints Mark Adams vice president of corporate development and strategy.
XMPie’s (New York) COO, Eyal Goldwerger, has been appointed CEO. Former CEO Jacob Aizikowitz is now chairman of the board and chief technology officer.
Paul Loumena is PrintSoft’s (Itasca, IL) Northeast regional account manager.
Samual H. Smith, III, has joined ORIX Financial Services (New York) as president of its new division, ORIX Vendor Finance.
OASIS Alignment Services (Rochester, NH) has appointed Larry Kubale account manager for the Midwest regional office in Appleton, WI.
Sybella A. Wilder has joined Arcade Marketing (New York) as vice president and GM of its Chattanooga operations.
Brandtjen & Kluge (St. Croix, WI) has hired Bruce Kessler as Western sales manager.

David Laverty has joined Vertis (Baltimore) as senior vice president and GM of the company’s advertising insert platform.
McCormick-Armstrong (Wichita, KS) has hired Patrick Pozezinski as vice president of client services.
Tracey-Lee Batsford has been appointed GM of Dynagram’s (Quebec) prepress solutions business unit.