Industry News

Sep 1, 2005 12:00 AM, AP staff

News from: Graphisoft, Goss Intl., Xpanded Label Technology, Strine Printing, PrintBuyersOnline.com, OutputLinks HVTO, NELA, PRIMIR, Flint Ink, MacGraphics Carranz, Sappi, Padgett Printing, IWCO Direct, SWOP, IDEAlliance, Konica Minolta, BÖ:WE Bell + Howell, IP, Day Intl., MFSA, MagiComm LLC, Domino Amjet, Arandell Corp., Roland DGA, Handschy Industries, NPES, Banta, The Colorado Printing Co. and Printstaff.

Hot Topics, Management, Newsmakers…

TIDBITS…
» Graphisoft announces the appointment of PHI<>Proud as a certified distributor to offer the company’s MIS solution in Canada and the Northwestern United States.

» Even Texas “hearts” NY. Goss Intl.’s Magnum press has won Texas newspaper publisher Greensheet a contract to print and distribute the New York Times national edition in Houston.

» Xpanded Label Technology has opened a new facility in Appleton, WI, to meet the market requirement for expanded content labels (ECLS).

» Strine Printing has won six awards for printing distinction at the Graphic Arts Assn.’s Neopgraphics Awards. Strine won in the following categories: point-of-purchase and display; finishing; cartons, four colors or more; book covers; and cards holiday/greeting, four colors or more.

» Students can make their mark at www.makeyourmark.org, a resource for exploring careers in graphic communications. Follow professionals through a typical day, take plant tours and find information on education programs, scholarships and job openings.

» PrintBuyersOnline.com has created a new association, Print Communications Professionals Intl. (PCPI).

» OutputLinks High Volume Transaction Output Professionals (HVTO) has awarded its Women of Distinction awards to six women, including Keenie McDonald, GM of IBM Printing Systems, and Janet Cain, director of production marketing for Canon U.S.A.

» Plate punch/bender specialist NELA has added 20,000 sq. ft. to its Oakdale, MN, facility.

» At its new Web site, www.primir.org, visitors will find a complete list of PRIMIR members and descriptions of studies scheduled for implementation.

Flint, XSYS to form global ink powerhouse
Flint Ink Corp. (Ann Arbor, MI) and XSYS Print Solutions (Stuttgart, Germany) have agreed to merge. The group will rank among the largest ink companies in every region it serves, with 8,000 employees and combined revenues of approximately $2.6 billion, based on 2004 figures.

Flint Ink is the largest privately-owned ink manufacturer in the world. XSYS Print Solutions was formed by the merger of BASF Printing Systems and ANI Printing Inks following their respective acquisitions at the end of 2004 by funds advised by CVC Capital Partners, an independent private equity firm.

Completion of the transaction remains subject to approval by regulatory and competition authorities, and it is expected to be finalized near the end of September 2005. The new company will be jointly owned by CVC funds and the management of both companies.

Firm prints world’s largest freestanding billboard
MacGraphics Carranz Intl., Corp. (Manila, Philippines) has produced what is considered to be the largest freestanding billboard in the world at 160 x 160 ft.

“Once you begin crossing the Guadalupe Bridge, it becomes an imposing structure to behold,” says MacGraphics founder Alvin Carranz. Located in EDSA Guadalupe, Makati City, Phillipines, the billboard consists of 27 total pieces divided into three sections. A two-inch gap between each section enhances its durability in harsh weather conditions.

The billboard was printed on the Jeti 3300 12-head, six-color, 600-dpi digital inkjet printer from Gandinnovations (San Antonio). The grand-format (10.75-ft.-wide) Jeti 3300 features piezoelectric jetting with the latest Spectra S-series print heads.

Sappi retires paper machine, shutters pulp mill
Sappi Fine Paper North America (Boston) has announced plans to shut down the No. 4 paper machine at its Muskegon, MI, mill. The heavy-weight coated products currently made on the machine will be transferred to the No. 5 paper machine in Muskegon and Sappi’s machines in Cloquet, MN. The company also plans to suspend operation of the Muskegon pulp mill indefinitely, ceasing operations by early this month.

Approximately 60 percent of Muskegon’s workforce, 365 employees from a total of 585, will be affected by the shut down. In addition, Sappi will eliminate approximately 55 other positions throughout North America, most of which will take place within six months.

Gavin Travers, managing director of Sappi’s Muskegon mill says, “The No. 4 paper machine, originally built in 1924, is simply not able to compete with more modern, cost efficient machines in the United States and other countries. Without the No. 4 paper machine, we have no present need to run the pulp mill, although we are mothballing the asset to preserve our options in the future.”

Santa delivers ‘Christmas in July’ by Viper
Padgett Printing (Dallas) sponsored Santa and his bag of toys at the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children (TSRHC)’s annual “Christmas in July” event. Padgett president and CEO David Torok treated Santa to a ride to the event in Torok’s red Dodge Viper (pictured).

During the festivities, TSRHC patients submitted artwork for the hospital’s annual holiday card contest. Three designs will be chosen for the 2005 holiday cards. Padgett has donated the printing of the hospital’s cards for several years and will print the 2005 series.

IWCO Direct acquires NY firm
IWCO Direct (Chanhassen, MN ) has acquired the operating assets of Fala Direct Marketing, Inc., a leading direct marketing production services company with offices in Farmingdale, NY and Melville, NY.

According to IWCO Direct, this acquisition expands its production capacity, products and services, geographic presence and ability to drive cost savings and cycle time reduction for its client base of leading direct marketers.

SWOP, IDEAlliance join forces
SWOP (Specifications for Web Offset Publications) (Alexandria, VA) has announced a merger with IDEAlliance (Intl. Digital Enterprise Alliance) (Alexandria, VA), an association of advertising agencies, printers, publishers and technology partners. Working within the IDEAlliance infrastructure, SWOP plans to chart a new course through training initiatives, technical specifications and SWOP certification programs.

According to Nubar Nakashian, chairman of SWOP, “Merging with IDEAlliance will provide synergy for both SWOP and IDEAlliance programs. Working together, we can extend the reach of specifications and guidelines across the printing industry.”

SWOP and IDEAlliance began working together in early 2004 to develop common marketing, publishing, ordering and fulfillment mechanisms (see www.printtools.org). The new IDEAlliance SWOP Program is composed of the IDEAlliance SWOP Advisory Board (formerly the SWOP Board of Directors) and the IDEAlliance SWOP Review Network (formerly the SWOP Review Committee).

Konica Minolta to make plates in the States
Konica Minolta Graphic Imaging U.S.A., Inc. (Glen Cove, NY) has signed a letter of intent to acquire American Litho, Inc., of Grand Rapids, MI. American Litho manufactures analog and digital offset printing plates for the global newspaper and commercial printing markets.

American Litho recently opened a new plate manufacturing facility that tripled the plant’s capacity. American Litho’s current products include thermal plates optimized for Creo and Screen USA CTP platesetters; a second-generation UV plate, Spectrum UV, which is an ultrahigh-speed plate for basysPrint-Strobbe and alfaQuest CTP systems; and a line of additive and subtractive plates for web printers. Konica Minolta Graphic Imaging U.S.A. will continue to produce the current American Litho product line. In addition, it will add products designed by Konica Minolta Medical and Graphic R&D.

Steve Schuster, president of Konica Minolta Graphic Imaging U.S.A., says, “We have been selling printing plates for several years and experiencing double digit growth. We have reached the point where a modern U.S. plate manufacturing facility is required to best support our customers.”

Mailing equipment maker acquires BCC Software
Automated mailing equipment provider BÖWE Bell + Howell (Wheeling, IL) has acquired mailing software developer BCC Software Inc. (Rochester, NY). BCC will become part of the Postal and Sorting Products Group of BÖWE Bell + Howell. BCC will continue to operate as an independent company under the management of founder, president and CEO K. Jon Runstrom.

The combined organization will share technology companywide and provide enhanced solutions to new and existing customers to meet evolving mail preparation requirements.

IP transforms portfolio
International Paper (Stamford, CT) has announced a plan to narrow its portfolio to uncoated papers and industrial and consumer packaging.

Says IP chairman and CEO John Faraci, “[This] will allow us to better focus management attention and financial resources on these key businesses, which represent over 70 percent of our sales and can achieve both cost-of-capital returns and profitable growth.”

IP plans to evaluate strategic options for its other businesses, including the potential sale of: its 50.5 percent stake in Carter Holt Harvey; the Coated and Supercalendered (SC) Papers Business, including the coated groundwood mill and associated assets in Parana, Brazil; the Beverage Packaging Business, including the Pine Bluff, AK, mill; the Kraft Papers Business, including the Roanoke Rapids, NC, mill; Arizona Chemical; segments or potentially all of its 6.8 million acres of U.S. forestlands; and the Wood Products Business. In Brazil, IP plans to retain 1.2 million acres of forestlands after the sale of the Inpacel-related forests, and to retain harvesting rights on the 850,000 acres it currently holds in Russia.

The businesses to be evaluated represent approximately 30 percent of IP’s 2004 sales (including intercompany sales) and $925 million, or 40 percent, of operating profits. The company expects to complete the evaluation by the first quarter of 2006. IP’s distribution business, xpedx, will continue to provide supply chain management and focus on commercial printing, publishing, packaging, facility supplies and redistribution.

Day celebrates centennial
Printing consumables provider Day Intl., Inc. (Dayton, OH) is celebrating its 100-year anniversary. Founded in 1905 as the Dayton Rubber Manufacturing Co., the company’s commitment to making a diverse line of engineered products for specialized applications has yielded a number of innovative products, such as the first airless automobile tire, the first automotive fan belt, and the first industrial V-Belt. In 1995, Day International became the stand-alone, privately-owned company that it is today.

New mailing price study released
The Mailing & Fulfillment Service Assn. (MFSA) (Alexandria, VA) has released its first-ever study of mailing service prices, “The Pricing Study for Mailing Services Report—2005.” The 120-page report includes the prices in effect January 1, 2005, for the mailing industry’s 25 most common services presented nationally, regionally and by nine selected Metropolitan Statistical Areas. Prices are reported for jobs at five different quantity levels.

MFSA commissioned independent research firm Industry Insights, Inc., to conduct the study, which is available from MFSA for $995 ($495 for MFSA members). Visit www.mfsanet.org or call (800) 333-6272.

100 WORDS OR LESS:
How can printers prove print’s effectiveness vs. other media?
“Strategies that make print more valuable to the intended audience use data-centric workflows and technologies that allow us to communicate relevant information to the end consumer. Individuals are being assaulted with so much information on a daily basis that it has become overwhelming for many to take the time to evaluate what is important and what is not. Therefore, as an industry, we must learn to leverage the digital printing technologies and database processes that are readily available and understood today, so the information individual consumers receive is something they are interested in and will spend the time to read.”
—Rick Littrell, CMO, MagiComm LLC (www.magicomm.biz)

PEOPLE

Gilles Buisson has been appointed president of Domino Amjet (Gurnee, IL).
Arandell Corp. (Menomonee Falls, WI) has promoted David Koteski to vice president, Arandell Color Science.
Roland DGA Corp. (Irvine, CA) has added Joseph Dawson as business development manager for its Color Products Div.
Rod Cartwright has become vice president, operations, at Handschy Industries (Bellwood, IL).
Timothy W. Thompson has joined Dirigo Paper Co. (Gilman, VT) as sales manager.
NPES, the Assn. for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies (Reston, VA), has elected four new members of the board of directors: Gary Dolgins, CEO of Citiplate; Patricia Janssen, senior vice president of MacDermid Printing Solutions; Robert Stabler, president of Nipson North America; and Wayne Wasulko, president and founder of RIPit Computer Corp. NPES also has appointed Douglas S. Sprei as assistant director of communications and marketing.

Banta Supply-Chain Management Group (Menasha, WI) has promoted Padraic Allen to president.
The Colorado Printing Co. (Grand Junction, CO) will move its facility to 2800 Sundstrand Dr. in the second quarter of 2006.
PrintStaff (Boston) has appointed Mindy Kener as placement coordinator for the company’s San Francisco office.