Acquisition and Expansion Strengthen Cohber Press

ROCHESTER, NY—In a strategic move to strengthen its position within data processing, variable information printing and lettershop services, commercial offset printer Cohber Press, located here, has acquired Scanforms, also of Rochester.

Previously owned by Webcraft, Scanforms provides one- and two-color variable information printing and data processing. As a result of the acquisition, 25 of Scanforms' programmers and management personnel are already in place within the Cohber Press staff, bringing its total number to 160. Management from Scanforms is now reporting to Bill Bachman, vice president of Digital Print Services.

As a result of the two companies joining forces, Cohber Press is benefiting through Scanforms' data processing capabilities and database expertise to successfully infiltrate the variable information printing market.

"Variable information printing is the future of the printing industry. We are approaching this new technology in much the same way that we approached CTP four years ago. It will be our company's future, and we intend to be on the forefront of this explosive technology," says Eric Webber, president and COO of Cohber Press.

Deborah Hinson, director of marketing, notes that neither company is crossing over in each others' area of expertise. "This move allows Cohber to better meet the needs of our clients and to handle clients from 'cradle to grave'—if you will. It also offers Scanforms access to both new and improved equipment."

In addition to the acquisition, Cohber, which is currently in its 68th year of operation, has recently made heavy investments in major pieces of machinery. At present, its entire pressroom features Heidelberg presses.

In addition to its other presses, a new 10-color, 40˝ Heidelberg Speedmaster 102 perfector allows Cohber to compete for work that was primarily intended for short-run web printers. The press is also being used to handle short-run packaging jobs.

Additional investments include a new Xerox DocuColor 70 digital color press, as well as Xerox 6180 and Xerox 6100 output devices.

To house all of the new personnel and machinery, Cohber Press recently completed a major expansion, bringing its total square footage to 75,000. It is anticipated that by the fall of this year, an additional 8,000 to 10,000 square feet will be added.

With plans to continue its ongoing commitment to advanced technologies, Hinson comments, "We are confident that Cohber will continue to be a technology leader within the printing industry and will stay at the forefront of new technology.

"Just as we have become experts with CTP, we expect to do the same with variable information—or whatever upcoming technology becomes available."

BY A. L. Ruslavage