ACROSS the nation
Prepress and Press Capabilities Are Enhanced
THREE RIVERS, MI—DeGraaf’x Inc. has streamlined its workflow with a new five-color Heidelberg Printmaster PM 52 perfector and Prosetter P 52 platesetter, as well as several elements of Heidelberg’s Prinect workflow system, including Signa Station, Printready System and MetaDimension.
Marek Dives Into Digital
WAUKESHA, WI—Tamara Marek, president, and Fuzzy Marek, CEO, purchased a new Kodak Digimaster EX138 system, a NexPress 2500 press and NexGlosser glossing unit for their printing operation, The Marek Group. The digital technology was installed to help the company handle its expanding Web- to-print business.
CALIFORNIA
CARLSBAD—L + L Printers installed a four-color, 40˝ Mitsubishi Diamond 3000S sheetfed press with an aqueous coating unit.
CHATSWORTH—Wright Graphics is now providing in-house direct mail production, mailing and fulfillment services, including continuous and cut-sheet lasering, ink-jetting and inserting.
IRVINE—Vertis has installed a VIRTU36 UV flatbed printer to boost its large-format production capabilities and open new markets. The unit prints on substrates up to 2.5˝ thick.
SACRAMENTO—A QuadTech Register Guidance System with MultiCam, a QuadTech Ribbon Control System with MultiCam and a QuadTech Color Control System—all integrated through the ICONP2 platform—are now being employed at Dome Printing.
MIAMI—Three Kodak Trendsetter News 200 thermal platesetters and a Prinergy EVO workflow system were purchased by Miami Herald Media, which publishes The Miami Herald.
ATLANTA—Full-service printer Tucker-Castleberry recently purchased a new six-color Roland 700 sheetfed press with in-line coater, after its original MAN Roland 700 press passed its 184 million impressions milestone.
ALTON—A new Xerox DocuTech 5000 digital press and a Mutoh Tuscan LT ultra-wide solvent printer, from Fujifilm, were installed at Schwartzkopf Printing, marking its initial entry into digital output.
HAGERSTOWN—To support its growing print finishing business, Phoenix Color has installed its second HIBIS 104 rotary screen printing machine built by Switzerland-based Steinemann Technology AG. In addition to its spot coating capability, a flexo unit enhances the machine’s capacity to deliver economical full-flood varnishing.
DAVISBURG—Michigan Web Press, a newspaper printer, has purchased a new Goss Magnum 4 web press. The single-width, shaftless machine is configured with six four-high towers and a Universal 1:3:3 jaw folder.
HIGHLAND PARK—Budco recently added Kirk-Rudy, WaveJet and NetJet ink-jet systems, as well as a Kirk-Rudy tipping unit, to complement its three Xerox iGen3 digital presses.
SALINE—Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) chain-of-custody certification has been recieved by book printer McNaughton & Gunn.
VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP—In keeping with its commitment to environmentally conscious business practices, Grand River Printing & Imaging has also achieved FSC certification.
ST. LOUIS—Stolze Printing, an $11 million commercial printer, has installed a six-color Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 105 equipped with coater, extended delivery and Image Control in its new 50,000-square-foot facility here. The new press started improving productivity more than 80 percent upon its installation.
WASHINGTON—A complete Kodak thermal CTP system—including a Trendsetter News 100 platesetter, Staccato screening, Prinergy EVO workflow system and PREPS imposition software—was installed by Missourian Publishing, which prints several publications, including the Washington Missourian, Union Missourian and St. Clair Missiouran newspapers.
CARLSTADT—A new Xeikon 6000 digital color press has been acquired by Strategic Content Imaging (SCI) to leverage its content management and production capabilities. The machine also features in-line finishing for automated book block production, which will serve as a value-add for SCI’s educational publishing market.
CLIFTON—The acquistion of digital printing company TBC has been completed by Sandy Alexander. The business is being renamed eSandy Alexander, and it will continue to operate under the direction of Bob Logan, president of TBC, in its Fairfield, NJ, location.
WEST CALDWELL—Conceptional Product Development (CPD), an on-demand publishing/fulfillment service provider, has purchased its second RISO HC 5500 digital color printer for high-speed, duplex printing. Installed two months ago, the machine has already run 1 million impressions, at speeds of up to 110 ppm, and is printing in color at the same price as black-and-white.
WEST ORANGE—An agreement was announced by commercial printer EarthColor, which has facilities in Arizona, New York, Florida, Texas and New Jersey, to buy 25 million kilowatt hours of clean wind energy per year for the next three years from Community Energy. This will save the equivalent of an estimated 33 million pounds of carbon dioxide per year from entering the atmosphere. The agreement is reported to be the largest renewable energy purchase made in the printing industry thus far.
LAS VEGAS—Creel Printing is installing a new 35˝ Goss Magnum 4 single-width newspaper press. The four-page press with eight four-high towers and two Goss N-40 folders also features Goss Omnicon controls and quarterfold capabilities.
ROCHESTER—Hammer Packaging is expanding into web offset printing with its recently installed Drent Goebel VSOP variable sleeve web offset press, which is reportedly the first of its kind in North America. The customized press features a 331⁄2˝ web width, electron beam and UV curing systems, in-line lamination and continuous unwinds.
BROOK PARK—Lake Erie Graphics has relocated to its new 60,000-square-foot facility at 5372 West St., which allows easy access to interstate traffic, as well as the Cleveland airport.
COLUMBUS—The Columbus Dispatch ordered three Kodak Trendsetter News 200 platesetters to enhance production of its daily newspaper, as well as the 22 community weeklies and commercial projects it produces.
OKLAHOMA CITY—Vox Printing was voted as one of the “2007 Best Places to Work in Oklahoma.” One of 30 companies recognized for the honor, Vox was the only manufacturing company selected.
NATRONA HEIGHTS—The Graphic Arts Association awarded General Press, based here, the 2007 Neographics Power of Print Award for its entry, “Akzo Nobel 2007 Calendar.”
LAVERGNE—A new resource for high-volume, one-off photo book manufacturing is now being provided by Lightning Source. The new equipment uses proprietary systems and HP Indigo press technology to manufacture photo books in a variety of formats and sizes, including perfect-bound paperback and sewn case-bound books.
KATY—BrainStream, a digital color printer that grew from a small black-and-white copy operation, recently celebrated its fifth anniversary in business and reported revenues of $5 million.
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