ACROSS the Nation

Vox Employees Put on a Happy Face!

OKLAHOMA CITY—Maintaining a pleasant workplace atmosphere at Vox Printing is very important to company management, headed by CEO Laverna Reid, whose family owns the business. Which is one of the main reasons Vox Printing was selected by OKC Business (journal) as one of the “Best Places to Work in Oklahoma” for 2008.

So, why is it such a great place to be employed? For starters, smiles appear first thing in the morning when employees drive past the baseball diamond, soccer field and Frisbee golf course on the grounds before walking through a sunny atrium in Vox Printing’s facility.

One of the ways company management ensures a happy workplace is “by placing a lot of value on employee input,” says Audy Compton, production manager. “The empowerment by the owners to create our own corporate culture is what really sets Vox Printing apart. The loyalty and trust placed in the employees have produced a loyal staff. The company’s turnover rate is almost non-existent.”

New, Polka-Dotted Van About Town

IRVING, TX—After adding 25,000 square feet to continue its growth into bindery and fulfillment services, Ussery Printing mailed out a self-promotion piece cut in the shape of its new custom-wrapped van (shown below). A local designer came up with the unique design of the van wrap that resembles the look of ink dots greatly magnified, says Jim David, vice president.

“People receiving the mailing were encouraged to look for the colorful van and, if they spotted it, they could go to a specific Website, enter the license plate number and receive a complimentary Starbucks Card,” David explains. “Ussery Printing’s monthly mailings usually have an element of fun incorporated into the campaign.”

He (Arthur Pryor, driver of the van) takes great pride in being the ‘face of the company’ to many customers who do not have a need to come in very often,” David reveals. “We keep joking that we are going to make him a matching uniform to wear.”

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ALABAMA

BIRMINGHAM—Craftsman Printing has purchased its fourth Mitsubishi press: a four-color, 40˝ Diamond 3000R convertible perfector with aqueous tower coater, X-Rite densitometer and Mitsubishi ColorLink CIP4 interface.

CONNECTICUT

MERIDEN—A remanufactured sixcolor Harris M-1000AII heatset web offset press, from Graphic Innovators, is now up and running at speeds to 50,000 iph at Connecticut Color. The press is equipped with a combination folder, double former and sheeter.

FLORIDA

LONGWOOD—Celebrating its 28th year in business as a trade printer serving the Central Florida region, BCT Central Florida bought a new Ryobi 524 GX press as part of its anniversary celebration.

GEORGIA

ATLANTA—To better serve its telecommunications, healthcare, university and advertising agency clientele, ProGraphics Communications purchased a new six-color, 40˝ Komori Lithrone S Series (LS 640) press. It’s the company’s fourth Komori.

ILLINOIS

WAUKEGAN—At Lake County Press, a second Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 105 press has been installed. The eight-color model equipped with UV coating capabilities was installed on a 20˝ elevation kit, which allows higher loads at the feeder and the delivery.

INDIANA

SOUTH BEND—A ninth Komori press, this one a new five-color Lithrone SX29 (LSX 529) with coater, is now in use at Rink Printing and is reportedly reducing makeready times by 50 percent.

KANSAS

WICHITA—A two-color Heidelberg Printmaster QM 46, a Stahlfolder B20 folder and Polar 78 X cutter have expanded capabilities at City Print.

MASSACHUSETTS

BOSTON—BFS Business Printing recently expanded its mailing services and installed a trio of technologies—a new Secap SA5300 VT addressing system, Secap Ameritek 2000 tabber and Satori Bulk Mailer 5 software—to help process about 100,000 mail pieces per month.

FALL RIVER—“Direct Marketing” is a new service launched by RPI Printing that encompasses variable data printing, personalized Web landing pages, list procurement and complete mailing services. In related company news, RPI’s new, state-of-the-art, 12,000-square-foot mailing and fulfillment division is now fully staffed and operational.

WEYMOUTH—A new five-color HP Indigo press 3500 is now operational at Pyramid Printing & Digital.

MICHIGAN

ANN ARBOR—The purchase of a Timsons double-web press designed for 11˝ product has expanded print capacity for Edward Brothers’ book, journal and catalog customer base by 30 percent, according to company execs. As a result, a Timsons 9˝ single-web press will be relocated from the company’s facility here to its Lillington, NC, plant, where it will be aligned with a recently installed Kolbus binding line to start producing books and journals.

MISSOURI

NORTH KANSAS CITY—James Printing has bolstered its digital capabilities by adding a Canon imagePRESS C7000VP digital printer equipped with in-line finishing capabilities.

NEW YORK

BUFFALO—To meet growing customer demand for producing high-end variable data marketing materials and print-on-demand books, the Zenger Group Printing Services Network has added a new HP Indigo press 5500.

LIMA—Bristol ID Technologies, a manufacturer of plastic ID and security badges and gift/loyalty cards, has installed a five-color KBA Genius 52 UV waterless press. The Genius can print on a variety of substrates, including paper, board and plastics.

PENNSYLVANIA

LITITZ—A pair of aging presses at Fulton Press were replaced with a new six-color Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 102 perfector equipped with an aqueous coater and AutoPlate plate changing system.

TENNESSEE

CHATTANOOGA—Jobs are now running 30 to 40 percent more efficiently at Adams Litho with a new six-color Heidelberg Speedmaster CD 102 with aqueous coater and extended delivery.

VERMONT

ESSEX—A new five-unit, shaftless, Beiren 3845 web press equipped with combination folder, double former folder and sheeter was installed at The Offset House. The press, from Graphic Innovators, is rated at speeds of up to 45,000 iph.

WISCONSIN

BROOKFIELD—Heritage Printing and Graphics Factory (formerly of Waukesha) have merged, combining Heritage’s short-run offerings and Graphics Factory’s medium-run and six-color capabilities. The combined firm is operating in Heritage’s facility under the Heritage Printing name.

NEW BERLIN—Centurian printer Imperial Visual Communications has moved its operations (from its former Milwaukee-based location) to a new 40,000-square-foot facility here. To expand its capabilities, Imperial invested in a wide range of technologies, including a six-color Komori press with in-line aqueous coater, remote proofing, a Fuji platesetter, a 64˝ indoor/outdoor printer, an automated punch inserter, a 54˝ computerized cutter with jogging table, an additional high-speed shrink wrapper, and high-speed diecutting and foil stamping capabilities.

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