ACROSS the nation
Platesetter Enables Shift to an All-Digital Workflow
ANTIGO, WI—Clermont Printing & Office Supplies, a second-generation, family-run commercial printer, has installed a Heidelberg Prosetter P52 violet platesetter with MetaDimension RIP and Prinect PDF Toolbox. The additions have allowed the company to move from a film-based to a digital workflow by imaging Heidelberg Saphira violet plates.
"We're still running at 175-line screen," says company owner Steve Servi. "But our images look much cleaner and our screens are finer and reproduce better now."
UV Inkjet Printer Stretches Its Wide-Format Capabilities
MILWAUKEE—The versatility to accommodate roll-to-roll and rigid materials at least 2˝ thick and at least 80˝ wide were all the deciding factors that the Olympus Group used in selecting a Screen Truepress Jet2500UV inkjet printing system. The digital and screen printing shop specializes in wide- and grand-format graphics.
"We wanted a dependable UV inkjet printer that could generate quality superior to our existing machines and serve as a backup system when necessary to get the job done," says Andy Arkin, technical director. "We compared every device capable of printing six picoliter droplets...the Truepress Jet2500UV offered a wider range of capabilities to satisfy the various demands of our other products. For instance, it offers white ink as an affordable option, which we employ in every possible combination."
CALIFORNIA
SANTA CLARA—Following on the heels of a facility expansion by approximately 40 percent, PrintPapa has added an HP Indigo 3550 digital press to add capacity to its existing digital lineup and to help support its new line of photo products. The company is reportedly the first printer in Northern California to install an Indigo 3550.
FLORIDA
TAMPA—SonicPrint.com, a provider of commercial printing and direct mail, has expanded its operations by purchasing a warehouse here. In 2010, SonicPrint.com acquired the assets of a local sheetfed lithographic printing plant, and moved its headquarters from Saint Petersburg to Tampa. Since the move, the company has nearly doubled its full-time staff in the last 13 months.
INDIANA
INDIANAPOLIS—Upromise Investments (program manager for the state's CollegeChoice 529 savings plans) has signed contracts with two Indiana companies. SPG Graphics, a subsidiary of the Harding Poorman Group, will now print Upromise's marketing materials. And SGI of Indianapolis will provide the fulfillment services for Upromise. The new contract could create up to 30 new jobs.
MARYLAND
HUNT VALLEY—The Sheridan Group has formed a new division, The Sheridan Technology Lab, for the development and introduction of technology-based solutions to support the journal, book, magazine and catalog publishing communities. The lab will provide research, development and project management support services to all Sheridan Group companies.
MASSACHUSETTS
NORTH ADAMS—Excelsior has purchased the assets and business of Rochester, VT-based Oatmeal Studios, a publisher of greeting cards and note pads. Excelsior had already been producing greeting cards for Oatmeal Studios for more than 20 years. Joseph Gallagher has joined Excelsior as general manager for Oatmeal Studios and Bill Matthews will continue to manage sales and marketing.
MICHIGAN
ANN ARBOR—Edwards Brothers has entered into a partnership with Rockpoint Logistics (formerly Kaplan Logistics), where it will now provide digital printing services for Rockpoint clients out of Rockpoint's Aurora, IL, facility. As part of the multi-year contract, Edwards Brothers will take over management of the staff and equipment of the existing operation, which produces perfect-bound books, saddlestitched booklets, laminated covers and more.
MISSOURI
ST. LOUIS—Indoff Inc., a single-source distributor in the areas of material handling, commercial interiors, and business and promotional products, has launched a commercial printing division. The division will provide a complete range of printing services, including banners and signage, variable data printing, employee handbooks and digital printing. The company says it is also actively looking to hire printing salespeople.
NEW YORK
ALBANY—Fort Orange Press has invested $2 million in new enhancements to its business here. Installations included a six-color, 40˝ Komori sheetfed press with closed-loop color and aqueous coater. The commercial printer also upgraded its electronic prepress workflow with the addition of an Agfa N8-22 series thermal platesetter, which is supported with Epson digital color proofing. It also completely redesigned its corporate offices, including a new customer lounge and meeting center.
NORTH CAROLINA
KINSTON—Lenoir Community College's Graphic Arts and Imaging Technology department recently installed a two-color Heidelberg Printmaster QM 46 press in its student training lab.
OHIO
CLEVELAND—Admiral Products has become the first digital printer in the United States to receive Color-Logic process metallic color system certification. The shop employs an HP Indigo ws4500 digital press to produce a variety of metallic special effects.
DAYTON—The Printing Industries of Ohio and N. Kentucky awarded Think Patented a total of 18 Print Excellence Awards for its 2011 contest, which garnered nearly 500 entries. Think Patented was also the recipient of the "Best of Southern Region" award for the second straight year.
TENNESSEE
KNOXVILLE—Installing a second Printmaster QM 46-2 has helped boost small-format capacity at the University of Tennessee's print shop. The new installation also includes Heidelberg's Prinect Prepress Interface, which seamlessly links the shop's two-year-old, four-color Speedmaster XL 105 with its prepress workflow system.
NASHVILLE—With the aid of KBA North America's mechanics, Marshall & Bruce Printing's seven-color, 41˝ KBA Rapida 105 press was rebuilt after the 2010 spring floods left nearly three feet of water in its pressroom.
The ProCard Group has changed its name to Checkpoint Card Technology to help reinforce its commitment to the identification, gift and blank card markets.
TEXAS
AUSTIN—The Whitley Printing Co., The Whelan Group and Zoom Interactive Marketing have consolidated to form TWG Plus. The new company offers full-service creative and marketing solutions to the higher education recruitment market, as well as targeting other vertical markets. Kevin Cassis serves as president of TWG's printing division.
DALLAS—Since starting up its 12- color, 40˝ Mitsubishi Diamond 3000R press with convertible perfecting and twin coaters, Nieman Printing estimates that 20 to 25 percent of its large print work is now being produced on the new press. Nieman prints a large amount of publications and books on a monthly basis.
SMITHVILLE—With the addition of a Heidelberg Suprasetter 105 SCL platesetter with Prinect Prepress Manager workflow, Prinect MetaDimension RIP and Prinect Prepress Interface, Zapco Paper can now handle all of its prepress production needs in-house.
VIRGINIA
STERLING—Retail consulting firm Information Planning & Manufacturing Systems (IPMS) is leveraging Xeikon technology to produce its patented shelf-strip solution. Last November, the company integrated two Xeikon 5000 digital presses into its operations, which now includes a total of seven Xeikon presses.
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