UPFRONT
Courier Acquires Highcrest
NORTH CHELMSFORD, MA—Courier Corp., a book manufacturer and specialty publisher, has acquired Highcrest Media of Wilmington, MA, a provider of software and solutions that streamline the production of customized textbooks for use in colleges, universities and businesses. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Courier's acquisition of Highcrest complements its recent investment in digital printing technology.
Metzgers Swings Deal
TOLEDO, OH—Metzgers Printing + Mailing has purchased select assets of Archbold, OH-based Quality Graphics. Terms of the sale were not revealed. As part of the deal, Metzgers has hired two Quality Graphics employees and will interview all others. Glenn Miller, president of Quality Graphics, will be retained for consulting purposes.
Fire Strikes Houston Printer
HOUSTON—A three-alarm blaze struck Grover Printing here in January, according to the Houston Chronicle. No injuries were reported. The fire, which took about an hour to get under control, was confined to the shop's warehouse. Grover Printing's offices are attached to the warehouse, but were not damaged, the Chronicle reported. The cause is still being investigated.
Is Heidelberg Going Digital?
HEIDELBERG, GERMANY—Heidelberger Druckmaschinen, parent company of Heidelberg USA, is reportedly seeking a return to the digital printing arena in the form of a partnership. The German business newspaper Handelsblatt, citing an unnamed source within Heidelberg, said the company is in talks with Eastman Kodak. Heidelberg exited the digital printing market in 2004 after selling its NexPress unit to Kodak. According to Handelsblatt, Heidelberg is also exploring partnership possibilities with other digital printing technology providers.
Toronto Plants Consolidate
MONTREAL—Prior to its acquisition by Quad/Graphics, Worldcolor announced that it was consolidating its Toronto- area magazine, catalog and in-line direct mail operations into a single, multi- purpose plant. The move will result in the reduction of about 200 jobs, though 50 positions will be created at the multipurpose facility. The production facilities and sales offices will be located at Worldcolor's Aurora, Ontario, plant.
Reynolds Aids Champion
HUNTINGTON, WV—Marshall Reynolds, CEO of Champion Industries, has lent a hand to his troubled company courtesy of a $3 million loan, according to the Charleston (WV) Gazette. The loan provided Champion with added time to amend a credit agreement that the company defaulted on early in 2009. Absent the loan, Champion could have been forced to immediately repay debts that totaled more than $65 million last November.
Willett is Out at NewPage
MIAMISBURG, OH—Richard Willett, Jr., president and CEO of NewPage Corp., resigned from the company effective Jan. 18, but will remain as a consultant through March 31. Willett has decided to pursue opportunities in other industries. Mark Suwyn, former CEO and current executive chairman, will serve as CEO of NewPage until a replacement is named.
RRD Nets Contract Extension
CHICAGO—RR Donnelley has been awarded a multiyear agreement to provide printing services for AT&T Advertising Solutions. The agreement is for printing about 450 directory titles serving consumers and businesses in the Southeast region of the country. Terms of the pact were not disclosed. The contract expands a century-long relationship between the companies.
Snag Hits Canon-Océ Pact
TOKYO—A roadblock has come up in Canon Inc.'s $1.1 billion bid for Océ. Shareholders representing 13 percent of the Dutch company said they won't tender their shares, according to Bloomberg.com, while a group representing roughly 200 investors feel the offer is too low. Canon may have to raise its offer or lower the minimum threshold to less than 85 percent of Océ's outstanding shares in order to finish the deal.
Quebecor Innovator Passes
MONTREAL—Philip MacAskill, a former Quebecor printing executive who helped build Worldcolor's gravure and retail printing platform, has passed away in Texas at the age of 76. MacAskill retired from Quebecor in 1998 after 25 years of executive operational management responsibilities, principally in gravure and retail operations. He was one of the architects of a coast-to-coast retail manufacturing and distribution strategy that today is said to comprise one of the market strengths of the Worldcolor organization.
Paper Consolidates Operations
LOS ANGELES—The Los Angeles Times announced it is closing its printing operations in Costa Mesa, CA, as part of a cost-cutting move. Operations will be consolidated into one downtown facility here, providing what the company termed "substantial savings." The closure will result in the loss of 80 jobs. The Times is also reducing in width from 48˝ to 44˝, a growing trend for newspapers looking to cut costs PI
