UPFRONT
Some Back Pay for Workers
PEMBROKE, NH—The former employees of Precision Technology will receive a portion of the money owed to them following the unannounced closing of the company in August of 2009. According to the Concord Monitor, a settlement between the state and the three largest creditors that loaned money to Precision will enable the workers to get about half of what they were owed in unpaid vacation time.
Ex-Toppan Employee Jailed
SOMERSET, NJ—The former controller of Toppan Printing has been sentenced to three years in prison for the theft of more than $100,000 from the company, according to the Star-Ledger. David Hathaway, 51, of Newton, NJ, set up a fake company and wrote 10 Toppan checks totaling a little more than $118,000. Hathaway, who had pleaded guilty in July, said he took the funds in order to pay personal debts.
Idaho Printers Join Forces
BOISE, ID—Two Treasure Valley companies have merged to form a digital and short-run printing operation, according to the Idaho Statesman. TableRock Printing and GraphicsAvenue have joined forces to become Hi-Tech Color. The newly formed company, which specializes in Web-to-print offerings, will operate out of TableRock's facility. The combined company has 30 employees.
Printer Nailed for Fraud
PIERRE, SD—A printing company owner in Belle Fourche, SD, has been ordered to pay about $45,000 in restitution, but will avoid a long stretch in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of sales tax fraud, KEVN-TV reported. Sand Creek Printing owner William Thorson, 59, was ordered to pay $19,408 in sales tax, $23,553 in interest and $2,214 in penalties.
Bang Acquires Media Litho
BRAINERD, MN—Book manufacturer Bang Printing has acquired Media Lithographics in Commerce, CA. Media Litho is a 40-year-old firm specializing in commercial, book and educational printing with sheetfed, web and digital capabilities. With the addition of Media Litho, Bang Printing's West Coast operations will offer offset and digital printing with a complete array of binding options.
Ussery Obtains Cross Media
IRVING, TX—Ussery Printing announced that it will combine the business of Cross Media Printing Services, Dallas, into its operation here. Cross Media-Dallas has been in business for 19 years and services accounts statewide, as well as nationally.
Ripon Lays Off 28 Workers
RIPON, WI—Ripon Printers laid off 28 employees in September, about 10 percent of its workforce. Production workers and office personnel were impacted by the reductions. The cuts were reportedly made to bring worker rolls more in line with Ripon Printing's annual sales.
Two Converters for IWCO
CHANHASSEN, MN—Direct mail specialist IWCO Direct has installed two F.L. Smithe envelope converters at its Hamburg, PA, facility. The installation brings IWCO Direct's Total Package platform to the Hamburg facility and continues the integration of the U.S. operations of Transcontinental Direct into IWCO Direct. IWCO Direct acquired an F.L. Smithe SW and an F.L. Smithe SR converter.
HBP Swings Deal for Balmar
HAGERSTOWN, MD—HBP Inc. has signed a letter of intent to purchase Balmar Inc. of Falls Church, VA. Terms of the deal were not revealed. Under the agreement, Balmar—ranked 179th on the 2009 PI 400 with $28.5 million in annual sales—will become a wholly owned subsidiary of HBP (#266 on the PI 400, $19.5 million in sales). The companies will continue to operate under their own names, but will share resources.
Kenehan Taps Conley Printing
WAUKESHA, WI—J.B. Kenehan LLC has acquired Conley Printing, based in Beaver Dam, WI. For the past six years, the companies have worked together utilizing each other's manufacturing capabilities and technical expertise.
Donnelley Extends US Weekly
CHICAGO—RR Donnelley announced that it has been awarded a multiyear, multimillion dollar agreement to produce US Weekly magazine by Wenner Media. The contract extends the existing relationship between RR Donnelley and Wenner Media.
Consultant Gorelick Passes
WEST CHESTER, PA—Dick Gorelick, president of the consulting firm Gorelick and Associates, died Sept. 12. He had 48 years of experience in printing and publishing, and was a nationally known writer and speaker in the areas of sales, marketing, management, strategy and industry futures. He was also president of the Graphic Arts Sales Foundation, a not-for-profit, industry-supported organization dedicated to industry-specific education in non-technological disciplines. PI
