UPFRONT
Hischar Takes KBA Helm
DALLAS—KBA North America has named Mark Hischar its new president and CEO. He assumed his new position with the press manufacturer on October 1. Hischar replaces Holger Garbrecht, who resigned at the end of August. Prior to joining KBA, Hischar was president and CEO of W+D Machinery in Overland, KS.
MSP Acquires First Company
NEW CANAAN, CT—MSP Digital Marketing has agreed to acquire a substantial interest in TecDoc Digital Solutions (TDD). TecDoc is a provider of digital solutions for direct marketing, collateral management and document solutions. David Trombino, CEO of TDD, and COO Paul Marinelli will lead day-to‑day operations. Led by founding partner Roy Grossman, MSP is seeking to acquire companies with a focus on variable data printing capabilities, specialty direct mail, digital packaging and labels, and large-format applications.
Roadblock to Merger?
NEW YORK—If there is to be a merger between Heidelberger Druckmaschinen and manroland AG, the companies may need to sell assets beforehand to meet the requirements of antitrust agencies, according to a Bloomberg report. Citing two people familiar with negotiations, Bloomberg reported the companies may need to sell overlapping assets in order to gain approval from European Union authorities.
TKS, Goss Make Peace
IRVING, TX—Tokyo Kikai Seisakusho (TKS) and Goss International have agreed to settle their disputes with one another and are in the process of ending pending litigation in the United States and Japan, TKS noted in a statement. Terms of the agreement were not released. The parties did acknowledge that the resolution was in the best interest of their companies and their customers, allowing them to offer their full product lines in the U.S. market.
New iGen4 for Pazazz
MONTREAL—Canadian printer Pazazz has obtained a Xerox iGen4 digital color press with enhanced G7 Print Master color management tools and in-line output profiling and advanced variable capabilities. Pazazz plans to use the iGen4 press to produce direct marketing pieces such as full-color booklets, brochures, manuals and postcards with variable data and image options.
Bell Opts for First XL 162 Press
SIOUX FALLS, SD—Bell Inc., an independent folding carton producer, is the first U.S. company to purchase the new Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 162 VLF press. Bell chose the 64˝, six-color press with aqueous coater and Prinect Press Center with Intellistart and integrated Wallscreen. This is the first sheetfed press for the formerly all-web company.
INX Mourns Loss of Kisner
SAN LEANDRO, CA—Brad Kisner, president of INX Digital, died August 22 after suffering a heart attack while visiting family in Santa Cruz, CA. He was 47. Mr. Kisner's name was synonymous with Triangle inks, from the founding of Triangle Digital with his brother Ken, in 2002, through its evolution as a major component of INX Digital's multifaceted offerings. He is survived by his wife, Jeanne, and three children.
Bradford & Bigelow Buys Press
CHICAGO—Looking to bolster its Digital Book Factory, Bradford & Bigelow of Newburyport, MA, has signed an agreement to obtain the new HP Indigo W7200 rollfed digital color press. The transaction was announced during PRINT 09. The dual-engine, liquid electrophotographic press prints at 240 letter-size, four-color duplex pages per minute, and is compatible with most off-the-shelf coated and uncoated papers. Installed with the press will be HP's new SmartStream Production Pro version 3.5 print server.
Expansion for Best Press
ADDISON, TX—Best Press broke ground on a multimillion dollar expansion that will see its building grow by 44,000 square feet to nearly 100,000. The addition—expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2010—will help accommodate a new fulfillment and distribution center, along with three recently purchased presses.
Twister Hits Print Shop
DURHAM, ONTARIO—A string of tornadoes that rumbled across Ontario, killing one child, also took its toll on a local printer. Thuro-Web Ltd. saw the middle of its building demolished by a funnel cloud, according to the Barrie Advance. The newspaper and at least one other source alluded to unconfirmed reports that about a dozen employees were able to survive the twister by clinging to or hiding underneath a press.
Sappi Shutters Michigan Mill
BOSTON—Sappi Fine Paper North America will permanently cease operations at its coated fine paper mill in Muskegon, MI. The closing will impact 190 salaried and hourly employees, who have been on furlough since the suspension of operations announced last March. Sappi operated a single paper machine at the site with an annual production capacity of 170,000 metric tons. The company will record a charge of roughly $30 million in the fourth quarter. PI
