Upfront
ALS Claims Bob Poorman
INDIANAPOLIS—Bob Poorman, the co-founder and partner of HardingPoorman, died May 1 from complications related to ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. In an e-mail notice, the company wrote, “Each of us not only grieves at the passing of a tremendous individual, but also for the loss his family suffers. Please join us in offering his family and friends our sincerest condolences during this difficult time.”
Lithographix Goes Digital
HAWTHORNE, CA—Lithographix Inc. has installed an HP Indigo 7600 digital press, the latest model in the HP Indigo family of printers. The new digital offset press is reportedly the only one in the West that is fully integrated with all of the latest HP technologies. The 13x19˝ digital press offers up to seven colors, embossing, special effects, multiple white channels, plus the press has custom ink mixing capabilities onsite.
Brilliant Graphics Gets Bigger
EXTON, PA—Brilliant Graphics is expanding its operations into contiguous space acquired at its current address. The addition doubles its current size. Some highlights of the expansion include a six-color Heidelberg XL 106 plus coater press; 30,000 square feet of new bindery; an HP Indigo digital press; a new studio area; and additional PUR binding collation machinery.
Graphic Edge’s Custom Press
MILWAUKEE—Graphic Edge Printing and Packaging, a commercial and package printer in metro Milwaukee, will take delivery this month of a new five-color, six-up Ryobi press custom configured to accommodate up to 31-pt. board for package printing. It will mark the first U.S. installation of the 31˝ Ryobi 755XL-D Packaging Edition offset press.
Suppliers Battle Patent Troll
ALEXANDRIA, VA—Kodak, Agfa and Heidelberg have joined together to file petitions with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (PTO) in an effort to combat patent licensing demands made on their customers by CTP Innovations. The petitions seek to invalidate U.S. patents 6,738,155 and 6,611,349, which were acquired by CTP Innovations and are being asserted against the customers in patent infringement lawsuits brought by CTP Innovations, a non-practicing entity.
First Edge Buys Proven Direct
MILWAUKEE—First Edge Solutions has acquired Proven Direct, a provider of on-demand marketing, document output services and photo book publishing. The acquisition adds to First Edge’s national network of sales offices and production facilities in Milwaukee, Phoenix and Atlanta.
Postal Service Still Struggling
WASHINGTON, DC—The U.S. Postal Service ended the second quarter of its 2014 fiscal year (Jan. 1, 2014-March 31, 2014) with a net loss of $1.9 billion. This marks the 20th of the last 22 quarters it has sustained a loss. Revenue was up $379 million over the same period last year—the third straight quarter of revenue increase.
No Strine Layoffs Planned
NEENAH, WI—Menasha Packaging will not be reducing the head count at Strine Printing, the York, PA-based firm it acquired on March 31, according to the York Dispatch. All 325 employees will keep their jobs, Menasha Vice President of Marketing Dennis Bonn told the newspaper.
MA Fire Destroys Quad Roof
TAUNTON, MA—An April 12 fire caused damage to the roof of a Quad/Graphics retail insert facility here, according to the Taunton Gazette. There were no injuries reported.
