Upfront

Worker Hurt in Baler Mishap
WASHINGTON, DC—An employee working at the Government Publishing Office (GPO) on the 700 block of North Capitol Street was seriously injured when his hand got caught in a paper baler, The Washington Post reported. The unidentified employee was taken to a hospital listed in critical condition. A GPO spokesman told the newspaper that several fellow employees saw the man injure his hand and assisted him until emergency responders arrived on the scene.

Nahan Bolsters Inkjet Output
ST. CLOUD, MN—Nahan Printing has installed a Screen Truepress Jet520ZZ to produce full-color, continuous-feed inkjet printing of high-end catalog work and personalized direct mail. Michael Nahan, company CEO, said the inkjet web press rivals web offset output and has been booked 24 hours a day since going live. Nahan Printing has two locations and 450 employees.

Ricoh Buys PTI Marketing
SOLANA BEACH, CA—Ricoh announced that it has acquired PTI Marketing Technologies, a software-as-a-service (SaaS) marketing asset management and marketing solutions provider based here. The multimillion-dollar acquisition will enable Ricoh and PTI to continue developing new marketing collateral management tools that help enterprises and commercial printers improve control of their marketing assets and workflow.

Allegra’s Gerhardt Retires
PLYMOUTH, MI—Carl Gerhardt, the chairman of Alliance Franchise Brands (and parent company of the Allegra Network of franchise printers) has retired effective Dec. 31, 2014. A 2012 Printing Impressions/RIT Printing Industry Hall of Fame inductee, Gerhardt also wrote the popular “Business Sense & Sensibility” blog for PI.

Tukaiz Expands Fulfillment
FRANKLIN PARK, IL—Tukaiz has completed a new, 120,000-square-foot fulfillment center at its headquarters. The new space replaces a two-story building that Tukaiz acquired, then gutted and refitted to meet its own specs. The updated space has sustainable fixtures such as LED lighting and energy-saving heating, A/C and ventilation systems. Its finishing department has also been relocated here.

Former Exec Dies in Accident
DEERFIELD BEACH, FL—Philip Kendall, 85, the former owner of Philadelphia-based financial printer Packard Press, and his companion were killed Dec. 17 after being struck by a car while crossing a street at night, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported. In addition to Packard Press, he was owner and publisher of the Legal Intelligencer and Dorland’s Medical Directory.

RRD Plant Gets Star Status
CHICAGO—RR Donnelley announced that its Crawfordsville, IN, South Plant facility has again been certified to Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star Status by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Approval into the VPP is OSHA’s official recognition of the outstanding efforts of employers and employees who have achieved exemplary occupational safety and health. RR Donnelley maintains five VPP Star Status certified facilities.

GPO Lifts Printing From Name
WASHINGTON, DC—Legislation providing consolidated and further continuing appropriations for FY 2015, which was signed into law by President Obama, also changes the name of the Government Printing Office (GPO) to the Government Publishing Office. Publishing better reflects GPO’s role in providing access to government information in various digital formats.