Upfront
Two Injured in Quad Fire
EVANS, GA—Two employees of a Quad/Graphics plant here were treated and released from a local hospital following a flash fire from one of the presses on Sept. 17, The Augusta Chronicle reported. Claire Ho, director of corporate communications, told the paper that workers followed proper procedures and the facility's fire suppression system quickly extinguished the flames.
Japs-Olson Makes Upgrades
ST. LOUIS PARK, MN—Japs-Olson Co. will add its third new Goss Automatic Transfer (Sunday) web press in early 2014 to aid in production of direct mail. The company will also install a new Goss Pacesetter saddlestitcher, equipped with six horizontal hoppers and the new Goss GT-16 five-knife trimmer, at its facility here.
Two Inkjet Webs for O'Neil
LOS ANGELES—O'Neil Data Systems has purchased two HP T410 color inkjet web presses to expand production capacity and deliver on customer demand for millions of time-sensitive, personalized documents every day. O'Neil Data Systems now has a total of nine HP inkjet web presses—including five HP T410s, two HP T360s and two HP T230s. Since opening its Plano, TX-based facility in 2010, O'Neil Data Systems has increased its production inkjet capacity seven times.
Mohawk Separates Units
COHOES, NY—Mohawk, a privately-owned manufacturer of fine papers, envelopes and specialty substrates for commercial and digital printing, has announced an organizational restructuring, creating two new distinct business units: Mohawk Fine Paper and Mohawk Digital. This move will support the growth in Mohawk's emerging digital business, while securing the future of its core fine paper business.
Ex-NAPL President Passes
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ—Charles A. "Chuck" Alessandrini, a former NAPL president and Soderstrom Award recipient, has died at the age of 77 in River Edge, NJ. He joined NAPL in 1966 as a member of its Cost and Finance Department and served as its fifth president from 1982 until his retirement in 1991. During his presidency, a number of industry education programs were initiated, including NAPL's Carl Didde WorkPLACE program and Management Institute.
IP Shuttering Alabama Mill
MEMPHIS, TN—International Paper is permanently closing its Courtland, AL, mill, a facility that is part of the company's Printing and Communications Papers Business. About 1,100 employees will be impacted. The mill will shut down in stages with a full closure expected to be complete by the end of the first quarter of 2014.
Printer Faces Jail Time
DETROIT—John Zunich, the owner of ArtCraft Printing, has pleaded guilty to one count of conducting criminal enterprises (racketeering) for his role in operating an illegal sports betting operation, The Detroit News reported. Zunich also pleaded no contest to one count of failure to file/false taxes, as did his wife, Ellen Zunich. More than $600,000 in gambling proceeds were forfeited. Racketeering carries a 20-year penalty.
CTI Modernizes Paper Line
SUN PRAIRIE, WI—CTI Paper USA has launched the new Kromekote Collection of premium cast-coated printing papers to commercial and in-plant printers. The coated brand features universal C1S and C2S sheets for dry-toner and offset presses, plus new sheets for HP Indigo. Papers and swatchbooks are available through North American merchants and online at www.thepapermill.com.
