Commercial Printing--Slowdown Slated for '99?

"If companies continue to feel a negative impact from overseas operations, they will cut down on U.S. advertising, which affects commercial printers," Bushroe says.

"When the dollar flow is strong, people invest in quality and that bodes well for us."

Ralph Strong, controller for Los Angeles-based ColorGraphics, counted 1998 as a surprisingly good year for his web offset and sheetfed company. ColorGraphics added new plants in Irvine, CA, and Seattle, along with three full-web presses. It also completed the printing of Microsoft's annual report.