PRINTER news
Printers Weigh Straight Presses vs. Long Perfectors
KENNESAW, GA—More than 50 printers from around the U.S. attended a Heidelberg VIP Event December 5-6 at its Print Media Demonstration Center to see live demos comparing high-speed straight printing vs. long perfecting sheetfed offset presses. The event served as a follow-up to a panel discussion on the topic hosted by Heidelberg during Graph Expo.
Following a brief presentation explaining how the job was prepared using Heidelberg’s JDF-based Prinect Printready System 3.0, the same job was run in the demo center on a six-color Speed- master XL 105 with coater in two passes and on a 10-color Speedmaster SM 102 long perfector in one pass. The covers were printed on an eight-color Speedmaster CD 74 perfector with coater. The final product was then finished on a Stitch-master ST 350 saddlestitcher.
It was determined that both press configurations are viable business models, depending on customer run lengths, number of colors, coating requirements, as well as the desire to achieve the lowest production costs or the quickest job turnarounds.
The all-day technology event was preceded by a dinner the night before hosted by Heidelberg President Jim Dunn and Senior Vice President Bob Boyer Sr. that featured keynote addresses by NAPL Chief Economist Andy Paparozzi and COO Tim Fischer. Norvin Hagan (pictured, center, flanked by Boyer and Dunn), of Geographics Inc., also won a special drawing whereby Heidelberg will donate a $5,000 scholarship to the Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation in Hagan’s name benefiting a graphic arts student at the university of his choosing.
The Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation (PGSF) has named Mike Steczak, chairman of the William A. Krueger School of Graphic Communications, Chowan College, Murfreesboro, NC, as the recipient of the 2006 PGSF Educator of the Year Award.
Tonya Kowa has been promoted to director of sales, special products division, for Huston Patterson, Decatur, IL. In her new role, Kowa will be responsible for sales at Sigma Graphics, Huston Patterson’s special products division based in Ottawa, IL.
Digital Innovations Group (DIG) of Richmond, VA, has secured a new contract with DeFoggi Development and Construction to develop marketing strategy and produce promotional materials for DeFoggi’s primary business contacts.
Milwaukee’s Visual Systems Inc. (VSI) has been awarded the PIA/GATF Best Workplace in the Americas designation, and Best of the Best 2006, for its human resources practices. In other news, Jim Gottfried has joined the company as a customer service representative.
Ray Hartman, a 1979 Cal Poly graphic communications graduate and group executive vice president for manufacturing technologies and engineering at RR Donnelley, has been named the Cal Poly College of Liberal Arts 2006 Honored Alumnus.
Kubin-Nicholson, a Milwaukee-based digital and lithographic printer, has hired Richard Szolwinski as its new plant manager. Also, Scott Anders is the new technical director.
Proven Direct of Menomonee Falls, WI, has been recognized with the Milwaukee U.S. Postal Service “Best of the Best” award for 2006 for adhering to USPS guidelines.
PIA/GATF reports that Kenneth Rizzo has rejoined the organization as director of consulting. As a consultant, his work will focus on helping PIA/GATF members through technical plant assessments, equipment analysis, and the use of Lean Manufacturing concepts and applications.
Woburn, MA-based UniGraphic Inc. has added 7,500 square feet of production space to accommodate its grand- and wide-format group, now known as Uni@Large. Heading up the new division is Dennis Lizier who joined the company as director of operations.
Jim Cyze has joined Freedom Graphic Systems, Milton, WI, as senior vice president of sales and marketing. In this newly established position, he will be responsible for national sales activity and marketing. Also, Chris Leitnick is the new Southwest region sales director, working out of the Grand Prairie, TX, plant.
Chuck Legorreta, co-founder of Copresco in Carol Stream, IL, has retired. Co-founder and president/CEO Steve Johnson assumes full ownership of the company.
Imagine! Print Solutions in Minneapolis has hired Judy German for the position of marketing manager.
In Dayton, OH, WorkflowOne announced that John Hartwell has been promoted to vice president, operations, reporting directly to president and CEO Michael Zawalski. Hartwell was formerly senior director of operations, responsible for managing 10 production facilities across the U.S. In his new role, Hartwell will be responsible for leading WorkflowOne’s network of 32 manufacturing and distribution centers.
