SUPPLIER news
Portuguese Paper Maker Targets U.S. Print Market for Its Non-Wood Products SETÚBAL, PORTUGAL—grupo Portucel Soporcel (gPS), one of Europe’s major manufacturers of uncoated wood-free paper, is making strides in the United States. gPS exports 92 percent of its total production, and 10 percent of its sales come from the United States. The company operates mills in Setúbal, Cacia and Figueira da Foz, Portugal—which produce the Navigator, Soporset and Discovery brands for the U.S. market.
Its main office in North America is located in Norwalk, CT, with five warehouses to serve both the East and West coasts.
“By having stock in several warehouses, we’re able to service our customers more efficiently,” explains Jason Horst, sales manager.
By August 2009, gPS’ latest paper machine, the PM4, will be up and running in the Setúbal mill to reinforce the group’s position as a premium cut-size and folio supplier to European and U.S. customers.
StockLayouts LLC has added a new Service Provider Partner Program, which is designed for any business that offers graphic design solutions to customers via its Website. The program, which embeds the entire StockLayouts graphic design template library into the participant’s Website, provides end users with graphic design ideas, or options to order template customization services. The program also offers an optional reseller feature.
Two appointments have been made at KBA North America. Bill Silber has been tapped as a new district sales manager, responsible for sales in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. Marcus Schoen, district sales manager, has expanded his coverage in the Southern California region, serving customers in Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County and Las Vegas.
At Buhrs Americas, Bruce Goins has been tapped as the new Southeast regional sales manager for envelope inserting systems. Robert Pitel has been appointed Western regional sales manager, responsible for sales of Buhrs equipment in 19 Western states.
George Cecil is the new dealer sales manager at Secap, responsible for managing sales in the company’s Southern sales territory.
Mike Bacon has rejoined Spartanics as vice president of sales and marketing. Bacon previously held the title of Western regional sales manager from 1998 to 2002, and international sales manager from 2002 to 2005.
Sales and marketing of Advanced Vision Technology (AVT) and Graphic Microsystems (GMI) are merging and will be under the leadership of Lance Shumaker, president of AVT’s U.S. operations. Also, the California and Texas facilities of GMI will be consolidated under one roof in Rockwall, TX.
NPES, The Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies, has elected four new directors to its board. The new directors include Michael Aumann, Buhrs Americas; John Copeland, Toyo Ink America; Kathleen McHugh, Presstek Inc.; and Kazuyoshi “Kosh” Miyao, Komori America.
WSD, of Nordhorn, Germany, has selected manroland to be the exclusive North American distributor for its MAG-In line of on-press finishing blankets and dies. manroland will offer the magnetic in-line cutting system for most of its presses, including large-format models. MAG-In systems and components are available through manroland’s printservices division.
Sun Chemical has appointed four key additions as part of the company’s newly reorganized North American business unit. Greg Lawson is now vice president of sales; Michel Bilodeau is vice president of key accounts; Colin Davie is director of North American inks business development; and Chris Parrilli is vice president of customer service centers in Sun Chemical’s North American Inks business unit.
At Ricoh Americas, Mark Minshull has been promoted to vice president and chief technologist. He will continue to serve as vice president of Ricoh Americas Technology Center, as well as deputy general manager of the Document Solutions Development Center of Ricoh Americas’ parent company, Ricoh Co. Ltd. PI
