SUPPLIER news

Fujifilm Donates Taskero Universe VALHALLA, NY—Fujifilm Graphic Systems U.S.A. has donated its Taskero Universe 2.0 monitoring and process control tool to the Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF) for integration at the association’s Sewickley, PA, headquarters. PIA/GATF will use Taskero Universe in its research facility and training seminars, as well as its customer-focused programs. The technology’s Web-enabled ColorPath Verified component seamlessly monitors all of the color-accurate monitors, proofers and presses in one centralized business information portal.

Two promotions have been announced at Sun Chemical. Bradley Schrader, formerly Sun’s chief marketing officer, has been chosen as the new vice president of strategy and business development. Felipe Mellado, formerly Sun’s marketing director in Europe, has been appointed as chief marketing officer.

Agfa Graphics announced that PriscoDigital has become the newest dealer to offer Agfa’s line of wide-format ink-jet printers and consumables. Among the products and services Prisco will be offering is Agfa’s full line of Anapurna wide-format printing systems. In other company news, three appointments have been announced. Dennis Ouellette has been promoted to regional director of corporate accounts. Tony Petchar has been named regional director for the Western region. And, Dan Maffeo has been tapped as regional director for the Midwest region.

CGS Publishing Technologies has introduced a college outreach program to provide ORIS technology to colleges and universities that offer graphic arts programs. To date, CGS has partnered with Dunwoody College, West Virginia University, Arizona State University, the University of Wisconsin at Stout and Clemson University.

Manugraph DGM (MDGM), a wholly owned subsidiary of Manugraph India, announced that it has taken over sales responsibility for the Americolor double-width, four-over-four tower. MDGM currently designs and manufactures the Americolor as a slip-in, four-over-four color addition to any existing double-width press. The company has tapped Ron Ehrhardt, current vice president of international sales, to oversee the Americolor sales operations.

At KBA North America, Stefan Prohaska has been promoted to director of customer support for the web press division in North America.

Jeff Higgins, xpedx’s corporate director of marketing services and information, retired November 30. Higgins, who has held the top marketing services post since 1999, helped to centralize all of the company’s marketing functions, which resulted in millions of dollars in annual savings. Prior to his current position, he held positions with the former Nationwide Papers, Scott Paper, Monarch Paper, Moore Paper and Bancroft Paper.

John Williams has been tapped as Domtar Corp.’s new president and CEO, and will also be appointed to Domtar’s board of directors, when he takes up his new position in January. He succeeds Raymond Royer, who will retire after 12 years as CEO.

David Laursen has joined Wausau Paper’s Printing and Writing segment as district sales manager covering the upper Midwest region.

As part of Konica Minolta Graphic Imaging U.S.A.’s shift from analog to digital products, the company has reorganized its sales force into three sales regions. Craig Underwood has been tapped as the company’s Eastern regional sales manager; Pat Gear has been named Central regional sales manager; and Jerry Lewis has been appointed Western regional sales manager. In other news, the company has also reorganized its customer service team to be able to support CTP plates and associated hardware, as well as to better serve its customers by transitioning to a digital premedia supply company.

Dave Sarazen has been promoted to vice president of customer service for Goss International in the Americas. In the new position, he will oversee installation and service activities for Goss commercial and newspaper presses, as well as finishing systems in North and South America.

Muller Martini has named Frank Donnelly Jr. as its new regional sales manager for the New England states of Maine, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts, in addition to maintaining his responsibilities of managing sales in Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, and parts of Pennsylvania and New York.

John Horan, owner and president of The Printing Clinic, has joined Essex Products Group as color consultant for the company’s KeyColor color measurement product line.

Heidelberg USA announced that its online consumables (Saphira) business reached a milestone when it processed its 50,000th order, placed by Alta Systems in Gainesville, FL. Customers can now also order spare parts online, as well as access Heidelberg’s technical support database.

EFI has acquired Raster Printers. Currently marketed under the Daytona brand, Raster Printers will be rebranded as Rastek under EFI ownership.

Standard Finishing Systems announced that it has signed a broad partnership agreement with Hewlitt Packard for Standard Hunkeler paper handling solutions and service support for HP customers. Through this agreement, Standard Finishing Systems will provide sales of Hunkeler devices to HP in North America, as well as post-sales support in the field.

Jeffrey Hayzlett, chief business development officer and vice president, Eastman Kodak Co., has been selected by BtoB Magazine as the Marketer of the Year for 2008. Hayzlett was recognized for launching a slew of sponsorship, event and online marketing initiatives, which have included directing several innovative marketing programs to promote and generate demand for print, and overseeing Kodak’s participation on NBC’s “The Celebrity Apprentice.” BtoB also recognized Kodak’s “Print Is…” campaign in a special report on successful integrated marketing.

At Screen (USA) Cameron Brown has been tapped as the new regional sales specialist for its print-on-demand solutions. Brown is now based out of Dallas, and he is now responsible for providing critical support for the Screen (USA) field sales team.

NPES The Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies, presented the 2008 Harold W. Gegenheimer individual and corporate awards for industry service to Dr. Juergen Stolt and Burgess Industries, respectively. The winners were presented with plaques at the NPES 75th annual conference in St. Pete Beach, FL. In addition, NPES has also established two Harold W. Gegenheimer Award scholarships with the Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation, to which $2,000 is given each year to employees, or children of employees of NPES members, who are pursuing studies in graphic communications. PI