PRINTER news

LAgraphico Hosts ‘Thinking Green’ Event

BURBANK, CA—LAgraphico, an imaging solutions provider to the entertainment industry, recently hosted an open house to explain its ongoing “green” initiatives and generate enthusiasm and support from its environmentally conscious clients—the likes of which include Paramount, NBC/Universal, Warner Brothers, The Walt Disney Co., Microsoft/XBOX 360, Nokia and Activision.

Four separate tours of the facility were given throughout the day to accommodate the busy schedules of the Hollywood clientele. Company executives Brandon Gabriel and Dan Stillwell played tour guides and began with a brief introduction, then led each tour group to four main stations.

The first station, Premedia, was manned by Ty Kang, director of technology, who introduced clients to a Web-based program titled “Huddle,” which was implemented by LAgraphico to eliminate the need for printed job tickets. The result has been a reduction in paper use by approximately 30 reams per month in that department alone. Additional discussion included the replacement of the department’s CRTs with LCDs, which use two-thirds less energy.

The Pressroom station featured Robert Tubbs, manager of print and finishing manufacturing, who explained why LAgraphico has spent a significant amount of time and resources to lower its Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emissions by 89 percent.

Tubbs also noted that stricter government and state regulations regarding VOC emissions are in the pipeline. Currently, 650 grams/liter is the norm, while the proposed regulations could lower that to 100 grams/liter. LAgraphico is successfully operating with a solvent that is at only 32 grams/liter.

The third station, Grand Format, was hosted by Mat Inkley, large format digital services manager, who gave visitors a peek at two key pieces of equipment within the department. Its VUTEk printer, in which the firm is utilizing a new headwash, is reportedly the first of its kind in the nation. LAgraphico’s latest addition is a Durst Rho 350R digital imager, which utilizes UV inks that are VOC-free. Inkley claims the unit is the only Durst in California, and one of only four in the nation. Clients were also given samples of BIOflex, a completely biodegradable vinyl that the company is promoting as its house stock.

Facilities was the fourth station, where Peter Wood, facilities manager, spoke about the company’s commitment to recycling materials such as paper, glass, aluminum, plastic bottles and e-waste. Woods also discussed the firm’s contribution of 25 percent of all Metrolink fares for employees’ transportation to/from work, as well as future initiatives that include the use of solar-generated power from the city.

At the conclusion of the tour, guests were given an opportunity to meet with paper vendors and participate in a thorough Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) presentation.

When planning for the event, LAgraphico also partnered with “Trees for Life” by making a donation to the foundation for every person who attended. Each donation went toward the planting of fruit trees in developing nations, which not only offset personal carbon emissions, but also creates a low-cost source of food for the communities in which they are planted.

Dr. Dean Fish has been appointed as chief acquisition officer of the Government Printing Office (GPO) in Washington, DC. In this role, he will direct the planning and management of GPO’s acquisition program that includes multi-million dollar federal acquisition and procurement initiatives of techical and information systems.

After 16 years with Acorn Press, Tom Stubbs has assumed a sales position with Alcom of Harleysville, PA. Stubbs, who has a BS in print management and post-graduate certification from Penn State and RIT, brings more than 30 years of printing industry experience with him to Alcom.

Digital printing technology veteran Charlie Corr has been named vice president of corporate strategy at Mimeo.com. The New York City-based online digital printer hired Corr to be architect of the company’s corporate strategy, and oversee its service and product development strategies. He was formerly group director of InfoTrends Production Services.

John Humrich, vice president of operations at Monroe Litho, Rochester, NY, has been named the 2007 Pressroom Operations Manager of the Year by the Research & Engineering Council of NAPL. In addition, Krystal Cipriani, bindery production manager at PrintingForLess.com in Livingston, MT, was named the 2007 Bindery, Finishing and Distribution Manager of the Year.

Dayton, OH-based Think Patented, a marketing services and graphic communications company, announced that Eric Roberts has joined the company as vice president of sales and marketing. Formerly, Roberts served as director of strategic marketing for The Hennegan Co. and director of graphic technology for The Lehigh Press and Von Hoffmann.

Jet, a sheetfed commercial printer located in Downers Grove, IL, has announced several “green” initiatives. As one of the first printers to offer a renewable, corn-based plastic substrate, it is now offering a PVC substrate made with recycled material. Jet is also working to achieve two more “earth friendly” milestone this summer: It will receive its Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification and release a newly developed, biodegradable PVC substrate.

Kevin Blaine was named director of sales for Wink International, a pay-per-use publishing service that repurposes a company’s Website content into a weblet (digitally produced, magazine-quality version of the company’s online content), which is printed and delivered on-demand. A 14-year veteran with Xerox and six-year vet with Canon, Blaine is now responsible for all aspects of sales for New York City-based Wink.

Minneapolis, MN-based Shapco Printing has hired Debi Bergerson as a printing consultant, responsible for conducting market research and helping prospects identify effective print solutions, as well as expediting customer proofs and print projects. Bergerson has more than 25 years of sheetfed printing, fulfillment and direct mail experience.

Baltimore-based Vertis Communications has announced several recent appointments. Daniel Scopetti, who formerly served as director of tax for Global Home Products, has been named vice president of tax at Vertis. Barry Kohn, who previously served as CFO of United Plastics Group, has been named as the company’s CFO. With Kohn on board, former Vertis CFO Steve Tremblay has transitioned to the position of senior vice president, corporate development. Also, James Foley has been promoted from vice president of human resources to senior vice president of human resources.

The Xinet Users Group (XUG) has elected Eric Hegdahl president. Hegdahl is the marketing technology officer at New York City-based Graphic Systems Group, where Xinet WebNative is at the core of the firm’s production workflow and online capabilities.

Triangle Printers of Skokie, IL, has added Ashley Mueller to its sales team. Mueller is the third generation of the Mueller family to work at Triangle. She comes to Triangle from Youth Guidance, a nonprofit social service agency, where she served as a marketing specialist since 2005.

Gunnar Spencer has been named director of business development for Foxfire Signs, a division of Foxfire Printing and Packaging, Newark, DE. Spencer has 23 years of experience in retail operational management, specializing in signage and promotional campaigns.

Nelsonville, WI-based Signature Press announced three newly appointed positions. Scott Leavitt, formerly the vice president of operations at United Graphics Printing Group, is now president and CEO of Signature Press. Former controller Kathleen King, with 22 years of accounting experience, has been promoted to CFO. And company veteran Sue Gruba, who’s been with the printer for 17 years, was promoted to plant manager.

The COO position has recently been created and filled at Direct Group, a direct marketing firm based in Pennington, NJ, that boasts one of the largest single-site commercial mailing operations in the world. New COO Chris Ryan, a founding partner and shareholder of Direct Group, previously held the position of executive vice president.

Printing Industries Alliance (formerly the Printing & Imaging Association of New York State) will host its “first” Franklin Event in the Big Apple on Tuesday, September 18, at Pier Sixty.Delivering the news to a room of 60 industry and media executives at Manhattan’s famed Friars Club, Tim Freeman, association president, noted that the organization’s name was changed to better reflect its recent trade territory expansion into northern New Jersey. Special honorees at the Franklin Event will include award recipients: Power of Communications for Printing: Lester Samuels, Pictorial Offset, Carlstadt, NJ; Power of Communications for Advertising: Michele Unger, Grey New York; Power of Communications for Publishing: David Orlin, Condé Nast, New York; and the Zenger Medal: Betty Maul, FrontEnd Graphics, Pennsauken, NJ.

A supporter of the Dallas Society of Visual Communications (DSVC), as well as a member of its board of directors throughout the ’70s and early ’80s, Winfield Padgett, co-owner and chairman of Dallas-based Padgett Printing, received the 2007 John Carter Award from the DSVC. The award, given to Padgett at an awards ceremony in June, is presented to a supplier whose service career has greatly impacted the organization, as well as the Dallas arts/design community as a whole.