UPFRONT

Cenveo Acquires Rex Corp.

STAMFORD, CT—Packaging solutions provider Rex Corp. is joining the Cenveo Inc. fold in an all-cash transaction. The amount of the deal, expected to close in the first quarter, was not disclosed. Based in Jacksonville, FL, Rex Corp. generates more than $40 million in sales and employs 170 workers.

Miotke Heads Vertis Division

BALTIMORE—Vertis Communications has named Charles Miotke, a 30-year industry veteran, as president, direct marketing. Prior to joining Vertis, Miotke spent 19 years in various executive roles at Quebecor World and most recently was vice president of global manufacturing there. Miotke worked at Brown Printing for more than 10 years.

Donnelley Nets Directory Deal

CHICAGO—RR Donnelley has been awarded a multi-year, $200 million pact to produce about 350 telephone directory titles per year for pan-European distribution by European Directories. The distributor reportedly boasts leading positions in European markets, which include The Netherlands, Finland, Poland and Denmark.

CPI Obtains Didier Printing

LITTLETON, CO—CPI Card Group has acquired Didier Printing, a privately owned secure card manufacturer based in Fort Wayne, IN. The combined business will have three manufacturing sites in Colorado, Indiana and Nevada, and will reportedly have the largest smart card production capacity in the industry.

Field Wins WOA VISION Award

SEWICKLEY, PA—Ken Field Sr., president and CEO of Continental Web Press based in Itasca, IL, will be the recipient of the 10th annual Harry V. Quadracci VISION Award, sponsored by the Web Offset Association (WOA). Field founded Continental Web Press in 1973. The VISION award is given for leadership, achievement and visionary excellence in web offset printing. The 56th annual conference, now called Offset & Beyond, takes place April 27-29 at the Renaissance Hotel in Schaumburg, IL.

Jersey Printer Suffers Fire

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ—A January press fire forced the evacuation of 150 employees at Innovative Folding Carton, according to the Home News Tribune. No one was seriously hurt. The blaze was extinguished by employees before firefighters arrived. The building was evacuated, and one employee was treated for a medical condition, the newspaper reported.

PIA Legislative Conference Set

WASHINGTON, DC—The PIA/GATF will hold its 2008 Legislative Conference on June 17 and 18 at the Capitol Hill Hyatt here, as well as various sites on Capitol Hill. Held every two years, the industry’s advocacy agenda takes center stage in a two-day summit featuring policy and political events with key congressional, administration and political leaders. For more information, contact (202) 730-7970.

Alaska Printer in Trouble, Again

ANCHORAGE, AK—Nezar “Mike” Maad is facing federal charges in a reported scheme to defraud the state of Alaska over printing contracts, the Anchorage Daily News reported. Maad—the man who claimed his printing shop was vandalized shortly after 9/11, but ended up getting arrested himself on federal charges of falsifying financial documents and lying to the government—and Imad Salim Hereimi were indicted by a grand jury on 22 counts of mail fraud.

Trend Installs 11th Goss Press

LOS ALAMITOS, CA—Trend Offset Printing, a full-service web printer with three U.S. locations, has added its 11th Goss web press system in the past decade. The eight-unit, two-web M-600 press is now in production at Trend’s Southeast facility in Jacksonville, FL. Bill Fleegle, general manager and vice president of sales for Southeast, reports the press adds capacity for products like magazines, catalogs and ad material.

St Ives US Promotes Berkey

CLEVELAND—Mark Berkey has been named president and COO of St Ives US Division. He had served as senior vice president and general manager of St Ives Cleveland. Prior to joining St Ives, Berkey spent 16 years with RR Donnelley.

Gill Acquires Fetter Printing

LOUISVILLE, KY—Fetter Printing has changed hands. Formerly employee-owned through a stock ownership plan, the company is now controlled by Terrence Gill Jr., its president and a 17-year employee. The transaction was completed late last December. As an ESOP, the company was restricted in its ability to obtain cash for reinvestment into the business, according to Gill.

Man Counterfeits Twenties

JACKSONVILLE, FL—Secret Service agents here arrested 31-year-old Marty Perry on charges of counterfeiting $20 bills, WJXT-TV reported. A search of Perry’s apartment yielded 13 counterfeit bills. While the bills were difficult to detect, all of them had the same serial number. Perry was said to be cooperating with authorities.

Fine Papers Plant to Reopen

KINGSEY FALLS, QUEBEC—Cascades has sold its Thunder Bay, Ontario, coated fine papers plant to Thunder Bay Fine Papers. Cascades will contribute $4.5 million to the purchaser to support the startup of the plant. The Thunder Bay plant was closed in 2006 due to poor economic conditions.

Conference Examines Security

MIAMI BEACH, FL—The Brand Protection Conference will be among the highlights at the Graphics of the Americas exhibition here, slated for February 28-March 1. The Brand Protection Conference, which will take place the first two days, includes insights into the problems surrounding the $700 billion a year counterfeiting phenomenom, of which $350 billion is printing related. Call (800) 331-0461 to register. PI