SUPPLIER news

Colter & Peterson and MBO America are now co-distributors of Wohlenberg paper cutters and cutting systems for the U.S. market. Specifically, the cooperative agreement will allow technical experts and sales personnel from both companies to confer with each other on how Wohlenberg cutters can best enhance the efficiency and productivity for printers and trade finishers looking to upgrade their operations.

Rochester Institute of Technology's School of Print Media presented the Cary Award to Frank Steenburgh, senior vice president for business growth, Production Systems Group at Xerox Corp. during a breakfast at Graph Expo 2004. The Cary Award is presented annually to those who have distinguished themselves in the development or application of digital technology in graphic communications.

Hitachi Printing Solutions America (HPRSA) announced the formal launch of a re-branding campaign. HPRSA has officially changed its corporate name to Ricoh Printing Systems America (RPSA) as a result of Ricoh's recent acquisition of Hitachi Printing Solutions of Tokyo. As RPSA assumes its new corporate identity it will continue to offer the same product line including production printer systems, ink-jet technology, desktop color laser printers and printer supplies. Osamu Namikawa will remain president and CEO of RPSA, headquartered in Simi Valley, CA.

Agfa-Gevaert and ProImage have signed an agreement by which Agfa will acquire all the assets and staff of ProImage, a developer of browser-based digital workflow solutions for the newspaper and printing industries. ProImage employs 29 people worldwide and its revenue in 2003 totalled $6.7 million. Agfa will continue to use the ProImage brand with the same products and customer support. In other company news, Bill Lavelle has joined Agfa's Graphic Systems North America Group in the role of enterprise consultant.

Citiplate has named Gary Dolgins to the position of CEO, and promoted Frank Patello to the position of COO. The two will share the top two chief executive management positions within the privately held CTP plate manufacturing concern.

Sappi Fine Paper North America reports Veronica "Ronee" Hagen, formerly chief customer officer of Alcoa Inc., has been appointed president and CEO. The company also has appointed Jeffrey Pina director of corporate communications. Pina has more than 20 years of executive-level communications experience with organizations including NOVA Chemicals, Cabot Corp., Fidelity Investments and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts.

Dr. Mark Wössner has assumed responsibility from Dr. Klaus Sturany as chairman of the Supervisory Board of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen (Heidelberg). Wössner, currently chairman of the Advisory Board and chairman at Citigroup Global Markets Deutschland, served as chairman of the Management Board of Bertelsmann AG from 1982 to 1998 and from then until 2000 as chairman of the company's Supervisory Board. Sturany will remain a member of the Heidelberg Supervisory Board.

Mohawk Paper Mills is now accepting entries for its sixth annual Mohawk Show. Entries for Mohawk Show 6 will be accepted through May 31, 2005. There is no limit to the number of entries per organization. Entry forms can be downloaded at www.mohawkpaper.com. There is no fee for entry. Entries must be printed primarily on one or more of Mohawk's papers.

McKay Mattingly is the new Southeastern region sales manager for the commercial web sales unit of MAN Roland, responsible for a territory that ranges southward from Virginia to Florida and westward to Arkansas and Louisiana. Also, Steven Landmann joined MAN Roland as Midwest regional sales manager. In other company news, MAN Roland has replaced its "blue arch" corporate symbol with a new three-dimensional metallic logo.

Creo Inc. will expand the capacity of its West Virginia printing plate manufacturing facility in order to meet increasing demand. Creo plans to construct an additional lithographic plate production line, more than doubling the plant's capacity. Construction of the new production line is expected to be completed by the end of 2005.

The U.S. Department of Commerce has awarded a $180,000 market development grant to NPES The Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies. This project will help NPES members gain access to the Indian and South Asian markets and realize a projected increase of $50 million in their export sales within five years.

Johan Laurent has joined Standard Finishing Systems as Hunkeler business manager, responsible for marketing and selling Hunkeler pre- and post-processing equipment, as well as managing relationships with its printer vendor partners like HP, IBM, Océ and Xerox. Laurent comes to Standard with experience in high-speed digital printing, most recently as an industry consultant for Interquest. Prior to that, he was director of marketing for Xeikon America.

Progressive Color Media, a new company powered by Flint Ink to provide a full range of workflow color management solutions integrating hardware, software and services, has announced its executive leadership team. Led by Diane Watt, former vice president of Flint Ink's Emerging Business Segments group and new president of Progressive Color Media, the team includes Daniel Goodenow, director of sales and services; Fay Sommers, director of product development; Tony Ricketts, senior field service specialist; and Albert Johnson, senior sales specialist.

Heidelberg is planning to expand its Web-based Remote Service solution to include press and postpress products. This will extend the availability of its interactive Global Remote Service solution from prepress products to mechanical/electrical equipment via Intelligent Device Management (IDM).

Paul Edlund has joined the e-LYNXX Corp. staff as a client services manager. He is based at corporate headquarters in Chambersburg, PA.

BCC Software has been certified by the United States Postal Service as a NCOALink Interface Developer and NCOALink Interface Distributor. This certification will enable BCC to use NCOALink technology in MOVE Manager, an option that enhances the functionality of BCC's Mail Manager 2010 mail preparation software. BCC is reportedly one of two companies initially certified to offer this technology to mailers.

Sabin Robbins Paper, a 120-year-old, employee-owned converter/distributor of fine printing paper, announced a capacity expansion at its Mansfield, OH, converting center. Additional machinery installations have increased capacity at the seven-year-old facility by 40 percent, according to Plant Manager Dave Matheny. The additions include both sheeting and trimming equipment. Two sheeters were added to the company's existing machinery, one of which converts only board stock. In the trimming department, a new 110˝ guillotine trimmer was installed.

Ink-jet printer manufacturer and supplier of commercial printing system solutions Domino Amjet has been selected by Quad/Graphics as a Supplier of the Year for its performance and working relationship with the company. Domino was honored at an official Supplier of the Year dinner and awards ceremony, where it was rewarded with the prestigious Gold Award in the capital equipment category.

Leo Caproni has been appointed to handle all new international business developments for Harris & Bruno International.

Sterling Toggle is celebrating 25 years in business serving the converting industry. Sterling is known for its plate mounting systems for locking and registering embossing and foil stamping dies into position.

Domtar has expanded its distribution capabilities with a new warehouse in Los Angeles to better serve Southern California paper buyers between Bakersfield and San Diego and Santa Barbara and Palm Desert. Domtar business, commercial printing and designer papers ordered by 1 p.m. for delivery within this region are now guaranteed to arrive the next business day.

Videojet Technologies has forged an agreement with Hewlett-Packard to develop new variable printing solutions using HP thermal ink-jet technology. Videojet will work with HP Specialty Printing Systems to provide these solutions. Videojet intends to commercialize the variable printing solutions under the Videojet name and bring them to market through its global sales and service channels.