SUPPLIER news
Printing Research Inc. (PRI) and its owner, Howard DeMoore, announced the successful conclusion of a patent infringement suit against a European company. The suit, filed in Germany against Green & Snob Grafik, showed that Green & Snob's product was a direct infringement against PRI's Super Blue 2 StripeNet anti-marking, anti-static nets.
John Laabs has been appointed director of marketing for Fox River Paper. For the past six years, Laabs has worked in various sales and marketing capacities for both the Fox River and Gilbert brands of paper.
KBA North America has named Steve Korn its new district sales manager to cover the states of Illinois and Michigan.
International Paper Commercial Printing & Imaging Papers has appointed Tania Gardére MacLeod to the position of specification sales representative for the writing, text and cover business of International Paper.
IPA, the Association of Graphic Solutions Providers, announced that Kenneth Lowden has been awarded IPA's most prestigious honor, the Leonard Holzinger Award. The award was given in recognition and appreciation of Lowden's leadership and contribution of time, talent, and energy toward the substantial progress of the IPA and the industry it serves. Lowden was marketing and industry relations manager for DuPont Imaging Technologies, prior to his retirement in June.
Baldwin Technology has expanded its newspaper sales team by appointing Travis Ferguson to the newly created position of director of newspaper sales for the Americas.
Yupo Corp. America has named Masahiko Yano to the position of president. He succeeds Toshiyuki Noguchi, who retired. Also, Hideaki Hamada has assumed the role of CFO.
As part of Enovation's offering for the ink-jet proofing market, the distributor now exclusively represents Pictorico ink-jet proofing media.
Scott Brown has joined Komori America as district sales manager in Texas and Oklahoma. Brown began his career in the printing industry in 1986 as a sales representative for Graphic Equipment Southwest, a Komori dealership.
Markzware has donated an upgrade of FlightCheck Professional to the Rochester Institute of Technology School of Print Media. Markzware's preflighting solutions are being used in the School of Print Media to teach students the process of making sure files have an error-free journey from screen to print.
Dauphin Graphic Machines (DGM) announced that Ron Ehrhardt joined the company as vice president of international sales. Ehrhardt has more than 20 years of newspaper industry sales experience and previously served as vice president of sales for George R. Hall Contracting. During that time, he was responsible for worldwide sales of the Americolor tower, a product manufactured by DGM. With his move to DGM, Ehrhardt will continue to be involved with Americolor as the DGM/Americolor product representative.
Kohl & Madden has received the 2004 Distinguished Partner Award from Taylor Development, the support organization for the autonomous businesses that are divisions and affiliates of Taylor Corp. Kohl & Madden is one of only four companies to receive this award, chosen from an initial list of more than 100 vendors.
Wikoff Color has purchased the assets of Merit Ink & Coating. The transaction closed in July. Merit Ink & Coating, a 50-employee company with sales in the eastern United States, develops and manufactures flexo and gravure inks and specialty coatings for the packaging and security industries.
Industry veteran David Oram has joined the Standard Finishing Systems sales team as folder specialist, providing folding applications knowledge and technical expertise for Standard dealers and end-users. Prior to joining Standard, Oram worked for two major folder manufacturers and has over 25 years of experience in the graphic arts industry.
Rena Systems has appointed Nick von der Wense as national sales manager. Von der Wense, who has been with the company for six years, was previously Southeast regional sales manager.
Agfa-Gevaert announced the acquisition of Lastra, an Italian manufacturer of plates, related chemicals and equipment. Tom Saggiomo, president and CEO of Lastra America, will head Agfa's Graphic Systems group in North America. Saggiomo succeeds Robert Stabler, who has decided to pursue other career opportunities. Prior to the creation of Lastra America, Saggiomo was one of the founding architects of Kodak Polychrome Graphics (KPG).
Nipson America has named Tim Weeldreyer as vice president of sales. Previously, Weeldreyer has served as vice president of sales for Xeikon America, president of Scitex Vision America, a provider of wide-format digital color printers, and in a variety of other sales management positions during his more than 25 years in the industry.
