SUPPLIER NEWS
Creo Inc. has been honored by Xerox Corp. with the title of Software Partner of the Year. Creo was acknowledged for its Spire color servers designed for various Xerox color presses. The announcement was made at the annual Xerox Business Partner Conference, held in February. Creo also reports a partnership with Sichuan Juguang Printing Apparatus, one of the largest plate manufacturers in China. Under the terms of the agreement, Juguang will manufacture and sell the jointly developed Juguang JPT-1 positive thermal plate. Creo will offer the plates as part of its complete computer-to-plate systems in China.
An estimated 75 new jobs will be created at MACtac's Columbus, IN, manufacturing facility as the result of a 130,000-square-foot expansion, targeted to be completed by the fourth quarter of this year. The Columbus facility manufactures pressure-sensitive adhesive materials. The company has also announced several personnel moves. John Antognoli has been named sales development manager; Kristi Young has been appointed to the position of product specialist; Jennifer Payne is the company's new inside sales manager; and Isabel Galvez will serve as account manager for MACtac inside sales, graphic products, Latin America.
Enovation Graphic Systems announced the creation of two new positions within the company's marketing group. Al Eddy and Mike Troy have been assigned to the positions of national business manager, imaging products, and national business manager, consumable products, respectively.
Graphic arts supplier Pitman Co. announced the merger of its New England branch operations with Northeast Graphic Supply, a New England regional distribution company based in Portland, ME. Northeast Graphic Supply customers will now be served by Pitman's Taunton, MA, branch. Brian Kroot, president of Northeast Graphic Supply, which was founded by his father 65 years ago, will join Pitman to assure a seamless transition of customer service to Pitman.
SMART Papers will immediately begin making part of its flagship coated paper gradeline, Kromekote, with 30 percent post-consumer waste (PCW) content. It will also increase its entire Knightkote Matte coated product line to 30 percent post-consumer waste. The moves represent a major initiative by SMART Papers to set new, higher environmental standards for premium coated papers in North America. The company says three other Kromekote products will feature 30 percent PCW content by this fall.
Emily Crenshaw has been appointed marketing operations manager for Esko-Graphics. Crenshaw is located at the Belgium-based company's offices in Vandalia, OH, and is now responsible for telemarketing management, communications, promotional campaigns and sales materials.
Eugene Bratton has been named regional sales manager, folding carton equipment, northeast territory for Bobst Group. A veteran of Bobst, Bratton has been with the company for 17 years, most recently holding the position of customer service manager.
Integrated Color Solutions (ICS) has appointed Richard Dannenberg to the position of director of sales, northeast region. He will be based at the ICS headquarters in New York City.
Agfa Corp. and Xaar have come to a strategic agreement for joint research, development and manufacturing of ink-jet printheads. The agreement covers a five-year period and will give Agfa access to ink-jet technology for new applications in commercial, package and newspaper printing.
BCC Software has been certified by the United States Postal Service as an NCOALink Interface Developer and NCOALink Interface Distributor. This certification will enable BCC to use NCOALink technology in MOVE Manager, a premium option that enhances BCC's Mail Manager 2010 mail preparation software. BCC reportedly is one of two companies initially certified to offer this technology to mailers.
Mohawk Paper Mills has received Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification for two of its recycled paper lines: Mohawk Color Copy 100 percent recycled and new Options 100 percent recycled. FSC certification is intended to help print buyers ensure that the paper they buy does not come from high-conservation old-growth forests.
