SUPPLIER news

Ricoh Corp. has aligned with UNIX and Linux software developer Codehost Inc. Ricoh will offer its customers and dealers BrightQT, Codehost's suite of Linux and UNIX-based printing tools, for use with Ricoh networked output devices.

Creo Inc. has received ISO-14001:1996 certification for environmental management of its Canadian operations. This completes environmental management certification for both of the Creo design and manufacturing operations. Creo operations in Israel recently underwent recertification for ISO-14001—a standard first achieved in February 2001.

KBA North America has promoted Evan Heise as its sales representative for a six-state region, including Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Idaho and New Mexico. Heise is now responsible for KBA Rapida sheetfed presses, as well as the 74 Karat digital press line. He is based in Utah. Also, David Schwerdtmann has been promoted as a sales representative for the entire sheetfed press line in Ohio, as well as a 50-mile radius of Chicago. He is based in Cincinnati.

R.R. Donnelley recently presented its first-ever Supplier Excellence Gold Award to International Paper and the Silver Award to MeadWestvaco at its third annual Supplier Quality Day. This new program to honor supplier excellence is a permanent addition to the company's Supplier Quality Day.

Robert Kinson, vice president of engineering and quality at Baumfolder Corp., is the 10th recipient of the Roland Zavada Standards Award, "The Rollie," presented by The Committee for Graphic Arts Technologies Standards (CGATS). The award recognizes an individual who has made significant and sustained contributions to the development of U.S. graphic arts standards through participation in the work of accredited standards committees. Kinson has been involved in the design and manufacture of graphic arts equipment since joining Harris Corp. in 1979.

MAN Roland announced it is hiring a new generation of customer representatives, known as business development consultants. Their objective will be to help the graphic arts industry make the most of its existing capital equipment and analyze how printers can invest more wisely in new technology. Once they are put in place over the course of this year, the business development consultants will call on MAN Roland customers and prospects to help them improve their companies' bottom lines.

PRIMAC Systems has appointed Michael Cooke to the position of vice president and general manager. Cooke has also been named to the company's board as vice president and secretary. He has been with PRIMAC since 1995. Also, former COO Ziad Yamout will now focus his efforts on the product development group.

Enovation Graphic Systems has named Tod Ratcliffe as a product manager. He is now responsible for prepress products.

Day International recently appointed new members to its leadership team. They include: Mike Cox, director of sales/national accounts; Denise Tudor, marketing communications coordinator; and Tom Sand, director of associate development.

Leroy Barry has announced his retirement from Madison Paper. Barry, Madison's president and CEO, has been with the company since 1994. He first launched his business career with S.D. Warren/Scott Paper 42 years ago.

Joerg Westphal has been named key account manager for the international sales unit at basysPrint. He is now responsible for managing the distribution of the company's computer-to-conventional plate products in North America, the Middle East, Africa and Russia.

Printcafe Software announced that as part of a number of operational changes designed to bolster the development effort of the PSI print management system, Doug Belkofer has been named director of PSI product development. Belkofer, who was one of the original PSI developers, now leads an expanded development team. Warren Tanabe will continue in his role as PSI product manager.

technotrans has decided to centralize all of its European cooling system manufacturing at its German operation in Sassenberg. This will force the closing of the manufacturing facility in the UK.

Prism USA is planning a major expansion of clientele and services in North America. It initiated the North American expansion by doubling the size of its headquarters in Plymouth, MA, and will be adding personnel in the engineering, training, development and sales sectors.

Pasquariello Graphics Inc. (PGI) has announced that James Faiola has joined the PGI bindery team. Faiola will independently represent PGI in Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire and part of Massachusetts.

KBA North America has promoted Dwight Squires as its sales representative for Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and central Pennsylvania, as well as Washington, DC. He is based in Springfield, VA. Also, Jerry Crowder has been named sales representative for KBA in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. He is based in Marietta, GA.

DuPont Imaging Technologies has opened a new 125,000-square-foot warehouse and distribution center in Parlin, NJ, for its DuPont Color Proofing and DuPont Cyrel products.

Nat Stern has been appointed CEO of electronic controls and inspection equipment supplier Eltromat Electronics.

Presstek Inc. announced that Wendell Odorizzi has joined the company as regional sales manager, south central region, off-press business unit. Odorizzi now covers Texas, Louisiana, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, New Mexico and Oklahoma.

J.C. Anson has been named manager of the print finishing division at Muller Martini. He replaces Felix Stirnimann, who returned to Switzerland for a position with Muller Martini's marketing group.

Epson America has launched a hardware recycling program. The Web-based Epson Recycle Program is geared toward people who do not have convenient locations to drop off electronics for recycling. Participants will pay $10 per product to cover the cost of shipping and recycling eligible Epson hardware. In return, the customer will receive a $5 electronic coupon that can be used on a future purchase at the Epson Store, making customers' net cost $5. Individuals, businesses or organizations may recycle up to 10 products at a time.

Appleton Papers announced it has changed its trade name and logo to Appleton. The company now uses the tagline, "What Ideas Can Do." Appleton will retain Appleton Papers as the legal name of the company.

Komori America's southeastern office in Newnan, GA, now directly manages the Komori sales and service activity in the southwestern United States. This area, which includes Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arkansas and Louisiana, was formerly managed by Dallas-based Graphic Equipment Southwest.

RealTimeImage Inc. announced the appointment of Steven Tripp to the position of sales director, eastern region, North America.

Arjobex, manufacturers of Polyart synthetic paper, announced that Avery Dennison/Fasson Rapid Roll North America is now a distributor of Polyart in narrow web rolls.

Steve Zunde is now president of Scitex Vision America. Zunde took up his position in February, replacing Tim Weeldreyer. Prior to joining Scitex Vision, Zunde served as president of the digital division of KBA North America.

Marc Fors has been named president and CEO of httprint, a provider of e-procurement, management and sourcing solutions for purchasers of print. Fors succeeds Mark Porter who will serve as chairman of the board.

FleetBoston Financial has recognized Océ Printing Systems USA for its "superior responsiveness, competitive pricing and consistently outperforming service expectations." In 2002, Océ made significant contributions to the successful integration of Fleet's newly acquired Liberty Asset Management print and mail operation in Boston into Fleet's print facility in Malden, MA.

Rena Systems has announced that National Mailing Systems, McLean, VA, is the recipient of the company's 2002 Dealer of the Year Award. Joe and Nino Vaghi established National Mailing Systems in 1986.

Heidelberg USA was the recipient of the 2003 Industry Award from the National Association for Printing Leadership (NAPL). The award was presented to Heidelberg USA President and CEO Niels Winther during NAPL's Top Management Conference. Also, Richard Drong, marketing manager of sheetfed offset inks for Sun Chemical, received NAPL's 2003 Technical Leadership Award at the conference.

The United States ambassador to Russia joined leaders of NPES The Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies and the Russian printing industries in February for ceremonies launching the new NPES-managed Eurasia Sales and Service Center for Graphic Communications Technologies. The ceremony marking the signing of a formal agreement to create the new center took place at the Academy of Printing Sciences in Moscow. The United States Trade and Development Agency has provided a $164,600 grant to the Russian Printing Industry Association to create the facility, in an agreement that names NPES as the sole contractor to establish and manage the center.

Esko-Graphics, the graphic arts supplier created in last year's merger between Barco Graphics and Purup-Eskofot, has opened the doors to its new North American headquarters in Kennesaw, GA. The move allows for future growth and to provide easier access to demonstration facilities.

Fuji Photo Film announced a $100 million expansion of the company's PS Plate factory to include production of the Fujifilm's Brillia line of computer-to-plate (CTP) printing plates. The announcement was made during a special ceremony at the Fujifilm complex in Greenwood, SC. Construction will begin immediately and completion is scheduled before the end of 2004.

Integrated management information systems supplier Prism USA has hired Leland Morgan as vice president of sales and marketing. Morgan is the former CEO of The Pond-Ekberg Co.

Sappi Ltd. has launched its annual Ideas That Matter grant program in North America with a comprehensive marketing campaign to increase awareness and promote participation among the design community. Each year, Sappi donates $1 million to graphic designers around the world to create and implement projects for their favorite cause, charity or foundation. The submission deadline for this year's program is May 31, 2003.

ILF Technologies has acquired the assets of the EVTEC Corp., which ceased operations in late December. ILF Technologies is a supplier of in-line finishing equipment primarily for the heatset printing industry. EVTEC is a supplier of precision sheeters for the forms, converting and commercial printing industries.