SUPPLIER news
Palamides Open House Delivers
RENNIGEN, GERMANY—Think that an automated delivery system can’t significantly boost the productivity of your folder, stitcher or in-line finishing system? Think again. Several such solutions were shown recently at Palamides’ “Think Tank 2006” open house held here. MBO America showcased these new equipment offerings to a group of printers and trade binders from across the United States.
The open house event was hosted by Stefano Palamides, who founded Palamides GmbH in 1997, and partner company MBO Binder GmbH & Co. MBO America serves as the exclusive distributor for Palamides in the U.S. market.
Innovations shown included signature production from extra-large format (XXL) sheets on two lines, with just one operator. Dual jobs ran simultaneously on two large-size MBO T 1420 buckle folders, each with three subsequent folding units and a Palamides Alpha automated signature delivery with cardboard feeder and integrated bander. Loading the paper pallets into the MABEG palletized feeder and removing the signature packets from the deliveries was performed by the same operator on both lines.
For automated setup of bindery work, a Delta 703 delivery was shown on a fully automated MBO T800/44 Perfection buckle folder with continuous feeder and an Alpha 500 delivery was coupled with a fully automated MBO K800/S-KTLT Perfection combination folder with palletized feeder.
The web world was addressed by a Palamides Beta web delivery system running behind an Ehret web finishing system featuring the new SVC 520 C web sheeter with variable chip-out. Streamlined greeting card production with a single operator was also shown, featuring Herzog + Heymann equipment and a Beta web delivery with in-line bundling behind a plow fold. High-speed envelope machine or stitcher production using a cardboard feeder was demonstrated through an in-line configuration featuring an MBO T800 Perfection folder, a Delta 703 automatic delivery and a shrink wrap tunnel.
The tour also included side trips to Ludwigsburg Palace, the new Mercedes Benz automotive museum and an Octoberfest celebration in Stuttgart, as well as a bus trip through the Black Forest.
Dr. Peter Weiss, Bernhard Gruber, Klaus Beckbissinger and DeWaine Johnson served as hosts for MBO America.
Vecoplan, a manufacturer and distributor of industrial shredding and grinding equipment, announced the opening of Vecoplan Midwest in Floyds Knobs, IN. Vecoplan Midwest will serve as the sales and distribution arm for Vecoplan equipment in a five-state area, including parts of Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and Illinois. Technical service capabilities for customer support will be added in the near future.
About 200 technical representatives from ink manufacturers and suppliers attended the 2006 NPIRI Technical and Manufacturing Conference in Fort Lauderdale, FL, in October. Attendees were able to take advantage of a variety of ink and printing technical presentations and short courses. In addition, Brian Chwierut, Sun Chemical, and Andrew Matthews, Flint Group, were recognized with the NPIRI Technical Achievement awards.
Mitsubishi Lithographic Presses (MLP U.S.A.) has announced a leadership change. Marke Baker, formerly vice president of customer service, has been named president. K.G. Katayama, who has served as the company’s president since 2002, will return to the Printing Press International Sales Group of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
KBA North America is expanding its dealer network to include four new dealerships. The KBA dealerships will handle non-exclusive sales of the 74 Karat, Genius 52 UV and Performa presses. To become acquainted with the new presses and KBA’s business approach, the new dealerships (and one existing dealer) recently attended a dealer training program held at KBA’s Vermont demo center. The dealers who attended the training program were: Brett Graphics, Horsham, PA; Coleman One, Fairfax, VA; Graphics Equipment, Portland, ME; MB Graphics, Columbus, OH; and Print Technologies, Omaha, NE.
Sappi Fine Paper North America has achieved third-party certification for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) chain of custody for selected pulp and coated paper brands manufactured at its Cloquet, MN, mill. Sappi is now dual certified for wood procurement by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and for chain of custody by the FSC.
Jeff Hayzlett, chief marketing officer and vice president, Kodak’s Graphic Communications Group (GCG), has been elected to the board of directors of the Business Marketing Association (BMA), an international professional association for business-to-business marketers. Hayzlett is now a member of BMA’s executive committee and serves as its vice president of marketing. Also, Hayzlett accepted the Jack I. Criswell CSE award from Sales & Marketing Executive International (SMEI) at the organization’s 71st annual conference in September.
After 43 years with Superior Printing Ink, Harvey Brice has retired as managing director. Brice began his career with Superior Printing Ink as a trainee in 1962. In other news, the company has moved its corporate headquarters from New York City to Teterboro, NJ. The new location includes an R&D center, color lab, manufacturing plant and administrative offices.
Husson Inc. has named Alvie Stephenson to its management team in the newly created position of national account manager.
Komori America has promoted Jacqueline Hudmon to vice president of marketing and sales administration. In her new position, Hudmon is responsible for the company’s marketing initiatives and overall business development. She will also oversee remarketed equipment sales, dealer sales and sales administration functions.
Van Son Holland Ink hosted its fifth annual “VS” Series Ink Council conference in October at the Eaglewood Conference and Resort Center, Itasca, IL. The Van Son Ink Council is comprised of printing ink manufacturers that distribute Van Son’s “VS” Series inks. Van Son welcomed more than 30 representatives from its affiliated ink manufacturers, achieving record attendance.
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG has officially inaugurated its new assembly plant in Shanghai, China. A second phase of construction, expected to be completed by next spring, includes the construction of a facility next to the first assembly hall. Assembly of folders and small-format presses here are geared toward the Chinese market.
xpedx has opened its new distribution/logistics center and offices in Ashland, VA. The 65,000-square-foot, “high-cube” facility features new offices and 24 dock doors in the warehouse. All 54 Richmond Division employees, including customer service and sales representatives, packaging service technicians, drivers and office employees, have moved to the new center. xpedx also acquired a new fleet of seven fuel-efficient trucks that operate from the facility.
Graphic arts industry consultant Clint Bolte, C. Clint Bolte & Associates, recently received Chambersburg’s (PA) 2006 Citizen of the Year Award.
