UPFRONT
PIA/GATF Chooses New Home
SAN ANTONIO, TX—After an 18 month review, the boards of directors of the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (GATF) and Printing Industries of America (PIA) have selected Sewickley, PA, (over Waukesha, WI) as the new site for its consolidated headquarters. While GATF/PIA will maintain a small office in Washington, DC, for public policy purposes, the majority of PIA operations will move to the current headquarters of GATF, located just outside of Pittsburgh.The timing for the move is the fall of 2004.
Mail-Well Creates New Group
ENGLEWOOD, CO—Mail-Well has formed its new 360° Enterprise Solutions Group for the direct marketing industry. The 360° Enterprise Solutions Group focuses on the complete supply chain management process, from premedia and data asset management through multi-channel media coverage, print-on-demand, fulfillment, logistics and beyond. Leading the new 360° Enterprise Solutions Group is J. Michael Graham.
Bowne President to Retire
NEW YORK—Bowne & Co. announced that Carl J. Crosetto will retire as president of the company at the end of 2003 after 31 years of service to Bowne. Crosetto will remain as a consultant to the company and a member of its board of directors. Robert M. Johnson, chairman and CEO of Bowne, will also assume the responsibilities of president.
Quebecor World Q3 Profits Drop
MONTREAL—Quebecor World's third quarter profits fell to $60 million, from $99 million in the second quarter. The drop was a result of weak advertising spending and overcapacity in the industry, the company said. Operating income was $125 million in the third quarter compared with $168 million in the second quarter. Revenues slipped to $1.59 billion from $1.62 billion. CEO Jean Neveu warned of further consolidation in North America, where printing volumes were up, but revenues down due to price pressures.
IWCO Ups Co-mingling Capacity
CHANHASSEN, MN—The Instant Web Companies (IWCO) has announced the expansion of its co-mingling capacity with the installation of its fourth Delivery-point Bar Code Sorting machine (DBCS). Installation of the DBCS machine increases IWCO's co-mingling capacity by 33 percent and improves inserting efficiencies more than 10 percent.
Partnership for High-end Printing
KENNESAW, GA—Heidelberg, BASF and Sappi are combining their expertise to further improve their products for eight- to 12-color press technology. This partnership is in line with the industry's drive towards providing products that satisfy the evolving needs of print specifiers and end users. The holdout of the inks, the stability and the print results of the paper, and the performance of the presses themselves are the key issues being addressed by the development team.
Flat Revenues Stall Banta Profits
MENASHA, WI—Banta Corp.'s sales for the third quarter were $352 million, equal to sales reported in the same period last year. Banta's print sector reported lower sales and operating earnings in the third quarter than during the same period in 2002. Half of the decline in print sector earnings was attributable to the consumer catalog division's delayed consolidation and modernization project.
Von Hoffmann Completes Deal
ST. LOUIS—Von Hoffmann Corp. has completed the previously announced acquisition of The Lehigh Press, headquartered in Pennsauken, NJ. Lehigh's operating platform includes Lehigh Lithographers, which manufactures book components and provides digital premedia services, as well as Lehigh Direct, a leading direct marketing printer based in Broadview, IL.
CGX Reports Q2 Performance
HOUSTON—Consolidated Graphics' second quarter revenues were $174.6 million, compared to $165.8 million in the June quarter and $181.8 million a year ago. Net income for the September quarter was $4.8 million, compared to $3.6 million in the June quarter and net income of $5.4 million a year ago.
Pollard Group Adds Komori Gear
TACOMA, WA—The Pollard Group has installed two new Komori presses: a four-color Lithrone 40 and a six-color Lithrone 28 perfector with in-line coater. Both new Komori presses employ Komori's PDC-S scanning spectrodensitometer.
Standex Int'l Exits Printing
SALEM, NH—Standex International has tentatively decided to close its Cincinnati-based Standard Publishing division's printing operations and cease its commercial printing business. The termination of operations is expected to be concluded by March 31, 2004. The action is expected to eliminate approximately 60 jobs.
Printer Purchases New Stackers
LAS CRUCES, NM—Intermountain Color/IMC Web Graphics has purchased two Gämmerler STC-700 compensating stackers. The new stackers will be used in two of the company's nine operations centers, including the plant here.
Webcrafters Adds Case Binding
MADISON, WI—Webcrafters Inc., a primarily four-color book manufacturer, has purchased a Kolbus Compact 60 casing-in line. Webcrafters has also acquired two McCain sewers (to specifically meet NASTA specifications for educational publishers) and will also offer adhesive case binding. These offerings add to Webcrafters' existing perfect, saddle stitched and spiral binding options.
Florida Company Goes Digital
DAYTONA BEACH, FL—Direct Mail Express has purchased three DocuColor iGen3 digital production presses from Xerox Corp., with another on order, to grow the digital color printing segment of its business.
