RADEBEUL, GERMANY—You have to give Koenig & Bauer AG (KBA) a lot of credit. When it wants to throw a coming-out party for new presses or capabilities, KBA certainly displays a flair for the dramatic. When the smoke had cleared from the pomp and circumstance of its pre-demonstration entertainment—which included an eclectic mix of dancers, a juggler, a man on stilts and an opera singer against a backdrop of colorful lasers—KBA gave 200 worldwide journalists a taste of its newer offerings heading into this month’s Drupa exhibition. KBA literally had to wait for the smoke to clear to start its Rapida 162 packaging press;
Training and Education
NEW YORK—More than 1,000 book and magazine publishing executives turned out for the 2008 Publishing Conference & Expo, held at the Marriott Marquis here March 10-12. Roughly 150 speakers were showcased in nearly 50 sessions, which provided attendees with strategies and tactics to confront the most pressing challenges facing their businesses. The expo portion of the event featured more than 100 exhibitors showcasing publishing technologies and services. The exhibits included products such as publishing management and workflow software; digital solutions in printing and publishing; and book manufacturing, finishing and packaging services. Among the highlights of the three-day event: • HarperCollins was named the inaugural
AN OLD line goes that if you put three economists in a room, show them the same data and ask them for their predictions, you’ll get three different answers. But that was not the case at the recent NPES 2008 Industry Summit in New York, which comprised the association’s annual Print Outlook conference followed by a quarterly PRIMIR market research group meeting. Former President’s Council of Economic Advisors senior economist Dr. Sung Won Sohn forecast the outlook for the U.S. economy in general, followed by industry-specific prognostications from the chief economists representing the NAPL and PIA/GATF, Andrew Paparozzi and Ronnie Davis, respectively. Sohn pulled
AUGSBURG, GERMANY—28 April 2008—The PrintCity Alliance invites international Print Buyers, Brand Owners, Designers and Publishers to visit its unique Print4Life special attraction in Hall 6 at drupa in Düsseldorf, May 29 to June 11, 2008. The new PrintCity Print4Life Lounge shows Print Buyers, Brand Owners, Designers and Publishers the capabilities, opportunities, economic & design justifications for creative new print & package projects, available through the technologies & shared knowledge of its alliance members. It will also be of value for print & packaging company owners, the sales & marketing staff of printing houses, plus creative professionals to see the latest design and
SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA—04/25/08—Cal Poly’s Graphic Communication Department and New York University’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies (NYU-SCPS) have teamed up to promote graduate education in graphic communications management. The partnership between Cal Poly and NYU’s Graphic Communications Management and Technology master’s program is called “East Meets West.” Cal Poly is promoting its relationship with NYU to encourage students to consider graduate school. “Our industry needs high-level critical thinkers and people who can come up with new ways of solving old problems,” said Harvey Levenson, department head of Cal Poly’s Graphic Communication Department. “NYU’s program provides this through its connections to New
PITTSBURGH—Dr. Tim Claypole was presented with the Michael H. Bruno Award during the 60th annual TAGA Conference, sponsored by the Technical Association of the Graphic Arts (TAGA). Dr. Claypole is the founder and director of two university spin-off companies, Swansea Printing Technology, providing software and support services, and Teclyn, which offers a manufacturing service for electronics and displays. He is also a driving force behind the Print Forum Wales, which focuses on raising awareness of advances in printing technology. The Board of Directors of TAGA singles out a professional with a distinguished career to receive this award each year in appreciation of his
PITTSBURGH—April 15, 2008—The Technical Association of the Graphic Arts (TAGA) presented the Michael H. Bruno award to Dr. Tim C. Claypole during the 60th annual TAGA Conference. The Board of Directors of TAGA singles out a professional with a distinguished career to receive this award each year in appreciation of his dedicated service and contribution to the advancement of the graphic arts internationally. The late Michael H. Bruno was the founder of TAGA in 1948. He was a past president and the first recipient of the TAGA Honors Award in 1976 (renamed in 2005 in his honor); Mr. Bruno dedicated his life to the
ONE OF the biggest selling points of the annual Web Offset Association (WOA) conference is that it hasn’t turned into a statue that’s firmly cemented and unmoving. The venerable conference’s year-old name, Offset and Beyond, suggests that its participants view technology favorably and don’t consider themselves forever locked into the past. Not that we’re turning our backs on offset lithography, mind you. It’s not being thrown under the technological bus. But it stands to reason that web and sheetfed offset printers need as many guns in their arsenal as possible to remain competitive in a congested marketplace, and the good folks who bring you
TWO MASTERS of media will open sessions at the 2008 Offset and Beyond Conference. James Bradley, author of “Flags of Our Father,” and David Gregory, MSNBC chief White House correspondent, will deliver unforgettable messages. Each of the speakers was interviewed by PIA/GATF staff members in preparation for the keynotes. The following article highlights those conversations. James Bradley James Bradley will kick off the opening day with riveting, timeless themes of courage and overcoming obstacles. In a recent interview, Bradley indicated that his message will segue from the historical examples of supposedly insurmountable tasks where people said it could not be done, to everyday life
THERE ARE many reasons why a printer may decide to exhibit at a trade show or conference. From generating solid business leads to creating or maintaining brand awareness, exhibiting can have very lucrative results—but only if it is orchestrated effectively. In February, my staff and I hosted our annual Print Oasis Print Buyers Conference at Amelia Island Plantation in Florida. Print Oasis is the premier educational conference focused on the challenges of marketers, print buyers and production professionals. This year, 65 printers and technology companies were featured in the Exhibit Hall. One of the main reasons print buyers choose