IDEAlliance has announced the lineup of industry thought-leaders participating in PRIMEXEAST, its one-day conference for publishers, print and interactive media executives, being held June 19, 2014 in New York, NY. PRIMEXEAST is the “think tank” for chief executives and business leaders from across the integrated content production supply chain.
Completing its previously announced $1.9 billion debt financing, Quad/Graphics has refinanced and expanded its senior secured credit facility to $1.6 billion and completed an inaugural high-yield bond offering of $300 million of unsecured senior notes due in 2022.
TAUNTON, MA—A Saturday night fire caused damage to the roof of a Quad/Graphics facility here, the Taunton Gazette reported. There were no injuries reported. The plant is used for printing retail inserts.
SUSSEX, WI—Quad/Graphics Inc. and Waseca, MN-based Brown Printing have jointly announced a definitive agreement whereby Quad/Graphics will acquire Brown, which serves publishers and catalogers with printing, distribution and integrated media solutions from three manufacturing facilities.
Although Wall Street mostly yawned when Quad/Graphics announced this week it is acquiring Brown Printing, the pending transaction is a big deal for many major publishers. And it provides some interesting insights into the U.S. printing and publishing industries and even into the U.S. Postal Service.
Rather than trying to squeeze more years out of ancient equipment, as some Worldcolor plants used to do, Brown kept pace with Quad and RR Donnelley when it came to investing in new presses and bindery lines. But it wasn’t enough.
Quad/Graphics Inc. and Brown Printing today jointly announced a definitive agreement whereby Quad/Graphics will acquire Brown, which serves premier publishers and catalogers with printing, distribution and integrated media solutions. The acquisition will enhance Quad/Graphics’ position as a leader in the printing industry. "This acquisition is consistent with our ongoing strategy to transform Quad/Graphics and create value for our clients and shareholders," said Joel Quadracci, Quad/Graphics chairman, president and CEO. "Brown is a well respected, financially strong company focused on delivering superior quality and impeccable customer service to a diverse range of clients."
Listening to Master Press Operator Gordon “Gordie” Frisk describe his nearly 40 years at Brown Printing, voice raised to combat the ever-present drone of the company’s sprawling Waseca complex, the advances that the complex trade has seen in the last four decades become immediately apparent.
“Now it’s all automation; back then there wasn’t any of that,” Frisk said.
As one of Brown’s most senior press operators, the 60-year-old has seen plenty of changes to the printing business since catching on with the company in the early 70s. “Automation is the big change. To change the plates and things you had to do
Commercial printer company and personnel news from Printing Impressions’ February 2014 edition, featuring Gill Studios, IDEAlliance and Quad/Graphics.
Commercial printer equipment installations and other news from Printing Impressions’ December 2013 edition, featuring Sandy Alexander, Lithographix, DPI Direct, Apex Color, IWCO Direct, Japs-Olson Co.
Catalogers and magazine publishers in 2013 faced many of the same challenges as the prior year of finding the right mix of media to deliver information and build their brands. In addition, economic uncertainty and pending postal increases were thrown into the pot to create a stew of questions.
