Cream Rises to the Top This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Printing Industry Hall of Fame, which is co-sponsored by Printing Impressions and the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) School of Print Media. Having played a part in the selection process these past two decades, it's a blur when I think back on all of the industry heavyweights we've honored over the years. I fondly recall former powerhouses like Frank Beddor, The Beddor Cos.; Curtis Bourland, Continental Graphics; Quebecor's Pierre Peladeau; Mark C. Pope III, of Graphic Industries fame; and, of course—among our inaugural class in 1986—the late Harry V. Quadracci, founder
Cadmus Communications Corporation
Flint Ink, XSYS Print Merge ANN ARBOR, MI—Flint Ink and XSYS Print Solutions of Stuttgart, Germany, have agreed to merge. The combination creates a global ink supplier with revenues of roughly $2.6 billion and with about 8,000 employees. Pending regulatory approval, the deal is slated to be finalized around September 30. XSYS was created by the 2004 merger of BASF Printing Systems and ANI Printing Inks. Finnish Paper Lockout Ends HELSINKI, FINLAND—Finland's major paper manufacturers and unions representing more than one million forest industry workers finally reached a labor agreement after being urged to return to the negotiating table by Finland Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen. The
RRD Names Richter New CFO CHICAGO—Glenn Richter, former CFO for Sears, Roebuck and Co., has been named to fill the same role for RR Donnelley effective April 1. Richter replaces Kevin Smith, executive vice president and CFO. Richter brings big-name corporate experience to the Donnelley fold. Prior to joining Sears, he held several senior financial positions with Dade Behring Holdings. He also served various roles with PepsiCo Inc. and was a consultant with McKinsey & Co. Times Taps Goss for Controls NEW YORK—Six New York Times printing facilities are slated to receive press controls and digital inking as part of a phased press upgrade initiative. The enhancements
(Editor's Note: Company rankings for the current and previous years are based on figures reported in 2004. Therefore, companies that revised their 2003 revenues may have changed their 2003 ranking as compared with the ranking that appeared in last year's Printing Impressions 400. Similarly, the percentage change in sales is calculated on the most recent information provided.) 1 ('03: 2) RR Donnelley, Chicago, IL Total Sales (Millions): $8,204.50 Previous Year's Sales (Millions): $4,754.94 Change (%): +73 Principal Officer: Mark A. Angelson Employees: 44,000 Primary Specialties: SPEC 26%; CAT/PUB 23%; BF 10%; COM 9%; BKS 8% Web Offset Press Units: N/A Sheetfed Press
BY MARK SMITH Technology Editor It's only fitting that LIFE magazine should be a barometer for the vitality of the publication market. This de facto "canary in the coal mine" for the magazine publishing market recently had its third incarnation. What's significant about this latest go is that the magazine is now being distributed as a weekly newspaper insert, thereby avoiding subscription and mailing cost issues. Top 10 Publication Printers CompanySegmentSales(millions)TotalSales(millions) 1*RR DonnelleyChicago$1,887$8,204 2Quebecor WorldMontreal$1,664$6,400 3Quad/GraphicsSussex, WI$740$2,000 4Brown PrintingWaseca, MN$320$400 5Cadmus CommunicationsRichmond, VA$302$445 6Banta Corp.Menasha, WI$184$1,418 6Perry Judd'sWaterloo, WI$184$297 8Publishers Printing/ Publishers Press,Shepherdsville, KY$160$160 9Vertis Inc.Baltimore$158$1,585 10The Sheridan GroupHunt Valley, MD$149$213 Sales figures are
Greg Wayne, director of manufacturing for California Offset Printers (COP) in Glendale, CA, was the winning finalist in the third annual GATF/SGI Web Press Skills Competition. Sponsored by the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation, Sinapse Graphic International and MAN Roland, the contest used the SIR Heatset Web Offset Training Simulator, a virtual press, to present problem solving exercises. The competition took place during the Web Offset Association's annual conference. Negotiating traffic jams and finding parking spots will likely became much more enjoyable pursuits for one Metropolitan Fine Printers client. As the winner of the Vancouver-based printer's Segway contest, Laura Rioux of Rethink Communications is now the
By Noelle Skodzinski It's not likely a big surprise that Quebecor World held fast to its No. 1 spot among the Top Book Manufacturers—ranked by book manufacturing revenues—in the United States and Canada. With a $36 million lead over RR Donnelley, and a $273 million lead over third-ranked Von Hoffmann Corp., Quebecor World isn't likely to lose its position anytime soon. Both top seeds, however, saw book sales drop in 2003. In fact, revenues for three of the top five sank by a total of nearly $130 million. Arvato Print USA (a division of Bertelsmann) and Von Hoffmann were the only two in
RRD to Sell Package Logistics CHICAGO—RR Donnelley has reached an agreement to sell its package logistics business to Heritage Partners, a Boston-based private equity firm that is the principal owner of American Package Express. Under terms of the agreement, Donnelley will receive cash in exchange for the assets and liabilities of its package logistics business, which includes CTC Direct, a wholly owned subsidiary. The deal, which is expected to close by the end of the third quarter 2004, does not affect Donnelley's print logistics, fulfillment or distribution operations. Quad to Print Return of LIFE SUSSEX, WI—When LIFE makes its return in October as a weekend magazine,
arizona PHOENIX—Steve Woods Printing opened its doors with a dedication celebration in May. Steve is the son of Frank Woods, formerly of Woods Lithographics. CALIFORNIA SAN MARCOS, CA—Golden State Graphics recently added to its bindery a Vijuk 321-T saddlestitcher. florida DeLEON SPRINGS—E.O. Painter Printing held its 100th annual stockholders and directors meeting recently. The company, which traces its origin to 1873, was purchased and incorporated by Sidney Weller Johnston, the current company president's grandfather. MIAMI—Color K Graphics purchased a KBA 74 Karat digital offset press with coater during Drupa. PENSACOLA—Six Stahl B30 buckle plate folders have been installed at Pensacola Christian College. georgia
arizona PHOENIX—Roswell Bookbinding has installed a Muller Martini Monostar perfect binder with inline Zenith three-knife trimmer; a Brehmer high-speed Smyth sewer; and the Optigraf Opticontrol print recognition system. california FREMONT—Spectrum Lithograph has purchased the Kawahara TXR- 1100 series blank separator. Spectrum Lithograph utilizes the new investment for blanking packaging boxes, CD wallets and more. MODESTO—A Rilecart PB-796 automatic punch bind machine has been chosen by John F. Turner Co. for production of calendars. The installation was performed by Pigna America. connecticut HARTFORD—Lebon Press has announced its expansion of services with the installation a six color, 40˝ Heidelberg Speedmaster press complete with perfecting and