Consolidated Graphics

AS WE finish compiling the annual Printing Impressions 400 ranking—now in its 23rd year—it’s a good time to reflect on major events that helped shape our industry during the past 12 months. A fiction writer would have been hard-pressed to develop a plot line with more drama, intrigue and folly than what played out in 2006 at some of the printing industry’s largest publicly held establishments. Front and center, of course, was the unsolicited, and cantankerous, takeover attempt of Banta by hard-charging Cenveo Chairman and CEO Bob Burton. After several volleys back and forth between Burton and Banta Chairman, President and CEO Stephanie Streeter,

ANDOVER, MA—November 29, 2006—Standard Finishing Systems announces the following new product installations: Darwill, based in Hillside, Illinois, recently increased their post-press efficiency with the addition of a Standard Horizon StitchLiner 5500 automated saddlestitching system with in-line three-knife trimmer. The system supports both conventionally offset printed work from their MAN Roland 40” sheet-fed presses, and pre-collated output from their Xerox iGen3 digital color press. Since installation, the fast changeover times and productivity of the system have enabled Darwill to dramatically increase the number of different saddlestitching jobs they can efficiently process each day. Founded in 1951, Darwill is a frequent recipient of

HOUSTON—Only months after mulling a possible sale of the company, Consolidated Graphics (CGX) made a statement Friday that it was completely back in the M&A game with the planned acquisition of The Hennegan Co., based in the Cincinnati suburb of Florence, KY. CGX signed a letter of intent to acquire Hennegan, an $85 million web, sheetfed and digital printer that produces a wide array of high-end products, including marketing materials, annual reports, brochures and catalogs, among other things. The transaction is expected to be completed within the next 90 days. “Bob Ott Sr., Bob Ott Jr., Kevin Ott and the employees of The Hennegan Co. have

New Additions Increase Efficiency APPLETON, WI—JP Graphics is counting on Kodak’s Prinergy workflow and a new Kodak Lotem 800 II Quantum platesetter with a five cassette automated plate loader to keep up with growth and customer demands. The midsize printer has acquired three different printing firms since 1998, including its latest acquisition 18 months ago that doubled its workforce overnight from 25 to 50 employees. CHICAGO—Hi-Liter/Inland and MAN Roland executives meet at Graph Expo to raise their glasses to the printer’s new 4x4 32-page web press destined for its Burlington, WI, facility. Brian SanFillipo has filled the new position of director of digital operations at

Centenarian Printer Continues to Evolve BARBERTON, OH—Davis Printing is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. The company was founded in 1906 by John R. Davis., who produced a weekly newspaper and provided printing services to the public. Today, the full-service commercial printer offers sheetfed offset and digital printing, complete bindery, mailing and fulfillment, and Web-based services. Recently, Davis Printing also acquired Merrick Graphics. Steve Merrick was named Davis Printing’s vice president of marketing and president of the new creative division, Merrick Design Group. ALABAMA MONTGOMERY—Wells Printing has installed a Sakurai 675SD sheetfed press with coater. It was purchased through dealer Independent Graphic Services.

HOUSTON—The Canadian province of Ontario can be added to the roster of 26 states that currently play home to Consolidated Graphics (CGX) facilities. CGX broke new ground with the announcement it had signed a letter of intent to acquire Annan & Bird Lithographers, a general commercial printer based in the Toronto suburb of Mississauga, Ontario. The deal is expected to be completed by the end of CGX’s third quarter. Annan & Bird Lithographers specializes in large-format offset printing for the point-of-purchase (P-O-P) and packaging markets. The company was founded in 1987 by Jack Bird and his sons, John and David. “Annan & Bird is a highly creative,

CONVENTIONAL INDUSTRY wisdom seemed to favor large, publicly traded commercial printing enterprises. They operated with lower cost structures than their often smaller, privately held competitors, in part due to their ability to negotiate better prices for consumables like paper and ink, along with company healthcare and operating insurance premiums. They maintained deep pockets to fund continuous capital improvement expenditures for the most automated machinery and workflow platforms available, enabling higher job productivity and better employee utilization company-wide. They leveraged their ability to cross-sell products and services to a diverse customer base within a bevy of markets. They attracted the best talent; people sought them

HOUSTON—The Canadian province of Ontario can be added to the roster of 26 states that currently play home to Consolidated Graphics (CGX) facilities. CGX broke new ground with the announcement it had signed a letter of intent to acquire Annan & Bird Lithographers, a general commercial printer based in the Toronto suburb of Mississauga, Ontario. The deal is expected to be completed by the end of CGX’s third quarter. Annan & Bird Lithographers specialize in large-format offset printing for the point-of-purchase (P-O-P) and packaging markets. The company was founded in 1987 by Jack Bird and his sons, John and David. “Annan & Bird is a highly creative,

HOUSTON—Buoyed by investments in new technologies and continued activity on the M&A front, Consolidated Graphics (CGX) posted record earnings for the quarter ending June 30.CGX chalked up revenue of $238 million for the quarter, eclipsing the $210 million performance from the previous year, a 14 percent increase. Record diluted earnings per share reached $0.97, up…

Look at a copy of this magazine from 10, 15 or 20 years ago. Some of the printing company names ring a bell, albeit vaguely. This one merged a few years back, that one is now part of Consolidated Graphics, another one filed for bankruptcy and was liquidated. Other companies change their names. Many more just fade away. Printing establishments come and go, but the industry is laden with career lifers. Remember the journeyman printer? The craftsman? Remember a time before iMacs or desktop publishing? How about lead type? Linotype? Red opaque? Any of this stuff ring a bell? Were you at the