Consolidated Graphics

Workers Say No to Union MONTREAL—An independent arbitrator has ruled there is no need to hold a re-run election for union representation at Quebecor World’s Covington, TN, facility, as requested by the Teamsters. The decision upholds a secret ballot election in which those employees opted against union representation. As part of the decision, it was ruled that Quebecor World’s conduct did not adhere to the neutrality provisions of the May 2005 Neutrality Agreement signed by the printer and Teamsters. CGX Finishes Nies/Artcraft Deal HOUSTON—Consolidated Graphics has completed the acquisition of St. Louis-based Nies/Artcraft Companies, which includes Nies/Artcraft Printing, Valcour Printing and Impression Label. Terms of the deal

Open House Offers Look at New Gear ROLLING MEADOWS, IL—Spartanics held its fourth annual open house in suburban Chicago recently, featuring the North American debut of the new Spartanics Klemm laser cut diecutting system. Two participatory forums were offered to attendees on the subjects of "Introduction to Digital Diecutting" and "Feed Users Forum." Finishing Safety Standards Adopted The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has approved ANSI B65.2-2005, Graphic technology-Safety requirements for binding and finishing systems and equipment. This standard revises and replaces the 1999 edition, and is currently available from NPES. The standard addresses mechanical safety issues such as motion controls, guarding against hazards, and warning

Honor Societies Merge, Induct New Members The Ash Khan Society of PIA and the Society of Fellows of GATF have merged to form The Ben Franklin Society of PIA/GATF. The officers for the new Ben Franklin Society are Robert Murphy, chairman; Kent Martin, vice chairman; William Evans, secretary; and Ted Ringman, treasurer. The Ash Khan Society and the Society of Fellows have inducted 15 new members including: Robert Brown, CEO, Goss International; Wendell Burns, president and CEO, Jones Printing; John Green, president, Automated Graphic Systems; David Langhans; Herbert Hall Provence III, former president of Provence Printing; Charles Vaughan, president, Vaughan Printing; Alfred McCulloch, retired

HOUSTON—Printing industry M&A heavyweight Consolidated Graphics (CGX) has signed a letter of intent to acquire an affiliated group of commercial printers, including Nies/Artcraft, operating in St. Louis. Also acquired in the deal were Valcour Printing and Impression Label. The transaction was expected to be completed this month. Nies/Artcraft ranked 225th on the 2004 Printing Impressions 400 ranking of top printers with sales of $23 million. It specializes in medium- to long-run sheetfed and web printing. Valcour Printing performs short-run, small-format sheetfed and digital printing while Impression Label handles flexographic label printing. "Nies/Artcraft, together with Valcour and Impression Label, are the premier general commercial printing companies in an important

Just when you thought 2005 was going to be a relative dud in the merger and acquisition realm, along came fall. And that's when the action got hot and heavy. Four monster transactions sent 2005 out with a bang. OK, so we can't count December—after all, we're not clairvoyant. But the deals vibrated through the industry, a couple of which involved the two largest printers in North America. Hey, the late 1990s don't appear to be returning any time soon, but that doesn't mean we won't experience an M&A renaissance. * RR Donnelley broke its prolonged silence by annexing Spencer Press of Wells, ME.

By Erik Cagle Senior Editor It is virtually impossible to ignore the impact Robert (Bob) Burton had on the printing industry in 2005. Given his relentless pursuit of two companies this past year, it was almost a given that Burton would enter 2006 at the helm of some printing business. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. In the final analysis, 2005 will be viewed as a year marked by triumph, tragedy and transactions, not to mention some unexpected twists and turns. Which fits us to a T. While the news wasn't always positive, a silver lining—a moral or a lesson could usually

2005 PI 400 Ranking: Industry in Transition Welcome to our 22nd annual "Printing Impressions 400 & Who's Who in Printing" issue. Aside from ranking the 400 largest printers in the U.S. and Canada based on sales, this special year-end edition also forecasts major print segments for the coming year. Providing an industry snapshot of which companies are soaring, which ones are just treading water and those that are sinking, the PI 400 is increasingly conspicuous by the venerable establishments that no longer appear on our list—usually the result of having been acquired by another company. And some privately held shops won't divulge their sales. This

The Printing Impressions 400

Journal Shutters Dixie Web MILWAUKEE—Dixie Web Printing, the New Orleans-based printing arm of Journal Communications hit by Hurricane Katrina, will not resume operations, the company announced in its third quarter report. Journal Communications said the decision was made due to softness prior to the storm, and the fallout resulting from Katrina—building damage, operating losses and uncollectible receivables. About 100 jobs were lost at Dixie. Graphcom Joining CGX Family HOUSTON—Consolidated Graphics (CGX) has inked a letter of intent to acquire Graphcom Inc., of Atlanta. The transaction was expected to be completed within 60 days. The deal speaks to CGX's long-term strategy for expanding its geographic footprint, reports Joe

Fresh, intensity-riddled faces swarmed the lobby of the Houstonian Hotel, most of them young enough to appear in auditions for an MTV reality show. But aspiring actors these youngsters were not—they hoped to become role players in the ever-growing printing industry dynasty best known by its stock symbol: CGX. It was late July, and the sixth annual Consolidated Graphics (CGX) National Associates Meeting was in full swing. Despite the fact that most of the participants’ drivers licenses indicated a birth date in the 1980s, these participants boasted a confidence, an eager aggressiveness and a tireless optimism regarding their present and future roles with the