Corporate Press

(Editor's Note: Company rankings for the current and previous years are based on figures reported in 2003. Therefore, companies that revised their 2002 revenues may have changed their 2002 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.) 203 ('02: 210) Versa Press, E. Peoria, IL Total Sales (Millions): $27.43 Previous Year's Sales (Millions): $27.12 Change (%): +1 Principal Officer: Steven J. Kennell Employees: 190 Primary Specialties: BKS 100% Web Offset Press Units: 0 Sheetfed Press Units: 18 Other Press Units: 0 Ownership:

BY MARK SMITH Technology Editor Optimistic is the one word most often used to describe the outlook for commercial printing in 2004. And yet, as the last strains of "Auld Lang Syne" fade away, it's unlikely many printers will feel like breaking into a rousing chorus of "Happy Days Are Here Again." The bursting of the "irrational exuberance" bubble has led to a time of lowered expectations. Also, the recent performance of the printing industry means year-to-year comparisons are being made against a very weak base. If the economy tracks as expected—growing by around 3.5 percent next year—print markets should continue to

By Erik Cagle The last thing Corporate Press wanted was to be dubbed a one-trick pony. Sure, the Landover, MD-based printer has made a name for itself in the commercial realm, but providing cradle-to-grave solutions for customers has been the Number One priority all along. According to Mike Butala, general manager of Corporate Color—one of five divisions that comprise the Corporate Press organization, the printer has avoided "pigeon hole" labels by forging a reputation based on its versatility. "By involving ourselves in our customer problems beyond simply commercial printing, we have provided solutions within our corporation that increase customer satisfaction and loyalty," he says.

Printer Wins Baldrige Award FORT WORTH, TX—Branch-Smith Printing has received the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in the small business category. It is the nation's premier award for performance excellence and quality achievement. The Baldrige Award is managed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in conjunction with the private sector. The winners were announced by President Bush and Commerce Secretary Don Evans in November. Ennis Acquires Calibrated Forms DESOTO, TX—Ennis Business Forms has completed its acquisition of the outstanding stock of Columbus, KS-based Calibrated Forms Co. Calibrated designs, manufactures and markets printed business forms within the wholesale business forms marketplace. Calibrated becomes

Howard Fenton has joined the staff of the National Association for Printing Leadership (NAPL), Paramus, NJ, as a senior consultant of digital technologies. Previously, Fenton served for six years as the senior consultant of digital technology for the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation. The Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation (PGSF) has granted $275,000 in scholarships to a total of 202 students pursuing careers in the graphic communications industry. PGSF awarded 99 of the scholarships to women and 103 to men. Also, Brown Printing, Waseca, MN, recently pledged $50,000 to establish the Wayne "Bumps" Brown Honorary Scholarship. After the fund matures, the scholarship will be awarded

(Editor's Note: Company rankings for the current and previous years are based on figures reported in 2002. Therefore, companies that revised their 2001 revenues may have changed their 2001 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.) 201 ('01: 188) Oles Envelope, Baltimore, MD Total Sales (millions): $28.70 Previous Year's (millions): $35.40 Change (%): -19 Principal Officer: John R. Young Employees: 204 Primary Specialties: PKG 100% Web Offset Units: 0 Sheetfed Offset Units: 6 Other: 0 Ownership: Private Plants: 1 202 ('01: 231)

Chris Breault has been named vice president of sales for the Banta Book Group, Western region. He is headquartered out of Banta's Santa Clara, CA, office. Breault brings five years of experience as a senior sales executive in Banta's Western region. John Wetzel has been hired as sales director for Payne Printery, Dallas. Previously, Wetzel established J.L. Printech, a commercial printing brokerage firm. As president, he directed all sales and marketing, and personally called on all key accounts. Mark E. Little has been hired as a corporate officer and president of the document management strategic business unit for Standard Register, Dayton, OH. Before joining the company,

Editor's note: Company rankings for the current and previous years are based on figures reported in 2001. Therefore, companies that revised their 2000 revenues may have changed their '00 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. 2001 Ranking:Previous Year's Ranking:Company:Total Sales (millions):Previous Year's (millions):Change (%):Principal Officer:Employees:Primary Specialties:Web Offset Units:Sheetfed Offset Units:Other:Ownership:Plants: 201199The EGT Group, Madison Heights, MI$32.00$32.00-Jonathan Strager135COM 40%; DM 15%; CAT 15%; PUB 10%0340Private1  2001 Ranking:Previous Year's Ranking:Company:Total Sales (millions):Previous Year's (millions):Change (%):Principal Officer:Employees:Primary Specialties: Web Offset Units:Sheetfed Offset Units:Other:Ownership:Plants: 201181Gateway Press, Louisville,

BY SCOTT POLK There is an old saying that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. That adage can also be applied to commercial printing. A company may have state-of-the-art equipment, a CTP-enabled prepress workflow and veteran press operators, but if its sales staff is unable to sell the finished product, the whole chain will collapse. Of course, this is not to imply that salespeople are the weak link of a printing operation. On the contrary, since the success of a company is generally judged by sales figures, the importance of a winning sales team is obvious. One of the

If you know the name of a printing company that you think appears on the Printing Impressions 400 list, but you're not sure of its ranking, here's an easy way to locate that firm. Simply find the company in the alphabetical listings on this page. In addition to each company's name and headquarters location, a corresponding number appears indicating that firm's ranking on the Printing Impressions 400. ABS Graphics (Addison, IL) 400 Action Printing (Fond du Lac, WI) 353 Adams Business Forms (Topeka, KS) 96 AdPlex Inc. (Houston, TX) 102 Advance Business Graphics (Mira Loma, CA) 153 AFL Web Printing (Voorhees, NJ)