Courier Corp.

(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.) 1 ('02: 1) Quebecor World, Montréal, Canada Total Sales (Millions): $6,242.00 Previous Year's Sales (Millions): $6,300.00 Change (%): -1 Principal Officer: Jean Neveu Employees: 38,000 Primary Specialties: PUB 26%; ADV 23%; CAT 16%; BKS 12% Web Offset Press Units: 3,156 Sheetfed Press Units: 985 Other Press

By Erik Cagle Senior Editor Try summing up the 2003 season from the book printing market's point of view. It can't be done. Sure, another Potter tome and the return of Oprah's book club did wonders for a struggling trade market, and most feel the elementary-high school (el-hi) sector was as depressed as the economy, with weak adoption programs to match. But, for the most part, the answers to what worked and what didn't pan out depends largely upon who is being asked. Top 10 Book Printers CompanySegmentSales(millions)TotalSales(millions) 1RR DonnelleyChicago$808$4,754 2Quebecor WorldMontreal$749$6,242 3Banta Corp.Menasha, WI$355$1,366 4Von HoffmannSt. Louis$348$535 5Bertelsmann ArvatoNew York$209$276 6Courier Corp.N.

Banta Senior Executive Departs MENASHA, WI—Larry Panozzo, president of Banta's $1 billion print sector, has resigned to pursue other interests. "Although I am personally disappointed, I respect and accept Larry's decision. We will miss his deep knowledge, passion and leadership," states Stephanie Streeter, Banta's president and CEO. Panozzo had been with Banta since 1988. A spokesperson for Banta says the company's "succession process" has already begun to fill the position. Courier Corp. Buys Web Press KENDALLVILLE, IN—Courier Corp. has purchased a new four-unit MAN Roland LITHOMAN IV web offset press that is scheduled for installation and startup by next spring. The 48-page LITHOMAN will feature a

By Erik CagleSenior Editor Although the company itself is 179 years old, Courier Corp. has the vitality of a teenager. The North Chelmsford, MA-based book printer found the fountain of youth courtesy of a comprehensive strategic planning process that began in 1990 and provided Courier with a sleek, sexy and, most of all, fiscally lucrative overhaul. The publicly held printer shed a number of markets, and the company that once published newspapers and dabbled in commercial work narrowed its focus to three book manufacturing segments—education, religious and specialty trade. The results have been outstanding. Through the first nine months of 2003, Courier has enjoyed

By Erik Cagle Senior Editor The evolution of the commercial printer Website has been an interesting journey. Initially, many printers bought into the "me, too" mentality of Internet accessibility. The catch phrase of 1997 may have been, "We have an Internet presence, as well." To not have a "presence" was to sneer in the face of technology—your thinking was inside the box and your paradigm certainly wasn't shifting anytime soon. It just wasn't proactive, darn it! If being techno hip wasn't bad enough, the Website took a narcissistic turn for the worse. Who needs substance when you have flash (make that Flash)? Home page greetings,

By Erik Cagle Of all the value-added services that printers offer their customers today, either as a generator of increased press work or as a cog in a one-stop service machine, fulfillment is one of the most economical—and popular—options. According to the National Association for Printing Leadership (NAPL) "State-of-the-Industry Report," 58.6 percent of printers currently offer fulfillment services, while 12 percent say they will offer it by the year 2004, bringing the total to just under 71 percent. It is among the top non-printing services sought by commercial printers. K/P Corp. of San Ramon, CA, which generated $86 million in sales last year, is

NORTH CHELMSFORD, MA—Courier Corp. plans to sell off the assets of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Courier Custom Publishing, to ProQuest Information & Learning Co. of Ann Arbor, MI. Courier Custom Publishing provides customized teaching materials including multi-publisher coursepacks, as well as out-of-print book reproductions and books authorized by professors for classroom use. The proceeds of the sale were $1.5 million. "The sale will allow us to focus more of our time and energy on Dover Publications," says James F. Conway III, Courier chairman and CEO. Dover Publications, founded in the 1940s and one of the most prestigious small publishers in America, was acquired by Courier in September

By Erik Cagle Breaking even is considered an accomplishment given today's economic environment, so it's difficult to believe that a number of companies managed to use some black ink in their ledgers during their last reporting date. The following is a look at how a number of companies managed to find new revenue streams while maintaining existing ones. (Sales figures are in millions.) Arandell Corp. Menomonee Falls, WI Most Recent FY Sales: $231.9M Previous FY Sales: $213.40M Number of Employees: 675 Number of Plants: 1 Arandell Corp. bowed in 1949 under the leadership of F.E. Treis. In 1981 the company began to expand its

By Erik Cagle "Give 'em hell, Harry!" That's the rally cry for both trade publishers and their print production suppliers, who eagerly await the next installment in the Harry Potter series (give 'em hell J.K. Rowling would be more accurate). And why not? The four-book (and counting) children's fantasy series from Scholastic has sold a staggering 150 million copies worldwide (70 million in the United States), and many of the leading U.S. book printers have dipped their toes in the Potter pool. Who needs an Oprah plug when you have a multi-faceted marketing machine that has licensed movies, trading cards, action figures and all

(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.) 1 ('01: 1) Quebecor World, Montréal, Canada Total Sales (millions): $6,300.00 Previous Year's (millions): $6,500.00 Change (%): -3 Principal Officer: Charles G. Cavell Employees: 40,000 Primary Specialties: PUB 26%; ADV 21%; CAT 17%; DM 13% Web Offset Units: 3,156 Sheetfed Offset Units: 985 Other: 808 Ownership: Public