Editor's note: Company rankings for the current and previous years are based on figures reported in 2000. Therefore, companies that revised their 1999 revenues may have changed their '99 ranking as compared with the ranking that appeared in last year's Printing Impressions 500. Similarly, the percentage change in sales is calculated on the most recent information provided.2000 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:1 1Quebecor World*, Montreal, Canada$6,540.00$6,160.00+6Charles G. Cavell44,000PUB 29%; ADV 20%; CAT 17%; DM 13%3,156985808Public 160*Parent: Quebecor Inc., Montreal, Canada 2000 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:2
Courier Corp.
BY SCOTT POLK The book printing industry had one of its finest years in 2000, and not just because of the wild success of the Harry Potter series. Of course, the bespectacled British lad had a little to do with the success, but it was the elementary through high school (el-hi) textbook market that led the way. Top 10 Book Printers CompanySegmentSales(millions)Total Sales(millions) 1R.R. Donnelley & SonsChicago$800$5,000 2Quebecor WorldMontreal$784$6,540 3Jostens Inc. Minneapolis$665$782 4Von Hoffmann Corp. Saint Louis$400$400 5Banta Corp. Menasha, WI$279$1,270 6Bertelsmann ArvatoBerryville, VA$191$285 7Courier Corp. N. Chelmsford, MA$188$188 8Phoenix ColorHagerstown, MD$160$160(E) 9Taylor PublishingDallas$104$104 10WebcraftersMadison, WI$86$86 Peter Tobin, vice president of North Chelmsford, MA-based Courier
WHITE STONE, VA—Top technologists and strategic planners from leading printing, premedia and publishing companies around the world met in Orlando, FL, recently at the R&E Council/GCA Digital Smart Factory Conference to discuss integrated manufacturing in the printing industry. The meeting, co-sponsored by the R&E Council and the Graphic Communications Association, was an outgrowth of the 1999 Digital Networked Production Systems conference, staged by the R&E Council to explore the efficiencies possible in automating the print manufacturing process. The conference was co-chaired by Orlando Boleda, vice president of product development at Hart Graphics, and Stephen Franzino, vice president of technology for Courier Companies.
If you've been following the latest developments in the world of electronic publishing, you've probably come across the abbreviation "XML" (short for eXtended Markup Language). If you've seen it, you're probably confused about it. Most people are—it's very complicated, and there's a lot of imprecise and overly technical information out there. If you haven't heard of XML before, well, I guess you just did. Let's take a look at what XML is, and why it might matter to printers and publishers. Style SheetsDo you know style sheets? We've had them for years now in our desktop applications, from Microsoft Word to PageMaker to QuarkXPress. Style
BY ERIK CAGLE Imagine laying on the beach with a blanket, some sunblock, an umbrella—and the laptop computer cued to the latest book by your favorite author. Too futuristic sounding to be taken seriously? That future may not be as far away as you think. Most people still would not want to get sand in their keyboard, or curl up in bed or next to a fireplace with a good PC, which indicates that the health of the printed book is not in immediate danger. "As long as we have the three "Bs"—the bedroom, bathroom and the beach—the traditional book will remain," laughs Jerry
With the holidays approaching only too rapidly, I thought it time to generate a wish list for the folks whose primary responsibility it is to make sure that the bits and bytes turn into spots and dots. With all the jousting that goes on in our industry, a little peace on earth and goodwill among men and women sounds like a good thing. Let's face it: There's really no bad equipment out on the market, just different approaches that each come with their own compromises and drawbacks, as well as features and benefits. Of course, we all end up with our preferences as to how to
NEW YORK—Are we ready for Y2K? Is PDF ready for us? What is the impact of the Internet? These are just some of the questions asked and answered by speakers and attendees at the BookTech '99 show and conference held here recently. Buyers of book manufacturing services whose principle question was: "Who will produce my next project?" roamed the trade show floor, searching for new sources of supply for special projects and renewing acquaintances with current suppliers. With more than 130 exhibitors, there was plenty to check out, especially the digital printing portion of the show, where on-demand printing services were featured by
BY ERIK CAGLE School's in session and book printers large and small couldn't be happier. The year 1998 will be remembered for a number of things in the book printing industry, such as the consolidation in both the publishing and manufacturing realms. Despite this M&A activity, the elementary/high school market, along with college level and juvenile books, propelled the industry. Even the trade market, with best sellers and Oprah Winfrey touting its virtues, couldn't steal the el-hi/college thunder. Top 10 Book Printers CompanySegmentSales(millions)Total Sales(millions)1R.R. Donnelley & SonsChicago$776.00$4,850.002Quebecor PrintingMontreal$522.00$3,480.00 3Banta Corp. Menasha, WI$240.00$1,200.004World Color PressGreenwich, CT$220.00$2,000.005Bertelsmann Industries U.S. Berryville, VA$163.30$230.00 6Golden Books PublishingSturtevant, WI$160.00$200.007Courier Corp.North Chelmsford,
Be honest. Did you expect WAM!NET and 4-Sight to merge their telecommunication powers under the same banner at Seybold? WAM!NET's bold and beautiful acquisition of the UK-domestic-turned-global ISDN provider was the big news at Seybold New York. Wasn't it the most logical, likely, and yet somehow unlikely, pairing of corporate intentions, philosophies and technologies? Wasn't it just what the commercial printer has been virtually demanding of these two facilitators of digital file delivery? On perhaps a more important note, wasn't it simply surreal to see all those WAM!NET employees in their funky T-shirts standing peacefully, shoulder to shoulder, with the small army of
HOUSTON—Consolidated Graphics, based here, has capped the year with three new acquisitions, bringing its total to 29 companies. The first of the three firms was StorterChilds Printing, based in Gainesville, FL. The acquisition marks Consolidated's entry into the booming Florida printing market. Consolidated officials call StorterChilds, founded almost 50 years ago, one of the leading commercial printers in central Florida. As is nearly always the case with Consolidated Graphics' acquisitions, the current management team will remain in place. John Childs and Jim Storter will continue to lead StorterChilds after the transaction is completed. "Our company has been successful because we consistently provide our
