DS Graphics

THERE ARE those who believe that offset printing is well aware of its mortality, in light of advances and inroads made by its younger and better connected cousin, digital printing. But even if offset technology is on the clock (and not everyone can agree), the lead time to its possible demise is fairly substantial. So before you convert that stacked web press into a glorified set of monkey bars, consider the major benefits that many printers have reaped by having hybrid technologies under one roof. In some cases, both offset and digital are being leveraged for the same job, as they each offer advantages

LOWELL, MA—DS Graphics has agreed to a deal that sees the sheetfed, web and digital printer acquiring Fidelity Communications, of Everett, MA. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter. Fidelity specializes in personalized one-to-one direct marketing and also provides traditional printing and fulfillment services. DS Graphics, a $20 million printer, serves the software, communications and publishing industries, among others. The two companies have robust Web-enabled tools that allow for easy and accurate sharing of information for customer convenience, including order entry, fulfillment and warehousing. “We are delighted to further expand the services offered to our customers. The addition of Fidelity Communications will add both

Fala Direct Marketing, Farmingdale, NY, announced that James Stumpf has joined the company as vice president of sales. Marc Hacker has been named director of data processing. Also, Perry Fernandes has been promoted to the position of vice president and general manager of mailing operations. Richard Hastings has joined Service Web Offset, based in Chicago, as director of new business development. For the past 13 years, Hastings was vice president of sales and marketing for CJK, Print Possibilities. Rapid Solutions Group (RSG), a New York-based digital communications company, announced that it has combined its offset and digital sales teams. This change is part of the company's overall

(Editor's Note: Company rankings for the current and previous years are based on figures reported in 2004. Therefore, companies that revised their 2003 revenues may have changed their 2003 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.) 251 ('03: 245) Fisher Group, Hiawatha, IA Total Sales (Millions): $20.00 Previous Year's Sales (Millions): $20.00 Change (%): - Principal Officer: Martin C. Fisher Employees: 145 Primary Specialties: DM 90%; ADV 6%; CAT 4% Web Offset Press Units: 13 Sheetfed Press Units: 0 Other Press Units: 0

(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.) 252 ('02: 262) Specialty Printing, Niles, IL Total Sales (Millions): $21.90 Previous Year's Sales (Millions): $21.40 Change (%): +2 Principal Officer: Adam M. LeFebvre Employees: 92 Primary Specialties: DM 45%; ADV 30%; COM 25% Web Offset Press Units: 16 Sheetfed Press Units: 12 Other Press Units:

Eschol Harrell has been promoted to the position of account manager at Walton Press, Atlanta, after previously serving as a prepress operator for the company. Harrell has 22 years of publishing production management experience. Lynn McCoy has joined the executive team at DS Graphics, Lowell, MA. She comes to the company with an extensive professional background, including the active president of e-Source International. In other company news, T.C. Kuan is the company's new chief information officer. He is the co-founder of eSource International. Terry McLaughlin has been named senior vice president of sales administration at Segerdahl Graphics, Wheeling, IL. Previously, McLaughlin was vice president of sales.

(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.) 252 ('01: 275) Commercial Communications, Hartland, WI Total Sales (millions): $22.38 Previous Year's (millions): $22.75 Change (%): -2 Principal Officer: Robert D. Hegwood Employees: 250 Primary Specialties: PUB 50%; COM 30%; SPEC 10% (On-demand); BKS 10% Web Offset Units: 6 Sheetfed Offset Units: 18 Other: 14

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: 301302Color Ink, Sussex, WI$20.50E$19.50+5Jim Meissner112COM 45%; PKG 25%; DM 10%; PUB 5%0420Private1  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: 302324Mossberg & Co., S. Bend,

LOWELL, MA—DS Graphics is putting the finishing touches on a growth initiative to renovate the company on the inside and outside, including a new 135,000-square-foot plant and new equipment. The new facility features 50 offices; 24-foot-high ceilings in the warehouse for four-high skid storage and several thousand skid locations; Drexel forklifts, allowing narrow aisle maneuvering; six new loading docks; and the merging of all 130 existing employees back into one location. Among the new equipment are two eight-color Mitsubishi presses, two Heidelberg Digimaster 9110s, as well as Fuji digital color proofing and Saber direct-to-plate devices. New procedures and processes have produced record turnaround times and quality