Eastman Kodak

BITS AND PIECES WHEN YOU combine new technology with old-school craft and a little in-your-face attitude, the result is side-splitting laughter. And it’s also perhaps the biggest electronic boost for the printing industry. Pazazz, a commercial and package printer based in Montréal, was looking to put together a fun, if a bit unconventional, promotional video. So Warren Werbitt, president and CEO of Pazazz, donned a company uniform and went on an almost four-minute rant near his loading dock that was reminiscent of Dennis Leary’s hyperactive style. The video, called “Printing’s Alive,” was posted on YouTube and immediately took off. By early February, the video

Goss Recognized For Global Resources Management BOSTON—At its Manufacturing in the 21st Century Summit held here recently, The Aberdeen Group presented the Performance Excellence Award to Goss International. The award recognizes Goss for excellence in managing global resources to meet complex, engineer-to-order (ETO) manufacturing requirements—citing its manufacturing operations, supply chain management and information technology support that contribute to exceptional product performance. Böwe Bell + Howell has entered into an agreement in principle to acquire OPEX Corp.’s Postal Technologies division, which includes a line of mail sorters and software products. The company will also assume all of OPEX Postal Technologies’ maintenance and licensing

ARE YOU going to Drupa 2008? In its 14th edition (the first Drupa was in 1951, 57 years ago!), it will be the largest ever, with more than 1,800 exhibitors from 50 countries and more than 1.8 million square feet of exhibit space. More than 400,000 visitors are expected during its two-week run, beginning May 29th. Why do I bring that up in a column about marketing? Classic marketing texts talk about the “4Ps” of marketing: Product, Price, Promotion and Place. • Product: This is the physical product or service offered to the customer. It also refers to any services or conveniences that are

DÜSSELDORF, GERMANY—This will be the ink-jet Drupa. No, it will be the green Drupa. Or, maybe the print buyer Drupa. Actually, it will be big enough to be all three, and much more. With more than 1,800 exhibitors occupying more than 1.8 million square feet of exhibit space in nearly 20 halls, putting a label on Drupa is one way to make it more digestible. Another is for visitors to develop a “must-see” list ahead of time. To that end, a number of briefings are being held in advance of the show to get the word out about what to look for from major

PITTSBURGH—PIA/GATF will explain how graphic communications companies can take advantage of two of the industry’s hottest trends, lean manufacturing and green printing, when its National Seminar Tour resumes this spring. The one-day Lean and Green seminar, being held at eight locations across the country will help companies trim manufacturing waste and time. It will also focus on sustainable manufacturing practices that can have the dual benefit of meeting customer demands and reducing costs. Ken Rizzo, PIA/GATF’s director of consulting and head of its Center for Lean Practices, and Gary Jones, PIA/GATF’s director of environmental, health, and safety, will co-present the program. The

INDUSTRY NEWS Uniting to Fight Global Climate Change NEW YORK—Representatives from Time Inc., Pictorial Offset and Eastman Kodak joined forces to speak “green” during a recent seminar sponsored by the Advertising Production Club (APC) of New York and Partnership in Print Production (P3) at The Yale Club here. The keynote sustainability panel addressed the topic of how to “Fight Global Climate Change by Cutting Through the Green Fog,” which focused on sustainabiity issues in printing and advertising. Speakers included David Refkin, Time Inc.’s director of sustainable development; Nick Patrissi, Eastman Kodak’s manager of market development; Don Carli, panel moderator and research fellow at

JDF User Group Formed, Awards Program Expanded PITTSBURGH—To facilitate implementation of the Job Definition Format (JDF) in automated workflows, a new JDF User Group is being formed by Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF) and the International Cooperation for the Integration of Processes in Prepress, Press and Postpress (CIP4). Plans call for the group to meet three times a year in locations across the country, with the first meeting having already been scheduled to run here March 24 and 25. The group is to convene March 24 at PIA/GATF’s headquarters for a hands-on look at JDF implementations within the facility and a

AT PRESS time, the nation was gripped with caucus fever. It was still anyone’s game for both parties, with Barack Obama getting traction early for the Dems, and John McCain and Mitt Romney jockeying for position for the Republicans. Each candidate is seeking to be viewed as an agent for change. It’s tough to differentiate between them, and the gloves have yet to completely come off. That will have to happen, sooner or later, in order to create a sound bite that can be the cornerstone of each platform. For example: Obama will say “Hillary Clinton wants us to look back, but we can’t

Shop’s 29˝ Sheetfed PressesOutmaneuver 40˝ Competitors WINTER PARK, FL—Edward Sengel, president of Superior Printers, was so impressed with his first Roland 500 press that he installed a second one. Both systems are configured with six printing units, in-line coating and extended deliveries. The printer also uses MAN Roland’s printnet PressManager, which networks the Roland 500s to the rest of Superior’s production workflow. The second Roland 500 has perfecting capabilities. “The 23x29˝ format of the Roland 500 takes it to the next level,” says Sengel. “Unless you’re doing oversized display posters, a large percentage of what used to be 40˝ work exclusively can now run

PITTSBURGH—January 29, 2008--PIA/GATF will explain how graphic communications companies can take advantage of two of the industry’s hottest trends, lean manufacturing and green printing, when its National Seminar Tour resumes this spring. The one-day Lean and Green seminar, being held at eight locations across the country will help companies trim manufacturing waste and time. It will also focus on sustainable manufacturing practices that can have the dual benefit of meeting customer demands and reducing costs. Ken Rizzo, PIA/GATF’s director of consulting and head of its Center for Lean Practices, and Gary Jones, PIA/GATF’s director of environmental, health, and safety, will co-present the program.