Eastman Kodak

BY MARK SMITH Advancing the capabilities of computer-to-plate (CTP) systems requires plate and platesetter manufacturers to perform a tricky little digital two-step. The pair's timing has to be just right since each half of the CTP solution is useless without the other. While the platesetter may represent a much larger initial investment, the plate really does the leading because of its broader impact on the success of a CTP implementation. As a whole, the printing industry hasn't been content to just dance with the ones (technologies) that brought it to the party. Thermal imaging barely had its coming out before people were looking ahead

CPS Corp., a sister company of INX International, has been recognized for its environmental record and has been accepted into the National Environmental Performance Program, administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Muller Martini has launched a new digital on-demand finishing division. Andrew J. Fetherman was named manager of the new division. Fetherman was formerly product manager for Muller Martini's press division. That post is now held by Donald Geiger. Kim Graven-Nielsen has been named president and CEO of newly formed Esko-Graphics. The company was created after the merger of Purup-Eskofot and Barco Graphics. Presstek Inc. announced the qualification of its Anthem thermal CTP

ALABAMA HUNTSVILLE—A new two-color, 28˝ Komori Lithrone press has been installed at All American Printing. TUSCALOOSA—The University of Alabama has added a new four-color, 21 1⁄16 x 19 1⁄8˝ Sakurai 474EPII press. CALIFORNIA IRVINE—The Dot Printer recently installed a Fujifilm Javelin Luxel T-9000 CTP thermal platesetter. The company is a five-facility, $36 million commercial printing operation. LOS ANGELES—Lithographix has installed its second Rollem TR die-scoring system and a Durselen/Rollem PB01 drilling system. NAPA—Label printer Jonergin Pacific has purchased CRC Information Systems' "The System" business management software. The company specializes in the production of high-quality wine labels. SAN DIEGO—Speedy Bindery has purchased a Best Osako

New Leadership At Roosevelt Paper MOUNT LAUREL, NJ—David Kosloff has become president of Roosevelt Paper, representing the third generation of family ownership. He takes over for his father, Ted Kosloff, who has served as president since 1976. Roosevelt Paper was founded in 1932 by Irv Kosloff. Gämmerler Corp. has realigned its manufacturing plants. Located in Geretsried-Gelting, Germany, Leisnig, Germany, and Hanover Park, IL, each will specialize in the production of a specific set of products. Compensating stacker production, which currently takes place at all three plants, will transfer to Leisnig. The facility in Geretsried-Gelting will focus its operations on the production of robotic palletizers, vertical log

Lewis Henderson has been named general manager of K/P Corp.'s Kent, WA-based mailing and fulfillment facility. Henderson brings 15 years of experience in fulfillment, marketing and management to his new position. He started at K/P in 1988 and most recently served as vice president of fulfillment services at its San Leandro, CA, facility. Rod Bristol has been awarded the Ascender Award for the Northwest region by the Alliance of Consultants & Educators for the Printing Industry. Winners of the Ascender Award exhibit superior business practices and go above and beyond to share their knowledge and experience with industry peers. Bristol is the owner of Sudden

BY MARK SMITH Trade shows probably are not the most accurate indicator of an industry's vitality. When the show is IPEX 2002—the international printing exhibition held in Birmingham, UK—it's even harder to draw any direct conclusions about the North American market because of the show's strong English and broader European flavor. Still, there is an understandable temptation to try to gauge the current state of the market based on the tone of major industry events. The organizers of IPEX report overall attendance at the 2002 show hit 65,451 people, which represents about a 30 percent decline from the final count for IPEX 98. Overseas visitors reportedly

BY MARK SMITH A consensus of opinion seems to have been reached about why to adopt a computer-to-plate workflow. At least in some quarters, though, the same cannot be said for the question of how to implement one. Or more precisely, which combination of plate and platesetter is the best solution. New product introductions continue to fuel the thermal versus violet imaging debate. The recent IPEX international printing expo also brought a new player (Esko-Graphics, the newly named combination of Purup-Eskofot and Barco Graphics) to the arena of digitally imaging conventional ultraviolet plates. Processless technology continues be developed along ablative, phase-change and other tracks.

New Digs for Graphics Microsystems ROCKWALL, TX—Graphics Microsystems (GMI), headquartered in Sunnyvale, CA, opened its new 50,000-square-foot facility here in February to increase capacity for its Microcolor ink controls, ColorQuick closed-loop color control systems and PrintQuick color-to-color register systems. The shareholders of Check Technology Corp. have approved a proposal to change the company's name to Delphax Technologies. Rudi Lenz has joined Sun Chemical as senior vice president and CFO. Most recently, Lenz served as president and CEO of Fairchild Aircraft. SICPA North America, a provider of ink solutions to printers of labels, plastic cards, packaging and carton gravure applications, has appointed JoEllen Lawler as director of human

BY CAROLINE MILLER The decision to implement a color management system was a no-brainer for Multi-Visual Products (MVP) owner Craig Graves. The Murrieta, CA-based company, which prints high-quality trading cards for youth sports leagues around the nation—as well as a line of magazine covers, calendars, enhanced team prints, magnets, stickers and mouse pads—had a color problem. When the company began eight years ago, MVP had a code blue calibration process, including a scanner and an output device. The company had to tweak the output devices as best it could, but there were many colors that didn't match the original. "Our reject rates were very high,"

BY MARK MICHELSON With its emphasis on attracting graphic arts professionals from both North and Latin America, the 27th annual Graphics of the Americas (GOA) exhibition, held in early February at the Miami Beach Convention Center, bucked current industry trends of weak buying activity and light trade show traffic. All told, 22,101 people attended the event, which featured over 500 exhibitors representing approximately 1,500 different companies and occupying nearly 1,400 booths. The Printing Association of Florida (PAF), the exhibition organizer, points to several key factors to explain the strong showing in light of recent economic turmoil. "As the first major printing, converting and graphic arts show