Fort Dearborn

By Erik Cagle Senior Editor The whispers that point toward an improving economy are becoming louder and louder. And 2004—some observers are confident—will show a marked improvement in the fortunes of commercial printers across the country, ending a downward cycle that traces to the fall of 2000. Of course, anything above the 2001 and 2002 performances would constitute an improvement. Still, among the ranks of our annual Top 400, tucked in between the masses of companies that experienced flat or negative growth from the previous campaign, are some establishments that have actually soared. We've provided a capsulated look at 13 companies randomly selected from

(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

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: 11Quebecor World, Montréal, Canada$6,500.00$5,000.00+30Charles G. Cavell44,000PUB 29%; ADV 20%; CAT 17%; DM 13%3,156985808Public160  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: 21R.R. Donnelley & Sons,

Some years ago I wrote a couple of columns on "Chaos Theory" and its impact on printing production. "Chaos," by James Gleick in 1987, was a classic book that explained why we can't forecast the weather, the stock market or the economy. Too many seemingly tiny variables interacting and causing major changes in results, he told us. The oft-quoted example is that of a butterfly flapping its wings in a Brazilian rain forest and causing major storms in New York a week later. We've known all about chaos in printing for years. We establish standards that are predictions of how a job

If you know the name of a printing company that you think appears on the Printing Impressions 400 list, but you're not sure of its ranking, here's an easy way to locate that firm. Simply find the company in the alphabetical listings on this page. In addition to each company's name and headquarters location, a corresponding number appears indicating that firm's ranking on the Printing Impressions 400. ABS Graphics (Addison, IL) 400 Action Printing (Fond du Lac, WI) 353 Adams Business Forms (Topeka, KS) 96 AdPlex Inc. (Houston, TX) 102 Advance Business Graphics (Mira Loma, CA) 153 AFL Web Printing (Voorhees, NJ)

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

Welcome to the fifth annual Printing Impressions ranking of the 50 print vendors at the top of the color on-demand printing market. The rankings were determined by 1999 annual sales figures, as reported by the companies themselves. 1. XYAN.COMKing of Prussia, PA(610) 992-7100Total Annual Sales: $62,500,000% of Sales From On-demand: 60Principal Officer: Alan BelyeaPlants: 47Employees: 735 Year Founded: 1994Digital Printing Devices: Canon CLC 1000 (2); Xerox DocuColor 12 (34); Xerox DocuColor 40 (8); Xerox DocuColor 70 (1); Xerox DocuColor 100 (1); Xerox DocuTech 135 (5); Xerox DocuTech 6180 (16)Capabilities/Servicess: Digital file transfer; Distribute and print; Distribution and fulfillment; Internet server; Large-format output 2. BPS

Here's a handy alphabetical listing of leading prepress operations from throughout the United States. Accu-ColorDiv. Mail-Well Print Group11786 Westline Ind. Dr.St. Louis, MO 63146314-993-5669; 800-327-5191; fax: 314-993-6357http://www.accu-color.comPrepublishing sales: $12.5 millionContact: Michael Smith, vice president of salesAgency/corp./comm.= 25% Books= 20%, Catalogs= 5%, Packaging= 5%, Printers= 10%, Retail inserts= 5%, Other= 30% American Color Div. American Color Graphics100 Winners CircleBrentwood, TN 37027615-377-7500; 800-344-8644; fax: 615-377-7501http://www.amcolor.comPrepublishing sales: $83 millionContact: Sharon Brooks, Corp. marketing managerAgency/corp./comm.= 3%, Catalogs= 8%, Magazines= 30%, Packaging= 5%, Printers= 13%, Retail inserts= 26%, Other= 15% American Color Systems16645 W. Greenfield Ave.New Berlin, WI 53151-1424414-786-9648; 800-390-9140; fax: 414-786-9037info@acscom.comPrepublishing sales: N/AContact: Tom

For the fourth year, Printing Impressions has compiled a ranking of the top color on-demand print providers in the nation. This year, the universe of digital printers was drawn from lists supplied by digital vendors, as well as the individual companies. Rankings were determined by self-reported on-demand sales figures. While there are other companies who would qualify for this listing, we could only include those who responded to our survey. 1. XYANKing of Prussia, PA(610) 992-7100Total Annual Sales: $74,200,000% of Sales From On-demand: 60Principal Officer: David McGrewPlants: 61Employees: 750Year Founded: 1994Digital Printing Devices: Canon CLC 1000 (4); Xerox DocuColor 40 (12); Xerox DocuColor 70

Top finishing pros reveal their secrets on selecting the right paper cutting tool for the right job. The cutter is often the last machine to touch the printed product before it goes to the customer, so it needs to cut cleanly, be easy to use and keep the work flowing. Though recent advancements in automation and computer control have made working on the machine easier, they've made choosing a cutter more difficult. That complexity can be simplified, however, by deciding on three basic factors right from the start: the size, the type of blade, and how many optional features and types of paper handling