FUJIFILM Graphic Systems Div.

Schmidt Acquires Rapid ReprintBYRON, MN—Publishing industry solutions provider Schmidt announced that it has acquired Rapid Reprint, a quick turnaround article reprint production company based in White Bear Lake, MN. Schmidt, a web offset printer, specializes in the production of direct response vehicles such as magazine and direct mail inserts, as well as the production and distribution of card packs for the publishing industry. Valassis Installs QTI Systems DURHAM, NC—Valassis Communications has purchased a Ribbon Control System 4000 (RCS 4000) and a Register Guidance System V (RGS V) with ink guiding and phaser control for the second of its MAN Roland Lithoman presses. Both systems were

MAN Roland Technicians Get Golden ToolsOFFENBACH, GERMANY—Two American technicians were honored recently for completing the 1,000th MAN Roland mechanical systems course at the company's training center here. As a result of the hands-on coursework, the technicians, Warren Collins and Greg Voigt, received their gold wrenches and are certified to install and get U.S. customers up-and-running on Roland 700 presses. Heidelberg USA has realigned its operations into four business segments: Digital, Postpress, Sheetfed and Web. Niels M. Winther, a 34-year veteran with the organization, has assumed responsibility as head of Heidelberg's Market Center North America (U.S. and Canada). Appointed to head the four U.S. groups

The show must go on. The spirit behind that old saying resonated through the halls of McCormick Place during the later days of PRINT 01. The show remained open for its entire scheduled run, even though the level of activity did drop significantly after Tuesday morning. The mood and topics of conversation though, understandably, turned away from graphic arts industry issues to the horror of the terrorist attacks. "Prior to September 11th, in spite of the weak economy, PRINT 01 was attracting good attendance, and exhibitors reported steady and serious buying activity across all product types and sizes," reported Regis J. Delmontagne, president of

HANOVER PARK, IL—With employees, local officials, dealers, partnering vendors and guests in attendance, and the Fujifilm blimp flying overhead, Fuji Photo Film USA officially opened its new national headquarters for the Graphic Systems division on July 31. The site also serves as the Midwest regional office and distribution center for all of its imaging products. Located in this northwestern suburb of Chicago, the three-story, 320,000-square-foot building houses approximately 250 people. "This is the headquarters facility that we have dreamed about for many years," exclaimed Dan Maffeo, vice president and general manager of the Graphic Systems division. "As the national headquarters, this new facility provides expanded office

BY MARK SMITH Adopting a computer-to-plate (CTP) workflow is as much about buying into a technology and process as it is purchasing products. Visible laser systems can lay claim to having created the product segment. However, it really took the introduction of thermal technology for CTP to gain mainstream acceptance, at least in the North American market. Now violet systems are causing a stir and generating a bit of controversy. More on that later. While product offerings continue to grow, key decisions made by CTP buyers early on still can dictate their subsequent product options. Typically this process begins with the selection of

BY MARK SMITH At first glance, Image Corporation, of San Jose, CA, might seem to offer an usual mix of services. The company currently has triangulated in on its market by offering prepress, trade show/exhibit and printing (digital and conventional offset) services. This range of services grew organically out its core competencies, reveals owner Don Watson. "I've found that color scanning, color management, prepress and file/project management skills—the core competencies of our organization—naturally extend to a variety of different output devices and products lines," Watson explains. As the company has expanded, it has continued to focus primarily on serving the corporate market in

BY CAROLINE MILLER If there appears to be one technology that is going to steal the show at the eight-day PRINT 01 trade show held at Chicago's McCormick Place, September 6-13, it is going to be the digital imaging (DI) press. "No matter what you think about the DI press, pros or cons, you no longer can ignore the impact of DI technology. We've identified at least a dozen manufacturers that will exhibit a DI press, reports Bill Lamparter of PrintCom Consulting Group. The buzz surrounding color digital presses began last year at DRUPA and not much has changed since the German show.

TOKYO—Following 17 years of research and development, Elcorsy announced it has sold the first production model of its ELCO 400 press, based on Elcography technology. This "electrocoagulation" process is said to turn liquid ink into gel with electric fields generated by small wires located across from the imaging cylinder. The press was installed by Toyo Ink, a technology partner of Elcorsy, and reportedly will be used to print instant newspapers at popular music shows and international sporting events, as well as personalized color schoolbooks. (www.elcorsy.com) RESTON, VA—The Committee for Graphic Arts Technologies Standards (CGATS) has defined an open, variable-data exchange standard, called

Two Industry Veterans HonoredCHICAGO—At the 2001 R&E Council bindery, finishing and distribution seminar here, Ronald L. Mihills, R&E Council managing director (left), honored retiring RIT professor Werner T. Rebsamen (center) and Ralph F. Box Jr., conference co-chair and senior vice president of Muller Martini, for their many years of service to the industry. Both men were presented an engraved glass globe in commemoration of their careers. Sun Chemical CEO Shines in NYCNEW YORK CITY—At the 16th annual New York University Prism Award luncheon, which honors exceptional leaders in the graphic arts and communications industry and benefits the NYU Center for Graphic Communications Management and Technology,

SANTA ANA, CA/HANOVER PARK, IL—Markzware's MarkzNet online preflight application will be integrated into myfujifilm.com under an agreement signed by the two companies. MarkzNet reportedly was selected for its ability to check native application files and instantly communicate any problems to the user. Developed by Fuji Photo Film, myfujifilm.com provides online solutions to help printers, trade shops, ad agencies, publishers and designers manage and enhance their production workflows. (www.myfujifilm.com/www.markzware.com) ROCHESTER, NY—Canon Inc. and NexPress Solutions have announced a commitment to work together to promote open standards that enable the seamless exchange of digital color printing jobs between the office and commercial printing markets.