G&K-Vijuk International

Pair of Machines Head Down South Marietta, GA—Color Spectrum Network (CSN) has added two new multi-function machines—a Bobst SPanthera 106-LER embossing diecutter with blanking and a Bobst Mistral 110 A-2 CS folder/gluer equipped with the latest source tagging and CD insertion devices. This marks the first time both of these new generation machines have been installed together in a single U.S. plant. After Fire, Bindery Is Thriving Again Lancaster, PA—It was among the largest and most intense fires that the local fire department could ever remember, and it caused more than $4 million in damage to Bindery Associates last year. "One-third of our facility was completely destroyed,"

Daly, Frontenac Seek Specialties CHICAGO—Private equity investment firm Frontenac and Ronald Daly, former president of RR Donnelley Print Solutions, have created a business partnership to acquire and grow specialty printers and other print solutions companies. Daly worked with Donnelley for 38 years. EPI Cos., Display Printers Merge MARIETTA, GA—The EPI Companies, based here, has acquired Display Printers, a manufacturer of printed merchandising displays. EPI specializes in marketing support for corporate clients, including creative services, traditional and digital print, logistics, premiums and online solutions. Unions Pressure Schawk CHICAGO—With its Union Network International (UNI) Congress taking place here, about 100 labor delegates, union leaders and activists decided to pay an

An American tradition for more than half a century, Leanin' Tree Inc. is the world's largest publisher of Western, wildlife and other regional-interest greeting cards. The company is known for its unique fine art designs, as well as the high quality of its products. It has also distinguished itself as an innovative marketer, able to respond to changes in a highly competitive business environment. Over the years as trends evolved, products were transformed with processes from diecutting to foil stamping to the use of glitter and a host of other graphic embellishments. Among the most recent examples of Leanin' Tree's marketing savvy is the

Printer's Event Draws a Crowd ATLANTA—For the second year in a row, "Color Talk," presented by The EPI Companies, created a stir in the marketing community, drawing more than 400 corporate communications executives, marketing coordinators and print procurement specialists. The program featured a presentation by Leatrice Eiseman, a renowned color specialist who also serves as executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. EPI sponsored the event as an educational opportunity for clients and prospects, and to build awareness of the company's single-source array of marketing services. "Color Talk" was preceded by a reception featuring 29 exhibits. arizona TEMPE—Company officials from Ben Franklin Press

"Old-fashioned service, constant attention to detail and responsive communications go a long way towards getting customers and creating loyalty and long-term relationships," says John Kern, CEO of Kern's Printing. But continued success in this highly competitive printing business has always come down to two primary issues: "continually assessing the efficiency of our equipment and making sure we have good, experienced people to run that equipment proficiently."   More than just words, the full-service, Long Island, NY-based printer has a consistent record for upgrading its capabilities as evidenced by the company's purchase last fall of a Vijuk 321-T saddlestitcher, available exclusively from Vijuk Equipment.

Stitcher Added to Get Competitive Edge INDEPENDENCE, MO—Post Press Specialties recently purchased a Vijuk 321-T saddlestitcher from Vijuk Equipment. Owner Andy Humble, plant manager Jacob Bagnell and estimator Bowen Griffitt believe the new stitcher will help them become more competitive in the Kansas City market. Equipment Makes the Cut in Reno RENO, NV—Employees at Registered Ink gather in front of their new Polar-Mohr System 2+ automated cutting system. The medium-sized commercial printer has more than doubled in size, sales volume and capacity since owners Bill and Melissa Gillis purchased the former Herth Printing in 1999. The shop's bindery also features a new Polar PM4-ABV automatic pile

by chris bauer Managing Editor Once overlooked in a printing world that focused heavily on digital technology, bindery equipment, including floor-model folding machines, can now be part of the conversation. Modern machines offer all of the automation that today's users desire. According to Josef Niehueser, product manager for Stahlfolder (distributed by Heidelberg), automation and integration are the features that folding machine users want to incorporate. The bindery is the only production department left that still involves a degree of manual labor, he points out, and printers want to take as much labor out of the finishing process as possible. "Integration is the next

BY ERIK CAGLE Senior Editor Pity the poor saddle stitcher. It gets no love, no recognition for a job well done. Bindery operators want the stitcher to take care of business, and they certainly don't want to intervene in its appointed rounds. When it comes to their stitchers, notes Darcy Maeda, public relations coordinator for Duplo USA, printers seek the ultimate in automation, in every aspect of the design. "They want the machine's stitcher heads, back jogger, side guides, stitch stopper, fold stopper, size adjustments, fold roller gap and conveyance roller position to adjust automatically," she says. "Automation of this degree

Komori Hosts Screening Seminar ROLLING MEADOWS, IL—Komori America recently hosted an educational seminar on screening technologies at its demonstration facility here. The second in the press manufacturer's series of "Survivor" seminars saw printers from around the U.S. learning about screening applications. Representatives from Creo, Enovation Graphic Systems and Screen (USA) were also on hand to present their screening technologies, Staccato, Co-Res and Spekta, respectively MBO/Muller Martini Co-host Second Open House WESTAMPTON, NJ—Building on the success of its previous joint open house, MBO America and Muller Martini held a second, even larger event recently that also featured running equipment and product information from Creo, hhs

Consumer advocates are demanding more reader-friendly product information. Seniors want larger type. Globalization requires the information to be in four or five languages. Consumer coalitions are forming patient information and education initiatives. The FDA is setting new regulatory guidelines. The amount of information manufacturers have to provide keeps growing. This presents a challenge for pharmaceutical and healthcare product producers because it affects the size and cost of their packaging, and tests the capabilities of their existing packaging line equipment. These challenges are passed on to the printers and packagers charged with producing product literature. Equipment Upgrades Bryan Hull operates one of Keller Crescent's three