Heidelberg Showcases Equipment Range CRANBURY, NJ—Heidelberg USA held an open house here at its Tech Center East showroom early last month, attracting about 150 people. Demonstrations of equipment included its Suprasetter thermal and Prosetter violet CTP platesetters, Quickmaster DI 46-4 Pro with smart spooling mechanism and Speedmaster SM 52-5P+L with retractable in-line coating unit presses, Stitchmaster ST 100 saddlestitcher, Stahlfolder TH series folder and Polar 115 XT cutter, among others. Seminars held the same day featured Bill Bonallo, technotrans america, on trends in UV coatings; Mark Tonkovich, Heidelberg USA, on thermal platesetter innovations; and Paul Keuchenius, Heidelberg USA, on long perfecting press innovations. KBA North
Goss International
arizona Phoenix—Courier Graphics is doubling the capacity of its pressroom by replacing one of its two current web presses with a new five-color Rotoman from MAN Roland. Scheduled for installation in the spring, with a May production date, the press will be equipped with a MAN Roland 1:2:3 folder and a Vits sheeter. california LOS ANGELES—Printing Industries Association of Southern California (PIASC) celebrated 25- and 50-year memberships at a recent awards breakfast. Companies that joined the association in 1980 and 1955 were honored for their loyalty and support of PIASC and presented with the silver and gold membership awards, respectively. SANTA CLARA—Entire Printing recently
By Kristen E. Monte Associate Editor Many children dream of growing up to become a doctor, movie star or even President of the United States. But how many kids imagine life as a printer? As one of the largest segments of American manufacturing, printing provides for a workforce of more than 1 million jobs and annual revenues in the area of $150 billion. There is not a day that goes by, on average, without some sort of contact with graphic communications. An explosion of opportunities is pushing the industry to new heights, and with it comes the need for a highly skilled labor force.
Bruno, 94, Lithographic Pioneer CHICAGO—Mike Bruno, 94, whose research, knowledge and innovations proved to be a catalyst for the viability of lithographic printing, passed away in January. Mr. Bruno was involved with the Lithographic Technical Foundation (later the GATF) and joined International Paper in a senior capacity, where he edited the "Pocket Pal" printing educational resource. He also published a newsletter, "What New(s) in Graphic Communications," for 25 years. His autobiography, "Mike Bruno's History of Printing in the 20th Century," will be published in 2006. Quad Bolstering Hartford Plant HARTFORD, WI—Quad/Graphics is constructing a 161,416-square-foot addition to its plant here, a move that will provide 1.5 million
Anniversary Open House Draws Crowd MAULBURG, GERMANY—Approximately 250 people recently attended the anniversary open house event, "40 years of Muller Martini Presses," in this town in southern Germany. Group Chairman Rudolf Müller, Group Divisional Manager Dr. Peter Merkli and Managing Director Dr. Jürgen Dillmann took the opportunity to thank all the guests for their long-standing relationship. Muller Martini then demonstrated two new variable-size web presses, the Alprinta and the Concepta. Introduced at Drupa, Muller Martini's new variable-size printing insert maximizes the format flexibility of a standard Alprinta by simply exchanging the plate and blanket cylinders, while the cartridge is still installed in the
by chris bauer Managing Editor Merger and acquisition activity. Monster trade shows. New faces in high places. The luck of the draw. It all adds up to just another year in the commercial printing industry. Let's take a look back at how the year 2004 played out, and who made headlines during the past 12 months. The year started out on shaky ground for the industry, with rumors that Heidelberg planned to sell off its web systems business and digital printing division, as well as reduce its worldwide work force by up to 1,000 employees. Eventually, the whispers became a reality as the other players in these
by chris bauer Managing Editor If you still think of the bindery as a labor-intensive segment of the print shop where manual operations are the norm, then you obviously were not paying close enough attention at Graph Expo and Converting Expo 2004. Exhibitors touting the next generation of finishing equipment proved that bindery gear is now just as automated and digitized as equipment in prepress departments and pressrooms. Muller Martini, for example, showed printers and finishing professionals how to make the most of computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM) in their binderies and pressrooms. Under the theme "Integration—Solutions from A to Z," the company introduced a
ATLANTA—Marcel Kiessling has taken the helm as president of Heidelberg Americas, based here, which covers the sales regions of the United States, Canada, Mexico and South America. Kiessling is the former head of the Germany/Switzerland market center and president of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Vertrieb Deutschland. He joined the company in 1989. Werner Albrecht has assumed the two roles previously held by Kiessling. Albrecht, who joined the company in 1978, was most recently president of Heidelberg Web Systems in Dover, NH, until its acquisition by Goss International. As part of the restructuring the company announced in late 2003, the worldwide sales organization's original seven market centers were grouped
california NORTH HOLLYWOOD—Akers Brothers & Sister Printing, in business since 1944, has installed a Kluge EHF series press. Akers is using the new equipment for diecutting and foil stamping booster cards, a small card printed on 24-pt. adhesive coated stock. Additionally, the press will be used for similar applications on auto-lock bottom boxes. SANTA ANA—B&Z Printing has purchased a new Best Osako 368 saddlestitcher from Best Graphics. colorado COLORADO SPRINGS—Pikes Peak Litho has installed a 400 watt/inch cold UV curing system from PRI Technologies on its seven-color, 77˝ Harris press. DENVER—Document Imaging, an information and data management services company, has changed its name to
Presstek Bids for A.B.Dick NILES, IL—A.B.Dick Co. announced it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Soon after the announcement, Hudson, NH-based Presstek Inc. unveiled a detailed plan to acquire the business and assets of the company through a U.S. Bankruptcy Code section 363 asset sale, a deal valued at approximately $40 million. Presstek President and CEO Edward Marino stressed that there was no guarantee his company would be successful in the open bidding environment of a bankruptcy proceeding. Bowne's Johnson Retires NEW YORK CITY—Bowne & Co. announced the immediate retirement of Robert M. Johnson from the company and its board of directors for personal reasons.
