Goss International

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA—The $31.6 million Goss International judgment for press equipment dumping levied against TKS last December was upheld in federal court on May 26. In issuing the decision, U.S. District Court Judge Linda Reade cited evidence that TKS, the U.S. subsidiary of Tokyo Kikai Seisakusho, used "a fraudulent price increase and secret $2.2 million rebate" to prevent one U.S. newspaper from purchasing Goss presses. TKS and its lawyers were also accused of attempting to destroy documents to conceal the secret rebates. The judgment capped a three-week trial in federal court here. TKS was found to have systematically dumped its press equipment on the U.S.

NEW YORK CITY--June 21, 2004--The New York Times reportedly has signed a Letter of Intent with Goss International at NEXPO in Washington DC for a multi-site investment program that will include tower and couple additions across four newspaper printing facilities. The order is to include three Goss large newspaper tower additions and a further 36 couple additions. Tom Lombardo, vice president of production for the newspaper publisher, commented, "This major press equipment order with Goss will enable us to expand our color production capability to better serve our readers and advertisers across the country. The consistent high quality of The Times color reproduction has

HEIDELBERG, GERMANY--June 17, 2004--Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) will transfer its web offset division (Web Systems) to Goss International. The two companies signed an according agreement, which is yet to be confirmed by the relevant European antitrust organizations. The transaction is expected to be closed within the next weeks. The deal includes the business areas of Commercial Web, Newspaper and, in the US, Finishing Systems for web offset machines. Heidelberg reportedly will hold a 15 percent share in Goss International, but the companies said they agreed not to disclose the financial specifics of the transaction. "By combining and restructuring activities, both companies are aiming for better

by chris bauer Managing Editor As printed media, especially newspapers, battle outside competition from a growing number of digital sources, non-heatset web press manufacturers have to keep up with the technology that will help newspapers compete and survive. More color, faster speeds, and versatile and automated presses are now needed in most newspaper pressrooms. "Coldset printing—particularly newspapers and semi-commercial newspaper supplements—remains an extremely effective, economical and accepted medium for delivering advertising and editorial content," points out Greg Norris, marketing manager for Heidelberg Web Systems. "Advertisers will continue to demand more color and higher print quality. Newspapers and coldset printing specialists will continue to respond

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA--June 1, 2004--Citing evidence that TKS used "a fraudulent price increase and secret $2.2 million rebate" to prevent one U.S. newspaper from purchasing Goss presses, and that TKS and its lawyers "attempted to destroy documents to conceal the secret rebates", United States District Court Judge Linda Reade issued an opinion on May 26th upholding the $31.6 million judgment that Goss International won from TKS last December. That judgment followed a three week trial in federal court in which the jury found that Tokyo Kikai Seisakusho, Ltd. and its U.S. subsidiary ("TKS") had systematically dumped TKS's press equipment on the U.S. market with

Glimpse Into Print Giant's Show Plans HEIDELBERG, GERMANY—It only seems fitting to travel to the birthplace of printing and the home country of the world's largest printing trade show for a pre-Drupa press conference. And when the company you are covering is Heidelberg, the show's biggest exhibitor, there is no better place to be than Germany during the spring season of a Drupa year. The two-day international press event opened at the Heidelberg sheetfed manufacturing facility in Weisloch with a speech from Heidelberg management board member Dr. Klaus Spiegel, who gave an overview of the company's recently announced deals—the selling of the Digital unit

HEIDELBERG, GERMANY—Eastman Kodak and Goss International were revealed as the recipients of divisions that Heidelberger Druckmaschinen (Heidelberg) announced it would divest last November. Heidelberg has reached an agreement to sell its digital printing division and all of its digital printing activities to Eastman Kodak for a maximum of US$150 million, a deal that has to be approved by antitrust organizations. The deal includes Heidelberg's digital black-and-white business, Heidelberg Digital Imaging of Rochester, NY, its 50 percent share in the Heidelberg/Eastman Kodak joint enterprise venture Nexpress Solutions, also of Rochester, as well as its 100 percent share of Nexpress GmbH in Kiel, Germany. Over the next

by chris bauer Managing Editor Finally, the rumor mill can go silent concerning the status of industry giant Heidelberg Web Systems. Just days before closing this issue, Heidelberg and Goss International reached an agreement on major issues for the intended transfer of the Heidelberg Web Offset division to Goss International. An outline deal has been agreed upon in principle, but some issues remain to be resolved before definitive documents are expected to be executed over the coming weeks. Heidelberg will still display web presses at the upcoming Drupa trade show in Germany, reports Greg Norris, manager of marketing communications. Its newest

New Press Finds Home In New Jersey HILLSBOROUGH, NJ—East Coast Media has installed a five-color, 28˝ Sakurai EDII press. It is fully automated with auto plate changers, ink rollers and blanket cleaners, and includes an SCC color console equipped with SAS, for auto sheet size preset, cylinder registration, and impression adjustment and setting. The press joins an existing two-color Sakurai perfector. Supreme Installation Bound to Please ARCADIA, WI—Full-service and specialty printer Supreme Graphics has purchased a Duplo System 4000 collator/bookletmaker from Best Graphics. A key part of its business is producing classroom texts, lesson planners and other books for schools. california SAN

HEIDELBERG, GERMANY—As part of its traditional year-end press conference in early December, Heidelberg senior executives used the occasion to better explain its recent announcements. Those announcements had included the impending sale of its web systems business, an additional worldwide work force reduction of up to 1,000 employees (primarily in Europe) and the repositioning of its digital division. Instead, the company will concentrate on the more profitable sheetfed offset printing market and its related value chain. Heidelberg Chairman Bernhard Schreier revealed that, by the end of Heidelberg's fiscal year in March of 2004, he expects the web division to be sold and a determination made public